Hebrews 10-4

Words of Wisdom in Uncertain Times

Hebrews 10:32–39

Paul is bringing this section of his letter to a close and is preparing these believers for difficult and uncertain days ahead. They were facing pressure, persecution, and temptation to turn back. Throughout this section, he has reminded them of what Christ accomplished, encouraged them in how they should live, and warned them not to reject the salvation Christ has provided.

Now he closes with practical words of wisdom they would need to survive spiritually in uncertain times.

I. Consider Their Past

(v.32–34)

Before speaking about the future, Paul reminds them of what God has already brought them through.

a. Consider your Past Persecution (v.32)

“after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions”

Salvation did not remove hardship from their lives.

After coming to Christ, persecution intensified.

Exploring Hebrews: An Expository Commentary a. The Believers Should Think about the past (10:32–34)

Peter and John were arrested for healing a lame man in the name of Jesus, the apostles were thrashed for preaching the gospel of Christ, Stephen was martyred, James was beheaded, Peter was imprisoned, and then the militant Sanhedrin commissioned Saul of Tarsus to uproot the church at home and abroad.

The phrase “great fight of afflictions” speaks of a difficult spiritual battle.

They had already proven God’s grace was sufficient in suffering.

Application:

Sometimes we forget how faithful God has already been.

Remembering past victories strengthens us for present trials.

“God did not fail you then, and He will not fail you now.”

a. Consider your Past Persecution (v.32)

b. Consider your Past Performance (v.33)

“partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock…”

The word gazingstock in the Greek is “theatrize” it is where we get our word theater.

They had been publicly put on stage and stood for Christ despite reproach and suffering.

They did not hide their faith when pressure came.

They identified with suffering believers instead of distancing themselves.

Paul refered to himself as being one of these, in 1Cor. 15:3

Key truth:

Their testimony had been bold and consistent.

They had once lived courageously; Paul is urging them not to lose that courage now.

Application:

Spiritual consistency matters.

Difficult times reveal what we truly believe.

a. Consider your Past Persecution (v.32)

b. Consider your Past Performance (v.33)

c. Consider your Past Propagation (v.34)

“For ye had compassion of me in my bonds…”

They ministered to others while suffering themselves.

They encouraged imprisoned believers.

They joyfully endured the loss of earthly possessions because they valued heavenly treasures more.

Key emphasis:

Their faith had overflowed into ministry and generosity.

They understood this world was not their permanent home.

Application:

Mature believers continue helping others even during personal hardship.

Eternal perspective produces earthly endurance.

Transition: In the midst of all these things, they had been strengthened by their persuasion that the gospel was true, that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the Savior, and the Son of God, and that they had found the substance behind all the shadows of their former faith.

They had carefully laid in the balance of their minds earthly loss against eternal gain.

Indeed, they had taken the spoiling of their possessions joyfully, knowing they had a better possession, an abiding one, in Christ.

These Hebrew believers should think about the past. They already had taken such giant strides.

Now Paul says, Consider Their Present…

II. Consider Their Present

(v.35–36)

a. Consider your Present Confidence (v.35)

“Cast not away therefore your confidence…”

The temptation during uncertain times is to quit, retreat, or compromise.

“Confidence” speaks of boldness and assurance in Christ.

Their confidence carried “great recompence of reward.”

Key truth:

Faithfulness is never wasted.

God rewards steadfast believers.

Application:

Don’t throw away in a season of pressure what God built over years of growth.

Confidence in Christ must be guarded carefully.

The devil wants believers to abandon in fear what they once proclaimed in faith.

a. Consider your Present Confidence (v.35)

b. Consider your Present Calling (v.36)

“For ye have need of patience…”

Patience here means endurance or steadfastness.

God’s will often requires waiting, suffering, and trusting.

The Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon.

Key truth:

Endurance is evidence of genuine faith.

Obedience must continue even when answers do not come immediately.

Application:

Many believers want immediate relief while God is developing lasting faith.

Staying faithful in uncertainty is part of God’s will.

God has call you to something and sometimes that will require patience

One of Satan’s favorite tactics is to “wear out the saints of the Most High.”

The antidote to this is patience.

Think of John Bunyan’s long years in Bedford Jail. How productive they became!

He might have spent the time pacing the floor, gazing stolidly into space, working himself into passions of rage or fits of despair.

Instead, he took his pen and began to write: “As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place, where was a Den; and I laid me down in that place to sleep: and as I slept I dreamed a Dream. I dreamed, and behold I saw a man clothed with rags, standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a Book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back.” Thus his cell became “a den” from which he wrote one of the greatest classics of all times, The Pilgrim’s Progress, a book which, in former years, was a best seller second only to the Bible itself.

“That … ye might receive the promise,”

Paul is about to launch into a major exposition of that, summoning up a host of Old Testament saints who dared to believe God in spite of circumstances and who triumphed gloriously.

Transition: Paul then lifts their eyes beyond the present and points them toward the promises of God.

III. Consider Their Promise

(v.37–39)

a. Consider the Promise of His Return (v.37)

“For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come…”

Christ’s return is certain.

Their suffering was temporary.

The waiting would not last forever.

Key truth:

The return of Christ gives hope in unstable times.

God’s timetable may seem slow to us, but it is always perfect.

Application:

Believers endure hardship differently because we know the story is not over.

Hope in His coming produces perseverance.

a. Consider the Promise of His Return (v.37)

b. Consider the Promise of His Judgment (v.38)

“Now the just shall live by faith…”

Paul closes this section in his epistle by drawing a contrast and by stating a confidence.

The twofold use of the word ‘but’ underlines his summary.

“Now,” he says, “the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him” (10:38).

It is faith that keeps a man from apostasy.

He quotes from a familiar passage from Habakkuk,(2:4) a verse picked up by the Holy Spirit and dropped into the New Testament three times.

Each time the verse is cited the emphasis is on a different clause.

“The just [Rom. 1:17] shall live [Gal. 3:11] by faith” (Heb. 10:38).

It is faith that draws the line between the apostate and the true believer.

The apostate has neither the faith nor the faithfulness to continue, so he draws back; and in so doing, he incurs God’s active displeasure.

The true believer takes a fresh look at the Lord Jesus and reaffirms his faith.

God honors faith, not retreat.

Drawing back reveals spiritual destruction.

Faith is not merely how we begin the Christian life; it is how we continue living it.

Key truth:

God takes no pleasure in spiritual retreat and compromise.

Uncertain times call for deeper faith, not shrinking faith.

Application:

The safest place in uncertain times is walking by faith.

Fear pulls backward; faith presses forward.

a. Consider the Promise of His Return (v.37)

b. Consider the Promise of His Judgment (v.38)

c. Consider the Promise of His Security (v.39)

“But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition…”

Paul ends with encouragement, not despair.

True believers persevere because God preserves them.

Their identity was not in failure but in faith.

Key truth:

God’s people are secure in Christ.

Genuine faith continues despite opposition.

Application:

The believer may struggle, but he does not ultimately abandon Christ.

Our security rests not in our strength but in God’s sustaining grace.

Conclusion

· Remember What Christ has done vs. 1-18

· Remember What we are to do vs. 19-25

· Remember What happens to those that turn away vs. 26-31

So that In uncertain times we can:

Look Back vs. 32-34

Remember God’s faithfulness.

Look Around vs. 35-36

Remain steadfast in your calling.

Look Ahead vs. 37-39

Rest in God’s promises.

The same God who sustained them through persecution would sustain them through whatever lay ahead. And the same is true for us today.