Sermon Tone Analysis

Last Time We Finished the 4th of the 5 Warning Passages in Hebrews

Hebrews 10:26–31 (NIV)

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Now We are Going to Finish Up Chapter 10

Hebrews 10:32–39 (NLT)

Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ.

Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.

Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.

You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy.

You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.

Remember the great reward it brings you!

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will.

Then you will receive all that he has promised.

“For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.

And my righteous ones will live by faith.

But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”

But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction.

We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

This Text is About This Hebrew Christian Audience’s Past

They’ve Been Through Persecution and Hardship Before

And They Remained Faithful

But Now They are Starting to Shrink Away

The Author is Calling on Them to Remember Their Past Faithfulness…

And Persevere as They had Back Then

Their Past Needs to Be an Example for Their Present

The Lessons We’re Going to Find in this Text are Going to Be Difficult for Some, if Not Most, of Us to Obey

Hebrews 10:32–33 (NASB95)

But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.

The Author Tells this Hebrew Christian Audience to Remember the Former Days

When Were the Former Days?

After They Were Enlightened

We’ve Asked this Question Before in this Study of Hebrews:

What Does Being Enlightened Refer to?

They Received the Light

Light Consumed the Darkness Within Them

They Placed Their Faith in Jesus, Being Baptized into Him

What Happened After They Were Enlightened?

They Endured a Great/“Many” Conflicts of Sufferings

“Conflict” = athlēsis = Contest, Challenge, Struggle

Like an Athlete is Challenged and Struggles in a Contest

These Hebrew Christians Faced Many Challenges and Struggles with Suffering

Hebrews 10:32–33 (NASB95)

But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.

What Were Some of the Many Kinds of Sufferings They Experienced?

They Were Made a Public Spectacle

theatrizō = To Be Publicly Shamed as if Set on a Stage

There are Few Things Worse Than Being Publicly Shamed

Shame is How Society Responds to You When You Don’t Conform to Their Cultural Expectations

Hebrews 10:32–33 (NASB95)

But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.

How Were These Hebrew Christians Publicly Shamed By Their Community?

Through Reproaches and Tribulations

What Does Reproach Mean?

To Insult, Mock, Curse, Blame

It is Verbal Harassment

What Does Tribulation Mean?

It Refers to Being Distressed (Inwardly or Outwardly) By Oppression

It is a Broad Word that Can Refer to Any Kind of Oppression that Brings Distress

These New Hebrew Christians Were Publicly Shamed/Humiliated Through Verbal and Physical Violence

And Even When it Wasn’t Them Personally Being Publicly Shamed…

They Stood By Their Brothers and Sisters Who Were

They Became Partners/Sharers in Their Humiliation, as a Loving Family Does

The Author Tells Us They Endured This Public Humiliation of Verbal and Physical Violence

What Does that Mean?

How Does a Christian Endure These Things?

There are 3 Options a Christian Can Take When Being Publicly Shamed By Their Community:

1.) Seek to Preserve Our Honor By Fighting Fire with Fire

2.) Conform to the Sinful Values of Society

3.) Be Content with the Shame

In American Christianity, We Primarily See Christians…

Fighting Back to Preserve Their Honor

Or Conforming to the Sinful Values of Society

But Neither of Those Reactions are “Enduring” Shame

And Jesus Taught Neither of Them

Matthew 5:10–12 (NASB95)

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

When Shamed By Those Who Disagree with Your Standard of Living in Jesus…

Rejoice and Be Glad

Don’t Fight Fire with Fire

Don’t Conform to Their Standards

Just Rejoice and Be Glad Because We Will Be Rewarded for Such Faithful Endurance

Matthew 5:38–39 (NASB95)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”

Slapping Someone was to Cause a Minor Amount of Injury, But a Great Amount of Shame

How Did Jesus Teach Us to React to Shame and Persecution?

Do We Fight Back?

Do We Return the Favor?

No, We Allow Ourselves to Be Shamed

Paul Lived According to the Way of Jesus

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NASB95)

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul was Content with the Shame He was Dealt By Others