Heb 10:23-39 | TNotes | STEP | 10:23 We are to hold tightly . . . to the hope we affirm , that Christ’s death is effective in winning us right relationship with God.

10:23 ^a We are to hold tightly . . . to the hope we affirm, that Christ’s death is effective in winning us right relationship with God.
10:24 ^b Acts of love and good works characterize true Christian commitment (6:10 ^c; 10:32-34 ^d; Gal 5:13 ^e; 1 Thes 1:3 ^f; Rev 2:19 ^g).
10:25 ^h Some in this Christian community had evidently begun to neglect their meeting together in regular worship, perhaps to avoid persecution (10:32-39 ⁱ).

• Our motivating one another to love and good works should be done in light of the day of his return, Christ’s second coming (9:28 ^j; Luke 12:42-46 ^k; 1 Cor 5:5 ^l; 1 Thes 5:2 ^m; 2 Pet 3:10 ⁿ; 1 Jn 2:28 ^o).
Summary for Heb 10:26-31: 10:26-31 ^p The author interjects a strong warning concerning the danger of rejecting God’s Son and his authoritative word. The warning challenges hearers to respond with a commitment to follow Christ.
Summary for Heb 10:26-27: 10:26-27 ^q deliberately: Open rebellion against God’s laws was described as “sinning with a high hand” (see study note on Num 15:30-31). Here the author has in mind specifically a rejection of Christ and his work. Christ’s sacrifice for sins has done away with the sacrificial system of the old covenant (Heb 9:11–10:18 ^r). If a person rejects the Son’s sacrifice, there is no other sacrifice—nowhere else to go—for forgiveness. A person who rejects Christ can only expect judgment as one of God’s enemies (cp. Isa 26:10-11 ^s).
Summary for Heb 10:28-29: 10:28-29 ^t The author argues from lesser to greater (see study note on 9:14). The lesser situation is the old punishment of death for a person who refused to obey the law of Moses (see Deut 13:6-11 ^u). The greater situation concerns those who reject Christ and treat him with contempt.

• how much worse the punishment: Eternal damnation is the fate awaiting those who have rejected Christ.

• The blood of the covenant, which made us holy, is Christ’s perfect sacrifice (9:11–10:18 ^v).

• insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit: Those who reject the Spirit’s prompting and mercy deny the validity of the Good News and the superiority of Christ and his saving work (cp. Mark 3:22-30 ^w).
Summary for Heb 10:30-31: 10:30-31 ^x “The Lord will judge his own people”: Deut 32:36 ^y; cp. 1 Pet 4:17-18 ^z.

• That God will pay them back and will judge his own people shows the dreadful circumstances of those who have rejected Christ. Once God moves to judge a person, no one can rescue that person out of God’s hand (Deut 32:39 ^aa).
Summary for Heb 10:32-39: 10:32-39 ^ab The harsh warning (10:26-31 ^ac) is followed by a word of encouragement. The hearers’ own faithfulness in the past is used as a positive example for them to follow now. 10:32 ^ad when you first learned about Christ: The author reminds his readers of those early days, shortly after the community embraced Christianity, when their faith was tested. At that time, they remained faithful in the face of terrible suffering. Suffering is normal for a person who identifies with Christ and his community (13:12-13 ^ae; Acts 9:16 ^af; Rom 8:17 ^ag; 1 Cor 4:12-13 ^ah; Phil 1:29 ^ai; Jas 1:2-4 ^aj).
10:33 ^ak public ridicule: They were insulted and disgraced.

• beaten: They were abused physically.

• At times they were direct recipients of abuse, and at times they stood with others who were suffering.
10:34 ^al those who were thrown into jail: Prisoners were dependent on friends and family for the most basic daily needs (cp. 13:3 ^am).

• when all you owned was taken from you: At times, the Roman government evicted groups of people from their homes and forced them to leave a city (see Acts 18:2-3 ^an). These Christians had faced this kind of persecution in the past and accepted it with joy (cp. Rom 5:3 ^ao; Jas 1:2-4 ^ap; 1 Pet 1:6 ^aq). They anticipated better things . . . that will last forever (see Heb 11:35 ^ar). God promises rewards to those who persevere faithfully.
Summary for Heb 10:35-36: 10:35-36 ^as Based on their exemplary faithfulness in the past (10:32-34 ^at), the author urges them not to throw away this confident trust in the Lord. The word translated confident trust is also used in Hebrews to speak of boldness in entering the presence of God (4:16 ^au; 10:19 ^av; cp. 3:6 ^aw). Those who remain faithful receive a great reward (see 1:14 ^ax; 6:12 ^ay; 9:15 ^az; Jas 1:12 ^ba). Patient endurance is the key response needed in the face of persecution, as the author argues in Heb 10:32–12:17 ^bb.
Summary for Heb 10:37-38: 10:37-38 ^bc These verses quote Hab 2:3-4 ^bd to contrast the righteous and the wicked as they face God’s judgment (cp. Rom 1:17 ^be; Gal 3:11 ^bf).
10:39 ^bg The author ends this section with a statement of confidence in his hearers (see study note on 6:9).