26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
Vs. 26 "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,"
This warning which begins in vs. 29 and concludes in vs. 36 is given as a warning against the sin of apostasy, of turning away from Christ and the All Sufficiency of His Sacrifice on the Cross and returning to either the Law and it's sacrificial system as a means of justification before God, or any other works based system that one may seek salvation for themselves through. For all who do so, who turn from the Lord Jesus Christ and His all Sufficient Sacrifice for them only apostate from the faith delivered once and for all to the saints (Jude 4). Therefore those who think they can turn away from Christ and then have some other means of atonement for their sins are utterly deceived. Similarly those who think that the grace of God gives them a license to sin are likewise woefully deceived, since God is not mocked (Gal 6:7-9), and He repay us all according to our works. Therefore those who do so, who knowingly and willingly turn away from the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone and return to Judaism, or any other type of religious works for their sins atonement there no longer remains a sacrifice for their sins (vs. 26), because in their rejecting Christ and His all Sufficient Sacrifice for them there is no other sacrifice that God will accept for them. Thus this section of Scripture is dealing with the sin of apostasy, something which genuine believers do not commit.
Vs. 27 "but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries."
Therefore when anyone decisively rejects the the Lord Jesus Christ Crucified for their sins remission there is no longer any chance for their redemption, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Thus God's adversaries are not sinners who have not yet believed in the Lord and His salvation, but God's adversaries are those who having heard the Word of God have rejected Christ and His salvation for them, whether they are sinners or not (consider Luke 14:15-24; 15:1-31).
Vs. 28-29 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
If anyone rejected Moses law they were put to death on the testimony of two or three witness, so how much worse punishment will one be thought worthy of who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace. This clear warning is against turning away from Christ and the grace of God whether by outright unbelief, or by returning either to the Law and it's sacrificial system or some other form of works based religious practices by which one seeks salvation for themselves through. Therefore to hear the Gospel (i.e. Good News) of how God's grace is fully extended to us all through the Lord Jesus Christ and His Crucifixion death on our behalf, and yet turn away from God's most precious gift to something less is only to treat the Lord Jesus Christ's Person with contempt, counting His blood, the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified a common thing. And thus in doing so they have only insulted the Spirit of grace, something which God judges most severely.
Vs. 30-31 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Therefore the Word of God is warning us all not to turn away from the Lord Jesus Christ and return to works of the law for salvation, because as the Scripture states, "“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” Deut. 32:35-36 Now the judgment of the Lord's people is certain, both those who are genuinely born again, who will be judged at the Judgment seat of Christ, where we will be rewarded or suffer loss according to what we have done down here (Rom 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10-11). As well the Lord will also judge those who only have a profession of faith In Christ; that is they profess to know Him but in works they deny Him (consider Titus 1:16); and thus they too will be judged along with the unbelieving and the ungodly at the Great White throne Judgment (see Rev. 20:11-15). And that is where the statement "Vengeance is Mine I will repay," says the Lord comes into play, not on us who believe (consider John 5:24), but on those who don't. For as the Gospels make clear God will separate the just from the unjust, and the righteous from the wicked when He exercises His Finial Judgment on us all (consider Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-50 etc.). Therefore this warning of falling into the hands of the Living God should be seriously heeded by us all, for it is God that we must all give an accounting of ourselves too, who will judge us all, and will reward or repay us all, according to our own works (Rev. 22:12-13).
Vs. 32-34 32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
Having warned us all of the judgment of God, the Word of God now wants us all who believe to hold fast our confession and faith and hope In Christ which does not come without consequences as verses 32-33 make clear. For throughout the ages God's people have, and thus will always suffer reproaches and rejection, alienation and hostilities, tribulations and troubles from God's enemies, some of which will come from within a mans own household, (consider Matt. 10:34-42, vs. 36). Nonetheless it is God Himself who by His Spirit always encourages us and strengthens us, so that we may stand firm not only for Christ, but also for all who likewise suffer with Him. And so whether we suffer individually for Christ or collectively, we must always encourage and strengthen each other by whatever means we have at our disposal, for in doing so we not only show ourselves to be genuine in our profession of faith and love for our brethren (consider 1 John 3:16-18), but we also lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven (consider Luke 12:32-34) which is only preserved and reserved for those who remain firm and steadfast till the end (consider 1 Cor 3:8; 15:58 etc.).
Vs. 35 "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward."
In light of our glorious future with Christ keeping our confidence in Him and Him alone is paramount, for it is by faith In Christ that we inherit all of God promises, some of which we experience down here, but so much more we will have and experience up there.
Vs. 36-39 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
Therefore in light of such things we all have need of endurance, "so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise" (vs. 36). Now the will of God here is simply to believe in the One whom He has sent and not draw back to perdition, that is a state of unbelief and denial of Christ which will only end in eternal condemnation (consider Matt. 10:33; Phil 1:29; 2 Tim 2:12; Heb 3:6; 10:23 etc.). While the promise here is referring to our eternal inheritances with Christ which we will all receive with the Lord Jesus Christ's Return (or Second Coming, as verse thirty seven indicates, see 1 Peter 1:6-9). Verses 37-38 then draw from Habakkuk 2:3-4 to Scripturally reaffirm Christ's return, while verse thirty eight emphasizes the eternal truth from Habakkuk 2:4 of having and living by faith in Christ as the sole means of pleasing God (consider Rom 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb 11:6). Therefore having exhorted us all to carry on in our faith, and not draw back to perdition, the Word of God now affirms that we are not those who draw back to perdition, but we are those who believe to the saving of the soul (vs. 39). Something which I now urge you to do if you have not yet believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, to repent and believe in the Gospel and thus have remission of all your sins and everlasting life when you receive Him into your heart and life by faith, which you can do right now by praying a simple prayer believing in His Crucifixion death and Resurrection from the dead and confessing Him as Lord (Rom 10:9-10, 13) for He will by His Spirit come into your person and life and make His home in you and He will begin within you a whole new purpose and life for you. A bright and glorious and eternal future awaits you, therefore don't delay be reconciled to God today!
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Additional Resources Consulted
MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Edited by Arthur Farstad. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995.
Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
Vs. 35 "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward."
In light of our glorious future with Christ keeping our confidence in Him and Him alone is paramount, for it is by faith In Christ that we inherit all of God promises, some of which we experience down here, but so much more we will have and experience up there.
Vs. 36-39 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
Therefore in light of such things we all have need of endurance, "so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise" (vs. 36). Now the will of God here is simply to believe in the One whom He has sent and not draw back to perdition, that is a state of unbelief and denial of Christ which will only end in eternal condemnation (consider Matt. 10:33; Phil 1:29; 2 Tim 2:12; Heb 3:6; 10:23 etc.). While the promise here is referring to our eternal inheritances with Christ which we will all receive with the Lord Jesus Christ's Return (or Second Coming, as verse thirty seven indicates, see 1 Peter 1:6-9). Verses 37-38 then draw from Habakkuk 2:3-4 to Scripturally reaffirm Christ's return, while verse thirty eight emphasizes the eternal truth from Habakkuk 2:4 of having and living by faith in Christ as the sole means of pleasing God (consider Rom 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb 11:6). Therefore having exhorted us all to carry on in our faith, and not draw back to perdition, the Word of God now affirms that we are not those who draw back to perdition, but we are those who believe to the saving of the soul (vs. 39). Something which I now urge you to do if you have not yet believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, to repent and believe in the Gospel and thus have remission of all your sins and everlasting life when you receive Him into your heart and life by faith, which you can do right now by praying a simple prayer believing in His Crucifixion death and Resurrection from the dead and confessing Him as Lord (Rom 10:9-10, 13) for He will by His Spirit come into your person and life and make His home in you and He will begin within you a whole new purpose and life for you. A bright and glorious and eternal future awaits you, therefore don't delay be reconciled to God today!
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Additional Resources Consulted
MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Edited by Arthur Farstad. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995.
Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
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