Hebrews 10 (5)

Introduction
In this passage the writer leads his readers to consider the harsh reality and undeniable meaning of what they are contemplating. Their drift from Christ is a betrayal of the faith and puts them in danger of the judgment of God. His language is deliberately frank and confrontational, because he wants his readers to realize how serious their lapse of faith can become. Words of comfort and encouragement will follow, but for now, the writer of Hebrews is unsparing in his frankness.

Read Psalm 40.14-17.

Read Hebrews 10.26-31.

Think it through.
1.  Verse 26 is deliberately provocative. Do you ever sin willfully? When the writer says, “there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,” does he mean that willfully sinning, after we have come to the truth of Jesus, causes us to lose the benefits of Jesus’ sacrifice? If we sin after becoming a Christian, are we then lost again? The key lies in verse 27, which probes the subjective experience of one who, knowing the truth, willfully sins against it. Is it a good thing that, when we sin, we begin to dread God’s indignation and judgment? Explain. How does verse 27 lead us to understand the writer’s meaning in verse 26? If we do dread God’s indignation and judgment, what does that suggest about the nature of our relationship with Him?

2.  The writer uses “rejected Moses’ law” as a substitute for “sin willfully.” What does this suggest about the role of God’s Law in the life of faith? In verse 29, the writer describes sinning willfully in three shocking ways. Explain each one. Do you think it would be helpful to keep these in mind whenever you think about sinning willfully? Explain. Verses 30 and 31 remind us that in God’s covenant we are motivated and led by promises, which we obtain through steadfast obedience. When we do not obey, divine sanctions of judgment await us. How does the Lord “judge His people”? Why is this a “fearful thing”? We must always remember that, even in the New Covenant, with its better hope and better promises, judgment plays an important role. Why?

Meditate.
“But if you sin again, the old reproaches return again against you and all the more so, since it is a much greater crime ‘to spurn the Son of God and to profane the blood of the covenant’ than to neglect the law of Moses.” Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)

“Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” Luke 17.3, 4

Thank You, Father, that You love me enough to discipline me when I begin to drift from Jesus and the rest I have in Him. Help me never to drift, but ever to hold fast my confession and to…

Pray Psalm 40.14-17.
How are you “poor and needy” before the Lord today? Call upon Him for help and deliverance of anything that might separate you from Him, and magnify His Name accordingly.

Psalm 40.14-17 (Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
Bring to shame my ev’ry foe, all who would my life destroy; 
Bring them down to scorn and woe who at my hurt sing for joy.
Let them come to grief and shame who heap scorn upon my name.

Let them shout for joy and sing who in saving grace delight!
Let them praise to Jesus bring, though affliction be their plight.
Christ, our help, our Savior He! Of us ever mindful be!

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.