Hebrews 10:26-31 – Be steadfast and hold on to the end

In the Book of Hebrews, the author had been asserting the fact that it is a serious sin when a person who had received the revelation of the truth; known and professed it, and then chose deliberately to walk away. Such a person is called an apostate. The author of Hebrews wanted the readers to know the seriousness of becoming an apostate who would go on sinning willfully. When a believer deliberately turned away from his faith, he had rejected Christ and His sacrifice, he no longer had any protection from the judgment of God.

In verse 26, the pronoun “we” is all inclusive. The author was warning the readers, including himself, that to turn away from God deliberately and to go on sinning willfully was a serious matter to be wearied of. This is not referring to people who drift away from the faith once in a while and then repent and return. This refers to one who had drifted away, stayed out and refused to return. So severe would be this sin that the author revealed it would be punishable in the severest hell. When the author said, ”…there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins”, he meant that apart from the sacrifice of Christ, there would be no other sacrifice acceptable to God. To turn away from that atoning work of Christ would cause that person to end in the terrible judgment of hell, which would consume the adversaries. Interestingly, the word “adversary” is another name for Satan. God had prepared the fire of hell for him and it is a fearful thing to think that an apostate is lumped together with him.  

To support what he had just said, the author made a comparison. He looked back to the old dispensation under Moses. The Law stated that when a person had broken it, and two or three witnesses could confirm it, that person would be punishable by death. No mercy would be shown that person (Numbers 15:30). If under the Old Covenant, a person would be dealt with severely, how much more severely would one be dealt with, if he despised all that Christ had accomplished at Calvary? The point of the author was this: Under the Old Covenant, a person who spurned it would have to suffer a severe penalty. Now for a believer, who spurned the superior New Covenant, would have to face a greater penalty.

To trample “under the foot the Son of God” and regard, “as unclean the blood of the covenant” would be to despise Him and the superior Blood of Jesus Christ. It was the Blood of Christ that had sanctified the apostate. Besides, by remaining an apostate would be to insult the Holy Spirit, who had graciously brought one to faith in Christ. In verses 30 and 31 we find a quotation of Deuteronomy 32:35-36 that discussed the vengeance of God. In the Old Covenant, God had vengeance on His own people when they broke Moses' Law, how much more would He show vengeance on those who would violate the grace given through Jesus Christ?  Vengeance belongs to God.  And it is indeed “a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” 

Hence, we must take heed to be wise and not be foolish. Let’s seek to understand what the will of the Lord is. We learn to redeem every opportunity because the days are evil. Be circumspect and live to glorify God!