Hebrews 10:19-25
“Lessons from the ‘Let Us’ Patch: Delightful Truths for Difficult Times”
(An Outlined Meditation)
The Text: Hebrews 10:19-25 (a blend of ESV/NASB)
“Therefore, brothers,
-since (a) we have confidence to enter the holy place
by the blood of Jesus,
by the new and living way that He opened/inaugurated for us
through the curtain/veil,
that is, through His flesh,
-and since (b) we have a great priest over the house of God,
(1) let us DRAW NEAR
with a true/sincere heart
in full assurance of faith,
-having (c)
our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed with pure water.
(2) Let us HOLD FAST the confession of our hope – i.e., the hope we profess (NIV)
without wavering,
for He who promised is faithful.
And
(3) let us CONSIDER HOW to stir up/stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
-not forsaking and/or neglecting our own meeting together
as is the habit of some,
-but encouraging one another,
and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
The Backdrop to the Book of Hebrews: God’s People & the Matter of Loss, Pain, Suffering, Etc.
1) During this interadvent age (i.e., between Jesus’ first and second comings), we are in the last days (Heb. 1:1,2) … and these last days are difficult times (II Tim. 3:1), filled with all sorts of loss, pain, suffering, etc.
2) God’s people experienced loss in Old Testament times (Heb. 11:35b-39 [vs. Heb. 11:32-35a re: Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and their feats; cf. also Heb. 11:4-31 re: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab and their feats]):
· Loss of comfort (they “suffered;” they were “tortured,” “mocked,” “flogged,” “afflicted” and “mistreated;” they were “destitute” … “[going] about in skins of sheep and goats … wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves in the earth”);
· Loss of freedom (they experienced “chains” and “imprisonment;” they “refused to accept release”);
· Loss of life (they were “stoned,” “sawn in two” and “killed with the sword”).
3) God’s people experienced loss in New Testament times (Heb. 10:32-34):
· Loss of comfort (they “endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated”);
· Loss of property (they joyfully accepted the plundering of [their] property”).
4) We too, in these last days, experience loss:
· Loss of loved ones;
· Loss of jobs/income
· Etc.
5) Question: Is there any help, any hope, any encouragement, for such loss, pain, suffering and potential discouragement?
The Theme of the Book of Hebrews: The Superiority & Preeminence, the Magnificence & Wonder, of Jesus
God has spoken to us in His Son Jesus (Heb. 1:1,2), and…
· Jesus is better than the angels (Heb. 1:1-2:18).
· Jesus is a better prophet (Heb. 3:1-4:16; esp. Heb. 3:1-6), and a better priest – i.e., sinless (Heb. 5:1-7:28; esp. Heb. 7:1-28). He offered a better sacrifice – i.e., Himself (Heb. 9:1-10:18), entered a better tabernacle – i.e., heaven (Heb. 9:1-10:18; esp. Heb. 9:1-28), and mediated a better covenant – i.e., the new covenant (Heb. 8:1-13). Accordingly…
· Jesus is an ever-present help in time of trouble. Since He has suffered, He is able to help us … to come to our aid (Heb. 2:18). So there’s help for troubled souls in difficult times: Help through Jesus!
An Overview of Hebrews 10:19-25
1) The Context: This passage stands at the center of the book, at the transition from doctrine (Heb. 1:1-10:18) to practice (Heb. 10:19-13:25), reminding us that what we believe is vital to how we live.
2) The Core: We’re to (1) “draw near” to God and His grace; we’re to (2) “hold fast” to the confession of our hope; and we’re to (3) “consider how” to stir up one another to love and good deeds.
3) The Concept: As we “draw near” and “hold fast” and “consider how,” we will discover delightful truths for difficult times … i.e., how Jesus comes to our aid and helps us with our loss, pain and suffering. The book of Hebrews is, after all, a “word of encouragement” (Heb. 13:22), to encourage us in discouraging times.
The Main Points in Hebrews 10:19-25 (What, Why and How?)
1) The Command to “Draw Near” (to God and to His Grace)
“Since we have confidence to enter the holy place … and since we have a great priest … let us draw near…” (Heb. 10:19-22; cf. also Heb. 4:16).
a) What we’re to do: We’re to “draw near” – “Let us draw near…” (Heb. 10:22). To whom/to what?
(1) We’re to draw near to God Himself (cf. Heb. 7:19,25) … as those who can approach Him, as those who have access to Him. “It’s possible to be at peace with the king of the land, and yet not have access into his presence.” Praise God, we are not only at peace with Him, but we also have access to Him (cf. Rom. 5:1,2)! This is the ultimate “open door” policy!
(2) We’re to draw near to the throne of God’s grace (Heb. 4:16).
b) Why we’re to do it
(1) In Terms of Cause/Basis (i.e., why we can draw near): We’re to do so…
(a) Because Jesus is our great high priest: “Since we have a great priest over the house of God … let us draw near” (Heb. 10:21). Jesus, the God-man, is the perfect Mediator between sinful men and a holy God (I Tim. 2:5), and as our great high priest He represents us before God.
(b) Because we’ve been forgiven: “Let us draw near … having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:22). Our hearts have been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water (cf. Heb. 10:22 with Heb. 10:5-10 [vs. Heb. 10:1-4] and Heb. 10:12-18 [vs. Heb. 10:11]). We’ve been cleansed, washed, purified, forgiven!
This is spiritual and physical cleansing: not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience (cf. I Pet. 3:21). Our sins are “out of sight” (Isa. 38:17) and “out of mind” (Isa. 43:25) and “out of existence” (Isa. 44:22) for one reason: Jesus put away our sin (Heb. 9:26), and He did so by bearing our sin in Himself (Heb. 9:28). He took our place (substitutionary atonement) and He bore our punishment (penal substitution), being charged with our sin that we might be credited with His righteousness (II Cor. 5:21). And He’s done so for all who will trust Him for forgiveness, for all time (cf. Heb. 9:15)! Without such forgiveness, sinners could never approach a holy God.
(c) Because Jesus has opened the way (a new way, a living way!) into the holy place by His blood and through His flesh … i.e., by means of His death, thus giving us confidence to enter the holy place and draw near to God: “Since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which He opened for us through the curtain/veil, that is through His flesh … let us draw near” (Heb. 10:19,20,22). First, Jesus Himself entered the holy place – i.e., heaven itself (cf. Heb. 10:21 with Heb. 8:1,2; 9:24). Second, Jesus opened the way into the holy place for us (cf. Heb. 10:19,20 with Heb. 9:11,12 [vs. Heb. 9:1-10; esp. vv. 8-10]; cf. also Rom. 5:1,2 [through our Lord Jesus Christ we have obtained access into this grace in which we stand]; Eph. 2:18 [through Him we have access to the Father]; 3:12 [in Christ Jesus our Lord we have boldness and access with confidence]).
In the OT tabernacle/temple, a curtain/veil separated the holy place from the holy of holies/the Most Holy Place – the place of God’s presence, and access to God was extremely limited/severely restricted: only the high priest/only once per year … but at Jesus’ death the veil was torn from top to bottom (cf. Mt. 27:51), signifying that what Jesus accomplished on the cross opened up the way to God in heaven (for believers! – cf. “brothers” in Heb. 10:19).
Jesus paid the price; He purchased heaven, access to heaven, access to the God of heaven! Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross (I Pet. 2:24), and He redeemed us with His precious blood (I Pet. 1:18,19). He took our place and bore our punishment … not just that we might be forgiven, but also that we might access/approach God!
(2) In Terms of Effect/Purpose (i.e., why we should draw near): We’re to do so…
(a) That God might draw near to us. (And we need Him more than anyone /anything!)
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (Jas. 4:8). The psalmist’s single-minded passion, his singular request and quest, was to live in God’s house/temple, all the days of his life, so as to: (1) behold/gaze upon the exquisite beauty of the Lord, and (2) meditate/think about this sheer and stupendous beauty of God (Psa. 27:4). No wonder one day in God’s court was better than thousands elsewhere (cf. Psa. 84:10)!
(b) That we might receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). We’re to pour out our hearts before God (cf. Psa. 62:1-8; esp. v. 8). We draw near to God to tell Him what we’re thinking/feeling, and to take refuge in Him. In times of danger, frustration and loss … we’re to draw near to God and pour out our heart to Him! When we do, we find God to be a refuge to us!
c) How we’re to do it: We’re to do so…
(1) With a true/sincere heart.
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth” (Psa. 145:18).
(2) In full assurance of faith.
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6; cf. “full assurance of hope” in Heb. 6:11).
(3) With confidence/boldness.
“We have confidence to enter the holy place” (Heb. 10:19).
“Let us then with confidence draw near…” (Heb. 4:16).
“We have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him” (Eph. 3:12).
Do you see the logic?
Jesus, who Himself has entered the holy place, heaven (cf. Heb. 9:24), has opened the way (Heb. 10:20) … thus we have confidence to enter that holy place (Heb. 10:19) … thus we’re to draw near (Heb. 10:22) to God and His grace! Especially in time of need. Drawing near to God helps us in such time.
2) The Command to “Hold Fast” (to the Confession of Our Hope)
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope…” (Heb. 10:23; cf. Heb. 4:14).
a) What we’re to do: We’re to “hold fast” – “Let us hold fast…” (Heb. 10:23).
(1) We’re to hold fast to the confession of our hope. Believers (those who are Christ’s house, those who are partakers of Him) are those who hold fast (cf. Heb. 3:6,14). Believers are to hold fast their confession (cf. Heb. 4:14), to latch on to it and cling tightly to it!
(2) Our confession refers to that which we profess; i.e., that which we believe as true. (Cf. NIV: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.”) Our hope refers to the good promises of God for the future, including the hope of: (a) the return of the Lord (cf. Phil. 3:20), (b) the resurrection of the dead (cf. I Cor. 15; cf. also Heb. 11:19,35), (c) the reunion of the saints (cf. I Thes. 4:13-18), and (d) the renewal of the cosmos – the better country and better city also known as the new heaven and earth and the new Jerusalem (cf. Heb. 11:8-10,13-16; 13:14; cf. also Rev. 21:1-5).
b) How we’re to do it: We’re to “hold fast … without wavering” (Heb. 10:23).
Abraham and Sarah did not waver in unbelief regarding God’s promise that Abraham would become the father of many nations. Although he believed “against hope,” facing the fact (NIV) that his body and Sarah’s body was as good as dead, yet Abraham also believed “in hope,” because the God he trusted is a God who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist (cf. Rom. 4:17-21).
c) Why we’re to do it: We’re to “hold fast … for He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23).
(1) Sarah considered the God who promised to be faithful (Heb. 11:11).
(2) We, too, should be unwavering in our hope. Why? Because this hope we have is “an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us” (Heb. 6:19,20). It is impossible for God to lie (cf. Heb. 6:18), and God’s purposes are unchangeable (cf. Heb. 6:17). We hold fast to hope, without wavering, because God is faithful to His promises. God has not yet fulfilled all of His good promises (cf. Heb. 11:13,39), but one day He will! We’ve been born again to a living hope, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and unfading … one which is reserved for us in heaven, one for which we are protected by the power of God (I Pet. 1:3-5). What hope there is for times of difficulty, frustration … and loss! The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory yet to be revealed to us (Rom. 8:18). We can (and should!) trust the One who is trustworthy.
3) The Command to “Consider How” (to Stir Up One Another to Love and Good Works)
“Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good deeds…” (Heb. 10:24,25; cf. Heb. 3:13).
a) What we’re to do: We’re to “consider how” – “Let us consider how…” (Heb. 10:24).
(1) We’re to consider how to stir up or stimulate one another to love and good deeds.
(2) The gist of this command is not that we’re to engage in love and good deeds (although we ought to do so!) … or even that we’re to stir up one another to love and good deeds (although we ought to do that too!) … but that we’re to “consider how” to stir up one another to love and good deeds. We’re to give thought, serious thought, to how we can prod and stimulate one another in this regard (i.e., how we can light a fire under each other – a sort of “kick in the pants”) … and then do it!
b) Why we’re to do it: We’re to do so…
(1) Negatively, because it’s easy, on our own, to be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness (Heb. 3:13). We need each other! We do not live our Christian lives as lone wolves!
(2) Positively, because the encouragement we derive from one another is a vital source of encouragement in times of difficulty, frustration and loss!
c) How we’re to do it: We’re to do so…
(1) Enthusiastically/Habitually
“Not neglecting (NASB: ‘forsaking’) to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another” (Heb. 10:25).
(2) Continually/Regularly
“Encourage one another day after day” (Heb. 3:13) – i.e., daily.
(3) Immediately/Increasingly – with Urgency
“Encourage one another … as long as it is still called ‘Today’ ” (Heb. 3:13).
“[Encourage] one another, and all the more as you see the Day [i.e., the day of Christ’s return] drawing near” (Heb. 10:25) … for as we approach the day of Jesus’ return, and thus approach ever closer to the end of these last days, difficult times will worsen (cf. II Tim. 3:1 with II Tim. 3:13).
One more point: When the author of Hebrews commands us: “Let us draw near…” and “Let us hold fast…” and “Let us consider how…” he uses the present tense, which --in Greek-- indicates continuous and ongoing activity. The thought is that we’re to “keep on drawing near to God and to the throne of His grace” and we’re to “keep on holding fast to the hope we profess” and we’re to “keep on considering how to stir up one another to love and good deeds.” We’re to keep at it! And as we do, we find that God will be pleased to shower us with His precious goodness, even in difficult times, including times of loss.
Additional Ways of Looking at Hebrews 10:19-25
1) Through the Triad: Faith, Hope & Love
· We’re sustained by faith, as we draw near (to God and His grace) in full assurance of faith.
· We’re sustained by hope, as we hold fast the confession of our hope.
· We’re sustained by love, as we consider how to stir up one another to love … and the good deeds/works which flow from love.
2) Through the Triad: God’s Grace, God’s Promises & God’s Encouragement
· In times of loss, we access God’s grace … through prayer (as we draw near).
· In times of loss, we recall God’s promises … in Scripture (the hope we profess/believe).
· In times of loss, we experience God’s encouragement … from fellow-believers (the Christian community, with its “one another” relationships).
Conclusion (Hebrews 10:19-25 with Hebrews 3:13; 4:14,16 – a paraphrase)
“Therefore, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ,
because we have a Mediator, a great high priest over the household of God,
and because our sins have been forgiven,
and because we have confidence to enter the holy of holies, heaven itself,
by the blood of Jesus,
by that new & living way He opened up through the curtain, through His flesh,
let us DRAW NEAR to God and to the throne of His grace,
in order to enjoy the beauty of God,
and in order to receive the mercy and find the grace we so desperately need;
and let us do so
with a true and sincere heart,
in full assurance of faith,
with all boldness and confidence.
Secondly, let us HOLD FAST this precious hope we profess;
and let us do so
without wavering,
because He who promised is faithful.
Finally, let us CONSIDER HOW to stir up each other to love and good deeds
(indeed, let us light a fire under one another, and let us give each other a good kick in the pants!)
not forsaking or neglecting our meeting together,
as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another;
and let us do so
day after day, as long as it is still called today,
lest any one of us be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness,
and all the more as we see the Day of days drawing near.”
Drawing near to God, and holding fast to hope, and encouraging one another in love and good deeds … are most helpful when we’re experiencing difficulty and loss. And they’re most helpful to others too. LET US, then, draw near (to God and His grace), and hold fast (to hope), and consider how (to stir up one another) in these last days. Amen. |