1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me— to do Your will, O God.’” [Psalm 40:6–8] 8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
It finally came to me this morning. The shadow of the mighty Man can save noone. He must actually come in person and do the work of salvation. "For the Law (Nomos or Torah or Pentateuch) having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect." (1) “The ‘comers thereunto’ are defined in verse 2 as ‘the worshippers’: it was those who made use of the Levitical sacrifices in the worship of God. This term ‘come’ in the Hebrews’ epistle has its root in the ‘bring’ of Lev 1:2, the Hebrew word there signifying those who ‘draw nigh’ with an oblation, coming thus to the altar. Though the slaying of beasts procured a temporary expiation, it did not secure an eternal forgiveness, it did not perfect ‘continually’ or ‘forever.’ Hence, the effect produced on the conscience of the offerer was only a transient one, for a sense of sin returned upon him, forcing him unto a repetition of the same sacrifices, as the apostle declares in the next verse.” (A. W. Pink)
“For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” (2-4) “The apostle is not here denying absolutely that no one had spiritual access to God and real peace of conscience before Him, but is merely affirming that such blessings could not be secured by means of the Levitical sacrifices. But those who belonged to the ‘remnant according to the election of grace’ (Rom. 11:5) had faith given them to look beyond the shadow to the Substance: see Job 19:25; Psalm 23:6; Song of Solomon 2:16; Isaiah 12:2; Daniel 12:2, etc…” (A. W. Pink) The law required the worshipper to come to Jerusalem for the annual day of atonement to remind them that these sacrifices could at best secure temporal relief for the seared conscience.
“Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me; in burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast had no pleasure. Then I said Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me) to do Thy will, O God.’” [Psalm 40:6–8] (5-7) These Words reveal what passed between the Father and the Son just before the incarnation. (Gaebelein)
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,” (5b) “It was never thy will and design that the sacrifices under thy own law should be considered as making atonement for sin, they were only designed to point out my incarnation and consequent sacrificial death, and therefore a body hast thou prepared me, by a miraculous conception in the womb of a virgin, according to thy word, ‘the seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent.’” (Adam Clarke) “but a body You have prepared for Me” (5c) “This means His virgin-birth. The body the Son of God took on was a prepared body, called into existence by a creative act of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). The sentence, ‘A body hast Thou prepared Me,’ is the Septuagint translation, or paraphrase, of the Hebrew, ‘ears hast Thou digged for Me’ (Psalms 40:6). This reading, or interpretation, is here fully sanctioned by the Holy Spirit. The ear is for learning, and the opened ear stands for obedience (Isaiah 50:5). In taking on the human body He took the form of a servant. See also Exodus 21:1-36. And thus He offered Himself, as One who had the power to do so, out of love for the glory of God, to do His will. He undertook of His own free will the accomplishment of all the will of God and He took on the prepared body in incarnation in order to accomplish the eternal will of God. In this prepared body He lived that blessed life of obedience, suffering from man for God, and then He gave that body, according to the will of God, in His death, when He suffered from God for man, in being made sin for us.” (Arno Gaebelein)
The law was perfect, but “sacrifice and offering; such as were presented under the law, God no longer desired, Psalms 40:6-8;” (Justin Edwards) It was time for the Great Antitype. "Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me— to do Your will, O God.’ [Psalm 40:6–8]“ (7) “The book mentioned here must be the Pentateuch, for in David's time no other part of divine revelation had been committed to writing. This whole book speaks about Christ, and His accomplishing the will of God” (Adam Clarke) So, here in view is “the renewing of His consent when Christ came into the world which we would particularly contemplate… How soon then, when was it that the human nature gave its consent?... ‘This may safely be affirmed, that as soon as, or when first He began to put forth any acts of reason, that then His will was guided to direct its aim and intentions to God as His Father, from Himself as the Mediator.’(T. Goodwin)... For what Christ did as a Child had a meritoriousness in it, as much as what He did when a full-grown Man. So too what He suffered, even in His very circumcision, is made influential unto the sanctification of His people through the virtue of it, equally with what He suffered on the cross. His coat was ‘without seam’ (John 19:23): the righteousness He wrought out for His Church was a unit—beginning at Bethlehem’s manger, consummated at Calvary.” (A. W. Pink)
At the point that Messiah came into the world, the Father took no delight in the sacrifices of Israel. But inJesus’s sacrifice, “God’s rights as the Lawgiver have been fully satisfied by the unsullied and complete obedience of the Lord Jesus. He magnified the law which man had taken and dishonored. Having fulfilled it in His life, He gave Himself to death, that He might silence forever its demand on the believing sinner’s life. By man and for man the will of God has been fulfilled. In the life and death of the Lord Jesus the active measure of both grace and truth has been attained. God’s will was the redemption of His people. But that His grace might triumph, His holiness must first be satisfied. The cross of Christ has effected this." (Arno Gaebelein’s Annotated Bible)
Hebrews 10
11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” [Jeremiah 31:33] 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”[Jeremiah 31:34] 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
“And every [high] priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man,” (11-12a) “Under the law the sacerdotal office was filled by many: attention is called to this by the ‘every priest,’ which is set over against the ‘this Man’ of verse 12, who was competent by Himself to do all God required… ‘after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,’ which is in designed contrast from the ‘stands daily’ of verse 11. Christ has ceased forever from the priestly work of making oblation: He will never again be engaged in such a task…” (A W Pink)
Jesus is through with the task of making atonement for the sins of all true Israelites, but is now engaged as their Great Ambassador or Mediator. This is summed up as the role of saving His people. “The very fact that Christ is in heaven, accepted by His Father, proves that His work [of atonement] must be done. Why, beloved, as long as an ambassador from our country is at a foreign court, there must be peace; and as long as Jesus Christ our Savior is at His Father’s court, it shows that there is real peace between His people and His Father. Well, as He will be there forever, that shows our peace must be continued and shall never cease. But that peace could not have been continual, unless the atonement had been wholly made, unless justice had been entirely satisfied.” (C. H. Spurgeon)
Many say that the wrath of the Father was assuaged by the Son’s sacrifice. I agree that His mercy was made manifest at Calvary, but Jesus will also be Avenger of God’s enemies, subjugating ALL revolters- “from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.” (13) “for ‘He hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained’ (Acts 17:31)…He is seated only in the work of atonement. Christ will yet put forth His mighty power and overthrow every proud rebel against Him. He will yet say, ‘I will tread them in My anger, and trample them in My fury, and their blood shall be sprinkled upon My garments . . . for the day of vengeance is in Mine heart’ (Isa. 63:3, 4): cf. Revelation 14:20…. ‘the wrath of the Lamb’ (Rev. 6:16)… is as much a ‘perfection’ as is the ‘love of Christ’... Each was an intrinsic part of that work assigned Him of the Father.” (A. W. Pink)
"For by that one offering"- up of Himself- "He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." (14) "He hath made an expiation, which avails perpetually to render all those who partake of the virtue of it, completely qualified for the spiritual worship and service of God; and has rendered all true believers acceptable to God; and has made effectual provision for raising those sanctified and faithful ones [-Israel of old and new] to a state of the most consummate holiness, felicity, and glory; (14) And of this the Holy Ghost assures us, fully attesting what has been said." (Thomas Coke)
“What was promised to Israel and Judah through the New Covenant is now true of all who turn to Christ.” (H. A. Ironside) “‘But”— “’Whereof’ - better, the Holy Ghost also beareth witness unto us. The Holy Ghost, speaking in Scripture (Hebrews 3:7; Hebrews 9:8)” (Ellicott) "He had said before, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,” says the Lord: “I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”’ [Jeremiah 31:33] (15-16) “God here says not ‘I will put My promises’ but ‘My Laws [or Torah] in their hearts.’... The grand triumph of grace is that ‘enmity’ against the Law [Torah] (Rom. 8:7) is displaced by ‘love’ for the Law [Torah] (Ps. 119:97)….An intellectual knowledge of God’s Law [Torah] is no proof of regeneration, but a genuine heart-acquaintance with them is…” (Pink) Threatening and promises alike belong to us. We need not just head knowledge but a true turning of heart, soul and mind to the Person of the Messiah of Israel for refuge from the wrath to come.
“Then He”- the Holy Spirit— “adds, 'Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.' [Jeremiah 31:34]” (17) “This is complete justification from all things. No charge can now be brought against the one for whom Christ has settled everything. Therefore the blessed conclusion, ‘Where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.' (Hebrews 10:8)." (Ironside's Notes) “Our Substitute having already discharged our liabilities and justice having been fully satisfied, payment cannot be demanded twice over.” (A. W. Pink) Let us remain in the Vine- the Lamb- and not “crucify again... the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame,” against which the Holy Spirit has forewarned us in Hebrews 6:6.
There are two men. Both are subjects of the same king. And there are very important matters that the king wants the subjects of his kingdom to know for the administration of his government. One man loves the king, seeking his truth daily and proclaiming it to his fellows- exchanging ideas for edification of all. He generally obeys but gladly receives the king's reproof when he fails. The other man seems mindful of duty, but in truth has no regard for knowledge of the king's will. He seeks not understanding, nor the king's council. So he is really only doing that which seems right in his own eyes. Which man do you suppose is justified before the king?
"The priests stand offering sacrifice; Christ sits at the right hand of God. Theirs is the position of a servant; His is the position of Monarch. Jesus is the King come home, His task accomplished and His victory won." (William Barclay)
Hebrews 10: More Succinct Repost
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."
"The apostle, having now finished the doctrinal part of his epistle, and fully shown the superiority of Christ to all men and angels, and the superiority of his priesthood to that of Aaron and his successors, the absolute inefficacy of the Jewish sacrifices to make atonement for sin, and the absolute efficacy of that of Christ to make reconciliation of man to God, proceeds now to show what influence these doctrines should have on the hearts and lives of those who believe in His merits and death." (Adam Clarke) Believers have liberty to come into God’s presence.
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,” (19) "by our prayers, which pierce heaven and prevail with God..." (Trapp), because our High Priest has put His ashes on the golden altar.
“No sooner had Adam sinned, than the door of access to the majesty of God was bolted against him, and all his posterity, the cherubim with the flaming sword standing in his way (Gen 3:24). But now the flaming sword of justice being quenched in the blood of the Surety (Zech 13:7), the door of access is again wide open…. ‘by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us,’ (20a) The ‘way’ to God is here said to be ‘a new and living’ one. The word for ‘new’ is really ‘newly slain,’ for the simple verb ‘occido’ from which it is compounded signifies ‘to slay.’ The avenue of approach to God has been opened unto us because Christ was put to death in this way— ‘through the veil, that is to say, His flesh,’ (20b) While, then, the flesh of Christ was uncrucified, proof was before the eyes of men that the curse was not abolished. As long as He tabernacled in this world, it was evident that sin was not yet put away. The veil must be rent, Christ must die, before access to God was possible. When God rent the veil of the temple, clear intimation was given that every hindrance had been removed, and that the way was opened into His presence.” (Pink)
"No human being had ever before entered into the heaven of heavens..." (Adam Clarke) as Jesus- our Great Priest had. “And having an High (Great) Priest over the house of God,” (21)
“The adjective should be rendered ‘great’ and not ‘high’: it is not a relative term, in comparison with other priests; but an absolute one, denoting Christ’s dignity and excellency: He is ‘Great’ in His person, in His worthiness, in His position, in His power, in His compassion… To show for whom in particular Christ is the great Priest, it is here added ‘over the house of God.’ ‘The apostle doth not here consider the sacrifice of Christ, but what He is and doth after His sacrifice… to take the oversight of the house of God: see Zech 3:6, 7…’(J Owen).” (A. W. Pink)
“let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…,” (22a) "an act of the heart or mind, whereby the soul, under the influence of the Spirit, sweetly, and irresistibly turns to God in Christ as its only center of rest...” (Eben), "as children come to their fathers’ door." (Sutcliffe)
"A ‘true heart’ is opposed to a double, doubting, distrustful, and hypocritical heart… with unshaken confidence—not in myself, nor in my faith, but in the merits of Christ, as giving the unquestionable title to draw near unto the thrice holy God.” (A. W. Pink)
“having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (22b) “Paul joins baptism with interior purity.” (Sutcliffe) "The comparison is between the sprinkling of blood upon ancient worshipers in the old covenant, which blood was actually sprinkled upon their bodies; and, in the new covenant, the sprinkling not of people's bodies but their hearts (for inner purity), by the blood of Jesus… 'And our body washed with pure water' is beyond all doubt a reference to Christian baptism, making it, therefore, a precondition of salvation, or drawing near to God. ” (Burton Coffman) "Their bodies were to be washed with pure water, alluding to the cleansings directed under the law: thus the use of water in baptism, was to remind Christians that their conduct should be pure and holy." (Henry) It saves not unless it is submitted to by faith.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering," (23a)- "by continuing steadfast in the belief of the truths of the gospel and in the practice of its duties..." (Edwards)- "for He who promised is faithful." (23b)
"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works" (24) "Christians must study one another’s cases, the causes and cure of their spiritual distempers, solicitous of their welfare- 'to provoke unto love,' to whet on, as Deuteronomy 6:7, to sharpen and extimulate, as Proverbs 27:17, to rouse and raise up their dull spirits, as 2 Peter 2:13, to set an edge on one another, as boars whet their tusks one against another" (Trapp)--“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some," (25a)- "A Christian is not meant to be a solitary being. Sheep are gregarious, and so are the sheep of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not be solitary pilgrims along the road to heaven, but join that glorious host of God’s elect who march beneath the guidance of our great Master." (C.H. Surgeon)-
"but exhorting one another”- "That's the purpose of gathering and assembling ourselves together is for mutual encouragement, the strengthening of each other, the exhorting of each other." (Chuck Smith) Yet: "The vast majority of professing Christians wish to be petted and flattered, rather than exhorted and cautioned. Most of them are so hypersensitive that the slightest criticism offends them. One who seeks grace to be faithful and to act in true ‘love’ to those whom he supposes are his brethren and sisters in Christ, has a thankless task before him, so far as man is concerned. He will soon lose nearly all his ‘friends’ and sever the ‘fellowship’ which exists between him and them. But this will only give a little taste of ‘the fellowship of His sufferings.’” (A. W. Pink)-- and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching...” (25b)--, "when Christ will save His friends and destroy His foes." (Justin Edwards)
Morning Repost: Hebrews 10: Falling into the Hands of the Living God
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,” [Deuteronomy 32:35] And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” [Deuteronomy 32:36] 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins," (26) "or as in Whitby, 'no other sacrifice for sin [remains].' If we sin wilfully by a total abjuration of Christ, and such as the jews required, after having received the five seals of regeneration enumerated in the sixth chapter. Moses in the law distinguishes sins of oversight and inadvertency, from presumptuous sins. Leviticus 15:27-30. אשׁר יעשׁה ביד רמה, who acts with a high hand, and walks contrary to God. And who can carry himself with a higher hand than he who denies the faith?" (Sutcliffe) "A similar passage, which throws light on our present verse, is found in 1 Samuel 3:14, ‘And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice or offering forever.’ As there were certain sins which, in O.T. times, from their heinousness and the high-handed rebellion of their perpetrators, had no sacrifice allowed them… so it is now with those who apostatize from Christ: there is no relief appointed for them, no means for the expiation of their sin. They voluntarily and finally reject the Gospel, forfeit all interest in the sacrifice of Christ.” (A. W. Pink)
There is no other sacrifice for sin, "but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” (27a) “The Divine punishment which shall be visited upon apostates is first spoken of under the general term ‘judgment,’ as in Heb 9:27. This signifies that it will be a righteous sentence proportioned unto their awful crime: there will be a full and open trial, with an impartial judicial condemnation of them… ‘and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries.’ (27b) "This describes more closely the nature of the ‘judgment’ awaiting them.… ‘For, behold, the Lord will come with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger against the earth, and His rebuke with flames of fire’ (Isa. 66:15). No doubt the reference in our verse is to the final judgment at the last day, and the eternal destruction of God’s enemies. There is… an allusion here to the dreadful fate which overtook Nadab and Abihu, concerning whom it is written ‘there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them’ (Lev 10:2), and also the judgment visited upon Korah, Dathan and Abiram, when ‘the ground clave asunder that was under them, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up’…(Num. 16:30-33). The ‘adversaries’ are those who are actuated by a principle of hostile opposition to Christ and Christianity. They are enemies of God, and God will show Himself to be their Enemy.” (A. W. Pink)
"Some think this refers to the dreadful destruction of the Jewish church and state but certainly it refers also to the utter destruction that awaits all obstinate apostates at death and judgment, when the Judge will discover a fiery indignation against them…”(Matthew Henry)
"No other atonement will ever be made, and if we reject this after having known its efficacy, and willfully turn away, refusing to trust in it for salvation, we shall perish…” (Justin Edwards)- eternally.
“He that despised Moses’ Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses.” (28) They died without mercy, "a temporal death." (Henry) “The Greek word for ‘despise’ means to utterly reject a thing, to set aside or cast it off, to treat it with contempt. The one who thus flouted the Divine legislation through Moses, was he who renounced its authority, and determinately and obstinately refused to comply with its requirements. Such an one suffered the capital punishment…. ‘Of how much sorer punishment (eternal death) suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith He was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?’ (29)… The popular idea…is that, under the … ‘dispensation of grace’ God has acted, is acting, and will act much more mildly with transgressors, than He did under the Mosaic economy. The very opposite is the truth.” (A. W. Pink) “People may object [to the importance of doctrine]; they may rip all reference to the blood from their hymn-books and banish the mention of it from sophisticated pulpits; but if such is done, the sentence of God's rejection falls upon them that do it, even as Christ said of others who rejected him, ‘Behold your house is left unto you desolate’ (Mat 23:38).” (Burton Coffman)
“For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ [Deuteronomy 32:35] And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ [Deuteronomy 32:36]” (30) First, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” — Here Moses reminded them of the Word of God— “the office which God holds as the Judge of all the earth: as such, He enforces His righteous Law, and inflicts it’s just punishment on willful and impenitent sinners. Though, in His unsearchable wisdom, He is often pleased to forbear for a while—for He ‘bears with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction’ (Rom. 9:22)— nevertheless, God will yet pay to every transgressor the full wages to which their sins have earned. God bore long with the Antediluvians, but at the end He destroyed them by the flood. Wondrous was His patience toward the Sodomites, but at His appointed season, He rained down fire and brimstone upon them. With amazing forbearance He tolerates the immeasurable wickedness of the world, but the Day is swiftly approaching when He will avenge Himself upon all who now so stoutly oppose Him.” (A. W. Pink)
And again, "The Lord will judge His people.”— This “is a pointed warning of judgment for the saints themselves… a fact noted by Peter who said, ‘And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?’ (1 Peter 4:18). There is by us a line unseen that crosses every path, the hidden boundary between God's mercy and God's wrath. When King David was offered a choice of three punishments for his sin in numbering Israel, he said, ‘Let us now fall into the hands of Jehovah, for his mercies are great’ (2 Samuel 24:14). However, as Milligan wisely noted, there is a difference in falling into the hands of God for correction and in doing so for judgment. The fearful penalties to be executed upon apostates are exceedingly dreadful.” (Burton Coffman)
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (31) This “ought to stir up God’s servants to warn and persuade men before the day of grace is finally closed. And how it should make each one of us walk softly before God, sparing no pains to make our calling and election ‘sure.’ It is only as we ‘add’ to our faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly-kindness, and love, that we have scriptural assurance that we shall ‘never fall’ (2 Pet. 1:5-10).” (A. W. Pink)
Hebrews 10
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[h] 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 [that which] who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just [my just one] shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” [Habakkuk 2:3, 4]
“But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:” (32)
“Right after their illumination by God, they were called upon to feel something of the rage of His enemies….” (A. W. Pink) “The remembrance then of past warfare, if it had been carried on faithfully and diligently under the banner of Christ, is at length useful to us, not as a pretext for sloth, as though we had already served our time, but to render us more active in finishing the remaining part of our course. For Christ has not enlisted us on this condition, that we should after a few years ask for a discharge, like soldiers who have served their time, but that we should pursue our warfare even unto the end.” (John Calvin)
“The seaman must persevere in his long voyage, and the husbandman must wait for the harvest… [We must wait on the Lord for an answer to our prayers.] The believing Hebrews were too much like their fathers when Moses ascended the mount; they thought he tarried long, and ‘wot not what was become of him,’ and so they made themselves gods to go back again to Egypt. Those in Paul’s day were for returning to judaism, for they saw not the promises fulfilled which they eagerly expected, forgetting that Jehovah’s plan is wide and large, embracing an infinitude of objects, and requiring a long time for its execution.” (Joseph Sutcliffe)
“'partly while you were made a spectacle'— a gazing-stock— 'both by reproaches and tribulations;' (33a) Ye were exhibited as wild beasts and other shows at the theatres. See the note on 1 Corinthians 4:9, where all this is illustrated. ‘‘and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated;’ (33b) It appears, from 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 1 Thessalonians 2:15, that the Churches of God in Judea were greatly persecuted, and that they believed with courage and constancy in their persecutions. When any victim of persecuting rage was marked out, the rest were prompt to take his part, and acknowledge themselves believers in the same doctrine for which he suffered. This was a noble spirit; many would have slunk into a corner, and put off the marks of Christ, that they might not be exposed to affliction on this account.“ (Adam Clarke)
“The loss which they had sustained in their characters and reputations, and unto many people…this is a sore trial; almost anything is easier to bear than obloquy and disgrace. But sufficient for the disciple to be as his Master: they slandered Him, and said He had a demon.” (A. W. Pink)
“for you had compassion on me (Paul) in my chains,” (34a) “The apostle here makes grateful acknowledgment of the sympathy which the Hebrews had shown him in an hour of need… ‘and [you] joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.’ (34b) Where the heart’s affections are truly set upon things above (Col. 3:2), few tears will be shed over the loss of any earthly baubles. True, it is natural to mourn when rudely deprived of material possessions, but it is supernatural to rise above such grieving… The true riches of the Christian are not accessible to human or Satanic plunderers. Men may strip us of all our worldly possessions [even social status and honor], but they cannot take from us the love of God, the salvation of Christ, the comforts of the Holy Spirit, the hope of eternal glory.” (A. W. Pink)
“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” (35) “Since it [your confidence] is your shield and buckler, Eph 6:16; but if battered with temptations, beat it out again. Demosthenes was branded with the name of ριψασπις, one that had lost his buckler.” (Trapp) Their confidence is in the Person of Jesus to save. He is our Shield and Buckler.
Thee call from Habakkuk in Judah is for endurance to continue doing the will of God in spike of seeming injustice in the land. The quote from the prophet is “that which will come will come” and will not tarry, but Paul personifies it saying, “He who is coming will come…” [Habakkuk 2:3-4]
“With the past in mind they are to maintain their former constancy, knowing that it will not be in vain. Their great need, as the whole epistle is meant to teach them, is the power of endurance, enabling them to wait on for the fulfilment of the promise given them by God (Hebrews 10:35 f.). And the time of waiting will not be long. The day foretold in Scripture (Habakkuk 2:3 f.) is close at hand, when the Coming One will appear, and those who have been faithful will enter into life, while those who have fallen back will be condemned. Our part as Christians is to be men of faith, and so to win for ourselves the coming salvation.” (Arthur Peake)
“Living by faith, and dying in faith, our souls are safe for ever.” (Matthew Henry) “By this solemn consideration, therefore, the apostle urges on them the importance of perseverance, and the guilt and danger of apostasy from the Christian faith. If such a case should occur, no matter what might have been the former condition, and no matter what love or zeal might have been evinced, yet such an apostasy would expose the individual to the certain wrath of God.” (Barnes)
39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
“It is to be carefully noted that the apostle did not say, ‘them that have believed to the salvation of the soul,’ but ‘them that believe to the saving of the soul.’… There is a blessed sense in which every regenerated believer has been saved by Christ, yet there is also another and most important sense in which his salvation is yet future: see Romans 13:11, 1 Peter 1:5, 9.” (Pink) God will not forsake you, if you do not altogether forsake Him.