Hebrews Chapter Ten Verses 32-39

HEBREWS CHAPTER TEN VS 32-39 (USING KING JAMES STUDY TEXT, STUDY BOOK WILL REFERENCE A DIFFERENT VERSION FOR READING)

Heb 10:32  But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 

Heb 10:33  Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 

Heb 10:34  For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 

Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 

Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 

Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 

Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 

Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. 

Main Point: The writer extends the concept of not forsaking the assembly and living a willful life of sin. He does so by petitioning their original zeal to do right by the congregation, even to the point of suffering.

15. Describe what was happening to these Christians. The text indicates:

(32) Struggle (KJ-Fight) G119 From G118; a struggle (figuratively): - fight.,

 Sufferings (KJ Afflictions) G3804 From a presumed derivative of G3806; something undergone, that is, hardship or pain;

 (33) Reproach (KJ a Gazingstock) G2301 From G2302; to expose as a spectacle: - make a gazing stock.
Affliction  – G2347 From G2346; pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

 (34) Prison (KJ Bonds) G1199 Neuter and masculine respectively from G1210; a band, that is, ligament (of the body) or shackle (of a prisoner);

– Property Plundered – (KJ SPOILING (of your) GOODS) G724 From G726; pillage (properly abstract): - extortion : G5224 as noun; things extant or in hand, that is, property or possessions

The King James version agrees with the Strong definition of who was being visited in jail. IT WAS THE WRITER who was imprisoned!

16. How are Christians to handle this kind of abuse and suffering? Exercise endurance. Live by faith. Do not shrink back. I think faith is foremost in its importance. Endurance carries the meaning of staying cheerful (in the face of adversity). Imagine not “shrinking back” when your livelihood and/or possessions are threatened. Not easy. But remember this is a personal request from one of them that had been imprisoned.

17. What is God’s promise? (37) CEV  As the Scriptures say, "God is coming soon! It won't be very long. Note: Writer recites Hab 2:3 from the Septuagint….it doesn’t read quite the same as the King James.

The message here is one of urgency and not necessarily of a specific duration.

More important to the message is that destruction is flipped to preservation of the soul for the one who practices faith/endurance.

18. What happens to those who “shrink back”? Their souls are not “preserved”. G4047 From G4046; acquisition (the act or the thing); by extension preservation
The term indicates “to acquire”. The inference here is that thing we call salvation, which can be acquired.

“Destroyed” (KJ Perdition) ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal): - damnable (-nation), destruction, die, (root word means complete destruction)

Additional:

36) Endurance – G5281  cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).

38) Shrink Back – G5288 to withhold under (out of sight), that is, (reflexively) to cower or shrink