Hebrews 10:24 - 25

“and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25 NASB). This verse comes at the end of a section that was titled “A New and Living Way” in the NASB translation. Since the section begins with “Therefore,” it reminds us to look back and see what there is that relates to the section our verse is in. There we learn about the one sacrifice of Christ being sufficient as payment for our sin. Because of the finished work of Christ on the cross, we then have confidence as priest to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross the veil guarding the Holy Place was torn from top to bottom and replaced by the veil of his flesh, limiting access to only believers in Jesus Christ. As a result, we can now draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Because of what Jesus has accomplished for us, we are to hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, because he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:20 – 23).

Considering what Jesus has accomplished for us through his death and resurrection, we are now able to better understand our two verses. In the face of persecution, which was present at the time this was written, and in view of the living hope we have through the finished work of Jesus on the cross, we are to encourage or stimulate one another to love and to show good deeds to those who may be making life difficult for us. We must surrender our desire for justice into the hands of God allowing us to experience his peace in our lives. We must not forsake our assembling together, whether from fear or from our desire to be engaged in some other activity. We must come together to teach one another, to have fellowship, to celebrate the breaking of bread, and having a time of prayer (Acts 2:42). As we see the day of the Lord drawing closer (Philippians 4:5), we are to awake from sleep and do the work assigned to us because our salvation is closer than ever (Romans 13:11).

Because of the lack of persecution here in the west, we often try to make application that makes sense in our culture, not from the culture in which the Scripture was written. Without having the context in mind, it is easy to create a false understanding of Scripture. In one of my Bible studies we were studying several verses that had 18 different interpretations. Most of these interpretations could be easily dismissed because the context disproved them. With care, the remaining interpretations were finally reduced to just one that fit the context.

Prayer

Father, as I think about a closing prayer, I see in my mind a cross section of something that is made up of layers that relate to the four things listed under Acts 2:42. The top layer, the frosting, is fellowship, which the western church is big on. Coffee and donuts or other food and drink is a must when we gather together. But I am afraid our teaching is not very extensive, and we spend so little time remembering all that Jesus has done for us and is willing to do for us now if we would only walk with him in a manner worthy of our calling, and when we come to prayer we really are not on very good terms with it. Father, preparing this lesson has shown me how far we have strayed from living as you would have us live. The average believer does not understand the context of our verses and is not doing a very good job living out these verses.