Hebrews: Compare and Contrast
Hebrews 10:26-27.
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
Hebrews 6:3-8
[3] And this we will do if God permits. [4] For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, [5] and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, [6] and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. [7] For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. [8] But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
There are parts of these verses that I’ve struggled with for years. Questions I’ve had about salvation, judgment etc. When I asked a brother of mine about some helpful ideas to be able to answer my questions he gave probably the most helpful idea of all: Write 50 questions and 50 observations about the text. Rather than answering my question and give me a quick “microwave-generation” answer, he encouraged me to rather do some of my own treasure hunting in the scriptures to see what I came up with. I may not reach 50 but here are some initial thoughts and questions that have been composed over a few days (and in not so few places).
Preliminary:
1. Who is the author of this text: Unknown, not specified, some speculation it could be Paul
2.Who is the audience? Hmmm I’m guessing the Hebrews believers
3. What is the point of this letter: To show that Jesus is indeed preeminent over all, angels or otherwise
4. Why am I choosing to compare and contrast these two passages? : Initially the first passage was the passage that a group of us are wanting to memorize to be able to be further equipped in sharing the gospel. The second passage is similar in tone attitude and purpose. I hope to be able to come away with understanding each better as I compare it with something else that is similar.
3:27 am on the couch
5.For if we … Who is we? This is a first and second person, the writer is including himself with his audience. “We” are the Hebrew believers specifically, the writer and I believe by extension US. (the question is which group of “us” is he referring to?)
6. For if…a contingent or a stipulation. By chance, …( I cannot write out how to explain “if” without using “if”) IF this happens, this will happen..etc
7. For if we go on sinning. Ahahaha! Now we know. If we sin..something will happen. What is the “sin” or “sinning” here? Does it say, can we be specific?
8. For if we go on sinning deliberately. Deliberately? Purposely, intentionally, knowingly? Seems to say “For if we go on sinning that we purposely set in our minds to do..”
5:05 pm- at Chic Fil A
9. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge – Here is what it is contingent upon. Receiving knowledge. Not just any knowledge, the knowledge. A knowledge ABOUT something. What is it?
10. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth- The Knowledge of the truth, what is this truth that this entire clause stands upon. If we hear THE TRUTH, and we still continue to deliberately sin we ….
11.there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, Because a truth was given, ignored, there is no more remedy. There is nothing left, because the sacrifice that would have covered sins has been “thrown away” if you will.
12.So who does this apply to? And what is the sacrifice that this refers to?
13.but a fearful expectation of judgment, So when the sacrifice is ignored, as continuing to sin then this produces an expectation of judgment. Simple picture- if I know the syllabus, refuse to do my work, know that what will happen if I continue to not do my work I can expect an F. Even that’s not a good example. If I know the law about drugs, but ignore it, then I’m busted I can fearfully expect to be thrown into jail. This leads a question perhaps not given in this text but for further study:
14.What is the difference between Judgment and Punishment?
8:10 pm- at home
15. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. A fury of fire…God’s wrath that will consume (destroy, devour) the adversaries (enemies, opponents). So is this scripture saying if we continue in sin as believers, and ignore Christ’s sacrifice by our persistent sin, we will still face his wrath?
Perhaps I should use another text in Hebrews that may help explain this text.
16. Starting in verse 4 of chapter 10, to verse 6 the author says: For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, [5] and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, [6] and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. Wow this alot to digest, but I didn’t want to break a flow of thought. There are several things mentioned here such as
17. An impossibility (It cannot happen, it cannot be done, it won’t be done)
18. A reference to those “being enlightened” : Those with the Knowledge of the truth as Hebrews 10:26-27 (see note 9, 10)
19. Those that are enlightened would have tasted of a heavenly gift (which is…)
20. That they have shared in the Holy Spirit
21. (who can share in the Holy Spirit?)
22.. They have TASTED the goodness of God
23. Which is?
24. They have TASTED/experienced the powers of the age to come
25. I’m assuming these are heavenly powers, or gifts of the Holy Spirit, though I am not clear
26 Even with these qualifications they have fallen away
27. How and Why?
28. The impossibility continues..they cannot be restore to repentance (what does this mean?)
Numbers 15:30-31 gives the same idea-
But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from among his people.
Because he has despised the word of the LORD and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him."
29. Deut. 17:12
The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.30. 2 Peter 2:20-22
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first
For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire
31.. How do restore to repentance?)
32.. Repentance means-
33.. They have crucified Jesus to their own harm (how?)
34. ( By their falling away) As Hebrews 10 says those who are “sinning deliberately”
35.. They have held Jesus in contempt
36 . (Again by their falling away. What does “falling away” mean?)
To be finished…
