Hebrews 10:19-31
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” q and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” r 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. [1]
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What is striking is the law and gospel in this passage. We see both presented in full and in stark contrast, and yet applied to the same people. It is a reminder that as Christians, we need to hear both messages.
The passage begins with gospel. The writer speaks of the confidence we have to enter the Most Holy Place, the presence of God. This confidence rests on two related things: First the blood of Jesus, the sacrifice. Then secondly, the One offering the sacrifice, the great high priest, who eternally stands between us and the Father. Jesus is both priest and victim on the cross, and because of this the way to the Most Holy Place is open, the veil is torn, and we are reconciled with God.
But the following paragraph offers tough law. The writer warns against deliberate, that is unrepentant, sinning. He warns against turning our backs on the gospel, trampling underfoot the sacrifice and the high priest.
Our invitation into the Most Holy Place is only by the blood and the priest. If these are rejected, then we are back under the wrath. As we have reviewed in our Sunday series on Romans, the wrath of God is real. The writer of this letter warns that it is a “dreadful thing” to fall into that wrath. So we are reminded of our Savior’s sacrifice and how everything depends on our reception of this gift. Trusting in our Savior, we are invited into the presence of God. Rejecting the Savior, we are under wrath.
So my prayer today is one of thanksgiving for Jesus, my high priest, and my atonement. I also pray that the Holy Spirit would lead me in being faithful to my Savior, repenting when I stray, and trusting in Him alone.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
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[1] The New International Version. (2011). (Heb 10:19–31). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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