It's a Fearful Thing

The author of the letter to the Hebrews had an insight that could have only come from the Holy Spirit.  The writer of this letter is unknown; he does not identify himself for what ever reason.

Bible scholars say this letter bears evidence that the author was a second generation Christian, one well versed in the knowledge of the Old Testament.  Many have credited authorship to the Apostle Paul, and like the author, was also a friend of Timothy.  Who ever authored this letter wrote in a classic Greek style more so than any other New Testament writer including Paul.

This letter is the only book in the King James Bible that starts out with the word, "God."  It may just be my personal opinion, but I like to believe that the writer wanted to grab our attention to what he was about to put on parchment.  This letter to the Hebrews may be the single most important book in the Bible.  It speaks of Jesus as no other does.

Frequent warnings are given, that the reader might not reject the salvation or the priesthood of Jesus, the Mediator of God's grace.

Today I have chosen a portion of this letter to consider.  Hebrews 10:29-31 ...

"How much sorer punishment, 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 (injury, contempt, disdain) unto the Spirit of Grace?

For we know Him that hath said, 'Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense,' saith the Lord.  And again, 'The Lord shall judge His people.'

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Is this a warning ... or a promise?  I think, both.  We should heed the warning.

The writer has been speaking to Christian Jews who were being tempted to apostatize ... to abandon and renounce their belief in Jesus and return to the Jewish Law.  In doing so, he reminds them that under Moses' law ... by breaking it willfully and presumptuously, (failing to observe the limits of what was permitted or allowed) ... for which there was no sacrifice; this person died without mercy if there were two or three witnesses against him. 

So, how much greater punishment, suppose he shall be thought worthy of ... who trodden under foot the Son of God?  The author uses a "how much more" argument, and rightly so when we consider what he is saying.

Garbage could be "trampled down," but what was sacred was to be approached only with reverence, and trampling it under foot was the ultimate sin of disrespect.  Going back under the Law, would be counting the blood of Jesus, as unholy ... like garbage.

"We know Him that said this," the writer reminding them, God is the one who said, "Vengeance belongs to Me, I the Lord will recompense and bring judgment," quoting from Deuteronomy 32:35-36.  Even though this judgment was under the Law ... he adds perhaps the most fearful and true verse of scripture ever written ...

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."     

This is not to be understood as a good thing, to fall into God's hands with sin in your life.  But in general, all mankind has fallen into, or is in the hands of God as their creator ... they are the work of His hands.  God cares for each one of them through His providence and they are subject to His sovereignty. 

But here, as the writer of Hebrews states ... it is to be taken in a bad sense ... as if to be arrested for a crime and to be brought before the bar of God, tried, convicted, and sentenced ... condemned to feel the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.  This my friend would be ... "a fearful thing."

While it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of men who have power over you, such as an invading army which shows no mercy ... how much more dreadful will it be to fall into the hands of God as a lost sinner ... to stand before the Judgment Seat, naked, speechless, without the righteousness of Jesus, having no one to speak on your behalf, waiting on His sentence to be pronounced on you.

There will be no appeals, there will be no rescue out of His hands.  He is "the living God" and His sentence will be ... unalterable.  This will be the fate of those who never accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord. 

But as believers, we choose to fall into the hands of our Savior and Lord for His loving care and protection ... and at death we commend our souls unto His hands.

What the writer of Hebrews is speaking about, for Christian Jews to abandon and renounce their belief in Jesus and to apostatize, must be considered a greater abhorrence (a feeling of repulsion or disgusted loathing) of sin, because it is committed against ... "the blood of Jesus."

That's what he was talking about when he said they ... "trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood ... as an unholy thing" ... like garbage. 

That's why he started with ... "How much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy ...?"  For those who commit this (may I say) seemingly greater sin against the blood of Jesus ... this scripture more than just alludes to a greater judgment; I believe it pretty well makes that judgment certain.

The author of this letter intended his plea to the Hebrews to persuade them not to abandon their faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, because doing so would bring a greater judgment upon them.

Because God is no respecter of persons ... can we as believers in the blood of Jesus for our salvation from sin ... also commit such a falling away and even come to the point where we "trodden under foot the Son of God" and discount the blood of Jesus as something other than what it is ... "a Holy thing."

The blood of Jesus is what saves you from sin.


Comments welcome.