Earnest Warning (10:26-31) (Continued)
A Sorer Punishment to Be Considered (10:28-29)
Verses 28 and 29 form a comparison, the purpose of which is to emphasise the seriousness of wilful sin and the sure recompense of God’s judgment. In verse 28, the writer provides an Old Testament example of divine judgment for sinning wilfully after receiving the full knowledge of the truth. In verse 29, he asks a rhetorical question to impress upon us that the penalty for wilful sin against “the Son of God” and “the Spirit of grace” is much more severe than for wilful sin under the Law. The case is hypothetical, and no answer is given. Thus, the reader is left to ponder from a divine perspective the peril of sinning wilfully.
In verse 28, the writer states the dire outcome for one who “despised Moses’ law”1 – he “died without mercy.” While there were several cases for which the death penalty was prescribed (e.g., blasphemy, cursing, murder, idolatry, adultery, etc.), the case in Numbers 15:30-36 is most likely on the writer’s mind. There, law against presumptuous sin (vv30-31) and an occasion of transgression against it are recorded (vv32-36). In this account, a man who was seen gathering sticks on the Sabbath day was stoned to death by the Lord’s command (vv35-36).
According to Numbers 15:30, the death penalty was to be imposed when a person acted “presumptuously” (or “defiantly,” NASB, NET; lit. “with a high hand,” JND, ESV, YLT). For the man who gathered sticks, we must conclude his act was committed wilfully and defiantly against the clear injunctions of the Law. It was not a case of “sin through ignorance” (Num 15:24-29; Heb 5:2). In the language of verse 26, it was a case of sinning wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth. Note also, he “despised” divine revelation (v28). “Despised” means to set aside, cast off, disesteem, disregard or reject. In Deuteronomy 17:12-13, such presumption (or pride, insolence, arrogance) and deliberate disobedience demanded capital punishment: “… that man shall die …. And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.” The desired outcome was that all may know and understand an abiding principle: despised revelation and abused privilege lead to judgment. Such is the tenor of the warnings in Hebrews.
In verse 29, a question is posed using a comparative (“much sorer”), the purpose being to make us think (i.e., “suppose ye”) about the surety and severity of God’s judgment. In simple terms, the question is, If sinning defiantly and knowingly under Moses’ law was worthy of the death penalty, then how much more severe a penalty do we think would be deserving of a Christian who goes on sinning wilfully against NT revelation and privilege?
The wilful sin is characterised in a threefold way: (1) “trodden under foot the Son of God,” (2) “esteemed the blood of the covenant … common,” and (3) “insulted the Spirit of grace” (v29 JND). It seems relatively obvious that such volition, contempt and offence are diametrically opposed to the exhortation (vv19-25). “Trodden under foot” (katapateo) is a metaphoric expression that signifies a conscious despising, disdain or spurning of Christ and the “new and living way” He has inaugurated. To shun our separated position and privilege to “enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (v19) is tantamount to esteeming “the blood of the covenant” (i.e., “the blood of Christ,” 9:14) as being menial, dispensable or ordinary in worth. These, alongside abandoning the “house of God” (i.e., the “habitation of God through the Spirit,” Eph 2:22), would be an insult of the highest degree, far more severe than grieving (Eph 4:30). This is God’s holy assessment of what one who “was sanctified” would be doing if they were to spurn the truth concerning the Son of God, His blood and the Spirit of grace. Remember, His thoughts are infinitely higher than ours (Isa 55:8-9).
We are not told what the punishment would be. All we are told is that it would be certain, fearful, and much worse than to be taken in death (vv27,30-31).
A Certain Recompense to Be Feared (10:30-31)
In verse 30, the writer cites Deuteronomy 32:35-36. The reference is of no coincidence, for Israel’s sin and God’s response to it have a remarkable parallel to the fourth warning. Israel “forsook God,” “lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation,” and “provoked him to jealousy” and “to anger” (Deu 32:15-16). They were to be “wise,” “understand” and “consider their latter end” (v29), for their sin and unfaithfulness were being “laid up in store” (v34). That is, while the Lord did not deal with each one immediately, their deeds would not be forgotten. The Lord was sure to judge and recompense. Moreover, He reserved the right to decide when and how such judgment would be dispensed.
Thus, the writer says, “For we have known Him who is saying, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will recompense, saith the Lord;’ and again, ‘The Lord shall judge His people’” (10:30 YLT). Whether it be through temporal discipline, or by recompense of reward at the judgment seat of Christ, we can be sure of this: “The Lord shall judge His people.” Accordingly, we must not be deceived into thinking we can sin with impunity. “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1Co 3:17). “God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal 6:7). “He that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons” (Col 3:25). As privileged King David once discovered, God’s forgiveness did not exempt him from discipline: “The sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me …. The LORD also hath put away thy sin …. Howbeit … the child … shall surely die” (2Sa 12:9-14).
Thanks be to God, Christ has “put away sin” (Heb 9:26), and if we sin, we can be sure of His righteous advocacy and forgiveness upon earnest confession (1Jn 1:9). However, the heinous character of sin to our thrice-holy God has not diminished with salvation. Sin is still sin, and wilful sin committed by a believer is far more serious than sin by an unbeliever. Given the cost of our redemption, God’s beloved Son, we should have an elevated hatred for sin and an acute sensitivity towards sinning against His revealed will (Psa 19:13; 101:3; Pro 8:13; Rom 12:9). Our prayer is that the solemnity of the warning will have a positive influence upon us all who bear “the name of Christ,” our beloved Saviour who “loved righteousness, and hated iniquity” (2Ti 2:19; Heb 1:9).
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV unless otherwise noted.
