The Hebrew writer has spent a lot of time instructing his Hebrew brethren that their choice to accept Jesus of Nazareth as their promised and long-awaited Messiah was the right choice. He has contrasted angels with Jesus, showing Jesus to be better than angels. He has shown that Jesus’ covenant is better than the one given through Moses. He has shown that Moses was a faithful servant, but that Jesus was a faithful Son. He has shown that the priesthood of Aaron was inferior to Christ: He is a “priest after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:6). He has shown that the blood of animals could never remove sin (Hebrews 10:4), and that when contrasted with the blood of Christ was merely “carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation” (Hebrews 10:9). But Christ has come and His blood is “able to save to the uttermost, those who draw nigh to God through him.” Thus, in his conclusion he urged the Hebrews to “enter boldly into the holy place by the blood of Christ” (Hebrews 10:19).
He warned his brethren not to forsake the assembling of themselves together “as the custom of some” was, rather they were to exhort one another and especially the more as they “saw the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). He reminded them that for those who “sinned willfully after they had received the knowledge of the truth there remained no more a sacrifice for sin” (Hebrews 10:26). Toward the end of that chapter he warned, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (v. 31).
He reminded them of the sacrifices they had made in the “former days.” They went through a great conflict of suffering, partly because of personal sufferings and partly because they had stood with others who suffered (v. 37). He reminded them that their former deeds had great recompense of reward (v. 35). With a passionate plea he urged them to “cast not away your boldness which hath great recompense of reward” (v. 35). He pleaded, “For ye have need of patience that, having done the will of God ye might receive the promise” (v. 36).
Patience and steadfastness. They had, with boldness, entered into the holy place and as a consequence of that boldness had received remission of their past sins, as well as the glorious hope of a future resurrection and a heavenly home with their Savior. But, they also had suffered and endured great hardship and deprivation that discipleship had brought them. Now, that suffering and persecution had worn them down. Obviously, the writer communicated to a people laden down, burdened and discouraged because of the hardships which engulfed them. They needed both warning and encouragement, and both these things were given them in this epistle.
The hymn by Thomas Dorsey was composed centuries after these Christians died, but had it existed in their day it would have been a source of encouragement and strength to them. It has been that to many generations since it was written, and we are persuaded it will continue to encourage generations to come: “When my way groweth drear, precious Lord, linger near. When my life is almost gone; Hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand lest I fall, Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. When the shadows appear and the night draweth near, and the day is past and gone, At the river I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand, Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; Thru the storm, thru the night, lead me on to the light; Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.”
The Hebrew writer well said, “For yet a very little while he that cometh shall come and shall not tarry. But my righteous one shall live by faith: and if he shrink back my soul hath no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition but of them that hath faith unto the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:37-39).
To another group of brethren Paul also wrote these encouraging words: “Wherefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Jim McDonald