The writer
of the
letter to the Hebrews
writes to Jewish believers, in particular, to
challenge them
to regard highly Jesus the Christ and to continually
focus on
Him in faith.
Throughout the letter, the writer offers warnings to help them
understand the seriousness
of
the failure to focus on Christ
(Hebrews 2:1–3a; 3:12–14; 4:1–11; 6:1–8; 10:19–31; 12:14–17; 12:25–29; and 13:4–6). In Hebrews 10:31—at the
conclusion of one of those warnings--
the writer reminds believers that it is a
fearful
thing to fall into the hands of the
living God
(Hebrews 10:31).
In Hebrews 10:19–25 the author provides important content that believers should be attentive to. Because those who have believed in Jesus have been cleansed by Him, they can confidently approach Him and hold fast to the hope He provides (Hebrews 10:19–23). Because of the finality of His work and the certainty we can have in Him, we should be encouraging each other to love and good deeds and making effort to be together as believers (Hebrews 10:24–25). It might seem strange that, in a section focused on building the confidence of the believer as to his eternal destiny and the certainty of his redemption in Christ, the writer would remark that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).
The writer explains that, if we continue to sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there is no longer a sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 10:26)—in other words, there is no additional sacrifice that can be made. Jesus’ sacrifice was once for all and sufficient (Hebrews 10:19–23). The believer should have confidence in that. But if there is continual, willful sin, then the believer’s confidence can be shaken. It is appointed that after death there is a judgment (Hebrews 9:27), and willful sin makes looking forward to that judgment fearful rather than joyful. Consider, for example, the description of this judgment in 1 Corinthians 3:10–15. There is a testing of the believer’s works by fire, and if the works are burned up, even the believer suffers loss—although he does not lose salvation (1 Corinthians 3:15). So the willfully sinning believer looks forward to that judgment with fear rather than with the confidence that he should have (Hebrews 10:27).
The writer illustrates the seriousness of such a sinful walk by reminding readers of the consequences of this kind of sin under the Mosaic Law—death (Hebrews 10:28). If the person under the Mosaic Law was judged so severely, how much more penalty would a person deserve who has trampled the blood of Christ and insulted the Spirit of Grace (Hebrews 10:29)? Yet, it is important to note that the writer does not say the believer will die or lose salvation; he simply questions what the believer would deserve. God is the judge, and vengeance belongs to Him (Hebrews 10:31). Indeed, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).
Because of God’s character, He won’t ignore sin—and there is judgment even for believers, even though that judgment is not about salvation, but about rewards (or lack thereof). The writer of Hebrews challenges believers not to throw away their confidence, because there is great reward (Hebrews 10:35).
A clear conscience before God allows one to look forward to the day of judgment with confidence, whereas a believer with willful sin gives up that confidence—even though his position is secure, that future judgment day approaches, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). Because we cannot shrink back to destruction after being declared righteous by God (Hebrews 10:39), we ought not to continue in sin because God will deal with it, and that inspires fear and not the confidence that we are designed to have as believers.
Please note, this article takes the position that the warning passages in the book of Hebrews are written to born-again believers. For another view, see our articles on the warning passages, Hebrews 6, and Hebrews 10.
In many New Testament letters, the readers are addressed as “brothers”. See for example Romans 1:13, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Galatians 1:11 and 2 Peter 1:10. In the book of Acts, we read that this was already common practice among the apostles and in the early church (e.g. Acts 1:15-16, Acts 2:37, Acts 15:3, Acts 15:23).
Some Bible translations write “brothers and sisters” here, to make clear that both men and women are addressed by this general term. It is clear that not all these people are from the same family. So why do they call each other “brothers and sisters”?
Jesus defines who are His brothers and sistersIn the Gospels, we read how Jesus gives a new definition of family membership. He is told that His mother and brothers are seeking Him. They are His “real” family members, but Jesus answers: “Who are My mother and My brothers? […]Whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:32-35).
Jesus defines brotherhood not by natural relationships, but by spiritual connections. This does not mean that natural family members are not important (see e.g. 1 Timothy 5:8). But it does mean that the spiritual relationship is even stronger.
Christians are all children of one Father
and are brothers and sisters because they all have a special relationship with God the Father. Romans 8:14-16explains: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
The same chapter says: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:28-29).
Jesus Christ is the only Son of God. But God adopts humans into His family, so that they all become spiritual brothers and sisters.
Brotherly loveBeing brothers and sisters in Christ gives us a certain responsibility for each other. We are to love others as ourselves, but our spiritual family has a special place. As Galatians 6:10 says: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith”.
We are called to brotherly love
(John 13:34, Romans 12:10, Hebrews 13:1).
We are called to sympathize with each other’s sorrows and to live in unity
(1 Peter 3:8).
Together we are the one worldwide church,
the bride of Christ.
The writer
of the
letter to the Hebrews
writes to Jewish believers, in particular, to
challenge them
to regard highly Jesus the Christ and to continually
focus on
Him in faith.
Throughout the letter, the writer offers warnings to help them
understand the seriousness
of
the failure to focus on Christ
(Hebrews 2:1–3a; 3:12–14; 4:1–11; 6:1–8; 10:19–31; 12:14–17; 12:25–29; and 13:4–6). In Hebrews 10:31—at the
conclusion of one of those warnings--
the writer reminds believers that it is a
fearful
thing to fall into the hands of the
living God
(Hebrews 10:31).
In Hebrews 10:19–25 the author provides important content that believers should be attentive to. Because those who have believed in Jesus have been cleansed by Him, they can confidently approach Him and hold fast to the hope He provides (Hebrews 10:19–23). Because of the finality of His work and the certainty we can have in Him, we should be encouraging each other to love and good deeds and making effort to be together as believers (Hebrews 10:24–25). It might seem strange that, in a section focused on building the confidence of the believer as to his eternal destiny and the certainty of his redemption in Christ, the writer would remark that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).
The writer explains that, if we continue to sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there is no longer a sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 10:26)—in other words, there is no additional sacrifice that can be made. Jesus’ sacrifice was once for all and sufficient (Hebrews 10:19–23). The believer should have confidence in that. But if there is continual, willful sin, then the believer’s confidence can be shaken. It is appointed that after death there is a judgment (Hebrews 9:27), and willful sin makes looking forward to that judgment fearful rather than joyful. Consider, for example, the description of this judgment in 1 Corinthians 3:10–15. There is a testing of the believer’s works by fire, and if the works are burned up, even the believer suffers loss—although he does not lose salvation (1 Corinthians 3:15). So the willfully sinning believer looks forward to that judgment with fear rather than with the confidence that he should have (Hebrews 10:27).
The writer illustrates the seriousness of such a sinful walk by reminding readers of the consequences of this kind of sin under the Mosaic Law—death (Hebrews 10:28). If the person under the Mosaic Law was judged so severely, how much more penalty would a person deserve who has trampled the blood of Christ and insulted the Spirit of Grace (Hebrews 10:29)? Yet, it is important to note that the writer does not say the believer will die or lose salvation; he simply questions what the believer would deserve. God is the judge, and vengeance belongs to Him (Hebrews 10:31). Indeed, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).
Because of God’s character, He won’t ignore sin—and there is judgment even for believers, even though that judgment is not about salvation, but about rewards (or lack thereof). The writer of Hebrews challenges believers not to throw away their confidence, because there is great reward (Hebrews 10:35).
A clear conscience before God allows one to look forward to the day of judgment with confidence, whereas a believer with willful sin gives up that confidence—even though his position is secure, that future judgment day approaches, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). Because we cannot shrink back to destruction after being declared righteous by God (Hebrews 10:39), we ought not to continue in sin because God will deal with it, and that inspires fear and not the confidence that we are designed to have as believers.
Please note, this article takes the position that the warning passages in the book of Hebrews are written to born-again believers. For another view, see our articles on the warning passages, Hebrews 6, and Hebrews 10.
In many New Testament letters, the readers are addressed as “brothers”. See for example Romans 1:13, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Galatians 1:11 and 2 Peter 1:10. In the book of Acts, we read that this was already common practice among the apostles and in the early church (e.g. Acts 1:15-16, Acts 2:37, Acts 15:3, Acts 15:23).
Some Bible translations write “brothers and sisters” here, to make clear that both men and women are addressed by this general term. It is clear that not all these people are from the same family. So why do they call each other “brothers and sisters”?
Jesus defines who are His brothers and sistersIn the Gospels, we read how Jesus gives a new definition of family membership. He is told that His mother and brothers are seeking Him. They are His “real” family members, but Jesus answers: “Who are My mother and My brothers? […]Whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:32-35).
Jesus defines brotherhood not by natural relationships, but by spiritual connections. This does not mean that natural family members are not important (see e.g. 1 Timothy 5:8). But it does mean that the spiritual relationship is even stronger.
Christians are all children of one Father
and are brothers and sisters because they all have a special relationship with God the Father. Romans 8:14-16explains: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
The same chapter says: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:28-29).
Jesus Christ is the only Son of God. But God adopts humans into His family, so that they all become spiritual brothers and sisters.
Brotherly loveBeing brothers and sisters in Christ gives us a certain responsibility for each other. We are to love others as ourselves, but our spiritual family has a special place. As Galatians 6:10 says: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith”.
We are called to brotherly love
(John 13:34, Romans 12:10, Hebrews 13:1).
We are called to sympathize with each other’s sorrows and to live in unity
(1 Peter 3:8).
Together we are the one worldwide church,
the bride of Christ.
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