“Hebrews 10:25”

Monday, September 25, 2017

Hebrews 10:25

“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

This will likely be a memory verse many of you already know. I had other passages to use but recently heard of a controversy about this in my travels to the Northwest and so it spurred me on to use this for the current memory passage.

IMMEDIATE CONTEXT Hebrew 10:19-39

• Not forsaking – a command in the negative to forbid one not to leave behind or desert. This negative command is in connection with three positive orders previously stated: to draw near with a true heart (10:22), to hold fast the confession of our hope (10:23), and to consider one another (10:24).  The one who forsakes is not drawing nearer, is not holding fast and is inconsiderate of God and his brethren.
• The assembling of ourselves together – this is the gathering together of the saints of a local church for public worship and study (1 Cor. 11:18; 14:26). It takes in every “assembling of ourselves.”
• As is the manner of some – some were sinning in giving up the assembling times of the saints for other things. This became a “manner” or custom. They were, therefore, habitually neglecting their duties to God, the good confession, and their brethren.
• But exhorting one another – Their actions were not for the better, to exhort, but for the worse. We never exhort others to faithfully serve God by an example of willful neglect of the worship assemblies. We should ask “What kind of activity do my actions encourage?” Let us also remember, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (Jas. 4:17).
• And so much the more as you see the Day approaching – Some have reasoned that this “Day” is “the first day of the week” and that only Sunday is the day one must attend. They assert that neglecting the mid-week or gospel meeting gatherings is not “forsaking the assembling.” The absurdity of this would be seen in the fact that we are to exhort one another as we see the day approaching. However, assigning the first day of the week definition to Hebrews 10:25 would mean that we would exhort one another leading up to the “Day” but not during “Day.” We would, therefore, be exhorting one another from Monday through Saturday and not on the first day of the week! What would this definition make Sunday worship times out to be? It would make such gatherings void of exhortation! In truth, we exhort each other whenever we come together for worship and Bible study.
  
  Rather than the first day of the week, the Day of Judgment is in view in Hebrews 10:25. Previously written, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Heb. 9:27, 28, emphasis added). The second coming of Christ is Judgment Day and is where our salvation will be fully realized. Forsaking the assembling of ourselves places us in danger of the judgment, rather than in a position to gain the reward and crown of life.  “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries” (Heb. 10:26, 27). And again, “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Heb. 10:29).  And further still the Holy Spirit adds in 10:30, 31, “For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The LORD will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (emp. added).

In conclusion:

Our attendance and participation in such gatherings is an indicator of our love and faithfulness to God and brethren. The context demands us to view Hebrews 10:25 in light of the coming of Christ, which is the day of judgment. Our standing before God is either for salvation or doom. 10:37-39, “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”

--Steven J. Wallace

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