Hebrews 10:32-39

I. WE HAVE TO LOOK BACK SO WE CAN KEEP MOVING FORWARD

Hebrews 10:32–33 – “But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.”

“recall,” Gk. ἀναμιμνῄσκω

Preposition – ἀνά: “up, again, or back”

Verb – μιμνῄσκω: “to remind or cause to remember”

“…the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings.”

Hebrews 10:33 – “…sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.”

Dionysius (AD 263):

“Most of our brothers were unsparing in their exceeding love and brotherly kindness. They held fast to each other and visited the sick fearlessly, and ministered to them continually, serving them in Christ. And they died with them most joyfully, taking the affliction of others, and drawing the sickness from their neighbors to themselves and willingly receiving their pains. And many who cared for the sick and gave strength to others died themselves having transferred to themselves their death.”

“Truly the best of our brothers departed from life in this manner, including some presbyters and deacons and those of the people who had the highest reputation.”

Hebrews 10:35 – “Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.”

II. WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD SO WE DON’T TURN BACK

Hebrews 10:36 – “For you have need of endurance.”

“Endurance,” Gk. ὑπομονή (hypomonē)

Preposition – ὑπό: “under”

Verb – μένω: “to remain, to abide”

Hebrews 10:36 – “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”

The need for endurance in your life implies the inevitability of pressure throughout your life.

Hebrews 10:37–38 – “For, ‘Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.’”

Habakkuk 2:3–4 – “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. 4 Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.”

LXX – “Because the coming one will come and will certainly not delay. If he draws back, my soul takes no pleasure in him; but the righteous one shall live by my faithfulness.”

Hebrews 10:39 – “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

TAKEAWAYS

1. Look back and be reminded that God has sustained you through your difficulties.

Jdg. 6:8–9

2. Look forward and be comforted that God will one day put an end to your difficulties.

Martin Luther, From the Depths of Woe

“Though great our sins and sore our woes, His grace much more aboundeth; His helping love no limit knows, Our upmost need it soundeth. Our Shepherd good and true is He, Who will at last His Israel free, From all their sin and sorrow.”

3. Live by faith.

Hab. 2:4 – “The righteous shall live by faith.”