NOTESA SERIES OF EXHORTATIONS

Lesson 8
(Hebrews 10:19 - 12:29)
INTRODUCTION:
The Hebrew writer has used his decimating powers and his logical powers to the
fullest to show the superiority of Christ and the New Testament order. Now he moves to the
power of persuasion with some pertinent observations, reminders, and exhortations.
I.

THE OUTLINE OF THIS SECTION - 10:19 - 12:29

A.

The exhortations to Commitment - 10:19 - 39.

1.

The exhortation to assurance - 10:19 -23.

1.

The exhortation to love - 10:24, 25.

1.

The exhortation to fear - 10:26 - 31.

1.

The exhortation to retrospect - 10:32 - 35.

1.

The exhortation to promise - 10:36 - 39.

A.

The exhortations of faith - 11:1 - 40.

1.

The explanation of faith - 11:1 - 6.

1.

The movement of faith - 11:7 - 12.

1.

The expectation of faith - 11:13 - 22.

1.

The price of faith - 11:23 - 38.

1.

The superiority of faith - 1:39, 40.

A.

The reverse exhortations - 12:1 - 29.

1.

Jesus is our exhortation - 12:1 - 4.

1.

Chastening is our exhortation - 12:5 - 11.

1.

The church is our exhortation - 12:12 - 23.

1.

The New Testament is our exhortation - 12:24 - 27.

1.

The kingdom is our exhortation - 12:28, 29.

II.

THE EXHORTATIONS TO COMMITMENT - 10:19 - 39.

A.

The exhortation to assurance - 10:19 - 23.

-351.
In this section the author reviews his writing thus far to which there is no adequate
counterpoint. For this reason we have great assurance. Note, boldness, verse 19; draw near verse 22;

full assurance verse 22; hold fast verse 23; without wavering verse 23. These are terms of
assurance.
1.

Verse 19 - We have been given access to the holiest of all by his blood. See Romans 5:2.

1.
Verse 20 - A new everything, and new way of life, no the dead works of the law. Note
carefully it is not his flesh that is the veil, but his fleshly sacrifice that made it possible for him to pass
through the veil.
1.

Verse 21 - This we have seen, he turns a point on it.

1.
Verse 22 - Draw near to what? Heaven? We cant go there yet. We draw near to God by
faith and prayer, evidences of a true heart. We draw near to what we had been separated from. This verse
is the New Testament equivalent of what they went through under the old system.
a.
We draw near ourselves as the Jew once did with his sacrifice. Our heart is true, not
questioning as opposed to the Jew who wrestled with an impure conscience (vs. 2). We present our hearts
as a sacrifice rather than a substitute, and we pledge our body (Romans 12:1). Therefore, being a washed
priest we can enter the holy place (church), and approach the High Priest (Jesus) in prayer.
a.
Compare Isaiah 1:16; Psalm 51:1, 2; Revelation 1:5, 6; Acts 22:16; Ephesians 5:25 - 27;
Titus 3:4 - 7; I Peter 3:21.
1.
Verse 23 - An exhortation to the Hebrew Christians had to deal with individually, as we
must. Note we have a part to hold for He not us is faithful as promised.
A.

The exhortation to love - 10:24, 25.

1.
This is a collective consideration for the Hebrews to take note of all this, be excited about
it, and work while there is time.
1.
means incite).

Verse 24 - Note before a congregation can work it has to be saturated with love. (Provoke

1.
Verse 25 - Some Hebrews had lost faith and failed to assemble with the others at their
assemblies, but steadfast ones were to keep each other exhorted. There is a problem trying to argue this
text from the grammatical structure. The only other usage is in II Thessalonians 2:1. I know of no way to
apply this only to Lords day services but, instead to any assembling of the church. The early church met
often (Acts 2). The principle can be used, but must not be abused.
a.
As ye see the day approaching What day? I believe he is urging them to remain strong
and bolster one another until the abolition of Judaism. Especially when he says ye see the day
approaching and no one knows when the end of time will be.
a.
Burton Coffman . . .the day approaching of this verse refers to the fall of the Holy City
when Christ would take away the first that he might establish the new covenant . . .
a.
Robert Milligan To me it seems perfectly obvious that the apostle refers here to a day
which both he and his brethren were looking for as a day that was then very near at hand . . . the reference
is most likely to the day of Jerusalems overthrow . . .
a.
Albert Barnes . . . I suppose that the reference here is not to the second advent of the
Redeemer, but the approaching destruction of Jerusalem . . .
a.
nation.

Adam Clarke . . . the time in which God would pour out His judgments on the Jewish

a.
W. H. Griffin Thomas They were apparently on the eve of the great catastrophe of A. D.
70, the destruction of Jerusalem . . .
a.

For a complete discussion of this matter see Barnes notes.

A.

The exhortation to fear - 10:26 - 31.

1.
Love seems to be the overwhelming motivation, but the motivation of fear must never be
forgotten. Many today have forgotten it.
1.
Verse 26 - If a Hebrew Christian gave up and deliberately went back under the law, seeing
it so thoroughly devastated, there was no excuse for his action or pardon for his sin. He is talking about
letting go of Jesus! Without Jesus all is lost. He is not discussing a one time sin, but a state of life.
1.
Verse 27 - All he would have to look forward to would be judgment. Note the adversary is
the one who has left Christ, not the Christian!
1.
Verse 28 - 31 - the whole context centers on forsaking Christ. The writer refers to
Deuteronomy 17:2ff where the Hebrews had gone after the gods. A Hebrew Christian who leaves Christ
has gone after gods! There was no mercy for the ones who did this and there will be no mercy for the
Hebrew Christian who does it. To leave Christ is a greater sin and denounces everything Christ did and
died for. These people surely have the judgment of God awaiting them and the thought of this should
frighten.
A.

The exhortation to retrospect - 10:32 - 35.

1.
The author calls on these Hebrews to bring to mind what they had already endured for
Christ. Would they give that up now?
1.
Verse 32, 33 - these brethren had suffered a lot for accepting Christ and coming from the
darkness of the law into the illumination of Christianity. They had been a gazing stock. Gentile Christians
Probably viewed them with suspicion and Jews viewed them with disdain, as traitors to Judaism. They
were more or less forced into companionship with others so despised. (Matthew 5:10, 11).
1.
Verse 34 - They had given courage to the writer of this letter when he was in bonds. They
had endured the loss of their earthly goods. They had probably shared with others in plight and suffered
from the trade guilds. But, they had done all of this remembering that their reward was in heaven. Now
they seem to be slipping and forgetting.
1.
Verse 35 - Confidence must be maintained by all Christians, and agnosticism fought.
Some day they would reap for their sufferings.
A.

The exhortation to promise - 10:36 - 39.

1.
The writer urges them to have faith in the promises and will later demonstrate how others
did so with less knowledge than they enjoy.
1.
Verse 36 - This is the key to the authors plea throughout the book. Receipt of the promise
comes after doing Gods will. Hold out!
1.
sure to them.

Verse 37 - There was just a short time for them to endure. The promise of his coming is

1.
Verses 38, 39 - Faith (as the Bible reveals it, not mental assent) is essential to
steadfastness. Those who regress after having learned of the promises are lost. Those who keep their faith
can be saved.
III.

THE EXHORTATION OF FAITH - 11:1 - 40.

A.

The explanation of faith - 11:1 - 6.

1.

Since real abiding faith is essential the author jolts them of it.

1.
Verse 1 - Faith is a present condition dependent on future conditions. Real faith is the
realization that Gods promises will come to pass and to act accordingly. Fear and doubt are the opposites
of faith. See Romans 8:24, 25; II Corinthians 4:18.
1.

Verse 2 - The ancients, i.e., Abraham, Isaac, etc.

1.
Verse 3 - We have to accept the Biblical account of creation by faith in the final analysis.
Science cannot explain it out of nothing (Hebrew Bara). See John 1:3; II Peter 3:5.
1.
Verses 4, 5 - Here are two examples of this. Abel offered his gift in the way God
prescribed even though he may not have seen the reason for it or understood it. God said do it and he did.
Neither can the disappearance of Enoch be understood without the supernatural act of God and simply
believing it took place that way.
1.
promises!

Verse 6 - No man can possibly please God without a seeking faith that fully believe Gods

a.

Faiths object is God.

a.

Faiths motivation is reward.

a.

Faiths perseverance is seeking.

a.

Faiths victory is translation. (I Corinthians 15:51ff).

A.

The movement of faith - 11:7 - 12.

1.
Faith and appropriate life action are inseparable. Try doing the things of this chapter by
mental assent!
1.
Verse 7 - Noah had no knowledge of what was to transpire, but he moved! This physical
salvation is compared with spiritual salvation by Peter (3:21). Here Noah is saved from water, in I Peter he
is saved by water.
1.
Verses 8 - 10 - There is no plausible explanation for Abrahams action except obedient
faith. By action based on promises he sojourned in a strange land. He looked for and forward to the city
made by God. This city is the church! (12:22). John presents the church as a city from God, the bride of
Christ, Revelation 21. The ultimate fulfillment is in heaven, 13:14. The city of everlasting peace,
1.
Verses 11, 12 - Sarah had faith in the promise. What is the message though all of this? To
the Hebrew, keep your mind on the promise! To us, to keep our minds on the promises yet to come. Sarah
demonstrates that we can change our hearts toward true faith for at first she laughed (Genesis 18:12 - 15).
God kept his word and Isaac forwarded the seed promise of Christ. (Galatians 3:19).
A.

The expectation of faith - 11:13 - 22.

1.
Faith looks forward in hope to the promises God has offered to the faithful.
Philippians 3:13.

See

1.
Verse 13 - The patriarchs and matriarchs never saw the things they gave their lives to bring
about. Just as we must die to go to heaven. But, we see it in the minds-eye of faith. Only the spiritually
blind would set up camp permanently here. See I Peter 1:17; 2:11.

1.
Verses 14, 15 - They repudiated their origins and embraced their destinations to come.
They didnt even let the place from which they came cross their minds. Remember Lots wife? What does
this subtlety to the Hebrew leaning back toward Judaism?
1.
Verse 16 - the goal of all dispensations is heaven. See Luke 20:37, 38. Note also
Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 13:14. Compare with Hebrews 2:11. All the faithful of all the ages are claimed
by God. Heaven is their home thanks to Jesus (9:15).
1.
Verse 17 - 19 - Abrahams faith in God was so severe he did not hesitate to offer Isaac
knowing full well he was the only seed promise. He didnt know how evidently, but believed god would
raise him from the dead if necessary. See Romans 4:17 - 21. What does this speak of the weak Hebrews
faith? Of ours?
1.
Verses 20 - 22 - Like father, like son for generations. Looking for promises. Looking for
things beyond their life span. When we get a proper perspective of time present inconveniences dont seem
so troublesome. He is urging the Hebrews to have vision.
A.

The price of faith - 11:23 - 38.

1.
Anything worth anything is going to cost something. The better the shoes, the higher the
price. Salvation for these Hebrew Christians cost Jesus His life. What does it cost us - ours?

1.
Verses 23 - 27 - Faith cost Moses most people refuse to give up. Nationality, pride,
education, religion?, family ties, honor, etc. Notice whose reproach he was willing to bear - Christs. No
pile of earthly treasure approaches heaven. Notice that in verse 23 and 27 faith displaces fear! Faith
involves some regimentation, verse 28. Stephen reminded the Jews of this faith as recorded in Acts 7:20ff.
1.
Verse 30 - 32 - By faith + marching Jericho fell. By faith + action Rahab lived. Faith +
action = justification. See James 2:24 - 26. The ones of old who were their forefathers gave these brethren
a legacy to follow.
1.
Verses 33 - 38 - The hall of martyrs and mourners. With these suggestions the names of
Sharech, Hezekiah, Zarephaths widow, Jeremiah, etc. raced through the mind of these brethren forcing
them to take stock of their situation. Was the world worthy of them? Is it of us? See II Maccabees chapter
7 in the uncanonical book.
A.

The superiority of faith - 11:39 - 40.

1.
The present faith the Hebrews could enjoy is superior to that which these faithful people
labored under.
1.
Verses 39, 40 - they died having never seen the things the Hebrew Christians know. The
better thing for us is the new superior system. Our ties to the faithful of old are clearly seen.