Letter to the Hebrews Volume 112

 We 'the Just' Must Live by Faith Part 4

Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace?  KJV

Having reminded the Hebrew converts of the very quick and decisive judgement of God the Father against their people for going after other gods to serve and worship them, now the writer of Hebrews declares, describes, and details the dire, dreadful, and devastating case for those who have heard the Gospel of Christ, that is, the Gospel of Grace and have come close to being moved by the Spirit of God and made even to tremble at the pending judgement to come upon sinners (as did Felix at the testimony of the Apostle Paul, "And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." Acts 24:24-25) yet he or she rejected or ignored all of the motions and movements of the Spirit of God upon their inner man or inner woman. The writer of Hebrews declares that this will be the inevitable conclusion for such a man or woman with these words, "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace?" (Hebrews 10:29) (KJV). The English word 'sorer' is translated by the Greek word cheirōn meaning more evil or aggravated (physically, mentally or morally): - sorer, worse. The English word 'punishment' is translated by the Greek word timōria (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning  vindication, that is, (by implication) a penalty: - punishment. The English phrase 'ye, shall he be thought worthy' is translated by the Greek word axioō which means to deem entitled or fit: - desire, think good, count (think) worthy. The English phrase 'who hath trodden under foot' is translated by the Greek word katapateō meaning to trample down; figuratively to reject with disdain: - trample, tread (down, underfoot). In other words, the man or woman that has rejected or refused the moving motions of the Holy Spirit of God upon their inner man or inner woman convicting them of eternal judgement to come and counted the Son of God (Jesus Christ) and the Blood of the Covenant which He shed willingly for their sins to make them right with God a common thing and has insulted the Spirit of Grace by pushing Him away and thereby ignoring his or her's need for saving grace, how much worse a punishment and penalty (given or inflicted in requital according to merits or deserts, that is, retributive punishment) awaits that soul (man or woman) than what was done to those Hebrew people who rejected the Covenant of God under the Old Testament, their penalty was temporal and for one time physical death, however, this penalty will be forever, that is, eternal and without end.

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of Hebrews 10:29, "Than a mere corporeal death, which was the punishment inflicted on the transgressors of the law of Moses. The Apostle appeals to the Hebrews themselves, and makes them judges of what punishment. This seems to be a stronger expression than crucifying Him again, Hebrews 6:6 and is to be understood, not of what was in fact committed, but in will by persons; who, could they have had their will of Him, would have pulled Him from His Throne, and trampled upon Him: it is a phrase expressive of the utmost scorn, contempt, and ill usage; and which such are guilty of, who deny His deity, and Eternal Sonship; who render Him useless in His offices, undervalue His Sacrifice, despise His Righteousness, and strip Him of the Glory of His Person, Office, and Grace. And this is aggravated by His being the Son of God who is thus used, who became the Son of Man for the sake of men, is superior to men, and equal with God: And hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing; or 'common thing;; putting it upon a level with the blood of a bullock, or at most counting it 'as that of another man'; as the Syriac version renders it; yea, reckoning it as unclean and abominable, as the blood of a very wicked man: this is aggravated by its being 'the blood of the covenant'; of the covenant of grace, because that is ratified and confirmed by it, and the blessings of it come through it; and from sanctification by it: either of the person, the apostate himself, who was sanctified or separated from others by a visible profession of religion; having given himself up to a Church, to walk with it in the ordinances of the Gospel; and having submitted to Baptism, and partook of the Lord's Supper, and drank of the cup, 'the blood of the New Testament', or 'Covenant': though he did not spiritually discern the Body and Blood of Christ in the ordinance, but counted the bread and wine, the symbols of them, as common things; or who professed himself, and was looked upon by others, to be truly sanctified by the Spirit, and to be justified by the Blood of Christ, though he was not really so: or rather the Son of God Himself is meant, who was sanctified, set apart, hallowed, and consecrated, as Aaron and his sons were sanctified by the sacrifices of slain beasts, to minister in the priest's office: so Christ, when He had offered Himself, and shed His precious Blood, by which the covenant of grace was ratified, by the same Blood He was brought again from the dead, and declared to be the Son of God with power; and being set down at God's Right Hand, He ever lives to make intercession, which is the other part of His Priestly Office He is sanctified by His own Blood to accomplish. This clause, 'wherewith He was sanctified', is left out in the Alexandrian copy: And hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace; by denying His being, deity, and personality; despising His powerful operations as enthusiasm; treating His extraordinary gifts as illusions; and ascribing His miracles to Satan, and representing the Gospel dictated by Him as a fable, or a lie: and this is aggravated by His being 'the Spirit of Grace;; the Author, Giver, and Applier of all grace to the saints; and who therefore ought not to be in the least slighted, but highly esteemed and honoured; nor will such affronts go unpunished."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…