Hebrews 10:32-36: Ye Endured a Great Fight of Afflictions
2023-06-03
Hebrews 10:32
Considering the exhortation to not willfully sin, the apostle now exhorts them to remember things that happened in the past: “former days” and “after ye were illuminated.” This illumination is their alleged conversion. Here are some usages of this word “illuminated.”
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:17-18). Paul prayed that the Ephesians, though they were Christians, would continue to be enlightened by the revelation of the Lord and know the fullness of what the Lord had given them.
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost” (Hebrews 6:4). Here the context is those who clearly heard the Gospel and understood it, but eventually fall away, likely speaking of reprobation. This enlightening is an enlightening of understanding, but not necessarily of regeneration, so these do not continue in the faith.
From these examples, we see that enlightening means understanding spiritual things as well as a continual opening of understanding. However, it does not mean absolute proof of conversion.
At that time, they “endured a great fight of afflictions.” Why is there such great conflict immediately after conversion? Because when you become a Christian, it draws a lot of lines in the sand. Consider the Lord’s words in Luke 12:49-53, which alludes to Micah 7:6. Families are divided over faith in Christ.
They also likely went from attending synagogues regularly to being ousted from them. “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service” (John 16:1-2). The synagogue was likely a community hub for Jewish people. This stability and structure they had known since they were born was immediately stripped away because of the name of Jesus. People who left cults spoke of similar experiences. Examples are given in the subsequent verses.
Hebrews 10:33
Their afflictions had two parts. The first is being associated with Jesus Christ, which made them be looked upon with contempt, disgust, or curiosity. They received insults and people sought to destroy them. What the world did to these Christians they meant to do to God Himself. “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me” (Psalm 69:9).
The word for afflictions in this verse is different from the previous verse. The previous verse was a broad word for “sufferings.” That word in Hebrews 10:32 is the same as this usage here: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
The word for “afflictions” here is elsewhere translated “tribulation” or “persecution.” “Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended” (Matthew 13:21). It can refer to the great tribulation, namely, the fifth seal, as well. “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). These are things that the world intentionally does to Christians.
The second part of their afflictions was due to being associated with other Christians (people who are known to be associated with Jesus), like Paul. An example is Peter and John, when they were arrested, presumably had the healed man arrested also. “And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it” (Acts 4:14). This poor guy hardly knew anything of the Way but was brought into this trial anyway.
Consider these men: “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me” (2 Timothy 1:15-17). Recall the discussion here. Phygellus and Hermogenes did not want to associate with Paul while he was imprisoned. The first two men may not have been bad men otherwise. They likely just did not want to go to prison like Paul. Associating with a so-called “criminal” may damage their reputation or possibly implicate them in Paul’s “crimes.” This contrasts with Onesiphorus, who very eagerly and publicly helped Paul in his imprisonment. Onesiphorus did not care about his public image and reputation. He had a genuine care for Paul and helped him publicly.
Hebrews 10:34
The Hebrew recipients of this letter were like Onesiphorus to Paul. A casual reading of Acts shows that Paul was a most notorious follower of Jesus Christ, in and out of jail, being beaten and shamefully treated. They likewise helped Paul, not caring for their own reputation, but publicly identified with Christ and others who followed Him.
Consider the imprisonment of Paul here.
The Hebrew Christians were not just guilty by association. They had a public profession that cost them personally. They had their personal property taken away. This would be a deeply painful violation into your soul, should you have your house taken away. How many American Christians would be left standing if this happened? Consider how your identity is so tied up in Christ, that everything in this world may be revoked because of this new identity?
Why would we be willing to have our goods confiscated? “...knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.” This inheritance is better because if it came from heaven, God is the maker and giver of it, and it will last forever. Soon, we shall discuss the city that will come down from heaven, “whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews 11:10).
Here is another thing: All our goods here are going to vanish away anyway. They will spoil, rot, rust, or be stolen. If they endure for long for some reason, we will die, or the Lord will return, and we will not take them with us. Anything in the kingdom that we receive, whatever that may be, will be “an enduring substance.”
Consider Matthew 6:19-21. The substance from this world perishes while the substance from God endures. But Matthew 6:21 shows something significant. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Is our treasure with God or down here? If it is down here, our heart will perish with our treasure someday.
Consider again James 5:1-6. These rich men could be saved because James is addressing Christians, though verse 6 is puzzling. He comments much like the Lord did about the transience of wealth. But he also says “Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” In these times before the coming of the Lord, why be so preoccupied with the things of this wealth if we know they are going to all go up in smoke? Why live in pleasure with these distractions when the end of all things is on the horizon?
Hebrews 10:35
Having brought to memory of all these Hebrew Christians endured for the sake of Christ, the apostle told them to not to lose the confidence they once had. The arduous opposition they received and persevered through is evidence of their confidence. Paul told them to continue to persevere.
When you face difficult trials, recall how the Lord brought you through them. Remember His faithfulness. If He could get you through that time, He can do it again.
Consider King Asa in 2 Chronicles 14:8-12. You see how Asa trusted in the Lord with his army slightly greater than half of the Ethiopian army (whose invading army was one million strong), and how the Lord destroyed the enemy before him. Azariah son of Oded preached to the king and encouraged him, and Asa purged his kingdom of evil.
Years later, Baasha king of Israel went out against him. Consider the story in 2 Chronicles 16:1-12. See how Asa went from a heart of full faith to relying on a heathen kingdom to help him. When he was reproved, he put Hanani the prophet in prison. King Asa was then diseased in his feet for the rest of his life. Maybe this was the willful sin we spoke of previously? We read these stories and shake our heads, thinking, how could he do this? However, Asa is everyman. Anyone could do this. The apostle Paul could cast away his confidence. We could too. Remember God’s faithfulness in Scripture and in our own lives and persevere.
The “great recompense of reward” would be the reward of the “enduring substance” spoken of in the previous verse. The phrase “recompense of reward” is one word which and is used three times in the Bible, all in the book of Hebrews.
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him (Hebrews 2:2-3)
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. (Hebrews 11:25-26)
In the first case, it is a negative paying back against sin. In the other case, it is used of Moses’ choice to seek the Lord rather than the wealth of Egypt because the Lord is a greater inheritance than anything on this earth. The use in Hebrews 10:35 is like the second case. The word “great” shows that the reward for perseverance far exceeds the trials of this life. Paul writes this elsewhere in 2 Corinthians 4:11-18. All the trials that he endured for the sake of Christ and for other believers cost him his life, but his inner man became stronger. He called it all a “light affliction” and looked for the coming of Christ by faith.
Hebrews 10:36
The word for patience implies endurance. Perhaps after all the affliction they were wearing out and needed more encouragement. Previous chapters imply that their faith was weak, and perhaps some were showing signs they were never truly converted.
Doing the will of God leads to the promise, namely the reward spoken of previously. What is meant by the will of God? See the discussion here and here.