Hebrews 10:32-39 (from the NRSV (Anglicised), with OT quotes in italics)
32 But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. 35 Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. 36 For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 37 For yet
‘in a very little while,
the one who is coming will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one will live by faith.
My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.’
39 But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.
Reflection
The Christians who received this letter had been hit hard by persecution. While this had happened in ‘earlier days’ (v.32), the tone of these verses suggests that some challenges are still around. There is not much detail about these pressures, although their impact had obviously been severe – prison, public insult and contempt, ransacking of property (vv.33-34). Church members had to support each other, perhaps with material relief or hospitality.
We don’t know where or when this was. The New Testament mentions various local persecutions, and surely some other episodes went unrecorded. Hebrews could come from almost anywhere in the Mediterranean world. Nor do we know who initiated the persecution, although it does seem likely that followers of Jesus had been picked out. They were an identifiable target, a visible group within the wider Jewish community. So if some now thought of going back to traditional Judaism, that would be understandable. It might be safer to be less visible. The whole argument of Hebrews is an attempt to dissuade them from this, and keep them committed to Jesus.
The letter recalls the suffering sensitively but positively too. It is to the readers’ credit that they withstood it (vv.32-34). They have shown resilience already, and more is needed (vv.35-36). Their trials will not go on for ever (v.37), but they must go forward ‘by faith’. Now would not be a time to ‘shrink back’ (vv.38, 39). This thought leads into a long catalogue of faithful people – examples, predecessors, ‘a cloud of witnesses’ (12:1) –, which fills chapter eleven.
This is not, of course, just history. Many Christian groups around the world today face serious opposition, perhaps from governments, courts and laws, or from mobs, riots and lawlessness. They value our prayers, and sometimes our practical help too.
For prayer
Do you know of a place where Christians are suffering for their faith? Pray for that situation and those people, for faith, courage and wisdom, and for God’s transforming presence to be known.