HEBREWS 23


     We will begin this lesson in Hebrews 10:28 "He that despised
Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:"

     Numbers 15:36 "And all the congregation brought him without the
camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded
Moses." In Numbers here, and in the Scripture above, we see the swift
justice of the Old Testament. It appears to me that if we had some
swift justice today, there would be fewer crimes against society. It
seems today that sympathy lies with the criminal, in our society.
God's law dealt with the criminal in the way it would stop crime.
People did not get off, without paying a penalty for their crimes.

     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?"

     In the last few lessons, we have been discussing how the grace of
God-covenant was so much better than the law-covenant. The blood of
animals could not do away with sin, they could only cover the sin. The
blood of the precious Son of God washed the sin away. We used the word
abolished in the last lesson, and that is the best description of
exactly what Jesus did, for all who believe in Him. In verse 29 above,
it is explaining just how terrible it is to count this blood sacrifice
of the Son of God as nothing of any value. The value that they are
regarding it is, in fact, so low that they are trodding it under foot.
To not obey the law of God, which was the lesser covenant, was
punishable by death. This would imply that there should be a much
worse punishment for the total disregard of the grace-covenant which
is greater.

     Hebrews 10:30 "For we know him that hath said, Vengeance
[belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The
Lord shall judge his people."

     We have discussed in these lessons before that the Judge of all
the world is Jesus Christ. The desire of every Christian, that I know,
is to hear the Lord say {Well done thy good and faithful servant}.  We
are cautioned over and over not to judge each other, because we will
be judged with the same judgement we dish out. We see in this next
Scripture that Jesus Christ is the Judge of all. Acts 10:42 "And he
commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he
which was ordained of God [to be] the Judge of quick and dead." I will
give one more Scripture to show that there are more than two witnesses
to the fact, that Jesus Christ is Judge. II Corinthians 5:10 "For we
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may
receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath
done, whether [it be] good or bad." These Scriptures leave no doubt
that Jesus is the Judge.  Romans 12:19 "Dearly beloved, avenge not
yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written,
Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."  We see from this
that God will take care of whatever punishment should be done, we have
no need to take vengence.

     Hebrews 10:31 "[It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of
the living God."

     Pharaoh of Egypt was one of many in the Bible who found that it
was not good to go against God or God's people. The 10 plagues that
came on Egypt, not only showed that Pharaoh was no match for God, but
that all the false gods of Egypt were no match for God either.
Lucifer, who was the most beautiful angel in heaven, found that he was
no match for God. God threw him out of heaven when he rebelled against
God.  When Moses came down from the mount of God with the 10
Commandments, and found the people practicing idolatry, three thousand
people lost their lives in payment for these sins.  Exodus 32:28 "And
the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there
fell of the people that day about three thousand men." Aaron's 2 sons
found that God will severly punish those who disobey Him also. God
killed them both for carrying strange fire into the temple.

     It is bad for the devil to be attacking you, but you can pray and
God will help you if this happens. If you have angered God, and He is
punishing you, there is none above Him to call on for help. The best
policy, is obey God at the beginning and have no problems. I could go
on and on, but I believe the point is made.

     Hebrews 10:32 "But call to remembrance the former days, in which,
after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;"

     Perhaps, no one had more afflictions to call to remembrance than
Paul. Illuminated, in the verse above means, made to see. This next
Scripture gives the meaning even more fully. II Corinthians 4:6 "For
God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in
our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ." Remember that this Light shone so
brightly on Paul that he was blinded for 3 days, until God
miraculously opened his eyes. Paul fought the good fight, but look at
some of the things he endured along the way. II Corinthians 11:23 "Are
they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I [am] more; in labours
more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in
deaths oft." II Corinthians 11:24 "Of the Jews five times received I
forty [stripes] save one." II Corinthians 11:25 "Thrice was I beaten
with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and
a day I have been in the deep;" II Corinthians 11:26 "[In] journeyings
often, [in] perils of waters, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils by
[mine own] countrymen, [in] perils by the heathen, [in] perils in the
city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in]
perils among false brethren;" II Corinthians 11:27 "In weariness and
painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings
often, in cold and nakedness." II Corinthians 11:28 "Beside those
things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of
all the churches." If Jesus suffered, it is reasonable that His
followers would suffer. We are no better than our leader. II Timothy
2:12 "If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him],
he also will deny us:"

     Hebrews 10:33 "Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by
reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of
them that were so used."

     I Corinthians 4:9 "For I think that God hath set forth us the
apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a
spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." II Corinthians
12:10 "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for
when I am weak, then am I strong." It was not a popular thing to be a
follower of Jesus. Many, like Stephen, lost their life following
Jesus. Even today, if you are very serious about following Jesus, you
are classified as a fanatic. Christianity, is just as unpopular with
the world as it was then. We are not stoned, but we are criticized.

     Hebrews 10:34 "For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took
joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye
have in heaven a better and an enduring substance."

     Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and
persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,
for my sake." Matthew 5:12  "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great
[is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which
were before you."  This is his way of thanking them for taking care of
his needs while he was in prison. This is one Scripture that helps
convince me that the penman here is Paul. Paul wrote many letters
while he was in prison.

     Hebrews 10:35 "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which
hath great recompence of reward." Hebrews 10:36 "For ye have need of
patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive
the promise."

     This is saying, Patiently await the coming of the Lord. Do not
stop doing the job God has called you to do. Move forward for God. If
we do not move forward for God, we will be going backward. We never
stay the same. Christianity involves day to day living. Many people
who put a date on the coming of the Lord, lose their faith when He
does not come at that time. Our Bible warns us about people who
question the coming of the Lord. II Peter 3:3 "Knowing this first,
that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their
own lusts,"  II Peter 3:4 "And saying, Where is the promise of his
coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as
[they were] from the beginning of the creation."  Read the rest of 2
Peter chapter 3 to get the full impact of this. The promise is of
eternal life with Him. When it happens is not our concern.

     Hebrews 10:37 "For yet a little while, and he that shall come
will come, and will not tarry."

     At the time that was established at the foundation of the world,
Jesus will come for His bride {Christians}. God is not delaying, but
is waiting that one more might repent and be saved before Jesus comes.
II Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some
men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that
any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

     Hebrews 10:38 "Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man]
draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."

     This is a subject, few can agree on. In my opinion, this
Scripture, along with many more in the Bible, states that once we have
been saved, we must walk in that salvation. II Peter 2:21 "For it had
been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than,
after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment
delivered unto them."  Luke 12:47 "And that servant, which knew his
lord's will, and prepared not [himself], neither did according to his
will, shall be beaten with many [stripes]."

     Hebrews 10:39 "But we are not of them who draw back unto
perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."

     Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but
he that believeth not shall be damned."  The word believeth means to
continually believe. I John 5:5 "Who is he that overcometh the world,
but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"  Overcometh means
to continually overcome. Perdition above means ruin or loss. Some of
the adjectives that describe that loss are; spiritual, eternal,
damnable, destruction, die and perish. This shows the severity of
going back into a sinful way of life after you have chosen
Christianity as your way of life.

























                             Questions 23

1.  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under ___ or _____
    witnesses.
2.  What lesson can our society learn from this?
3.  Who has been trodden under foot in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 29?
4.  What are 2 other terrible things this person has done in verse 29?
5.  What are the 2 covenants God has made with man?
6.  Which of the covenants is the better covenant?
7.  What is the difference in the 2 sacrifices?
8.  What word, completely covers what happened to our sin, when Jesus
    shed His blood for us?
9.  Quote Hebrews Chapter 10 verse 30.
10. Who is the Judge of all the world?
11. What does every Christian want to hear when they stand before God?
12. We must all appear before the judgement seat of ______.
13. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the _______ ___.
14. Name someone who fell into the hands of God, and found out how
    terrible it can be.
15. How many people lost their lives in one day, when Moses found them
    practicing idolatry?
16. Which is worse, to have the devil attacking, or to have God
    attacking you?
17. Who was persecuted almost beyond endurance in the Bible?
18. Name some of the terrible things that happened to him.
19. The responsibility of whom lay heavy on Paul?
20. Who did it seem God had put in last place in popularity?
21. If you are very serious about God today, you are classed as a
    _______.
22. What is the penman trying to do in verse 34 of chapter 10?
23. What do we have need of, to stay with God to the end?
24. Where do we find the Scripture that says in the end times we will
    have scoffers asking where is the promise?
25. When was the time of Jesus' return established?
26. What is God called in verse 9 of 2 Peter chapter 3?
27. The just shall live by ______.
28. Once we are saved, we must ____ in that salvation.
29. What does believeth mean?
30. What does perdition mean?