Assurance of Salvation and Judgment for Apostasy (Heb. 10:19-31)

Therefore, brothers, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary 20 by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, 21 and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,” 22 let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy. 24 We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. 25 We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.  26 If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins 27 but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who rejects the law of Moses is put to death without pity on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Do you not think that a much worse punishment is due the one who has contempt for the Son of God, considers unclean the covenant-blood by which he was consecrated, and insults the spirit of grace? 30 We know the one who said: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” and again: “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 

Paul exhorts the Hebrews to be steadfast in faith, hope, and charity (vv. 19-25).  He also warns them about falling away from the faith and rejecting the truth once they receive it (vv. 26-31). 

Paul told the Hebrews that they should have steadfast confidence grounded in faith that they will be granted entrance into God’s presence because Jesus Christ opened the new and living way to the sanctuary with his blood through the veil of his flesh.  Before Christ, the veil in the OT sanctuary separated God's presence from humanity because of sin.  Jesus is the new High Priest mediating between God and humanity who represents believers so they can have confidence in entry into the sanctuary.  They must approach God with sincerity and absolute faith, their hearts sprinkled clean and made pure through repentance, and their bodies washed through baptism.  They must hold fast to the confession of hope in the promises of Christ made at their baptism because Christ is trustworthy.  They must encourage each other in the virtue of love, do good works, and attend liturgical gatherings.  The day of the Parousia is drawing near (1 Cor. 3:13).

The Hebrew Christians must not deliberately and persistently reject the truth, fall into serious sin, and forsake the living God once they have received full knowledge of the truth (Heb. 3:12) because there is no sacrifice that could atone for such serious sins.  At the judgment, they will feel the wrath of God (Heb. 6:4-8; Is. 26:11).  Anyone who persists in serious sin has contempt for the Son of God.  He treats the sanctifying blood of Christ with disrespect and angers the Spirit of Grace.  He will be punished worse than the capital punishment inflicted upon those who committed idolatry (Deut. 17:2-7).  Paul quoted the judgment text from Moses (Deut. 32:35,36; Rom. 12:19).  Paul concludes that it is a terrible thing “to fall into the hands of the living God” (v. 31).

Almighty God, we pray for those who have not yet fully turned their hearts to you or have fallen away from you.  We pray that in your mercy you will give them hearts that are malleable and minds that are receptive to knowledge and understanding of your Word.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.

                Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.