Draw Near, Hold Fast, and Take Care (Hebrews 10:19-25)

Today we come to our final verses in the passage from Hebrews 10 we have been studying all month. And boy are these verses packed!

We start with a little look back over our shoulders at what Jesus has done for us, then we move on to the future – how ought we to respond as followers of Christ who have been blessed so abundantly?

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:19-25

Since We Have…

The beginning of Hebrews 10:19-25 reflects back on the themes the author of Hebrews has already been addressing in chapter 10. It’s as if he is saying, “Hey guys, remember we discussed that we have…”

1. Confidence to face God! Jesus’ death on the cross allows us to no longer need a human intermediary offering sacrifices, but instead we can go straight to God Himself.
2.  A great high priest! The Greek word used in this verse is sightly different from the word used for high priest in most passages. This word might even be translated “kingly priest.” Jesus is the ultimate high priest, the Lord of all the high priests, the fulfillment of all priestly roles.

We have received these precious gifts, now the question is, how shall we respond? The author of Hebrews gives the answer using three “let us” verses.

Let Us Draw Near

Unlike Old Testament times, God’s people no longer need to keep their distance from Him! We are called to draw near…

1. … with a true heart in full assurance of faith – A true heart is a sincere heart, nothing put on for show. John said “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:21). This is the kind of sincerity God is looking for. We can be sincere because we are confident in God, like a little child who is confident her father can help her with anything she asks.
2. … with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience – Like the sprinkling of blood on Levitical priests to purify them (Exodus 29:21), we have had our hearts “sprinkled” with the purifying blood of Jesus Christ. Our consciences can be clear. “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” (Hebrews 9:14)
3. … and our bodies washed with pure water – There are multiple levels to this: an allusion to the ritual washings of Old Testament law, and to baptism, but on a visceral level I think we can understand this easily. We have been refreshed and cleansed, inside and out, by the power of Jesus’ sacrifice. We have been purified, and offered a new life!

Let Us Hold Fast

“hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23

Hope is a funny thing – it can be easy to lose can’t it? Perhaps that’s why the author of Hebrews gets descriptive for us. We are to hold fast, and not waver in our hope. I picture myself holding on white-knuckled, because indeed, that has been my reality in certain seasons. The world, and people in my life, have sought to disrupt my hope. But God has been abundantly faithful to me. He has never disappointed me, and my hope in Him has never yet been shown to be misplaced.

As W. Robertson Nicoll says, “The promises of God are necessarily the ground of hope (Hebrews 6:12.) These promises cannot fail, because God cannot lie. (Hebrews 6:18.)”

Let Us Stir Up One Another

We draw close into God (draw near), we hold on tight (hold fast), and finally we are asked to remember and encourage each other.

1. “let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” – God uses brothers and sisters in Christ to grow one another. Some versions translate “stir up” as “provoke” and I am sure we can all recall a time when we felt provoked in church! But passion does not have to come from negativity. As Believers we can’t just look to meet our needs by drawing close to God, we must also look outward, loving and serving those around us, and helping each other persevere in service.
2. “not neglecting to meet together” – We were created to be a family, children of the living God. It is part of our personal growth, and our call to love and serve, that we must continue to fellowship with other Believers regularly
3. “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” – Everyone needs encouragement. It is our responsibility to be the source of that encouragement for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Knowing that Jesus will return is not the reason we do it, it is merely a reminder that we may not be complacent in this!

As we conclude our study of Hebrews 10 this month, today’s passage provides us a lovely and simple thought to meditate upon: Draw near to God, hold tight, and take care of those around you. It is our drawing near that gives us the strength to care for others.

And it is only because of Jesus’ once for all sacrifice that we can even begin. Without His gift to us, we could not draw near to God, and none of the rest would matter. Praise His holy name!