Hebrews 10:26-39 | What's the connection?
The Willful Sin
Many theologians have said it before, and many more will say after, "Context is key." Controversial passages like this one are essential to view in context of the surrounding message. If we are to take a verse like Hebrews 10:26 and quote it out of context, we all have a great reason to fear. However, when you view the verse in its proper context and connection to the surrounding passage, it begins to make perfect sense.
Let's take a trip down memory lane and look at the argument thus far. To sum it up nicely, the writer to the Hebrews has been arguing a case that Jesus is better. He is better than Moses. He is better than the Law. He is better than the prophets. He is a better priest. He operates from a better covenant. Thus far, the only sin that has really been addressed is unbelief. Adjacent to that, the concern the author has had is that the people would depart to draw back to the old covenant. When we look at the verse that concludes our current section, we can see with clarity what is being argued.
39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
-Hebrews 10:39
The drawing back to perdition is right in line with the willful sin of verse 26. What does it mean for them to draw back? It means returning to their prior state. Remember the concern is that they would run back to the law and the old system. But that old system is insufficient for what is required. If after having knowledge of the truth, they reject that truth and abide in sin, it means that the sacrifice does not pertain to them.
In short, the context eliminates the controversy of what this verse is truly saying. Out of context, we can view any sin that we chose as a negator of our salvation. It is obvious that Scripture does not teach such a message. Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. The controversial verse at hand is speaking of a specific sin, one that the author to the Hebrews has spent a considerable amount of time fighting against. We ought to fight against it all the same and not draw back to the things of this world, but pursue Christ in righteousness.
What connection are you making?
Let's take a trip down memory lane and look at the argument thus far. To sum it up nicely, the writer to the Hebrews has been arguing a case that Jesus is better. He is better than Moses. He is better than the Law. He is better than the prophets. He is a better priest. He operates from a better covenant. Thus far, the only sin that has really been addressed is unbelief. Adjacent to that, the concern the author has had is that the people would depart to draw back to the old covenant. When we look at the verse that concludes our current section, we can see with clarity what is being argued.
39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
-Hebrews 10:39
The drawing back to perdition is right in line with the willful sin of verse 26. What does it mean for them to draw back? It means returning to their prior state. Remember the concern is that they would run back to the law and the old system. But that old system is insufficient for what is required. If after having knowledge of the truth, they reject that truth and abide in sin, it means that the sacrifice does not pertain to them.
In short, the context eliminates the controversy of what this verse is truly saying. Out of context, we can view any sin that we chose as a negator of our salvation. It is obvious that Scripture does not teach such a message. Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. The controversial verse at hand is speaking of a specific sin, one that the author to the Hebrews has spent a considerable amount of time fighting against. We ought to fight against it all the same and not draw back to the things of this world, but pursue Christ in righteousness.
What connection are you making?
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2026
January
John 14:22-31 | What's the lesson for me today?John 14:22-31 | What am I going to do about it?John 14:22-31 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 15:1-11John 15:1-11 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 15:1-11 | What's the connection?John 15:1-11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 15:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?John 15:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?John 15:1-11 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 15:12-27John 15:12-27 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 15:12-27 | What's the connection?John 15:12-27 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 15:12-27 | What's the lesson for me today?John 15:12-27 | What am I going to do about it?John 15:12-27 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 16:1-15John 16:1-15 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 16:1-15 | What's the connection?John 16:1-15 | What’s a lesson for the original audience?John 16:1-15 | What's the lesson for me today?John 16:1-15 | What am I going to do about it?John 16:1-15 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 16:16-33John 16:16-33 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 16:16-33 | What's the connection?John 16:16-33 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 16:16-33 | What's the lesson for me today?John 16:16-33 | What am I going to do about it?John 16:16-33 | Prayer Prompts
February
Passage of the Week: John 17John 17 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 17 | What's the connection?John 17 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 17 | What's the lesson for me today?John 17 | What am I going to do about it?John 17 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 18:1-11John 18:1-11 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 18:1-11 | What's the connection?John 18:1-11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 18:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?John 18:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?John 18:1-11 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 18:12-40John 18:12-40 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 18:12-40 | What's the connection?John 18:12-40 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 18:12-40 | What's the lesson for me today?John 18:12-40 | What am I going to do about it?John 18:12-40 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 19John 19 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 19 | What's the connection?John 19 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 19 | What's the lesson for me today?John 19 | What am I going to do about it?John 19 | Prayer Prompts
March
Passage of the Week: John 20John 20 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 20 | What's the connection?John 20 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 20 | What's the lesson for me today?John 20 | What am I going to do about it?John 20 | Prayer PromptsJohn 21 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 21John 21 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 21 | What's the connection?John 21 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 21 | What's the lesson for me today?John 21 | What am I going to do about it?Passage of the Week: Hebrews 1:1-4Hebrews 1:1-4 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What's the connection?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What is a lesson for the original audience?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What's the lesson for me today?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What am I going to do about it?Hebrews 1:1-4 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: Hebrews 1:5-14Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's the connection?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's a lesson for the original audience?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's the lesson for me today?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What am I going to do about it?Hebrews 1:5-14 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: Hebrews 2:1-4Hebrews 2:1-4 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 2:1-4 | What's the connection?
April
Hebrews 2:1-4 | What's a lesson for the original audience?Hebrews 2:1-4 | What's the lesson for me today?Hebrews 2:1-4 | What am I going to do about it?Hebrews 2:1-4 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: Hebrews 2:5-9Hebrews 2:5-9 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 2:5-9 | What's the connection?Hebrews 2:5-9 | What's a lesson for the original audience?Hebrews 2:5-9 | What's the lesson for me today?Hebrews 2:5-9 | What am I going to do about it?
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