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Covenant unholy", "doing despite to the Spirit of grace", these terms reveal the enormity
of the sin of turning back to Judaism. In this light, Heb. 6: 1-8 is to be read, to which
the word "illuminated" of 10: 32 evidently refers. These are the only occurrences of
photizo in Hebrews.
Things that accompany salvation.
Just as the apostle in Heb. 6:, after speaking in severe terms of apostates, turns to the
Hebrew believers saying, "But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and
things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak" (6: 9), so here in Heb. 10: 32 he
continues:
"But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye
endured a great fight of afflictions."
There is also blessed condescension to the frail and the weaker faith. Not only does he
call to remembrance the conspicuous hero of the fight, but the more reticent and less
observed partner in the fight. Some were made a "gazing stock". Not so much is said of
violence, or of actual suffering, but this reference shows that the Lord enters into that
shrinking which most of us have of being pilloried for our faith. Blessed truth, He
knows, and weighs these things in the balance of the Sanctuary. They might have gone
free from observation. They might have remained quietly shielded, but they are
remembered in that they became "companions" of them that were so used. Instead of the
reading, "Ye had compassion of me in my bonds" the texts read, "of those in bonds".
This epistle to the Hebrews does not teach that the writer (Paul as we believe) was a
prisoner at the time of writing. They also took with joy the spoiling of their possessions,
probably by "extortion" as the words are rendered in Matt. 23: 25.
"Knowing that you have for yourselves a better and enduring possession" (Heb. 10: 34).
The text omits the words "in" and "in heaven". Upon this series of admonitions the
apostle rests his exhortation:
"Cast not away therefore your confidence (boldness, 10: 19), which hath great
recompence of reward" (10: 35).
What they did need was patience. Patience is essential for perfecting. The epistle of
James is written around that thought. The first chapter opens with it (verses 3, 4 and 12),
and the fifth chapter closes with it, "Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen
the end of the Lord" (James 5: 11). "The day" was approaching. That day was the
coming of the Lord, "for yet a little, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry"
(Heb. 10: 37). This coming was a possibility at this time, conditional on Israel's
repentance (Acts 3: 19-26).
The quotation from Habakkuk.
This introduces the quotation from Habakkuk which figures so prominently in the
epistles to the Romans and Galatians. The words "The just shall live by faith" are
divisible under three heads and the apostle has taken this course with the verse.