What is the Willful Sin in Heb. 10:26?

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1 What is the Willful Sin in Heb. 10:26? What is this willful sin in verse 26 below? Throughout Hebrews, the sin of unbelief and consequent rejection of Jesus, God s final sacrifice for sin under Moses law, has been the issue. This is still the issue here. Remember what we have learned. When a Jew sinned under Moses law, he made the proper sacrifice and maintained the blessings in the Abrahamic covenant. A deliberate, willful sin, however, could not be covered by any sacrifice. In this context, then, the willful sin is simply rejecting Jesus, God s final sacrifice for sin. Remember something else we have learned. Only someone who fully knew in advance what God s law demanded about a certain action could commit a willful sin. In other words, a willful sin could not be committed in ignorance. There had to be advance knowledge about God s will. Heb 10: For if we (any of us Hebrew people) sin wilfully after that we (any of us Hebrew people) have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (Parentheses and bold words mine) Therefore notice, in verse 26 above, that the willful sin occurs after they had received the knowledge of the truth. In other words, they knew in advance the message that Jesus was being preached as God s last sacrifice for sin. Furthermore, this message was presented as the very truth of God. What does lambano mean in this context? Pay close attention to the word translated received. What does this word received, mean in this context? What did they do when they received the knowledge of the truth? Received translates the Greek word lambano. The King James Version translated Lambano by accept, be amazed, assay, attain, bring, when I call, catch, come on (unto), forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (after) and take (away, up.) Two of these translations--accept and take away-- apply in this context. First, lambano means simply to receive or to accept. To say these Hebrews received the knowledge of the truth means they acknowledged that this Jesus message was presented as truth. Now, these Hebrews had heard the message that Jesus was God s final sacrifice for sin under Moses law. They accepted the fact that this message was presented as the truth. This message had been preached with power in the known world. God himself had confirmed it with signs, miracles and wonders. These Hebrews heard it and accepted acknowledged--that this message was presented as truth. They did not like it. They did not believe it. They did not act upon it. But they had heard it, and they accepted acknowledged--the fact that it was presented Hebrews: The Abrahamic Interpretation Page 79

2 as truth. They did not believe it was truth but they accepted--acknowledged--the fact that it was presented as truth. In other words, received or accepted here means they acknowledged that this Jesus message was presented as truth. Remember, a willful sin could not occur without a prior knowledge of God s will concerning an action. This is the kind of knowledge they had heard and received. Look closely, now, at the above word translated by knowledge. This is not the regular Greek word (gnosis) for knowledge. This is the word epignosis that means full knowledge. In other words, these Hebrews had it all preached to them. They had a knowledge base, not of partial, skimpy information about Jesus but they had the complete, full information about Him. They knew it all. This is the information that was presented to them as truth. Notice, the Scripture does not say they received the truth. They only received the full knowledge of what was presented as truth. Jesus was the truth, but they did not receive him. Instead, they received information (full knowledge) about him. Regardless of this complete, full knowledge or information, they did not mix this information (full knowledge) with the store of knowledge (information) they had already received from God. They did not accept this information as being from God. Consequently, they did not place it in their reservoir of faith. Second, The King James Version also translates lambano by take away. Thayer concurs. He said that lambano means to remove or to take away. He gives Matt: 8:17 as an example. (JHT P370) Matt 8:17 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. (KJV) Took, in the preceding verse, translates lambano. Since Matthew said that Jesus took our infirmities, the question is, Where did he take them? Obviously, Jesus took our infirmities away. Here s another Scripture for you. This one, however, actually translates lambano by take away. Matt 5:40 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away (italics mine) thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. (KJV) As we said, lambano, in verse 40 above, means to take away. Furthermore, in many, many Scriptures, lambano means to take away. It is not always translated by take away but this is its obvious meaning. Although there are many of these Scriptures, we cite only three of them for you here. Page 80 Hebrews: The Abrahamic Interpretation

3 Acts 9:25 25 Then the disciples took (italics mine) him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. (KJV) Yes, the disciples took Paul by night, but where did they take him? Obviously, they took him away so he could escape. John 19:6 6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take (italics mine) ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. (KJV) Yes, Pilate told them to take Jesus, but where did they take him? Again! They took him away to crucify him. John 19:40 40 Then took (italics mine) they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. (KJV) Yes, they took the body of Jesus, but where did they take it? They took it away for burial. (See also Rev. 3:11; Rev. 5:7; and Rev. 6:4. In each Scripture, the meaning of lambano is take away. Now, in the wilderness experience, they refused to act (believe) upon God s information (faith) that they could subdue the giants and occupy the land promised to them in the Abrahamic covenant. They either did not believe that God had said this, or if He had said this information, He did not know what He was talking about. One way or the other, they did not act upon this information. They had the full knowledge of what He said, but they refused to act upon this full knowledge. Consequently, they deprived themselves of the fulfillment of the land promise. Here, they were about to deprive themselves of the Seed Promise. Here, they refused to act upon this full knowledge that Jesus was the final sacrifice for sin. They refused to accept that this message was from God. When they refused to act upon it, they took it away. In other words, they received the information concerning the truth about Jesus, but they would not mix it in with their faith information. When they refused to mix it with faith, they disposed of it. They took it away when they rejected it and refused to act upon it. They made light of the claims made concerning Jesus blood. Consequently, they preferred to stay with the blood of bulls, goats, cows, and sheep. They slipped away from it and drifted by it. They neglected it as meaningless. Because of all the above, they committed the most severe of all the willful sins. They rejected Jesus, the truth. Of course, no sacrifice remained for them. Moreover, there is this to consider. The willful sins in the Old Testament demanded the death penalty. Here, the penalty is even greater. It involves eternity. All that these Group 3A Hebrews who reject God s final sacrifice for sin can expect is the everlasting judgment and fiery indignation that devours. This is contained in verse 27 above. In addition, they can expect God to Hebrews: The Abrahamic Interpretation Page 81

4 take vengeance on them and recompense them for placing more value upon the blood of bulls, goats, cows, and sheep than upon the blood of Jesus. Consequently, they will know the fear of falling into his hands (verses 30-31). Carefully watch the bold parentheses below. They give you an accurate guide to understand how our Author used pronouns here. We have much more to say about this in the next two chapters also. Once we finish Chapter Ten, you will have a complete understanding of the message of the willful sin in Hebrews 10: 26 following. 28 (In the Old Testament,) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 (Now,) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye (in Group Two,) shall he (Group 3A) be thought worthy, who (Group 3A) hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he (in Group 3A) was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we (all of us Hebrew people in Group One) know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (KJV) (Parentheses, bold words and italics mine) Previously, we said that their rejection of Jesus, God s final sacrifice, was the most heinous of all the willful sins. Remember that we are not considering just any willful sin. We are considering the most heinous willful sin in history. We are considering the rejection of the Son of God. Even Moses law required two or three witnesses (verse 28) to impose the death sentence when anyone committed the willful sin. Here, we still have The Three Witnesses demanded by Moses law. Here is a case in which The Three Witnesses are also the victims. These Three Witnesses testify against the Group 3A Hebrews concerning their treatment of God s final sacrifice and their only hope. The Three Witnesses are: 1. The Son of God 2. The blood of Jesus 3. The Holy Spirit The Witness of The Son of God against the Group 3A Hebrews At this time, let us look at each of these witnesses separately and discover just what these Group 3A Hebrews did to each of them. First we consider the Son of God. The above Scripture, verse 29, declares that they had trodden him under their feet. To them, the sinless, spotless Son of God was so worthless, that he was no more than a doormat. He was no more than the dirt on the ground. He was useless and worthless. Does this surprise us? After all, He owned nothing of this world s goods. He was spat upon. His beard was jerked from his face. He was beaten with a Roman cat-o-nine tails until he no longer Page 82 Hebrews: The Abrahamic Interpretation

5 resembled human flesh. He hung upon the cruel cross. He was buried in a borrowed tomb. Yes, to them he was less than the dirt under their feet. No wonder they trod him down under their feet. The Witness of the Blood of Jesus against the Group 3A Hebrews Verse 29 above shouts it out! They counted his blood to be an unholy thing! Counted translates the Greek word hegeomai, which means to lead before the mind and draw a conclusion. Again, we must remember that no willful sin could ever be committed without these two things: (1) one had to be fully informed as to what was required (2) and he/she made a deliberate decision to violate what he/she knew was required. Now, these Hebrews were absolutely fully informed (epignosis). Not only were they fully informed but also led this information before their minds. In other words, they considered it from every angle. Finally, see their deliberate decision: They estimated the blood of Jesus to be an unholy thing. Unholy translates the neuter form of the Greek word koinos, which means common. Rather than view his blood as the blood of God himself, they viewed it as just common, ordinary blood. The Scriptures, however, boldly declare that the blood that pumped in Jesus veins was none other than the blood of God. Acts 20:28 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he (GOD) hath purchased with his own blood. (KJV) (Parentheses, capitals and italics mine) Get this well, Dear Reader. The Apostle Paul declared that God purchased the church with His own blood. These Hebrews, after leading it before their minds and reaching a decision, declared the blood of Jesus to be just common or ordinary. They found no value in it. It was just everyday. They found nothing special about it. Consequently, by their deliberate decision, they rejected His blood as valueless and continued to place the greatest value upon the blood of bulls, goats, cows, and sheep. What an insult! They valued the blood of ordinary animals over the blood of the holy Son of God. They just would not turn from the Old Testament, Levitical sacrifices. They just would not believe that God no longer accepted the blood of bulls and goats. But God only accepts his own blood now. He only accepts the blood of Jesus, his final sacrifice for sins under Moses law. Next, we must consider two more expressions here. First, we must look at the expression, the blood of the covenant. Second, we must look at the expression, wherewith he was sanctified. To put it differently, what does the blood of the covenant mean? What covenant does our Author have in mind here? Second, what does our Author mean by his statement that this blood of the covenant had already sanctified these Hebrews, even though they rejected the powerful, holy blood of Jesus? First, the covenant in view here is the Abrahamic covenant. You remember that God framed his covenant with Abraham in the form of a Blood Covenant of Friendship. Now, in a Blood Hebrews: The Abrahamic Interpretation Page 83

6 Covenant of Friendship (as this one between God and Abraham), both parties involved in the covenant must ratify it with their own blood. (The parties could shed their own blood to ratify it or they could agree to substitute the blood of animals.) In Gen. 15: 9-21, Abraham asked God how he might know that he would inherit the land God promised him in the covenant. To answer this, God utilized a very solemn ceremony. He caused some animals and birds to be gathered. Next, He caused their bodies to be divided (carved) up. Then he caused a deep sleep to fall on Abraham. Through this ceremony, God ratified this covenant, from His side, with the substitute blood of the animals and birds. But nothing at all was said about Abraham ratifying the covenant with blood, either his own or the blood of a substitute. In Gen. 17: 9-14, however, God required Abraham to ratify his end of the covenant with his own blood as well as the blood of all his male descendants. To satisfy Abraham s requirement of blood ratification, God instituted the rite of circumcision. Gen 17: And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. 12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. 13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant. (KJV) Afterwards, through the rite of circumcision, the blood of Abraham and his male descendants ratified the Blood Covenant of Friendship from their side. Note this well! Circumcision required the very blood of Abraham and all his male descendants. This lasted until Jesus came the first time. In other words, the many, many acts of circumcision carried the Abrahamic covenant from the Abrahamic side (including Abraham s male descendants) until Jesus came. Now, since Jesus is the supreme seed of Abraham, His blood ratifies it permanently for them from their side. Jesus was not only the Seed of Abraham, but also the Son of God. As the Seed of Abraham, He ratifies the covenant for Abraham and his male descendants. As the Son of God, he ratifies the covenant from God s side. To put it differently, the substitute blood of birds and animals carried the Abrahamic covenant for God until Jesus came. The blood of circumcision carried it for Abraham. Now, the blood of Jesus eternally ratifies it for both God and Abraham. Page 84 Hebrews: The Abrahamic Interpretation

7 In a Blood Covenant of Friendship such as this, the blood--whether their own blood or that of a substitute--set apart each participant in the covenant for the benefit of the other party. This extension of benefits to the other member also included their respective families. They were literally set apart for each other. They would also give up their very lives for each other. In the next chapter, we must look at the sanctification or this setting apart aspect of the blood of Jesus. We must determine just how they were sanctified (set apart) by Jesus blood, even though they had already rejected it. These Hebrews were born, not only with healing, prosperity, family well being and salvation, but also with holiness and sanctification. Think of this for a moment! These people were born holy and sanctified! You will be surprised to discover just how Jesus blood relates to their holiness and sanctification. See all this in the next chapter. Hebrews: The Abrahamic Interpretation Page 85