Hebrews 10:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

NIV: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,

NASB: and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds,

CSB: And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works,

NLT: Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

KJV: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

NKJV: And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

Christianity is not a faith which God intended to be lived out alone. Encouraging others and being encouraged by others are both central to the life of an obedient believer. This follows a core theme of this entire book, which is "holding fast" (Hebrews 3:14).

The book of Hebrews is meant to encourage Christians not to give up on their faith. When persecution and fear put pressure on believers, our response should be to "hold fast" to the truth. This is not blind faith—on the contrary, most of the content of this letter is evidence supporting the fact that Jesus Christ is, in fact, God's ultimate plan for our salvation. Our own personal faith is crucial to that endurance, which is why the writer has so often warned readers not to be lazy or careless about their spiritual growth (Hebrews 2:1–4; 6:1–8). At the same time, the influence of others is extremely important to our spiritual maturity (Hebrews 3:13). Instead of reacting to difficult times with fear or doubt, we should embrace a confident faith and look to encourage fellow believers to do the same. This means calling other Christians to not just "believe," but to act out in love and good deeds.

Hebrews 10:19–25 is an encouraging bridge between two major sections of the book of Hebrews. Earlier verses completed a long, detailed explanation of why the new covenant is superior to the old covenant. This section is meant to inspire Christians to be confident, courageous, and uplifted in living out their faith. The following passage is perhaps the sternest warning given in this letter about the danger of ''falling away'' from the faith.

God's own words, found in the Old Testament Scriptures, declare His intention to replace the old covenant with a new covenant. Jesus fulfills all of these prophecies, and all of the symbolism found in the system of priests, the tabernacle, and animal sacrifices. Knowing that Jesus Christ is, undoubtedly, God's remedy for our sin, we should be encouraged in holding on to our faith in the face of persecution. However, that same confidence means dire spiritual consequences for those who know Christ's salvation, but choose to act in defiance of His will.

Chapter 10 completes the long, detailed explanation of why the new covenant is superior to the old covenant. Starting in chapter 7, the writer gave various arguments and Scriptures to support this idea. The theme of these points is that God had always intended to send Jesus, as the real fulfillment of the old covenant's symbolism. The second half of this chapter transitions into more practical ideas, including an extremely dire warning about the dangers of apostasy.

The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.