The Saving of the Soul Heb. 10:35–39
“…your confidence which hath great recompence of reward” Heb. 10:35
“The rule of first mention of the word: in Gen. 15:1 we find Jehovah saying unto Abram, “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward”: how utterly impossible for the patriarch to have done anything to deserve this! Once it is plainly perceived that in Scripture. “Which hath great recompense of reward.” Rightly did John Calvin point out in his comments on this verse: “By mentioning ‘reward,’ he diminishes nothing from the gratuitous promise of salvation, for the faithful know that their labor is not in vain in the Lord in such a way that they still rest on God’s mercy alone. We should note that, ‘reward’ is not incompatible with the gratuitous imputation of righteousness. Pink Arthur W.
- “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (v. 36). “The reward can be obtained only by holding fast this confidence—by adhering steadily and perseveringly to Christ and His cause” John Brown. Patience, or endurance in the path of obedience, fidelity and suffering, is indispensably necessary if we are to be preserved unto salvation. It is “through faith and patience” or “perseverance,” that we “inherit the promises” Heb. 6:12.
- John Owen in his comments in Heb. 10:35, 36 wrote, “Wherefore, ‘the recompense of the reward’ here intended, is the glory of Heaven, proposed as a crown unto them that overcome in their sufferings for the Gospel. And the future glory, whose pleasure it is to give us the kingdom; and as unto its procuring cause is the sole purchase of the blood of Christ, who obtained for us eternal redemption; and it is, on both accounts, a free gift of God, for ‘the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God through Christ is life eternal’ is yet constantly promised to suffering believers, under the name of a recompense or a reward. The great—ness and goodness of God to call His own people unto sufferings for His name, and unto His glory, and therein to the loss of their lives many times, with all enjoyments here below, and has proposed unto them, provide for them, that which shall be infinitely better than all that they so undergo. This confidence ‘hath’ this recompense of reward; that is, it gives a right unto the future reward of glory.” Ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” v. 36. “The reward can be obtained only by holding fast this confidence—by adhering steadily and perseveringly to Christ and His cause” John Brown. Ps. 37:7, Rom. 2:7; 5:3, 4, 1Thess. 1:3, Jas. 5:7–11, Rev. 14:12.
- “For ye have need of patience.” The apostle did not charge them with being destitute of this grace, for all who are born of the Spirit bear, in some measure, the fruit of the Spirit, and this among the rest Gal. 5:22; we were brought into the kingdom of Jesus Christ, are into His patience also Rev. 1:9. No, it signified that they needed the continuance, and increase of this grace: compare Zeph 2:3 where the “meek” are exhorted to seek “meekness.” That they receive afflictions as from the hand of God, to bear reproaches and persecutions from men as that unto which He had “appointed” them 1Thess. 3:3, to commit their cause unto the Lord and rest in Him Ps. 37:5, 6; to bear up, and not sink under trials, and to live in the constant expectation of Heaven. The things promised, as in Hebrews 6:12, 17; 11:13, 39. It is called “the promise” as in 1John 2:25 etc., because it is the grand comprehensive promise.
- It was necessary then that they should arm their minds with the spirit of resignation and persevering constancy, that having done the will of God, by steadfastly cleaving to Christ… through all temptations and sufferings, they might afterwards receive the promised gift of eternal life. Col. 3:24, 1Pet. 1:9. The principle of this verse remains unchanged. Satan is the same, and so also is the world, and they who will live godly cannot escape trials and tribulations. Some of the finer and more delicate of the Christian graces can only be developed under stress and suffering.
