Apostasy Heb. 10:25–27. (125)
“But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (v. 27). “When a man under the law had contracted the guilt of any such sin, as was indispensably capital in its punishment, for the legal expiation thereof no sacrifice was appointed or allowed, such as murder, adultery, blasphemy, he had nothing remaining but a fearful expectation of the execution of the sentence of the law against him. And it is evident that in this context, the apostle argues from the less unto the greater; if it was so, that this was the case of him who so sinned against Moses’ law, how much more must it be so with them that sin against the gospel, whose sin is incomparably greater, and the punishment more severe?” (John Owen.)
- The Divine punishment which shall be visited upon apostates is first spoken of under the general term “judgment,” as in Hebrews 9:27. This signifies that it will be a righteous sentence proportioned unto their awful crime: there will be a full and open trial, with an impartial judicial condemnation of them. The term is also used to express the punishment itself Jas 2:13, 2Peter 2:3: both meanings are probably included here. The sure approach of this judgment is referred to as “a certain fearful looking-for of” it. The word “certain” here signifies something which is not fully defined, as in “a certain woman” Mk 5:25, “a certain nobleman” Jn 4:46: it therefore denotes the “judgment” is inexpressible, such as no human heart can conceive or tongue portray. “Fearful” intimates the punishment will be so dreadful that when men come to apprehend it they are filled with horror and dismay. “Looking-for” shows that the apostates already have an earnest of God’s wrath in their consciences even now. 1Sam. 28:19, 20, Is. 33:14, Da. 5:6, Lk. 21:26; 23:30. Re. 6:15–17.
- “And fiery indignation,” or “fierceness of fire” as in the American R.V., or more literally, “of fire fervor” (Bag. Inter.). This describes more closely the nature of the “judgment” awaiting them. The terms used denote the resistless, tormenting, destroying efficacy of God’s terrible wrath, and emphasizes its dreadful fierceness. God is highly incensed against the apostates, and inconceivably and indescribably dreadful will be His dealings with them: it will express and answer to His infinite justice, holiness, and power. “For, behold, the Lord will come with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger against the earth, and His rebuke with flames of fire” (Isa. 66:15). No doubt the reference in our verse is to the final judgment at the last day, and the eternal destruction of God’s enemies. A solemn and graphic shadowing forth of this was given by God when His sword and fiery judgment fell upon the Jews in a.d. 70, destroying their church-state by fire and sword. Na. 1:5, 6, Zep. 3:8, Mal. 4:1. Mat. 3:10, 12; 13:42, 50; 25:41, Mk. 9:43–49, 2Thess. 1:6, 8-9, Rev. 20:15.
- “Which shall devour the adversaries.” There is probably an allusion here to the dreadful fate which overtook Nadab and Abihu, concerning whom it is written “there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them (Lev. 10:2), and also the judgment visited upon Korah, Dathan and Abiram, when “the ground clave asunder that was under them, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up,” so that they went down “alive into the Pit” Num. 16:30–33, Ps. 68:1, 2, Nah. 1:2, 8–10, Lu. 19:27. The “adversaries” are those who are actuated by a principle of hostile opposition to Christ and Christianity. They are enemies of God, and God will show Himself to be their Enemy. God’s wrath shall “devour them as to all happiness, all blessedness, all hopes, comfort and relief at once; but it shall not consume their being. This is that which this fire shall ever prey upon them, and never utterly consume them” (John Owen).
