Hebrews 10:19-25
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:19-25 Meaning
Hebrews 10:19-25 speaks about the confidence and boldness we have to enter into the presence of God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It encourages believers to hold fast to their faith and to gather together in fellowship, encouraging and spurring one another on in love and good works.
Hebrews 10:19-25 Commentary and Explanation
Hebrews 10:19-25 is a passage that speaks directly to the heart of our faith and encourages us to live in community, drawing near to God with confidence. As we explore these verses together, we will delve into the rich tapestry of biblical teachings that connect and enhance our understanding.
First, in verse 19, the author reminds us of the privilege we have through the blood of Jesus Christ. We have been granted access to the Most Holy Place, which in the Old Testament was reserved for the high priest once a year on the Day of Atonement. However, through Christ’s sacrifice, we can boldly enter God’s presence at any time. This truth aligns with what Jesus himself taught in John 14:6, where he declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Our confidence to approach God rests solely on the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
Moving to verse 20, we see a powerful image of Jesus as our High Priest. The author uses the imagery of the veil in the temple being torn in two when Jesus died (Matthew 27:51), signifying that the barrier between us and God has been removed. Jesus, as our High Priest, intercedes on our behalf before God (Hebrews 7:25). This reassures us of His role in mediating our access to God, making our relationship with the Father possible.
Verse 21 introduces the idea of a “great priest over the house of God.” This phrase emphasizes that believers are now part of God’s household, the Church (Ephesians 2:19-22). Jesus is the High Priest who presides over this spiritual family, nurturing and guiding us in our faith journey.
Verse 22 encourages us to draw near to God with sincere hearts and full assurance of faith. James 4:8 echoes this call to draw near to God, promising that as we do so, He will draw near to us. This intimate relationship with God is at the core of our faith and is made possible through Christ.
In verse 23, the author urges us to hold fast to our confession of hope without wavering. This echoes the exhortation in Hebrews 4:14, emphasizing the importance of a steadfast faith. We are reminded of the hope we have in Christ, which is an anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:19).
Verse 24 introduces the concept of stirring up love and good works among ourselves. This is in line with Jesus’ commandment to love one another (John 13:34-35) and Paul’s encouragement to do good to all (Galatians 6:10). Our faith should manifest in tangible acts of love and service toward others.
Finally, in verse 25, the author emphasizes the importance of assembling together as believers. This echoes Hebrews 3:13, where we are encouraged to exhort one another daily. Regular fellowship and gathering as a community of believers are crucial for our spiritual growth and encouragement.
Hebrews 10:19-25 reminds us of the incredible privilege we have in Christ, granting us access to God’s presence, the role of Jesus as our High Priest, and the importance of our faith community. As we draw near to God in confidence, hold fast to our hope, and encourage one another in love and good works, we reflect the beautiful tapestry of biblical truths that make up our Christian journey.
Also Read: Hebrews 11:8-16 Meaning and Commentary
Context of Hebrews 10:19-25
The book of Hebrews was written to encourage and exhort Jewish believers who were facing persecution and tempted to revert back to Judaism. The author emphasizes the superiority of Jesus Christ and the new covenant He inaugurated, demonstrating why it is crucial to remain steadfast in their faith. Hebrews 10:19-25 comes after a discussion about the perfect sacrifice of Christ, which provides complete forgiveness of sins for those who believe.
Bible Study on the Bible Verses
To delve deeper into these verses, it is helpful to consider other passages that expand on the themes expressed here. One relevant passage is Ephesians 2:18, which speaks about our access to the Father through the Holy Spirit. Another is 1 Peter 1:3, which declares our new birth into a living hope through Jesus’ resurrection. These passages further reinforce the truth that Jesus’ sacrifice has opened the way for us to approach God with confidence and assurance.
In studying this passage, it is important to reflect on our own confidence to approach God. Do we truly believe that our sins are forgiven and that we have been made righteous in Christ? If doubts arise, we can turn to passages like Romans 8:1 and 1 John 1:9, reminding ourselves of God’s faithfulness to cleanse and forgive us.
Additionally, reflecting on ways we can encourage and spur one another on in love and good works is crucial. This can be through acts of service, kind words, or simply being present for one another. We are called to live in community, supporting and strengthening each other in our walk with God.
Biblical Translations of Hebrews 10:19-25
Hebrews 10:19-25 King James Version (KJV)
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:19-25 English Standard Version (ESV)
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:19-25 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:19-25 New Living Translation (NLT)
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:19-25 The Message (MSG)
“So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into ‘the Holy Place.’ Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The ‘curtain’ into God’s presence is his body. So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:19-25 New King James Version (NKJV)
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Final Thoughts
Hebrews 10:19-25 serves as a powerful reminder of the confidence and boldness we have through Jesus Christ to approach the throne of grace. It calls us to draw near to God with sincerity and full assurance of faith, knowing that we have been cleansed and made righteous by the sacrifice of Christ.
We are also encouraged to gather together in fellowship, actively seeking ways to encourage and spur one another on in love and good deeds. May we hold fast to our faith, knowing that we have a High Priest who intercedes for us and invites us into the presence of the Father.