Not Forsaking The Assembling

Hebrews 10:25

            “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 he day approaching”. In verses 22-24, there are 3 exhortations. 1) draw near to God. 2)hold fast the profession of faith. 3) provoke one another to love and good works. These 3 exhortations could never be accomplished by forsaking the assemblies. Worshiping with those of like precious faith is rewarding. It draws us closer to God and fellowship with those who are faithful, and provokes each to stand fast in the faith, and grow in love toward one another and good works.

            The term “forsaking” in verse 25, is often used to mean to neglect the assembly, such as missing a Sunday now and then. Such would be sinful, but this is not the “forsaking” which the writer had in mind. Vines say this “verb” means to “leave” which means “to abandon”, “to desert”.  Acts 2:27, “You will not leave, abandon, desert, my soul in Hades”.

            Other verses in the Scriptures show this is the correct meaning. Matthew 27:46,” My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken, leave, abandon, Me. II Timothy 4:16, Paul states, “at my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook, left, abandon, me”. In Hebrews 13:5, this is promised by the Lord, “ I will never leave you nor forsake you”. In all these verses, the same “verb” is used that is used in Hebrews 10:25 and the meaning in each verse meaning, to renounce, abandon, desert, to deny or refuse. This is what those to whom the writer was writing to was doing, “as is the manner, custom, of some”. The term means, “a complete abandonment of the worship assemblies”.

            “but exhorting one another”. Do not be like those who had “abandon” the assemblies, but to keep on assembling, and keep on exhorting each other in order to guard against “apostasy”. Verses 26-31 are a warning against apostasy. The writer tells them in vs. 32, “to recall the former days in which they were illuminated, or enlightened and endured a greater struggle with sufferings”.

            Illuminated or enlightened means, the “came to knowledge of the gospel and were converted to Christ. They were illuminated. Then a great “struggle with sufferings began” and they endured these sufferings. The writer is calling upon them to “remember those days and do not “abandon” the assemblies as others had.         

- CL Bruner