Hebrews 10:26-31

The Fourth Warning Passage: A Serious Warning Against Apostasy

This is the fourth warning passage in the book of Hebrews, addressing the issue of apostasy. Hebrews 10:26-31 contains incredibly strong language.

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. "And again, The Lord will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The passage recognizes the Old Testament law of Moses, where rejecting it on the testimony of two or three witnesses meant death. For the apostate, there is something worse than death: trampling the Son of God underfoot and all that verse 29 describes.

Key questions arise: What does it mean to sin willfully after receiving knowledge of the truth? What is the sanctification in verse 29? What does it mean to trample the Son of God, count the blood common, insult the Spirit of grace, or have the Lord judge His people in this terrifying context?

Three Key Focuses

To address the strong language, consider three things:

1. The absence of a sacrifice altogether for this individual.
2. The foundation laid by the Old Testament law of Moses.
3. The degree of punishment, tied to the degree of the sin or apostasy committed.

Context Matters

Always keep context in mind. By chapter 10, the author has established the superiority of Christ. The audience is Jewish Christians—former Jews who professed faith. The author exhorts them to hold fast their confession without wavering, to press toward maturity.

Among them are some who professed faith but stalled spiritually, remaining infants needing milk. Others professed but never genuinely converted—never born again. They heard the same gospel: salvation in the perfect, accomplished work of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:1-18 presents Christ's once-for-all sacrifice that perfects forever, sanctifies, declares righteous, and secures hope for eternity. It is the most successful act in history. Christ loses none the Father gives Him. Believers are kept by the Trinity, sealed by the Spirit—a 100% success rate in salvation.

Sanctification in verse 29 is not something lost; it is Christ's own sanctification, as in John 17, where He set Himself apart for our salvation.

Sinning Willfully vs. Unintentional Sin

Verse 26 speaks of willful sin after knowledge of the truth. This echoes Numbers 15, contrasting unintentional sins (like Paul's in Romans 7:15—"I do not do what I want, but the very thing I hate") with defiant sin.

Unintentional sins are hated, not planned. The true mark of a Christian: hating sin, loathing it despite indwelling sin.

Defiant sin is "with a high hand"—throwing a stone at God, shaking fist in agreement with sin, rejecting His word. In context, it is hearing the gospel, understanding it, then rejecting it—perhaps returning to temple sacrifices, setting self up as god, pursuing other salvific systems despite knowing better.

Under Moses' law, such rejection meant death on two or three witnesses' testimony (Deuteronomy 19:15, echoed in Matthew 18:16, etc.). How much worse for rejecting Christ?

The Degree of the Sin

The apostate tramples the Son of God underfoot by professing faith without matching lifestyle, then abandoning it for what contradicts the gospel—like a first-century Jew returning to animal sacrifices, deeming Christ's blood no better than common, impure blood.

"Sanctified" refers to Christ, not the apostate. Apostates are not set apart for God; their lives prove it. They insult the Spirit of grace, leaving no sacrifice but a terrifying expectation of judgment.

The Purpose of the Warning

This builds a climax across warnings: neglect salvation (Hebrews 2), unbelief like Israel (Hebrews 3-4), impossibility of renewing repentance (Hebrews 6). Here, defiant rejection merits vengeance—the Lord's vindication of His people (Deuteronomy 32).

All warnings surround gospel hope: salvation cannot be lost for true believers. If concerned about apostasy, you are not apostate. Concern shows genuine faith.

Examine Yourself

Look back: inability to repent? Lack of hatred for sin? Renew repentance—change your mind about sin and love righteousness. Delight in God's law (Psalm 1). Saturate your mind with Scripture, Christ's earthly life, heavenly ministry. No condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1).

Attendance here counters neglecting assembly (Hebrews 10:25). Trials with joy? Church involvement? Love for brethren? These guard against apostasy.

What is your hope? Hopelessness marks the lost. True hope longs for Christ's return, His beauty over sin. He is the high priest who conquered sin, death, and intercedes for you in heaven's sanctuary.

Take Christianity Seriously

This warning motivates seriousness. Move to maturity; serve; saturate in Scripture. If concerned, rejoice—apostasy is not your reality. Hope in Christ alone.