The Hebrews writer continues from Messiah being the superior sacrifice and High Priest speaking of our faith, the importance of faith, and the necessity of continuing in faith. Faith is believing God. Our faith must continue to be salvation from sins, the effects of sin, and our daily life in faith must be through grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.
My translation and notes on Hebrews 10:26-39
Our Faith Must Continue
26 Because, if we keep on sinning deliberately after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there doesn’t remain any more sacrifice for sins,
[All believers still battle the flesh and sin (Romans 7). Jesus told Peter that he only needed to wash his feet not his whole body (an application about sins contamination). The sinning spoken of her is deliberate—know it is sin, and sin anyway. Keep on—would be not repenting, so it would be doing it again and again. This type of sin would put a person in danger spiritually. See 1 Timothy 4:1, Hebrews 10:29, and Revelation 2:4. The Greek word for ‘willingly/deliberately’ is ἑκουσίως hekousiōs (G1596). It means voluntary. Compare 1 Peter 5:2].
27 Only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and indignation of fire which will devour the adversaries.
28 Anyone who despised Moses’ law died without compassion on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29 How much worse punishment, do youp think, will be deserving the one who has spurned the Son of God and has considered the blood of the covenant, with which he was sanctified, an unholy thing and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
[These are the actions of voluntarily sinning and keep on sinning. This person refuses to repent. Compare Revelation 2:20-23].
30 For we know him who has said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” says the Lord. And in addition, “The Lord will judge his people.” [Deuteronomy 32:35-36 and Psalm 135:14]
31 [It is] a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
[Compare this note in ISBE: God’s anger while slow, and not easily aroused (Psalm 103:8; Isaiah 48:9; Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:3), is to be dreaded (Psalm 2:12; Psalm 76:7; Psalm 90:11; Matthew 10:28); is not to be provoked (Jeremiah 7:19; 1 Corinthians 10:22); when visited, in the present life, should be borne with submission (2 Samuel 24:17; Lamentations 3:39-43; Micah 7:9); prayer should be earnestly made for deliverance from it (Psalm 39:10; Psalm 80:4; Daniel 9:16; Habakkuk 3:2); it should be the means of leading man to repentance (Isaiah 42:24-25, Jeremiah 4:8)].
32 But remember the past days, in which, after youp were enlightened, youp endured a great struggle of hardship.
33 At times, youp were viewed with scorn, both with insults and persecutions, and at times, youp were associated with those who were treated this way.
34 For youp had compassion on me in my imprisonment and with joy allowed the stealing of yourp possessions, knowing in yourselvesp that youp have better and enduring possessions in heaven.
[How could anyone possibly have joy when their goods are stolen? The writer gives the answer—that you had better and enduring possessions in heaven. We must remember the goods and riches of this life are brief. They will perish, but the treasures in heaven endure forever. This inheritance is from God (Colossians 3:24). God is pleased to do so (Matthew 20:14-15). A city (Hebrews 11:16) prepared by Jesus (John 14:2). We will be with Jesus (Philippians 1:23). We will see God’s face (Psalms 17:15; Matthew 5:8; Revelation 22:4). We will be glorified (Romans 8:17-18). We will be given authority to judge (1 Corinthians 6:2). We will reign with Jesus (2 Timothy 2:12). Rewards of various crowns (1 Peter 5:4, James 1:12) which cannot be destroyed (1 Corinthians 9:25). We will live an eternal life, not eternal death (John 6:40 and 1 John 5:11), have an eternal perfect body that doesn’t get sick or old (2 Corinthians 5:1), have eternal joy with no sadness (Matthew 25:21), rest instead of disturbances (Hebrews 4:9), incorruptible treasures (Luke 12:33), satisfaction (Psalm 17:15), and beyond what we can understand or imagine (1 Corinthians 2:9). List taken in part from Torrey’s New Topical Textbook—Reward of the Saints].
35 Therefore, do not throw away yourp boldness, which has great reward.
[There is a tendency to not reveal ourselves to worship Jesus when persecution is present. The writer encourages us not to be ashamed. Adam Clarke writes on this verse: Do not throw it away, μη αποβαλητε· neither men nor devils can take it from you, and God will never deprive you of it if you continue faithful. There is a reference here to cowardly soldiers, who throw away their shields, and run away from the battle. This is your shield, your faith in Christ, which gives you the knowledge of salvation; keep it, and it will keep you].
36 Youp need perseverance, so that, after doing God’s will, youp will receive the promise.
37 For besides, in a little while, he, who will come, will come, and will not delay.
38 Now the just will live by faith, but if he turns back, my soul will not be pleased with him. [Habakkuk 2:3-4]
[The Christian faith starts with grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. That will be the same for us every day, all eternity, grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. He is always Messiah].
39 But we are not those who turn back into eternal ruin but of those who have faith for preserving the soul.
[The Greek word for “preserving” is περιποίησις peripoíēsis (G4047). It means acquisition of something and preserving depending on the context. In Ephesians 1:14 “purchased possession” that is a thing acquired. In 1 Thessalonians 5:9 and 2 Thessalonians 2:14 it in understand as “obtain.” In Hebrews 10:39, it is usually translated “saving,” but it better understand as preserving, which is what the word means. So, it is translated such in Young’s Literal Translation (YLT), New English Translation (NET), Modern King James (MKJV), Literal Translation of the Holy Bible (LITV), English Standard Translation (ESV), and others. These people are already saved but turn back into eternal ruin. The goal for the Christian is to be faithful and truth to the end of our human life, not the beginning of salvation. Hebrews 10:38-39 is the summary of the chapter and introduction to Chapter 11].