Hebrews 10:35-36
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Don't just "hold on" to your confidence; actively refuse to "throw it away" like something worthless. This isn't about passively keeping something, but a deliberate rejection of letting go of your bold, free access to God, especially when things get tough.
The author is urging believers not to abandon their bold confidence and faith, reminding them of the intense persecution they've already endured and the great reward awaiting them. This exhortation flows directly from the preceding verses, which highlight the suffering and shame Christ himself faced, contrasting it with the ultimate salvation and vindication that comes through steadfastness. The passage builds towards the promise that perseverance will ultimately lead to receiving what God has promised.
The Bible calls it 'confidence,' but what does that really mean in the face of hardship? It's more than just a feeling; it's a powerful stance.
The original Greek word translated as 'confidence' here (parrhesia) speaks to speaking or acting with boldness and freedom.
Don't confuse this divine confidence with arrogance. It's a bold, unwavering trust that allows you to stand firm.
The verse promises a 'great reward.' What kind of reward is worth holding onto your confidence for?
The 'great reward' (or 'recompense of reward') mentioned isn't just a pat on the back. It points to something immense and eternal.
This isn't about earning salvation, but about God rewarding the steadfastness that flows from genuine faith.
Understand the original words
parrēsia · Greek Noun
Boldness, freedom of speech, or courageous reliance on God; it is the secure, unwavering trust a believer has because of their standing before God in Christ.
misthapodosian · Greek Noun
The gracious recompense given by God to those who remain faithful to Him; it is not earned through merit but granted by God to those who persevere in faith.
hypomonē · Greek Noun
The quality of steadfastness, patience, or perseverance under trial; the capacity to hold fast to one's faith and duty despite suffering or opposition.
thelēma · Greek Noun
God's sovereign desire, purpose, or moral standard for humanity, which believers are called to obey and align their lives with.
Written during a period of intense pressure on the early church, this verse strongly encourages believers facing hardship not to abandon their bold confession of faith in Jesus, reminding them of the immense reward that awaits those who endure.
c. AD 30-33
Founding of the Church
The early Christian movement begins with Jesus' death and resurrection, spreading rapidly throughout Jerusalem and Judea.
c. AD 40s-50s
Early Persecution
Christians face increasing opposition and sporadic persecution from both Jewish authorities and Roman officials, leading to arrests and beatings.
c. AD 60s
Impending Roman Judgment
Tensions rise between Rome and Judea, with increasing signs of civil unrest and the looming threat of Roman military intervention. The Jewish War is brewing.
c. AD 60s— this verse
Letter to the Hebrews Written
The author of Hebrews writes to a community of Jewish believers struggling with persecution and temptation to revert to Judaism, urging them to persevere in their faith in Christ.
This passage echoes the idea of perseverance and reward, urging believers not to grow weary in doing good, for in due time, they will reap a harvest. It complements Hebrews 10:35 by emphasizing the importance of continuing in faith and good works to receive the promised reward.
Philippians 3:14Paul speaks of pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. This shares the theme of a future reward that motivates present striving, highlighting that the 'great reward' in Hebrews is the ultimate prize of our calling in Christ.
1 Peter 1:6-7Here, Peter speaks of enduring trials through various temptations so that the tested genuineness of faith may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. This connects by showing that present suffering and steadfastness are tested and refined, leading to a glorious reward, mirroring the 'great recompense of reward'.
Matthew 10:22Jesus tells his disciples they will be hated for his name's sake, but the one who endures to the end will be saved. This directly links endurance through hardship to a final salvation, reinforcing the encouragement in Hebrews 10:35 to not cast away confidence, as perseverance is key to receiving the reward.
vincentHebrews 10:35: "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward."
Confidence (τὴν παρρησίαν)Rend. boldness. The boldness and courage which you manifested under persecution.
meyerHebrews 10:35: "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward."
Hebrews 10:35 . Exhortation deduced from Hebrews 10:32-34 . The self-sacrificing zeal for Christianity displayed in the past ought to animate the readers to a joyful maintenance of the same likewise in the present, since of a truth this very stedfastness in zeal leads to the longed-for goal. ἀποβάλλειν ] here not the involuntary losing (Jac. Cappellus, Lösner, and others), but the voluntary casting…
Don't just "hold on" to your confidence; actively refuse to "throw it away" like something worthless. This isn't about passively keeping something, but a deliberate rejection of letting go of your bold, free access to God, especially when things get tough.
The author is urging believers not to abandon their bold confidence and faith, reminding them of the intense persecution they've already endured and the great reward awaiting them. This exhortation flows directly from the preceding verses, which highlight the suffering and shame Christ himself faced, contrasting it with the ultimate salvation and vindication that comes through steadfastness. The passage builds towards the promise that perseverance will ultimately lead to receiving what God has promised.
The author is urging believers not to abandon their bold confidence and faith, reminding them of the intense persecution they've already endured and the great reward awaiting them. This exhortation flows directly from the preceding verses, which highlight the suffering and shame Christ himself faced, contrasting it with the ultimate salvation and vindication that comes through steadfastness. The passage builds towards the promise that perseverance will ultimately lead to receiving what God has promised.
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AD 64
Great Fire of Rome
Nero blames Christians for the fire, initiating a period of intense, albeit localized, persecution in Rome itself.
AD 66-70
First Jewish-Roman War
The Jewish revolt against Roman rule erupts, leading to widespread conflict and devastation throughout Judea.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Roman legions under Titus conquer Jerusalem, destroying the city and the Second Temple, effectively ending the sacrificial system of Judaism.
"Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised." — Don't just "hold on" to your confidence; actively refuse to "throw it away" like something worthless. This isn't about passively keeping something, but a deliberate rejection of letting go of your bo…
