You Have Need of Endurance

You Have Need of Endurance. It was not a marginal suggestion or a helpful tip when the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews wrote urgently: “You have need of endurance” (Heb. 10:36). Their congregation was sorely tested and persecuted, which even landed some of their members in a thoroughly unfriendly prison and up against the real threat of martyrdom.

It was not surprising, but nonetheless unacceptable, that some percentage of the church in/around Jerusalem was forsaking the New Covenant (faith in Christ alone) by attempting to play nicely again with the Old Covenant (faith in Christ plus works of the Law). But from many different vantage points, the writer of Hebrews showed how Christ is better, period, than keeping the Law. Adding works of the Law to faith in Christ in effect proved that they never believed Christ. Theirs was a gospel issue, not merely a cultural one—an important distinction!

“But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 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” (Heb. 10:32-36).