Deuteronomy 27:26 – Confirmation (proving and establishing) of God’s word occurs through the obedience of His servants. The curse comes back to those who do not allow the Holy Spirit to perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish them through submission to His leading (1 Peter 5:10). (See more in the note below.)
26 'Cursed is he who does not confirm [6965] the words of this law by doing them.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
NASU
OT:6965 quwm (koom)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative):
KJV - abide, accomplish, be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, be dim, endure, enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure (-ly), (be) up (-hold, -rising).
(Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
to rise, to arise, to stand, to rise up, to stand up
a) (Qal)
1) to arise
2) to arise (hostile sense)
3) to arise, to become powerful
4) to arise, to come on the scene
5) to stand
a) to maintain oneself
b) to be established, to be confirmed
c) to stand, to endure
d) to be fixed
e) to be valid
f) to be proven
g) to be fulfilled
h) to persist
i) to be set, to be fixed
b) (Piel)
1) to fulfil
2) to confirm, to ratify, to establish, to impose
c) (Polel) to raise up
d) (Hithpael) to raise oneself, to rise up
e) (Hiphil)
1) to cause to arise, to raise
2) to raise, to set up, to erect, to build
3) to raise up, to bring on the scene
4) to raise up, to rouse, to stir up, to investigate
5) to raise up, to constitute
6) to cause to stand, to set, to station, to establish
7) to make binding
8) to carry out, to give effect to
f) (Hophal) to be raised up
Obedience proves that His word is true and valid, confirming it by revealing the power of it as we do it (James 2:22-25). It proves the power of God within us and without to the world, raising up Christ before them. Also, as we do what the Word of God says, His covenant is established within us. (See the Bible studies Establishing The Covenant and Noah; A Sign Of The End about the extreme significance of establishing the covenant within us.) To be established is to be proven (James 1:12). God’s Word will not be proven to the world until it is first proven within us.
After encouraging the followers of Christ, Peter made the following statement regarding the future inheritance and salvation of the follower of Christ;
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof [NKJV – …the genuineness of your faith…] of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ… (1 Peter 1:6-7NASU)
The Greek for proof is dokimion [dok-im'-ee-on]. It’s defined as “a testing; by implication, trustworthiness, that by which something is tried or proved.” The proving of our faith is revealed through our response to the trials the Holy Spirit purposefully brings into our lives. He already knows the true condition of our hearts, but reveals the genuineness of our faith through difficult moments.
The Word of God implanted within the believer, and its power to save us, are nullified when we walk in continued disobedience, without repentance (Hebrews 10:26). James said; Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21/NASU) The Word is more than able to save us when we work together with the Holy Spirit and do not grieve Him through continued resistance and rebellion, thereby resisting His grace shown towards us (2 Corinthians 6:1~ see the Bible study Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit). The Bible refers to this type of heart as being stiff-necked and stubborn. The Word makes no progress in them. They suppress its saving power through continued, willful unrighteousness (Romans 1:18, 2 Timothy 3:5), after receiving the knowledge of the truth (Hebrews 10:26-31).
These are the followers of Christ that will end up falling away from Him in great shame at the end of this age when the wrath of God is poured out upon all mankind (2 Thess. 2). By not adhering to the guidelines and boundaries revealed in the Word of God, the Word they would not listen to or search out in order to find out what the will of the Lord was, they were disqualified from the race (1 Cor. 9:24-27).
Deuteronomy 28:1 – See the comment below.
1 Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.”
NASU
Deuteronomy 28:1
1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe [8104] and to do [6213] all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
KJV
OT:8104 shamar (shaw-mar')
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:
KJV - beward, be circumspect, take heed (toself), keep (-erself,), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man).
(Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
to keep, to guard, to observe, to give heed
a) (Qal)
1) to keep, to have charge of
2) to keep, to guard, to keep watch and ward, to protect, to save life; watch, a watchman (participle)
3) to watch for, to wait for
4) to watch, to observe
5) to keep, to retain, to treasure up (in memory)
6) to keep (within bounds), to restrain
7) to observe, to celebrate, to keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), to perform (a vow)
8) to keep, to preserve, to protect
9) to keep, to reserve
b) (Niphal)
1) to be on one's guard, to take heed, to take care, to beware
2) to keep oneself, to refrain, to abstain
3) to be kept, to be guarded
c) (Piel) to keep, to pay heed
d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
OT:6213 `asah (aw-saw')
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows):
KJV - accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, displease, do, (ready) dress (-ed), (put in) execute (-ion), exercise, fashion, feast, [fighting-] man, finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, hinder, hold ([a feast]), indeed, be industrious, journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, sacrifice, serve, set, shew, sin, spend, surely, take, thoroughly, trim, very, vex, be [warr-] ior, work (-man), yield, use.
(Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
1) to do, to fashion, to accomplish, to make
a) (Qal)
1) to do, to work, to make, to produce
a) to do
b) to work
c) to deal (with)
d) to act, to act with effect, to effect
2) to make
a) to make
b) to produce
c) to prepare
d) to make (an offering)
e) to attend to, to put in order
f) to observe, to celebrate
g) to acquire (property)
h) to appoint, to ordain, to institute
i) to bring about
j) to use
k) to spend, to pass
b) (Niphal)
1) to be done
2) to be made
3) to be produced
4) to be offered
5) to be observed
6) to be used
c) (Pual) to be made
2) (Piel) to press, to squeeze
Right before the new generation crosses over into the Promised Land, Moses gives them instructions regarding the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience. By following the Lord’s commands, they would be exalted above all other nations. In the verse right before this one (Deuteronomy 27:26 above), he tells them that if they do not “confirm the words of this law by doing them,” that they would be cursed (see the Bible study The Cursed Christian). As we just saw, one of the definitions for confirm is to raise up. Between these two verses I see the Lord saying that if Israel would raise Him up by doing His commands, thereby proving the genuineness of their faith, that He would raise them up above all other nations. (See the book series The Rising Of The Sons Of Dawn.)
I am reminded of Jesus words in John 3:14-15 where He said; Just as Moses lifted up [“to elevate, to exalt”] the snake in the desert [see Numbers 21:4-8], so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. (NIV) While He was foretelling His death, Jesus declared the following; “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die. (John 12:31-33/NASU) Jesus spoke in this passage of His crucifixion that was about to occur. Through the cross the devil was defeated. Once he is removed, through the exalting of Christ in us, people are able to see the One who can save them from their sins. Satan blinds people from seeing Christ.
The Light Of The Gospel, The Word Of Truth
(See the Bible study The Gospel Word Of Truth.)
In 2 Corinthians 4:2-4, Paul said;
But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (NKJV)
The manifestation of truth, who is Jesus (John 14:6), occurs when we “confirm the words of this law by doing them” (Deuteronomy 27:26). By obeying the commands of God, doing the “good works” in Christ Jesus that we were created for (Ephesians 2:10), we allow (make room for) Him to rise up in us (see the Bible study No Room). His glorious light then shines forth through us to those living in darkness, revealing to them the Way of salvation. Jesus put it this way; “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven”(Matthew 5:16/NAS). In other words, as we do good works which are works led by the Holy Spirit rather than our wills (see my book Works And Salvation and the Works Bible Study for a more thorough understanding), Christ is exalted (confirms the word; Deuteronomy 27:26) which means His light is shining forth through us.
Without obedience to the truth of God’s word among His children, we exalt ourselves, our denominations, etc. This self-exaltation is portrayed most clearly in Judas when He betrayed Christ for thirty pieces of silver.
During the last time of fellowshipping together with His disciples, in a Passover meal, Jesus washed their feet in order to teach them something very significant. He said;
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them [confirming Deuteronomy 27:26]. I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: “He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.”
(John 13:14-18/NIV)
To lift up your heel is to exalt yourself over someone else. It is to be lifted up with pride in self-exaltation. In this case, Judas, one of Jesus’ own disciples who regularly partook of the living bread that Christ offered, lifted up himself through disobedience. All of the Lord’s followers will, in the end, either lift up the name of Christ in their lives through continued obedience and faithfulness, or they will lift up themselves through disobedience in betrayal and the spirit of antichrist.
In this passage from John 13 Jesus quotes from Psalm 41, a psalm of David written during a time of sickness about his enemies and his false friends. He says in verses 9-10;
Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. But You, O Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up, that I may repay them.
(NASU)
The Hebrew for lifted up is gadal [gaw-dal']. It means “to become strong, to evidence oneself as great, to magnify oneself.” As I just said, to lift up your heel against Christ is to magnify yourself instead of Him, to glorify self rather than Him.
Interestingly enough, the Hebrew for close friend is shalowm [shaw-lome'] which speaks of peace, or friendship in regard to human relationships or with God, especially in covenant relationship.
Deuteronomy 28:9-10 – The establishing of God’s people as a holy people was, and still is dependent upon them keeping His commandments and walking in His ways.
9 "The Lord will establish [6965 – same as “confirm” in Deut. 27:26 above] you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways.
10 "So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will be afraid of you.
NASU
1 Peter 5:8-10
8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
NASU
James 1:21-25- Doers of the word are blessed in what they do. To prove yourselves doers of the word is to confirm the word (Deuteronomy 27:26). It’s the establishing of the eternal covenant within us. To break the eternal covenant (Hebrews 13:20, Ezekiel 37:26, Genesis 17:13, Isaiah 24:5; see below) is to continually fight the proving process of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s walk. This is the one whom the Bible says is a covenant breaker.
21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
NASU
Isaiah 24:3-6- In these prophetic verses that describe the coming judgment of the earth by God, Isaiah says there was a curse on the earth because it was “polluted by its inhabitants,” one being those who “broke the everlasting covenant.” These are Christians who were given the power to become sons of God but denied the power of the Holy Spirit within them. Through disobedience, the word of God was never allowed to be confirmed within them. The curse of their actions will destroy them. Without the establishing and confirming of the covenant with them they will not be able to enter into the ark of God’s deliverance (Genesis 6:18; see Noah; A Sign Of The End).
Also, the “exalted of the people of the earth” are those who exalted themselves rather than the Lord through obedience to His commands. They will “fade away” with the earth, burned up with the majority of mankind in the Day of the Lord when His fiery wrath is poured out.
3 The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for the Lord has spoken this word.
4 The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away.
5 The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.
NASU
The Curse Of Going Back To Egypt For Disobedience
Deuteronomy 28:68 – This chapter gives the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience.
68 "The Lord will bring you back to Egypt in ships, by the way [1870] about which I spoke to you, 'You will never see it again!' And there you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but there will be no buyer."
NASU
OT:1870 derek (deh'-rek)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from OT:1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb:
KJV - along, away, because of, by, conversation, custom, [east-] ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, [high-] [path-] way [-side], whither [-soever].
(Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
a way, a road, a distance, a journey, a manner
a) a road, a way, a path
b) a journey
c) a direction
d) a manner, a habit, a way
e) used of the course of life (figurative)
f) used of moral character (figurative)
Egypt was referred to as the “house of bondage.” It is a picture of mankind without Christ, bound as a slave to sin. The Lord had given the Israelites a promise of never seeing Egypt again. “The way” in which He said they would never see again was based upon their obedience to the direction of God revealed to them in their wilderness journey. It was a conditional promise that represents the journey of those who follow the Way who is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). The Israelites journey in the wilderness, after being set free, is a picture, in type, of every Christian’s journey AFTER being set free in Christ. Numerous passages in the New Testament use them as an example for those who are following Christ, warning us so as not to fall away from the Way (Christ) with an apostate heart, again, AFTER turning (1 Cor. 10:1-11), after being set free from the house of bondage to sin.
Proverbs 15:10 says; Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way [the NIV says; who leaves the path], and he who hates correction will die. (NKJV) Those who, after turning to Christ, turn away in rebellion will face the discipline of the Lord so as to turn them back to Himself. If they repent they will live. If they resist His corrective action they will die.
To walk in continued disobedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit is to face the consequence of receiving the curse of being returned to the place you were set free from (Hebrews 6:4-8). As the Israelites found out, the promise alone of the Promised Land was not enough. They had to walk it out, just as we do today. We now have doctrines that say this isn’t possible for New Testament Christians (i.e. “once saved always saved”). Many New Testament verses and Old Testament types say otherwise.
Hebrews 3:12-4:2 – In this passage, the writer of Hebrews gives Christian’s a stern warning to be careful in our walks with Christ, not allowing an unbelieving heart to creep back in thereby causing us to fall away from Him. This warning is particularly crucial in these last days when the great falling away is occurring as prophesied by Paul in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2. (See more in the note below.)
12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,
15 while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME."
16 For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?
17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?
19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
Chapter 4
1 Therefore, let us [Who is “us”? “Brethren” in verse 12, fellow followers of Christ!] fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. [Why fear if you don’t have to, per the doctrine of demons known as “once saved, always saved”!?]
2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit [5623] them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.
NASU
NT:5623 opheleo (o-fel-eh'-o)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from the same as NT:5622; to be useful, i.e. to benefit:
KJV - advantage, better, prevail, profit.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
to assist, to be useful or advantageous, to profit: absolutely (Romans 2:25)
The writer of Hebrews is warning Christians (brethren) in these verses to fear lest we follow the example of Israel in the wilderness who rebelled and fell short of the promise of God regarding the land of their inheritance. The word of promise from God they heard did not profit them because it was not confirmed or established within them. They did not unite it with faith, a faith that believes and does the will of God.
By definition, to not profit means “to be of no use, to effect nothing.” This means, as Deuteronomy 27:26 stated, they did not do it. As James clearly told us, a person’s works (“good works” led by the Holy Spirit) bring their faith to completion. This is the faith that saves us (James 2:14). To “hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end” is to continue in belief after first turning to Christ with an obedient, soft heart rather than a “hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” heart. It is the Christian who starts the race and, through the empowering of the Holy Spirit that occurs by submission to His will, are brought to completion and perfection in Christ, thereby finishing the race. In his farewell to the elders of the church in Ephesus, not knowing what dangers lay ahead for him in Jerusalem, Paul declared; I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. (Acts 20:24/NIV ~ see Acts 13:25)
Many fail to enter the promise because of disobedience to the Guide, the Holy Spirit, along the way (Hebrews 4:6). To enter the ark of God, like Noah, is to enter the promised place of deliverance, or salvation (Genesis 6:18 ~ see the Bible study Noah’s Ark). Continued, willful sin against the will of God revealed by the Holy Spirit (conviction) hardens the heart resulting in an unfulfilled promise.
The Promise Of Eternal Life
1 John 2:24-25- The promised eternal life of God, entering His rest, is conditional upon our remaining in Christ, not denying His words of truth through willful sin without repentance.
24 See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you [see John 15:1-11]. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.
25 And this is what he promised us — even eternal life
NIV
1 John 2:17
17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
NASU
Hebrews 10:35-36- Receiving the promise of God is dependent upon doing the will of God. This is accomplished through endurance which is produced within every Christian through the training of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:3). It is what the Bible refers to as “suffering in the flesh” (1 Peter 4:1-16, 12-19; 5:8-10). To stand firm in Christ is to endure suffering, knowing the great significance of what it is used to accomplish within us. Without endurance we will not stand firm until the end and be saved (Matthew 10:22), or reign with Him (2 Tim. 2:12).
35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
NASU
Hebrews 9:11-18 – See the note below.
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;
12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works [NIV- “acts that lead to death”] to serve the living God?
15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called [see the Bible study Many Are Called] may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.
17 For a covenant is valid [949] only when men are dead, for it is never in force [2480] while the one who made it lives.
18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated [1457] without blood.
NASU
NT:949 bebaios (beb'-ah-yos)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from the base of NT:939 (through the idea of basality); stable (literally or figuratively):
KJV - firm, of force, steadfast, sure.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
stable, fast, firm, secure; properly: angkura (Hebrews 6:19)
NT:2480 ischuo (is-khoo'-o)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from NT:2479; to have (or exercise) force (literally or figuratively):
KJV - be able, avail, can do ([-not]), could, be good, might, prevail, be of strength, be whole, much work.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
to be strong,
1. to be strong in body, to be robust, to be in sound health (Matthew 9:12)
2. to have power
a. to have a power evinced in extraordinary deeds, i. e. to exert, wield, power: so of the gospel (Acts
19:20)
b. equivalent to be of force, avail (Heb. 9:17)
c. to be serviceable (Matthew 5:13)
d. followed by an infinitive to be able, can (Matthew 8:28)
NT:1457 egkainizo (eng-kahee-nid'-zo)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from NT:1456; to renew, i.e. inaugurate:
KJV - consecrate, dedicate.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
to innovate,
1. to renew (2 Chron. 15:8)
2. to do anew, again:
3. to initiate, consecrate, dedicate (Heb. 9:18)
The writer of Hebrews speaks of the necessity of death in order for the covenant with God for obtaining eternal redemption (the promise of eternal inheritance) to be “valid,” which means “stable, fast, firm, secure.” The security of the believer is dependent upon the security of the covenant. It is always sure and steadfast on Christ’ side because He is faithful (2 Tim. 2:11-13). With us, it is crucial that we remain in a state of being “dead in Christ,” counting ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:10-12). Otherwise, the covenant is rendered ineffective in our lives. When we live for our wills, for ourselves, we make the power of the covenant powerless on our behalf. We are fighting its capacity through the eternal Spirit to conform us to the image of Christ. This is what the Bible refers to as a covenant breaker (Romans 1:31). We are treating the blood of Jesus, the blood of the new covenant, with rudeness and insult, as if it were a commonplace matter. The writer of Hebrews put it this way;
How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29/NASU)
By definition, to trample under foot is “to treat with rudeness and insult, or insulting neglect.” This refers to those who, after turning to Christ, turn away from Him to indulge in “willful sin” without repentance or the fear of consequences (see Hebrews 10:26-31). As the writer of Hebrews says, this “better” covenant is not through the blood of bulls and goats but the blood of Christ which it makes it even more serious when slighted.
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