Let's exegete Hebrews 10:37 in context

[HappyOma]

Hebrews 10:37 "In a very, very little while He who is coming will come and will not delay."

For many years, I have asked fellow Christians to deal with this verse. I do not recall having received a response from anyone.

The writer of Hebrews wrote this shortly before A. D. 70 (ca 64-69). The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was then only a few years away. This is why the writer admonished those believers of his day to not forsake the necessary practice of assembling together. They needed to be "awake" and "ready" for that day. In their own time, they were seeing the "day" approach. This is the day of the Lord's coming in judgment against that apostate nation of Jews which Jesus judged guilty of "all the righteous blood shed on the earth" (Mat. 23). The time was fast approaching when their "house" (the Temple) was about to be destroyed by the Roman armies.

That day was not to be delayed. It was to happen in their lifetime--"in a very, very little while." Yet some still wait for His return--a delay of thousands of years is not "a very, very little while." "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prob. 13:12).

 

[Exegesis]

Hebrews 10:37 "In a very, very little while He who is coming will come and will not delay."

For many years, I have asked fellow Christians to deal with this verse. I do not recall having received a response from anyone.

First of all, who is this 'He'? Is it Michael? Is it the Holy Ghost? Is the word 'He' even in the original Greek?

Let's assume it's the Lord. What is he coming for? The answer is in the previous verse:

Hebrews 10:36 - "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."

The context is about someone doing the will of God in their lifetime, then passing away, then receiving the promise of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Therefore, the 'coming' is all about what happens when a person's hour of death has come. It can happen at any time. The older one gets, the 'sooner' that hour will arrive.

Now, plug that into the rest of Scripture:

Matthew 24:42-46 - "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing."

Sure, it can refer to the end times, but it can also refer to an individual's life.

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[Marty fox]

Hebrews 10:37 "In a very, very little while He who is coming will come and will not delay."

For many years, I have asked fellow Christians to deal with this verse. I do not recall having received a response from anyone.

The writer of Hebrews wrote this shortly before A. D. 70 (ca 64-69). The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was then only a few years away. This is why the writer admonished those believers of his day to not forsake the necessary practice of assembling together. They needed to be "awake" and "ready" for that day. In their own time, they were seeing the "day" approach. This is the day of the Lord's coming in judgment against that apostate nation of Jews which Jesus judged guilty of "all the righteous blood shed on the earth" (Mat. 23). The time was fast approaching when their "house" (the Temple) was about to be destroyed by the Roman armies.

That day was not to be delayed. It was to happen in their lifetime--"in a very, very little while." Yet some still wait for His return--a delay of thousands of years is not "a very, very little while." "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prob. 13:12).

Yes it was Jesus coming in judgement on Israel in 70AD

 

[HappyOma]

First of all, who is this 'He'? Is it Michael? Is it the Holy Ghost? Is the word 'He' even in the original Greek?

Let's assume it's the Lord. What is he coming for? The answer is in the previous verse:



The context is about someone doing the will of God in their lifetime, then passing away, then receiving the promise of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Therefore, the 'coming' is all about what happens when a person's hour of death has come. It can happen at any time. The older one gets, the 'sooner' that hour will arrive.

Now, plug that into the rest of Scripture:



Sure, it can refer to the end times, but it can also refer to an individual's life.

View attachment 67152​

That is not the context--not even close. The emphasis of the Book of Hebrews is CHRIST as the Perfect High Priest. Beginning with chapter 7, the writer deals with the insufficiency of the earthly priesthood. If the Levitical priesthood had been perfect, "what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek" (7:11). A "better hope" was introduced, through which those of that day drew NEAR to God (7:19). The former priests were "many" but Jesus was the "guarantor of a "better covenant" (7:22). Christ was a priest forever--after the order of Melchizedek. He did not make repeated sacrifices as the other priests had done, He made one sacrifice for sins--once for all.

Chapter 8 is also about CHRIST. It is about the new covenant in His blood predicted by the prophet Jeremiah (31:31-34) in which God would writes His laws on our hearts; He would be our God and we would be His people. Even at the time of writer, the old was "growing old, becoming obsolete, and ready to pass away" (8:13). That referred to the Old Covenant and Mosaic Age.

In chapter 9, the writer compares the old sacrificial system of the Old Covenant to "when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come" (9:11). "He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption" (8:12). Unlike the earthly high priest, "Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf" (9:24). "So Christ having been offered once to bear the sins of many [the Cross],WILL APPEAR a SECOND TIME, not to DEAL WITH SIN [again, the Cross] but to SAVE those who ARE EAGERLY waiting for Him" (9:28).

CHRIST is the subject of the writer of Hebrews from beginning to end. In Chapter 10, the writer continues the theme of the once-for-all sacrifice of CHRIST. He came to abolish "the first in order to establish the second" (10:9). After reminding his readers of his day of all of the things they now had in Christ, the writer encourages them to "hold fast" the "confession" of their "hope without wavering" and to "stir up one another to love and good works" THEY were not to neglect "to meet together"--and "all the more" as THEY "saw the DAY drawing NEAR (10:25). The DAY was drawing near in their time. What day? The coming of CHRIST a SECOND TIME that the writer of Hebrews spoke about in chapter 9!

It is CHRIST and CHRIST alone who is the subject of Hebrews 10:37. HE was coming a second time "in a very, very little while" without DELAY." There is absolutely no justification for missing this and forcing it to mean mere "individuals." That approach has no contextual support whatsoever.

Sadly, you approach Matthew 24:44 the very same way. It, too, is about the COMING OF CHRIST.

Exegesis, what exactly are your principles of "exegesis"?

 

[ScottA]

Hebrews 10:37 "In a very, very little while He who is coming will come and will not delay."

For many years, I have asked fellow Christians to deal with this verse. I do not recall having received a response from anyone.

The writer of Hebrews wrote this shortly before A. D. 70 (ca 64-69). The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was then only a few years away. This is why the writer admonished those believers of his day to not forsake the necessary practice of assembling together. They needed to be "awake" and "ready" for that day. In their own time, they were seeing the "day" approach. This is the day of the Lord's coming in judgment against that apostate nation of Jews which Jesus judged guilty of "all the righteous blood shed on the earth" (Mat. 23). The time was fast approaching when their "house" (the Temple) was about to be destroyed by the Roman armies.

That day was not to be delayed. It was to happen in their lifetime--"in a very, very little while." Yet some still wait for His return--a delay of thousands of years is not "a very, very little while." "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prob. 13:12).

Your stating the idea that all was finished in that generation of Christ, is good. But let me help you with the greater "time no longer" truth (Revelation 10:6):

Your presentation and assertion is time or history-based, while the acts of God actually are not. The truth of this was eluded to in such passages as "the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world", "I was (past tense) crucified with Christ", etc. History is simply a record of the unveiled revelation of those events to men in and of this world.

Meaning, that yes, the historic revelation and timing is sign-ificant in that God has chosen to reveal what was before, "here a little there a little", "but each one in his own order." However, that is merely worldly truth--and that is as far as it goes. And I would encourage you not to consider the events of one chapter, or even a few books, to be enough to arrive at "all truth" according to the promise of Christ, which was not to be complete until "the mystery of God would be finished as He declared to His servants the prophets" just before the sounding of the seventh angel, which is the final act of worldly significance.

In the greater overall revelations of God in this world, the Hebrews 10:37 passage: "In a very, very little while He who is coming will come and will not delay", refers to everything and every time of history given to the Son of God, to be revealed in summary during the lifetime of that generation of Christ. Which fulfilled all that was prophesied of Him. In other words: "the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this" (Revelation 1:19)--the Revelation of Jesus Christ--"the same, yesterday, today, and forever." In summary--the entire lifetime and generation of Christ was only--a summary.

The context of Hebrews 10:37 is just part of the summary, made manifest during the lifetime and generation of Christ.

However, because it speaks to those of every generation--the living and the dead, unto the ends of the earth, unto the end of all, leaving none orphans--to consider it less would be like believing that David's prophesies of Christ--were not of Christ at all, but merely a record of the suffering and lament of David.

The issue then, of presenting the matter in the way that you have, is that you have prioritized the times of this world over what they are a revelation of, simply given to that one generation: The frame of your presentation is based on this world--time and history--being the measure of "all things", rather than God.

 

[Davy]

Hebrews 10:37 "In a very, very little while He who is coming will come and will not delay."

For many years, I have asked fellow Christians to deal with this verse. I do not recall having received a response from anyone.

The writer of Hebrews wrote this shortly before A. D. 70 (ca 64-69). The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was then only a few years away. This is why the writer admonished those believers of his day to not forsake the necessary practice of assembling together. They needed to be "awake" and "ready" for that day. In their own time, they were seeing the "day" approach. This is the day of the Lord's coming in judgment against that apostate nation of Jews which Jesus judged guilty of "all the righteous blood shed on the earth" (Mat. 23). The time was fast approaching when their "house" (the Temple) was about to be destroyed by the Roman armies.

That day was not to be delayed. It was to happen in their lifetime--"in a very, very little while." Yet some still wait for His return--a delay of thousands of years is not "a very, very little while." "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prob. 13:12).

You are reading too much... into that Scripture. It is simply about Jesus' future coming. And Jesus' future coming is what shall not be delayed; that's the actual subject of that Scripture.

 

[Behold]

Hebrews 10:37 "In a very, very little while He who is coming will come and will not delay."

A thousand years is as a Day with God.
So, 2 Thousand years is as 2 days......

So, now when we look at the verse........ and we read """and will not delay.""".......then as its only been 2 days in God's Kingdom.. then that is not a delay, that is just 2 days later....which is a very short passage of time in HIS Kingdom, tho to us who exist inside of TIME.. then it seems like a long time.
But not to God.

 

[HappyOma]

Your stating the idea that all was finished in that generation of Christ, is good. But let me help you with the greater "time no longer" truth (Revelation 10:6):

Your presentation and assertion is time or history-based, while the acts of God actually are not. The truth of this was eluded to in such passages as "the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world", "I was (past tense) crucified with Christ", etc. History is simply a record of the unveiled revelation of those events to men in and of this world.

Meaning, that yes, the historic revelation and timing is sign-ificant in that God has chosen to reveal what was before, "here a little there a little", "but each one in his own order." However, that is merely worldly truth--and that is as far as it goes. And I would encourage you not to consider the events of one chapter, or even a few books, to be enough to arrive at "all truth" according to the promise of Christ, which was not to be complete until "the mystery of God would be finished as He declared to His servants the prophets" just before the sounding of the seventh angel, which is the final act of worldly significance.

In the greater overall revelations of God in this world, the Hebrews 10:37 passage: "In a very, very little while He who is coming will come and will not delay", refers to everything and every time of history given to the Son of God, to be revealed in summary during the lifetime of that generation of Christ. Which fulfilled all that was prophesied of Him. In other words: "the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this" (Revelation 1:19)--the Revelation of Jesus Christ--"the same, yesterday, today, and forever." In summary--the entire lifetime and generation of Christ was only--a summary.

The context of Hebrews 10:37 is just part of the summary, made manifest during the lifetime and generation of Christ.

However, because it speaks to those of every generation--the living and the dead, unto the ends of the earth, unto the end of all, leaving none orphans--to consider it less would be like believing that David's prophesies of Christ--were not of Christ at all, but merely a record of the suffering and lament of David.

The issue then, of presenting the matter in the way that you have, is that you have prioritized the times of this world over what they are a revelation of, simply given to that one generation: The frame of your presentation is based on this world--time and history--being the measure of "all things", rather than God.

This kind of skirting around the CLEAR context of Hebrews 10:37 (which I meticulously outlined in my post to Exegesis) is, sadly, exactly what I expected. Have you read the Book of Hebrews? It is ALL ABOUT CHRIST, the HIGH PRIEST of the BETTER COVENANT that was to come and predicted by Jeremiah (Jer. 31:31-34).

There is no limit to the twisting and obfuscating and manipulating futurists will do to GOD'S OWN WORD in order to attempt to uphold their false paradigm.

The entire subject of the Book of Hebrews is CHRIST and His work of salvation as the High Priest of the Better Covenant--the covenant in His blood. Christ and He alone permeates the pages of that awesome, Christ-affirming, Christ-honoring book. And you attempt to destroy the beauty of it because it doesn't teach what you want it to teach.

How can believers ever find truth in God's Word if they cannot exegete their way out of a flimsy paper bag.

Let's learn proper HERMENEUTICS, discover the Bible really says, and with a spirit of humilty, ACCEPT IT.

 

[HappyOma]

You are reading too much... into that Scripture. It is simply about Jesus' future coming. And Jesus' future coming is what shall not be delayed; that's the actual subject of that Scripture.

"Jesus' future coming is what shall not be delayed"???????????? Two thousand years and counting isn't "delayed"?????? What are you talking about?

That is not what the verse says, Davy. It clearly states; "In a very, very little while." That is from the time of the writer's own day and the time of those of his own day. A child could understand this. Are your preconceived ideas so important to you that you will refuse to see what is right in front of you?

I took great pains to establish the context of the entire Book of Hebrews. You completely ignored that and read your own ideas and personal wants into the text. That is horrendous hermenutics, Davy. How can we ever hope to understand anything if we will not accept the plain and clear?

IS there ANY MEMBER of this forum who will deal HONESTLY with the words of God?

Why do I bother?

 

[XtraPercept]

My friend, I do not have extensive familiarity with the titular passage or it's context, but I have the Goal to which it points. I do look forward to revisiting the book of Hebrews, but all in due time.

Here is what you do not see; He is here now. He always was and will be. He is before you and all around you and waiting to welcome you home.

There is no delay, my friend! I have seen His goodness in the land of the living! I witness of Him now! He is so glorious, He is worth searching out for every meaning He expresses! Rapturous joy and elation fill me every time I look to Him!

You do well to study and think! But the Master is thus of all things He created, down to every jot and tittle of His perfect laws. But you must look to Him to find Him. Seek His name. Seek His meaning. Seek His intent. Long to fulfill His desire, for there is no greater satisfaction!

 

[XtraPercept]

IS there ANY MEMBER of this forum who will deal HONESTLY with the words of God?

Why do I bother?

Are you certain of your own honesty with His words?

You bother because in your deepest regions, you long for Him intensely. This is very good. Chase Him!

 

[HappyOma]

A thousand years is as a Day with God.
So, 2 Thousand years is as 2 days......

So, now when we look at the verse........ and we read """and will not delay.""".......then as its only been 2 days in God's Kingdom.. then that is not a delay, that is just 2 days later....which is a very short passage of time in HIS Kingdom, tho to us who exist inside of TIME.. then it seems like a long time.
But not to God.

OH, Lord help me. You futurists think that you can wipe away EVERY time statement and time word with an appeal to 2 Peter 3--which, by the way, does NOT teach what you twist it to teach.

This is too sad for me. When will I learn that I cannot come on forums and expect to find skilled students of God's Word.

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prov. 13:12).

The Church is very sick!!!!!

 

[XtraPercept]

The Church is very sick!!!!!

No, She is perfect in the process of perfection.

 

[HappyOma]

My friend, I do not have extensive familiarity with the titular passage or it's context, but I have the Goal to which it points. I do look forward to revisiting the book of Hebrews, but all in due time.

Here is what you do not see; He is here now. He always was and will be. He is before you and all around you and waiting to welcome you home.

There is no delay, my friend! I have seen His goodness in the land of the living! I witness of Him now! He is so glorious, He is worth searching out for every meaning He expresses! Rapturous joy and elation fill me every time I look to Him!

You do well to study and think! But the Master is thus of all things He created, down to every jot and tittle of His perfect laws. But you must look to Him to find Him. Seek His name. Seek His meaning. Seek His intent. Long to fulfill His desire, for there is no greater satisfaction!

How can you give an exegesis of Hebrews 10:37 (the very topic of this thread) if you haven't studied it?

Please come back WHEN you become familiar with "the titular passage or it's (sic) context." Without doing that, XtraPercept, how can you know what "goal" it points to?

"In due time," after you have revisiedt the Book of Hebrews, and not before please, come back and give your EXEGESIS of its in CONTEXT.

 

[HappyOma]

No, She is perfect in the process of perfection.

But many, many members of the Church will never come to the truths of the Word of God until they follow the words of the Apostle Paul and become "workers not needing to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the Word of Truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). There is absolutely NO reasaon for anyone who claims to be a student of God's Word to NOT understand the simple meaning of the following verses

1. "THIS generation will by no means pass away until ALL THESE THINGS take place" (Mat. 24:34).

Jesus used that expression NINETEEN times. He ALWAYS meant His contemporaries. All of those things were to happen to THOSE disciples in THEIR lifetime. Many Christians cannot and will not see that because they have been infected by the egregious, inexcusable false teachings of dispensationalism invented by John Nelson Darby and facilitated by C. I. Scofield and his horrendous study Bible.

2. "In a VERY, VERY LITTLE WHILE He who IS COMING will COME and will NOT delay" (Heb. 10:37). That was NOT written to us. It was written to those of the writer's own day. He was coming to THEM in "a very, very little while." It is clear.

 

[ScottA]

This kind of skirting around the CLEAR context of Hebrews 10:37 (which I meticulously outlined in my post to Exegesis) is, sadly, exactly what I expected. Have you read the Book of Hebrews? It is ALL ABOUT CHRIST, the HIGH PRIEST of the BETTER COVENANT that was to come and predicted by Jeremiah (Jer. 31:31-34).

There is no limit to the twisting and obfuscating and manipulating futurists will do to GOD'S OWN WORD in order to attempt to uphold their false paradigm.

The entire subject of the Book of Hebrews is CHRIST and His work of salvation as the High Priest of the Better Covenant--the covenant in His blood. Christ and He alone permeates the pages of that awesome, Christ-affirming, Christ-honoring book. And you attempt to destroy the beauty of it because it doesn't teach what you want it to teach.

How can believers ever find truth in God's Word if they cannot exegete their way out of a flimsy paper bag.

Let's learn proper HERMENEUTICS, discover the Bible really says, and with a spirit of humilty, ACCEPT IT.

Did I describe a "futurists" explanation? Have I at all aligned with any stereotype? No.

Did you say that "the entire subject of the Book of Hebrews is CHRIST and His work of salvation?" Yes--but your explanation asserts a final end of the acts of Christ at 70ad. You are showing obvious signs of tunnel vision limited to the flesh and blood Christ and that generation--which is not biblical.

In these many threads you have an agenda--an agenda to say that the things of God revealed in the one generation of Christ, is all that it pertains to. That is a limit imposed by you according to the limit of what you yourself apparently believe. And this limitation against God, you preach.

Meanwhile, I have corrected you giving Christ and God credit for all things and every generation--and have given you more than was given to all previous generations--and you accuse me of destruction.

 

[HappyOma]

Did I describe a "futurists" explanation? Have I at all aligned with any stereotype? No.

Did you say that "the entire subject of the Book of Hebrews is CHRIST and His work of salvation?" Yes--but your explanation asserts a final end of the acts of Christ at 70ad. You are showing obvious signs of tunnel vision limited to the flesh and blood Christ and that generation--which is not biblical.

In these many threads you have an agenda--an agenda to say that the things of God revealed in the one generation of Christ, is all that it pertains to. That is a limit imposed by you according to the limit of what you yourself apparently believe. And this limitation against God, you teach.

Meanwhile, I have corrected you giving Christ and God credit for all things and every generation--and giving you more than was given to all previous generations--and you accuse me of destruction.

WHAT does Hebrews 10:37 mean, Scott? What was the event that was happening in THAT day "in a very, very little while"? The Book of Hebrews was written shortly before A. D. 70 (ca 64-69). It was to THAT time that the writer appealed. THEY knew the GENERATION is which their Lord would come to THEM. He told them so. THEY eagerly awaited His return a "second time" (Heb. 9)

Is it not obvious that because you believe in a future end that you are a futurist?

Your avoidance of the actual words of Hebrews 10:37 is exactly what I always get when I bring up this subject--avoidance of the context, fanciful speculation that denies the context, and hijacking the topic.

The verse is clear and plain. Many don't like what it actually says because it harms their preconceived ideas.

HE was coming back to THEM in "a very, very little while." AND . . . HE . . . DID!

Are there ANY out there with exegetical skills who are willing to look at this verse with unbiased eyes??????

 

[ScottA]

OH, Lord help me. You futurists think that you can wipe away EVERY time statement and time word with an appeal to 2 Peter 3--which, by the way, does NOT teach what you twist it to teach.

This is too sad for me. When will I learn that I cannot come on forums and expect to find skilled students of God's Word.

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prov. 13:12).

The Church is very sick!!!!!

The church is indeed sick--apostate. But you too come bringing your own agenda, as if your studies have raised you up above the restraint placed upon the church by God--studies that cannot reveal until the times are fulfilled, at which time the finish was only to come as foretold.

 

[ScottA]

WHAT does Hebrews 10:37 mean, Scott? What was the event that was happening in THAT day "in a very, very little while"? The Book of Hebrews was written shortly before A. D. 70 (ca 64-69). It was to THAT time that the writer appealed. THEY knew the GENERATION is which their Lord would come to THEM. He told them so. THEY eagerly awaited His return a "second time" (Heb. 9)

Is it not obvious that because you believe in a future end that you are a futurist?

Your avoidance of the actual words of Hebrews 10:37 is exactly what I always get when I bring up this subject--avoidance of the context, fanciful speculation that denies the context, and hijacking the topic.

The verse is clear and plain. Many don't like what it actually says because it harms their preconceived ideas.

HE was coming back to THEM in "a very, very little while." AND . . . HE . . . DID!

Are there ANY out there with exegetical skills who are willing to look at this verse with unbiased eyes??????

Again--you are not hearing me.

This is one of those "which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?" issues...and you do not see--or give God credit for that which is greater--but preach the lesser which only points to what is greater.

Meanwhile, I have told you "which is greater"--and because of your frustration, you call me names.

 

[Davy]

"Jesus' future coming is what shall not be delayed"???????????? Two thousand years and counting isn't "delayed"?????? What are you talking about?

Obviously, you think God's timetable is the same one as yours. But that's nuts.