Hebrews 10:35

My Notes

What Does Hebrews 10:35 Mean?

The writer follows the reminder of past faithfulness with a command: don't lose what you had. The confidence that sustained you through the spoiling of your goods — don't throw it away. It's worth more than you think.

"Cast not away therefore your confidence" — the word "cast away" (apoballō) means to throw off, to discard, to abandon. The image is of someone taking off a garment and throwing it on the ground. The confidence they once wore — the bold, settled trust that made them joyful in loss — is something they're tempted to remove. The trials have worn them down. The season has been long. And the confidence that was once a garment of strength is starting to feel like a burden.

"Your confidence" — the word (parrēsia) is the same word used for the boldness of Peter and John before the Sanhedrin. It means freedom of speech, open boldness, the unreserved trust that doesn't hide. These believers once had it. They once stood in front of confiscation and smiled. Now they're in danger of throwing it away.

"Which hath great recompence of reward" — the confidence isn't just a feeling. It has a payoff. A recompence (misthapodosia) — a repayment, a wage, a return on investment. The confidence they're tempted to discard is attached to the greatest reward God offers. Throwing away the confidence is throwing away the reward. The two are connected. You can't keep the reward while discarding the trust.

The verse that follows (10:36) identifies what's needed: patience. "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." The confidence is being tested by time. The reward hasn't arrived yet. And in the gap between the doing and the receiving, the temptation is to throw away the trust. The writer says: don't. Hold it. The reward is real. The confidence is the bridge between now and then.

Reflection Questions

• 1.Where is your confidence eroding — not through dramatic loss of faith, but through quiet, tired dimming?
• 2.What 'confidence' did you once have that you're tempted to set down? What made it strong, and what's wearing it out?
• 3.How does knowing the confidence has 'great recompence of reward' motivate you to hold on when the promise feels delayed?
• 4.What's the gap between your obedience and the reward — and how do you maintain trust in that gap?

Devotional

Don't throw it away. That's the command, and it's aimed at people who are tired. Not beginners. Veterans. People who once took the spoiling of their goods with joy. People whose confidence used to be unshakeable. People who've been in the fight so long that the boldness they once wore proudly is starting to feel heavy.

The temptation to cast away confidence isn't dramatic apostasy. It's quiet erosion. You don't wake up one morning and announce: I'm done trusting God. You just... stop. The prayers get shorter. The expectation dims. The boldness that once characterized your faith gets folded up and put in a drawer. You don't throw it away loudly. You set it down quietly. And one day you realize it's gone.

The writer says: it has great recompense of reward. The confidence you're tempted to discard is attached to the biggest payoff God offers. The trust isn't just a virtue you maintain for character development. It's the bridge to the promise. Throw away the bridge and you lose access to what's on the other side. The reward is real. The confidence is the only way to reach it.

The gap between the promise and its fulfillment is where confidence dies — or deepens. You've done the will of God. You've suffered. You've stood. And the promise hasn't arrived yet. The silence between the obedience and the reward is the furnace where trust is tested. The writer doesn't deny the gap. He says: in the gap, hold your confidence. Don't throw it away. The reward is coming. And it's great.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture