Question on Hebrews 10:25

Hi!

First, I would like to say I enjoy your website! My question to you is: "What does the Bible verse Hebrews 10:25 mean to you?" The work "forsake" has cause a big discussion at our Bowling Green Church of Christ. I am very interested in hearing what your congregation feels about this..... I personally think that "forsake" means "to leave completely" others believe it means to miss a Worship service or Bible Study.

Thank you for your time!

Valerie

Mark's Response

Dear Valerie,

I am very glad to hear that you enjoy our website for the North Charlottesville church of Christ. Letting us know is a great encouragement to us. 

You asked: “What does the Bible verse Hebrews 10:25 mean to you” in connection to the issue of attending the worship services with special emphasis on learning the true meaning of the word forsake in dealing with this subject. Let’s first look at the passage: 

Heb 10:24-25 (KJV) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

“Not forsaking” is a command that Christians are expected by God to keep. Therefore, we should want to know for sure (as you do), it means to forsake.  Forsaking of Heb. 10:25 comes from the same Greek word used in Matthew 27:46: “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?" 

Forsaken comes from the Greek word egkataleipo: 1. to abandon, desert, i.e. to leave in straits, leave helpless, (colloquial, leave in the lurch) ... 2. to leave behind among, to leave surviving” - Thayer's Greek Lexicon.   

Five out of the nine times the Greek word egkataleipo is found in the New Testament are quotations from the Old Testament. Thus, the Greek Old Testament translation (the Septuagint) is helpful to our understanding. Most often, it translates the Hebrew word azab forsake which has the meaning “to loosen ties, to give out,” or “be left defenseless in the hands of an enemy” (that last definition, by the way, is the way Jesus was “forsaken” by God and not abandoned.). There is nothing inherent in the word forsake to suggest to what degree or extent neglect or desertion has taken place. The context is only way to determine this. 

If forsaking the assembling of ourselves together means total abandonment of the practice (or to leave it completely), how could the Hebrew writer say “as it the habit (or manner) of some”? A habit or manner (from ethos) is something that has become a custom or regular practice in our life. The word forsaking, as used in Heb. 10:25, cannot be referring to total abandonment of the practice, for how is it possible to be in the habit of something you no longer do? Some of the brethren had become accustomed to neglecting the practice of assembling themselves with their brethren (To what extent they neglected the practice we do not know). That is why the Hebrew writer wrote of the importance of “exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Neglecting the assembling of ourselves together can cause us to become unfaithful and as a result unprepared for the Lord’s coming. Therefore, we need to encourage those who miss worship services and Bible classes and be sure to emphasize the spiritual value and eternal importance of assembling ourselves together. 

When referring to Hebrews 10:25, some brethren often say “do not forsake the assembly” yet the passage says “do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.” What is the difference? Assembly is a noun and if we say “do not forsake the assembly” it gives the impression we are speaking of one particular assembly. Perhaps this is why too many brethren emphasize the morning assembly above other assemblies of the church and attend the morning service while excusing themselves from other times of assembly. The text says “assembling” - a verb, denoting a continual practice or manner. Thus, it is not just one assembly of the church that we are not to forsake, but rather it is the practice of assembling we are not to forsake.  

How do we know when we are guilty of forsaking (or neglecting) the assembling of ourselves with other Christians? Certainly, it is not determined quantitatively only or by the mere numbers in an attendance record. While those numbers can be quite revealing, they do not explain everything. Sometimes brethren miss for legitimate reasons such as sickness. Other times, brethren may have to miss occasionally because of their work, even though they do everything they can to get out of working on the Lord’s Day. One church with whom I worked had many members who were shift workers at a factory, the main source of income for their families. Many times, they had to choose between attending in the morning or the evening service, depending on the shift given to them. Others have careers that may call one to duty in emergency situations (e.g., law enforcement, physicians, etc.) and may have to miss a service occasionally. 

If the reasons we do not assemble ourselves together are illegitimate, then certainly we are guilty of the sin of neglecting (or forsaking) the practice. What are some reasons why brethren forsook their assembling with other Christians in the first century? The most likely reason was due to the persecution they experienced. Note the context of the passage (Heb. 10:24-25; cf. 32-34). Yet, rarely is this the reason why brethren forsake today. This is a sad irony when sticking to the context of Hebrews 10:25! Instead of persecution, brethren forsake for many shameful reasons such as a lack of planning ahead (Prov. 27:1), the failure to prioritize and put God first (Mat. 6:33; 1 John 2:15-17), a lack of love for the Lord (Mat. 22:37) (Giving only the absolute minimum in attendance is not loving God with all your heart.), an immaturity in Christ (1 Cor. 3:1-3), a richness toward self, not God (Luke 12:15-21) (e.g., career elevated above spiritual things, covetousness), and selfishness (Phil. 2:4; 1 Thes. 5:14). Brethren are often self-centered when they are absent; failing to realize that assembling is not primarily a self-interest activity. First God, then our brethren, then self should be the order. If only brethren understood how their absence affects others! 

Just as the first century Christians “continued steadfastly” in the acts of worship (Acts 2:42), we are to be devoted to assembling ourselves together. Fulfilling the command of Heb. 10:25 is not accomplished by numbers alone, but also by the attitude and commitment that we bring. This leads to the great importance of saints assembling themselves together: We assemble in order to please God because it is a command (Heb. 10:25). If we truly love the Lord, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15). Secondly, it is also an opportunity to worship God, a practice and preparation for Heaven itself! (Heb. 13:15; Rev. 4:1-11). Furthermore, it is a chance to encourage and build up one another, helping each other be faithful until the end (Heb. 10:24-25; cf. 1 Cor. 14:26). It is a wonder then why some Christians forsake the assembling of themselves with other brethren as they do. 

I hope my comments will be helpful to your study on this issue. Please let me know your thoughts. Also, please don’t hesitate to write us again with any questions or comments that you have. Thanks for the feedback!

In Christian Love,

Mark E. Larson