Hebrews 10:33Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Then he enters into detail, expanding his discourse and offering many praises. How? "Partly while you were made a spectacle through reproaches and afflictions," he says.

Reproach acts strongly upon the heart. It can trouble the soul and darken the mind. Listen to how the prophet speaks of this: "My tears were my bread day and night, while they said to me every day, 'Where is your God?'" (Ps 41:4). And again: "For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; then I could bear it" (Ps 54:13).

The human race is very vainglorious, and therefore is easily caught by this too. He did not simply say "reproaches," but still more expressively, "made a spectacle." When someone endures reproach privately, even then it is grievous. It is much more so when it happens before all.

"Partly while you were made a spectacle through reproaches and afflictions." Notice the praise. A man with a noble soul has need to endure reproaches, as the prophet bears witness: "They said to me every day, 'Where is your God?'" (Ps 41:4). And: "For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; then I could bear it" (Ps 54:13). And: "Do not make me a reproach to the foolish" (Ps 38:9).

Yet Job was indignant at reproach, though he endured all sufferings courageously, like adamant. If reproach occurs openly and before the eyes of many, such reproach requires a still stronger soul. This is what he indicates here by the expression, "made a spectacle."

He says that at one time they endured reproaches, and at another afflictions. This indicates that the law compelled them to disclose their sins over their sacrifices, while shame before men urged them not to disclose their sins.

These, he says, are the very afflictions you had when declaring your sins, and the reproaches that hindered you from revealing your sins. Therefore those pangs of conscience which you preferred, and which brought you such great sorrow and strong sufferings, have now been offered by you with reverence and modesty in baptism by the waters, together with the cleansing you received.

You were also a spectacle of displacement in the days when you were persecuted. You also became companions of those who labored, just as you labored.

I want you to call to mind those glorious contests. For as soon as you received the light of the knowledge of God, you gained victory in many glorious struggles. At times you yourselves were subjected to abuse and mockery, and with great nobility of soul you were deprived of your possessions. At other times you remained in fellowship with those who suffered such things and rendered them every kind of service. You did all this with zeal because you had hope in the good things promised in heaven. Then the Apostle continues the exhortation.

The unbelieving Jews accused the Christians from among the Jews of betraying the Law and the customs of their fathers. In every way they oppressed even their own relatives and exposed them to public shame in order to intensify the insult. But those who suffered not only endured everything with courage. They also remained in close fellowship with those who endured similar sufferings in other places. They expressed this fellowship by whatever help they could offer: encouragement to endurance, words of comfort and strengthening, and even by sending them something necessary.

Instead of reaching such a desperate condition, the readers of the epistle should edify and strengthen themselves in the faith by remembering their bright past. Then, with the firmness and readiness given by their recent enlightenment through faith, they not only helped those who suffered, but did not themselves shrink from every kind of suffering that befell the Jerusalem Church generally (vv. 32-34; cf. Acts 4:3; 5:12; 4:18; 8:1).