Hebrews 10:22-25 — let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised; and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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.

You know those moments when you’re reading a familiar scripture, and something pops out that you never really noticed — or at least never really thought about — before? When it happens to me I always visualize God getting out His highlighter and saying “Here Ian — look at this”. I had one today looking at this familiar passage in Hebrews. The verse that gets most attention is, I suppose the one about “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” which is so often used as a club to bash those who might be slipping away from perfect church attendance. Let me set aside the wrong-headedness of the bullying approach (which I’m glad to say none of those that teach me are prone to using) and just say that it was the verse before — “and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” — that popped out at me today. Somehow, I never realized before just how much those 14 words said. Before I dig into that one verse in detail, though, let me make one comment about verses 22-24 as a group.

Now I love the King James translation, but in this case it hides a small gem in the text. The NASB translation of verse 23 makes it clear: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;” This translation of the Greek word “helpidos” makes it clear that verses 22, 23 and 24 speak — in turn — of faith, hope, and love. With that gem polished, let’s lay it on one side and look at my highlight verse.

“Let us consider one another.” There is a sense in the original language of “continually” considering. It should be our constant care for one another. We should be observing and understanding each other, regularly and attentively. And who should we be considering? Who are the “one another”? Fellow Christians, of course. In principle, every member of the church. The focus will be local, but the scope might reasonably be universal giving point to missions and church planting.
“To provoke” : As I thought about this, I was reminded of a sweet tradition in the Anglican Church. Next Sunday will be “The Sunday next before Advent”. It’s an old tradition in England to stir Christmas puddings on that day in honor of the “Collect” for the day. (for those who know nothing of the Anglican/Episcopalian church — “Collects” are short prayers before the readings in the main services). The Collect for the Sunday next before Advent is “Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” I can’t be certain, but I think this ancient prayer was written with Hebrews 10:24 in mind. The word translated “provoke” — “paraxismon” could well have been translated “stir up” — or irritate or aggravate. We should keep bugging one another!
“Unto love and to good works”: This, after all, is the point of the Christian work. It is the discipleship to which we are called, and to which we are to call each other. Paul makes it clear in his letter to his dear “son” Timothy: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Think about it. Be stirred up. Think about one another. Stir up!