Made a Gazingstock Hebrews 10:33

In challenging his readers to consider remembering “the former days, in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great fight of affliction”, the writer of Hebrews drew their attention toward when they first made a commitment to Jesus Christ. In chapter ten and verse thirty-three of Hebrews, the writer shares how his writers were “made a gazingstock” where we read:

Partly, while you were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions;

and partly, while you became companions of them that were so used.

The verse begins, “Partly, while you were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions;”. The writer began with the word, “Partly” which means “and this thing truly, certainly, surely and indeed”, “while you were made a gazingstock” which means “a spectacle, one brought upon a stage and exposed to contempt” “both by reproaches” or “not only with shame, rebuke and reprehension but also” “and afflictions” which refers to “pressings together, pressure, oppression, tribulation, distress and straits”. The readers of Hebrews were subject to “contempt, shame, rebuke, reprehension, tribulations, distresses and straits” because they believed in Jesus Christ as the one and only “sacrifice” for the penalty pertaining to their sins.

The verse goes on to say, “...and partly, while you became companions of them that were so used.”. The writer continued with the words, “and partly” or “and this thing truly, certainly, surely and indeed”, “while you became” which means “came into existence, happened as, and came to pass as” “companions of them” which means “partners, associates, comrades and sharers of the people” “that were so used” or “were turned upside down, overturned, turned back, turned hither and thither and overthrown”. These early “believers” were made “partners and comrades” of others who were reprehensibly exploited as well.

When we think through these words in Hebrews, we see how the early believers in Jesus Christ were “made spectacles” and “abused” simply because they believed in Him as their Savior and Lord. Being a “Christian” does not exempt us from outward “pressures and contempt”, and we will often find ourselves in the company of those who are treated with hostility just because we believe in Jesus. The desire for the Hebrew readers was to “remember” because they would recall the “sacrifice” they were willing to endure to be in a relationship with God. Jesus desires fellowship with everyone, and though we suffer for it, will shall find kinship and relating to Him worth any “gazingstock” we may bear for engaging.

Next time the writer shares how his readers “had compassion of” him “in my bonds”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.