Provoke unto Love and Good Works Hebrews 10:24

The writer of Hebrews told his readers to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” because their “hearts” were “sprinkled from an evil conscience” and their “bodies washed with pure water” by the “sacrifice” “offered” by Jesus Christ's “blood” for their “sins”. In chapter ten and verse twenty-four of Hebrews the writer shares about “provoke unto love and to good works” where we read:

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

The verse begins, “And let us consider one another...”. The writer began with the words, “And let us consider” or “allow the writer of Hebrews and his readers perceive, remark, observe, behold, understand and discover” “one another” which means “reciprocally and mutually”. The writer's exhortation was for his readers and himself to “understand and discover” each other.

The verse continues, “...to provoke unto love and to good works:”. The writer added the words, “to provoke” or “contend, incite and irritate” “unto love” which is the Greek word “agapē” means “unconditional affection, goodwill and benevolence” “and to good works” which means “to better, honest, beautiful, excellent, eminent, choice and surpassing business, employment and that which any one is occupied”. The reason to “consider” each other was to “encourage and incite” each other toward “agape” “love” and doing “good things” for each other.

When we think through these words in Hebrews, we see how the natural response for people who have access to God is to turn their attention toward each another. The writer desired for his readers to follow the pattern set by God Himself who thought more of them than Himself, and He sent His Son Jesus to pay the penalty for our “sins” that we may have a proper relationship with Him and with each other. Let us consider and understand the importance of relating to our wonderful God and in turn, “provoke one another” toward “love and good works”.

Next time the writer exhorts his readers not to be “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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