The Gathering of Ourselves Together

People who insist on church attendance often quote this scripture as the gold standard for proof of their assertion:

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

This is Hebrews Chapter 10, verse 24.

This is just another example of people quoting the scriptures out of context to suit their own needs or to assuage their own consciences.

Let’s look at the whole setting of the verse to first understand the context of the passage and secondly to ascertain the meaning of verse 24 within that setting.

We can begin earlier, but we’ll start at verse 16. The writer of Hebrews is making a fairly exhaustive comparison between the Old Covenant under Moses and the New Covenant under Christ. Throughout the book he juxtaposes the two in order to compare and contrast the tenets of each. The original covenant given to the Jews was the Law of which all were guilty of sin and deserved of God’s punishment. The new covenant was established in Christ, wherein all men receive the forgiveness of sins and may live with a clear conscience toward God as they are led by the Spirit of God. This is a simple explanation only, but it captures the gist of the differences between covenants.

Starting at verse 16 this is written:

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

It is very common for Judaizes to use this verse to say that the Law has simply moved from rock or stone onto men’s hearts but that the tenants and the requirements of the Law still remain. That’s foolish. It ignores the last part, and the deeper meaning of the change of covenant: “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more”.

Whereas the Law never forgot (a price always had to be paid for sin) the New Covenant released one from the debt of sin because there was One Who paid the debt for us: Jesus Christ. So this is a reference to the completely different nature of the New Covenant as compared to the old.

The writer of Hebrews expands upon this principle of the New Covenant next:

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 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. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

There it is. The sprinkling and washing references are references to liturgical consecration practices. The Jews would have been familiar with these. The grand difference is this: instead of sprinkling and washing the sacrifices for offering under the Law (Old Covenant) NOW those within the New Covenant are, themselves, washed and consecrated before God and presented as the offerings to Him. This is an exposition of all in Christ who are presented as living sacrifices to God. The standard of the New Covenant is that we are the offering to God to do with and to abide in as He pleases: Christ in us, the hope of glory.

So, this is the runup to the golden standard verse that people use to compel others to group together in the Sunday boxes. It should be pretty clear by now that the setting of the verse is much more profound than simply attending a meeting. Herein, those within the New Covenant have moved from an existence of a Law that condemned based upon their inability to fulfil the mandates it to a Law now governed by the Lord’s ability to be faithful: “He who promised is faithful.”

So let’s read on…

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

We should notice right away that the admonition to not forsake the assembling of ourselves is set against a certain Day. Those who use this verse to say it’s about Sunday meetings interpret it like this:

“Do not forsake coming together on Sundays as some people do. But the duty among the people of that order is to exhort, to encourage, to call people up, email them, text them exhorting one another all the more as you see Sunday coming.”

Hopefully by now that seems foolish. But let’s read on…

26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

I wonder how many “go to churchers!” tell others that to not attend Sunday meetings means that they should expect fiery indignation that devours adversaries. I mean, by all means be consistent! If you’re saying that verse 24 means “Go to church on Sundays” then you must carry it through to the consequence of staying home “You have trampled God underfoot and He will take vengeance on you!”.

How foolish. How utterly bereft of understanding. So stupid! In fact, as we look at the clear meaning of the scripture those who say “Go to church or else!” are actually those who are condemning themselves by using coercion and guilt to fill the seats for the meeting. This is not ironic: your sin will find you out. The Lord knows that empty men will use the scriptures to suit their own needs. What kind of correction awaits someone who uses the Word of God in that manner?

Now, let’s look at the meaning of verse 24.

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

We should immediately notice that the writer of Hebrews needs a better editor. I mean why talk being together when that is implied in assembling? I mean, he could have simply turned-on Microsoft Grammar to flag redundancies. (Now who’s being stupid? 😊 ).

But no, he wrote: “..not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…”.

The word for “gathering together” is episynagōgē. It is only used one other time in scripture.

Here it is in 2 Thessalonians starting in verse 1:

“1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,

Ah. So the context is about being in Christ! If we examine the passage in Hebrews it make perfect sense. The writer was comparing and contrasting the Old and the New covenants. The character of the New Covenant is such so that we are ONE IN CHRIST!. Paul then writes to the saints in Thessaloniki admonishing them about this same principle.

But wait, there’s more! #Ronco

We’ve found The Day that is referenced in Hebrews! Here it is in Paul’s letter:

“2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”

See, it’s the Day of Christ’s return. How simple. When we let the scriptures interpret the scriptures our questions are answered. The “Day” that is approaching in Hebrews 10:24 is the Return of the Lord. Not Sunday.

But, we are still left with a question: how are we to be gathered together? What should this look like and how can we partake in it.

I will be brief but succinct. The scriptures, again written by Paul, say this (Ephesians 3 into 4)

“Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. (this is such an interesting scripture I wanted to include it. I don’t have time to unpack it but the implications are rich)

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Paul is getting into our inclusion in Christ. To what end? Let’s continue…

1” I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

And to continue…

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

This is the standard for the assembling of ourselves: that we may be one in Him. Let’s read on…

11 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

This is the standard of our assembling of ourselves together: that we work in unison with one another as one body in Christ; being knit together by what every joint supplies, wherein every part does its share. This causes growth of the body as it lifts itself up in love. This is right there at the beginning of Hebrews 10:24:

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works…”

So, that’s all I have to say about that. Certainly this is not an exhaustive treatise of this topic but just an overview.

Blessings,
Aaron56

I have not heard this perspective. Most interesting!

Thanks for sharing!

Since all the NT churches had their members meeting together on the Lord's Day (the first day of the week), the application of that verse is quite appropriate.

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. 1 Cor 16:1,2)

Since Paul mentions "the churches [plural] of Galatia" we can be certain that this was a practice in all the apostolic churches in the first century. So now you are trying to innovate by bringing the Law into the picture. This has nothing to do with the Law. However just as Jews gathered in their synagogues on the last day of the week, Christians must gather in their meeting places on the first day of the week. Justin Martyr tells us that this practice continued in the 2nd century, and has continued therafter.

Most interesting but totally irrelevant.

Just another person trying to justify his refusal to assemble with others in a local church.

This entire chapter is a very long and meandering set of conjunctions and parentheticals, one after another, on and on.

I think a lot of confusion comes from this fact, that it's just a very long and meandering chapter - it's hard to follow.
A.) When we get to 10:25, and it says "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is", some could claim that's not the real point of the chapter, and they'd be correct.
B.) That phrase is NOT the point of the chapter, or the point of the paragraph, or the most important thing.
C.) That phrase is merely an aside, like another parenthetical... it is NOT the main point.
D.) Because it is not the main point, and merely an aside, some could claim, "See, that's not what the paragraphs is about!"
E.) But because that phrase does not encompass the central theme of the passage, it does NOT MAKE THE PHRASE UNTRUE.
F.) Because that phrase is not the main point, it does NOT MAKE THE PHRASE UNCLEAR.


Conclusion:
1.) There is nothing in the entire chapter that undermines the phrase in 10:25, or makes it unclear, or changes it's meaning.
2.) Nothing from the context changes the simple and straightforward understand of the phrase... either before or after 10:25.
3.) It is a long and meandering chapter, but the aside in 10:25 about the assembly of the church, is very very straightforward, and it is not made ambiguous by the surrounding context.


The OP is going to disagree.
I'm not going to continue a debate, but I'll will refer him to virtually everyone else in church history, living and dead, who held to the traditional view.


God Bless

.

Your house name is Christ. The word for “house“ is “family”. In modern times we have the house of Windsor or the Spanish house of Castile. God’s house is where God dwells within.

Iron that some read this as “don”t get together with other saints“. On the contrary, we are One in the Body of Christ and should function together. “You can lead a horse to water but something something…”

Also ironic that those who claim to renounce the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church swallow their definition of “church = building” so readily.

The passage is clear. I just wrote about it. If we let the scriptures interpret the scriptures it’s easy to understand. What's your standard for interpretation?

You should have asked more questions. I assemble all the time with other saints.

The churches of Christ greet you. We are the church wherever we are or go.
English Majority Text Version 2009 Textus Receptus Bibles

Not really. First of all the RCC claims that it is the only true church of Christ on earth. Secondly most born again believers understand the the church building is just the meeting place.

Indeed. It is quite simple isn't it.

Ironic: some believe that we can simply show up to a box on Sundays and fulfill some divine mandate. The Spirit is the One who fits us into the Body of Christ. He establishes our place and position. He also dispenses grace to each one of us according to the Lord's will. If we do not regard one another according to who they are in Christ we will miss the point.

"Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.'

More likely than not, the business men and the wealthy are given prominence in the local groups. Men with seminary degrees are given the authority to teach and to govern or worse, people who are the best talkers are given the microphone.

No, they really call the building "the church" and many believe it has a "sanctuary". How silly... to think God dwells within buildings made with hands (I read that somewhere).

It is always the practice of God to send words of correction to His people from time to time. Orthodoxy born of errant tradition does not validate the original error, it just makes the error more acceptable.

Hmm odd you say this. Your first post and 2nd you were telling us "interpreting" what His word said. Could not you have just posted the verses and then "let the scriptures interpret scriptures since its so easy to understand. No need to call others names. Well just "who" is "So stupid! " referring to? Those that do not believe like you. I could wrong forgive me but it came across that way to me.

I do know a bit about home Churches how they originally started. I know a preacher that has home Churches world wide. Since none of that was touched I will say nothing. For me as one said where two or three are gathered in His name He is in the mist. That is any Church that is gathered in His name He is there. It is so odd to even be talking about this. Well who loves, believes in Christ that does not want to gather together to learn to share to give away what He gave you? Not worth talking about..

Pfft that tree one vine and many branches yes? All gathered together. Whos will are we doing? The 12 with Paul, the 120, 3000 they came together when they could always did this. They wanted to come together to learn to share for they loved Him. They always started Churches (believers that meet together). If you don't like this believe this praise GOD. There are times I have not went to Church for years to that to HIM I say I am so sorry Father forgive me. Why? I have something I just buried never shared with others me me me. Its not what I want. Does He want me to be gathered together? ALWAYS! So not my will be done but the Fathers

Who gave you the idea that you, who presumably have the Spirit of God in him, only have something to share on Sundays in a particular building? The church‘s problem today is that their primary time of fellowship is on a particular day of the week in a particular building. Shameful.

I can't speak for anyone else; however, not everyone who doesn't attend church refuses to do so. I'm not looking to justify myself; nor do I refuse to go the church. It's getting more and more difficult to find a sound church that isn't compromised. Instead of insulting people for not participating in compromise, you should have compassion on them and pray they could find something.

In certain locations a person's options are limited. When I lived in Tulsa there were many opportunities for fellowship and worship and I participated. But the town I live in now is very small with limited options, none of them good.

What I see on here are a bunch of self-righteous hypocrites looking to justify their compromise. Go ahead, keep playing church and looking down on others. I'm not worried; it'll all get sorted out in the end.

That statement wasnt about you. It was about the OP statement.
If you actually want to join in fellowship and corporate worship. None of this has been about you. Everyone knows that circumstances can make for difficulties. I have a similar difficulty i live far out in the rural area and have to drive about an hour one way to church. Its tough amd i know that there are some where that drive just isnt possible.

Often times there are good pastors who will drive out to visit people in tough situations. I know my pastor drives much further to visit one of our congregants who can not drive due to health issues. She lives much further than I do from the church.