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Introduction: There are some scripture references most Christians immediately recognize. When someone says, “Acts 2:38,” most of us think, “Baptism.” When someone says, “John 3:16,” most of us think, “God sent His Son.” Another well-known passage is Hebrews 10:25. That passage says we are not to forsake the assembly. Despite our knowledge, there is constant confusion about what this passage actually says. Discussion: I.
Hebrews
10:25
says, “not forsaking.” It does not say, “not missing.” A.
I have been asked, “When is it alright to forsake the
assembly?” Hebrews 10:25 we must not forsake our own assembling together. The
writer made no exceptions and we are to make none. B.
However, the term translated “forsake” (“egkataleipo”)
does not mean to be absent, but to “desert, abandon” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary; Spiros Zodhiates).
“Forsaking our own assembling together” means to choose some
activity above assembling whether out of neglect, fear or faulty
priorities. Missing does not equal forsaking. Paul, while
imprisoned, did not assemble with a congregation. Yet, who would
claim he forsook the assembling? C.
Instead of asking when it is alright to forsake, we ought
to ask what constitutes forsaking the assembly. While at times I
am certain lines have been crossed, I regrettably cannot draw all
the lines on this matter. I can, however, provide Biblical
guidance for proper choices from Matthew
6:33. We must each ask, “When I miss the assembling for this
cause, what am I seeking first, God’s kingdom and righteousness
or something else?” II.
Hebrews
10:25
says, “as is the habit of some.” It does not say, “not
making a habit of forsaking.” A.
Some believe they are allowed to forsake some assemblies,
Super Bowl Sunday for instance, as long as forsaking does not
become their habit. Others say as long as they show up sometimes,
they are alright because they have not utterly abandoned
assembling. B.
A habit is the repetition of a singular action to the point
where it has become so natural that you do not even have to think
about it. The Hebrew writer teaches that we must not do what has
already become a habit for some. That is, we must not do the
singular action, forsaking even once, let alone allow forsaking to
become a habit for us. III.
Hebrews
10:25
says, “not forsaking our own assembling together.” It does not
say, “not forsaking the Lord’s Supper.” A.
Because of an overemphasis on Acts
20:7, many assume that as long as they take the Lord’s
Supper, they have obeyed Hebrews
10:25. When people abandon the assembly after the Supper is
served or when people miss the assembly but take some unleavened
bread and grape juice with them to salve their consciences, they
are making this mistake. B.
While the Lord’s Supper is something we do when we
assemble, it is not the only thing. Acts
20:7 was not written to explain the only reason congregations
ever assemble. Rather, it explains why that particular
congregation was having that particular assembly. Any assembly
whether it is to take the Lord’s Supper, to sing, to pray, to
take up the collection, to teach God’s word or any combination
of these activities is equally commanded in Hebrews
10:25. IV.
Hebrews
10:25
says, “not forsaking our own assembling together.” It does not
say, “not forsaking spiritual activity.” A.
I have no doubt there are times when Christians, who are
legitimately unable to attend the assembly, do what they can,
studying the Bible, praying and singing on their own or with the
Christians available to them. I imagine the imprisoned Paul did as
much. However, that is not the assembling of this passage. B.
The term translated “assembling” is “episunagoge.”
It does not refer to just any gathering of Christians or any acts
of worshipping, but to the habitual gathering of a local
congregation. “Sunago” is a Greek word for “gathering.”
“Sunagoge” is the word for the place of the gathering and is
most often translated “synagogue.” By extension this term
refers to the group who regularly assemble at the place of
assembly. Thus, in scripture it is used to refer both to the
building which was set aside for Jewish Sabbath worship (Matthew 6:2, 5; Acts 14:1) and
to the members of that group that regularly assembled in that
place on the Sabbath (Luke
12:11; Acts 9:2). The preposition “epi” at the beginning
of the word heightens the point of gathering to a specific place.
Here in Hebrews 10:25,
the writer is emphasizing the assembly of local congregations in
their “synagogues” or places of assembling. C.
Do not forget that this book is addressed to Hebrews, that
is, Jewish Christians who well understood the concept of a
synagogue building and a regularly meeting synagogue in that
building. They clearly understood that this did not refer to
simply making sure they spent some time with Christians or doing
something spiritual on Sunday. Thus Philip Hughes said, “The
term here should be understood as simply the regular gathering
together of Christian believers for worship and exhortation in a
particular place” (A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, quoted in Linguistic
Key to the Greek New Testament, Zondervan Publishing,
1980, p. 703). V.
Hebrews
10:25
says, “not forsaking our own assembling together.” It does not
say, “not forsaking our Sunday morning assembling together.” A.
For some, determining when they will assemble is not a
matter of drawing near to God (Hebrews
10:22), but drawing near to a set of legalistic lines. That
is, they determine from scripture that the seeming minimum
requirement for churches to assemble is at least once on Sunday in
order to participate in the Lord’s Supper and take up a
collection (Acts 20:7; I
Corinthians 16:1-2). If that is the minimum, they claim a
local church cannot expect more out of them. Having come to that
conclusion they read Hebrews
10:25 as only referring to the Sunday morning assembly (or the
variation that “as long as I make it to at least one service on
Sunday”). B.
However, look at the context of Hebrews
10:22-25. The minimum requirement is not meeting at least once
a week to take the Lord’s Supper. The minimum requirement is to
assemble as regularly as is needed to help the members of the
congregation draw near to God, hold fast the confession of their
faith and stimulate one another to love and good deeds. Certainly,
the complete collection of the congregation to worship and exhort
one another is not the only way to accomplish these goals. We
might use other means as well, such as Bible classes, special
workshops, home study groups, etc. At some point we may determine
that two assemblies on Sunday is not the best way to reach these
goals. However, we do know this. We cannot abandon assembling as
an outdated or inconvenient option. This passage commands us to
assemble. Further, as our leaders believe that multiple assemblies
help the congregation in general to reach these goals, then we
must assemble at them all. VI.
Hebrews
10:25
says, “but encouraging one another.” It does not say,
“getting something out of it for yourselves.” A.
Considering our last point, some might say, “Well, I do
not need two assemblies on Sunday or other special assemblies like
Gospel meetings to help me draw near to God, hold fast my
confession or be encouraged.” Notice, however, the emphasis that
the Hebrew writer makes. The importance is not about what you get,
but what you give to others. B.
Galatians
6:9-10
applies here. Whenever we have opportunity, we ought to do good to
others without growing weary of it. Every time we have an assembly
is an opportunity for you to do good to others. Do not be selfish
about the assemblies, looking only for your good. Come and
encourage others with your presence and your participation. Conclusion: I certainly understand that Hebrews 10:25 does not teach assembling is the only thing a faithful Christian does. Nor is it the most important thing a faithful Christian does. However it is one thing the faithful Christian does. Allow me to encourage you to love and good deeds by encouraging you to consider your brethren and consider your God. Do not forsake our assembling together as is the habit of some, but encourage us by your presence and participation.
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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