Today’s verse does not make everyone’s “list,” those who have written about the “one-to-another” Texts of Scripture. And it does have a negative connotation. But it also reveals a critically important aspect of growth in the Christian life! Let me explain further.

“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.” Hebrews 10:25

Two days ago we discussed the admonition “to exhort” one another. That is, “to encourage” each other. So here’s today’s emphasis: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

Do not “forsake,” is a verb meaning “to leave behind.” Do not abandon! Do not desert! Do not leave helpless! We are being given a practice that is to be followed for the duration of our Christian lives. “Forsaking” here is a present participle. Ongoing, durative, habitual action is being implied. A lifestyle!

The term “assembling together” is “episunagoge.” A compound consisting of “epi” plus “sun” plus “ago.” And “ago” is the verb that means “to lead, to bring, to lay hold of!” The preposition “sun” means “together.” And the first syllable “epi” intensifies the whole idea. It simply means “our coming together” … as a group to worship God!”

In the word “sunagoge” the Hebrew/Jewish idea of a “synagogue” has developed! Which was for the Jews, still is …  a building, a place to come together as a group … to meet for a single purpose!

And Paul (the likely writer of Hebrews, humanly speaking) knows that some in the Hebrew Christian movement have already stopped attending the worship meetings! “As the manner of some is!” Some who clearly have already “forsaken” the services!

And “the day” that is nearing … no doubt speaking of a time of intense persecution, hardship, and trial on the Believers who love Jesus Christ our Saviour. And that time did come, very soon, for those to whom the Holy Spirit was speaking, 70 AD and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans.

I write this Lesson on a Saturday morning.

How timely!

We can practice this “one to another” technique tomorrow.

Assemble, come together, with the fellow brothers and sisters in Christ you know. In other words, go to Church! In your location, hearing God’s preached Word. Singing the hymns of the Faith, our Faith! The “Faith of our Fathers!”

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell