DRAWING NEAR

Hebrews 10:19–25 NET

¹⁹Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. ²³And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy. ²⁴And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, ²⁵not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.

Introduction

Every Christian knows what it feels like to drift — not in a dramatic way, but quietly, slowly, subtly. A little less prayer. A little less confidence. A little less gathering with God’s people. A little more fear. A little more guilt. A little more distance.

The writer of Hebrews understands this. He is writing to believers who are tired, discouraged, and tempted to pull back. They are wondering if following Jesus is worth it. They are tempted to shrink away from worship, from fellowship, and from hope.

So, before he gives them any commands, he reminds them of what Christ has already done. He does not begin with “Do better.” He begins with “You have access.”
He begins with privilege, not pressure.
He begins with grace, not guilt.

Hebrews 10:19–25 is one of the most beautiful invitations in the New Testament. It tells us what Christ has opened, what we now possess, and how we must respond.

I. The Privileges We Possess in Christ (vv. 19–21)

The writer begins with two breathtaking truths.

We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place (v. 19)

Under the old covenant, no one entered the Most Holy Place except the high priest — and only once a year. The curtain was a barrier, a warning, a reminder that sin separates us from God.

But now, because of Jesus’ blood, the curtain is torn.
The way is open.
Access is granted.
We do not come trembling.
We come confidently.

This is not arrogance.
It is assurance — assurance rooted in Christ’s finished work.

We have a new and living way (v. 20)

The writer says the curtain was opened “through His flesh.”
Christ’s torn body opened the way into God’s presence.
The way is new — not the old system of sacrifices.
The way is living — because Christ Himself is alive.

We have a great High Priest over God’s house (v. 21)

Jesus is not only the sacrifice; He is the priest who brings us to God.
He stands for us.
He intercedes for us.

These privileges are the foundation for everything that follows.
We do not obey to gain access.
We obey because access has already been given.

II. The First Response: Draw Near (v. 22)

Because the way is open, the writer says, “Let us draw near.”

Draw near with a sincere heart

God invites honesty, not performance.
He wants real hearts, not religious masks.

Draw near in full assurance of faith

Our confidence is not in our feelings but in Christ’s work.
We come because He has made us clean.

Draw near as cleansed people

The writer uses priestly language:

“hearts sprinkled clean” — inner cleansing from guilt
“bodies washed with pure water” — the outward sign of baptism

The point is simple:
You are welcome. You are clean. You are invited.

Worship is not timid.
It is bold — because Christ has opened the way.

III. The Second Response: Hold Fast (v. 23)

The Christian life is not only about drawing near; it is also about holding on.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.”

Hold fast the confession

The gospel is something we cling to.
It is our anchor in a drifting world.

Hold fast without wavering

The pressure to drift is real.
The temptation to compromise is real.
The writer calls for steady, stubborn perseverance.

Hold fast because God is faithful

This is the key.
We do not hold fast because we are strong.
We hold fast because He who promised is faithful.

Our grip may weaken.
His promise never does.

IV. The Third Response: Stir Up One Another (vv. 24–25)

Faith is personal, but it is never private.
The writer now turns from the vertical to the horizontal.

“Let us consider one another…”

Consider one another (v. 24)

This is intentional, thoughtful care.
It means thinking about others’ spiritual needs.
It means noticing who is struggling, who is drifting, who is hurting.

Stir up love and good works

The word “stir up” means to provoke, to spur, to ignite.
The church is a catalyst for obedience.
We help one another grow.

Do not neglect meeting together (v. 25)

Some were already drifting from the assembly.
The writer says: Don’t do that.
Isolation weakens faith.
Community strengthens it.

Gathering is not a habit.
It is a lifeline.

Encourage one another — especially as the Day approaches

The closer we get to Christ’s return, the more we need each other.
Encouragement is not optional; it is essential.

The church is God’s means of sustaining His people until the end.

V. The Message for Today

Hebrews 10:19–25 speaks directly to our moment.

We have access — so draw near

Don’t live at a distance.
Don’t let guilt or fear keep you away.
Christ has opened the way.

We have a confession — so hold fast

The world is shifting.
Truth is contested.
Hope is fragile.
But God is faithful.

We have a family — so stir up one another

We need each other.
We need encouragement.
We need presence.
We need community.

The Christian life cannot be lived alone.

Conclusion

The writer of Hebrews gives us three commands — but they all flow from one great truth:
Christ has opened the way to God.

So, draw near.
Hold fast.
Stir up one another.
And do it all with confidence, because the God who opened the way is the God who will keep you to the end.

So, we pray:

Lord, thank You for opening the way into Your presence.
Give us boldness to draw near, strength to hold fast,
and love to stir up one another as we wait for the Day of Christ.
Amen.

2 Chronicles 34

2 Chronicles 34:1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:2 He did what was right in Yahveh’s sight and walked in the ways of his ancestor David; he did not turn aside to the right or the left.

2 Chronicles 34:3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still a boy, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. In the twelfth year, he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved images, and the cast images.

2 Chronicles 34:4 Then in his presence the altars of the Baals were torn down, and he chopped down the shrines that were above them. He shattered the Asherah poles, the carved images, and the cast images, crushed them to dust, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

2 Chronicles 34:5 He burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So, he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:6 He did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, and as far as Naphtali and on their surrounding mountain shrines.

2 Chronicles 34:7 He tore down the altars, and he crushed the Asherah poles and the carved images to powder. He chopped down all the shrines throughout the land of Israel and returned to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:8 In the eighteenth year of his reign, in order to cleanse the land and the house, Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, along with Maaseiah the captain of the city and the court historian Joah son of Joahaz, to strengthen the house of Yahveh his God.

2 Chronicles 34:9 So they went to the high priest, Hilkiah, and gave him the silver brought into God’s house. The Levites and the doorkeepers had gathered it from Manasseh, Ephraim, the entire remnant of Israel, all Judah, Benjamin, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:10 They gave it to those doing the work- those who oversaw Yahveh’s house. They gave it to the workers who were working in Yahveh’s house, to repair and strengthen the house;

2 Chronicles 34:11 they gave it to the carpenters and builders and also used it to buy quarried stone and timbers– for joining and making beams– for the houses that Judah’s kings had put an end to.

2 Chronicles 34:12 The men were doing the work with integrity. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites from the Merarites, and Zechariah and Meshullam from the Kohathites as supervisors. The Levites were all skilled with musical instruments.

2 Chronicles 34:13 They also oversaw the porters and supervised all those doing the work task by task. Some of the Levites were secretaries, officers, and gatekeepers.

2 Chronicles 34:14 When they brought out the silver that had been deposited in Yahveh’s house, the priest Hilkiah found the book of Yahveh’s instruction written by Moses.

2 Chronicles 34:15 Hilkiah, answering, told the court secretary Shaphan, “I have found the book of the instruction in Yahveh’s house,” and he gave the book to Shaphan.

2 Chronicles 34:16 Shaphan took the book to the king, and continually reported, “Your slaves are doing all that was placed in their hands.

2 Chronicles 34:17 They have emptied the silver that was found in Yahveh’s house and have given it to the overseers and those doing the work.”

2 Chronicles 34:18 Then the court secretary Shaphan told the king, “The priest Hilkiah gave me a book,” and Shaphan read from it in the king’s presence.

2 Chronicles 34:19 When the king heard the words of the instruction, he tore his clothes.

2 Chronicles 34:20 Then he commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, the court secretary Shaphan, and the king’s slave Asaiah,

2 Chronicles 34:21 “Go and inquire of Yahveh for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that was found. For great is Yahveh’s wrath that is poured out on us because our ancestors have not regarded the word of Yahveh in order to do everything written in this book.”

2 Chronicles 34:22 So Hilkiah and those the king had designated went to the prophetess Huldah, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, guard of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem in the Second District. They spoke with her about this.

2 Chronicles 34:23 She said to them, “This is what Yahveh God of Israel says: Say to the man who sent you to me,

2 Chronicles 34:24 ‘This is what Yahveh says: Notice, I am about to bring disaster on this place and its inhabitants, fulfilling all the oaths written in the book that they read in the presence of the king of Judah,

2 Chronicles 34:25 because they have abandoned me and burned incense to other gods so as to anger me with all the works of their hands. My wrath will be poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.’

2 Chronicles 34:26 says this to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of Yahveh: ‘This is what Yahveh, God of Israel, says: As for the words that you heard,

2 Chronicles 34:27 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before me, and you tore your clothes and wept before me, I have heard- this is Yahveh’s declaration.

2 Chronicles 34:28 ‘Notice, I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I am bringing on this place and on its inhabitants.'” Then they reported to the king.

2 Chronicles 34:29 So the king sent messengers and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:30 The king went up to Yahveh’s house with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the Levites– all the people from the oldest to the youngest. He read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that had been found in Yahveh’s house.

2 Chronicles 34:31 Then the king stood at his post and established a covenant in Yahveh’s presence to follow Yahveh and to guard his commands, reminders, and prescribed tasks with all his heart and with all his throat to carry out the words of the covenant written in this book.

2 Chronicles 34:32 He had all those present in Jerusalem and Benjamin agree to it. So all the inhabitants of Jerusalem carried out the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

2 Chronicles 34:33 So Josiah removed everything repulsive from all the lands belonging to the Israelites, and he required all who were present in Israel to work for Yahveh their God. Throughout his reign, they did not turn aside from following Yahveh, the God of their ancestors.