He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:28-29)
The Law of Moses was without mercy. If you broke the Old Testament law, you would face an unyielding judgment. With today’s mindset, it’s difficult to grasp the gravity of what it meant to live under the Old Testament Law. But thank God, because of Christ, you and I now live in a time of mercy and grace!
In fact, the Holy Spirit Himself is referred to in this verse as the Spirit of Grace.
Knowing that we live in a wonderful time of grace and mercy should obviously change how we operate and what we do, right? However, Hebrews tells us that many have tread underfoot the Son of God. It describes a willful disregard and a conscious decision to devalue the sacrifice that Christ made. Paul, (whom I believe penned the letter to the Hebrews), said that those who do this have done despite unto the Spirit of grace. This is not a casual rejection, it’s an intentional act against the Holy Spirit when a person will not listen, not honor, and not heed Him.
How could someone wander so far away from honoring the Holy Spirit? It usually begins with their words. As believers, we should pay attention to what we say, and guard our mouths from speaking against God and against God’s will. The words we utter are not mere sounds; they carry the weight of eternity. In the realm of grace, where mercy triumphs over judgment, our response to the sacrifice of Christ matters. How we talk about God matters. How we honor or dishonor Him with our words matters.
Practical Application
Align your words with Who you believe God is. Speak life, honor, and gratitude when you talk to and about God. Your words matter.