The New American Standard Bible, the version used to preach God’s word at Grace Community Bible Church, puts Hebrews 10:24 like this: “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.” Unfortunately, this way of translating Hebrews 10:24 does not entirely capture the original Greek wording.
In the original Greek, the main verb is the word “consider,” not the word “stimulate,” which happens to be a noun. Since the main verb is “consider,” the immediate object of the verb is “one another.” So, Hebrews 10:24 should be better translated like this: “and let us consider one another unto love and good deeds.” Notice the difference between this rendering and the New American Stand Bible and what this difference conveys? The difference conveys that our call is “consider one another.”
To consider one another takes work. It does not happen automatically. It is intentional not unintentional; active not passive.
Our call to consider one another, however, is not built on a general human notion of being considerate, nor on brute force and will power. Considering one another is built on the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know this because the command to “consider one another” is grounded in Jesus’ work as priest: “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God” (Hebrews 10:19-21). Because of this, “consider one another.” Our call to “consider one another,” then, can only be done because Jesus “considered” us (Philippians 2:5-8).
Hebrews 10:24 is indeed one of the “one another’s of Scripture.” But like all “one another’s of Scripture” it is grounded in the gospel. Praise God that Jesus considered us enough so that we can consider one another unto love and good deeds.
How might you “consider one another” during this time?
Pastor Dan
For more on Hebrews 10:24, see the sermon here.