The core encouragement in Hebrews 10:35

• Your confidence is precious to God. He sees it, honors it, and promises that it will be rewarded. Faith is never forgotten, never overlooked.
• Hard seasons do not cancel God’s promises. The verse sits in a context of believers enduring public reproach, loss, and hardship. Yet God says: Do not throw away your confidence. Meaning — your present struggle does not diminish your future hope.
• Endurance has purpose. God uses your perseverance to shape you, strengthen you, and prepare you for what He has promised.
• Your reward is secure. Even when life feels unstable, the “better and abiding possession” (v. 34) remains untouched. Your hope is anchored in heaven, not circumstances.

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. (Hebrews 10:35 ESV)

This verse is found in a context of suffering for our faith as outlined in the following verses: ³² “But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³ sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. ³⁴ For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. ³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. ³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:32 – 36 ESV).

To be enlightened indicate spiritual life and as a believer, we may face persecution as so many in the world do, but in spite of the threat against us, we are to show compassion on those who at the time are less fortunate than we. Even when our property is being plundered, we are to remain joyful as joy is not based on circumstance but on God’s love, and one of its characteristics is joy (Galatians 5:22 – 23). No matter what happens to us here, we know that we have a better place waiting for us in heaven.

This brings us to the “Therefore” that begins our verse. In the face of difficulties, even in the face of severe persecution, we are to maintain confidence in God, and know that he has not forgotten us in our suffering but is at work fulfilling his purpose for us and others. Jesus endured great suffering to provide our salvation and he warned us that we would also suffer for our faith as so many are today. Through our suffering we actually may bear the most fruit to God’s glory and in the end receive great reward for maintaining our confidence in him.

Summary Theme:

Hold firmly to your confidence in Christ, knowing that faithful endurance brings great reward from God.

Summary Paragraph:

Hebrews 10:35 encourages believers not to abandon their confidence in God, especially during seasons of difficulty, suffering, or uncertainty. The writer of Hebrews reminds his readers that their faithfulness has already been demonstrated through endurance and that God sees their perseverance. Their confidence is not based on their own strength or circumstances but on the certainty of God’s promises through Jesus Christ. The verse calls believers to continue trusting, obeying, and remaining faithful because God rewards those who endure with steadfast faith. The Christian life requires perseverance, but it is sustained by the assurance that God is faithful and that the ultimate reward is secure in Him.

Key Verse (ESV):

Hebrews 10:35 —
“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.”

Discussion Questions with Extended Answers

1. What does it mean to “throw away your confidence” in Hebrews 10:35?

Answer:
To throw away confidence means to abandon the trust and assurance that believers have placed in God through Jesus Christ. The writer is not speaking about ordinary discouragement but about the temptation to turn away from faith because of hardship or persecution. The original readers had endured suffering because of their commitment to Christ, and they were being encouraged not to allow their circumstances to weaken their faith.

Christian confidence is not arrogance or self-reliance. It is a settled assurance that God is true to His promises. Believers can remain confident because their salvation rests not on their own ability to persevere perfectly but on the finished work of Christ. To abandon confidence would be to forget God’s faithfulness and allow temporary struggles to overshadow eternal truth.

2. Why is confidence in God especially important during times of suffering or difficulty?

Answer:
Difficult circumstances often challenge a believer’s understanding of God’s goodness and faithfulness. When prayers seem unanswered, trials continue, or obedience becomes costly, there can be a temptation to doubt whether following Christ is worthwhile. Hebrews 10:35 reminds believers that confidence must be anchored in God’s character rather than changing circumstances.

God never promised that believers would avoid suffering, but He promised His presence, strength, and ultimate victory. Confidence allows Christians to endure hardship because they know that present struggles are temporary compared with the eternal reward God has promised. Faith looks beyond the immediate difficulty and trusts the One who holds the future.

3. What is the “great reward” promised to those who keep their confidence?

Answer:
The great reward refers ultimately to the blessings that God gives to those who remain faithful to Him. This includes the joy of eternal life, fellowship with God, the inheritance promised to believers, and the completion of God’s work in their lives. The reward is not earned as a payment for human effort but is a gracious gift from a faithful God.

The Bible consistently teaches that God sees and values faithfulness. Jesus promised that those who follow Him will receive eternal treasures that cannot fade away. The reward gives believers motivation to endure because their sacrifices for Christ are never forgotten. God honors those who remain faithful even when obedience is difficult.

4. How can believers maintain confidence when they feel discouraged or spiritually weak?

Answer:
Believers maintain confidence by continually returning to the truth of God’s Word, remembering His past faithfulness, and keeping their focus on Christ. Spiritual strength does not come from ignoring difficulties but from trusting God in the middle of them.

Practical ways to maintain confidence include prayer, worship, fellowship with other believers, studying Scripture, and remembering God’s promises. Hebrews 10 reminds believers that they are not meant to endure alone. God provides His Spirit, His Word, and His people to strengthen faith.

Confidence grows when believers repeatedly see that God has carried them through previous trials. Remembering what God has already done builds faith for what lies ahead.

5. How does Hebrews 10:35 encourage believers to live differently today?

Answer:
Hebrews 10:35 calls believers to live with perseverance, courage, and unwavering trust in God. In a world where faith is often challenged or ignored, Christians are encouraged not to hide their commitment to Christ or allow temporary pressures to weaken their devotion.

This verse reminds believers that their choices have eternal significance. Faithfulness in everyday life—through obedience, service, love, and perseverance—matters to God. Christians are called to remain steadfast because their hope is not placed in worldly success or comfort but in the promises of God.

The verse encourages a life that confidently declares: God is faithful, Christ is sufficient, and the reward promised by God is worth every sacrifice.