10:28 {9} He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
(9) If the breach of the law of Moses was punished by death, how much more worthy of death is it to fall away from Christ?
10:28 He that despised Moses' law. He who wilfully rebelled against the law of Moses had no remission.
Died without mercy under two or three witnesses. When proved guilty by two or three witnesses his fate was death. See Nu 15:30-36 De 13:6-10. There was mercy for the ignorant, the mistaken, those overtaken (Ga 6:1), but not for the deliberate despiser.
10:28 He that, in capital cases, despised (presumptuously transgressed) the law of Moses died without mercy - Without any delay or mitigation of his punishment.
10:26-31 The exhortations against apostacy and to perseverance, are urged by many strong reasons. The sin here mentioned is a total and final falling away, when men, with a full and fixed will and resolution, despise and reject Christ, the only Saviour; despise and resist the Spirit, the only Sanctifier; and despise and renounce the gospel, the only way of salvation, and the words of eternal life. Of this destruction God gives some notorious sinners, while on earth, a fearful foreboding in their consciences, with despair of being able to endure or to escape it. But what punishment can be sorer than to die without mercy? We answer, to die by mercy, by the mercy and grace which they have despised. How dreadful is the case, when not only the justice of God, but his abused grace and mercy call for vengeance! All this does not in the least mean that any souls who sorrow for sin will be shut out from mercy, or that any will be refused the benefit of Christ's sacrifice, who are willing to accept these blessings. Him that cometh unto Christ, he will in no wise cast out.
