“And let us consider one another to
provoke unto love and to good works” – Hebrews 10:24 (KJV):
Summarize in a Word: Godly Thoughts
Key Principle: We are prone to evil thoughts
Key Application: We must think through the Scripture
Main point of the Passage: In all circumstances, we have a choice to feed
our mind with evil plans or godly plans
Illustration: The Pharisee’s Prayer
Exhortation: Give an attentive scrutiny; fix
your mind upon how to provoke, irritate them unto godliness.
Many times, we see people hating others, and
even harming others. Sometimes, we act like the Pharisee who said, “Thank God!
I am not like them.” The moment we do that, we fall as short as they do. This stunning
verse of Hebrews is teaching us to look in a very different way.
The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to provoke them unto love and good works. Is that not interesting?
The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to provoke them unto love and good works. Is that not interesting?
The exhortation here is not to weep over their sins, to rebuke
them, or to correct them, though those are good and commanded in Scripture
elsewhere. Here, it tells us to provoke them unto love and good works. The word
“provoke” has the meaning of irritation and stimulation. What do you do when
you are irritated, provoked? You react, response, right? You don’t stay idle.
That’s how we must do. We must irritate them enough that they start loving and
doing good works. How can we do that? Definitely, we don’t want to irritate
them to get angry and cause more sins.
Therefore, this verse exhorts us to consider what and how to
provoke them. This word “consider” has the meaning of thinking carefully, attentively,
to observe, notice, examine, contemplate, reflect and discern closely. Do you
spend time thinking how and what to provoke others to love, to do good works?
Or, are you just critiquing, condemning in your hearts? Don’t spend time
thinking how to shame them, or to take revenge upon them. Think how to provoke,
stimulate, and irritate them unto love and good works. Give an attentive scrutiny;
fix your mind upon how to provoke, irritate them unto godliness.
Thanks for the time of Reflection
R. Solomon