Hebrews 10:35 tells believers not to give up the confidence they have in Christ, because that confidence will be rewarded. The verse is a short exhortation, a pastor’s plea to people who were tempted to quit following Jesus when it became costly. It was written by the unnamed author of the letter to the Hebrews, traditionally thought to be a teacher with a close circle of readers in mind, and addressed to a community that had already suffered for its faith.
Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward.
Hebrews 10:35 (WEB)
What Hebrews 10:35 Means
The verse opens with “therefore,” which means it is a conclusion drawn from what came before. The author has just reminded his readers of their earlier endurance under persecution, so the instruction is grounded in their own history. The word “boldness” refers to open, fearless confidence, the kind that speaks plainly about faith without shame. The author is saying: do not throw that confidence away.
The phrase “throw away” is vivid. It pictures someone discarding something valuable in a moment of frustration or fear. The danger is not usually a dramatic renunciation of faith but a gradual loss of nerve, a quiet decision that speaking up or holding firm is no longer worth it. The verse then gives the reason to hold on: this boldness “has a great reward.” The verse promises that faithfulness is not wasted, but it does not spell out every detail of that reward, and it does not promise an easy life in the meantime.
The Context of Hebrews 10:35
Hebrews is a sermon-like letter written to Christians who were under pressure, possibly from society, from family, or from the loss of status that came with following Jesus. Verses 32 to 34 recall how these readers once endured public insults and the loss of property, and how they showed compassion to others who were imprisoned. Verse 35 then turns that memory into a command: since you have already shown this kind of courage, do not abandon it now.
The verses that follow in verses 36 to 38 widen the frame. The author says that “endurance” is needed so that, having done God’s will, the readers may receive what was promised, and he draws on a passage from the prophet Habakkuk about the righteous living by faith. Read in that setting, Hebrews 10:35 is not a call to bravado. It is a call to keep trusting God through a season of waiting, with the promised reward ahead.
Key Phrases in Hebrews 10:35
Hebrews 10:36
For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
(WEB)
This verse continues the same thought by stressing that endurance is necessary so that, having done God’s will, believers may receive the promise. It helps explain why the reward mentioned in verse 35 matters and why steady perseverance is the path to it.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…
(WEB)
This verse picks up the image of running a race with endurance, a picture that matches the call not to throw away confidence. It shows that perseverance is not a solitary effort but is carried out in the presence of a great cloud of witnesses.
A Short Prayer From Hebrews 10:35
Lord, you know how easily I grow tired and how quickly I am tempted to let go of the confidence I once had in you. Please help me remember the ways you have already held me up, and give me courage to keep speaking and living in faith when it costs me something. When I am weary or uncertain, remind me that my trust in you is not wasted and that you are faithful to reward those who keep seeking you. Strengthen my heart to hold on, one day at a time. Amen.
