FOR YOU SHOWED SYMPATHY TO THE PRISONERS: kai gar tois desmiois sunepathesate (2PAAI) tois desmiois: (Acts 21:33; 28:20; Ephesians 3:1; 4:1; 6:20; Philippians 1:7; 2 Timothy 1:16; 2:9)
 

have a feeling with, to sympathize with. Even more, this was not imagined sympathy—it was real, because they visited their comrades in prison. In the first century prisoners had no means of survival apart from the visits of friends who brought food and water and clothing. But such visiting placed one in grave danger. Yet, they did it willingly—and in doing so some "visited" Christ (cp Mt 25:35, 36 which describes the "sheep" Gentiles who by their actions to others imprisoned during the Great Tribulation would also have been branded as traitors by the authorities and sought for execution.)

the bound ones: By the second century, Christians were known for their care for the imprisoned. Some philosophers regarded visiting those who were in prison as a virtue, although Palestinian Judaism was largely silent on the issue, compared to its emphasis on visiting the sick or helping the economically oppressed (except in the sense of Jews captured or enslaved by pagans). “The prisoners” probably refers to Christians imprisoned for their faith or for practices related to it (as in 13:23). Roman law used prison as detention until punishment rather than as punishment itself; sometimes prisoners had to depend on outside allies for food.

AND ACCEPTED JOYFULLY THE SEIZURE OF YOUR PROPERTY: prosedexasthe (2PAMI) meta charas kai ten harphagen ton huparchonton (PAPNPG) humon: (Matthew 5:11,12; Acts 5:41; James 1:2)

Accepted - received kindly ~ even welcomed the seizure! How possible? Has to reflect their inner strengthening in Him (Php 4:13). These Jews accepted the unjust seizure of their goods with joy. That takes grace (cp Gal 5:22). That which enabled them to do so with joy was the consciousness that they had possessions which could not be taken away. A good test of how fixed one is to this world is what he is not willing to lose. 2Cor 4:16,17,18

Ja 1:2 Cf. Acts 5:41; 16:24,25; Ro 5:3 an experience very parallel to Habakkuk when he said that if there were no fruit or crops or flocks, “yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights” (Hab 3:17,18, 19).

Seizure - plundering from harpazo (the verb that describes the rapture). The human tendency is to hold on as hard as we can to what we have.

Suffering because we are Christians may tempt us to forsake our faith. Actively recalling God's past faithfulness to see us thru difficult experiences (v32) should give us courage to face present persecution. Christian endurance is never complete until our Master returns. We can trust Him. His reward justifies all the suffering we must endure.

KNOWING THAT YOU HAVE FOR YOURSELVES A BETTER POSSESSION AND AN ABIDING ONE: ginoskontes (PAPMPN) echein (PAN) heautous kreissona huparchin kai menousan (PAPFSA): (Matthew 6:19,20; 19:21; Luke 10:42; 12:33; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Colossians 1:5; 3:2-4; 1 Timothy 6:19; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:2)

They believed Jesus’ words, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Mt6:19, 20). They were “looking for the city that is to come” (13:14)—“the heavenly Jerusalem” (12:22).

The "Knowing" that we are assured of eternal reward encourages faithful endurance in the face of strong opposition and vigorous persecution. Personal suffering and public shame, sympathy with others who suffer, and loss of possessions are bearable when set against the bright prospect of the heavenly possessions awaiting those who are faithful. He illustrates this with vignettes from the "men of old" in Hebrews 11.

In place of their plundered property they have treasures in heaven cf. Mt 6:19,20; 1Pe 1:4 Their true, eternal inheritance which God had promised them (Heb 9:15) yet awaited them. No earthly power or authority could take it away from them. They had learned not to “be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” and remained faithful to “the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28).

Such actions were the product of true faith, and he urges them to keep this confident faith in v35,36, since perseverance (endurance) is the proof of reality. The persecutions and injustices they endured presented strong temptations to give up, to accept the values of society around, and to forget what they had learned about the realities of life, death and eternity. Many are tempted today to throw away [their] confidence. Confidence is what motivates appropriate action in view of the times in which one lives. Times of danger especially call for renewed confidence, for confidence in Christ anchors the soul in times of pressure.

C H Spurgeon Real Estate in Heaven

THEREFORE, DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR CONFIDENCE: Me apobalete (2PAAS) oun  ten parrhesian humon: (3:6,14; 4:14)

Prohibition w mê = don't throw away as worthless, Mk 10:50 The Jewish Christians in question were in peril of a panic and of stampeding away from Christ. Due to their current persecutions, they were tempted to run away from their outward identification with Christ and Christians and to apostatize (cf. v23; Dt 32:15,18).

Times of danger especially call for renewed confidence, for confidence in Christ anchors the soul in times of pressure. To throw it away through doubt or neglect is to miss the incredibly rich reward that is waiting just around the corner. Patience is a moment-by-moment quality, one which grows with practice. As the writer has already said, it is “through faith and patience” that we inherit what has been promised (6:12).

Practically we should warn each other not to throw away our confidence (not to shrink back to destruction). The result is eternal judgment. So don't drift away. Don't love the world. Don't start thinking nothing is at stake. Fear the terrible prospect of not cherishing the promises of God above the promises of sin. But mainly focus on the preciousness of the promises.

Confidence speaks boldness in speech or openness & right to speak frankly, without reservation. In context of Hebrews surely refers to our entree to the Throne Room of Almighty God bc the rent veil, Messiah's flesh (cp Heb3:6, 4:16, 10:19, 35.) Those who lose confidence in Christ and in His promises and return to rituals and ceremonies show that they were never born again. It is against such apostasy that the following warning is directed.

WHICH HAS A GREAT REWARD: megalen misthapodosian: (11:26; Psalms 19:11; Matthew 5:12; 10:32,42; Luke 14:14; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:8-10)