Hebrews 10:25

It is not separation but assiduous effort at unity that is the work of love.

Those which are rough are those who have known the truth and not remained in it, nor have they been joined to the saints. On this account are they unfit for use.

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching." What is, "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together"? He knew that much strength arises from being together and assembling together. "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them"; and again, "That they may be One, as we also are"; and, "They had all one heart and one soul." And not this only, but also because love is increased by the gathering of ourselves together; and love being increased, of necessity the things of God must follow also. "And earnest prayer was made by the people." "As the manner of some is." Here he not only exhorted, but also blamed them. Then he adds the perfect thing, love. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together," which some (he says) do, and divide the assemblies. For "a brother helped by a brother is as a strong city."

"But encouraging." Whom? "Their gathering together," that is, one another. For that is how "the gathering together" is commonly understood. And the comfort of the assembly becomes for them a way to be eagerly renewed and in a short space of time.

He knows that the common assembly gives birth to love, therefore he urges not to forsake the assembly and not to start divisions and unlawful gatherings, "for where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them" …

512. – Then he removes the contrary of charity when he says, not neglecting to meet together. For since charity is love, whose function is to unite, because, as Dionysius says, love is a uniting force: 'That they may be one, even as we are …

Not forsaking the assembling ourselves - In public or private worship. As the manner of some is - Either through fear of persecution, or from a vain imagination that they were above external ordinances. But exhorting one another - To faith, love, and good works.

A good example given to others is the best and most effectual provocation to love and good works. Not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together,

It is the will of Christ that his disciples should assemble together, sometimes more privately for conference and prayer, and in public for hearing and joining in all the ordinances of gospel worship.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together - That is, for purposes of public worship. Some expositors have understood the word rendered here as “assembling” - ἐπισυναγωγὴν episunagōgēn - as meaning “the society of Christians,” or the church; and they have supposed that the object of the apostle here is, to exhort them. not to apostatize from the church. The arguments for this opinion may be seen at length in Kuinoel, in loc.

assembling of ourselves together--The Greek, "episunagoge," is only found here and 2Th 2:1 (the gathering together of the elect to Christ at His coming, Mt 24:31). The assembling or gathering of ourselves for Christian communion in private and public, is an earnest of our being gathered together to Him at His appearing.

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Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves - Επισυναγωγην ἑαυτων. Whether this means public or private worship is hard to say; but as the word is but once more used in the New Testament, (2Th 2:1), and there means the gathering together of the redeemed of the Lord at the day of judgment, it is as likely that it means here private religious meetings, for the purpose of mutual exhortation: and this sense appears the more natural here, because it is evident that the Church was now in a state of persecution, and therefore their meetings were most probably held in private. For fear of persecution, it seems as if some had deserted these meetings, καθως εθος τισιν, as the custom of certain persons is. They had given up these strengthening and instructive means, and the others were in danger of following their example. The day approaching - Την ἡμεραν· That day - the time in which God would come and pour out his judgments on the Jewish nation. We may also apply it to the day of death and the day of judgment. Both of these are approaching to every human being. He who wishes to be found ready will carefully use every means of grace, and particularly the communion of saints, if there be even but two or three in the place where he lives, who statedly meet together in the name of Christ. Those who relinquish Christian communion are in a backsliding state; those who backslide are in danger of apostasy. To prevent this latter, the apostle speaks the awful words following. See at the end of this chapter (Heb 10:39 (note)).