Provoke One Another - Hebrews 10:24

 

PROVOKE ONE ANOTHER

 

And let us consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works:
Hebrews 10:24

 

The definition of provoke means:

To stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotions, typically a strong
or unwelcome one) in someone.

To stimulate or incite (cause) someone to do or feel something, especially by arousing anger in them.

Deliberately make someone annoyed or angry. (Provoking can cause someone to become annoyed which can turn to anger.)

The Biblical definition of provoke in this passage of Scripture means:
          G 3948 = incitement (cause to do good) or dispute (in anger)

Looking back over our life, I’m sure all of us can think of a time or possibly many times where we were provoked either as a child or as an adult by another person. 

It may be by a classmate, a co-worker, someone you thought was a friend, or even a family member.

Usually the memory is not a good one. 

The memories could be of someone picking on or taunting us about things we cannot help or change…

* our hair,
* or maybe our ears or nose stick out a little too much,
* perhaps they don’t like the way we smile,
* maybe because our clothes were not ‘in style’ or were very worn because we or our parents could not afford to buy new or nicer things.
* our shoes were not name brand or may have been a little worn because we or our family could not afford to buy a new pair,
* or perhaps we were made fun of concerning our religion and stand for God. 

Sadly, children and even some adults will taunt and sneer, hurling insults at another trying to provoke a reaction. I’ve seen some hurl their insults calmly while taking a jab at another with their words, trying to hurt them and arouse feelings of anger while acting innocent.  Some will even go so far as to try to get others to join in with them. 

PENINNAH PROVOKES HANNAH…

A man in the Bible named Elkanah had two wives – one was named Peninnah and the other was named Hannah. Peninnah had several children yet for some reason, Hannah could not.  Peninnah would deliberately pick at Hannah because of it. Perhaps there was jealousy between the two (the reason why God’s original design was one man and one wife).

The Bible says in 1 Samuel 1:5-7

But unto Hannah he (Elkanah) gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.  
And her adversary (Peninnah) also PROVOKED her SORE,
for to make her fret (be violently agitated; to irritate to anger),
for the LORD had shut up her womb.
And as he did so year by year,
when she went up to the House of the LORD,
So she (Peninnah) PROVOKED her (Hannah);
therefore she wept, and did not eat.

To have children was considered a blessing and believed to show a woman had favor from the Lord. Peninnah used Hannah’s barrenness to taunt and take jabs at her.  Yes, Peninnah had several children already, but what no one knew is that God was getting Hannah to the place emotionally where she was willing to give God complete control of her child’s life. God had a purpose for the barrenness.

When Hannah promised to give that child back to God if He would just give her one child is when God opened her womb and blessed her with not just one child but several after that.  God had a purpose and plan for Hannah’s firstborn.  Hannah kept her promise and left Samuel at the Tabernacle to serve the Lord. 

While Peninnah had several children, Hannah gave birth to a Prophet who anointed kings. She may not have been willing to give him back to the Lord if she had not been provoked to desperation.

A person that is provoking another is wrong for what they are doing and will stand before God for it, but sometimes we need to strive to maintain a right heart and see what God will birth from the situation.

JESUS ALSO KNOWS HOW IT FEELS TO BE PROVOKED….

The One who had done nothing but good for others.
The One who had healed the sick, opened blind eyes and deaf ears.
The One who had raised the dead back to life.

The One who performed many mighty miracles and yet in the end, nearly everyone turned against Him.

The crowds of people who once followed Him, feasting on the loaves and fishes were now jeering and screaming, “Crucify Him!”

The soldiers were mocking Him and gambling to see who would get to keep His robe. They were trying to provoke Him….and yet He opened not His mouth. 

Isaiah 53:7 describes the suffering of Jesus Christ…. 

He was oppressed (subject to harsh and authoritarian treatment)
and He was afflicted, (cause pain or suffering)
yet He opened not His mouth:
He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb (silent),
so He openeth not His mouth.

One of the hardest things to do is stay silent when we’re being provoked….. especially when it’s unjustly.   Yet, sometimes that is the best thing we can do.

While most times the word ‘provoke’ is referring to someone trying to provoke another to anger, the Bible also mentions that there is a way to provoke someone in a positive way. 

How can provoking someone be positive?  Hebrews 10:24 instructs:

And let us consider (think about) one another
to provoke (to stir up, encourage, or urge to good)
unto love and to good works:

The word ‘provoke’ in this Scripture is not meaning that we should anger someone, but rather  we should encourage and actually urge in a good way to (1) love others and (2) to do good deeds.

 

LET US CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER

The first part of the verse says to ‘consider one another’ meaning we are to think about others.   

We live in a very self-absorbed day and time. 
People want to brag on their self and talk about their self. 
Compassion and sincere care for others is severely lacking. 

The Bible admonitions us to instead….

…Consider one another…  (Heb. 10:24) and

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;
in honour (showing dignity or esteem/respect)
preferring one another. (set forward before someone)
Romans 12:10

The definition of honor means to show dignity or respect. (strong’s G5092)
Preferring means to put or set forward before someone (according to merriam-webster.com)

Abraham was moving around and dwelling with his nephew Lot.  It was becoming contentious between Lot’s herdsmen and Abraham’s. They needed to part ways. Although Abraham was the oldest and although it was Abraham who invited Lot to come with him on his journeys, he preferred Lot above himself when he gave Lot first choice on which direction he wanted to move his family.  Unfortunately, we see the opposite from Lot when he chose the choicest land. (Genesis 13)

In a ‘Me! Me! Me!’ society the Bible admonishes us to put others first.

PROVOKE UNTO LOVE

This same verse (Romans 12:10) also instructs us to ‘be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love’ (meaning we are to have a love for the brethren).

Jesus taught that there is one important thing that will show others that we are His disciples.

He said…

By this shall men know that ye are my disciples,
IF ye have love one to another.
John 13:35

Romans 12:9 admonishes that love is to be without dissimulation - meaning it should not be fake or hypocritical.  It should be sincere. (Strong’s G505)

When we are prayed up and full of the Holy Ghost, loving others will become easier, it will be sincere, and it will be witness to a lost and dying world that Christ lives in us.  It will cause them to see something different in us and can draw them to Christ.

God knows it is human nature (the sin nature) that will struggle with loving others as they should.

Cain hated his brother, Abel, and killed him then hid the body. (Genesis 4)

Leah struggled with feeling like her husband, Jacob, didn’t really love her.  She knew that he loved her sister, Rachel, more for she was the one he wanted to marry in the first place.  Their father tricked him and forced her to pretend to be Rachel.  It wasn’t fair to Leah. Or Rachel.  (Genesis 29:32)

It appears Jacob not only had a problem loving one wife more than the other, the Bible reveals that he also loved Joseph more than any of his other children which created hard feelings between the siblings. (Genesis 37:3-4)

Perhaps this is why God gave the commandment to love (have affection for) your neighbor just as you love yourself. (Leviticus 19:18) And also warned that we are not to hate anyone in our heart. (Lev 19:17)

Proverbs 10:12 warns that hatred stirs up strifes (plural = discord/quarrels): but love covereth all sins (meaning sincere love is going to overlook a lot of faults).

A neighbor is not just the person who lives next door to you.  God used the word ‘neighbor’ to cover everyone whether they are an associate, a family member, a spouse, or a friend.  God commands us to love and show care and affection to others, even strangers, in the same way that we take care of our own self.  (Lev 19:34 + Dt 10:19)

We don’t need to ‘love ourself more’ – we need to learn to love others more. Jesus warned that because iniquity (sin) is abounding (growing and spreading), the love that many have toward others will wax cold. (Mt 24:12) Care, concern, and compassion for others are severely lacking in our world today.

Not only is there a lack of love for others but there is a lack of genuine love for God.  Several times throughout Scripture we find where God commanded that we are to love HIM and keep His commandments. (Ex 20:6 + Dt 6:5 + Dt 11:1,13,22 + Dt 19:9 + Dt 30:6,16 + Joshua 22:5,11 plus many more)

Because loving others and loving God can be a struggle to this flesh, Paul admonished that we should provoke (urge and cause) each other to feel LOVE toward OTHERS.

It sounds like he is teaching that if we see someone not being loving toward another, we should speak up and (provoke) urge them, do what we can to cause them to show love toward that person.

Question to ponder: How can we provoke (cause) someone to love others?

 

PROVOKE UNTO GOOD WORKS

Jesus instructs us to let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in Heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

It was said of Tabitha, in the Bible, that she was full of good works and almsdeeds (giving).  (Acts 9:36)   Everyone who knew her recalled the good works that she had done and her acts of charity toward others.

I Timothy 5:10 lists some categories that fall under good works:

          Raising of children
          being hospitable to strangers
          washed the saints’ feet (in other words, not afraid to do the lowly or
                      dirty work)

          relieved the afflicted (comfort or help out those who are truly in need)

Jesus went around doing many good works. In John 10:32, Jesus asked them, “Many good works have I shewed you from My Father; for which of those works do you stone Me?”

Everywhere Jesus went, He healed the sick, raised the dead, delivered those who were bound and oppressed with unclean spirits, fed multitudes, and even called His betrayer ‘friend’ reaching one more time for His soul.

Paul admonished in Galatians 6:10 – As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Jesus went a step further and taught in Luke 6:27 – But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.

That’s a hard thing to do = Do good to those that hate us. Yet, that was what Jesus instructed.  And a very important point was made at the beginning: “I say unto you which HEAR…” Sometimes we ‘hear’ but don’t really listen and follow what is being taught. We must hear and then obey what Jesus is teaching.

1 Timothy 6:18 – That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute (ready to give), willing to communicate (a heart that willing says, “let’s see and discuss what we can do to help someone out”).

There are so many areas that could be categorized under “good works.”

Even inviting and encouraging another to come to Church is a good work.

Hebrews 10:24 admonishes us to provoke unto good works then the following verse (vs 25) admonishes us to encourage and push each other to be faithful to Church….and even more as we see the return of Christ drawing near.

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.

While we do need to be wise so that we do not push someone further away from the Church, we should not shy away from encouraging others to be faithful to Church attendance.  Jesus is coming soon.  We want to make it to heaven and we want others to make it to heaven along side us.  

In a world that is full of those who are provoking others in a negative way, let’s work to provoke (strongly encourage and cause) others to love as Christ loves and do good works.

Question to ponder: How can we provoke (cause) someone to do good works?