³⁴ for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.

³⁴ for

The “for” here explains Hebrews 10:33. Not only did these Hebrew Christians have compassion on fellow believers but they had concern for the author of Hebrews as well.

you had compassion on me in my chains,

The readers were currently living under persecution, but they sympathized with the author of Hebrews while he was in jail.

and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods,

Believers in Hebrews had their property confiscated. They “accepted” this positively. The word “accept” means to accept willingly. They willingly accepted the loss of their property as from God. And they did something more than that—they did it “joyfully.” Their Christianity was no mere go-to-church-on-Sunday belief.

knowing

The reason these believers lived at such a high level beyond their emotions was that they knew something.

that you have a better and an enduring possession

Note the theme word for Hebrews—“better.” This is the ninth usage of this word so far in Hebrews. There are four more occasions yet to come. Their “possession” was “enduring” because it was eternal. The better possession here refers to a heavenly one.

for yourselves in heaven.

The readers of Hebrews proved that they were true Christians by valuing suffering over their temporal possessions. The reason these Hebrew Christians could endure such great trial was that they kept their eyes on eternity ahead. They kept eternal values in view.

PRINCIPLE:

The believer will receive eternal compensation at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

APPLICATION:

The readers of Hebrews were faithful to the truth under great duress early in their Christian lives (He 4:12–16; 6:9–20). They proved true under severe testing of their faith. Public shame or persecution did not daunt them. They stood behind other believers who had endured the same.

The reason they could withstand trial is that they looked forward to a better inheritance with joy; they kept eternal values in view. Christians will receive eternal compensation from God at the Judgment Seat of Christ.