| Geneva Study Bible {9} He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: (9) If the breach of the law of Moses was punished by death, how much more worthy of death is it to fall away from Christ? People's New Testament 10:28 He that despised Moses' law. He who wilfully rebelled against the law of Moses had no remission. Died without mercy under two or three witnesses. When proved guilty by two or three witnesses his fate was death. See Nu 15:30-36 De 13:6-10. There was mercy for the ignorant, the mistaken, those overtaken (Ga 6:1), but not for the deliberate despiser. Wesley's Notes 10:28 He that, in capital cases, despised (presumptuously transgressed) the law of Moses died without mercy - Without any delay or mitigation of his punishment. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 28. Compare Heb 2:2, 3; 12:25. despised-"set at naught" [Alford]: utterly and heinously violated, not merely some minor detail, but the whole law and covenant; for example, by idolatry (De 17:2-7). So here apostasy answers to such an utter violation of the old covenant. died-Greek, "dies": the normal punishment of such transgression, then still in force. without mercy-literally, "mercies": removal out of the pale of mitigation, or a respite of his doom. under-on the evidence of. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 10:26-31 The exhortations against apostacy and to perseverance, are urged by many strong reasons. The sin here mentioned is a total and final falling away, when men, with a full and fixed will and resolution, despise and reject Christ, the only Saviour; despise and resist the Spirit, the only Sanctifier; and despise and renounce the gospel, the only way of salvation, and the words of eternal life. Of this destruction God gives some notorious sinners, while on earth, a fearful foreboding in their consciences, with despair of being able to endure or to escape it. But what punishment can be sorer than to die without mercy? We answer, to die by mercy, by the mercy and grace which they have despised. How dreadful is the case, when not only the justice of God, but his abused grace and mercy call for vengeance! All this does not in the least mean that any souls who sorrow for sin will be shut out from mercy, or that any will be refused the benefit of Christ's sacrifice, who are willing to accept these blessings. Him that cometh unto Christ, he will in no wise cast out. | 
