John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 10:29

"of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" — Hebrews 10:29 (ASV)

Who has trodden under foot the Son of God, etc. There is this likeness between apostates under the Law and under the Gospel: both perish without mercy. However, the kind of death is different, for the Apostle pronounces upon the despisers of Christ not only physical death, but eternal perdition. Therefore, he says that a more severe punishment awaits them.

He characterizes the desertion of Christianity by three things: he says that in this way the Son of God is trodden under foot, His blood is counted an unholy thing, and contempt is shown to the Spirit of grace. Now, it is a more heinous thing to tread under foot than to despise or reject. The dignity of Christ is far different from that of Moses; furthermore, he does not simply contrast the Gospel with the Law, but the person of Christ and of the Holy Spirit with the person of Moses.

The blood of the covenant, etc. He heightens ingratitude by comparing it with the benefits received. It is the greatest indignity to count the blood of Christ unholy, by which our holiness is brought about; this is done by those who depart from the faith. For our faith does not look at doctrine alone, but at the blood by which our salvation has been ratified.

He calls it the blood of the covenant because only then were the promises made certain to us, when this pledge was added. But he points out the manner of this confirmation by saying that we are sanctified. For the shed blood would be of no use to us unless we were sprinkled with it by the Holy Spirit; from this come our expiation and sanctification.

The apostle at the same time alludes to the ancient rite of sprinkling, which did not bring about real sanctification but was only its shadow or image.

The Spirit of grace. He calls Him the Spirit of grace because of the effects He produces, for it is by the Spirit and through His influence that we receive the grace offered to us in Christ.

For it is He who enlightens our minds by faith, who seals the adoption of God on our hearts, who regenerates us to newness of life, and who grafts us into the body of Christ, so that He may live in us and we in Him.

He is therefore rightly called the Spirit of grace, through whom Christ becomes ours with all His blessings. But to show contempt for Him, by whom we are endowed with so many benefits, is an extremely wicked impiety.

From this, learn that all who willfully render His grace useless, with which they had been favored, act disdainfully toward the Spirit of God.

It is therefore no wonder that God so severely punishes blasphemies of this kind; it is no wonder that He shows Himself inexorable toward those who tread under foot Christ the Mediator, who alone reconciles us to Himself; it is no wonder that He closes up the way of salvation against those who spurn the Holy Spirit, the only true guide.