Hebrews 10:30,31 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For we know him As if he had said, We may well think that such shall be punished very severely, because God has declared as much, saying, Vengeance belongeth unto me, Deuteronomy 32:35; Psalms 94:1-2. Though this was originally said of the idolatrous nations who oppressed the Israelites, it was very properly applied by the apostle to apostates, being a general maxim of God's government, according to which he will act in all cases where vengeance or punishment is due. I will recompense Recompense is the actual exercise of vengeance, and vengeance is the actual execution of judgment on sinners, according to their desert, without mitigation by mercy. He however oftentimes exercises great patience and forbearance even then, when vengeance might justly be expected. And this commonly adds to the security of wicked men, who take occasion from it to despise all the threatenings of the divine judgments which they have deserved; concluding from it, that either vengeance doth not belong to God, or that it shall be executed when and where they are not concerned. And the Lord will judge his people If they rebel against him; and that far more rigorously than he will judge the heathen. It is a fearful thing A thing above all others the most to be dreaded; to fall into the hands To be exposed to the avenging justice; of the living God Who, living for ever, can for ever punish, in what degree he pleases, the wretched creatures who have made themselves the objects of his final displeasure.