--- title: Meeting Attendance Is Not What Hebrews 10:25 Commands url: https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/hebrews-10-25-meetings/ markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/hebrews-10-25-meetings.md type: argument perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching topics: [Practice, Authority] challenges: [Salvation Requires Works and Organisation Membership] verses: [Hebrews 10:25, Hebrews 10:24, Romans 16:5, Colossians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Philemon 1:2, 1 John 5:3, Hebrews 10:19, Hebrews 8:11] strength: Very Strong tone: Excellent attribution: Mike Felker / Precept Austin / Ray Stedman added: '2026-04-04' last_reviewed: '2026-04-04' index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt --- # Meeting Attendance Is Not What Hebrews 10:25 Commands *Hebrews 10:24-25 / Romans 16:5 / Colossians 4:15* ## Doorstep Question > "Hebrews 10:24-25 says to 'consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking our meeting together.' What is the purpose stated in that verse -- is it attendance at a building, or mutual encouragement? And does it specify where, when, or how often to meet?" ## JW Claim Hebrews 10:25 is a divine command to attend all Kingdom Hall meetings. Missing meetings shows weak spirituality and a lack of love for Jehovah. Being "taught by Jehovah" means receiving instruction at organisational meetings directed by the Governing Body. ## Strategy Agree enthusiastically -- "That's a great verse! Let's read the whole sentence together." Read vv.24-25 from the NWT. The command is to "consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works." The meeting clause is subordinate -- it describes one way believers fulfil the command to encourage each other. Ask: "What is the purpose stated in the verse?" Let them see it is mutual encouragement, not organisational attendance. Then ask: "Does it specify where, when, or how often?" They will have to admit it does not. Point to house churches -- Romans 16:5, Colossians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Philemon 1:2. The early Christians met in homes with no Kingdom Halls and no set schedule. Then note the Greek: "forsaking" (enkataleipontes) means total abandonment of the faith community, not missing a Thursday meeting. Finally, pivot to the grace angle: when attendance at a specific building becomes a requirement for God's favour, we have moved from grace into a works-based system of obligation. ## Key Insight The imperative in Hebrews 10:24 is "consider one another," not "attend meetings." The meeting clause is subordinate. The Greek word for "forsaking" means total abandonment of the community, not occasional absence. The text specifies no time, place, frequency, or organisational structure. ## JW Responses & Counters ### Response 1 **JW says:** "Jehovah's organisation has meetings -- that's what the verse commands." **Counter:** The verse commands mutual encouragement, not organisational attendance. It says nothing about which organisation. Two Christians at a coffee shop discussing Scripture fulfil this verse. The early Christians met in homes (Romans 16:5, Colossians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Philemon 1:2) -- no Kingdom Halls, no Governing Body-directed programs. The structure was organic, not institutional. ### Response 2 **JW says:** "If you love Jehovah, you'll want to attend meetings." **Counter:** That is an emotional appeal, not an exegetical argument. The text says the purpose is to "spur one another to love and good deeds" -- not to prove loyalty to an organisation. Love for God is shown by keeping his commands (1 John 5:3), and this command is about mutual encouragement, not mandatory building attendance. ### Response 3 **JW says:** "'Not forsaking' means you must attend -- any absence is forsaking." **Counter:** The Greek word enkataleipontes means total abandonment -- deserting the faith community entirely -- not occasional absence. It addresses people leaving fellow believers in distress under persecution, not someone missing a midweek meeting. Being absent for health, travel, or circumstance is not what the author warns against. ### Response 4 **JW says:** "We need to be taught by Jehovah at meetings." **Counter:** The same letter says believers have direct access to God through Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-22). The New Covenant promise is "they will all know me" (Hebrews 8:11) -- no organisational intermediary required. Equating "taught by Jehovah" with "attend Watchtower meetings" is an assumption the text never makes. ### Response 5 **JW says:** "The early Christians met regularly in organised ways too." **Counter:** Yes -- in homes (Romans 16:5, Colossians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Philemon 1:2). Groups of fewer than fifty people gathering for mutual encouragement. No centralised programme, no mandatory schedule, no Governing Body directing the content. The structure was organic fellowship, not institutional compliance. ## What to Avoid Don't attack Kingdom Hall meetings themselves -- the issue is not gathering but the mandatory institutional framing. Don't get sidetracked into debating meeting frequency or format. Keep the focus on what the text actually says versus what the Watchtower reads into it. ## Homework Read Hebrews 10:19-25 as one paragraph so you can show that the main command is 'consider one another' and the meeting clause serves it. Check the NWT wording of verses 24-25 yourself. Look up Romans 16:5, Colossians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 16:19 and Philemon 1:2 until you can name the house churches from memory. Practise the two doorstep questions aloud with genuine warmth, starting by agreeing that it is a great verse. Expect 'If you love Jehovah, you'll want to attend', and rehearse a gentle answer from 1 John 5:3: love keeps his commands, and this command is mutual encouragement. Leave Kingdom Hall meetings themselves uncriticised. ## Next Moves - [The Governing Body — Eleven Men in New York](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/governing-body.md) - [Come to ME — Direct Relationship with Christ](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/direct-relationship-with-god.md) - [Organisation Above Scripture — When the Green Book Becomes Black](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/organisation-vs-bible-authority.md)