at the weakness of the Christ they believed in, at His shameful death, and at the fact that the Christ did not fulfill their Judaic expectation and “remain forever” on earth (cf. John 12:34) but was removed from sight in the heavens. They had ceased to progress in their faith (Heb. 5:11–14) and were neglecting the public assembly of the church which could strengthen them in their faith (Heb. 10:25). Some had perhaps already apostatized (Heb. 6:4–8); all were in danger of falling away (Heb. 3:12)