_Let us therefore fear_
FEARFUL OF COMING SHORT
I. WITH WHAT DOES THE FEAR ENJOINED IN THE TEXT MAINLY CONCERN ITSELF?
Now, the apostle cannot mean that we are to fear lest we should come
short of heaven for want of merit. There is not a man living who will
not come short of heaven if he tries tha... [ Continue Reading ]
_We which have believed do enter into rest_
THE DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF TRUE BELIEVERS
1.
A sweet experience declared, “We do enter into rest.” It is an
experience of a spiritual and heavenly benefit; whereof Caleb and
Joshua’s experience was the type (Joshua 19:1.). And here consider
(1) T... [ Continue Reading ]
_To-day_
THE PRESENT
Let us take that short division of time--to-day--the now--and consider
what is the duty, the preciousness of each passing hour and day.
1. Let us notice that each day has its own gifts. A writer speaks of
the hours passing by him like solemn virgins in long and silent
processi... [ Continue Reading ]
_If Jesus [Joshua] had given them rest_
DISPARITY BETWEEN JOSHUA AND JESUS
1.
The first is in this difference, that Joshua conquered Canaan not only
for the people of Israel, but also for himself, that he might have his
part and portion with them for him and his posterity (Joshua 19:49).
But our... [ Continue Reading ]
_There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God_
THE REST FOR GOD’S PEOPLE
I. THE PERSONS FOR WHOM THIS REST IS DESIGNED. “The people of
God.”
1. By their eternal election of the Father (Romans 11:5).
2. By complete and final redemption (John 1:29).
3. By perfect righteousness imputed (I... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that is entered into His rest_
ENTRANCE INTO GOD’S REST
We lose much of the meaning of this passage by our superficial habit
of transferring it to a future state.
The ground of the mistake is in the misinterpretation of the word
“remaineth”; which is taken to point to the “rest,” after the
so... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let us labour therefore to enter_
BELIEVERS LABOURING FOR THEIR REWARD
In these words there is, first, an exhortation; second, a motive
pressing it.
In the exhortation we may consider
1. The dependence of it upon what goes before, intimated in the
particle “therefore;“ showing that it is an inf... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Word of God is quick and powerful_
THE WORD A SWORD
It may be most accurate to interpret this passage as relating both to
the Word of God incarnate, and the Word of God inspired.
Christ and His Word must go together. What is true of the Christ is
here predicated both of Him and of His Word.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A great High Priest_
OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST
I. PRACTICAL FEATURES OF OUR LORD’S PRIESTHOOD.
1. It is an argument for steadfastness in the Christian life.
(1) The fact that Christ is our Priest (Hebrews 4:14).
(2) That heaven is the sphere of the exercise of His priesthood.
2. It is an encourag... [ Continue Reading ]
_Touched with the feeling of our infirmities_
THE SYMPATHETIC SAVIOUR
I. CHRIST’S POWER OF SYMPATHY ASSERTED. Differences of position and
circumstances among men materially affect their power to sympathise
with one another. It is a difficult matter, for instance, for those
born in palaces and nurtu... [ Continue Reading ]