_CHRIST IS INFINITELY GREATER THAN MOSES: THEREFORE IF WE BELIEVE NOT IN HIM, WE SHALL BE MORE WORTHY OF PUNISHMENT THAN HARD-HEARTED ISRAEL._ _Anno Domini 63._ THE apostle, in the first chapter of this epistle, having affirmed that Jesus of Nazareth, the person by whom God the Father spake the go... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, HOLY BRETHREN, &C.— _Holy brethren_ may refer to what he said of those who were _sanctified_ in Christ, ch. Hebrews 2:11. _Partakers of the heavenly calling_ signifies,"Partakersof the call given us in the gospel to pursue immortality and glory." See Hebrews 3:14. The word _apostle_ is, b... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT APPOINTED HIM,— Heylin reads, _who constituted him_ [_in that office_]. The next words are taken from Numbers 12:7. The word house is used, not only for a _building,_ but for such as dwell in it;—a _family,_ a _people:_ And as God is said to _dwell_ among the children of Israel, hence they are... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS MAN WAS COUNTED WORTHY, &C.— _For this_ [_Jesus_]. The word _man_ is inserted by our translators in both these verses. It is not in the original. The word κατασκευασας, according to some, should be rendered, not _built,_ but _ordered,_ or _governed,_ as the word _house_ signifies not a _bui... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES VERILY WAS FAITHFUL, &C.— Moses did nothing but under the direction and government of a superior, and acted merely as a servant under a master in the house, or church, or family of God. He was faithful even to his declaration of those things, which were afterwards more particularly spoken... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT CHRIST AS A SON OVER HIS OWN HOUSE, &C.— Over the church; in which, as Heir or Lord of all things, he has not only a trust and office, but also a property. See Hebrews 3:4. Instead of _the confidence,_ some read, _our freedom of profession;_ and others, _the_ liberty, that is, of access to God.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, &C.— "We are the people of God, if we continue steadfast: wherefore, let me advise you, and exhort you, in the words of the inspired Psalmist, Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, and be not stubborn and disobedient, as were our fathers at Massah and Meribah in the wi... [ Continue Reading ]
MY REST.— _Canaan_ is so called, as they reposed there, after the labours of a long war, as well as the fatigues of a tedious march; and perhaps, as entering upon a course of stated worship, it might appear as a kind of sabbath-keeping. The word _my_ is here added, both because God was the cause of... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE LIVING GOD.— Whose _house_ they are said to be, Hebrews 3:6. He is called _living,_ as being ever one and the same; and therefore he must be always equally offended with the same sins.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE IT IS CALLED TO-DAY;— That is, "As long as you can use this expression;—every day.—Exhort and encourage one another every day, to a steady perseverance in duty; and do this as often as the day comes, lest any of you grow careless, &c." Dr. Doddridge explains it, "While you are under this dispe... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE ARE MADE PARTAKERS, &C.— "For the benefits which we have from Christ, and that eternal salvation, even our rest, which he hath promised to us, are only to be had upon the condition, that we hold firm and unshaken our dependance, hope, and confidence, quite through our lives." To be partakers... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE IT IS SAID, TO-DAY— The 14th verse seems to be a parenthesis, and the 15th is thus to be joined to the 13th: _Exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day, lest any of you should be hardened,_ &c.—"Exhort one another, I advise, by or from its being said, _To-day if ye will hear,_ &c." T... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SOME, WHEN THEY HAD HEARD, DID PROVOKE:— The reasoning is thus: "Do you every day exhort one another to steadfastness in the faith; omit no opportunity of doing so: do not delay, or put it off; for you see in fact, that some when they had heard, yet obstinately provoked: take care that you be no... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT BELIEVED NOT?— That is, were so obstinate and disobedient as entirely to forfeit all claim to his promise and favour.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WE SEE, &C.— _"And thus we see,_ and it is as clear as possible, that the reason why _they could not enter into_ the place designed for their rest, after their wandering in the wilderness, was _because of_ their _unbelief_ and disobedience." _INFERENCES.—_With what incomparable dignity does our L... [ Continue Reading ]