III. (3:1-4:13) Having, therefore, this High Priest over the house of God — a faithful Son exalted above Moses the faithful servant — let us by faithfulness make sure our calling to be God’s sons; that we may not, like those who through their disobedience in the wilderness provoked the Lord, be exc... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE. — The address which here begins (the first direct address in the Epistle) bears the same relation to all that has preceded, as Hebrews 2:1 bears to the first chapter. In particular, the contents of the second chapter are gathered up in this verse, almost every word of which recalls some p... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO WAS. — Rather, _as being;_ or _that He was. Not_ merely, _fix your thought on Jesus;_ but also (and especially), _think of Him as faithful_ to God (Hebrews 2:17). APPOINTED HIM. — Literally, _made Him,_ an expression which some ancient (Ambrose and other Latin fathers, — apparently also Athanas... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS MAN WAS COUNTED. — Rather, _For He hath been accounted,_ by God, who hath crowned Him with glory and honour (Hebrews 2:9). In this reward lies contained the proof that He was faithful. This is probably the connection of thought; others join this verse with the first: “Consider Him... for He... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVERY HOUSE IS BUILDED BY SOME MAN. — Rather, _by some one_: the thought of the house leads at once to the thought of the builder of it. The meaning of the several parts of this verse is very simple; but it is not easy to follow the reasoning with certainty. The second clause seems to be a conde... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A SERVANT. — What was before implied is now clearly expressed. Hebrews 3:3 associated Moses with the house, Jesus with Him who builded it; of what nature this relation was, is stated in this verse and the next. Moses was “in God’s house;” however exalted his position, he was in the house as a ser... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT CHRIST AS A SON OVER HIS OWN HOUSE. — Rather, _over His house._ Throughout this passage (Hebrews 3:2; Hebrews 3:5) “His house” must be taken in the sense of the quotation, as the house of God. Whereas Moses was faithful as a servant in this house of God, Christ was faithful as a son set over His... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE. — Since without steadfastness all will be lost. With the words introducing the quotation compare Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 10:15. Whether the marks of parenthesis here introduced in our ordinary Bibles (not inserted by the translators of 1611) express the true connection of the verses is a que... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE DAY OF TEMPTATION. — Better, _like the day of the temptation._ As in the LXX., so here, two words which in the Hebrew are proper names (“as at Meribah, and as in the day of Massah”) are translated according to their intrinsic meaning. (For the former see Exodus 17:7; Numbers 20:13; and for th... [ Continue Reading ]
According to our best MSS. this verse will run thus: _Where_ (or, _wherewith_)_ your fathers tempted by trial, and saw My works forty years._ The meaning of the Hebrew (with which the LXX. very nearly agrees) is: “Where your fathers tempted Me, proved Me; also saw My work.” The change of reading is... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS GRIEVED WITH THAT GENERATION. — Rather, _I was angry with this generation._ The Hebrew is very strong: “I loathed a (whole) generation.” The first word, “Wherefore,” is not found in the Psalm, but is added to make the connection more distinct. AND THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN MY WAYS. — Better, _yet t... [ Continue Reading ]
SO. — Rather, _as_ (Hebrews 4:3). It is with these as it was with their fathers, the generations that came out of Egypt, unto whom God sware, “They shall not enter into My rest” (Numbers 14:21). The form in which these words appear below (Hebrews 4:3; Hebrews 4:5) in the Authorised version, “If they... [ Continue Reading ]
LEST THERE BE IN ANY OF YOU. — Better, _lest haply there shall be in any one of you._ (See above, on Hebrews 3:7.) IN DEPARTING. — Better, _in falling away from a Living God._ The heart of unbelief will manifest its evil in apostasy. The Greek word _apistia_ stands in direct contrast to “faithful” ... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE IT IS CALLED TO DAY. — Literally, _as long as the “to-day” is called_ (to you), _lest any one of you be hardened by deceit of sin._ As long as they heard the word of God speaking in the Scripture, “To-day if ye shall hear,” so long is the way of obedience open to them. Sin is here personified... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. — Take heed (Hebrews 3:12) lest there be anything that may lead astray, _for we have become partakers of the Christ if_ (and only if) w_e hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end._ In Hebrews 3:6, since Israel had been spoken of as God’s house, the Christian hope finds expression... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE WILL HEAR. — Rather, as before (Hebrews 3:7), _if ye shall hear._ The true connection of this verse is not easily decided. By many it is held that the words should be joined with what follows, and commence a new paragraph; but this does not seem probable. Either Hebrews 3:14 is parenthetical,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. — The connecting link is the thought of “the provocation.” A slight change in the accentuation of the first Greek word effects a complete change in the sense: _For who when they had heard did provoke? Nay, was it not all that came out of Egypt through Moses_? Those who were disobedient were the... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT. — Better, _And with whom was He angry forty years_? WHOSE CARCASES. — Literally, _limbs._ The word is taken from the Greek version of Numbers 14:29; and seems intended to convey the thought of bodies falling _limb from limb_ in the wilderness.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT BELIEVED NOT. — Rather, _that disobeyed._ Every part of the solemn sentences of the Psalm is applied to the reader’s conscience, that the effect of the whole warning may be deepened: the nature of the transgression is thus brought out with the strongest emphasis. Those with whom God was angry h... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WE SEE. — Rather, _And we see._ It is not the general conclusion that is here expressed; but, as in Hebrews 3:18 we read of the _oath_ of exclusion, this verse records the _fact,_ and also states the cause under an aspect which is most suitable for the exhortation which is in the writer’s thought... [ Continue Reading ]