Hebrews 3

 

 

 1 Therefore, (1) holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly vocation, consider the (a) Apostle and high Priest of our (b) profession Christ Jesus;

 

(1) Having laid the foundation that is to say, declared and proved both the natures of one selfsame Christ, he giveth him three offices, to wit, the office of a Prophet, King and Priest, and as touching the office of teaching and governing, compareth them with Moses and Joshua, unto Hebrews 3:1-4:14 , and with Aaron touching the Priesthood. And he propoundeth that which he purposeth to speak of, with a most grave exhortation, that all our faith may tend to Christ, as to the only everlasting teacher, governor, and high Priest.
(a) The Ambassador or messenger, as in Romans 15:8; he is called the minister of circumcision.
(b) Of the doctrine of the Gospel which we profess.

 

 2  (2) Who was faithful to him that hath (c) appointed him, (3) even as (*) Moses was in all his house.

 

(2) He confirmeth his exhortation with two reasons, first of all because Christ Jesus was appointed such an one of God; secondly, because he thoroughly executed the offices that his Father enjoined him.
(c) Apostle and high Priest.
(3) Now he cometh to the comparison with Moses, and he maketh them like one to the other in this, that they were both appointed rulers over God's house, and executed faithfully their office; but by and by he sheweth that there is great unlikeliness in that similitude.

(*) Numbers 12:7 .

 

 3  (4) For this man is counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he which hath built the house, hath more honor than the house.

 

(4) The first comparison: The builder of the house is better than the house itself, therefore is Christ better than Moses. The reason of the consequent is this: because the builder of this house is God, which cannot be attributed to Moses; and therefore Moses was not properly the builder, but a part of the house; but Christ as Lord and God, made all this house.

 

 4 For every house is built of some man, and he that hath built all things, is (*) God.

 

(*) That is Christ; for Christ in the foundation, and head of the Church; he is our brother and Lord; he is the Son of God, and very God, working all things by his own power.

 

 5  (5) Now Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a witness of the things which should be spoken after.

 

(5) Another comparison: Moses was a faithful servant in this house, that is, in the Church, seeing the Lord that was to come, but Christ rules and governeth his house as Lord.

 

 6 But Christ is as the Son, over his own house, (6) whose (d) house we are, if we hold fast that (e) confidence and that rejoicing of that hope unto the end.

 

(6) He applieth the former doctrine to this end, exhorting all men by the words of David to hear the Son himself speak, and to give full credit to his words, seeing that otherwise they cannot enter into that eternal rest.
(d) To wit, Christ's.
(e) He calleth that excellent effect of faith (whereby we cry Abba, that is, Father) confidence, and to confidence he joineth hope.

 

 7 Wherefore, as the holy Ghost saith, (*) Today if ye (f) shall hear his voice,

 

(*) Psalm 95:8; Hebrews 4:7 .

(f) So that God was to speak once again after Moses.

 

 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the (g) provocation, according to the day of the temptation in the wilderness,

 

(g) In the day that they vexed the Lord, or strove with him.

 

 9 Where your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years long.

 

 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They (h) err ever in their heart, neither have they known my ways.

 

(h) They are brutish and mad.

 

 11 Therefore I sware in my wrath, (*) If they shall enter into my (♣) rest.

 

(*) Meaning by this oath that they should not enter.

(♣) As disobeying God, they in old time were debarred from that quietness of the land of Canaan so therewith do not obey Christ, shall not enter into the heavenly rest.

 

 12  (7) Take heed, brethren, lest at any time there be in any of you an evil heart, and unfaithful, to depart away from the living God.

 

(7) Now weighing the words of David, he sheweth first by this word, Today that we must not neglect the occasion while we have it; for that word is not to be restrained to David's time, but it comprehendeth all that time wherein God calleth us.

 

 13 But exhort one another daily, (i) while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

 

(i) While today lasteth, that is to say, so long as the Gospel is offered to us.

 

 14  (8) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we keep sure unto the end that (k) beginning, wherewith we are upholden,

 

(8) Now he considereth these words, If you hear his voice, shewing that they are spoken and meant of the hearing of faith, against which he setteth hardening through unbelief.
(k) That beginning of trust and confidence; and after the manner of the Hebrews, he calleth that beginning, which is chiefest.

 

 15  (l) So long as it is said, Today if ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

 

(l) So long as this voice soundeth out.

 

 16 For some when they heard, provoked (*) him to anger, howbeit, not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

 

(*) To wit, the Lord.

 

 17 But with whom was he displeased forty years? Was he not displeased with them that sinned, (*) whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?

 

(*) Numbers 14:37 .

 

 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but unto them that obeyed not?

 

 19 So we see that they could not enter in, because of unbelief.

 

 

 

Steve

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