V. 2.— For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Literally, we were evangelized as well as they. That the Gospel was preached to the Hebrews was undoubted, but it was not so palpable that, it had been preached to their progenitors. Some render the passage, the same good tidings were preached to us as to them: namely, of entering into rest. In consequence of Israel’ s making the golden calf God threatened to forsake them; but, at the intercession of Moses, he promised them his presence, and that he would give them rest. Exodus 33:14. This promise was made to the nation of Israel, and to the nation it was fulfilled, although that generation fell in the wilderness; the promise was not made to any individual, but to Moses in the character of mediator and representative of Israel; consequently there was no breach of promise in that, the carcases of those who had been numbered, fell in the wilderness. But all God’ s dealings with Israel were a parable for the time then present, a pattern of heavenly things. Hence we might rather have expected it to be said, unto them was the Gospel preached as well as unto us. There could be no question of the Gospel being preached to us, but although it was also declared to them it was only in types and shadows. The Apostle’ s assertion is, we were evangelized as well as they; the word evangelized denotes receiving good news of any kind, although it has long been appropriated to the glad tidings of salvation. The meaning here obviously is, the same good tidings are preached to us, which were formerly preached unto them, namely, of entering into rest. When God threatened to disinherit Israel the intercession of Moses prevailed, and he obtained the promise, " My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest,” Exodus 33:14. This is the promise to which the Apostle refers, 5:1. It had been left, not to any individual, but to Moses in the character of mediator and intercessor, and by him made known to Israel. So it is with the Gospel, all the promises of which are yea and amen in Christ. Eternal life is the promise which God has given to believers. This is the record that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son, and he who hath (the knowledge of) the Son hath life, and he who hath not the Son hath not life. But the word of hearing— the word which Israel heard— did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in the hearers. God brought his people to the borders of Canaan, and told them to go up and possess it, Deuteronomy 1:20-21; but having no confidence in the promise of the land which God had made them, in other words the promise not being mixed with faith, it did not profit them. A promise may be absolute altogether, independent of faith in the person to whom it is made; but such is not the promise of which the Apostle treats. It was a promise which could only be fulfilled by Israel judging him faithful who had promised, and in this confidence disregarding all the power of the inhabitants of the land. Such is also the case with the promise of the heavenly country. It can only be fulfilled by our treading in the steps of the great Captain of our Salvation. He endured the cross despising the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of God, girded with universal power, to bestow eternal life on all who will receive it as the gift of God through Christ. Nothing therefore can be more appropriate than the illustration of the Apostle, of the people of God entering into rest through faith.