Hebrews 1:1-3 SECTION ONEHeb_1:1-14 and Hebrews 2:1-4In this section, the Apostle endeavors to persuade and encourage his Hebrew brethren in Christ to persevere to the end in their begun Christian course, by presenting to them sundry motives drawn chiefly from the Divine nature, glory, and dignity of Christ, considered as the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things. I. He concedes that God had in ancient times, in divers parts and ways, spoken to the Fathers by the Prophets. But then he claims that the same God did in the end of these days, or at the close of the Jewish age, speak to us by his own Son (Hebrews 1:1). But who is this Son of God? There is by the common consent of all, a very close and intimate connection between the character of the messenger and the weight and importance of his message. And hence the Apostle next proceeds to answer this question: to speak particularly of the incomparable majesty, glory, and perfec¬tions of Jesus Christ, as the Son of God. He says, 1. That he is the heir, or Lord, of all things (Hebrews 1:2). 2 That through him, God made the worlds (Hebrews 1:2). 3. That he is the effulgence of the Father’ s glory (Hebrews 1:3). 4. That he is the exact image or likeness of the Father’ s essence (Hebrews 1:3). 5. That he supports all things by the word of his power (Hebrews 1:3). 6. That by means of his own blood, he has made purification for our sins (Hebrews 1:3). 7. And that having done this, he now sits, as King of kings and Lord of lords, on the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens (Hebrews 1:3). II. In the remaining portion of the first chapter, the Apostle further expands and amplifies this subject, by comparing Christ with angels. He proves chiefly from the Old Testament Scriptures, that he (Christ) is superior to the angels. 1. In that he has obtained by inheritance a more excellent name than they (Hebrews 1:4-5). 2. The angels are all required to worship him (Hebrews 1:6). 3. True, indeed, the angels are very powerful and exalted beings. Before them the enemies of Jehovah melt away, as wax or stubble before the flame. And endowed, as they are, with all the strength and purity indicated by the symbolic use of the word spirit, they are of course far removed from all the infirmities and imperfections of the flesh. But by the appointment of the Father, as well as by his own essential Divinity, the Son is exalted far above all the angels of Heaven. As God, he sits on the throne of the universe, judging and governing it in truth and in righteous-ness (Hebrews 1:7-8). 4. He has been anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, far above all kings and princes (Hebrews 1:9). “ The Father giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.” 5. He is from everlasting to everlasting. By him the founda¬tions of the Earth were laid, and the heavens are the work of his hands. They will all finally perish; and he will roll them up and recast them, as a worn-out garment; but he is himself still the same, yesterday, today, and forever. This cannot, of course, be said of the angels, or of any other creature (Hebrews 1:10-12). 6. The angels are all ministering spirits, sent forth under Christ to minister to the heirs of salvation. But Christ sits on the right hand of God, waiting until, according to the promise of the Father, his enemies shall be made his footstool Hebrews 1:13-14). III. From these premises, then, our author concludes that we Christians, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, should give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard from God through Christ and his holy Apostles and Prophets; lest at any time we should be carried away from them by the evil influences of the world, and so making shipwreck of our faith, we should finally come short of the eternal inheritance. For, 1. It is a principle of the Divine government, as well indeed as of all just human governments, that wherever much is given, there also much is ever expected and required (2: 1, 2). 2. But even under the Law, in an age of comparative darkness, there was no pardon for the willfully disobedient (Hebrews 2:2). 3. And hence it follows that there is no possible way of escape for those who now neglect the great salvation that is offered to us in the Gospel (Hebrews 2:3-4). From this analysis, it is obvious that the whole section may be properly divided into the three following paragraphs: I. Hebrews 1:1-3. The fact that God has spoken to us through his Son, with a statement of the Son’ s rank and dignity. II. Hebrews 1:4-14. The Son of God compared with angels.III. Hebrews 2:1-4. Danger of neglecting what God has revealed to us through his Son. Title.—In the oldest manuscripts, such as the Sinaitic, the Vatican, the Alexandrian, etc., the title is simply, “ To the Hebrews ” In the editions of Stephens, it is, “ The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews” ; and in the “ Received text” of Elzevir, it is, “ The Epistle to the Hebrews.” Some other slight variations occur in a few of the manuscripts; but the first form, “ To the Hebrews,” is sustained by the best authorities; and was probably prefixed to the Epistle in the Apostolic age, by some of the inspired Fathers; or, at least, with their consent and approval. See Introduction Hebrews 3:1. Hebrews 1:1 --God who—This is a very striking and remarkable introduction. Full of his subject, and earnest in his desires to communi¬cate to his desponding Hebrew brethren the word of life, the author indulges in no unnecessary preliminaries, but enters at once on the discussion of his sublime theme. He concedes what had indeed been often demonstrated, and what the Jews then all confidently believed, that God had anciently (palai) spoken to the Fathers by the Prophets: but then he also claims with equal confidence and on equal authority, that the same glorious and infinitely perfect Being did, “ at the end of these days,” or near the close of the Jewish age, speak unto us by his own Son. True, indeed, he had, for some time previous to Paul’ s writing this Epistle, been generally known by a name that would have appeared somewhat barbarous to the ancient Hebrews. To them he was primarily revealed as Eloheem, a word in the plural number which means powerful ones; persons of great authority and influence; because in the beginning, the power of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, was most eminently displayed and illustrated in creating and garnishing the heavens and the earth. his is therefore the only name by which the Deity is made known to us in the first chapter of Genesis. But in the second and following chapters, he is called also Jehovah, the existing One; the Being absolute; because he only has life and immortality in himself; all other being is derived from him and depends on him. These are the proper names by which the Deity is commonly designated in the Old Testament. But in the New he is called Theos, which, according to Herodotus, means one who places, disposes, or arranges (from titheemi, to place); because, says he, the gods were supposed to have fixed all things in the world, in their proper places. According to Plato, theos means one who runs (from theo, to run) ; because the Sun, Moon, and stars, which he regarded as the primary gods, run their course daily from east to west, as if exercising a watch-care over the Earth and its inhabitants. But it is now generally believed by the ablest critics, that both Herodotus and Plato were in error; and that the Greek word theos and the Latin deus are of the same family as Zeus, and cognate with the Sanscrit dyu,— a word which means splendor, brightness, the bright sky. Any and all of these Greek conceptions would, of course, for a time, seem somewhat barbarous and repulsive to the pious and superstitiously sensitive Hebrews. But a change of names does not of necessity imply a. change of nature, essence, or character. The Creator, Preserver, and Governor of the universe, whether known as Eloheem, Jehovah, Theos, Deus, Dyu, or God, is ever the same, yesterday, today, and forever; without any variableness or shadow of change. (James 1:17.) The Author of the Old Testament is the Author of the New. And hence it follows that the Bible is a unit; and that it is throughout perfectly consistent in all its parts. For “ all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doc¬trine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17.) Hebrews 1:1 --at sundry times—The word that is here rendered, at sundry times” (polumezos), means properly in many parts. It refers to the well known fact, that God’ s plan of mercy through Jesus Christ, was revealed to the ancients gradually and in fragments. To Eve, it was promised indirectly, that through her Seed the Old Serpent should be crushed (Genesis 3:15); to Abraham directly, that through his Seed all the nations of the Earth should be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3); to Judah, that Shiloh (the Pacificator) should come, before the scepter should depart from him (Genesis 49:10) ; and to all Israel, that God would raise up to them, from among themselves, a Prophet like unto Moses, to whom he would require all to hearken (Deuteronomy 18:18). David, in one of his Psalms (Psalms 22:11-21), speaks of the sufferings of the Messiah; in another (Psalms 16:7-11), of his resurrection, and his deliverance from the power of Hades; and in another (Psalms 110), of his priesthood, reign, and triumphs. And so also it may be said of all the other Prophets. Through them, God gave to his people, as their wants and circum¬stances required, “ precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” (Isaiah 28:10-14.) But when in the fullness of time, He came, who is himself the Light of the world (John 8:12, and John 9:5), then the whole plan of redemption was speedily revealed to mankind in all its fullness. This was done, partly through his own personal ministry, and partly through the ministry of his Apostles; “ God also bearing them witness, both with signs, and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.” Hebrews 1:1 --and in divers manners—This expression denotes the various ways (polutzopos) in which God made his will known to the ancients. This he did sometimes by dreams; sometimes by visions; sometimes, by symbols; sometimes, by Urim and Thummim; sometimes, by audible voices; and sometimes, by inspiration or prophetic ecstasy: all of which served to mark, in some measure, the comparative imperfection of the Old Economy. They severally indicate that so long as it continued, there was a wide breach— an unhappy state of alienation and separation between man and his Maker. (Numbers 12:6-8.) But in Christ, God and man are united. He (Christ) has slain the enmity, and taken it out of the way, by the blood of his cross (Colossians 1:20-22), so that through him, not only can God now consistently speak more freely and directly to man, but man can also speak with more freedom and confidence to God. See Hebrews 4:16 Hebrews 10:19-22. In this respect, then, there is a very great contrast between the Old and the New Economy. God never before spoke to the people, even from the Mercy-seat of the Tabernacle, as he did in and through his own Son during his earthly ministry. Hebrews 1:1 --spake in time past unto the fathers—This phrase is understood differently by commentators. Some think that it embraces all time, from Adam to Christ, including even the ministry of John the Baptist. But it is most likely, that the Apostle has here in view only the revelations of God to the Hebrew fathers, from Abraham to Malachi; or perhaps to Simon the Just. This explanation accords best with the context and also with Hebrew usage. The Jews all looked upon Abraham, as the father and founder of their nation; and Malachi wrote the last book of the Old Testament ; though it seems probable, that the spirit of prophecy did not wholly cease among the Jews, till the time of Simon the Just, about 300 years B.C. He is called by the Jews “ One of the remnants of the Great Synagogue,” said to have been founded by Ezra for the revision and completion of the Old Testament Canon. See “ Reason and Revelation,” p. 207-219, by the author. The word here rendered, “ in time past” (palai), means properly in ancient times; and it can therefore hardly have reference to the ministry of John. Hebrews 1:1 --by the prophets;—literally, in the Prophets. God first worked in the Prophets, and then through them, in making known to the Hebrew Fathers the various messages of his grace. The English word prophet is now generally used to denote one who foretells future events. And this is sometimes the meaning of the original word (propheroph) in Hellenistic Greek. But in Classic Greek it means one who speaks for another; and especially, one who speaks for a god and interprets his words to men. Thus, for instance, Mercury is called the prophet of Jupiter; and in the same sense, the poets are called the prophets of the Muses. The corresponding Hebrew word is ndvee (from the root, to boil up as a fountain), and means literally one who boils over. The name was given to the ancient prophets, because, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, they seemed to pour out their inspired utterances, as a fountain pours out its waters. (Psalms 45:1.) And hence it was always God who spoke in and by the Prophets: for says Peter, “ No prophecy of the Scripture is of private interpretation; but holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21.) Hebrews 1:2 in these last days—or rather, according to our best authori¬ties, at the end of these days (epi eschatou ton heemeron touton). This is the reading given in MSS. A, B, D, K, L, and M. Three different views have been taken of these words. It is alleged (1) that they refer simply to the closing period of the Jewish age (Moll); (2) that they refer exclusively to the Christian age (Stuart); and (3) that they refer to the closing period of the prophetic era, embracing both the ministry of Christ and of his Apostles (Luther). The first of these hypotheses is favored (a) by the use of the aorist tense of the verb (elaleesen) he spoke, not he has spoken; (b) by the fact that during the last three and a half years of the Jewish age, God did actually speak to the people in the per¬son of his own Son; and (c) by the current use of this phrase among the Jews. They were wont to divide all time into two ages, viz., “ the present age” (ho aion houtos) and “ the coming age” (ho aion mellon). By the former, they meant the age then existing before the coming of Christ; and by the latter they meant the age subsequent to his coming. (Matthew 12:32.) And hence it was, that in the Hebrew dialect “ these days” came to signify the Jewish age; and “ the last days ” the coming age. The dividing line of these two ages was never drawn very distinctly by the Jews. But as Christ put an end to the Law, nailing it to his cross (Colossians 2:14), his death, of course, serves to define this boundary, fixing definitely the end of the Jewish age, as well as the beginning of the Christian age. So that the days of Christ’ s personal ministry on earth, previous to his death, were according to the Hebrew “ usus loquendi,” the end of “ these days.” The second hypothesis is favored by the reading of the “ Textus Receptus,” and also by several of the ancient versions, which have “ in these last days” (epi escha ton ton heemeron). That “ the last days” is a phrase in Hebrew literature, equivalent to “ the coming age,” is plain from sundry passages in both the Old and the New Testament. See, for example, Isaiah 2:2; Jeremiah 23:20; Micah 4:1; and Acts 2:17. The third hypothesis is supposed to receive some support from the fact conceded in Hebrews 2:3; viz., that the things “ which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord” himself, were afterward confirmed unto us by his Apostles and Prophets, during the opening period of the Christian age. The fact here stated, no one of course denies who believes the Bible to be the word of God; but whether it has any bearing on the question before us, may be doubted. On the whole, it seems most probable that the Apostle is speaking here simply of Christ’ s personal ministry on Earth; and that he refers only, as the tense of the verb indicates, to the last days of the Jewish age. Hebrews 1:2 --by his Son,—literally, in Son (en hui) ; the word son being used without the article or possessive pronoun, as a quasi-proper name. So also the word son is used without any limiting epithet in Psalms 2:12. But our English idiom requires an article or a possessive pronoun before the word son, as in our Common Version. But why is Christ called the Son of God? To this question, three answers have been given: (1) Because of his supernatural birth by the virgin Mary. (2) Because of his being begotten from the grave, as the first-fruits of them that slept. And (3) because of his being eternally begotten of the Father. In proof of the first hypothesis, we have the direct testimony of the angel Gabriel. According to Luke, this ambassador of God, when sent to announce to Mary the birth of the coming Messiah, said to her, “ The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35.) And in proof of the second, we have given the tes¬timony of Paul in Acts 13:33. Speaking by the Spirit, he says, “ And we declare unto you the glad tidings, that the promise which was made unto the Fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm, Thou art my Son, this day I have begotten thee” ; that is, this day I have begotten thee from the dead. (Revelation 1:5.) That Jesus Christ, then, is called the Son of God, because he was miraculously begotten by the Holy Spirit of the virgin, and also because he was the First-begotten from the dead, there can be no doubt. But is it true that he is called also the Son of God, be¬cause he was eternally begotten of the Father? So many believe and testify (Origen, Athanasius, Augustine, etc.). And in proof of their position, they appeal with much confidence to what is said of the Son in this connection. (1:2, 3.) For how, say they, could God make the worlds by his Son, if he had no Son for thousands of years after the worlds were created? But in reply to this, it may perhaps be enough to say, How could God create all things by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:9), four thousand years before the Word be¬came incarnate? And how could Jesus say to his disciples (John 6:62), “ What, and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?” Was the Logos known as the Son of man before he became incarnate ? Surely not. Here, then, we might pause, relying on the correctness of the old logical adage, that “ Whatever proves too much, proves nothing.” But the question is of easy solution. We all know that it is very common to use names and titles acquired at a later period of life, to designate the same persons even in their childhood, youth, and early manhood. We say, for example, that Abraham left Ur of Chaldea and went to Haran, when he was seventy years of age; though he was really not called Abraham, but Abram, until about twenty-nine years after his departure from Ur. And just so it is, with respect to the titles given to the eternal Logos after he became incarnate. These may all be used, in like manner, to designate his Divine personality before he became flesh and dwelt among us. Thus we say with all propriety, that in the beginning the Logos created all things; that Jesus Christ created all things; that the Son of God created all things; and that the Son of man created all things. And hence we conclude that whatever may be true of Christ’ s eternal sonship, the doctrine is not taught in this passage of Scripture. It does not follow, however, as, some have erroneously supposed, that the name, Son of God, is applied to Christ in the Scriptures, with reference merely to his human nature. Certainly not. On the contrary it is always used with special reference to his Divine nature, in the new relations which he sustains to the Father, as our Immanuel. This is the sense in which the name son, as applied to Christ, is used throughout this entire chapter. This is the sense in which Christ himself speaks of his sonship in relation to the Father (John 5:17-27); and this is the sense in which Paul uses the term son, when he contrasts the human nature of Christ with his Divine nature (Romans 1:4). He (Christ), says Paul, “ was made of the seed of David, according to the flesh [that is, according to his human nature] ; and declared to be the Son of God, with power, according to the Spirit of holiness [that is according to his holy spiritual or Divine nature], by his resurrection from the dead.” See also Matthew 16:16. Hebrews 1:2 --whom he hath appointed heir of all things,—Here again the verb (etheeken) is in the aorist (the indefinite past) : whom he appointed Heir of all things. But when did God appoint or constitute his Son the Heir of all things? No doubt this was done in purpose, when in the eternal counsels of Jehovah, it was also de¬creed that the Logos should become the Son of God, incarnate. So it appears from the second Psalm, in which reference is made to this appointment. “ I will declare the decree,” says the Messiah, speaking by the Psalmist, “ Jehovah hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day I have begotten thee. Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance; and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” It is manifest from this passage, that the heirship of Christ is made to depend on his sonship; and that both are the result of God’ s eternal purpose (Ephesians 3:11) ; though it was not until after Christ’ s resurrection, that he assumed in fact, the dignity, glory, and dominion, which belong to him as the Son of God and the Heir of all things (Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 28:9; Acts 2:36; Philippians 2:5-11). The Greek word (kleeronomos) here translated heir, means (1) one who acquires anything by lot; and (2) one who inherits anything by the will and appointment of another. In this latter sense, that is, by the appointment of God, Christ, as our elder brother, is made Heir of the universe. And as he has made us (Christians) heirs with himself (Romans 8:17), we too may be said to inherit all things (1 Corinthians 3:21-23). Hebrews 1:2 --by whom also he made the worlds;—that is, by his Son, the Logos, before he became incarnate. (John 1:2.) It would be vain and useless to speculate here, as many commentators have done, on the relations which the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, sustained to each other in the work of creation. Such themes are too high for us; and we must not therefore pretend to be wise concern¬ing such matters, beyond what is written. “ Secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children.” (Deuteronomy 29:29.) The proper meaning of the word here rendered worlds (aiones) is still a matter of controversy. The singular number aidn means (1)endless duration; (2) any age or period of time; and (3) by metonymy, anything that lives or exists forever. Some have taken the word, as it occurs here, in its second or metaphorical sense; and they suppose that it means simply the several ages of the world, such as the Patriarchal, the Jewish, and the Christian. But this meaning does not well accord with the context; and in Hebrews 11:3, it is clearly inadmissible. We must therefore look to the third or metonymical meaning of this word, for a sense that will harmonize with the conditions of the context, and the design of the writer. What, then, are the aiones, or aeons, to which Paul here refers? The ancient Gnostics used this word to denote certain emanations from the Deity, of which they supposed that Christ himself was the chief. The Christian Fathers applied it to the angels, both good and bad. And even the Greek philosophers were wont to designate by it their demigods and other beings superior in rank to man. (Mosh. Eccl. Hist. vol. 1, p. 63.) And hence some commentators, as Wolf and Frabicius, suppose that by the word aeons, in this connection, the Apostle means simply the higher created spiritual intelligences. But in Hebrews 9:3, this word manifestly embraces the material universe. The author says, “ By faith we understand that the worlds (adones) were framed by the word of God; so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” That is, God did not, by his Son, make the material and visible universe, as a carpenter makes a house, out of preexisting materials; but, ex nihilo, out of nothing. From this passage, then, it is manifest that the aeons, or at least some of them are visible to the eye. And hence it seems most probable that under this word, the Apostle intends to embrace the entire created universe, both rational and irrational, material and immaterial. But it is the universe, not as the mere aggregate of all things (ta pant a); nor even as the beau¬tifully adorned and organized cosmos (kosmos) ; but as a system of powers and agencies which will endure forever. If this view is correct, then our author not only says with John (John 1:1), that through Christ all things began to be (egeneto), but he goes even further, and indicates the comparative perfection and perpetuity of his works. For he has not only created all things “ which are in Heaven and on Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, principalities or powers” (Colossians 1:16), but he has also made them aeons, the imperishable elements of a system which, under certain modifications, will endure forever. Hebrews 1:3 --Who being the brightness of his glory,—This has reference to the Son of God, incarnate; in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9); and through whom the glories of the Father are now so fully revealed to mortals. The word apaugasma means radiance, effulgence, light beaming from a luminous body: and it is here used by the Holy Spirit, as a very beautiful and ex¬pressive metaphor, to indicate an existing relation between the Father and the Son. The analogy may be stated thus: as the radi¬ance of the Sun is to the Sun itself, so is Christ, the Son of God, to the Father. And hence we see the Father through the Son (John 14:9), just as we see the Sun itself through its effulgence. For “ no man,” says John, “ hath seen the Father at any time; [but] the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:18.) This, then, is but a partial presentation of the doctrine of Christ’ s mediation between God and man; a doctrine which abounds in all parts of the Holy Scriptures. Previous to his fall, man, no doubt, sustained to his Maker the most direct and intimate relations. He often saw him, and conversed with him as friend with friend. But sin broke off all such intercourse, and drew a veil of impenetrable darkness between them. Now, no man can see God in his essential glory and live. (Exodus 33:20.) But, nevertheless, through Christ, who is the way, the truth, the resurrec¬tion, and the life (John 11:25 John 14:6), God has graciously given us such a display of his own glorious perfections, as our sin¬ful nature can bear; and such as is, in all respects, best adapted to our present wants and circumstances. Hebrews 1:3 --and the express image of his person,—This, in connection with the last expression, forms a sort of Hebrew parallelism, both the members of which have reference to the Divine nature of Christ. But they serve to describe him, not as the Logos, but as the Son of God incarnate. This view is most in harmony with the object of the Apostle, which is to encourage his brethren to perse¬vere to the end in their fidelity to Christ. And this he does by presenting Christ to us, not as he was in the beginning, but as he is now, “ God manifest in the flesh.” (1 Timothy 3:16.) The word charakter means (1) an engraver, an engraving or stamping instrument; (2) the figure or image made by such an in¬strument, as on coins, wax, or metals; (3) the features of the face or countenance; and (4) any characteristic mark by which one thing is distinguished from another. The word hupostasis, here rendered person, means (1) a foundation, that which stands under and supports a superstructure; (2) well grounded trust, firmness, confidence; (3) the subject-matter of a discourse or narrative; and (4) the essence or substance of anything; that which underlies and supports its phenomena. Previous to the Arian controversy, in the beginning of the fourth century, this word was seldom used in the sense of person (prosopon). But then, Athanasius and other leaders of his party so explained it, because they thought it necessary to make a distinction between the ousia (esence, being) of the Deity, and his hupostasis. They alleged that in the Godhead there could be but one essence, that the essence of the Son is of necessity the same as the essence of the Father and of the Holy Spirit, though they supposed that each might have his own proper personality. And hence they inferred that it is the personality, and not the essence or substance, of Christ which is here compared with that of the Father. But it is now very generally conceded that in this they were in error; and that the word hupostasis here means the essence or substance of the Father; and consequently that the word charak ter expresses the exact likeness of the Son to the Father in all the essential elements of his being, as well as of his personality. When the Father is represented as a Sun, then Christ is called his radiance or effulgence. But when the former is rep-resented to us as a substance whose essential being underlies all the pure and unsullied phenomena of the universe, then the latter is represented as the exact likeness of that substance, being in his own person all the essential rparks and characteristics of the Deity. Is the Father represented as being omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent— infinitely wise, holy, just, and good; so also is the Son. For, says Christ, “ I and my Father are one” (John 10:30); and again he says, “ He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). Hebrews 1:3 --and upholding all things by the word of his power,—It is difficult to say what is the exact meaning of the word upholding in this connection. Christ, by the word of his power, created all things in the beginning. “ He spake, and it was done; he com¬manded, and it stood fast.” (Psalms 33:6 Psalms 33:9; compare with Genesis 1:3 Genesis 1:6 Genesis 1:9, and John 1:2.) Is the word upholding used here to denote that Christ, by his word, so supports all things as to keep them still in existence ? Does it mean that unless supported by his word, all things would at once sink into annihilation ? Or does it mean simply that, by his word, he still maintains the order, harmony, and well-being of the whole creation, so as to bear all things forward to their appointed destiny ? The influence, whatever it is, is all-pervading and universal. It extends to all things created, whether they be angels, men, suns, moons, stars, comets, systems, or atoms; so that by it the hairs of our head are numbered (Matthew 10:29-30), and the revolutions of the planets are constantly regulated. This much is certain. But is this all? What is it to create, and what is it to annihilate? What is it to give life, and what is it to take it away ? By what means and agencies are the flowers caused to bloom, and the fields to yield an abundant harvest? Who can properly estimate the mediate and immediate energies and influences by which Christ preserves, upholds, regulates, and governs all things throughout his vast dominions? If he is himself the fountain of life (Psalms 36:9; John 4:14 John 5:26), then who can say how much and how constantly all things animate depend on him for life, and breath, and all things ? If we live, and move, and have our being in him (Acts 17:28), then who is able to estimate aright the degree and the extent of that influence by and through which our adorable Redeemer supports every creature and even every atom to which he has given being? The context does not enable us to answer these questions; and none of the parallel passages throw much light on the subject. True, it is said in Colossians 1:16-17, that “ by him [Christ] were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth, visible and invisible; whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers— all things were created by him and for him; and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” But what, again, is the meaning of the word consist (sunesteeke)— or, as it may be rendered subsist, held together? Manifestly, this is a subject which rises far above the conception of finite minds. The expression, “ word of his power ,” is commonly regarded as a Hebraism for “ his powerful word.” But any change in the arrangement of these words would very greatly weaken the force of the expression. It is not by his word in the abstract, but in the concrete as it proceeds from and is supportd by his omnipotent power and energy, that Christ upholds, sustains, and governs all things. The word of God is but an expression of his will, and must always be taken in connection with the power which gave it utterance. God said, “ Let there be light,” because he so willed it; and instantly his creative power was exercised in harmony with his will, as expressed in his word. And just so it is still. Christ has but to speak, and the rains are withheld, the flowers wither, and all nature languishes. Again he speaks, and “ the wilderness and solitary parts of the earth are made glad, and the very deserts rejoice and blossom as the rose.” What further need, then, have we of testimony to prove that Christ is Divine? If he upholds all things by the word of his power; then, indeed, beyond all doubt, he is “ God with us.” Hebrews 1:3 --when he had by himself purged our sins,—Or as it may be more literally rendered, Having by himself made purification for sins. In reading this Epistle, we should never forget that it was written primarily for the Hebrew Christians; and that its words and phrases should therefore be generally interpreted according to Hebrew usage. But in the law of Moses, nothing is made to stand out more prominently than the fact, that moral defilement could be removed only by means of sacrifice; and that without the shedding of blood there could be really no “ purification of sins.” In the law prescribing and regulating the services of the day of atone¬ment, for instance, it is said, “ Then shall he [the High Priest] kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the Veil; and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the Mercy-seat, and be¬fore the Mercy-seat; and he shall make an atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins; and so shall he do for the Tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.” (Leviticus 16:15-16.) And again, in the twenty-ninth and thirtieth verses of the same chapter, it is said, “ And this shall be a statute forever unto you; that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: for on that day shall the Priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.” So God testified to the people through Moses. Without the shedding of blood there could be no atonement (Leviticus 17:11) ; and without an atonement there could be no purification from sin (Leviticus 16:30). But the atonement made by the High Priest, under the Law, was but a shadow of the atonement which Christ made by the offering of his own blood for the sins of the people. (Colossians 2:16; Hebrews 10:1.) “ For what the law [of Moses] could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God [has done by] sending his own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and [by an offering] for sin, has condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness required by the law might be fulfilled in us who walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3-4.) And hence says John, “ If we walk in the light, as he [God] is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7.) And again he says, that Jesus has washed us from our sins in his own blood. (Revelation 1:5.) It was not, then, as the Socinians allege, merely by his moral example and his very instructive teachings, but by “ his own blood,” that our blessed Savior made expiation and purification for the sins of the people. On this point the following very just remarks of Ebrard will be instructive to the reader, and serve to develop still further the pro¬found significance of the words of our text. He says, “ They are entirely wrong who understand the words, to make purification (katharismou poiein), to denote simply moral amelioration; as if the author wished to set forth Christ here as a moral teacher, who, by precept and example, excited men to amendment. . . . The whole law of purification, as given by God to Moses, rested on the assumption, that our nature, as sinful and guilt-laden, is not capa¬ble of coming into immediate contact with our holy God and Judge. The mediation between man and God, in that Most Holy Place separated from the people, was revealed in three forms: (1) in sacrifices; (2) in the priesthood; and (3) in the Levitical laws of purity. Sacrifices were typical acts or means of purification from guilt; priests were the agents for accomplishing these acts, and were not themselves accounted purer than the rest of the people, having consequently to bring offerings for their own sins, before they offered for those of the people. And lastly, Levitical purity was the condition which was attained positively by sacrifice and worship; and negatively by avoiding Levitical pollution— the condition in which the people were enabled, by means of the priests, to come into relation with God without dying (Deuteronomy 5:26) : the result of the cultus which was past, and the postulate of that which was to come. So that that which purified was sacrifice; and the purification was the removal of guilt. . . . And hence a Christian Jew would never, on reading katharismou poiein (to make purification), think of what we call moral amelioration; which if not springing out of the living ground of a heart reconciled to God, is mere self-deceit, and only external avoidance of evident transgression. But the purification (katharismos) which Christ brought in, would, in the sense of our author and his readers, be understood only of that gracious atonement for all guilt of sin of all mankind, which Christ, our Lord and Savior, has com¬pleted for us by his sinless sufferings and death; and out of which flows forth to us, as from a fountain, all power to love in return, all love to Him our heavenly pattern, and all hatred of sin which caused his death.” It matters not, then, whether the words “ by himself” (dia heau tou) are genuine or spurious. If they were not expressed in the original, they are at least fairly and necessarily implied in it. This may be clearly shown by a reference to many parallel passages in both the Old and New Testaments. See, for instances, 7: 27; 9: 12, 26; 10: 10; John 1:29; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 3:5. Hebrews 1:3 --sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:—The word majesty is used here to denote God himself; it means simply the Majestic One. “ On the right hand” is a phrase indicating the place of highest honor and authority. See 1 Kings 2:19; Psalms 45:9 Psalms 80:17 Psalms 110:1; Matthew 20:20-23 Matthew 26:64, etc. And “ on high” denotes a sphere far above all created heavens (Ephesians 4:10), where now dwells our Elder Brother filled with all the fullness of the Godhead (Colossians 2:9). In the beginning, “ he was in the form of God, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God” ; but, for the sake of redeeming mankind from the dominion of sin, death, and the grave, “ he made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was found in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and be¬came obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in Earth, and things under the Earth; and that every tongue should confess that Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:6-11.) Now, therefore, all authority in Heaven and on Earth is given to him (Matthew 28:18); and he will reign over the entire universe (God the Father only excepted), until he shall have put down all rule and all au¬thority and power (1 Corinthians 15:24). Then, and not till then, will he deliver up the kingdom to the Father, “ that God may be all and in all.” How infinitely glorious, then, is the Son of God, our Immanuel, through whom the Father has spoken to us “ in the last of these days” ! He is the Heir of all things; the Creator of all things; the effulgence of the Father’ s glory, and the exact likeness of his substance. He upholds all things by the word of his power. And having in infinite condescension and love made expiation and purification for our sins by the sacrifice of himself, he now reigns over the entire universe as King of kings and Lord of lords. These are all plain and simple words; but who is able to comprehend their full and proper import ? Under such thoughts of the Infinite, the brain staggers, and the mind itself becomes bewildered as it tries in vain to comprehend the extent and magnitude of their immeasurable fullness. But here, as in other cases, “ the Spirit helps our infirmities.” Knowing our incapacity to comprehend these matters aright, it has still further amplified and explained them in the fol¬lowing paragraph.Commentary on Hebrews 1:1-3 by Don BoatmanHeb_1:1 --GodThe book begins with an assumption of God’ s existence. Like Genesis, it makes no attempt to prove the existence of God. The Psalmist said that fools do not believe in God. cf. Psalms 14:1; Psalms 53:1. The author of Hebrews must have felt the same way. This wonderful God of man is not appreciated, so a brief study of Him is in order. This study is far from exhaustive— but is practical: a. The Being of God: 1) He is Spirit—John 4:24. 2) He is Eternal—Romans 16:26; 2 Peter 3:8. 3) He is Living—Matthew 22:32; Matthew 16:16. 4) He is One—Romans 16:27; 1 Timothy 1:17; Jude 1:25. 5) He is Ultimate (alpha and omega)—Revelation 21:6. b. The Character of God: 1) Omnipotent— all-powerful— almighty—Revelation 19:6; Romans 13:1. 2) Omniscient— all-wise— knoweth all things—Romans 16:27; Ephesians 3:10— manifold wisdom. 3) Holy—John 17:11; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 6:10. 4) Righteous—John 17:25; Matthew 6:33; Philippians 3:9. 5) Good—Romans 2:4; Luke 18:19. 6) Kind—Titus 3:4. 7) Merciful—Romans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Luke 6:36. 8) Just—Galatians 3:8; Romans 3:26. 9) Loving—John 16:27; 2 Corinthians 13:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:16. c. In relationship to the world: 1) This is of primary importance, for God has not been far removed from man, but has sought to win man to Himself. 2) Below are listed some phases of His relationship: a) Omnipresent: Acts 17:24-25—“ dwelleth not in temples—” Acts 17:28—“ in Him we live—” b) Creator:Acts 17:24—“ the God that made the world” Mark 13:19. c) Sovereign— Ruler, Lord, Monarch:Acts 17:24—“ He being Lord of earth—” d) Savior:Luke 1:47—“ in God my Savior.” 1 Timothy 2:3—“ in the sight of God our Savior—” Jude 1:25—“ God our Savior.” e) Revealer:Philippians 3:15—“ God shall reveal this unto you—” 1 Corinthians 2:10—“ God revealed them unto us—” Romans 1:17—“ therein is revealed—”Hebrews 1:1 --having of olden time spoken.This refers to God’ s contact with man from the very beginning. God has always spoken to man: a. In the patriarchal time God spoke face to face: 1) To Adam. 2) To Noah. 3) To Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. b. He spoke to man through prophets in a great attempt to win man: 1) Moses the lawgiver was a mighty voice for God. 2) The major and minor prophets had a major message. Some doubt that God spoke. Aside from the Word that says He did, it seems likely that He would. a. If He could, but would not, He would not be a just and righteous God; therefore, He would not be worthy of worship. b. If He would but could not, then He would be weaker than man, and therefore, unworthy of worship.Hebrews 1:1 --spoken unto the fathersWho is referred to? a. Possibly the patriarchal fathers are included. b. No doubt the Jewish race as a whole under the Mosaic law should be considered as included. A problem with the patriarchal consideration is that he says “ unto the fathers in the prophets.” a. The prophets appeared during the Mosaic dispensation. b. However, the word “ prophet” is not limited to the idea of foretelling of events. c. Prophecy means “ to tell,” and on occasions the patriarchs may have served as prophets to their generation.Hebrews 1:1 --in the prophetsThe meaning of the word: a. One who speaks for another— a “ forth-teller.” b. Foretelling of the coming of Christ was by no means their only task.This suggests that God’ s revelations to man have been in different dispensations: a. Covenants of faith with the patriarchs were made in the Patriarchal or Starlight Dispensation. b. Covenants with Moses were made in the Moonlight Dispensation. 1) During this period, the prophets gave further light to the people of the day. 2) The prophets also enlightened men about the Sunlight Dispensation to follow. 3) John the Baptist removed the final clouds. God spoke more fully following these two dispensations with two others: a. The revelation of Jesus is the Sunlight Dispensation. b. The message of the apostles is the Holy Spirit Dispensation. The “ divers portion” , then, may be called progressive revelation. The portions put together make one book. a. The portions have a unity when read as one book: 1) Its history is a unit. a) A history of the past. b) Teaching for a satisfactory present. c) A prophecy of the future. 2) Man’ s salvation is in it: a) A scarlet thread runs throughout all the Word. b) Blood atonement is the theme that ties the Word together from Genesis to Revelation. 3) A Person is there, although revealed in different portions: a) Genesis 3:15 speaks of Him bruising the serpent’ s head. b) Isaiah 53 speaks of Him being bruised. c) Revelation pictures Him destroying all wickedness and rewarding righteousness. 4) A kingdom is there: a) A prophetic kingdom—Daniel 2:44. b) A present kingdom—Matthew 16:18. c) A world-wide victorious kingdom—Matthew 24:44; Revelation 11:15—“ kingdom of the world is become the Kingdom of our Lord.” b. Since Christ gave credence to the portions, the critic must destroy Christ before he can destroy the Old Testament. cf. Luke 24:44; Matthew 12:39-41; Matthew 16:4.Hebrews 1:1 --in divers mannersThis suggests that God has used various methods to make known His message: a. He spoke with a voice: Exodus 24:4—“ all the words which Jehovah hath spoken will we do—” Isaiah 38:4—“ Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying—” b. He wrote with His fingers: Daniel 5:5— Belshazzar saw the handwriting on the wall. Exodus 31:18— The law was written by the fingers of God. c. He spoke in action, demonstrating his power: 1) Miracles were of several kinds: a) Burning bush—Exodus 3:2. b) Daniel in the lions’ den—Daniel 6:22. c) Walls of Jericho fell—Joshua 6:20. d) Thundering and lightning when the law was given—Exodus 20:18. 2) Temple veil rent in twain—Matthew 27:51. This spoke of the ending of the earthly Holy of Holies. 3) Victory in war for his people showed that righteousness must prevail. a) Gideon’ s victory—Hebrews 11:32 and Judges 7:22b)Egyptians defeated in the Red Sea. d. He spoke in dreams and visions: 1) Daniel 2:1— Nebuchadnezzar’ s dream and interpretation by Daniel in Hebrews 2:17-18. 2) Joseph interprets dreams of fellow prisoners in Genesis 40. 3) Joseph’ s dream in Genesis 37. 4) See Hosea 12:10. Romans 1:4 is proof that “ spoke” may refer to more than vocal words: cf. Psalms 19:2—“ day unto day uttereth speech.” cf. Romans 1:20—“ even His everlasting power and divinity.”Hebrews 1:2 --hath at the end of these daysWhat days? a. The days of the prophets just referred to. b. The prophets’ days seemed closed for about 400 years after Malachi, but John broke the silence. c. These days may refer to the end of the Jewish age, which was a prophetic age.Hebrews 1:2 --spoken unto us in His SonHow did God speak through Him? a. Not always vocally. 1) Christ’ s compassion and love spoke. 2) Christ’ s resurrection spoke. cf. Romans 1:4—“ who was declared to be the Son of God with power—” In Christ’ s voice God spoke: John 8:28—“ but as the Father taught Me, I speak these things.” John 12:49—“ For I spake not from Myself but the Father that sent Me, He hath given Me a commandment what I should say and what I should speak.” John 14:10—“ the words I speak, I speak not of Myself—”Study Questions1. Does the book of Hebrews begin with the word “ God” ? Does the original Greek manuscript begin this way? 2. In what way is Hebrews like Genesis? 3. Name the three divisions in my outline about God. 4. Tell of the being of God. 5. Tell of the character of God. 6. What can be said about God’ s relationship to the world? 7. What is meant by “ olden times” ? 8. In patriarchal times, how did He speak? 9. What would you think about God if He could but wouldn’ t speak to man? 10. What would you say about God if He would but couldn’ t speak to man? 11. Who is meant by the term “ fathers” ? 12. When did prophets first come into Bible history? 13. Did prophets speak to the patriarchs? If not, can “ fathers” refer to them? 14. What is the responsibility of a prophet? 15. Name a prophet who spoke to Abraham. 16. Into what two groups are the prophets divided? 17. Explain the term, “ divers portions” . 18. What is meant by “ different dispensations” ? 19. Explain the expression, “ progressive revelation” . 20. Do these portions comprise a unit? 21. Do you see a theme running through all the revelation of God? 22. Does Christ give credence to the Old Testament? 23. What were the ways God spoke? 24. Tell of some actions of God that revealed something about Him. 25. What message was spoken by the temple veil being rent? 26. What was spoken concerning God in His helping the people in war? 27. Name some dreams in which God spoke. 28. Name some visions in which God spoke. 29. Are all of God’ s messages vocal? 30. What is meant by “ end of these days” ? 31. What days are referred to? 32. How did God speak through Christ? 33. Did Christ claim to speak for God? Hebrews 1:2— in [by] His SonThis Sonship is in a unique sense: a. He is the only one of His kind. b. He is not a son— but the Son.His Sonship was established by many proofs: a. He is the Son in the parable of the husbandman. Luke 20:9-18; cf. Matthew 11:25. b. Jesus claimed to be the Son. John 14:2—“ in My Father’ s house.” John 4:26—“ I am He—” c. Son— as seen in His miracles: John 20:30-31. d. Son— as seen in His superior teaching. John 7:46—“ never man so spake.” e. Son— as seen in His superior life; Luke 23:4— Pilate: “ I find no fault—” Hebrews 4:14—“ Having then a great high priest . . . the Son of God . . .” John 8:46—“ which of you convicteth Me of sin . . .” f. Son— as seen in His resurrection: Romans 1:4; Acts 17:30-31. g. Son— as seen in the acclamation of God: Matthew 3:17— at His baptism. Matthew 17:1-8— at His transfiguration.Hebrews 1:2 --Whom He appointed heir of all thingsThe word “heir” suggests something to inherit. What was it? a. An excellent name. Hebrews 1:4. cf. Philippians 2:5-11. b. Lordship. Acts 2:36. Matthew 28:18. c. Power and judgment. John 5:22—“ given judgment unto the Son.”Hebrews 1:2 --through whom also He made the worlds Christ was present in creation: John 1:3—“ all things were made through Him . . .” Genesis 1:26—“ Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness . . .”Hebrews 1:2 --the worldsThe Greek word here translated, “ worlds” , is disputed by translators. a. The footnote is “ ages” . b. The singular form has three meanings: 1) Endless duration. 2) Any age or period. 3) Anything that lives or exists. We may assume that it refers to the processes in each age by which God is bringing to pass His great purposes.Hebrews 1:3 --who being the effulgence of His gloryThe word “ effulgence” is also translated “ brightness” . a. This word appears only once in the New Testament. b. “ Effulgence” means a reflected splendor.Jesus made it plain that those who saw Him could say that they had seen the Father. John 14:8-9; John 14:11; John 17:21. They saw the Father only as they saw His qualities in Christ. a. John 1:18—“ No man hath seen God at any time.” b. All that God is, has been expressed in Jesus.Hebrews 1:3 --and the very image of His substanceThis makes Him deity, which should be theological enough for us ! “ Image” means “ impress” . a. The word in the Greek is charaktei.1) In the primary sense, it denotes the instrument used in engraving or carving. 2) The whole expression, “ the very image of His substance” , is used to set forth the dignity of Christ, in order to build up our faith. b. Calvin says, “ He is called the ‘ impress of His substance’ , because the majesty of the Father is hidden until it shows itself impressed as it were on his image. They who overlook this connection and carry their philosophy higher, weary themselves to no purpose, for they do not understand the design of the Apostle; for it was not his object to show what likeness the Father bears to the Son!” (p. 35.) c. cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4—“ Christ who is the image of God.”“ Substance” is translated “ person” in the King James version. a. The word is hupos and means “ what lies under” . b. This is not the same word used in Hebrews 11:1—“ faith is the substance of things hoped for.” c. “ Substance” or “ essence” was the controversial topic of Arius and Athanasious. 1) The Council called by Constantine tried to settle the problem, but failed. 2) Trying to fully understand divine reality with human terms is too much for man. d. God is Spirit. Man doesn’ t think of Spirit as having substance, although He does have form. Deuteronomy 4:15-16, Exodus 24:9-10; Exodus 33:20—“ Thou canst not see My face for man shall not see My face—”Hebrews 1:3 --upholdeth all thingsThe word here translated “ upholdeth” , is phero in the original manuscripts, and has the idea “ to bear” , or “ to carry” , What is included in the word, “ upholdeth” ? a. Man is upheld: Acts 17:28—“ In Him we live—” Job 12:10—“ In whose hand is the soul of every living thing—” b. The world is supported by God: Job 26:7—“ He hangeth the earth upon nothing—” Colossians 1:17—“ In Him all things consist—” c. The above verses, Colossians 1:17 excepted, speak of God’ s action, while Hebrews 1:3 refers to Jesus’ action. d. The harmony of the problem lies in the fact that Jesus is spoken of as “ the Word” .Hebrews 1:3 --by the word of His powerIn Genesis are recorded the creative words, but here are the sustaining words. a. Material substance has no resident power in it. b. The “ laws of nature” , so-called, are only a manifestation of the uniformity of God’ s activity.While Jesus was on earth, He demonstrated the power of His words: a. He cast out spirits with a word. Mark 9:25. b. He said, “ Be thou made clean” , and a leper was made whole. Matthew 8:3. c. The centurion asked Jesus, saying, “ Only say the word and my servant shall be healed.” His faith was rewarded with a healing word from Jesus. Matthew 8:8; Matthew 8:13.Hebrews 1:3 --when He had made purification of sinsThe cross is the method of taking care of sins. a. All Old Testament sacrifices were a type of the blood sacrifice of Jesus. 1) John used the type of animal sacrifices as a figure of speech, saying: “ Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. b. Jesus came into the world to endure the cross. Luke 9:51—“ He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem—” Hebrews 12:2—“ endured the cross—” c. It is the blood that purifies: Revelation 1:5—“ unto Him— that loosed us from our sins, by His blood.” Hebrews 9:28—“ So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” To have this cleansing, we must have our own crucifixion service: Acts 22:16—“ be baptized and wash away thy sins—” Titus 3:5—“ by the washing of regeneration.” Romans 6:3—“ baptized into His death.”Hebrews 1:3 --sat down on the right handThis truth is spoken by others: a. Stephen saw Him there. Acts 7:56. b. Peter preached that He was there. Acts 2:33. c. John pictured Him at the throne of God. Revelation 5:6; Revelation 7:17. The author of Hebrews makes much of this point: a. In Hebrews 1:4, we see His person— King. b. In Hebrews 8:12, we see His ministry— Priest. c. Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:2, He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God after one complete and final sacrifice. d. In Hebrews 12:1-2 we see Him as the joyful leader of a great cloud of witnesses. On earth, truth is often on the scaffold, and wrong on the throne, but not so in Heaven.Hebrews 1:3 --of the majestyThe Greek word for “ great” is here translated, “ majesty” . a. Jesus at the throne signifies power and authority serving as the special chosen one of God. b. He is to be loved for His redemption of mankind, but ought to be honored on account of His royal magnificence.Special Outline of Heb 1:1-3 Threefold place of Jesus:1. Prophet—“ spoken unto us”—Hebrews 1:2. 2. Priest—“ made purification”—Hebrews 1:3. 3. King—“ at the right hand”—Hebrews 1:3.Study Questions34. Discuss the divine sonship of Christ. 35. What is meant by “ only begotten” ? 36. Name various ways Christ’ s sonship is proven. 37. If Christ is appointed heir, what is He to inherit? 38. What scriptures enlarge upon the work of Christ in creation? 39. Define the word “ worlds,” Does he mean our earth? 40. What may we surmise then if the word has this translation? 41. What is meant by “ effulgence” ? 42. Is it a common word in the New Testament? 43. Describe how the glory of God is seen in Christ. 44. What is meant by “ image” ? 45. What is meant by the word, “ substance” ? 46. How does the King James version translate it? 47. What problem arose in church history over the word, “ substance” ? 48. What is meant by “ upholdeth all things” ? 49. Does the scripture speak of God or Christ being the sustainer? 50. How harmonize? 51. Did Jesus ever demonstrate that His words have power? 52. Name the instances. 53. When did Jesus make purification for sins? 54. What scriptures of the New Testament connect Jesus with cleansing from sin? 55. Is there a cross for us? 56. When Jesus finished the work of the cross and His earthly ministry, where did He go? 57. What other passages of scripture support Christ’ s right-hand glory? 58. What is meant by “ the majesty on high” ?Commentary on Hebrews 1:1-3 by Burton CoffmanHeb_1:1 --CHRIST IS BETTER THAN ANGELS; CHRIST IS ABOVE ANGELS; BOTH IN PERSON AND IN OFFICEGod, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners. (Hebrews 1:1) Like the Fourth Gospel and the Book of Genesis, this epistle begins with God. There are no apologetics, no hint of argument, no implied admission of possible error, no suggestion of any doubt, but only the dramatic presentation of the grand assumption that God is and that only a fool could deny it; and yet this opening statement goes far beyond the fact of God's existence, starkly magnificent though that fact appears, and enlightens people with some of the most significant information that it is possible to have concerning God. Thus, he is a God who speaks; and, because only a person can speak, this reveals him as a personal God. The personality of God is a concept underlying the whole fabric of the Christian faith; and it is exactly here, in a widespread failure of people to know that God is a person, that so much current religious thought has floundered. The depersonalization of the Almighty is the mortal error that underlies the extensive confusion and impotence which are the bane of so much modern religious thought. True religion demands a personal God at the center; and anything else is fatal. If God is not a person, then all religion is a delusion, and faith is bankrupt. William F. Buckley, in REVIEW magazine, noted that the concept of an impersonal God robs religion of its three "R's," these being revelation, regeneration, and responsibility. This entry is longer than a Bible module can hold. The rest is at https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ntrc/ Hebrews 1:4-14 THE SON OF GOD WITH ANGELSHeb_1:4-14 The object of the Apostle in this paragraph is twofold: (1) to develop and illustrate still further the infinite perfections of Jesus as the Son of God; and (2) to show as a consequence of his many excellencies, the paramount obligations that we are all under to ob¬serve and respect the revelation which God has so graciously made to us through him. This will appear more obvious as we proceed with the consideration of the several points that are brought out in the following comparisons.Hebrews 1:4 --Being made so much better than the angels,—This clause is very nearly related to the last part of the preceding verse; and it is added for the purpose of defining and illustrating more fully the infinite power, majesty, and dominion of our Redeemer. The reference here is still of course chiefly, though not exclusively, to the Divine nature of Christ. It is not of the man Jesus alone, nor of the Logos alone, but of the Logos incarnate, that our author speaks in this, and in the following verses of this chapter. And be it ob¬served that here, as well as in the clause immediately preceding, the exaltation of Christ is spoken of as a result and consequence of his humiliation and his obedience unto death. The idea of the Apostle is, not that he was made better than the angels by his in-carnation, but that having by himself made purification for our sins, and having been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of them that slept, he then became (genoemnos) in rank, dignity, and au¬thority, superior (kreitton) to them: he was then exalted to a sphere of glory, dignity, and authority, which is as far above that of the highest angels, as the name which he inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrews 1:4 --as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.—Whenever God gives a name to anyone, he gives it in harmony with the rank and character of the person so designated. Previous to his incarnation, Jesus was called the Logos (John 1:1), because he was himself both the medium and the substance of all the revelations which God had ever made to fallen man. But after his resurrection, when by virtue of his sufferings and death he was made the Heir of all things, it became necessary that he should receive a name corresponding with his new rank and official dignity, as the First-born from the dead (Colossians 1:18), the Begin¬ning of the creation of God (Revelation 3:14)— then it was that by right of inheritance he was called the Son of God. This name, as the Apostle proceeds to show, indicates that Christ, in his new re¬lations, is far superior to the angels.Hebrews 1:5 --For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?—That God the Father said this to Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 1:20), is evident from the second Psalm, and also from Paul’ s address at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:33-34). But never was this name given in its full and proper meaning (John 5:18) to any of the angels. True, indeed, they are all called sons of God (Job 33:7) ; and so also are pious men and women called “ the sons and daugh¬ters of the Lord God Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:18). But no mere creature, however pure and exalted, was ever so singled out and distinguished from all others, by the Father of spirits. This is the peculiar honor of Him who is, not only one with the Father (John 10:30), and who is himself God equal with the Father (John 5:18), but who is also the First-begotten from the dead, the Prince of the kings of the Earth” (Revelation 1:5). On him this title was repeatedly bestowed by the Father, with reference to both his incarnation and his resurrection. See Psalms 2:7; Matthew 3:17 Matthew 17:5; Acts 13:33, etc. But in this case, the Spirit refers particularly to his resurrection from the dead, when the Father not only gave him a name indicative of his Divinity and oneness with him¬self, but also at the same time exalted him “ far above all principal¬ity, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; and put all things under his feet, and give him to be the Head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:21-23) ; angels, and authorities, and powers being made subject unto him” (1 Peter 3:22). Hebrews 1:5 --And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?—This is a quotation from 2 Samuel 7:14, introduced here for the purpose of illustrating the very near, dear, and intimate re¬lations which exist between the Father and the Son; with the view of showing still further the very great superiority of the Son over the angels. But there is an apparent difficulty in applying this passage to Christ; for it is quite obvious from the context, that pri¬marily it had reference to Solomon. David, it seems, had pur¬posed in his heart to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. But while he was meditating on the matter, God sent Nathan the Prophet to him, saying, “ When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy Fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, who shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will his Father, and he shall be my Son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; but my mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.” There can be no doubt, then, that this whole passage refers to Solomon; and so Solomon himself understood it, as we learn from 1 Kings 8:17-21. How, then, can it with propriety be ap¬plied to Christ ? It is usual with many commentators to explain such passages on the principle of accommodation. But this will not do. No exposition of this passage of Scripture is at all admissible which does not make its meaning extend through and beyond Solomon to him who is, par excellence, the Seed of David according to the flesh; and who, as such, is to sit on David’ s throne, “ to order it, and to establish it, with justice and with judgment, from henceforth even forever.” (Isaiah 9:7.) And hence the only way of explaining it properly is on the principle of double reference. As a knowledge of this principle is essential to a proper understanding of much that is contained in this Epistle, the learned reader will excuse the following attempt to make it plain and intelligible to even mere beginners in the study of sacred literature. It is one of the very few principles of interpretation, which are peculiar to the Holy Scriptures. Generally, the Bible is to be interpreted like other books. But in the use of this principle, it is unlike any and every other document. The nearest approach to it may be found in the instructions which a skillful educator gives to his pupils by means of pictures and diagrams. For the purpose of illustrating the unknown or the abstract, he draws a visible outline or representation of it, by means of which he is enabled to impart to his pupils a more accurate knowledge of the object to be illustrated than he could possibly communicate to them by any mere combination of words and sentences. In his verbal remarks and explanations, he may sometimes refer exclusively to the pictorial illustration; and sometimes he may refer only to the object or thing that is to be illustrated; but not unfrequently he will pur¬posely so arrange his remarks as to make them applicable to both the sign and the thing signified. He presents the picture to the eye of sense, as a sort of medium through which the eye of the under¬standing may perceive more clearly and distinctly the various qual¬ities and properties of what he wished to describe and illustrate. Very much in this way has God explained to mankind the more abstract and recondite realities of the economy of redemption. To do this successfully in the early ages of the world, in any way and by any means, was a very difficult problem; a problem which God alone was then capable of solving. But all things are possible with him. He resolved to give to mankind a revelation of his purpose of mercy concerning them; and he resolved to do it in such a way as would not only be best adapted to the purposes of instruction; but also, it would seem, in such a way that it could never be successfully imitated or counterfeited by any impostor. For this purpose, he called Abraham out of Ur of Chaldea, and made him the Father of two families; the one according to the flesh, and the other according to the Spirit. The former was related to the latter, as the type is related to the antitype; or as the picture is related to the reality which it is designed to represent. And hence it is that many things said of the former in the Old Testament, have reference also to the latter. Sometimes, indeed, there are promises of an exclusive nature, made in reference to each of these. But not unfrequently what is said of the type, has reference also in a still higher sense, to the antitype. Of this we have many impressive examples in nearly all the books of the Old Testament. In the seventy-second Psalm, for example, David has given us a most graphic and interesting description of the peaceful and prosperous reign of Solomon; but throughout this beautiful ode there is also constant reference to a greater than Solomon. And just so it is in the quotation made from 2 Samuel 7:12-16. The primary reference here is to Solomon; and in part of the narrative it is to Solomon only; for certainly God would never, even hypothetically, impute iniquity to Christ. But in the expression, “ I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son,” God speaks both of Solomon as a type and of Christ in a far higher sense as the antitype. The relation of Solomon’ s sonship was, in fact, to that of Christ, just as the shadow is to the substance (Colossians 2:17) ; so that the meaning of the passage, properly understood, is in perfect harmony with the sentiment of the preceding clause. They both serve to present to us our blessed Savior in a relation that is peculiar to himself.Hebrews 1:6 --And again, when he bringeth, etc.— To what does the ad¬verb again (palin) here refer? Is it used here, as in the last part of the fifth verse, merely to indicate that this is another citation from the Old Testament? Or does it refer to a second introduc¬tion of the First-born into the world? On this point the critics are about equally divided. It is, however, generally conceded that the latter view is most in harmony with the Greek idiom and construc¬tion: and on this ground it is advocated by De Wette, Liinemann, Tholuck, Delitzsch, Alford, and most of the ancient interpreters. But it is urged as an objection to this interpretation, that our author has not spoken elsewhere, in the preceding verses, of the first introduction of the First-born into the world; and that it is therefore not probable that he would here refer to the second, as such. And hence the former view (that the adverb again serves merely to introduce another quotation) is, on the whole, preferred by Luther, Calvin, Beza, Bleek, Ebrard, Stuart, and others, who think that there is really nothing in the Greek construction which seriously militates against this interpretation. According to their notion, the passage may be freely rendered as follows: “ But when, on another occasion, God speaks of bringing the First-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” And according to the second mode of constructing the ad¬verb, the meaning runs thus: “ But when God speaks of bringing the First-born a second time into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” To my mind there is nothing in the latter rendering which is in any way inconsistent with either the Apostle’ s reasoning in the case, or with the general tenor of the Psalm from which he quotes. And I therefore see no reason for departing from what is generally conceded to be the most simple and natural construction of the Greek text. The First-born refers of course to Christ. The same word (prototokos) occurs in Colossians 1:18 and Revelation 1:5; in both of which passages, it means “ the First-born from the dead” ; having refer¬ence to the fact that Jesus was the first who rose from the dead to die no more. Others, as Lazarus (John 11), had risen before him; but not as he rose, above death and superior to it. They were still under the dominion of death, and soon returned again to the dust to see corruption. But Jesus rose a conqueror over death, and also over him who has the power of death. (2: 14.) And to this same thought there may be some allusion in our text, and also in such parallel passages as Psalms 89:27; Romans 8:29; and Colossians 1:15. But in these cases, the primary reference is to the laws and customs of primogeniture; according to which the first-born was entitled to preeminence in all things. “ For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell” ; and “ that in all things he should have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18-19.)Hebrews 1:6 --into the world,—The term world (oichoumenee) means properly the inhabited earth; the habitable globe. But to what bring¬ing in of the First-born does the Apostle here refer ? Some say to his incarnation (Chrysostom and Calvin) ; some to his entering on his public ministry, after his baptism, when the Holy Spirit de¬scended on him like a dove, and the Father himself proclaimed from Heaven in the audience of the people, “ This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” ; some say that the reference is to his resurrection from the dead (Brentius and A. Clark); some, to his coming in power to set up his Kingdom on Earth, on the Pen-tecost which next followed after his resurrection (Grotius and Wetstein); and some again, to his second personal coming, when he will raise the dead, purify the Earth by fire, judge the world, and deliver up the Kingdom to the Father (De Wette, Lunemann, Tholuck, Hofmann, Delitzsch, Alford, etc.). These several hypotheses, save perhaps the second, have all been maintained by men of learning and ability, and I therefore think it proper to introduce them to the reader. But to my mind, it is evident that it is to Christ’ s coming in power to set up his Kingdom and begin his reign on Earth, on the fiftieth day after his resurrection ; and that it is to this alone, that the Holy Spirit here refers. To this view, I am led chiefly by the following considerations: (1.) It is most in harmony with the construction and scope of both the text and the context. The adverb again (palin), as we have seen, indicates most naturally a return of the First-born into the world. And the scope of the Apostle’ s argument clearly indicates, that this second manifestation of the Lord Jesus would be with great power and authority. When he came into the world the first time (Hebrews 10:5), he came in humility and weakness (Luke 2) ; for then it was necessary that he should by his own death make purification for sins (Hebrews 1:3). But having done this once for all, it was then fit that he should enter on his mediatorial reign over Heaven and Earth; which he did on the Pentecost which next fol¬lowed after his resurrection. To this reign our author has con¬stant reference in this part of his argument. His object here is, not to show what Christ was previous to his coronation; nor is it to show what he will be after that he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24); but it is to show what he is now, and what are now our obligations to love, serve, and obey him in all things. And hence we are required by the force of the Apostle’ s argument to understand this second coming of Christ as having reference to the beginning of his mediatorial reign. (2.) This view is most in harmony with the scope of the ninety-seventh Psalm, from which this citation, in proof of Christ’ s su¬periority over the angels, is made. The Psalmist begins by calling on the whole Earth, even on the isles of the Gentiles, to be glad and rejoice on account of the universal reign of Jehovah (verse 1). In the second paragraph (verses 2-5), he describes the majesty of Jehovah as the Lord of the whole Earth; speaks of the justice and righteousness of his administration, and of the awful manifesta¬tions of his power and judgments, before which the Earth melts and his enemies are consumed. In the third (verses 6, 7), he speaks of the manifestations of God’ s glory, as it were, from the very heavens; predicts the embarrassment and confusion of all idolaters; and then calls on all in authority, all Eloheem, whether men or angels, to fall down and worship him. In the fourth (verses 8, 9), he speaks of the joy of all the saints, on witnessing the judgments and the glorious exaltation of their sovereign Lord. And finally (verses 10-12), he admonishes the pious to abstain from all evil; and encourages them to trust in the Lord and give thanks to him, on account of his gracious care over them, and the great abundance of the provisions which he has made for them. The whole Psalm, therefore, clearly indicates that it has reference to the long expected reign of the Messiah. And this is the view that was taken of it by many of the ancient Rabbis, as well as by most Christian expositors. Raschi and Kimchi say that all the Psalms, from 93 to 101, refer to the reign of the Messiah. It is no objection to this interpretation, that the universal reign of Jehovah is the proper subject of this beautiful and triumphal ode; and that the name of the Messiah does not, in fact, occur in it. This is equally true of many other passages in the Old Testament, which, in the New, are applied directly to Christ. Take, for exam¬ple, the following from Isaiah 40:3-5 : “ The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be ex¬alted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it to¬gether ; for the mother of the Lord hath spoken it.” Here, too, as well as in the ninety-seventh Psalm, it is Jehovah Eloheem that is spoken of by the Prophet. And yet, in Matthew 3:3, this passage is applied to Christ; who, in Jeremiah 23:6, is called Jehovah our righ¬teousness. But it is alleged by some, that our author cannot have reference here to the ninety-seventh Psalm; because, say they, the proper rendering of the last clause of the sixth verse is, “ Worship him all ye gods, and not all ye angels (angeloi).” This is plausible; but it is by no means a valid objection against the view taken. For in the Septuagint the word Eloheem is rendered angels in this very passage; and better still the same word Eloheem in Psalms 8:5, is by the author of our Epistle rendered angels in 2:7. “ Thou hast made him a little lower,” he says, “ than the angels.” Here the word rendered angels is in the Hebrew Eloheem, the same as that which occurs in Psalms 97:7. So also Philo says, “ The angels are the servants of God; and they are esteemed actual gods by those who are in toil and slavery.” (Philo on Fugitives, Section 38.) It is wholly unnecessary, therefore, to refer to Deuteronomy 32:43, for the quotation given in our text. True, indeed, the identical words, “ Let all the angels of God worship him,” are there found in the Septuagint; but they are wholly wanting in the original Hebrew; and are of course without canonical authority. (3.) The view taken of the passage is also most in harmony with other portions of Scripture which relate to the coming and reign of the Messiah. Our Savior himself speaks of the inauguration of his reign on Earth, as his second coming into the world. “ Verily, verily,” says he, “ I say unto you, there are some standing here who shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28.) In this passage Christ has reference, most likely, to both his transfiguration, which occurred eight days afterward (Matthew 17:1-13), and to his coming in power to set up his Kingdom and begin his reign on earth, as he did on the day of Pentecost which next followed after his resurrection (Acts 2:1¬38). But if so, the former was but the shadow, while the latter was the reality of what is here promised. And hence when Peter had, on the latter occasion, submitted to his astonished auditors the evidence of Christ’ s resurrection, he closed his address with the as¬surance that God had made Jesus, the lately crucified One, both Lord and Christ; that is, the anointed Sovereign of the universe. And, accordingly, from that day forward his right to universal dominion is everywhere conceded. See, for example, Acts 10:36; 1 Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:22; and Philippians 2:9-11. The binding obligation of the decree of Jehovah with regard to the homage that is due to his Son, as our anointed and mediatorial Sovereign, commenced, therefore, with his coronation; and will continue, until having put down all adverse power and authority, he shall deliver up the Kingdom to the Father. Till then, every knee in Heaven and Earth must bow to him, and every tongue must confess that he “ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11).Hebrews 1:6 --let all the angels of God worship him.—This is, at least to us, the main point of the argument. All that precedes this in the sixth verse is only circumstantial; and does not in any way, however construed, materially affect the sense of this clause. Even if we should have mistaken the proper grammatical use of the word “ again” ; the chapter and verse of the Old Testament from which the citation is made; and also the time of Christ’ s introduction into the world as here spoken of; still the fact remains indisputable, that by the decree of Jehovah all the angels of glory are required to bow down and worship him who is the First-begotten from the dead, the First-born of the whole creation. This is enough for us. Resting as it does on apostolic authority, this one declaration is, of itself, sufficient to prove, beyond all doubt, not only that Jesus is infinitely exalted above all angels, but also that it is now right and proper that all created intelligences should adore and worship the Son, even as they also adore and worship the Father.Hebrews 1:7 --And of the angels he saith,—That is, while he speaks thus and so of the angels, he speaks in immeasurably higher terms of the Son. This will appear clear in the sequel. But what does he say of the angels ?Hebrews 1:7 --Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.—This is another instance of Hebrew parallelism taken from Psalms 104:4. The words angels and ministers refer to the same class of persons, and their predicates “ spirits” and “ a flame of fire” are both used for a like purpose. But what do those clauses sev¬erally mean? Some commentators have proposed to change the order of the words, so as to make the clauses read thus: “ Who maketh spirits [or winds] his angels; and a flame of fire his ministers.” But this is scarcely allowable even in the Hebrew. To say that a flame of fire is the ministers of God, is not in harmony with the laws of propriety in any language. But in our Greek text the absurdity of this rendering is still more obvious. For (1) the proper subject of the parallelism is angels. The object of the Apostle is to contrast these high celestial intelligences, and not spirits, or winds, or a flame of fire, with Christ. (2) The use of the Greek article before angels (tons angelous) and ministers (tous leitourgous), and not before spirits (pneumata) and a flame of fire (puror phloga), clearly indicates that the former words are to be taken as the subjects, and the latter as the predicates of the phrases in which they severally stand. And hence we are com¬pelled to accept the arrangements of these words as given in our English Version. But what is the meaning of the word pnumata (pneumata) in the first clause? Does it mean spirits, as in our Common Version, or does it mean winds, as some have alleged ? This must be deter¬mined by the scope of the passage, which evidently is, not to degrade, but to exalt the angels as far as possible, with the view of exalting the Son still higher by the comparison. To say, then, that God makes his angels as strong and as irresistible as winds and tempests, would harmonize very well with the Apostle’ s design; and also with the scope and construction of the next clause in which God’ s ministers are compared, not merely with fire, but with a flame of fire. But in this case, though the word ruach might have been used in the Hebrew, it is most likely that it would have been rendered by the Greek anemos, as in Exodus 10:13 Exodus 10:19 Exodus 14:21, etc., and not by pnuma, the current meaning of which in both classic and sacred literature, is breath or spirit. Seldom, if ever, does it denote a violent wind or tempest, unless when used figuratively, as in Exodus 15:8 Exodus 15:10, for the breath of Jehovah. Much more, then, in harmony with the context and general usage is the word spirit as given in our English Version. Throughout the entire Bible, the word spirit often stands in antithesis with the word flesh; the latter being used symbolically for whatever is weak, frail, depraved, and corruptible; and the former, in like manner; for what is strong, pure, and incorruptible. “ That which is born of the flesh,” says Christ, “ is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6.) And again he says, “ God is spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24.) And again, “ It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.” (John 6:63.) In no other way, therefore, could our author more effectually exalt the angels in the estimation of his Hebrew brethren than by calling them spirits; that is, beings “ who excel in strength,” and who are wholly removed from all the weaknesses, impurities, and imperfections of the flesh. This, too, corresponds well with the history of these pure celestial intelligences, so far as it is given in the Holy Scriptures. They have always served as God’ s ministers (leitourgoi), before whom the enemies of Jehovah have often melted away as wax or stubble before a flame of fire. This is abundantly proved and illustrated by the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1¬26) ; the destruction of the first-born of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:29-30) ; the punishment of the Israelites under David (2 Samuel 24:15-17); the discomfiture of the hosts of Benhadad, King of Syria (2 Kings 6:8-23) ; and the overthrow of the army of Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:35).Hebrews 1:8 --But unto the Son he saith, etc.—The quotation which follows in this verse and the next, is taken from the forty-fifth Psalm; on the meaning of which commentators are still much divided. Many suppose that this Psalm was designed primarily to celebrate the marriage of Solomon with the daughter of Pharaoh or some other foreign princess; and secondarily to foreshadow and illustrate, by means of this conjugal alliance, the union that exists between Christ and his Church. But it is difficult to see how this Psalm could with any propriety be applied to Solomon. He was not “ blessed forever” as was the hero of this ode (verse 2) ; nor was he in any sense distinguished for his victories (verses 3-5); nei¬ther was his administration throughout one of justice and equity (verses 6, 7) ; nor did he ever make his sons princes in the Earth (verse 16). It is extremely doubtful also whether what is said of the queen and her companions (verses 9-15) can with truth and propriety be applied to any of the wives and concubines of Solomon. And hence it is most likely that the forty-fifth Psalm is a simple allegory designed to celebrate, primarily and exclusively, the perfections, conquests, and righteous administration of Christ; to illustrate the intimate and sanctified union which exists between himself and his Church; and to set forth, in the most pleasing and impressive manner, the happy and eternal consequences of this very holy and endearing relationship. That the marriage of Solomon, or some other king of Israel, may have suggested the form and much of the imagery of the Psalm, is quite probable. But it is most likely that the protasis of this allegory, like that of the parable of the ten virgins, was constructed from the conceptions of the writer. It is an ideal representation of certain realities in the grand drama of redemption which could not be so well illustrated by any one chapter of real history. The Psalmist begins with a brief statement of the effect which, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, his great theme was having on his own mind and heart. My heart, he says, is overflowing. I am saying a good word. My works are for the King. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Next, he describes the personal loveliness, grace, and blessedness of the royal Bridegroom. Beautiful, beautiful, art thou, above the sons of men. Grace is poured upon thy lips. Therefore, God hath blessed thee forever. In the third, fourth, and fifth verses, he speaks of the King as a great military hero. Gird thy sword on thy thigh, O mighty One; [put on] thy honor and thy majesty; and in thy majesty go forward, ride on, for the sake of truth, humility, and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thy arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’ s enemies; nations shall fall under thee. Next in order is the given quotation from which our author infers the great superiority of Christ over the angels: “ Thy throne, God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.”Hebrews 1:9 --Thou hast loved righteousness, etc.—The inspired Psalmist, whoever he was, spoke of course the words of God; and hence our author justly ascribes these stanzas to God himself as their author. Viewed in this light they clearly indicate the superior rank and exaltation of Christ, in the following particulars: (1) He is here called God by the Father himself; and that, too, not as angels and magistrates are sometimes called gods, in a metaphorical sense, but in the literal and proper sense of this word as it is applied to the uncreated, eternal, and omnipresent Deity. The context fairly admits of no other meaning in this case. And this interpretation is fully sustained by many parallel passages. See remarks on verses third, fifth, and sixth. (2) His reign is eternal. The word throne indicates power, rule, and dominion. And hence to say that the throne of the Messiah “ is forever and ever” is but to say that “ his dominion is an everlasting dominion.” (Daniel 7:4.) True, in one sense, his reign will terminate “ when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power.” Then, we are told, “ he will deliver up the Kingdom to the Father, that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:24.) But this is spoken of his mediatorial reign over the universe for the redemption and recovery of mankind. In an¬other sense, however, “ he will reign over the house of Jacob for¬ever; and of his Kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:33.) And hence, Peter speaks of “ the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:11.) (3) His administration is throughout one of absolute justice and rectitude. The word rendered scepter (rabdos) originally meant a rod or staff. But in the hands of the ancient patriarchs and shepherds, this scepter soon became a badge of their authority; and in the hands of kings it afterward became an emblem of royal authority. (Esther 4:11.) And hence the word is used in our text to denote Christ’ s power and authority over all. And as his entire administration is carried on in justice and in judgment, his scepter is called “ a scepter of rectitude.” (4) In consequence of his exalted rank, immaculate holiness, and the righteous character of his administration, God has himself anointed him with the oil of joy and gladness above his associates. “ The oil of joy” is a figurative expression derived from the Oriental custom of anointing the head at important festivals (Psalms 23:5). Here, the reference is to the joyful effects of Christ’ s coronation. But who are his fellows? Some say the an¬gels (Bleek, Liinemann, Pierce); others think that the reference is to his disciples, all of whom are in fellowship with him (Braun, Cranmer) ; but as Christ is here described as a king, it is most likely that the Psalmist refers to kings as the associates of Christ (Ebrard, Alford, etc.). These were anointed with oil (1 Samuel 9:16 1 Samuel 16:3; 1 Kings 1:34) ; but Christ was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power (Isaiah 61:1-3; Acts 10:38). They were anointed simply as kings; but Christ was anointed as a Prophet and as a Priest, as well as a King. From these facts and illustrations, it is now easy to see the bearing of the whole passage on the Apostle’ s argument. The angels, he admits, are beings of very high rank and of very great power and influence. But they are not gods, save in a metaphorical sense. Neither are they kings, like our Immanuel, reigning over the universe. On the contrary, as our author now proceeds to show, they are all but ministering spirits, sent forth under Christ to do his will in ministering to the heirs of salvation.Hebrews 1:10 --And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning—The word “ and” is used here by the author to connect the three following with the two preceding verses; so that the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth verses, as well as the eighth and ninth, are to be taken and construed as the testimony of God the Father, speaking by the mouth of one of his holy Prophets concerning his Son Jesus Christ. But here again there is an apparent difficulty in applying these words to the Son of God. The citation is made from Psalms 102:25-27; and seems to refer primarily, not to the Son of God, as such, but to God himself absolutely considered. Some, I know, are of a different opinion. They think that there are in this Psalm sundry indications that it is a complaint of the Church, in her afflictions, addressed directly to her ever living and exalted Head, in the person of our adorable Redeemer. And this may be so. Certainly some of the expressions contained in this Psalm (see particularly verses 18-22) appear to be spoken of the reign of the Messiah over all the Earth. But the first impression of all who read this Psalm without prejudice, is, that it was primarily addressed to Eloheem Jehovah, the Lord God absolute. On what principle, then, is it here applied to Christ? Some say again, “ On the principle of accommodation.” But this is mani¬festly wrong. The argument of the Apostle clearly requires more than this. His object here is, not to teach us what might be said of the Lord Jesus, but rather what the Father himself has actually said of him in the writings of the holy Prophets. On no other hy¬pothesis would our author be justified in quoting and applying this passage as he does. How, then, is this matter to be explained? Will it do to say with some that “ whatever is predicated of God the Father may also in like manner be predicated of the Son and of the Holy Spirit?” Certainly not; save within certain well defined limits. The Father has his own proper personality, and performs his own proper work in creation, providence, and redemption. And this is also true of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. (1 John 4:14.) The Son, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man; and so made it possible for God to be just in justifying everyone who believes in Jesus. (John 3:16; Romans 3:25-26.) He also sent the Holy Spirit to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8-11) ; and to be in all his saints as a well of water springing up into ever¬lasting life (John 4:14 John 7:38-39). In some respects, therefore, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are essentially distinct from each other, and perform different functions in the economy of grace. But in other respects they are identical, one and essentially the same. “ I and my Father,” says Christ, “ are one.” (John 10:30 John 14:9-11.) And hence it is that in the Old Testament especially, they are all commonly included in the one name Eloheem Jehovah (Deuteronomy 6:4); and that the same works are often ascribed equally to each of the three. In Genesis 1:1, for example, it is said that God (Eloheem) created the heavens and the Earth; that is, the whole material universe. But in Revelation 4:8-11, the creation of all things is ascribed to the Father; in John 1:1-3, it is ascribed to the Son; and from sundry other passages, such as Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalms 104:30; Matthew 12:28; Luke 1:35; John 6:63; and Romans 8:11, it seems clear that the Holy Spirit has an agency in the working of all miracles. On the principle of identity in the Godhead, then, it seems to me, our author here applies to the Son language which, in its first intention, had reference to the entire Eloheem—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As on another occasion Eloheem said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; so also it was in the beginning. It was not the Father alone, nor the Son alone, nor the Spirit alone; but it was the three in one, and the one in three, that created and garnished the heavens and the Earth. And hence it is perfectly legitimate to say as our author has said here, “ Thou, Lord, in the beginning, didst lay the foundation of the Earth, and the heavens are the works of thy hands.”But whatever may be true of the principle on which this language is applied to the Son of God, the fact itself, as here stated, is indisputable. Guided by the Spirit of God, the author of our Epistle here deposes, that this is the testimony of God the Father himself with respect to his Son. This, then, is enough. All who admit the inspiration and canonical authority of the Epistle, must also admit, that our Redeemer is the Creator of the heavens and of the Earth. And if he is, then it follows that he is Divine, “ God with us.” The words of these two clauses are, in the main, quite simple and easily understood. The word Lord is not expressed in the original Hebrew, but it is clearly implied. “ In the beginning” (kata archas) means simply of old. The phrase is not so definite as the expression in Genesis 1:1 (en archee) ; but it is here equivalent to it; and it means simply that at a certain epoch in past eternity, the Son, in connection and cooperation with the Father and the Holy Spirit, did actually create the whole material universe. To found the Earth, is equivalent to creating it. Christ is here presented to us as the great architect of nature. In this capacity, he is represented as laying the foundations of the Earth; not, however, as a human architect, out of preexisting materials: but ex nihilo, out of nothing: for things which are seen were not made out of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3.) The word heavens is in the plural number, and in connection with the word earth means at least the whole material universe. In the words, “ thy hands,” we have an example of anthropomorphism.Hebrews 1:11 ---They shall perish;—That is, most likely, both the heavens and the Earth shall perish. But what is meant by the word perish (apollumi) ? Does it mean that the heavens and the Earth will hereafter be annihilated ? Or does it mean simply that they will be destroyed with respect to their present state? The latter is most likely all that is here intended by the Holy Spirit. Neither the Hebrew word nor the Greek ever means to annihilate, so far as we know. Nor have we any evidence either from the book of nature, or from the Holy Scriptures, that God will ever annihilate any substance to which he has given being. This he, of course, can do; and this he may do. No creature can foretell what changes God will work in nature, in the course of coming ages. But it is most likely from all the evidence of the context, as well as from parallel passages, that our author refers here only to those changes of form and state which will be necessary in order to refit and readjust the material universe to the wants and progressive developments of the spiritual. Such changes often have taken place; and it is quite probable that they will often occur hereafter; perhaps indeed while the cycles of eternal ages shall continue to roll on. It is now, for instance, generally conceded by geologists, that the Earth was originally created in a state of igneus fusion; and that by the cooling process were formed vast quantities of granite, porphyry, and other kinds of unstratified rocks. But at the proper time, God effected a change on the whole surface of the Earth; and so adapted it to the growth of vegetables and animals. Another period of immense duration passed by, during which vast deposits of various kinds were laid up for the use of man; and then the Earth with all its living tenantry was again destroyed. And this occurred again and again; until finally out of the preadamic chaos God prepared the heavens and the Earth which now are; and which Peter says “ are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment” ; when, he says, “ the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the Earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up.” But he adds, “ Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:7 2 Peter 3:10 2 Peter 3:13.) See also Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:1-8. By the word heavens in 2 Peter 3:10, the Apostle most likely means only the aerial heavens, as does Moses in Genesis 1:8; and not the sidereal heavens to which the Psalmist and our author manifestly refer in our text. The object of Peter is to describe the final change which will take place in our own mundane system, “ when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8.) But changes analogous to those wrought in our own planet, may also occur in every other planet and system throughout the vast empire of Jehovah. Indeed we are not wholly without evidence that such is the fact. Astronomers tell us that changes are now taking place in the Moon, similar to those which occurred in the preadamic Earth. And the history of astronomy records instances of celestial configurations, not unlike that which, according to the Apostle Pd:er, awaits our own world. A very reamarkable instance of this kind occurred in A.D. 1572, when suddenly a star shone forth in the constellation Cassiopeia, exceeding in brilliancy the largest of the planets; and after blazing for some months, it gradually disappeared forever. Another example of the same kind occurred in A.D. 1604, in the constellation Ophiuchus. The flame, at first, was of a dazzling white color; then of a reddish yellow; and finally it was of a leaden paleness. These phenomena are not so rare as many suppose. Dr. Good says, “ During the last century, not less than thirteen stars seem to have utterly perished; and ten new ones have been created.” These facts may serve to illustrate what seems to be here revealed to us by the Holy Spirit: viz., that all the suns, and moons, and stars, and systems, composing the sidereal heavens, are destined to undergo changes similar to those through which our own little mundane system is passing; and that in the course of ages, they will all wax old as doth a garment; and that our Redeemer will roll them up and recast them, as men are wont to change and recast worn-out vestments. But throughout all these changes and revolutions, he himself will remain unchanged; “ the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8.)Hebrews 1:12 ---And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up,—This verse is but an amplification of what is given in the preceding. The Psalmist, in order to give intensity to the thought, repeats the sentiment that while the material universe becomes old, and changes as a garment, Christ, the Creator of all things, will endure forever, without even the shadow of change. Here, then, it is clearly taught (1) that Christ is the Creator of all things; (2) that he is the immutable Lord and Governor of all things; and consequently, that he is infinitely superior to the angels.Hebrews 1:13 ---But to which of the angels, etc.—Our author now proceeds to lay the keystone of his argument, in vindicating the superiority of Christ over the holy angels. For this purpose he refers to Psalms 110:1, where David speaking by the Spirit says, “ Jehovah said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” ; that is, until through your administration I shall have completely vanquished all who resist my authority, whether they be men or angels. It was a custom with ancient kings and princes to tread on the necks of their vanquished enemies, in token of their complete victory over them. See Joshua 10:22-25. This symbol of conquest is often found in the paintings of the ancient Egyptians. The word Lord (Kurios) in this citation refers to the Messiah. This is obvious from the scope and structure of the Psalm itself, and also from the repeated references that are made to it in the New Testament. See Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44; Acts 2:34; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Hebrews 5:6 Hebrews 7:17 Hebrews 7:21 Hebrews 10:13. Indeed, the first of these references, Matthew 22:41-46, is quite sufficient to satisfy every unprejudiced mind, that this is a Messi¬anic Psalm; and that the address of Jehovah, given in the first verse, was made directly to his Son. “ While the Pharisees were gathered together,” says Matthew, “ Jesus asked them, saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. He said unto them, How then doth David in Spirit call him Lord, saying, Jehovah said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand, till I shall have put thy enemies beneath thy feet? If David then calls him Lord, how is he his son ?” It is evident, therefore, that God has honored his Son by assigning to him the place of highest honor and authority, until he shall have completely subjugated all his and our enemies. But no such honor as this was ever conferred on an angel. On the contrary, as he says,—Hebrews 1:14 ---Are they not all ministering spirits, etc.?—The interroga¬tive mode of expression, as it occurs in this verse, is not used to indicate any doubt or uncertainty on the part of the writer, but just the reverse. It is a figure of speech, often used in all writings, sacred and profane, to express an obvious truth in the most pointed and forcible manner. See, for example, Balaam’ s reply to Balak, Numbers 23:19, and God’ s reply to Job, given in chapters 38, 39, 40, and 41. There can be no doubt, then, that all the angels, of whatever rank and order, are now ministers of Christ; and that they are sent forth, under him, to minister in behalf of those who are about to inherit salvation. The Apostle does not mean to say that the angels have all actually left the realms of light, and come to this world to minister to the saints. This is no doubt true of many of them. But the words of the Apostle do not of necessity imply that it is true of them all. His meaning is more general. What he intends to say is simply this: that under Christ, it is now the business of all angels, from the highest to the lowest, to aid in the work of redeeming man; and in carrying out this work to its final consummation. Some of them may be sent to frustrate the wiles and devices of Satan and his fallen compeers (Jude 1:6) ; some, to punish wicked men (Genesis 19:1-26; 2 Kings 19:35; Acts 12:23) ; some, to preside over the councils and courts of princes (Daniel 10:20-21 Daniel 11:1 Daniel 12:1); some, to aid providentially in bringing men to repentance (Acts 10:1-8) ; some, to take care of the living saints (2 Kings 6:15-23; Psalms 34:7 Psalms 91:11; Dan. 3; 25-28; 6: 22; Matthew 18:10; Acts 5:19 Acts 12:7-10) ; some, to com¬fort dying saints and to bear their spirits home to glory (Luke 16:22) ; some may peradventure remain in Heaven to minister to the spirits of the just made perfect; and some may go, as Christ’ s am¬bassadors, to other worlds, to assist in there executing his decrees and purposes. But as the mediatorial reign of Christ, though extending over all worlds, is designed primarily and chiefly for the redemption of man, so also is the ministration of the countless myriads of angels that serve under him. They are all sent forth to minister in some way, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of those who are the heirs of salvation. This is the end of our author’ s first argument drawn from the exalted rank and character of our blessed Lord and Redeemer. He has yet much to say of him in many respects. But being himself deeply impressed with a sense of the obligations which all men are under to love, honor, and obey such a Savior; and perceiving at the same time the dreadful consequences of their neglecting to do so; he suddenly breaks off from his direct line of argument, and draws from his submitted premises the conclusion which follows.Commentary on Hebrews 1:4-14 by Don BoatmanHeb_1:4 --having becomeThis suggests a time when He was not better than the angels. When could this time have been? a. Perhaps just after the emptying spoken of by Paul. Philippians 2:5-10. b. While Christ was in human flesh and before He was refilled with His original glory. During the time of His humility on earth, He was at least in some respect lower than the angels: a. “ made a little lower than the angels.” cf. Hebrews 2:9. b. “ a body didst Thou prepare for Me.” cf. Hebrews 10:5. Hebrews 1:4 --so much better than the angelsWhat is meant by “ so much better” ? The word in the Greek is Kreithan.a. It very likely means a measure of place or position, not quality of being. b. Moral or spiritual excellence is not included. c. Glory— honor— reverence, He had less while on earth, being obedient to the cross. d. Ways in which He is better than angels: 1. He is the Son— they are servants. Hebrews 1:5-72. He is worshipped by angels. Hebrews 1:63. He may be addressed by God. Hebrews 1:84. He is a king with a sceptre of righteousness. Hebrews 1:85. He was anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows. Hebrews 1:96. He is addressed as “ Lord” . Hebrews 1:107. He is seated at the right hand of God. Hebrews 1:138. Angels minister to those who inherit salvation made possible by Christ. Hebrews 1:149. Not to angels did He subject the world to come, Hebrews 2:5e. The word “ better” appears frequently in Hebrews: 1. Better than angels, Hebrews 1:42. Better things. Hebrews 6:93. Better person than Abraham. Hebrews 7:74. Better hope. Hebrews 7:195. Better covenant. Hebrews 7:226. Better covenant and promises. Hebrews 8:67. Better sacrifice. Hebrews 9:238. Better possessions. Hebrews 10:349. Better country. Hebrews 11:1610. Better resurrection. Hebrews 11:3511. Better things. Hebrews 11:4012. Better than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:24f. Paul elsewhere says that to depart and be with Christ is “ better” . Philippians 1:23 Hebrews 1:4 --than the angels Who are angels? a. Generally, it can be said that they are beings less than God, and other than men. b. Specifically, here are some facts about them: 1. They are intelligent beings, showing some characteristics of men: 1 Peter 1:11-12—“ which things angels desire to look into.” 2. They are messengers: Revelation 4:8-11; Genesis 19:15— Message to Lot. 3. They praise God and sing before Him. Revelation 4:8-11; Revelation 5:9. 4. They are emotional. Luke 15:7; Luke 15:10 : Angels rejoicing over sinners who repent. 5. They are sexless creatures. Matthew 22:30—“ neither marry or are given in marriage.” 6. They are creatures of choice. 2 Peter 2:4—“ when they sinned—” Jude 1:6—“ kept not their own principality—” 7. They seem to be winged creatures, in some instances at least. a) Six wings. Isaiah 6:2. b) Four wings. Ezekiel 1:6. c) Wings. Exodus 25:30; Exodus 37:9c. There are two classes of angels: 1. God’ s angels who serve: a) 1 Timothy 5:21—“ the elect angels.” b) Revelation 14:10—“ holy angels.” 2. Evil angels: a) Ephesians 6:12—“ spiritual hosts of wickedness.” b) Revelation 12:9—“ dragon was cast out and his angels.” Hebrews 1:4 --as he hath inherited a more excellent NameThis is a reward for His obedience, and thus His Name is above every name: a. What name is foremost in the world but the name of Jesus? b. We might argue over the second place name, Paul, Augustine, Lincoln, etc., but Jesus stands alone. c. What is the Name referred to here? “ Jesus” , “ Christ” , “ Immanuel” , etc.? The Name is “ Son” , as seen by Hebrews 1:5. Observe the importance of the Name of Jesus: a. Acts 4:12— In none other is there salvation. b. Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 2:9— Name above every name. c. Philippians 2:10— Name to bow before. d. Philippians 2:11— A Name to confess. e. Matthew 28:19— Baptism in His name. f. Colossians 3:17; Matthew 10:42— All good to be in His Name. g. John 14:13; John 15:16— Prayer in His Name. h. Ephesians 5:20— Prayer in His Name. i. Matthew 18:20— Assemble in His Name. j. Ephesians 3:14— His is the family Name.Hebrews 1:5 --for unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My SonThis is a question with an implied answer. He has never at any time said this to any of the angels. a. Christ is unique; He is not one of the many hosts of angels, but the only Son of God. b. We should not consider Christ as man or angel, but as Son of God.Hebrews 1:5 --Thou art my SonThis is a quotation from Psalms 2:7. “ Son” is the “ more excellent name” spoken of in Hebrews 1:4. Paul in Acts 13:33 says Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Psa 2:7. Mary was told by the angel that her child would be called “ Son of God” , Luke 1:35—“ . . . shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” God acclaimed Him as Son twice while He was on earth: Matthew 3:17— at His baptism, Matthew 17:5— at His transfiguration, When did He become the Son of God? a. This is a useless theological question based on the assumption that perhaps once He was not the Son. b. The important thing is the fact that He was called the Son as against the fact that no angel was ever referred to as the Son of God. c. These words were spoken of Christ as the son of David— as Man: 1) As God He was eternally in this relationship. 2) Isaiah 7:14 spoke of Him as “ Emmanuel” .Hebrews 1:5 --this day have I begotten Thee? The meaning of “ beget” : a. It means to procreate as a sire, generate. b. It means to produce as an effect. Paul seems to connect the begetting with the resurrection of Jesus. Acts 13:33-34. a. If the resurrection is the begetting, then it is God’ s declaration of Him as Son referred to in Romans 1:4—“ declared to be the Son of God with power—” b. Thus He was produced from the grave rather than produced as a child in a normal physical sense.Hebrews 1:5 --I will be to Him a Father and He shall be to Me a SonThis is a fulfillment of the royal covenant with David. cf. 1 Chronicles 17:13; 2 Samuel 7:14. Jesus spoke often of this relationship: Matthew 11:25—“ I thank Thee, Father.” Luke 22:42—“ Father, remove this cup—” Luke 23:46—“ Father, into Thy hands—”Study Questions59. Does “ having become so” imply that one day He was not? 60. In what way was He below them? 61. How is Christ so much better than the angels? 62. Is it quality of which he is speaking, or one of place? 63. Find in this chapter ways in which He was superior. 64. How does the author prove that Christ has inherited a more excellent name? 65. When did God call Jesus his Son? 66. Does this Psalms 2:7 actually refer to Christ? 67. What is the day that Christ was begotten? 68. When did God beget Christ? 69. What does Romans 1:4 say of his Sonship? 70. Is the statement of Fatherhood a fulfillment of prophecy? 71. Did Jesus ever call God Father? 72. Name some instances when He did..Hebrews 1:6 --and when He again bringeth in the firstborn The word “ again” creates a problem. a. It seems unlikely that this refers to Christ’ s birth, for His second coming would then be His third; the birth was not “ again in the world.” b. A clarification of the problem of “ again” may be in the alternate translation: “ and again, when He bringeth in—” 1. This means He spoke again, rather than again bringing Him into the world. 2. The angels worshipped at His birth for they spoke— perhaps sang— from the heavens, Luke 2:14, It can be said God “ brought Him in” , for the Scriptures teach it. Luke 1:35— To Mary: “ . . . and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee—” John 3:16—“ that He gave—” Hebrews 1:6 --firstbornThis is a descriptive title and is used in at least two senses; a. Firstborn of creation—Colossians 1:5-18. b. Firstborn from the dead—Revelation 1:5. This is “ firstborn,” God desires Him to have many brethren: Romans 8:29—“ that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”Hebrews 1:6 --into the worldThe Greek word, here translated, “ world” , suggests “ the inhabited world.” a. Christ came to man, for man needed a helper, an example, a Saviour. b. Hebrews 4:15—“ tempted as we are—” c. Hebrews 2:18—“ able to succor them.” God was able to do the most for man by bringing Christ into the inhabited earth. Hebrews 1:6 --He saith, and let all the angels worship HimWhen did God say this? a. Some commentators say the time is uncertain. b. Some strain to suggest Psalms 97:7 or perhaps Deuteronomy 32:43. c. We do not need an Old Testament quotation; if the author were inspired as I believe he was, he spoke this by revelation, just as did John on Patmos. The important thing is that the angels did worship Him while He was on earth, and now do so in heaven. Luke 2:13-14—“ Glory to God—” Revelation 5:11-12—“ and the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands— saying— worthy—” Hebrews 1:7 --winds and His ministers a flame of fireThis is a quotation from Psalms 104:4 In Psalms it reads a little differently—“ who maketh winds” His messengers, flames of fire his ministers.” Differences occur among the translators here: a. Calvin: “ The passage quoted seems to have been turned to another meaning from what it appears to have; for as David is there describing the manner in which we see the world to be governed, nothing is more certain than the winds are mentioned, which he says are made messengers by the Lord.— this testimony is brought forward for this purpose, that it might by a similitude be applied to angels.” (p. 44) 1. Calvin thinks that in this way David compares winds to angels because they perform offices in this world similar to what the angels do in heaven. 2. Hebrews seems to use winds to illustrate angels. b. The correct thought of this phrase seems to be that angels move to serve Him— as spirits: cf. Daniel 9:21—“ they swiftly—” cf. Hebrews 1:14—“ they are ministering spirits—”Hebrews 1:7 --His ministers a flame of fireAngels are related to fire. Revelation 14:18— Angels have power over fire. Revelation 16:8— An angel gives power to the sun to scorch men with fire.Study Questions73. What is meant “ when He again bringeth” ? 74. Does it change the meaning to move the word “ again” ? 75. What is meant by “ firstborn” ? 76. Does this refer to Bethlehem birth? 77. Are there second-born ones? 78. In what way is Christ firstborn? See Colossians 1:15-18; Revelation 1:5. 79. How, when others were resurrected before Him, could He be firstborn from the dead? 80. When did God say, “ Let all the angels worship Him” ? 81. Was He worshipped by angels? When? 82. Where is a heavenly worship described? 83. How many angels worshipped Him in this instance? 84. Give an explanation of “ Who maketh His angels winds” . 85. Where is the quotation found? 86. Do God’ s angels move as wind? 87. What is meant by “ ministers a flame of fire” ? 88. Where is a New Testament scripture that may clarify this?Hebrews 1:8 --Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever This passage has various readings. a. The original is found in Psalms 45:6— In the footnote of the A.S. version it reads, “ Thy throne is the throne of God.” b. In Hebrews the footnote reads, “ Thy throne is God forever.” This is the problem: is Christ addressed here as “ God” ? a. Calvin says: “ The Jews, in order to avoid owning Christ, make an evasion by saying that the throne of God is spoken of; whoever will read the verse who is of sound mind and free of the spirit of contention, cannot doubt, but the Messiah is called God. (p. 45) b. To back up Calvin’ s position, note Hebrews 1:9. “ Therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee.” 1. The commas could be removed so it would read, “ God Thy God hath—” 2. The Psalm is addressed to Jesus, so the commas are correctly placed. The main point should not be lost in the above discussion: a. The point is the eternality of Jesus. b. He is not just a minister of God as are the angels, but He has an eternal throne. Hebrews 1:8 --and the sceptreThis is a baton or staff borne by a sovereign as an emblem of authority. This entry is longer than a Bible module can hold. The rest is at https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ntrc/ Hebrews 2:1-4 DANGER OF WHAT GOD TO US THROUGH HIS SONHeb_2:1-4 Hebrews 2:1 ---Therefore we ought, etc.—The word therefore (dia ton to) is illative, and forms the hinge of the Apostle’ s argument. It is the connecting link between the conclusion which follows, and all that he has said in the preceding chapter, touching the revelation which God has made to us through his only begotten Son. He argues that since it is an indisputable fact, that God has spoken to us by his Son, who is himself the Heir of all things, the Creator of all things, and the Upholder of all things; the brightness of the Fa¬ther’ s glory and the express image of his essence; and since he is himself the expiator of our guilt, endowed with all the attributes of Divinity, and infinitely exalted above all angels, it follows, of course, that “ we should give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard” from the Father through him and concern¬ing him. The Apostle proceeds here on the assumption that wher¬ever much is given, there also much is always justly expected and required. (Luke 12:47-48; Matthew 11:20-24.) And hence he mea¬sures the greater extent of our obligations to give heed to the things spoken, both by the greater fullness of these revelations and also by the greater dignity of him through whom they have been made to us. According to our author, there is resting on every man who hears the Gospel, an obligation to receive and obey it, that is commensurate with the infinitely exalted character of Christ.. Hebrews 2:1 ---the things which we have heard,—By these are meant simply the facts, precepts, promises, warnings, and threatenings of the Gospel. They are of course very numerous; but the following brief summary of the main points may suffice for illustration. It seems, then, (1) that God made man upright, in his own image and after his own likeness; pure, holy, and happy. (Genesis 1:26-27; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:9-10.)(2) That Adam fell by disobedience, bringing death upon himself and on his entire posterity. (Genesis 3:1-19; Romans 5:12 Romans 5:18-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22.)(3)That in this fallen condition, man was morally helpless, unable to do anything whatever either to please God (Romans 8:8), or to save himself from the incurred penalty of God’ s violated law. (Romans 3:20 Romans 8:13-25.)(4) That while mankind were all in this deplorable and helpless condition, God mercifully interposed in their behalf, and provided for them a remedy; a remedy perfectly suited to their wants; and which at the same time meets the requirements of his own government so far that he can now be just in justifying everyone who truly believes in Jesus. (John 3:16; Romans 3:21-31.)(5) That for the purpose of perfecting this plan of Divine mercy, and carrying it into effect for the salvation of the world, the Son of God himself became incarnate (John 1:14) ; tasted death for every man (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 Timothy 2:6); was buried and rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4); reascended to the heavens (Acts 1:9) ; offered his own blood in the Holy of holies not made with hands (Hebrews 9:12 Hebrews 9:24) ; and was then crowned Lord of all, “ angels, and authorities, and powers being made subject to him” (1 Peter 3:22).(6) That he then, according to his promise, sent the Holy Spirit to qualify the Apostles for the work of their mission (John 16:13; Acts 1:8) ; to convince the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:7-11) ; and to dwell in his saints as their comforter and sanctifier (Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:18), helping their infirmities (Romans 8:26), and strengthening them with might even into the inner man (Ephesians 3:16).(7) That salvation from all past personal transgressions is now promised to all who truly believe in Christ; confess his name before men, repent of their sins; and who, in obedience to the authority of Christ, are baptized into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:10.)(8) That all who are thus received into the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, and who continue to give all diligence in walking soberly and righteously and godly in this present world, will ultimately be admitted into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-11.)(9) That those who neglect the Gospel, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be finally banished with an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power. (2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:11-15.) Such is a very brief summary of the things which we have heard from God through his Son and his own chosen Apostles; and to which our author would have us give the more earnest heed. Hebrews 2:1 ---lest at any time we should let them slip.—Or rather, lest perchance we should be drifted away from them (pararruomen aor. 2, sub. pass); “ as a ship,” says Luther, “ shoots away into de¬struction.” Our author represents us all as on a stream, the natu¬ral tendency of which is to carry us downward to ruin. If it is any one’ s purpose to go there with the devil and his angels, it is an easy matter for him to do so. No exertion on his part is at all necessary. Like a man that is afloat above the falls of Niagara, he has but to fold his arms, give himself up to the natural current, and very soon he will be beyond the reach of mercy. But the man who would reach the haven of eternal rest must of necessity make an effort. He must lay hold of all the means and helps which God has graciously provided and offered to him in the Gospel; or other¬wise, he must soon perish forever. “ Strive,” says Christ, “ to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:24.) Why not? Because they do not strive until it is too late; until they have allowed themselves to be carried away beyond the proper limits of safety and security. “ When once the Master of the house,” he says, “ is risen up, and has shut the door,” then all cries for help and mercy will be in vain. See Luke 13:25-28; Proverbs 1:24-28; and Matthew 25:11-13. And hence the necessity of making our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10) by now giving diligent heed to the things which we have heard. — Hebrews 2:2 ---For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast,—The Apostle now proceeds to give a reason for what he has so strongly urged in the preceding verse, viz., that we should give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard from God through his own well beloved Son. This he insists we should all do in view of our greater responsibilities. For if the law which God gave to the Israelites through the ministration of angels was steadfast, and every positive transgression (parabosis) of it, and even every mishearing or neglect (parachioee) of it received a just recompense (misthopodosia, a paying off of wages, a requital in the sense of either reward or punishment), then, how, he asks, can we escape unpunished, if we neglect the fuller and more gracious means of salvation which God has offered to us in the Gospel? This mode of reasoning is what logicians call “ a minori ad majus;” from the less to the greater. The argument rests on the assumption that an increase of light and privileges implies also an increase of respon¬sibility on our part. That “ the word spoken by angels” means the Sinaitic Law, is quite obvious from sundry other passages of Scripture as well as from the context. Paul, for example, writing to the Galatians, says, the Law “ was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator” (Gal. 3: 19); that is, it was promulgated through the intervention of angels, and by the hand of Moses acting as a mediator between God and the people. See also Deut. 33: 2; Psalm 68: 17; and Acts 7: 53. It is evident, therefore, that angels were present at the giv¬ing of the Law from Mount Sinai, and that they performed some part in its promulgation, as the Jewish Doctors believed and taught. (Joseph. Ant. 15: 5, 3). But in what that part consisted is not so clear. Nor is it at all necessary that we should understand this. (Deut. 29: 29.) It is revealed that the angels served as God’ s ministers, in some capacity, in the giving of the Law from Sinai; and it is further revealed that every objective transgression of that Law, and even every subjective neglect of it, received its just pun¬ishment. The man, for instance, who was found gathering sticks on the Sabbath-day, was stoned to death (Num. 15: 32-36) ; and the man who would presumptuously neglect to hear the instructions and warnings of the Priest, touching the requirements of the Law, even that man was to be put to death (Deut. 17: 12, and 27: 26). This, then, being so, how fearfully great are our responsibil¬ities under the superior light of the Gospel; and how very pene¬trating and heart-searching is the following interrogatory. Hebrews 2:3 ---How shall we escape, etc.—In what way, and by what means shall we escape the just recompense of our neglect? If there was no way by which the Jews could escape under the Old Economy, then how shall we escape under the superior light and increased responsibilities of the New? This question has been on file for the last eighteen hundred years; but as yet no satisfactory answer has been given to it. Indeed, the Apostle did not propose it as a prob­lem for solution. It is another case of erotesis in which the author affirms with strong emphasis the utter impossibility of any one’ s being saved who neglects the means of salvation which God has so graciously offered to us in the Gospel. The pronoun “ we” in this clause is emphatic, and comprehends all who have heard and re­ceived the offer of salvation through Christ. The object of the Apostle here is, not to contrast any one class of Jews with another, or any one class of Christians with another, but to contrast all Jews as subjects of the Old Covenant with all Christians as sub­jects of the New Covenant; and that, too, for the purpose of show­ing the greater obligations of the latter, and the consequent dan­gers of neglecting the provisions of the Gospel. And hence he in­cludes in this strong interrogation all the professed followers of Christ, whether they be of Jewish or of Gentile origin. Hebrews 2:3 ---if we neglect so great salvation;— It is not necessary that we should positively reject or despise God’ s offers of mercy and means of grace, in order to seal our final condemnation. To effect this, it is enough that we simply neglect (ameleesantes) the means of sal­vation which God has provided. “ He that believeth not on me,” says Christ, “ is condemned already, because he has not believed on the only-begotten Son of God.” (John 3: 18.) And again he says, “ He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3 : 36.) In all such passages the word believe implies not only faith subjectively considered, but also the obedience of faith as illustrated in the eleventh chapter of our Epistle. And hence Christ says on another occasion, “ He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathered not with me, scat­tered abroad.” (Matt. 12: 30.) A strict observance of all the commandments and ordinances of God, is therefore indispensable, not as a means of procuring salvation, but as a condition of enjoying what Christ has himself freely purchased for us with his own blood. There is an implied contrast here between the salvation which was offered to the Jews, on the conditions of legal obedience; and that which is now offered to all, on the conditions of Gospel obedi­ence. The former was relative; but the latter is absolute. The former was procured through carnal ordinances imposed on the people till the time of reformation; but the latter has been procured for us through the blood of Christ. The former was temporal; the latter is eternal. And hence it is properly called a “ great salva­tion,” involving as it does the free and full pardon of sin; the justi­fication and sanctification of the sinner; the redemption of the body from the corruption of the grave; and the eternal glorification of both the soul and the body in the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Hebrews 2:3 ---which began to be spoken by the Lord.— The author does not mean that this salvation was wholly unknown to the ancients. The good news of redemption through Jesus Christ was enigmatically suggested even to our first parents before they were expelled from Eden (Gen. 3: 15); and the subject was afterward more fully re­vealed to Abraham (Gen. 12: 3; Gal. 3: 8) and the Prophets (Isa. 53; 1 Pet. 1: 10-12.) Nevertheless, it is certainly true in a very important sense that Christ by his appearing “ brought life and im­mortality to light through the Gospel.” (2 Tim. 1: 10.) He was the first to reveal to the people by his teachings, his sufferings, and his triumphs, the true economy of the grace of God which “ bring- eth salvation to all men.” And hence it is that the most ignorant subject of his Kingdom knows more of the way of life and salva­tion through the atoning blood of Christ and the renewing influ­ence of the Holy Spirit, than did even John the Baptist. (Matthew 11:11) How far Christ himself, while on Earth, revealed to his dis­ciples the plan of redemption, it may be difficult to say. But from sundry passages of Scripture (Matthew 28:20; John 14:26), it seems probable that he instructed them in nearly all, if not in quite all of the laws and principles of his Kingdom. And hence our au­thor says that this salvation which “ at the first began to be spoken by the Lord” was afterward “ confirmed unto us by them that heard him” ; that is, by the Apostles and Prophets who were eye and ear witnesses of his personal ministry. (Acts 1:8 Acts 1:21-22;. 1 John 1:1-3.) From this remark, it is inferred by Bleek, Alford, and others, that Paul is not the author of this Epistle. For it is manifest, they say, that the writer classifies himself with those who had not heard the Lord, in contrast with those who had heard him. But it ap­pears from Galatians 1:11-24, that Paul had not only heard and seen Jesus, but that he had also actually received from him his commis­sion and all his qualifications as an Apostle. This is a plausible objection against the Pauline authorship of the Epistle; but that it is not valid, will appear from the following considerations: (1) It seems probable that in the above remark, the author has reference only to Christ’ s personal ministry on Earth; and consequently that he speaks here only of those who saw Christ, heard him, handled him, and conversed with him, dur­ing the period of his earthly ministry. If so, then Paul may in fact have belonged to that class of Christ’ s ministers who did not hear and see him during the period to which our author refers. At all events, he certainly did not hear him in the full and pregnant sense in which the word hear is used in this connection. (2) It is not the author’ s purpose here to vindicate his own authority as an Apostle, or to give prominence to himself in any way; but just the reverse. He aims simply to vindicate the claims and the authority of the Gospel, and while doing so to keep himself in the back­ground as much as possible. And hence by a common figure of rhetoric (anacoenosis), he seems to have purposely associated him­self with his readers, as he often does in other parts of the Epistle (Hebrews 3:14 Hebrews 4:1-3 Hebrews 4:11 Hebrews 4:14-16 Hebrews 6:1 Hebrews 6:3, etc.), in order that he might have as strong a hold on their sympathies as possible. See Introduction Section I. Div. 2: 2. Hebrews 2:4 God also bearing them witness,— God himself is ever pres­ent with whatever agents or ministers he employs to work out any given end or purpose. “ My presence,” said he to Moses, “ shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” (Exodus 33:14.) “ I am not alone,” says Christ (John 8:16) ; “ the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:10). So also God was ever pres­ent with the Apostles, confirming their testimony with signs, and wonders, and divers miracles, and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will. There are not so many different kinds of miracles, wrought by God in attestation and confirmation of the truth; but they are rather the same miracles viewed under different aspects. It is plain, as Ebrard says in substance, that miracles may be regarded in a fourfold aspect; first, with regard to their design, as signs (seemeia), miraculous testimonies in behalf of the truth; secondly, with respect to their nature, as wonders (terata), supernatural acts calculated to excite wonder and amazement in the minds of those who witnessed them; thirdly, with respect to their origin, as manifestations of supernatural powers (dunameis) ; and finally, in their specifically Christian aspect, as gifts and distri­butions of the Holy Spirit (pneumatos hagios merismoi) imparted to the original witnesses and proclaimers of the truth, according to the will of God. (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11.) These might be multiplied almost indefinitely. But it is hoped that the few suggested under each section will be sufficient to in­duce the thoughtful reader to reflect and meditate on the text for himself; and to draw from it such lessons of comfort and consola­tion, as are best adapted to his own immediate wants and circum­stances. The following are given but as a specimen: God has certainly spoken to fallen man (1:1). Of this we have very strong evidence in this first section of our Epistle; the thoughts of which are as far above the conceptions of the most gifted heathen poets and philosophers, as Heaven is above the Earth. Compare, for instance, the theology of this section with the theology of Homer and Hesiod; and mark the infinite contrast. But just as certain as God spoke to the ancients, first by the Prophets and afterward by his Son, so certain it is that he now speaks to us in and through every book, chapter, and verse of the Holy Scriptures. “ For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and com­fort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4.) The canon of Holy Writ was framed for our benefit, on whom the end of the ages has come. And hence we should receive every word of the Bible as the living voice of Jehovah; for “ all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17.) The harmony of the Old and New Testament Scriptures is complete. As the Christian Fathers taught, “ The New Testament lies concealed in the Old; and the Old Testament lies patent in the New.” The one is but the complement of the other. The revela­tions of the New Testament are fuller and simpler, and conse­quently more encouraging than those of the Old; but together they serve to develop and illustrate one plan of mercy and grace for the salvation of the world. The Eloheem Jehovah of the Old Testament, is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of the New. Sometimes, indeed, these names are ascribed to the Father alone (Psalms 2:2 Psalms 2:7 Psalms 45:7 Psalms 110:1-2 Psalms 110:4) ; and sometimes to the Son alone (Psalms 45:6; Jeremiah 23:6) ; but generally, as in Genesis 1:26 Genesis 3:22-23, they each compre­hend the whole Godhead; the former expressing the infinite power, and the latter the essential being and eternity of the Deity. And hence it follows that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are the one eternal, immutable and omnipresent God. “ Hear, O Is­rael, Jehovah our Eloheem is one Jehovah.” (Deuteronomy 6:4.) The evidence of Christ’ s Divinity given in this section is full and complete. He is the Creator of all things; the Upholder of all things; the effulgence of the Father’ s glory and the exact likeness of his substance. He is associated with the Father in the govern­ment of the universe; is called God by the Father himself; and as God he is worshiped by all the holy angels. His throne is eternal; and though he will roll up the heavens as a curtain, and change and readjust them as a worn-out garment, he himself is still the same, “ yesterday, to-day, and forever.” If these facts are not suf­ficient to prove beyond all doubt the Divinity of the Lord Jesus, then will our Socinian friends have the kindness to tell us what ev­idence would be sufficient for this purpose ? We have also in this section abundant evidence of God’ s will­ingness to save sinners. The obstacles that lay in the way of his doing so were of course very great. Great indignity had been cast on himself as well as on his government, by the sin of man. Ail mankind had become enemies to him by wicked works (Colossians 1:20-21), and the human heart had itself become desperately wicked and polluted (Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 15:19). To remove these obstacles out of the way, was of course a very difficult problem. But “ all things are possible with God.” He so loved the world, even when it was dead in trespasses and sins, that he gave his Son, his only Son, to make expiation and propitiation for the sins of mankind. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8 Romans 8:32.) He sent the Holy Spirit to con­vince the world of sin, and righteousness, and of judgment (John 15:26 John 16:8-11) ; and also to dwell in the hearts of his children as their Comforter and Advocate (John 14:16-17 John 16:7; Romans 8:26). He sent holy angels to minister to the heirs of salvation; and he has given to us the Holy Bible as the rule of our faith and practice. He created the Church and furnished it with all that is necessary for our edification and growth in the Divine life. Who, then, can doubt, that as a Father pities and loves his children, so also the Lord pities and loves those who earnestly en­deavor to serve him ? How transcendently great are our obligations to love and serve God, through Christ, for his abounding goodness to us poor miserable sinners. (Hebrews 2:1-4.) If, to redeem us from death, he spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; if he has sent his Holy Spirit to enlighten, comfort, and sanctify us; if he watches over us with even more than a Father’ s care; and if he has promised to save us from our sins, to deliver us from the corrup­tion of the grave, and to crown us with honor, glory and immortal­ity in the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on the simple condition that we give him our poor hearts, and consecrate our lives to his service— then who can estimate the extent of our obligations to do this? And who can estimate the infinite remorse and agonies of those who live and die in the ne­glect of this great salvation! May Heaven save us from the folly and destiny of all such. Commentary on Hebrews 2:1-4 by Don E. Boatman Hebrews 2:1 --Therefore weThis suggests a conclusion to be drawn from previous points: a. Since God has loved us, giving us a ministry, a word, a Christ, ministering angels, some duties must rest on us. b. Salvation is not to be solely God’ s responsibility. It is time man should awaken, for God will not endure a wayward society.Hebrews 2:1 --to give the more earnest heedThis calls for application of man’ s energies, and not a careless. carefree attitude: a. God challenges men to hear— to reason. 1) Revelation 3:13 : “— hath ears, let him hear.” 2)Isaiah 1:18 : “— let us reason.” 3) Deuteronomy 18:19 : “— not hearken.” 4) Matthew 7:27 : “— heareth and doeth not.” b. Man is a creature of choice. Therefore, he must use his intellect for his self-preservation. Jesus spoke plainly concerning disbelief, saying that disbelievers will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)Hebrews 2:1 --to the things that were heardWhat had been heard? a. This refers to the message heard from Christ and his Apostles. 1. Some might want to say that it refers to all the Old Testament scriptures, but this is not true, except as preached by the Lord and the apostles. 2. The content suggests the preaching of Christ and His apostles, and not the divers portions and manners of the Old Testament times. b. The message that made them Christians is referred to here.Hebrews 2:1 --lest happily we drift away from them.Drifting is always downstream. a. Like a man that is above the waterfall, he has only to fold his hands and drift to his destruction. b. The man who would reach heaven must strive, not drift. An alternate translation is, “ Lest at any time we should let them slip.” a. The Word will not slip— it is final and eternal. 1. Matthew 24:35 : “— my word shall not pass away.” b. Man needs to guard himself lest he slip. 1. Luke 13:24 : “ Strive to enter in at the strait gate.” 2. 2 Peter 1:10 : “ Make your calling and election sure.”Hebrews 2:2 --for if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast Milligan says this refers directly to the Mosaic law. a. Galatians 3:19— law was ordained in the hands of a mediator by angels. b. Deuteronomy 33:2, “— from His right hand went a fiery law for them.” c. Acts 7:53 :—“ who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.” God’ s words to Israel were filled with warnings, and the history of Israel proves that God meant what He said: a. Exodus 23:20-21 : “ An angel before thee— provoke him not.” b. Deuteronomy 17:12 : There was a death penalty for rejecting the word of a priest. The word “ if” suggests a conclusion to be drawn— look for it. Hebrews 2:2 --a just recompense of rewardThe penalty in the Old Testament was severe and quick. A few examples of its severity are given: a. Deuteronomy 19:16-21— The penalty for a false witness. b. Joshua 7:25— Israel stoned Achan for disobedience. c. Deuteronomy 22:21— A harlot stoned to death. The New Testament gives us a picture of the seriousness of sin. a. Acts 5:1-11— Ananias and Sapphira— carried out dead.Hebrews 2:2 --a justIsrael agreed to the justice of it: a. Deuteronomy 27:26 : “ all the people shall say amen.” Who is man that he could challenge the justice of a Father who is so forgiving and loving?Hebrews 2:2 --recompense of reward“ Recompense” means compensation, award or payment: a. Good, as well as bad, has its retribution. b. We live in a dependable universe, where whatever a man sows, that will he reap. Galatians 6:7-8. c. Every road has its ending. d. Every law has its penalty, else it is no law. Recompense is God’ s privilege, for it is He who has made the laws of the universe. a. Hebrews 10:30-31 : “ Vengeance belongeth to Me, I will recompense.” b. Revelation 19:15 : “ winepress of the wrath of the Almighty.”Hebrews 2:3 --How shall we escapeThis is the conclusion suggested by the “ if” in verse two. There is no escape. Three characteristics of God make it impossible for man to escape: a. He is omnipresent— man cannot go where God is not. b. He is omniscient— all-wise, so He cannot be outwitted by man. c. He is omnipotent— all-powerful, therefore man cannot overpower Him. 1. He is almighty. a) Genesis 17:1; Genesis 35:11; Revelation 21:22. 2. He is the source of all power. a) Romans 13:1 : There is no power but of God. Some have tried to escape from God, but found it impossible: a. Adam and Eve tried to hide. Genesis 3:8. b. Cain tried to hide, Genesis 4:10, but God said, “ The voice of thy brother’ s blood crieth unto Me from the ground.” c. Jonah tried it, but he had more than a tribal deity.Hebrews 2:3 --if we neglect so great a salvationIn what ways is our salvation great? a. 1 Peter 1:12 : Angels desire to look into it. b. John 8:56 : Abraham rejoiced as he saw it coming. c. Hebrews 5:9; Hebrews 12:2 : Christ is the author of it. d. John 3:16 : God loved us. e. Romans 1:16 : It has power. f. Hebrews 2:3-4 : It is confirmed.Hebrews 2:3 --the LordWas there no salvation until Christ? a. Yes, in a sense: 1. Enoch was translated, Hebrews 11:5. 2. Elijah went up by a whirlwind in a chariot of fire and horses of fire, 2 Kings 2:11. 3. Lazarus carried into Abraham’ s bosom, Luke 16:22. 4. Psalms 23; “ through the valley of the shadow of death.” b. Old. Testament salvation is not as clearly set forth as that which Jesus gives, which is the great salvation. 1. 2 Timothy 1:10 : “ brought life and immortality to light,” Of what did He the Lord speak? a) He spoke of His Deity: 1. John 1:18 : “ Son who is in the bosom of the Father.” 2. John 10:30 : “ I and the Father are one.” b) He spoke of Himself as “ the Way.” 1. John 14:6. c) He spoke of repentance. 1. Luke 24:47; Luke 13:3. 2. Luke 15:7. d) He spoke of His authority. 1. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16.Hebrews 2:3 --was confirmed unto usWho did the confirming? a. No doubt those that heard Him is here meant: 1. The apostles were eye and ear witnesses of His personal ministry: a) Acts 1:8. b) Acts 1:21. c) 1 John 1:1-3. d) 1 Peter 1:20 : “— but was manifested at the end of time for your sake.” e) Acts 26:26 : “ This thing hath not been done in a corner.” Does the word “ us” destroy the apostleship of Paul? 1. Not necessarily, for he could be simply associating himself with his readers. 2. This is done frequently in other parts of the epistle, (See Hebrews 3:14; Hebrews 4:1-3; Hebrews 4:11; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 6:1; Hebrews 6:3.) Hebrews 2:4 --God also bearing witness with themThe apostles did not have to stand on their word alone: a. They had proof that accompanied their message. b. Thus the person who rejected the preaching rejected not only the word of God, but also His works. The Jews in their heckling of Jesus had asked for proof. Matthew 12:39. Hebrews 2:4 --both by signs and wonders What is meant by “ signs” ?a. Hear Jesus name some signs: Mark 16:17-18; Mark 16:20. 1. Cast out demons, Hebrews 2:17. 2. Speak with new tongues, Hebrews 2:17. 3. Take up deadly serpents, Hebrews 2:18. 4. Drink deadly poison, Hebrews 2:18. 5. Lay hands on sick and they recover, Hebrews 2:18. b. These signs were miracles: 1. They were not witch doctor trickery, but proofs of the origin of the message delivered. 2. They are called “ signs” because they arouse men’ s minds to think of something higher than what appears. What is meant by “ wonders” ?a. This is not necessarily something different, but a different way of looking at the same thing: 1. Milligan quotes Ebrard as teaching that miracles may be regarded in a fourfold aspect: a) First with regard to their design as signs— miraculous testimonies in behalf of the truth. b) Secondly, with respect to their nature as wonders, supernatural acts calculated to excite wonder and amazement in the minds of those who witnessed them. c) Thirdly, with respect to their origin as manifestations of supernatural powers. d) Finally, in their specific Christian aspects, as gifts and distributions of the Holy Spirit imparted to the original witnesses and proclaimers of the truth. (See 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11; Milligan, pp. 79, 80.) A good example is Acts 2:43 : “ And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.” a. Signs would set their thoughts to work. b. Wonders would cause them to feel. c. Miracles would cause faith. John 20:30-31. d. Works beyond the uniformity of nature would cause astonishment.Hebrews 2:4 --and by manifold powers“ Powers” rather suggests the energy put forth in wonders: a. It was seen in Jesus, Luke 9:43. b. Christ always gave glory to God for the power that worked in Him. The word “ manifold” is suggestive, for Christ proved His power over many things: a. Power to forgive sins. Matthew 9:6. b. Power over unclean spirits. Matthew 10:1. c. Power to heal sickness. Mark 3:15. d. Power over nature. Mark 4:39 : “ Peace be still.” e. Power over death. John 10:18 : “ Power to lay it down, power to pick it up.” f. Power to transform human life abounds in the scripture and in human history. These three expressions appear together to show the devil’ s powers likewise: 2 Thessalonians 2:9 : “ Working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders.” a. The devil deceives, while Jesus deals with truth. b. The devil’ s servants can practice magic as well as a magician can fool people; but remember that it is deceit, not truth.Hebrews 2:4 --and gifts of the Holy SpiritThese gifts pertain primarily to the church, whereas the other expressions were definitely true of God in times past: a. Ephesians 4:11 : “— He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers—” b. 1 Corinthians 12:4-17— diversities of the Spirit. c. 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 is a very good list.Hebrews 2:4 --according to His own willGod in His wisdom is able to distribute gifts arbitrarily in order to make them most efficient in His service. Calvin says, “ The words remind us that the miracles mentioned could not be ascribed to any except to God alone and that they were not wrought undesignedly, but for the distinct purpose of sealing the truth of the gospel.” (p. 56)Study Questions164. Did God ever speak through angels a punishment or a warning? 165. “ Just recompense of reward” means what? 166. Name some instances of fair punishment. 167. Did the people ever agree that God was just? (See Deuteronomy 27:26.) 168. Is this a world that gives recompense of reward? (See Galatians 6:7-8.) 169. What is there about God that makes it impossible for man to flee from God? Explain. 170. Name some who have tried to escape. 171. What is referred to as “ gifts of the Holy Spirit” ? 172. Why did God give some people gifts? (See Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:4-17; 1 Corinthians 12:28-30.) 173. What new discussion does Paul begin in Hebrews 2:5? 174. What is meant by the expression, “ world to come” ? 175. Does he mean that in the new earth man will reign? 176. Was this world ever subjected to man? 177. Was it ever lost? 178. When? (See Genesis 3:15-24.) 179. Was it lost to anyone? cf. Psalms 68:18; John 14:30; 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31; John 16:11; 2 Corinthians 2:2; 1 John 5:19; Revelation 12:9. 180. Did the Jews desire signs? 181. What is the difference between signs and wonders? 182. What is the real difference? Are not both miracles? 183. What power do we see in the apostles? 184. “ Manifold powers” suggests many powers. Will you name some indications of Christ’ s power over many things? 185. Could power refer to the energy put forth in doing wonders? 186. Does the devil have similar power? cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Ephesians 6:12. 187. Is neglect a sin? 188. What will neglect do in other realms, such as a flower garden, a farm, a building, a baby? 189. Is the sin in proportion to the greatness of the thing neglected? 190. In what ways is salvation through Christ a great salvation? 191. What in this salvation was spoken by the Lord? 192. Did He add to what has been previously spoken? 193. Did He just add more light? 194. Name some things spoken of by Jesus. 195. Did Jesus speak of the death, burial, resurrection? 196. What do you understand by the word “ confirmed” ? 197. Who did the confirming? 198. Is the author stating that he received his message from the apostles who traveled with Jesus? 199. Is it characteristic of the author to identify himself with the reader? 200. Who is referred to by the expression, “ them that heard” ? 201. Explain the statement, “ God bearing witness with them.” Special Study GIFTS, (Hebrews 2:3-4) Introduction I. OF . “ An event occurring in the natural world, observed by the senses, produced by divine power, without any adequate human or natural cause, the purpose of which is to reveal the will of God and do good to man” (McCartney, in Twelve Great Questions About Christ).1. Hume once argued: there is more evidence for regularity in nature than for irregularity; therefore, regularity and not irregularity must be the truth of the matter. 2. Certainly there is more evidence for the regular occurrence of nature than for any supernatural occurrence. If there weren’ t we could not talk of miracles. 3. The argument of miracle rests on the regularity of nature generally. 4. Only if all the historical evidence available to man could show there is no being outside nature who can in any way alter it can there be an argument against the possibility of miracles. This the evidence does not do— indeed cannot do! B. In our text four different words are used: 1. semeiois = signs 2. terasin = wonders 3. dunamesin = powerful deeds 4. merismois = distributions (of the Holy Spirit) 5. Milligan (Hebrews) says these words classify miracles as: a. to their design (signs) b. to their nature (wonders) c. to their origin (supernatural power) d. to their Christian aspect (distributions of the Holy Spirit) II. THE FACT OF RESTS ON THE OF OUR NEW TEXT A. Were these writers eyewitnesses? B. Are they credible? C. Are the documents authentic? D. This is another subject— but it is the fundamental subject. III. PURPOSE OF A. As our text points out, the primary purpose of miracles was to “ bear witness” that the message from Jesus and that Jesus Himself was from God. John 10:25; John 10:37-38; John 15:10-11; Matthew 9:1-8 The miracles do not prove Jesus to be the Son of God— many men worked miracles— but they prove Him to be a truthful messenger, and this truthful messenger says that He is God. Christ may have wrought miracles and not have been God; but He could not have wrought miracles and said that He was God without being God. B. To demonstrate the mercifulness of God in the case of individual men. Miracles illustrate and explain the teaching of Jesus on the love and mercy of God. C. To demonstrate God’ s wrath upon sin and rebellious sinners Matthew 21:18-19 (cursed fig tree), Acts 13:11 (blinding of Elymas) Acts 5:5-10 (Ananias and Sapphira). Bible miracles taught not only God’ s love and goodness but also His power and authority, and sometimes His righteous and fearful judgments. D. Miracles of the Bible demonstrate clearly that miracles were never intended to be universal: 1. In extent: for they were always limited to few and special cases. Never have they been used to relieve suffering or prolong life here for all of God’ s people universally. a. Some received no miraculous deliverance here (Hebrews 11:35-40) b. John the Immerser, greatest born of women, worked no miracles, nor was he delivered miraculously (Matthew 11:7-11; John 10:41). c. Jesus could have healed all or raised all from dead but He didn’ t. d. Paul healed many, but did not heal Trophimus and Timothy (2 Timothy 4:20; 1 Timothy 5:23). 2. In result: All who were delivered from sickness had at other times to suffer again and die. All who were raised from the dead had to die again. Peter was delivered twice, but not a third time. (God was no less compassionate and Peter no less believing.) IV. PASSING OF (AS SUCH) A. It would take some convincing to persuade me that God does not work providentially in history today. I believe He answers when we pray (sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes without acting at all). 1. I teach Life of Christ, Old Testament Prophets and Revelation. You cannot study and teach those books and believe them for 20 years without believing God is active in the affairs of men and nations. 2. I do not deny that God could reinstitute an age of miracles such as we read about in the Old Testament and New Testament if it suited His purpose. 3. It is just that I believe He will not because He has no further need of such miracles and signs. Here is why I believe that: B. “ When that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away . . .” 1 Corinthians 13:10. 1. The reason for the election of the Jews in Christ (Ephesians 1:1-23) was for “ a plan in the fulness of time, to unite all things in him . . .” (not for heaven, but for earth). Thus the plan was to unite both Jew and Gentile, slave and free, man and woman, into one body, the church. This is why the spiritual miraculous gifts were given in Ephesians 4:11 f., for this ministry of unifying. These miraculous gifts were to last until the teleios “ man” was formed (Ephesians 4:13). 2. The identical context, outline, illustrations, and terminology in 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40 leads us to conclude that such is also the meaning of teleios there . . . to perfect both Jew and Gentile in the one body. 3. It is unquestionably apparent that the problem in both Ephesians and Corinthians was the immaturity and schismatic tendencies of the early church. In light of the frequent association of love with perfection (maturity)— and in light of the fact that the entire epistle of I Corinthians deals with the grand theme of divine love in the context of the childish immaturity of so many Christians at Corinth, it seems best to define “ the perfect” in terms of the ultimate goal, aim, and end which Paul seeks to accomplish which is growth and maturity in Christ. 4. Paul’ s description of the carnal immaturity of Christians at Corinth serves to underscore his emphasis on the ultimate goal which he sets for them in chapter 13. Chapter 13 must be read in the context of the whole book and may not be interpreted apart from his charge in 1 Corinthians 14:1—“ Make love your . . .” and in 1 Corinthians 14:20 “ Do not be children in your thinking; in malice be babes, but in thinking be perfect.” 5. When the “ perfect” comes, says Paul, the tongues, etc. would cease. These miraculous gifts were not proofs of spiritual maturity. Paul does not say that these will cease when Jesus comes again, nor when the Corinthians get to heaven. Rather that in time, during their life on earth, the miraculous demonstrations will cease. 6. I do not think “ perfect” means just the completed canon of New Testament books; it also has to do with a “ perfected” church. a. The canon’ s formation was by uninspired men (so far as we know). I believe every book in the New Testament is inspired and apostolic. But what if another scroll of antiquity is found with the same credentials as the books we now have? We would not have a “ perfect— complete” New Testament! b. The “ perfect law of liberty” was already at work when James wrote of it in James 1:25. This perfect law was in action before the completion of our 27 books of the New Testament were formed into a New Testament. One could look into this law then and be blessed in obedience to it. It was the perfect law of freedom because it accomplished what the incomplete Law of Moses could not do. It is significant in this context that James also speaks of the children of God as being perfect and complete in the church (James 1:4-5). C. The end for which miracles were wrought, to attest to the veracity of Christ and His claims, to bring the church to maturity, and to bring about faith through which we may partake of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4)— this is the ultimate goal of God’ s work with us. CAN NEVER BE AN FOR THIS (1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Peter 1:3-11; 1 John 1:5-8; 1 John 3:1-6; 1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 1 Corinthians 14:1; 2 Corinthians 3:18). (See A Study of the Work of the Holy Spirit in Christians, by Seth Wilson, mimeo, Ozark Bible College bookstore.) 1. Miracles are signs or works of the Holy Spirit, not the Holy Spirit Himself. They are the effects of which he is the cause. Miracles have been found where the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit did not occur. (Matthew 10:1-42; Luke 10:1-42; apostles and 70 disciples worked miracles months before Jesus said the Holy Spirit had not come yet (John 7:38). King Saul on his way to murder God’ s anointed was made to prophesy by the Spirit of God (1 Samuel 19:18-24). Balaam’ s ass (Numbers 22:25-30). Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48). 2. It is evident that some men whom Christ called “ workers of iniquity” claimed to have worked many miracles in His name. If they speak that boldly to His face, at judgment, does it not appear that they will be sincerely convinced that they have actually wrought such mighty works by His power here? 3. It does not appear that miraculous demonstrations are necessary effects whenever or wherever the Holy Spirit dwells in men. 1 Corinthians 12:3, the man who honestly says Jesus is Lord manifests he has the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:29-30 shows that not all in the New Testament church had the gifts of miraculous works. 4. The word of God has the power to regenerate and to sanctify through faith which allows the Spirit of God to dwell in us (Ephesians 3:16-19; 1 Timothy 1:5; Galatians 5:22-25; 2 Peter 1:3-4; 2 Corinthians 3:18). 5. Miraculous deeds did not guarantee a spiritual church. The Corinthian church “ came behind in no gift” and was enriched “ in all utterance and in all knowledge” (1 Corinthians 1:5-7); yet that church was notorious for errors in doctrine and evils in practice. 6. Are such wonders and signs always caused exclusively by the Holy Spirit? May some of the experiences and utterances be caused by the workings of the subconscious mind, by something like hypnotic influences? (See The Psychology of Speaking in Tongues, by John P. Kildahl, Harper &Row.) Scriptures warn of the possibility (at least in the first century) of “ lying wonders” (Matthew 24:24; Matthew 7:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 John 4:1-6; Revelation 13:14; Revelation 16:14; Revelation 19:20). Even the Old Testament warned against false prophets with signs (Deuteronomy 13:1-5; Deuteronomy 18:22; Isaiah 8:20). 7. Isolated wonders do not necessarily prove a divine revelation from God. Bible miracles were part of a coherent combination of many miracles and messages to which they were significantly related. The extent and quality of Bible miracles and revelations is different from the many alleged miracles and prophecies of today or centuries since apostles. Philip’ s miracles and those of Simon Magus were different. Even Pharaoh could see (or should have) the difference between Moses’ miracles and those of his magicians (Galatians 1:6-9). Even a gospel by angels, if different than Paul’ s would be condemned. 8. 1 John 4:6 says it is not the Holy Spirit if men show they do not hear (heed and keep) the words of the apostles. James 3:13-18 shows that the Spirit of God does not cause men to be jealous and factious— divisive. WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY , TO HAVE THESE SIGNS AND WONDERS, YET TO THEIR EVEN IN THE FACE OF PLAIN , WHAT ARE WE TO ABOUT THEIR CLAIMS? V. GIFTS (Romans 12:1-13) A. I believe all men and women have gifts from their Creator. 1. All may not have the same gifts or latent potentialities. 2. Some may have many more potentialities than others. 3. BUT THEY ARE ALL NEEDED AS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. This is the important point: No gifts, capacities, talents, abilities (all given by the grace of God) are more important , than others. 4. The whole context here indicates Paul is talking not about miraculous gifts given by God for the same purposes as those of 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40; but of functional gifts, one of which at least every member of the body has . B. I like the way Carl Ketcherside explains it in Mission Messenger Vol. 36, No. 10, Oct. 1974, “ Functioning Gifts.” 1. Any gift freely bestowed by God is a gift of the Spirit, regardless of how it is communicated to the recipient. That is why I object to designating any period of time a charismatic age. There is no such thing as a charismatic age, for the simple reason that there is no non-charismatic age. There has never been a time when the will of God was not enhanced and promoted by gifts of grace. A gift is not charismatic because of its nature, method of reception, or effect, but because of its origin. It is charismatic because it is a gift of charts, grace. 2. The man who has the enviable gift of understanding and relieving the needy is “ charismatic” as surely as one who has the gift of prophecy. The one who can give cheerfully and freely as his contribution to the work of the saints is “ charismatic.” In view of this, I am not turned on by such expressions as “ The Spirit is working again in our time.” The Spirit has never ceased working. 3. The gifts of God are varied. Paul wrote to a congregation which came behind in no gift and told them that the ability to restrain sexual passion, making marriage unnecessary was a charisma of God. But he also implied that the gift of sexual need which could be gratified in marriage was a charisma. “ I would that everybody lived as I do; but each of us has his own special gift from God— one in one direction and one in another” (1 Corinthians 7:7). It is quite evident that Paul’ s gift was in a different direction than that of the majority. C. Ephesians 4:7 “ But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’ s gift.” 1. Do not the parables teach that men are given (how else, but by the grace of God) “ talents” and “ pounds” according to different measures, and each one is expected to use them (none are non-functional) and be rewarded according, not to what he does not have, but according to how he uses what he does have? 2. Now if we will follow the leading of the Spirit in His revealed will and make sure instead of worrying about “ having the Spirit” that the “ Spirit has all of us,” we will “ use” our praxin (function, or action) charismata gifts for the benefit of the one body. 3. Actually, if we simply let ourselves be “ transformed” by “ the renewing of our minds . . .” (Romans 12:1-2) we will use our gifts of grace for the upbuilding of the body in love. 4. Even unconverted men and women have charismatic gifts! functional gifts—whatever they have in potentialities they have by the grace of God but they are not allowing the Spirit to use them for the upbuilding of Christ’ s body. D. Does all this mean that the special supernatural gifts should also be continued by the Holy Spirit in the church today? No. 1. They were for special needs. The functional gifts will always be needed. 2. I do not need to see a miracle performed by anyone else, nor have one performed upon me, to produce faith in the revealed Word of God. 3. The original envoys of Jesus who gave the message were thoroughly accredited and their message was confirmed by miracles, wonders and signs. There is no sense in having miracles to confirm miracles, and once truth is confirmed it never needs to be confirmed again. 4. The spectacular, super natural, signs and wonders were to cease (there is no doubt about that), but the functional gifts through which every member of the body may love man and God will abide! 5. AFTER ALL, THE GRACE OF GOD HAS GIVEN EACH OF US GIFTS FOR IN THE CHURCH AND WE USE THEM TO THE MEASURE OF OUR FAITH. a. The miraculous, supernatural gifts could be given and made to function regardless of the measure of the faith of the person. Commentary on Hebrews 2:1-4 by Burton CoffmanHeb_2:1 --Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we should drift away from them. (Hebrews 2:1) FIRST UPON CHRIST'S ; The first four verses of this chapter are a digression from the main line of thought for the purpose of exhorting the readers to a more alert fidelity to God's word; and there are no less than five instances in the epistle where such a digression is made. It should not be overlooked that this is a marked characteristic of all Paul's writings. New said, "Like the acknowledged epistles of Paul, this is characterized by frequent, sudden, and brief departures from the general outline of thought."[1] The basis of the exhortation here is that more is required of them to whom more is given, a principle taught by Christ (Luke 12:48); Christ the Son of God, being far greater in dignity than any of those who communicated the Old Testament truths to mankind, is therefore, the argument runs, entitled to receive more careful and obedient attention from them that hear him. The pivotal words are [@prosechein] ("to give heed") and [@pararrein] ("to slip, to drift") .... Both terms are used in a nautical sense .... It is the picture of a ship "slipping" past its haven because the pilot has not paid "attention" to the course.[2]It is possible to drift away from the teachings of Christ because: (1) some, being in him, are still not anchored in him; (2) subtle and powerful tides and currents surge and tug against the soul's safety; (3) the believer fails to exercise due care and diligence in the defense and development of his faith; and (4) some allow preoccupation with unimportant and secondary things to preempt too much of their time and attention. The description of apostasy given in this verse is true to life for people seldom turn boldly and dramatically away from the Lord; but their defection, imperceptible at first, is marked by such a gradual departure that the unwary soul is blind to it until the haven is lost and the storms of the great gulf herald the approach of eternal ruin. [1] C. New, The Pulpit Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962), Vol. 21, Hebrews, p. 67. [2] Clarence S. Roddy, The Epistle to the Hebrews (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1962), p. 27. Hebrews 2:2 --For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward.The mediation of angels in the giving of the Law of Moses was not stated at that time, the nearest thing to it being found thus: "He came with ten thousands of saints; from his right hand went a fiery law before them" (Deuteronomy 33:2). Paul stated it clearly, saying that the Law "was ordained through angels in the hands of a mediator" (Galatians 3:19); and Stephen also made reference to it, speaking of them "who received the law as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not" (Acts 7:53). The argument is that God's word, although received second or third hand through Moses and angels, was despite that a sacred and binding obligation, not to be despised or set at naught, and was sternly enforced by the imposition of drastic penalties for every infraction or neglect. Many examples of such penalties are recorded in the Old Testament. The sabbath breaker was stoned; Achan was put to death; Saul was rejected from being king; David was not permitted to build the temple; the prophet who did not obey was slain by a lion; and an entire generation perished in the wilderness because of their murmuring and disbelief. Even Moses was restrained from entering the promised land because of his disobedience in striking the rock. Hebrews 2:3 --How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard?Escape? None is possible where disobedience of the word of God is involved. Penalties of the most awful consequence await the soul which through unbelief, neglect, or disobedience fails to heed God's message through his Son. "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men" (Romans 1:18). The inevitability of sin's receiving its just punishment is founded in the holiness and perfection of God, coupled with the utter abhorrence of evil, the latter attribute of God being little noted by many in this day; but everything revealed in the Bible concerning God shows that sin will be punished. God has already executed judgments upon the wicked, and these emphasize the extent of the divine will in that direction. There have already been imposed upon wicked men overwhelming judgments of sorrow and wretchedness because they obeyed not, not merely upon individuals alone, but upon nations, races, cities, extensive populations, and indeed upon the entire race of Adam! Witness the expulsion from Eden, the overthrow of the antediluvians, and the summary destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Think of the casting out of the angels themselves when they sinned, their removal being recorded in the same verse that detailed their crime; and it is written that they are reserved in chains of darkness until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. Let every man ask himself, "How shall I escape where so many have failed?" In the cross of Christ you read a manifestation of the wrath of God against iniquity, which must reduce to hopelessness every considerate person still living in sin, or must reduce to silence at the last day every sinner that will cling to delusive hope.[3]Neglect. It is not necessary to take up arms against God in order to be lost. Not merely the active pursuit of evil but the neglect of positive good can destroy the soul; and it is doubtless from the latter fault that the great majority of unredeemed people shall fail to win the crown. So great a salvation is an appropriate designation for the redemption in Christ; and the true greatness of it is apparent because of: (1) the greatness of the Saviour who achieved it; (2) the greatness of the disaster from which it rescues the sinner; (3) the greatness of the eternal reward in heaven provided by it; (4) the greatness of the Saviour's love that underlies it; (5) the greatness of the adversary who opposes it; (6) the greatness of that multitude who shall receive it; and (7) the greatness of those certainties upon which it is grounded. The contrast in this verse is between the sinners of the Old Testament and the New Testament, leading to the conclusion that if they suffered punishment for disobeying the word that came through angels, how much more certain is it that the wrath and judgment of God shall be executed upon them that neglect or disobey the word delivered by God's Son himself. Which having at the first been spoken through the Lord must be one of the most significant utterances in the whole sum of divine revelation. It defines Christianity as the message brought by Christ. Not even the function of the Holy Spirit in the apostles contravened this, for it was declared by Christ of the work of the Spirit that he should "not speak from himself" (John 16:13) but aid their "remembrance" (John 14:26) of the things Christ had spoken. The true faith was Christ-delivered; and Christ is the only source of the words of life (John 6:68). The bearing of this exceedingly significant truth upon the religious problems of these times is seen in the fact that such a vast body of man-originated doctrines, human innovations, and traditional ceremonies have been received, all of which have no connection whatever with Christ. People who accept such things should look to people for their reward, since it is so certain that Christ is not the author of those things. This entry is longer than a Bible module can hold. The rest is at https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ntrc/ Hebrews 2:5-9 I. MAN’ S LOST OVER THE WORLDTO BE THROUGH JESUSHeb_2:5-9 Hebrews 2:5 ---For unto the angels— The logical connection here is not very clear; and hence the critics are not agreed as to what is the proper antecedent clause of the conjunction "for'* (gar). Some find it in Hebrews 1:13; and others in Hebrews 2:4. But it seems most probable that the object of the Apostle is to introduce another line of argument co­ordinate with that which is given in the first chapter, and leading to the same general conclusion found in Hebrews 2:4. And hence he beau­tifully and with great rhetorical skill and propriety, makes the ex­hortation given in Hebrews 2:1-4, the connecting link between the two. In view of what is stated in the first chapter, he says, ‘‘ We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest haply we should be drifted away from them.” And this, he says by implication, we should do also from the further consideration, that God has made it the business of Christ, and not of angels, to restore to mankind their lost dominion over the world. Hebrews 2:5 ---the world to come, whereof we speak.— The world to come (hee oikoumenee hee mellousa) means, not the coming age (ho aion ho mellon) as in Matthew 12:39, etc., but the habitable world under the reign and government of the Messiah. (1:6.) It is the world in which we now live; and in which, when it shall have been purified from sin, the redeemed will live forever. For man, it was at first created (Genesis 1:28-31); and to man, it still belongs by an immutable decree of Jehovah. This is manifest, as the Apostle here shows, from what is recorded in the eighth Psalm, to which in the popular style of his age, our author here elegantly refers. It consists of two parts; in the first of which (Psalms 8:1-2), David celebrates the praises of God for the marvelous manifestations of his wisdom, power, and goodness, displayed in all his works. These manifestations of the Divine perfections are so very plain that even babes and sucklings perceive and acknowledge them (Matthew 11:25 Matthew 21:16), and thus put to silence the profane scoff - ings of ignorant and foolish men, who say in their hearts, “ No God.” (Psalms 14:1.) In the second part (Psalms 8:3-9), the author speaks particularly of God’ s favor and goodness to man: “ When I consider thy heav­ens, the work of thy fingers, the Moon and the stars which thou hast ordained,” then he says I am constrained to exclaim, Hebrews 2:6 ---What is man, that thou art mindful of him?—That this has reference to mankind in general, and not to Jesus Christ personally considered, as some have alleged, is evident from the Psalm itself, as well as from the scope of the Apostle’ s argument. It is God’ s care for the human race, as such, and not for any one person in particular, which so much excites the wonder and admiration of the Psalmist. When he looked upon the heavens as the work of God’ s fingers, and thought of the Moon and the stars which he (God) had created, he was amazed that a Being so exalted, so ex­cellent, and so glorious, should ever condescend to think of man and to supply his numerous wants. Hebrews 2:6 ---or the son of man, that thou visitest him?— This, in connec­tion with the preceding clause, is a case of synonymous parallelism. “ Son of man” (huios anthropou) in the latter clause is equivalent to “ man” (anthropos) in the first; and each of these terms is used generically for the race. The word visit, according to Hebrew usage, means to manifest one’ s self to another, for the purpose of either blessing (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:16) or punishing (Job 35:15; Psalms 89:32). In this connection, both the words, visit and remember, are used in a favorable sense, indicating God’ s special care over man, in that he provides for him, and, as Christ says, numbers even the hairs of his head. (Matthew 10:10.) Hebrews 2:7 ---Thou madest him a little lower than the angels,— Or as the Hebrew may be more literally rendered, Thou hast made him fall but little short of Eloheem; or, Thou has lowered him a little be­neath Eloheem. The word Eloheem in this passage means the an­gels. It is so rendered in the Septuagint, no doubt in harmony with Hebrew usage, and most likely on the authority of some of the ancient Prophets; and it is, moreover, so rendered by the au­thor of our Epistle. It is still a question with the critics whether the word little (Brachu ti) is expressive of time or of degree. Those who take this as a Messianic Psalm, and refer the words “ man” and “ son of man” to Christ, generally construe the word “ little” as a particle of time (Bleek, Ltinemann, Macknight, Clarke); and so also do some others, as Ebrard, who take these words as referring to mankind generally. But I agree with Delitzsch, Alford, Moll, and others, that both the Psalmist and our author refer here simply to the rank which God has assigned to man in the scale of creation. He has made him, they say, a little inferior to the angels; and there is no intimation given here or elsewhere, that he will ever make him their superior. That man redeemed by the blood of Christ, will, in his glorified state, occupy a place of more tender care and solic­itude than the angels, is quite probable. This is in harmony with several scenes in the Apocalypse (Revelation 5:11-12 Revelation 7:9-12) ; and it is in harmony also with the teachings of Christ in the parables of the lost sheep, the lost piece of money, and the prodigal son (Luke 15). But in none of these passages is there any evidence that man will ever rise in rank above the angels. As a lost and recovered child, he will ever be an object of wonder and sympathy through­out the universe; and the angels will doubtless often lean on their harps, and listen in rapture to the more tender and transporting songs of the redeemed. But I know of no evidence in the Scrip­tures that the present rank of men and angels will ever be re­versed. Hebrews 2:7 ---thou crownedst him with glory and honor,— The two words here rendered glory and honor (doxee kai timee) are nearly syn­onymous in both the Hebrew and the Greek; and they are used, ac­cording to a well known Hebrew idiom, for the.sake of emphasis. Together, they express royal dignity; and in this instance, they in­dicate the fullness of the regal power and authority which God has bestowed, not on the first or on the second Adam merely, but on the race; or rather, on the loyal portion of it. By a decree as im­mutable as the laws of gravitation, God has ordained that man shall inherit the Earth and have dominion over it. Hebrews 2:7 ---and didst set him over the works of thy hands:— This clause is now generally rejected by the critics as spurious. See critical note above given by Bagster. But it is found in the original He­brew, in the Septuagint, and also in manuscripts, A, C, D, M1, etc.; and I am therefore inclined to retain it as genuine. Hebrews 2:8 ---Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.—This, with the last clause, is another instance of Hebrew parallel­ism. It is not, however, synonymous, but constructive parallelism, which occurs here. The Psalmist first expresses the general thought, that God has placed man over the work of his hands. But he does not stop with this. To indicate still further the degree of man’ s sovereignty over the world, he adds, “ Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.” The latter clause is, there­fore, more expressive than the former, as it indicates the perfect and entire subjection of all things earthly to the will of man; and so the Apostle reasons in what follows. For in that he put all things in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him.— In these words, there is no reference whatever to angels, or to other worlds or systems. It is of the Earth, and of the Earth only, that the Holy Spirit here speaks. This is obvious from what follows in the latter part of the eighth Psalm. After saying that all things are by the decree of Je­hovah put under the feet of man, the Psalmist immediately adds, by way of explanation, the following specifications: “ all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the. fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” It is to this world as it was, as it is, and especially as it will be hereafter, that both the Psalmist and the Apostle have refer­ence. When God had renovated the Earth and filled it, as a vast storehouse, with all that was necessary for the well-being and hap­piness of its intended sovereign, he said, “ Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the Earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the Earth, So God created man in his own image; in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multi­ply, and replenish the Earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the Earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28.) This is the perpetual decree of Jehovah with respect to the domain and the dominion of man. True, indeed, Satan has for a time usurped the dominion of this world; and man has by transgression forfeited all claims upon it. The crown of glory and honor has fallen from his head because of sin; and now he is exposed and assailed by a thousand obstacles in earth, air, and sea. And hence the Apostle adds: Hebrews 2:8 ---we see not yet all things put under him.— From this, it is evi­dent that the eighth Psalm is prophetic. The Psalmist looks rather at the decree and purpose of Jehovah touching the final al­lotment of this world, than to the state of things which actually ex­isted at the time in which he wrote. He means to say, that al­though man’ s scepter is now broken, the decree of Jehovah con­cerning it is not broken. His purpose is unchangeable. And hence there can be no doubt but that mankind will yet regain their lost dominion over the Earth. How far this will be accomplished before the Earth shall have been renovated by fire (2 Peter 3), it may be now difficult to say. When Satan shall be bound for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-6), and the saints of the Most High possess the Kingdom (Daniel 7:14 Daniel 7:18 Daniel 7:22), the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 11:6-9) may be more literally fulfilled than we now anticipate. But whatever may be true of this blissful era, so long and so often foretold by the Apostles and Prophets, it is not at all probable that man’ s dominion over the world will be fully restored, until the new heavens and the new Earth appear, in which righteousness will forever dwell. (Revelation 21.) Hebrews 2:9 ---But we see Jesus,— The Apostle here makes a very striking contrast between “ Jesus” and “ man,” to whom by the decree of Je­hovah, the world is to be subjected. “ We do not yet,” he says, “ see all things put under man” ; but in the coronation of Jesus, as Lord of all, we see that the work is in progress; and this is, of course, to all Christians a sure pledge that in due time it will be fully consummated. Hebrews 2:9 ---who was made a little lower than the angels—We learn from the seventeenth verse of this chapter, that “ in all things it be­hooved Christ to be made like unto his brethren.” But they are all “ a little lower than the angels” (verse 7) ; and hence it was neces­sary that he too should, as a man, be made “ a little lower than the angels.” For otherwise, indeed, he would not be a man; would not be capable of suffering death for every man; and would not be such a merciful and faithful High Priest, as we all need to sympa­thize with us in our infirmities. That he is God, the Creator of both men and angels, is clearly taught in the first chapter; and that he is also a man is just as clearly taught in the second. Perfect Divinity and perfect humanity are both perfectly united in the per­son of the Lord Jesus. Nothing short of this, it seems, would make him just such a Savior as we need. Hebrews 2:9 ---for the suffering of death,—It is still a question with exposi­tors, whether this phrase is grammatically connected with what precedes, or with what follows. As rendered in our Common Version it is most naturally connected with what precedes; and seems intended to express the end or purpose for which Jesus was made a little lower than the angels: viz., in order that he might be capable of suffering death. If this is the proper rendering, then it follows that this expression forms a sort of parallelism with the last clause of the verse, and the whole sentence may be construed as follows: “ But we see Jesus (who was made a little lower than the angels, for the purpose of suffering death, so that he by the grace of God might taste death for every man) crowned with glory and honor.” This construction is in harmony with the Apostle’ s argument; but it does $ot altogether harmonize with the laws of grammatical arrangement. Had our author intended to express a parallelism by means of these two expressions, it is not probable that he would have separated them, as he has done in the original, by the intervening words, “ crowned with glory and honor.” And hence I am inclined to think with Delitzsch, Alford, and most modern expositors, that the words in question stand connected with what follows, and that the passage should be rendered thus: “ But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor, for (dia, because of, on account of) the suffering of death” ; that is, on account of, and as a reward for, his sufferings. To this rendering there can be no grammatical ob­jection whatever; and in sense it harmonizes well with the follow­ing and other parallel passages: “ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus; who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no rep­utation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he hum­bled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in Earth, and things under the Earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11.) " Hebrews 2:9 ---crowned with glory and honor,— The best explanation of these words may be found in the above passage from the Epistle to the Philippians. God had long before promised that Christ should be abundantly rewarded for his sufferings. (Isaiah 53:12.) And hence as we are told by Luke (Acts 1:1-11), after that he had borne the pains and agonies of the cross, and after he had risen from the dead and instructed his disciples for forty days in matters pertain­ing to the Kingdom of God, he was then taken up into Heaven, and in the presence of adoring millions (1:6) crowned Lord of all; “ angels, and authorities, and powers being made subject unto him” (1 Peter 3:22). This was first announced to the people, as a fact, by the Apostle Peter, on the following Pentecost (Acts 2:36) ; and afterward it was proclaimed to every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation under heaven. See; Ephesians 1:20-23; Colossians 1:23, etc. There can be no doubt, therefore, that Christ is now the anointed Sovereign of the universe; and that he will reign over all creatures in Heaven, and on Earth, and under the Earth, until he shall have restored to the saints their lost dominion over this world. Hebrews 2:9 ---that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.— Instead of the phrase “ by the grace of God” (chariti. Theou), we have in a few manuscripts, “ without God” (choris Theou). This reading was preferred by Theodoret, Theodore of Mopsuestia, and the Nestorians. But the evidence, both internal and external, is against it; and it is therefore now generally re­jected by the critics, as a marginal gloss. Conceding, then, that the common reading is genuine, let us next consider what is the proper grammatical connection of this clause with the rest of the sentence. It is manifestly a subordinate and dependent clause; but on what does it depend ? What was done so that (opos) Jesus “ might by the grace of God taste death for every man’ '? Was he crowned with glory and honor for this purpose? Surely not. His death preceded his coronation; and he was crowned, as we have seen, in consequence of it. What then? Was he made a little lower than the angels, so that he might by the grace of God taste death for every man ? Clearly, to my mind, this is the meaning of the passage. And I would therefore prefer the following arrangement of this very complex sentence, as being more in harmony with the less flexible rules of English syntax: “ But we see Jesus (who was made a little lower than the angels, so that he might by the grace of God taste death for every man) crowned with glory and honor, on account of the suffering of death.” The several words of this clause need but little explanation. The phrase, “ by the grace of God,” means simply that the incarna­tion, death, atonement, and mediation of the Lord Jesus, are all the offspring of Divine love. “ For,” as Christ says, “ God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16.) To “ taste death ” is the same as to experience death, or to suffer death. And the phrase “ for every man” is as plain as it can be made; clearly indicating that the atonement of Jesus Christ is for every human being, and that all men may therefore be saved by it. We have but to comply with the very plain and reasonable condi­tions on which salvation is offered to all, and then we will finallyreceive “ an abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:11.) From the given explanations, then, it is quite obvious that the main object of the Apostle in this paragraph (Hebrews 2:5-9), is to remind his Hebrew brethren, that by an irrevocable decree of Je­hovah this world belongs to man; and that although it has been forfeited by sin, and its dominion usurped by Satan, it is neverthe­less God’ s purpose to redeem it for the benefit of his saints; not, however, through angels, nor through the law given by angels (Hebrews 2:5); but through that scheme of grace, mercy, and truth of which Jesus is the Author and the Finisher. And so also this same Apostle testifies to his Roman brethren. Speaking of this very matter, he says, “ For the promise that he [Abraham] should be heir of the world (Kleeronomos Kosmou), was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they who are of the Law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect. Because the Law worketh wrath; for where there is no law, there is no transgres­sion. Therefore it is of faith, ‘ that it might be by grace; to the end that the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abra­ham ; who is the Father of us all.” (Romans 4:13-16.) The promise that his posterity according to the flesh should inherit the land of Canaan, was given to Abraham and to his seed through law. But all these legal, carnal, and temporal arrangements were but a type or shadow of the more gracious provisions of the economy of re­demption through Jesus Christ; according to which it seems that Abraham and the whole family of the faithful will yet inherit the entire Earth, after that it shall have been purified by fire, and pre­pared for the descent of the New Jerusalem. See Psalms 37:9-11; Matthew 5:5; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 5:10 Revelation 21. How very important it is, then, that we should all give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest perchance we should be drifted away from them. For into this renovated Earth nothing can ever come that is impure or unholy. For “ the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore­mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone.” (Revelation 21 :1) How then, shall we escape if we neglect the great salvation offered to us in the Gospel, “ which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him” ? Commentary on Hebrews 2:5-9 by Don E. BoatmanHeb_2:5 --For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come 1. The Catholic Bible (revision of the Challoner Rheims version) states it this way: “ for He has not subjected to angels the world to come—“ . C.B. footnote: “ To come” here means the Christian dispensation, not the future life. 2. Footnote to American Standard version: “ The inhabited earth.” However, observe that it is the inhabited earth to come. 3. Was this world subjected to man? Yes: See Genesis 1:28 : “ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” 4. Was it ever lost by man? a. “ Yes,” says Calvin: “ As soon then as Adam alienated himself from God through sin, he was justly deprived of the good things which he had received— The wild beasts ferociously attack us, those who ought to be awed by our presence are dreaded by us, some never obey us, others can hardly be trained to submit, and they do us harm in various ways; the earth answers not our expectations in cultivating it; the sky, the air, the sea and other things are often adverse to us,” (P. 57) b. “ Yes,” says Milligan: “ But in consequence of sin, man has in a great measure lost his dominion. See Genesis 3:15-24.” (p. 82) 5. Was it lost to everyone? Did someone take over when man lost the dominion? Milligan believes this is what occurred, “ For a time Satan got possession of this world.” (p. 82) a. Psalms 68:18 : “ Thou hast ascended on high; Thou has led away captives.” b. John 12:31 : “ Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. c. John 14:30 : “ I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh and he hath nothing in Me.” d. John 16:11 : “ The prince of this world hath been judged.” e. 2 Corinthians 4:4 : “ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.” f. 2 Corinthians 2:2. g. 1 John 5:19. h. Revelation 12:9.Hebrews 2:5 --the world to comeWhat is the “ world to come” ? a. Observe the footnote—“ the inhabited earth.” b. Observe the Catholic Bible comment, which says that it means the Christian Dispensation, not the future life. c. Milligan: “ The world to come is not that which we hope for after the resurrection, but that which began at the beginning of Christ’ s kingdom; but it will no doubt have its full accomplishment in our final redemption.” (p. 58) d. Newell: “ The thought of the world to come pervades the book of Hebrews, and cannot here refer to present things.” (p. 43) e. Thayer defines “ world to come” : “ That consummate state of all things which will exist after Christ’ s return from heaven.” f. Connybeare: “ The world to come here corresponds with the city to come of Heb 13:14.”Hebrews 2:6 --what is man that thou art mindful of him?This is an interesting question. What is man? a. He is very little, physically. 1. For labor in China, India, Tibet, he receives a few cents a day. 2. For length of life, very little. a) James 4:14 : “ life is a vapor” . b) Animals and trees outlive man. Some turtles are centuries old. 3. His strength is very little: a) A human baby is the most helpless of creatures. b) Animals are faster and stronger. 4. Yet, man gives great significance to the flesh as he lives for its gratification. b. Mentally, he is worth more. 1. He is able to rule the animals of the earth. 2. He can alter nature itself. a) Harness the waterfalls to make power. b) Capture the rivers to turn dynamos. c) Improve upon plants, making hybrids. 3. He can discover the secrets of the world. a) With the telescope, he scans the heavens. b) With the microscope, he examines the unseen. c) He combats disease. d) He combines elements to build machines for man’ s own good. 4. Although man’ s mental attainments are temporary, people live as though they were of prime importance. c. Spiritually, his worth is immeasurable: 1. God is interested in each person individually. a) Physically, yes: 1) Matthew 10:30 : “— hairs of your head are numbered.” 2) Luke 12:27 : “— consider the lilies—” 3) Malachi 3:10 : “— open you the windows of heaven—” b) Mentally, yes: 1) Man is made in the intellectual likeness of God. Hebrews 2:7-8. 2) Genesis 1:26 : “ In Our image.” c) Spiritually, more so; (1) Matthew 10:32; “— shall confess Me before man—” (2) John 3:16. “ God so loved the world— that He gave— His Son.” (3) James 4:14 : “ What is your life? It is even a vapor.” 2. The giving of Jesus is God’ s attempt to show man’ s greatness; a) He did not send an angel or offer an animal. b) His Son’ s pain, sorrow, and death is proof of God’ s love. Historically, what is man? a. Man as God made him: 1. Genesis 2:7 : He made him as dust. a) Scientifically, man is: 10 gallons of water, 24 pounds of carbon, 7 pounds of lime, 1¼ pounds of phosphorous, ½ teaspoonful of sugar, 4½ teaspoonfuls of salt, some oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, enough iron for 1 large nail. b) If this is all of which man consists, a man could be purchased for .79c (before inflation). c) A scientist, curator of Northwestern Department of Chemistry, once valued man’ s body at .98c. Now, in 1960, it is worth $31.04. d) An estimate of your day: Your heart beats 103,689 times a day. Your blood travels 168,000,000 miles. You give off 85.6 degrees Fahrenheit in heat, which means you generate 450 foot tons of energy. You exercise 7,000,000 brain cells. b. Hebrews 2:7-8 : “ Crowned him with glory and honor.” c. Made him a trinity: 1. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 : “ May your spirit, soul, and body be preserved.” 2. Jesus—Matthew 22:37 : “ Love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart . . . thy mind and . . . thy soul.” What is man as sin makes him? a. Sin makes him brutal. 1. Cain slew Abel. 2. The wealthy live in luxury, while the poor starve. 3. The powerful plunge men into war. 4. A man can kidnap babies for gold. 5. A man can live on an animal level, which will bring him to destruction. 2 Peter 2:10-12. b. Sin makes him dirty and diseased. c. Sin makes him rebellious toward God. 1. 1 John 3:4 : Sin is transgression of God’ s law. d. Sin makes him purposeless. Dr. Shirley once told of a certain youth who was seven days in New York. He saw eighteen shows, but was oblivious to the libraries, scenic, and historic spots there to see. He spent the last day reading a “ true story” . Man as Christ remakes him. a. See how Christ can change people: 1. Woman of Samaria—John 4:6 : five husbands, but she came to Christ and became a soul-winner. 2. Paul, a cruel persecutor of church, was transformed. 3. Begbies, in Twice Born Men, proves His power. Get this book and read it! b. He gives people a purpose in life. 1. Soul winning. 2. Helping the needy. 3. Working for the eternal, in place of the temporal. c. He makes them rise above the temporal. 1. Riches— treasures laid up in heaven. 2. Emphasis is placed upon the eternal.Hebrews 2:6 --Son of ManWho is referred to here, man or Christ? a. Arguments for Christ being referred to: 1. Similar expressions are made in reference to Christ: a) Matthew 21:16— quotes from Psalms 8:2 : “ Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou has perfected praise.” b) Ephesians 1:22 : “ And He put all things in subjection under his feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church.” c) 1 Corinthians 15:27 : “ For, He put all things in subjection under His feet, but when He saith all things are put in subjection, it is evident that He is excepted who did subject all things unto Him.” 1) The translator has noted in the margin that this is a quotation from Psalms 8:6. 2) This passage in Corinthians, some say, refers to Christ. 2. Much is made of the alternate reading of Heb 2:7! “ A little while lower.” a) Even Calvin, who holds that Psalms 8 refers to man, feels that Paul turns here from David and “ designates the abasement of Christ’ s humiliation.” (p. 58.) b) Some insist that since the Logos could not die, a body was prepared for Him so that He could die, b. Arguments for man in general being referred to: 1. Because it is a visitation of God from generation to generation. 2. When did God visit Jesus? God was with Jesus all the time; on the cross would be an exception. 3. Because we know what Christ is, who He is, It would not be necessary to raise such a question about the Lord. 4. Because God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself. 5. Because the writer later calls specific attention to Christ, cf. Hebrews 2:9. 6. God didn’ t visit His Son, but visited man through His Son. 7. The 8th Psalm is a discussion of man. 8. Man is lower than the angels, 2 Peter 2:11 : “ Whereas angels though greater in might and power bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord.” 9. Authorities who say Psalms 8 does not refer to Christ: a) Milligan says: “ That this has reference to mankind in general and not to Jesus Christ personally considered, as some have alleged, is evident from the Psalm itself, as well as from the scope of the apostle’ s argument.” (p. 85) b) John Calvin: “ It seems to be unfitly applied to Christ . . . The Psalm speaks not of any particular person, but of all mankind— This affords no reason why the words should not be applied to the person of Christ.” (p. 56)Hebrews 2:6 --that thou visitest himWhat is the difference between “ mindful and “ visitest” a. “ Visit” is the effect of God’ s mindfulness. b.Since God recognized man, He visits man with blessings out of His loving heart. God’ s visiting is twofold: a. He visits for good to bring blessings. 1. Joseph said to his brethren: “ God will visit you and bring you out of the land.” 2. Luke 1:68 : “ For He hath visited and wrought redemption for His people.” a) This is the most important visitation, although dozens of verses can be quoted to show God’ s physical blessings such as named by Joseph. b) How grateful lonely people are when guests visit them, but here is named the greatest Visitor. b. He visits man to punish him: 1. He has in the past: a) Exodus 32:34 : “ I will visit their sin upon them—” b) Psalms 89:32 : “ Then will I visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes.” c) Jeremiah 10:15 : “ In the time of visitation they shall perish.” d) Exodus 20:5 : “ Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children for the third and fourth generations.” e) Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, and Deuteronomy 5:9. 2. He will in the future: 2 Peter 3:8-13.Hebrews 2:7 --Thou madest him a little lowerObserve that the footnote in the A.S. version says, “ For a little while lower.” Milligan says, “ It is still a question with the critics whether the word “ little” is expressive of time or degree.” Who holds for the time element? a. Those who say “ Son of Man” refers to Christ. 1. They say it means “ a little while” , and designates the abasement of Christ’ s humiliation. 2. Since Christ the Logos would not die, a body was prepared for Him so that He could die. If we do not try to push this theory, we have man a little lower than the angels: a. Christ was praised by angels at His birth: “ Glory to God in the highest,” not because He was made lower than the angels. b. Man is ministered to by angels (Hebrews 1:14); so we may conclude that, in some sense at least, we are lower. Is man lower than the angels according to other scriptures? Yes: 2 Peter 2:11 : “ Whereas angels though greater in might and power bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord.” Hebrews 2:7 --Thou crownedst him with glory and honorThis was true of Adam in his pre-sin state. a. Genesis 1 : He was given dominion over fish, birds, cattle, over all the earth and every creeping thing. b. Psalms 8:1-8. Milligan states that “ glory” and “ honor” are nearly synonymous in both Hebrew and Greek, and they are used for the sake of emphasis, (p. 86) If this verse applies to Christ, it would apply after His resurrection. Hebrews 2:7 --and didst set him over the works of Thy handsCritics reject this passage, but it occurs frequently in manuscripts: a. Milligan says, “ It is found in the original Hebrew, in the Septuagint and in several manuscripts. I am therefore inclined to retain it—“ (p. 86) b. It is in harmony with other scriptures. Note man’ s responsibility over the creation: a. Genesis 2:15 : “— dress it and keep it—” b. Genesis 1:28 : “— have dominion—”Hebrews 2:8 --under his feetThe scriptures quoted above verify this: a. After Adam’ s sin things become different for man. b. The earth brought forth weeds and animals turned upon him, so that they are now called wild beasts and domesticated beasts. Man was the crowning glory of God, but sin caused him to lose much of his dominion. Hebrews 2:8 --subjected to himThis fits man perfectly: a. Once everything in the sea, air, and earth was beneath man. b. Now it is a different picture. Who would dare to go unarmed into a jungle? c. Man’ s lost estate is described. Some make it apply to Christ. When was everything subjected to Christ? When was it taken away? a. 1 Corinthians 15:25-27, is quoted by those who hold this theory. b. They do show similarity, but that is not proof. c. Hebrews 2:8, does not fit Jesus, although a stretching of points can make it fit. The verse’ s purpose is to show that man is no longer king. Hebrews 2:9 --a little lower than the angels, even JesusChrist was lower only as He took upon himself the role of man: a. In this way He was lower— in suffering. b. In his flesh, He was lower than the heavenly bodies of angels. The author picks out the one Person lower than angels Who will be able to restore man to a place of glory and honor.Hebrews 2:9 --crowned with glory and honorOn earth, Jesus became a wise being, humiliated and crucified. This He came to do, and His obedience brought Him to God’ s right hand. Without suffering, He could not have died; without dying He could not have made atonement; without the atonement man would yet be in his sins: 1) Matthew 26:28 : “— shed for the remission of sins—” 2) Hebrews 9:22 : “— without the shedding of blood there is no remission—” When was this glory and honor given? a. Not on earth, for here He had to suffer. b. Peter preached this after Christ’ s ascension.Hebrews 2:9 --that by the grace of God He should taste of death for every man.This shows the impelling motive— grace: a. Man rebels, but God seeks man. b. Man is ungracious, but God is gracious, This states the importance of Christ’ s death: 1. Matthew 20:28 : “ a ransom.” 2. 1 Peter 1:18-19 : “ redeemed with precious blood.” Why is blood used for man’ s redemption? a. Let the scriptures speak:1. Genesis 2:17 : Life was lost.2. Genesis 9:4 : Life is in the blood. Compare Leviticus 17:14. b. Life being lost, blood which has life is the price of redemption.Study Questions202. What is man, according to James 4:14? 203. Where does man rate physically? cf. Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:27. 204. Where does man rate mentally? cf. Hebrews 2:7-8; Genesis 1:26. 205. Where does man rate spiritually? 206. Where does man rate as a ruler? 207.What is man, according to Genesis? 208. What is he according to 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Matthew 22:37? 209. What is man as sin makes him? 210. Give illustrations of people made over by Christ. 211. Who is referred to as Son of Man, Christ or man? 212. Where does the scripture concerning the Son of man appear originally? 213. Is it prophetic? 214. Does Paul in Corinthians throw any light on this subject? cf. 1 Corinthians 15:27. 215. Why do some think the 8th Psalm is referred to here? 216. Give arguments to show that the 8th Psalm refers only to man. 217. If we are uncertain at this point, is the total teaching lost? What is being taught? 218. For what purposes has God visited man? 219. Are such visits all over, or will they be repeated? cf. 2 Peter 3:8-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. 220. Give an exegesis of “ Thou madest Him a little lower than the angels.” 221. If Christ is referred to, how long was He a little lower than the angels? 222. Is man lower than angels? cf. Hebrews 1:14; 2 Peter 2:11. 223. Does the term “ little” refer to time or degree? Give reasons. 224. If Christ is crowned with glory and honor, when was He crowned? 225. Did man ever rule over the creation of God’ s hands? cf. Genesis 1:28; Genesis 2:15. 226. Does Hebrews 2:8 describe a lost dominion of man? 227. What is meant by “ under His feet” ? 228. Does the term “ domesticated animals” indicate that all is not subject to Him? 229. What proof is there that man does not rule everything now? 230. What rebels against man? 231. What seems to be the purpose of Heb 2:8? 232. Who is beheld in Hebrews 2:9? 233. How was Christ lower than the angels? 234. Is there any doubt over Hebrews 2:9 as there is over Hebrews 2:8? 235. When was He crowned with glory and honor? 236. What is the difference between glory and honor? 237. What is meant by the “ grace of God” ? 238. Define the meaning of, “ taste of death.” 239. Why were death and blood used as the means of redemption? cf. Genesis 2:17; Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:14. 240. Who is the one Person able to restore man to his dominion and power? 241. Was the thought expressed in Hebrews 2:9 preached on Pentecost? 242. What does Hebrews 2:10 say was becoming to God? 243. What about His nature would constrain Him? 244. Does it carry the idea of expediency? 245. What is meant by “ for Whom are all things” ? 246. Does Christ have all things now? 247. What does 1 Corinthians 15:24 have to say in this regard? 248. Does “ through Whom are all things” refer to God, Christ, or both? 249. Discuss Acts 17:28; John 1:3; John 1:10; Colossians 1:16-17.Commentary on Hebrews 2:5-8 by Burton CoffmanHeb_2:5-7 --For not unto angels did he subject the world to come, whereof we speak. But one hath somewhere testified, saying, What is man that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou crownedest him with glory and honor, And didst set him over the works of thy hands.Although the great theme continues to be the superiority of Christ, at this point the problem of Christ's sufferings begins to come into view. As Lenski expressed it, "With Hebrews 2:5 humiliation begins, the humiliation of Christ's sufferings."[5] Even the humiliation of Christ, however, is made to support the thesis of his overwhelming superiority over angels because, AS ADAM WAS CREATED, even man was superior to angels. Thus Christ, the second Adam, took up in his human nature where the first Adam left off, but without his sin; therefore Christ, on the lowest plane of his being, that of the incarnated state, possessed in his human nature the superiority over angels that Adam had before the fall. Quoting from Psalms 8:4 ff, the author showed from that passage that people, not angels, are destined to be placed over all the works of God's hands; and, of course, from what was written earlier, it is seen that HUMAN NATURE in the person of Christ risen and glorified has already begun to enjoy royal dignity like that foretold in the Psalm concerning people. As Thomas noted, It is not to angels but to men, in the representative man Christ Jesus, that God has subjected the coming habitable world. Thus the Son is better than angels, not only as the revealer of God (Hebrews 1) but also, as will now be shown, as the representative of man.[6]The difficulty of this passage is seen in the author's argument for the superiority of Christ, while at the same time quoting a passage from the Old Testament that seems to contradict it, "Thou madest him a little lower than the angels." The English Revised Version (1885) rendition of the quotation reads, "Thou hast made him a little lower than God"; and, of course, that would remove the difficulty were it not for Hebrews 2:9, "But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels." The key to the problem is the expression "a little lower," which actually means "for a little while lower." (See English Revised Version (1885) margin.) The only exception in Christ's superiority over angels was therefore in this, that for a short while he was made lower in order to taste of death for every man; but the short duration of that exception and the grand achievement wrought by it leave the major thesis of Christ's superiority unimpaired. Throughout all his incarnation, other than that excepted, the angels served Christ, attended his every desire, and were upon call at his request (Matthew 26:53). Therefore, his being made "for a little while" lower than angels was only for this that he might die for man's sin. That death, so absolutely necessary for man's redemption, involved his actually being made sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Surely, therefore, in his humiliation and death, Christ descended to a place lower than angels; but that in no way diminished his superiority over them, because it was for such a brief time, and altogether vicarious at that. The word that declares Christ to have been made sin on our behalf begins with the affirmation that he "knew no sin?' Apparently, therefore, the author of Hebrews is still affirming the superiority of Christ over angels throughout his entire incarnation (except for that "for a little while lower"), which would therefore justify and make applicable to Christ as perfect man the bold declarations of Psalms 8 regarding man's being placed over the works of God's hands, etc. The special glory that pertained to Christ even in the deepest of his humiliation appears in the fact that God crowned him with glory and honor for that awesome crisis (see Hebrews 2:9). It is wrong to refer the royal dignity of man to some far-off utopian state such as a millennium; because the coming age has already arrived, or at least dawned (Hebrews 1:1-2). The author of Hebrews makes much of the new order ushered in by Christ. Robertson noted that "The author is discussing this new order introduced by Christ which makes obsolete the old dispensation of rites and symbols."[7] Bruce also identified "the world to come" as "the new world order inaugurated by the enthronement of Christ at the right hand of God."[8]What is man ... This inspiring passage of Psalms 8 dwells upon the paradox of man's physical insignificance contrasted with his spiritual importance, so great that even God is mindful of him. The words "but one hath somewhere testified" do not imply any uncertainty as to the authorship of Psalms 8, which was known both to the author and to his readers as David's; but this was merely a literary way of introducing a quotation. Besides, since the entire Old Testament was held in honor as God's word, it was not necessary to identify the particular writer through whom God spoke. The son of man is part of a Hebrew parallelism and means the same thing as "man" in the other clause. Before leaving this wonderful passage, it is well to think of the physical littleness of man, small enough as compared even with other creatures in the animal kingdom, but whose whole environment, earth and all, appears only as a speck of dust in a limitless universe. Lenski wrote that "Modern skepticism, especially Deism and philosophy, observing man's insignificance, imagine that, if there is a God at all, he certainly cannot bother with us little creatures."[9] In the scriptures, however, all that is changed. Man is of eternal consequence, potentially an heir of the blood of Christ and a candidate for everlasting glory; and the reasons for this are clearly outlined. Thou madest him a little lower than the angels ...; Psalms 8:5 from which this is quoted actually says, "thou hast made him a little lower than God"; but whichever reading is used the meaning is unaltered, the superiority of Christ over angels being unaffected, as noted above. Dummelow wisely noted the important implications of this text thus: "The words imply the doctrine of the incarnation of One who was essentially and previously higher than angels."[10] Holding to the inspiration of the writer of Hebrews, we accept "angels" as the proper translation of Psa 8:5, which is the way it appears in the Septuagint, and from which it is alleged the author quoted. However, it does no violence to speak of man as but a little lower than God; for the scriptures, in some instances, actually refer to people as "gods." Psalms 82:6 has, "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High." It was to this very passage that Christ appealed in these words, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came (and scriptures cannot be broken), say ye to him, whom the Father sanctifieth and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the son of God? (John 10:34-36). Thus, there is truly a sense in which people are gods. The import of this passage challenges people to look beyond the failures, foibles, sins, and wretchedness of people as they appear in their lost and sinful condition and to behold the man perfect and glorious as he was created "in the image of God," and destined for lordship over all God's creation. Mankind in the person of our Lord was returned and uplifted to that exalted state; and yet, through failure to accept Christ and dwell in him, man remains still far short of what the Creator intended. Cargill commented on that failure thus, Considering the divine origin of man, and the Bible's description of his potential to master the universe, it is exasperating to look around and see his pitiful condition. He should be free but is bound; he is described as king, but is actually a slave. Man is frustrated by circumstance, defeated by temptations, gird about with weakness, and finally humiliated with death.[11]The author therefore has maintained the supremacy of Christ over angels, in spite of what seemed at first a difficulty posed by the incarnation, especially the passion and death. But the difficulty was cleared up on the basis of these considerations: (1) Christ's incarnation was served by angels who ministered to him throughout all of it. (2) His being made lower than angels, as the scriptures said of him, was but for "a little while," and for the noblest purpose. (3) Christ's being made a man is no problem at all, when it is remembered that man himself, when viewed AS GOD MADE HIM, is higher than the angels, since it is said that man is made in God's image and was given dominion over all things; and it should be remembered that Christ became man in the highest and best sense. [4] Robert L. Cargill, Understanding the Book of Hebrews (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1967), p. 15. [5] R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of the Epistle to the Hebrews, and the Epistle of James (Minneapolis, Minn., Augsburg Publishing House, 1958), p. 71. [6] W. H. Griffith Thomas, Hebrews (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), p. 32. [7] A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures of the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1932), p. 344. [8] F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967), p. 33. [9] R. C. H. Lenski, op. cit., p. 73. [10] J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Whole Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 1017. Hebrews 2:8 --Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him.This verse emphasizes the differences between man's potential and what he has actually become. The grave consequences of the fall of Adam, the expulsion from Eden, the cursing of the ground, and the imposition of the penalty of death - all these things have for long ages frustrated the human attainment of the purpose of God in man. Instead of all things being in subjection to him, man finds that he cannot even control himself; and beyond that there are countless things that he cannot subdue or subject to himself, so much so that unaided humanity must ever despair of any true realization of the royal dominion assigned in Genesis 1. But Jesus Christ came, taking upon him the form of a servant, providing for the plenary discharge of man's sins, tasting of death for every man, and rising to heaven with man's glorified nature upon him, and thus on man's behalf achieving that dominion of man intended from the beginning. Although prior to this writing of Hebrews, Psalms 8 was never understood as Messianic, yet it is only in the Messiah that it could ever be true. Hebrews 2:9 --But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man.Here is the abysmal depth in which, for a little while, the Son became lower than the angels. (The true translation is "for a little while"; see English Revised Version (1885) margin.) As G. Campbell Morgan so well expressed it, The Son was made lower than the angels, descending to the level of human nature (especially regarding his passion and death), in order that he might die. From death, angels are exempt; therefore, he passed them by, coming not merely to the level of ideal humanity, but to the level of failing humanity; made lower than the angels that he might taste of death.[12]This verse has one of the most astounding statements in the Bible, that Christ was crowned with glory and honor in order that he might taste death for every man. Again, from Morgan, "The amazing and revealing declaration then is that God conferred upon his eternal Son a crown of glory when he gave him to death for the ransom of the race."[13] Here is set forth the importance and centrality of the death of Christ, not merely for some, but for every man. Christ did not come into this world merely to deliver noble teaching, nor to establish some kind of ideal, but to die on the cross for the sins of the whole world. [12] G. Campbell Morgan, God's Last Word to Man (Westwood, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1936), p. 33. [13] Ibid., p. 34. Hebrews 2:10-18 II.. WHY THE WORD BECAME DWELT AMONG USHeb_2:10-18 Hebrews 2:10 ---For it became him,—The Apostle aims here to meet and re­fute a Jewish objection founded on the humiliation and sufferings of Christ. “ We have heard out of the law,” said the Jews on one occasion, “ that Christ abideth forever.” (John 12:34.) This opinion was founded on such passages as Psalms 72:7 Psalms 72:17 Psalms 89:36-37 Psalms 110:4; Isaiah 9:7; Ezekiel 37:24-25; Daniel 2:44 Daniel 7:13-14; Micah 4:7; in which the Kingdom of the Messiah is described as an everlasting Kingdom; and his reign, as enduring throughout all generations. To many of the Jews, these passages of Scripture seemed wholly inconsistent with the humble life and the ignomin­ious death of the Lord Jesus. And it was therefore eminently proper to remove this objection as far as possible, by showing just at this point of the argument that the humiliation, sufferings, and death of Christ are, in fact, an essential part of the scheme of re­demption. This, our author does with great force and tenderness in the remaining portion of this chapter. He begins by saying that it “ became (eprepen) Him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Cap­tain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” God is here represented both as the final cause (dia on) and also as the efficient cause (dia ou) of all things. The universe is, in fact, but a manifestation and development of his infinite perfections. And hence its government is not with him a matter of caprice, or of ar­bitrary choice, but of divine propriety. As it became God to adapt means to ends in the work of creation, so also it becomes him to do the same in the works of providence and redemption. When he resolved to bring many sons unto glory, there was then imposed on him (if I may say it with reverence) a moral necessity, deep and profound as his own nature, to qualify Jesus for the great work that was before him: and this, it seems, could be done only by means of his incarnation, sufferings, and death. Hebrews 2:10 ---in bringing many sons unto glory,— To whom does the parti­ciple “ bringing” (agagonta) refer? To God the Father, repre­sented by the pronoun “ him” (auto in the dative case), or to Jesus, represented by “ captain” (archeegon in the accusative case) ? The grammatical agreement is in favor of the latter; but the scope of the passage and the general construction of the sen­tence are in favor of the former. And hence this is now generally regarded as a case of anacoluthon. See Winer’ s Gram. Section 63. The heirs of salvation are here called “ sons” in relation to God as their Father and supreme Leader; just as in the following verse they are called “ brethren,” in relation to Christ who is our Elder Brother and also our Leader by the Father’ s appointment. To bring many sons unto glory is the same as to bring them to Heaven. This world now abounds in sin and suffering, misery and death. But in Heaven all is light, and life, and love. (Revelation 21.) Hebrews 2:10 ---the captain of their salvation— The word here rendered cap­tain (archeegos) means properly a leader; one who at the head of an army or other company leads them onward to the goal or place of their destination. The word is applied by Philo to Adam, who, as Paul says, “ was a type of him that was to come.” (Romans 5:14.) These are both captains or leaders of the entire race. But they lead to different goals, and in opposite directions. The first Adam led all to death; whereas the second Adam leads all to life. “ For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22.) “ For as by one man’ s disobedience the many were made sin­ners; so by the obedience of one shall the many, be made righ­teous.” (Romans 5:19.) The phrase, “ many sons,” as used in our text, is not, however, strictly equivalent to “ the many” in Romans 5:19. The latter in­cludes the whole human race; but the former includes only those “ who by patient continuance in well going,” follow Christ wher­ever he goes. The latter, it is true, will all be raised from the dead, and forever saved from all the effects of the Adamic sin; but many of them will, on account of their own personal transgressions, be raised “ to the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29), and banished “ with an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). The former, however, will all, without the loss of one, be brought home to the full enjoyment of honor, glory, and immortality. And these, be it observed, will not be a few, but a vast multitude which no man can number, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. (Revelation 7:9-10.) Hebrews 2:10 ---perfect through sufferings.—The word here rendered to make perfect (teleioo— from telos, an end, termination) means properly to be full, complete, wanting in nothing; and as applied to Christ in this connection, it means simply that he was by God fully qualified for the work that was before him; that in this respect he was com­plete and entire, wanting in nothing. In what this perfection consisted, it may be difficult for us to ex­plain. Perhaps none but God can understand this matter fully. But this much we may say in general:(1.) That it consisted in Christ’ s being fully prepared to honor God and to magnify his government, by making an adequate atone­ment for the sins of the world. God, be it reverently spoken, can­not without full satisfaction pardon any sin or transgression of his law. By an eternal moral necessity, the soul that sinneth must die, unless by adequate means the claims of Divine Justice can be fully satisfied. (Exodus 34:7.) Any attempt, therefore, to bring many sons unto glory without a ransom sufficient to atone for all their transgressions, would of necessity be a failure. And hence it was, that when no other means were found adequate, God set forth Jesus Christ, as a propitiatory sacrifice, for a demonstration of his justice in passing by the sins of his ancient people; and to show also how it is that he can now be just in justifying every one who believes in Jesus. (Romans 3:25-26.) It became God the Father, therefore, to make his Son a perfect Savior by the shedding of his blood, so that by means of it an adequate atonement might be made for the sins of the world. (2.) The perfection of Christ, as the Captain of our salvation, consisted also in his being relatively adapted to the nature, wants, and circumstances of those whom he came to redeem. It was not enough that he should come with a ransom sufficient to meet and satisfy all the claims of the Divine Government on the sinner. He had to look at the human, as well as at the Divine, side of the ques­tion. He had to lay hold of human nature as it was, and adapt himself to it in such a way as would best serve to enlighten the understanding, renew the heart, and control the will and the life of our sin-ruined race. But it is a law of the universe that “ Like loves its like.” And hence it is, that God has generally clothed himself and his angelic ambassadors in human form, whenever he has sought to manifest them and himself to mankind in compassion, tenderness, and love. (Genesis 18:1-2 Genesis 19:1 Genesis 19:12, etc.) But in the case of Jesus, the mere form of humanity was not enough. In order to reach the heart of a race at enmity with God by their own wicked works, and to change that enmity into love, it was neces­sary that the Word should become flesh, and by the grace of God taste death for every man. (Colossians 1:21-22.) In no other conceiva­ble way could the love of God be sufficiently manifested to our re­bellious race. True, indeed, the benevolence, as well as the wis­dom and power of God, is revealed in every law and ordinance of nature. It is seen in every star that twinkles in the firmament; it is seen in every flower that blooms on the landscape; and it is seen in every organ, and even in every element, of the human body. Nevertheless, our experience, as well as the light of history, goes to prove that in all nature there is not power sufficient to convert a single soul. We love God because he first loved us, and mani­fested his love to us in giving his own dear Son to weep, and bleed, and die for us. (1 John 4:10 1 John 4:19.) This, then, is manifestly an­other reason why it became God the Father, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (3.) When Jesus became a man, he had to be perfected, as a man. He was, in his infancy, endowed with every element and at­tribute of human nature in its sinless state; and consequently these elements of humanity in the person of the Lord Jesus had all to be educated by a severe course of discipline and experience, such as is common to man. And hence Luke says, “ he [Jesus] increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52.) But no man is fully qualified to visit the sick, and to admin­ister to the wants of the afflicted, who has not himself drunk deep of the cup of human sorrow and of human suffering; and hence it was that Christ had to drink of it to its very dregs. And now that “ he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:11 ---For both he that sanctifieth, etc.—The sanctifier is Christ himself; and the “ sanctified” are the same as the “ many sons” spo­ken of in the tenth verse. These and Christ, our author means to say, are very nearly related, being together properly called sons, “ for” they are all of one Father. The word sanctify (hagiazo) means (1) to make clean, to purify, to make holy; and (2) to con­secrate, or set apart from a common to a sacred use. In the latter sense, it is applied both to persons and things; in the former, only to persons. In the latter sense, it has reference to state or condi­tion ; in the former, to character. In the latter sense there are prop­erly no degrees and no progress; but in the former, we may and we should make constant progress. Very frequently this word is used in one of these two senses to the exclusion of the other; but in our text, it is used in its most comprehensive sense, so as to in­clude the idea of both consecration and moral purification; each of which is effected through the death and mediation of the Lord Jesus, “ who of God is made unto us wisdom, and justification, and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30.) Hebrews 2:11 ---are all of one:—One what? Some say, One race (ex henos genous) ; some, One blood (ex henos haimatos) ; some, One seed or offspring (ex henos spermatos). But the idea that they are all of one Father (ex henos patros), not Adam or Abraham, but God, “ from whom, and through whom, and to whom, are all things,” seems to accord best with all the terms and conditions of the con­text. Hebrews 2:11 ---for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,—If the Sanctifier and the sanctified are all sons of God, having one and the same Father, they have also of course one common brotherhood, of which Jesus is not ashamed; and which, as our au­thor now proceeds to show, had long before the date of this Epistle been symbolically set forth in the types and shadows of the Old Testament. Hebrews 2:12 ---Saying, I will declare thy name, etc.—This is a quotation from the twenty-second Psalm, in the course of which, David, as a type of Christ, pleads for help (1) on the ground of his very near and intimate relations to God (verses 1-10) ; and (2) on the ground of his imminent danger and intense sufferings (verses 11­21). After this he changes his tone from the deepest despondency, and breaks out into exclamations of gratitude and praise to God for his signal deliverance and the many mercies bestowed on him (verses 22-31). In all this, David refers primarily to his own per­sonal experience, under the severe trials and persecutions which he endured from Saul. During the last seven or eight years of Saul’ s reign, he (David) was surrounded by enemies as by wild beasts; and his way to the throne was through the most violent and unrea­sonable opposition. But, trusting in God, he was delivered from all his foes; and afterward, on many joyful occasions, he declared the name of Jehovah to his brethren; and in the midst of the Church, or congregation of Israel, he often celebrated the praises of his Deliverer. And just so it was with Christ, the great antitype of David, to whom also the words of this Psalm have special reference, and to whom they are, in fact, several times applied in the New Testa­ment. Compare, for instance, the first verse of this Psalm with Matthew 27:46; the eighth, with Matthew 27:43; the fifteenth, with John 19:28; the sixteenth, with John 20:25; and the eighteenth, with John 19:23-24. It is therefore, beyond doubt, a typical Psalm having reference primarily to David and secondarily to Christ. See notes on 1:5. But as Delitzsch justly remarks, “ David’ s description of personal experience and suffering goes far beyond any that he had known in his own person; his complaints descend into a lower deep than he had sounded himself; and his hopes rise higher than any realized reward. Through his hyper­bolical character, the Psalm became typico-prophetic. David, as the sufferer, there contemplates himself and his experience in Christ; and his own, both present and future, thereby acquires a back­ground which, in height and depth, greatly transcends the limits of his own personality.” That this Psalm, then, has a double reference, relating in its highest and fullest sense to the humiliation, sufferings, deliverance, and final triumphs of the Messiah, as the antitype of David, is very obvious. But why does our author refer to it? For what purpose does he quote from it the words of our text? His object, as we have seen, in this part of his argument, is to show the very iiiti- mate relation that exists between Christ and his people; it is to re­mind his Hebrew brethren in Christ and to convince others, that the Messiah was to be a man; a man of sorrows; one in nature and sympathy with the “ many sons” whom he is bringing home to glory. This he might have done so far as to satisfy the more en­lightened portion of his readers, by referring to such passages of Scripture as Matthew 12:48-49 Matthew 25:40, etc., in which Jesus speaks to and of the children of God as his brethren. But he very wisely pursues a different course. He was writing for the Hebrews, all of whom had the most implicit confidence in the Divine origin and plenary inspiration of the Old Testament Scriptures. And by ap­pealing to these sacred Oracles, he not only establishes the fact of Christ’ s oneness with the sons of God, but he furthermore shows that this was all in harmony with God’ s ancient purpose. To us the narratives of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are, of course, just as authoritative as any other parts of the Holy Scriptures. But not so with many of those for whose benefit the Epistle was written. And hence it is that the Apostle so often draws his proofs and arguments from the Old Testament, demonstrating at the same time the sublime unity of God’ s gracious plans and pur­poses in all ages and dispensations. The word church (ekkleesia), in its Jewish sense, means the na­tion of Israel assembled in Jerusalem; where David and his breth­ren often celebrated the praises of Jehovah; but, in its Christian sense, as it is here used and applied by the Apostle, it means the united body of believers under the mediatorial reign of the Mes­siah. The former was a type of the latter, just as David himself was a type of Christ. Hebrews 2:13 ---And again, I will trust in him.—Words equivalent to these occur in 2 Samuel 22:3; Psalms 18:2; Isaiah 8:17 Isaiah 12:2. In the first two instances, David is the speaker, and represents Christ in his relations as the King of God’ s people; and in the last two, Isa­iah is the speaker, and represents Christ in his prophetic relations. It is still a question with the critics, to which of these our author refers. Many think that he refers to Isaiah 8:17; but it is more probable that the quotation is taken from 2 Samuel 22:3, or Psalms 18:2. In either case, the object of our author in making the cita­tion is simply to show that according to God’ s will and purpose as revealed in the Old Testament, the Messiah was to be a man, en­dowed with all the attributes and sympathies of our nature. And this he does here by showing that, as a man, Christ, like David, felt his dependence on God and trusted in him. Hebrews 2:13 ---Behold I and the children which God hath given me.—That this clause is taken from Isaiah 8:18, is very evident. But what is its meaning, and what bearing has it on the argument of the Apostle ? How can words which in their first intention have a clear reference to Isaiah and his children be applied to Christ and his disciples? The proper answer to this question is to be found in the typical re­lations which Isaiah and his children sustained to Christ and the children of God. As every divinely appointed high-priest under the Theocracy represented Christ in his priestly office; and as every king of the royal line of David represented him in his kingly office; so also did every true prophet represent him to some extent in his prophetical office. And whatever, therefore, was said of Isaiah and his sons, as types, has reference also to Christ and the children which God has given him, as antitypes. See notes on Hebrews 1:5. This is further indicated by the names which God gave to this illustrious Prophet and his two sons, to whom reference is made in this section of prophecy. (Isaiah 7:1 to Isaiah 9:7.) The name Isaiah means salvation of Jehovah, and is nearly equivalent to the name Joshua or Jesus, which means “ Jehovah’ s salvation,” or Jehovah is his sal­vation. The original name was Hoshea, salvation (Numbers 13:8) ; but Moses changed it to Jehoshua, Jehovah’ s salvation (Numbers 8:16). After their return from captivity, the Jews contracted the name to Jeshua, as in Nehemiah 8:17, etc. From this, is derived the Greek name Jesus (Ieesous), which is from the same root as the name Isaiah. The eldest son of Isaiah named in the Scriptures is called Shear-Jashub, which means, A remnant shall return. (Isaiah 7:4) This, then, as well as the name Isaiah, was prophetic, and was manifestly intended by God to be a sign and an assurance to his suffering people, that he had still merciful designs in reserve for those of them who would remain faithful to the end. The next son mentioned was to be called Immanuel, which means “ God with usThis name, it seems, was given to the first-born son of Isaiah by a second wife, to indicate that God was still among his people for their protection and deliverance. (Isaiah 7:13-16.) And as evi­dence of this, Isaiah was directed to announce the speedy fall of the two kings, Rezin and Pekah, who were then threatening to overthrow Jerusalem. “ Before the child [Immanuel],” said God by the Prophet, “ shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.” (Isaiah 7:16.) And in order to impress this matter still more deeply on the minds and hearts of the people, God further in­structed Isaiah to call the same child Maharshalal-Hashbaz, Haste-to-the-spoil—Speed-to-the-prey: indicating by this name that in a very short time, even “ before the child should know to cry, My father and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria would be taken away by the king of Assyria.” (Isaiah 8:1-4.) This was all fulfilled, as predicted, within the short space of three years after the delivery of the prophecy. But there is also in this prophecy, as in many others, a double reference, first to the type and then to the antitype. This is evi­dent from the application which Matthew makes of the fourteenth verse of the seventh chapter. See Matthew 1:23. If, then, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Matthew could say with propriety, “ Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” why may not Paul also say, speaking by the same Spirit, that Christ became a man, and suffered for us, as a man, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet Isaiah, saying, “ Behold I and the children which God hath given me” ? Manifestly, the application which is here made of the words of Isaiah, in the latter case, is just as plain, direct, and authoritative, as in the former. Care must be taken, however, in both cases, not to press the analogies too far. The name Immanuel, as applied to the son of Isaiah, was to the chosen people of that age a sign that God was still among them as their guardian and protector; but as applied to Christ, it is indicative of his Divinity, implying that he is himself God manifest in the flesh. There is a difference also between the relation which Isaiah bore to his children, according to the flesh, and that which Christ sustains to his disciples, as the children of God. But the resemblance between the two is sufficient to indicate that Christ and the “ many sons” that he is leading on to glory, are all of the same family, and that they are bound together by cords of the deepest and tenderest human sympathy. This is all that the Apostle aims to prove by these citations from the Old Testament. Hebrews 2:14 ---Forasmuch then—(epei oun) since then. In the context preceding, the Apostle has shown that it was a part of God’ s gra­cious will and purpose, as revealed in the Old Testament, that Christ and the children of the covenant (Galatians 3:7 Galatians 3:9 Galatians 3:29) should all be of one Father, and of one family. But according to the es­tablished laws and ordinances of nature, the children have all been made partakers (kehoinoneeke) of flesh and blood. And hence it was that, in compliance with God’ s will and purpose, Christ also partook of the same. “ Though he was in the form of God, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God, yet he made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:6-7.) The expression, “ flesh and blood,” says Bleek, “ betokens the whole sensuous corpo­real nature of man, which he has in common with the brutes, and whereby he is the object of sensuous perception and corporeal im­pressions; whereby also he is subjected to the laws of infirmity, decay, and transitoriness of material things, in contrast with purely spiritual and incorporeal beings.” Frequently it is used by synec­doche in a more comprehensive sense for human nature; as, for example, in Matthew 16:17; Galatians 1:16; Ephesians 6:12. And there can be no doubt that in becoming incarnate, the Logos assumed human nature in all its fullness, including every element of our spiritual, as well as of our physical and sensuous being. But in this in­stance, as in 1 Corinthians 15:50, the words seem to be used in a more limited sense. The Apostle does not say that the children are flesh and blood, but that they have been made partakers of flesh and blood; thereby making a distinction between what constitutes the essential and eternal part of man’ s nature, and what is merely acci­dental, and in which we now live as in a clay tabernacle. (2 Corinthians 5:1.) Even this sensuous part of our nature was put on by Christ, so that he might in every particular, “ be made like unto his brethren,” and “ through death destroy him that has the power of death.” Hebrews 2:14 ---that is, the devil;— The word devil (diabolos— from diaballo, to calumniate) means properly a calumniator, a traducer, an ac­cuser, or a slanderer. The corresponding Hebrew word is Satan, meaning one that hates, an enemy. Our knowledge of this won­derful being is quite limited. But from the Scriptures we may learn (1) that like man he was at first created upright; and that like man he afterward sinned and fell. Christ says of him in John 8:44, that “ he abode not in the truth” ; which implies very clearly that he was once in it. And Jude says (verse 6), “ The angels who kept not their first estate, but left their own proper habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judg­ment of the great day.” See also 2 Peter 2:4. From a compari­son of these passages, it is very manifest that Satan was one of those angels who, not being satisfied with their “ first estate,” or original condition (archee), were cast down to Tartarus on account of their rebellion. (2) There is but little said in the Bible in refer­ence to the particular occasion and circumstances of Satan’ s fall. But it is pretty evident from 1 Timothy 3:6, that it was occasioned by pride. Paul here admonishes Timothy not to appoint to the Bishop’ s office “ a new convert, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil” ; that is, lest he fall into the same condemnation into which the devil fell. That this is the meaning of the Apostle, is evident from the fact that it is not the prerogative of the devil to condemn anyone. He ensnares (1 Timothy 3:7); but it is Christ that condemns (Romans 8:34). How pride or any other sin could enter Heaven, may be a mystery above our comprehension. But it seems that in some way (per­haps by comparing himself too much with his inferiors, instead of duly considering the Infinite), pride got possession of Satan’ s heart, begetting in him, and through him in others, an unhallowed ambition to rise still higher among the principalities and powers of the heavenly realms. They “ left their own proper habitation” ; and as a consequence were cast down to Hades. (3) After he was cast out of Heaven, he successfully plotted and effected the fall of man. Why Satan was allowed to come to this world and tempt our first parents, as he did, is a question too high for us. God alone may be capable of fully understanding this mystery. But the fact is indis­putable. God had said to Adam: “ But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:17.) Satan, whose intellect is marvelously great, next it may be to that of the Infinite, was not long, it seems, in perceiving how he might turn this ordi­nance of God to his own advantage and to man’ s ruin. He knew that so long as man was loyal to his Maker, he and all his fallen compeers, though numerous it may be as the leaves and flowers of Eden, could do nothing to his injury. But Satan had no doubt well weighed and considered the awful, mysterious, and compre­hensive import of the word death in the threatened penalty. He saw that there was in this thing death, a power, the possession of which would make him the prince of the world (John 12:31 John 14:30 John 16:11), and make man his most abject slave (John 8:34). He resolved if possible to secure it; and succeeded but too well in his diabolical designs. Through his influence, Adam sinned and fell; and humanity sinned and fell in him. (Romans 5:12 Romans 5:18-19.) Hebrews 2:14 ---the power of death,— What is it, and in what does it consist? This is a question which we can now answer but in part. Until we understand perfectly what death is, we cannot of course fully un­derstand its power. But such matters are above our weak capacity. We know, however, that it has, in a very important and com­prehensive sense, separated man from his Maker (Ephesians 2:12-13); robbed him of his highest spiritual power and enjoyment (Ephesians 2:1 Ephesians 2:5); filled his heart with enmity to God (Genesis 3:8; Colossians 1:21) ; made him the willing slave of sin and Satan (John 8:44; Romans 1:28-31; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 3:8 1 John 5:19) ; and greatly deranged all his physical as well as his spiritual powers, resulting in a separation of soul and body (Romans 5:12 Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22). Its power is therefore immensely great; and it is all used by Satan for the purpose of promoting his own diabolical ends and purposes. But “ the Word became flesh” in order that, by means of his death, “ he might destroy him that has the power of death.” The word destroy (katargeo) does not mean to annihilate, but simply to render useless, to bring to naught. The Apostle John expresses the same thought in his first Epistle (3:8) where he says, “ For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy (lusee) the works of the devil.” The mere destruction of Satan himself would not accomplish God’ s purpose. Had Christ annihi­lated him, as he doubtless might have done, this alone would not have relieved mankind from their woes and misfortunes. For death, be it observed, is not wholly an invention of the devil. It was of course brought about by his hellish craft and cunning; for if man had never sinned, he would never have died. Nevertheless, death it­self, under the circumstances, springs up out of a moral necessity; a necessity which is as immutable as the truth and justice of God. And consequently, whatever may become of Satan, death cannot be destroyed, until all the claims of the Divine government on man are fully satisfied, and man himself is again made holy and so rec­onciled to his Maker. To effect these ends, as we have seen in our exegesis of the tenth verse, it was indispensable that Christ should become a man, and, as such, be made perfect through suffering. And now having by his own blood made purification for the sins of mankind, he has sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; there to reign until the works of Satan shall be destroyed, and the dominion of the world shall be restored to the “ many sons” whom he is leading on to glory. Hebrews 2:15 ---And deliver them—The Apostle does not mean, that all men will actually be delivered from the bondage brought upon them by sin and the fear of death; but only that through Christ all may be delivered. In partaking of flesh and blood, it was his purpose to open up “ a new and living way,” through which all might come to God, obtain the pardon of their sins, and be made heirs of the eter­nal inheritance. Hebrews 2:15 ---through the fear of death—This fear is natural and universal. Men fear death (1) because of the pain, misery, and dissolution, which attend it; (2) because of the darkness and corruption of the grave which follow it; and (3) because of the uncertainty of their condition and destiny beyond it. It is the terminus of our proba­tionary state, beyond which there is no place for repentance. The man who passes this solemn bourn, in union, communion, and fel­lowship with God, will die no more. (Luke 20:36.) But for those who are then disloyal and unholy, there remains nothing but the horrors and torments of the second death. (Revelation 20:14-15.) See Matthew 25:46 Matthew 26:26; Hebrews 10:26-27;Revelation 22:11. No wonder, then, that death has been called “ the King of ter­rors.” (Job 18:14.) It must be so to every man in his senses who has not been delivered from its enslaving influences through the Lord Jesus. Nothing but a strong, firm, and unfaltering faith in Christ— a faith which “ works by love, purifies the heart, and over­comes the world,”— can ever save and deliver those who through the fear of death are all their lifetime subjects of bondage (eno- choi douleias). But faith in Christ saves us from all such fears and torments; knowing, as we do, that “ if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1.) Under the sustaining and strengthening influence of this faith, we can ex­claim with Paul, even in the face of Death, “ O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory?” Or with David we can calmly say, “ Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou [Jehovah] art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” (Psalms 23:4.) And hence we feel that it is even better to depart and to be with Christ. (Philippians 1:23.)Hebrews 2:16 ---For verily he took not on him the nature of angels;—Or more literally, For not indeed of angels doth he take hold; but he taketh hold of the seed of Abraham. The Greek word (eplambo- netai) means (1) to take hold of any thing as one’ s own; and (2) to take hold of any person with the view of helping him. In this latter sense the word is used here by our author. His object is, not as was generally supposed by the ancient commentators to reassert the fact that Christ took on himself our nature, but rather to assign a reason for his having done so. Christ’ s mission, he says, was not to take hold of angels and deliver them from slavery; but it was to take hold of man, and to free him from the bondage of sin and death. And hence, as our author has shown in the preceding context, it was becoming that he (Christ) should be made a partaker of flesh and blood, so that by means of his death he might destroy him that has the power of death, and deliver those (men, not angels) who through fear of death were all their lifetime subjects of bondage. Hebrews 2:16 ---but he took on him the seed of Abraham.—Or rather as above explained, he taketh hold of the seed of Abraham. As the Apostle was writing for the special benefit and encouragement of the Hebrews, there was certainly no impropriety in his using terms so very limited. But in doing so he does not mean to exclude all, save the seed of Abraham, from the benefits of Christ’ s death, atonement, and intercession. Certainly not; for in the ninth verse of this chapter, he assures us that Jesus had by the grace of God tasted death for every man. This shows beyond all doubt that the benefits of Christ’ s death are applicable to all men who will humbly submit to the terms and conditions on which salvation is so gra­ciously offered to us in the Gospel. But in this saying there is a rhetorical propriety which could not be so well expressed by any terms that are more general and comprehensive. Hebrews 2:17 ---Wherefore it behooved him— As Christ came to help the seed of Abraham (and all the rest of mankind), it behooved him to be made like them. The word here rendered behooved (opheilen) is different from that which is rendered became (eprepen) in the tenth verse; and also from that which is rendered ought and be­hooved (edei) in Luke 24:26 Luke 24:46. The last of these (edei) de­notes moral necessity growing out of God’ s decrees and purposes; the second (eprepen), as previously explained, denotes an intrinsic fitness and propriety in conformity with the Divine attributes; but the first (opheilen) expresses an obligation which arises out of any work or enterprise already undertaken. The Apostle means to say, therefore, that since Christ had voluntarily undertaken the work of redeeming the seed of Abraham from the bondage of sin and Satan, he thereby incurred the further obligation of being made like them. Hebrews 2:17 ---in all things— That is, in all things (kata panta) essential to perfect humanity. This does not of course include the depravity which we have incurred by sin. See notes on 4: 15. Christ had none of the evil lusts and propensities which now defile human na­ture (Matthew 15:18-20); enslave the unregenerate (Romans 7:23) ; and from which even we who have the first-fruits of the Spirit are not wholly freed while we live in these clay tabernacles (Romans 8:10). He was “ without sin” (choris hamartias) in the fullest and widest sense. But he had every faculty, power, and susceptibility which belongs to human nature in its sinless state; and he was therefore subject to all the sufferings, perils, temptations, toils, and conflicts which we endure. Thus far it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, so that he might be fully qualified for the great work which he had undertaken. Hebrews 2:17 ---that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest—Or rather, that he might become (geneetai) a merciful and faithful High Priest. For as Alford very justly remarks in his commen­tary on this passage, “ The High-priesthood of Christ in all its fullness, and especially in its work of mercy, and compassion, and suc­cor, was not inaugurated till he entered into the heavenly place. His being in all things like unto his brethren, sufferings and death included, was necessary for him in order to his becoming, through those sufferings and death, our High Priest. It was not the death (though that was of previous necessity, and is therefore often spo­ken of as involving the whole), but the bringing the blood into the Holy Place, in which the work of sacerdotal expiation consisted.” This is all just and right so far as it goes. Care, however, must be taken not to press this view of the matter so far as to exclude everything of a sacerdotal character from Christ’ s earthly minis­try. This would be inconsistent with both the types of the Old Testament and the subsequent teachings of our Epistle. For on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest had first to slay the victim, and then carry its blood into the Most Holy Place to make recon­ciliation for the sins of the people. (Leviticus 16:15.) And so also Christ is said to have offered himself on the cross, so that he might afterward enter Heaven with his own blood, and there make expia­tion for our sins according to the Scriptures. Christ was therefore the Priest as well as the victim in the offering of himself on Cal­vary. But this offering on Calvary was only a preliminary part of the one great offering of Christ which was consummated in Heaven; and it was, moreover, an essential part of the preparatory discipline through which he had to pass before he could be fully qualified to officiate as the great High Priest of our confession. See notes on Hebrews 7:17 Hebrews 7:27. And hence the High-priesthood is not im­properly presented here as the goal which he had to reach through his many trials and sufferings; and especially through his suffer­ings on the cross. “ Before reaching it, he had to walk the path of human suffering down to this deep turning-point, in order to ac­quire the requisite qualifications for the exercise of high-priestly functions, extending thenceforth from Heaven to Earth” (Del. in loc.). The idea of the Apostle, then, is this: that it was necessary for Christ to become a man— a man of sorrows; a man in all re­spects like ourselves, but without sin— in order that he might be the better qualified to have compassion on the erring and the ig­norant; and to discharge with fidelity, as a High Priest, all his duties both to God (Hebrews 3:2 Hebrews 3:6) and to man (Hebrews 10:23). Hebrews 2:17 ---in things pertaining to God,— The High Priest under the law was wholly consecrated to God. Holiness to Jehovah was in­scribed on the golden plate of his miter, as an indication that he was set apart to minister to the Lord in the services of his Sanctu­ary. And so also Christ, as the High Priest of the New Economy, has been called and set apart to minister in “ the Sanctuary and the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man.” (8:2.) As a King, he rules over Heaven and Earth; and supports all things by the word of his power. But the functions of his sacerdotal office are more limited, having special reference to the wants of man and the relations which we sustain to God and to his government. This will become more apparent as we proceed with the exegesis of the Epistle. Hebrews 2:17 ---to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.—These words indicate the main purpose of Christ’ s Priesthood. He be­came such a Priest, as he is, in order to expiate by means of his death the sins of the people. The word here rendered “ to make reconciliation for” (hilaskomai), means, in classic Greek, to ap­pease or to propitiate; as, for instance, when Homer, Hesiod, and others, speak of appeasing the wrath of the gods by means of sacri­fices. But it is a significant fact, that neither this nor the corre­sponding Hebrew word is ever so used in the sacred writings. God is never made the direct object of this or any other word of like import in either the Old or the New Testament. In no part of the inspired word do we find such an expression as, to appease God’ s wrath or to reconcile him to man by means of sacrifice. The whole tenor of the inspired word goes to show that God had compassion on the world, and sent his Son to redeem it. (1 John 4:4 1 John 4:10.) Caution is necessary, however, just here lest perchance we fall into the extreme of supposing with some that Christ came into the world merely for the purpose of showing forth the love of God to man. There is certainly a sense in which it may be truthfully said that the atonement of Christ has rendered God propitious to man. For it must not be forgotten that we were all by nature the chil­dren of God’ s wrath (Ephesians 2:3), and that it is only through Christ that this wrath has been, or can be, averted. “ He that be- lieveth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36.) There is therefore no reasonable ground to doubt that the sacrifice of Christ has an influence on the mind ofGod toward the sinner, as well as on the sinner himself. But it is not such an influence as many have supposed. It may be properly illustrated by the case of a wise, just, and benevolent father; who though insulted by an ungrateful son, still loves and pities him; and while vindicating his own authority as a father, does at the same time all that he can to reclaim his son. In like manner, God was insulted; his government was dishonored; and man had be­come an enemy to him by wicked works. (Colossians 1:21.) Never­theless, God had pity and compassion on his erring and prodigal children. He so loved and pitied them, even when they were dead in trespasses and sins, “ that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have ever­lasting life.” (John 3:16.) Thus “ God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” (2 Corinthians 5:19.) “ Herein,” then, “ is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (hilas- mos) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10.) The whole plan of redemption, therefore, including the work of atonement, is an arrangement of the Godhead, embracing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and is designed (1) to meet and satisfy the claims of the Divine government against man, so that God’ s mercy might justly flow to penitent sinners; (2) to rec­oncile man to God, by removing enmity from his heart and filling it with gratitude and love; and (3) to actually blot out and forever cancel the sins of all such as become obedient to the Divine will. But in order to effect all this, it was necessary, as the Apostle here shows, that Christ should become a man, in all respects like unto his brethren, so that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God. Thus, and thus only, could he make expiation for our sins; and so render it possible for God’ s abounding mercy and love to flow out freely and fully to all who love and obey him. Hebrews 2:18 ---For in that, etc.—In this verse, the Apostle explains how it is, that Christ’ s being made like unto his brethren in all things serves to make him a more faithful and compassionate High Priest. “ For in that,” he says, “ he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” As God, he knows of course all our wants, and is ever able and willing to supply them. But as a man, he had to experience all the trials, temptations, pri­vations, sorrows, and sufferings, which are common to our race, in order to fully qualify him for the duties of his mediatorial office: and these, as the Divine record shows, he endured to the utter­most. Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, and brought up in the humble condition of a peasant, he entered upon his public du­ties under the most trying and discouraging circumstances. Satan tempted him; the scribes and Pharisees derided and persecuted him; and even his own friends and brethren forsook him. But he faltered not in his purpose. His course was ever onward toward the sublime goal of his earthly mission. Amidst the lowering tem­pests and gathering storms of demoniacal fury and satanic malice, he marched directly onward, until baptized in sufferings, his op­pressed and care-worn frame sunk under the tremendous pressure of his mental agonies, and his great heart literally burst under the crushing and overwhelming influence of his incurred responsibil­ities. See notes on 5:7. He could endure no more; but calmly said, “ It is finished” ; and then expired.1. God has provided a home for his children. (Hebrews 2:5-9.) “ The meek,” says Christ, “ shall inherit the Earth.” For ages, the domi­nation of the world has been a matter of strife and contention; and ambitious men have waded through seas of blood to obtain it. But it is all in vain. They will never, except by temporary usurpation, enjoy even so much as a foot-breadth of it; for to Abraham and his seed it has all been given by an irrevocable decree of Jehovah, as their everlasting inheritance. (Romans 4:13.) It matters not how humble and how destitute we may now be, if we have the earnest of the Spirit (Ephesians 1:14) ; “ then indeed are we Abraham’ s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). I do not say that we will always be confined to this world, as we now are while living in these “ houses of clay whose foundation is in the dust.” This is not probable. With bodies like unto that of the Son of God (1 John 3:2), purified and spiritualized (1 Corinthians 15:44 1 Corinthians 15:50), we may, like angels, pass from world to world, and from system to system, to behold the works of the Lord and to make known to others the mysteries of redemption. But wherever we go, and on whatever errand we may be sent, our object finished, we will return again on joyful wing to this renovated earth to behold with increasing wonder and delight the beauty and the glory of the Lord in the New Jerusalem, “ the city of our God, the mountain of his holiness.” There with David we will often ex­claim, with wonder and amazement, “ Lord, what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him?” When we see the countless myriads of suns, and moons, and stars that compose the vast empire of Jehovah, and the higher sons of light who inhabit them, and who from so many centers of creation swell the lofty praises of their Creator in everlasting anthems— feeling our own nothingness and unworthiness, we will be filled with wonder and amazement that God, in his infinite condescen­sion, mercy, and love, should have provided such a home for us as the New Heavens and the New Earth, filled and illuminated with his own glorious and eternal presence. See Revelation 21, 22. 2. The atonement made by Christ is for all men, and its benefits are in some measure unconditionally extended to all. Even the lives that we now live in the flesh, we live through the forbearance of God in Christ (1 Timothy 4:10) ; and the removal of the effects and consequences of the Adamic transgression will be as wide and as comprehensive as the human race. For “ as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22.) And “ as by means of one trespass, the righteous sentence of God came upon all men to condemnation; so also by means of one righteous act, the favor of God will come on all men to justification of life [from the penalty of death incurred through Adam]. For as by the disobedience of one man [Adam] the many [all men] were made sinners; so also by the obedience of the one [Christ], the many [all men] shall be made righteous [so far as it respects the sinfulness incurred through Adam].” (Romans 5:18-19.) Nor is this all: for where sin abounded, grace superabounded. Through the infinite merits of the one offering of Christ, the justice of God has been satisfied, and ample provision has been made for pardon­ing the many personal offenses of all men who repent of their sins and humbly bow to the will and authority of God. And hence the cry of Mercy now is, “ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters: and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.” 3. The scheme of redemption through Christ is not an arbitrary scheme (Hebrews 2:10). It is a scheme prompted by the love of God; founded in justice, judgment, and equity; and administered throughout in infinite wisdom. The nature of God is its constitu­tion, in harmony with which all its laws and ordinances have been enacted. And hence it became God in bringing many sons unto glory, to look not only to the qualifications of their Captain, but also to the rightful demands of his own nature and government. Until these were satisfied, it were all vain to talk of saving any sin­ner. By an eternal moral necessity, deep and profound as the Di­vine nature, the soul that sinneth must die; unless an adequate ransom can in some way be provided. This has been done through the one offering of the Lord Jesus Christ. He, by his death and incarnation, has magnified God’ s law and made it honorable (Isaiah 42:21) ; he has by the offering of his blood, once for all, brought in everlasting righteousness (Daniel 9:24) ; and under his peaceful and glorious reign, “ Mercy and Truth have met together, Righ­teousness and Peace have kissed each other” (Psalms 85:10). No wonder, then, that angels desired to look into these things, and to study with profound reverence the economy of redemption. (1 Peter 1:12.) There is here nothing of fatality, nor of arbitrary will and caprice; but there is here a system of rectitude, broad, deep, and profound as the Divine government; every element of which is marked by that “ wisdom which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated; full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17.) 1. How wonderful are the condescension and the love of Christ in assuming our nature and being made like unto his brethren in all things; so that he might by the grace of God taste death for every man, destroy the works of Satan, and “ deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subjects of bondage” (verses 9-18). “ He left his radiant throne on high,Left the bright realms of bliss,And came to Earth to bleed and die:Was ever love like this?” “ Scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8.) 2. Perhaps, then, it should not excite our surprise, that this marvelous condescension of the Lord Jesus has always proved to be one of the chief stumblingblocks in the way of unbelievers. There is nothing in the depraved and selfish nature of man that will at all compare with it. And hence to those who are wont to estimate the motives of others by their own, it seems wholly incred­ible that “ he who was in the form of God, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God” should make himself of no repu­tation, and take upon himself the form of a servant, that he might become obedient to death, even the death of the cross. But as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are God’ s ways higher than our ways, and his thoughts above our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9.) 3. This entry is longer than a Bible module can hold. The rest is at https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ntrc/ Hebrews 3:1-6 Hebrews 3:1-6 Near the close of the last section (Hebrews 2:17), the Apostle, while dis­cussing the question of Christ’ s humanity, refers for the first time to his priesthood. And hence we might reasonably expect that this would be made the next topic of discussion. But connected with this, and naturally and historically antecedent to it, is the apostle- ship of Christ. Moses preceded Aaron in the economy of the Old Testament; and Christ appeared as the Leader of God’ s people, be­fore he entered on the duties of his priesthood. And hence while our author blends together in some measure the discussion of these two functions of Christ’ s mediatorial office, he devotes the next section mainly to the consideration of his apostleship and such other matters as depend essentially on it. The following are the main points which he makes in the discussion and development of this part of his subject: I. He shows the great superiority of Christ over Moses, as the Apostle of God. (Hebrews 3:1-6.)1. In making this comparison between Christ and Moses, our author shows no disposition to disparage the latter in any way. He concedes that Moses was faithful to God in all his house (Hebrews 3:2). . .2. But then he argues that according to the Divine arrange­ment, Christ is as much superior to Moses as he who builds a house is superior to the house itself (verse 3). This argument may be briefly stated as follows: God built all things, including, of course, both the Jewish house and the Christian house. But Christ is God, one with the Father (Hebrews 1:8.) And hence it follows, that Christ is as much superior to the Jewish or Old Testament house of God, including Moses himself and every other member of the3. Theocracy, as he who builds a house is superior to it (Hebrews 3:4-5).4. Furthermore, Moses was but a servant in the symbolical house of God; but Christ as a Son presides over the real house of God; which is to the symbolical house of the Old Testament econ­omy, as the substance is to the shadow (Hebrews 3:6). II. From this subject, the transition to the pilgrimage of the Is­raelites under Moses and ours under Christ, is easy and natural (Hebrews 3:7-19). 1. According to Moses (Numbers 2:32-33), about six hundred thousand (603,550) Israelites, besides the Levites and the women and children, left Egypt with the fairest and most encouraging prospects of entering Canaan.2. But, nevertheless, very few of them ever reached the Prom­ised Land. They provoked God in the wilderness, till he finally swore in his wrath that they should never enter into his rest. (Numbers 14:22-30.)3. From this chapter of sacred history, the Apostle therefore solemnly warns his Hebrew brethren, and through them also all the followers of Christ, of their many dangers, and of the necessity of their giving all diligence in order to make their calling and elec­tion sure during their earthly pilgrimage (Hebrews 3:12-18).4. It is true that our advantages and privileges are now, in many respects, greatly superior to those of the ancient Israelites. But human nature is still the same; our greatest enemies are still the same; the deceitfulness of sin is the same; many of our trials and temptations are the same; and hence what was “ written afore­time was written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” It becomes all Chris­tians, therefore, to exhort and admonish one another daily Hebrews 3:13). I. From the pilgrimage of the Jews under Moses and ours under Christ, the Apostle is next led to consider the rest which re­mains for the people of God. (Hebrews 4:1-10.)1. The idea of rest was a very pleasant and consoling thought to the Israelites. They had long been accustomed to reflect on the many pleasures and advantages of a sanctified rest.(1.) From the regular observance of the weekly Sabbath.(2.) From the habit of sanctifying many other days to the Lord; as, for example, the first day of every month; the first and last day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, etc.(3.) From celebrating the Sabbatical Year and the Year of Jubilee.(4.) From the ease and repose which they enjoyed in Canaan, compared with the many toils and trials which their fathers had endured in the wilderness. From all of which it is manifest, that in an argument designed for the encouragement of the Hebrew brethren, it was particularly necessary to dwell on this element of the Christian religion, and to show that there is a rest remaining for the people of God, that far transcends in importance any earthly rest that was ever enjoyed by the seed of Abraham accord­ing to the flesh.2. But just here the Apostle seems to have anticipated an objec­tion which might peradventure be urged by the judaizing party. That most of the Old Testament references to the heavenly rest were made through types and shadows there can be no doubt. And with some it might, therefore, be a question, whether in such portions of Scripture there is really anything more intended or implied than the mere temporal rest to which the ancient Prophets primarily referred.3. To this question he makes the following reply:(1.) He refers to Psalms 95:7, from which he proves that God in his wrath had sworn to the Israelites under Moses, that they should not enter into his rest. And hence he argues that this could not be the Sabbatical rest, because it was instituted in the begin­ning when God finished the work of creation (Genesis 2:2), and had been enjoyed by the Israelites throughout all their journeyings (Exodus 16:22-31). And hence it follows that there must be another rest for the people of God: a rest into which the rebellious Israel­ites under Moses never entered (verses 3-6).(2.) But lest it might be supposed that the promise of God guaranteeing rest to his people, was fulfilled in its fullest and ulti­mate sense when the Israelites under Joshua entered Canaan, the Apostle refers again to the ninety-fifth Psalm, and proves from it that even in the time of David, after the children of Israel had pos­sessed the land of Canaan for nearly five hundred years— even then there was danger that the living generation would, like their fa­thers, be excluded from the promised rest. From all of which, it clearly follows that there is still a rest remaining for the people of God. For as our author says, if Joshua had given the people rest in the land of Canaan, then most assuredly God would not after­ward have spoken of another rest by the mouth of his servant David (verses 7-9). II. The section closes with a renewed exhortation to labor ear­nestly to enter into the rest of God, especially in view of the heart-searching character of his word by which we are all to be judged at the last day (Hebrews 3:11-13)1. Here we may often deceive one another; and sometimes we may even deceive ourselves; but nothing can escape the eye of God and the all-permeating power of his word.2. And hence the necessity of the most careful and constant self-examination, lest, like the Israelites, we too fall short of the promised rest. Under this section, we have therefore the four following para­graphs :I. Hebrews 3:1-6. Christ superior to Moses.II. Hebrews 3:7-19. Exhortations and warnings drawn from the exam­ple of the Israelites under Moses.III. Hebrews 4:1-10. Concerning the rest which remains for the people of God.IV. Hebrews 4:11-13. Renewed exhortation to strive earnestly to enter into God’ s rest, in view especially of the all-penetrating and heart­searching character of God’ s word.CHRIST TO MOSES Hebrews 3:1-6 Hebrews 3:1 ---Wherefore,—We have here a very beautiful illustration of the easy and natural manner in which our author passes from one sub­ject to another. The word “ wherefore” (hothen) is illative, and shows the very close and intimate connection of what follows in this verse, with what has been said of Christ in the two preceding chapters; and especially in the last paragraph of the second chap­ter. But what is here introduced as a consequence from premises considered, is made also a ground of transition to another subject. Hebrews 3:1 ---holy brethren,— These were the Hebrew Christians. They are addressed here by the Apostle, not as Jews, nor as brethren of Christ, but as his own brethren in Christ. And they are called holy brethren, not because they were all in possession of that holi­ness of heart which the Gospel requires, but because they had all professed to believe in Christ, to put on Christ (Galatians 3:27), and to be separated from the world as the peculiar people of God. In this sense, the Corinthian brethren are all called saints (agioi, 1 Corinthians 1:2); though we are assured by Paul in both his letters to the Corinthian Church, that some of them were very impure men. See references, and notes on Hebrews 2:11. Hebrews 3:1 ---partakers of the heavenly calling,— The word rendered calling (kleesis), means properly a call, a summons, an invitation; and hence by metonymy it means also the state or condition into which anyone is called. In 1 Corinthians 7:17-20, for example, Paul says to the Corinthian brethren, “ As the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk; and so I ordain in all the churches. Is any man called being circumcised? let him not be uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.” In this passage, the word calling evi­dently refers to the social rank and secular condition of each indi­vidual when he was called of God to partake of the “ heavenly call­ing” ; some were Jews and some were Gentiles, some were slaves and some were freemen. The “ heavenly calling,” according to Paul, is not designed to nullify and set aside arbitrarily and uncon­ditionally all such distinctions. The Jew, though converted to Christ, might nevertheless consistently remain in circumcision; and the Gentile, in uncircumcision. In this metonymical sense the word calling is used in our text to denote, not merely God’ s gra­cious invitation to sinners, but also and more particularly the bene­fits of this invitation; having special reference to the present state and condition of those who, in obedience to God’ s call, have put on Christ as he is offered to us in the Gospel. It is the high and holy calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14), to which our author here refers. And this is denominated a heavenly calling because it comes from Heaven, leads to Heaven, and fills with heavenly joys the hearts of all who are made partakers of it. Hebrews 3:1 ---consider the apostle and high priest— Meditate carefully and profoundly (katanoeesate) on the nature and character of Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. Our author makes here an earnest appeal to his Hebrew brethren to consider well all that he had said, and all that he was about to say, concerning Christ; to think of his Divinity, his humanity, his sufferings, his death, his burial, his resurrection, his ascension, his glorification, his universal dominion, his love, his sympathies, and every other attribute and perfection of his character. And this he does for the purpose of confirming and strengthening their faith, increasing their love, and guarding them against the sin of apostasy. The word apostle (apostelos) means one who is sent: a messen­ger of any kind. In this sense it is here applied to Christ, as the one sent by God for the redemption of mankind. “ The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14.) Christ is then the Apostle of God under the New Economy as Moses was his Apostle under the Old Economy. True, indeed, Moses is nowhere called the Apostle of God in the Holy Scrip­tures; but words equivalent to these occur frequently in the Old Testament. In Exodus 3:10, for example, God says to Moses, “ Come, now, therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou may- est bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.” And in the twelfth verse of the same chapter he says, “ And this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee.” See also Exodus 3:13-15 Exodus 4:28 Exodus 5:22 Exodus 7:16, etc. It is evident, therefore, that our author here applies this term to Christ as the Apostle, or Messen­ger, of the New Covenant (Mai. 3: 1), for the purpose of compar­ing him in this capacity with Moses the renowned and honored Apostle of the Old Covenant. They were both sent by God; and were therefore the Apostles of God. But the ministry of Christ, as Paul now proceeds to show, was far superior to that of Moses. In the fourth, sixth, and eighth sections of the Epistle, the priesthood of Christ is compared with that of Aaron, and shown to be supe­rior to it in every respect. Hebrews 3:1 ---of our profession,—The Greek word here rendered profession (homologia) means (1) an agreement or compact; and (2) an ad­mission, acknowledgment, or confession. It is God’ s prerogative to speak (legein), and it is man’ s duty and privilege to acknowl­edge (homologein) the justice and propriety of what he says. Thus God spoke the words of the Old Covenant from Mount Sinai (Exodus 20-23), and the people then acknowledged his words, and consented to observe and do all that he had commanded (Exodus 24 :3) In like manner God has made known to us all the terms and stipulations of the New Covenant; and to these he requires us to give a hearty and unreserved assent and acknowledgment. But as Christ is himself the central truth, the Alpha and the Omega, of the New Covenant, it follows of course that all things pertaining to it are briefly summed up in the confession that “ Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16.) “ On this rock,” says Christ, “ I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:17.) This soon became publicly known as “ The Confession” of the primitive Christians; and hence it is that the Greek article is always prefixed to the noun which is used to express it. In Paul’ s first Epistle to Timothy, for exam­ple, he says to him, “ Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eter­nal life to which thou wast called, and didst confess the good con­fession (teen kaleen homologian) before many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12.) And in the next verse he says, “ I charge thee in the sight of God who quickeneth all things, and before Jesus Christ who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, that thou keep this commandment without spot and without reproach until the appear­ing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” See also Hebrews 4:14 Hebrews 10:23; 2 Corinthians 9:13. In all these passages the Greek article is used before the noun (homologia), as in 1 Timothy 6:12, to denote that the con­fession made by Christ and Timothy was the common and well- known confession that was then required of all, as a condition of church-membership. For as Paul says to the Roman brethren, “ with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). And Christ says, “ Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father who is in Heaven.” (Matthew 10:32.) When the confession is made publicly in the presence of wit­nesses, it may also be called, as in our text, a profession (profes- sio); which means simply a public avowal of one’ s belief and senti­ments. But the word confession or acknowledgment better ex­presses the meaning of the Apostle, and is also more in harmony with Greek usage. Hebrews 3:2 ---Who was faithful to him that appointed him,— More liter­ally, as being faithful to him that made him. The present participie being (onta) indicates that fidelity to God is an abiding and perpetual characteristic of Christ in his whole sphere of labor. He came to do the will of him that sent him. (John 4:34.) This he did while he tabernacled with us here on Earth; and this he is now doing in the discharge of the higher functions of his mediatorial reign. In his hands, the government of God and the interests of mankind are alike perfectly secure. Sooner will Heaven and Earth pass away, than even one jot or one tittle of the Divine law fail in his hands. He that appointed or made (to poieesanti) him, is, of course, God the Father. The reference here is not, as some think, to Christ’ s being eternally begotten of the Father (Bleek, Liine- mann); nor is it, as others allege, to his incarnation (Athanasius, Ambrose); but it is simply to his being officially appointed by the Father (De Wette, Delijzsch, etc.) ; to his being made the Apostle and High Priest of ou£ confession. “ It is the Lord,” says Samuel, “ that advanced Moses and Aaron, and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.” (1 Samuel 12:6.) Here the Hebrew word rendered advanced means, literally, made, and it is so rendered in the Septuagint. (ho poieesan ton Mouseen kai ton Aaron.) It is, however, quite manifest that Samuel refers here, not to the crea­tion of Moses and Aaron as men, but to their official appointment as the Apostle and High Priest of the Old Covenant. See Mark 3:14. And so also the word (poieo) is used in our text. God has made Jesus both the Apostle and High Priest of our confes­sion ; and in the discharge of all the duties appertaining to these sacred functions, he (Jesus) has always been faithful. Hebrews 3:2 ---as also Moses was faithful in all his house.— That Moses was faithful in the discharge of all the duties of his office, God has him­self borne witness. “ If,” says he in his admonition to Aaron and Miriam, “ there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make my­self known to him in a vision, and I will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all my house. With him I will speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold.” (Numbers 12:6-8.) This much, then, is evident, that Moses was faithful to him that appointed him, in the discharge of all his official duties. But what is the meaning of the word house (oikos) in this connection? and to whom does the pronoun his (autou) refer? A house is a dwelling-place; and the word is manifestly used here to designate the Church of the Israelites, as God’ s ancient dwelling place. This is obvious (1) from the context. We learn from the sixth verse of this chapter, that the house over which Christ now presides and in which he officiates, is the Christian Church; which, as Paul says in his Epistle to the Ephesians (Ephesians 2:20-22), is a holy temple, fitly framed together, and designed as a habitation or dwelling-place of God through the Spirit. See also 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 2:5, etc. The same thing is made evident also from the consideration of sundry other parallel passages, in which God is represented as ac­tually dwelling among the ancient Israelites. In Exodus 25:8, for ex­ample, God says to Moses, “ Let them [the Israelites] make me a Sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” And in Exodus 29:45, he says, “ I will dwell among the children of Israel, and I will be their God.” See also Leviticus 26:12; 1 Kings 6:11-13, etc. There can be no doubt, therefore, that the house in which Moses was faithful as the steward of God, was the house of Israel; the same as the Church of God in the wilderness. (Acts 7:38.) Let us, then, next inquire for the proper antecedent of the pro­noun his (autou) in this connection. What is it? Some think that the word his is used here to represent Christ; and that the Apostle means to say that Moses was faithful in the house of Christ. This is Bleek’ s opinion; but it is forced and unnatural, and scarcely de­serves to be mentioned. Others make the pronoun refer to Moses, regarding it, not as a genitive of possession, but of locality. According to this construction the meaning of the Apostle is sim­ply this: that Moses was faithful in the house to which he belonged and in which he served. This opinion, supported by Ebrard and others, is thought to be plausible and in no way inconsistent with the context. But others again, as Delitzsch and Alford, maintain with more probability that this pronoun refers to God as its proper antecedent; to him who appointed both Moses and Christ to their official positions; the one as a servant in the Old Testament house, and the other as a Son over the house of the New Testament. This construction is favored by the reference which our author makes to Num. 12: 7, where God says as above, “ My servant Moses ... is faithful in all mine house." This view is also most in harmony with New Testament usage. See references. Whatever may be thought of these minor points of grammatical construction, the general scope of this verse is very plain and obvi­ous. Our author, wishing to compare Christ with Moses, refers first with great delicacy and propriety to one point in which they may within certain limits be regarded as equal. They were both faithful to him who appointed them, in their proper spheres of labor. But having conceded so much, the Apostle now proceeds to show that the difference between them is really infinite. Hebrews 3:3 ---For this man, etc.—This verse in connection with the three following, has long been a stumbling-block in the way of many commentators. And it must be confessed that the passage is very elliptical, and that the construction is therefore somewhat obscure. But the argument of the Apostle manifestly implies that Christ sustains to Moses the same relation that the person who builds and furnishes a house sustains to the house itself. Consider well, he says, Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; for though he and Moses were both faithful to him who appointed them, he has nevertheless been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, in proportion as he who has builded and furnished a house has more honor than the house. Why so? Manifestly, because Christ is here regarded as the builder and furnisher of the whole house of Israel, of which Moses himself was but a member. But how, it is asked, could this be, since Jesus was not born for fifteen hundred years after the birth of Moses ? And how, we may ask in reply and with equal propriety, could God by his Son make the worlds many ages before the Logos became his Son ? See note on 1:2. How could Paul say to the Colossians (Colossians 1:16-18), “ By him [God's dear Son] were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him and for him; and he is before all things, and by him all things consist; and he is the head of the body, the Church; that in all things he might have the preeminence” ? And how could the beloved John say, “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; all things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” ? How could the Word be God and be also with God ? The truth is, we often confound ourselves and our readers by endeavoring to comprehend and explain, not indeed what is contrary to our rea­son, but what is infinitely above it. The sublime truth is, however, clearly taught in the Holy Scriptures, and in no part of them more clearly than in the first chapter of our Epistle, that the Father and the Son are both God; both included in the Eloheem Jehovah of the Old Testament, and the Lord God Omnipotent of the New; and that each of them, as well as the Holy Spirit, has an agency in all that pertains to the redemption of mankind. Jesus, as our au­thor avers in 12: 2, is both “ the Author and the Finisher of the faith.” The laws and ordinances of the Patriarchal and the Jewish age, as well as those of the Christian age, are all the product of his wisdom and benevolence, as well as of the wisdom and benevolence of the Father. And hence it may be truthfully said, that he, as God, was the builder and furnisher (ho kataskeuasas) of the whole house of Israel, including Moses and everything else that per­tained to it. Hebrews 3:4 ---For every house is builded by some man;— This is a sort of axiomatic expression which the Apostle throws in here for the purpose of connecting more clearly and distinctly the more remote links on his chain of argument. The nation of Israel under the Theocracy was a house, a dwelling-place of the Most High. And as such it must of course have had a builder and furnisher: “ for every house is builded by some one.” A design always implies a designer; and the building of every house implies a chief architect. Under him there may of course be many subordinates; but in order to secure unity of design there must of necessity be a chief designer. And just so it was with the house of Israel. It was built, and its affairs were administered through the agency of both men and angels. But still, God himself (including the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) was the Supreme Architect in building the house of Israel, as well as in building the universe. And hence it follows, as before stated, that Jesus in his entire personality, in­cluding his Divine as well as his human nature, is as much supe­rior to Moses, as the builder of a house is to the house itself. I am aware that their is in the human mind a tendency to think of Christ merely as a man; and so to bring him down in our con­ceptions to an equality with creatures of high and exalted intelli­gence. And I am also aware that with such opinions concerning him, no one can understand the reasoning of Paul in this connec­tion. No Socinian or Arian can ever give us a fair and consistent explanation of this short paragraph. But surely the Apostle never intended to call on his Hebrew brethren or any one else to consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, merely as a man. For if so, then why does he present to us so fully the evi­dence of his Divinity in the first chapter of this Epistle? To my mind it is quite evident that he purposely discusses the leading questions relating to both the Divinity and the humanity of Christ, before he attempts to compare him with Moses, the Apostle of the Old Covenant. And then he calls on us to consider him as the Creator and Founder of all things, including the Jewish Theocracy as well as the Christian Church. In this view of the matter, all is plain and simple. Hebrews 3:5 ---And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a ser­vant,— In this and the following verse, the Apostle proceeds to state two other points in which Moses was inferior to Christ: (1) Moses was but a servant (therapon) a waiting-man in the house of God; but Christ as a Son presides over the house of his Father. (2) The house in which Moses served was far inferior to that over which Christ presides. True, indeed, each of them is called the house of God; but the former was to the latter as the type is to the antitype, or as the shadow is to the subsance. (Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 10:1.) The Law was given through Moses on account of trans­gression, till the Seed should come (Galatians 3:19) ; and it was de­signed to serve (a) as a code of rules and regulations for the polit­ical government of the Israelites (1 Timothy 1:9). (b) It was given to convict men of sin; and thus to make them feel the necessity of a better covenant established on better promises. (Rom. 7:7.) (c) It was designed to restrain transgression, and so to prevent the uni­versal spread of idolatry previous to the coming of the Messiah. (Dan. 9:24.) But (d) the main design of the Sinaitic Covenant in its fullest and widest sense, embracing its subjects, ordinances, rites, and services, was to furnish to the world clear and unmistak­able evidence as to the Divine origin of the Church of Christ and all that pertains to it. The ministry of Moses was therefore intended to be “ for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after,” concerning Christ and his Church. (John 5:45-47.) And hence the particularity with which Moses was instructed to make the “ Tabernacle of witness” and all that belonged to it. “ See,” said God to him, “ that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.” (8:5.) Had Moses possessed the spirit of Cain or of some modern Rationalist, he might have so far departed from his received instructions, that there would really be now but little, if any, resemblance between the ordinances of the Old and the New Economy. But not so. He was faithful to the trust committed to him. He made “ all things according to the pat­tern showed to him in the mount” ; and so the intended harmony between the Old and New Institutions has been fully preserved. Anyone may now easily perceive not only that there are many ex­isting analogies between the Church of God under the Old Cove­nant and the Church of Christ under the New, but if he carefully examine the evidence submitted he will see further that these anal­ogies were all designed and preordained by him who sees the end from the beginning, and who does all things according to the coun­sel of his own will. And hence no amount of sophistry can now fairly set aside the evidence given through the writings of Moses that the same all-wise and benevolent Being who anciently spoke unto the Fathers by the Prophets, has also in these last days spo­ken unto us by his Son and his Apostles. Hebrews 3:6 ---But Christ as a Son over his own house, etc.— Or rather, But Christ as a Son is faithful over his [God's] house. Moses was faithful in the Old Testament house of God, as a servant; but Christ is faithful over the New Testament house of God, as a Son. There is no authority whatever for the use of the word “ own” in this connection. The Greek pronoun rendered his (autou) is of the same form and import in the second, fifth, and sixth verses, refer­ring, no doubt, to God in every case. See note on verse 2. And ac­cordingly in Hebrews 10:21-22, our author says in the conclusion of his argument on the priesthood, “ Having [then] a High Priest [Jesus Christ] over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." Th expres­sion, house of Christ, does not occur in the Bible; but the phrase, “ house of God,” is of frequent occurrence. See references. Hebrews 3:6 ---whose house are we,— The Apostle here evidently intends to make a distinction between the Old Testament house of God in which Moses officiated as a servant, and the New Testament house of God over which Christ presides as a Son and High Priest. The former was composed of Israelites according to the flesh; but the latter is composed of Christians, or Israelites according to the Spirit. The former was an earthly, transitory, and typical house; but the latter is a heavenly, imperishable, and spiritual house. The former was the shadow, and the latter is the substance. The former was constructed and its services were performed for a testimony of the good things which were to be spoken afterward; but the latter is the sublime and glorious reality itself, concerning which Moses and all the other Prophets have borne witness. Hebrews 3:6 ---if we hold fast the confidence, etc.—The present tense in the first member of this clause, “ whose house are (esmen) we," is used for both the present and the future. As if the Apostle had said, We are now of the spiritual house of God, and we will ever belong to it, if we hold fast the confidence and the boasting of hope firm to the end of life. This use of the present tense for both the present and future, and indeed for all time, is of frequent occurrence in the New Testament. In John 12:26, for example, Jesus says to his disciples, “ If any man serve me let him follow me; and where I am (eimi) there shall also my servant be." And in John 14:3, he says, “ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am (einii) there ye may be also.” See Winer’ s Gram. Section 40, 2, a. The Greek word rendered confidence (parreesia) means (1) freeness and boldness of speech, and (2) that confidence which prompts any one to the use of such freedom of speech. In the Gospels and Acts, it is generally used in the former sense; but in the Epistles, it always means an inward state of full and undis­turbed confidence. See, for example, 6: 11; 10: 19, 35. The word rendered rejoicing (kaucheema) means properly boasting, or a matter of boasting. And hope (elpis) is used here, not to de­note an affection of the mind, but rather the object of our hope, as in Romans 8:24. The object of the Apostle, then, in the use of this clause, is sim­ply to encourage his Hebrew brethren to hold fast their confession, by assuring them that as they were then members of the house of God, so also they would ever continue to be members of it on con­dition that they would be faithful to the end of life. In that event, as he assures his Roman brethren, God would make all things work together for their good, so that “ neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature” would be able to separate them “ from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 8:28-39.) Hebrews 3:6 ---firm unto the end:—That is, to the end of life; at which time ends also our state of probation. These words are supposed by some to be an interpolation from the fourteenth verse of this chap­ter, and as such are rejected by Tischendorf, Green, and Alford, on the authority of the Vatican Manuscript, the Aethiopic Version, and certain citations made by Ambrose and Lucifer. But as they are found in manuscripts A, C, D, K, L, M, and also in the Latin Vulgate, it is not surprising that they should be retained and de­fended as genuine by Tholuck, Liinemann, and others.Commentary on Hebrews 3:1-6 by Don E. BoatmanHeb_3:1 --Wherefore holy brethrenThey are brethren, not by race or nationality, but by belief. a. It is impossible to have brotherhood when the fundamentals of faith are denied. b. International brotherhood will not be attained until men are brothers in Christ. The verse speaks of “ holy” brethren. a. In what way are we holy? 1. We are made holy by sanctification at our baptism when we bury the old man of sin and rise to walk in newness of life. 2. We are holy if we walk in holiness. b. None will see God unless holiness is present. cf. Ephesians 5:5; Hebrews 12:14. c. Church people need to live up to the name, “ holy brethren” .Hebrews 3:1 --partakers of a heavenly callingGod’ s heavenly, or holy, calling comes through the Word: a. Heavenly agencies sometimes are used to bring preacher and convert together, but the call comes through preaching. 1. Peter and the household of Cornelius were brought together, but the Word called Cornelius and his household to salvation. 2. Paul was brought to the preacher by a heavenly instrumentality, but he was told what to do to be saved. Acts 9:6. b. This call is to a unique life: 1. 1 Corinthians 1:2 : “— called to be saints.” 2. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 : “— called . . . to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 3. Galatians 5:13 : “— called for freedom.” 4. Romans 1:6 : “— called to be Jesus Christ’ s.”Hebrews 3:1 --consider the ApostleSingular attention is now to be given to Jesus Christ for several reasons: a. He was faithful. Hebrews 3:2. b. He was appointed. Hebrews 3:2. c. He was counted of more glory than Moses. Hebrews 3:3. d. He was a Son over His house. Hebrews 3:6. Consider the apostleship of Jesus: a. The word, “ apostle” means, “ one sent” . Jesus claimed to have been sent: 1. Luke 4:43 : “ I must preach. . . . for therefore was I sent.” 2. Luke 20:9-16 : He was the Son in the parable of the husbandman. b. To whom was He sent? 1. Strictly speaking, to the Jews: a) Matthew 15:24 : “— unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” b) John 1:11 : “ He came unto His own.” 2. Purposefully speaking, to all men: a) 1 John 4:14 : “— to be the Saviour of the world.” b) John 3:16 : “— the world.” Hebrews 3:1 --and High PriestThe priestly system is more easily understood by some than by others: a. The Jews had a priestly system. See Leviticus 16. b. Most heathen groups have a priestly system, although it is a very corrupt one. The Christian’ s High Priest is Christ, Who is perfect, without sin and at the right hand of God. Hebrews 3:1 --of our confessionThe word “ confession” is translated “ profession” in the King James version: a. It is the Greek word, homologia, used in several other places: 1. 1 Timothy 6:12 : “ Profession” in K.J.; “ confession” in A.S. 2. 2 Corinthians 9:13 : “ Profession” in K.J.; “ confession” in A.S. 3. Hebrews 4:14 : “ Profession” in K.J.; “ confession” in A.S. 4. Hebrews 10:23 : “ Profession” in K.J.; “ confession” in A.S. b. We do confess our faith in a person: 1. Matthew 10:32. 2. Romans 10:9-10. c. The confession of our faith is a profession; we confess faith, which obligates us to a way of life: The idea of profession is challenged by Newell. (p. 80) a. He seeks to emphasize that it is a confession in a person, and not a way of life. b. In reality, he is correct. We do confess faith, but the idea of profession is too often left out, so people are baptized and come out “ wet sinners.”Hebrews 3:1 --even JesusWhat are we to confess about Jesus? a. Matthew 16:13-18 : “ The Christ, the Son of the Living God.” b. 1 John 4:15 : “ Jesus is the Son of God.” Some confess Him to be only a good, moral martyr. What about those who will not confess the truth? a. 2 John 1:7 : They are deceivers, and the anti-Christ. b. 1 John 2:22 : They are liars.Hebrews 3:2 --who was faithfulThe faithfulness of Jesus stands out: a. He was faithful to God in temptation. b. He was faithful to God in the miracles, giving God the glory. c. He was faithful in God’ s work, His Father’ s business. Luke 2:49; Hebrews 3:2. d. He was faithful even in death, Matthew 26:42; John 17:4; John 19:30, We may believe that He is now faithful in being our High Priest.Hebrews 3:2 --to Him that appointed HimThis word, “ appointed” , is also translated “ advanced” or “ made” ; a. Milligan suggests that the word refers not to origin, nor to begetting, but to task. 1. His example Isaiah 1 Samuel 12:6 : “ The Lord advanced Moses and Aaron.” 2. Christ was appointed to a task. John 9:4; Hebrews 12:2; Hebrews 3:2. 3. It was a timely appointment. 4. Jesus came willingly to His appointment. There are some appointments that should concern men: a. A day to repent, Acts 17:30-31. b. A day to die, Hebrews 9:27. Hebrews 3:2 --as also was Moses in his house Moses was a faithful person: a. Hebrews 11:25 : He chose ill treatment with the people of God. b. Exodus is a picture of wayward, whimpering Israel and faithful Moses: 1. They murmured, but Moses prayed. 2. They worshipped the golden calf, but Moses worshipped God. c. Numbers 12:7 is a commendation of the faithful one. Israel was the house of God, not the house of Moses: 1. Exodus 25:8 : “ Let them make me a sanctuary.” 2. Exodus 29:45 : “ I will dwell among the children of Israel.”Hebrews 3:3 --more glory than Moses in all his house Moses was a glorious person: a. He represents one division of the Old Testament. Luke 24:44. b. He was selected to be transfigured with Jesus. Matthew 17. c. Moses’ glory vanished. Matthew 17:5-6. What is meant by “ glory” ? a. It means fame, honor, brightness, splendor, praise. b. Jesus is the most famous person in the world. Washington and Lincoln, are national heroes, but Jesus is international. What can be said about Jesus’ glory, pertaining to time? a. He had some glory on earth: 1. John 17:4 : “ I have glorified Thee.” 2. John 7:37-39 : “ Jesus was not yet glorified.” b. He received glory after His earthly mission: 1. Acts 2:36 : “ God hath made Him both Lord and Christ.” 2. 1 Peter 1:21 : “ God raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory.” c. The church is now glorifying Him: Ephesians 3:21. d. His glory is yet to come: 1. Matthew 16:27 : He came in the glory of His Father. 2. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.Hebrews 3:3 --more honor than the house:Does this imply that Jesus built the house of Israel? a. “ Yes,” says Milligan. (p. 115) b. Christ may be regarded as the Builder and Furnisher of the whole house of Israel, of which Moses himself was a member. Christ is eternal; He was the rock from which Israel drank, so this figure is reasonable. Hebrews 3:4 --He that buildeth all things is GodThe purpose of this verse is to establish the deity of Jesus. Everything that is done should be ascribed to God. 1 Corinthians 3:6 : “ Apollos watered, but God giveth the increase.” Hebrews 3:5 --Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant Several verses establish Moses’ faithfulness: a. It is established in Hebrews 11:24-30. b. He was faithful in building the Tabernacle according to the pattern, Exodus 25:40. c. Numbers 12:7 : “— faithful in all my house.” God’ s house is referred to: cf. Numbers 12:7, “ He is faithful in all my house.” Moses was a servant: Numbers 12:8. Hebrews 3:5 --afterward to be spokenIn this sense, Moses was speaking as a prophet and giving an example of faithfulness: a. He was a herald of a doctrine to be published later. b. He was a forerunner of a coming prophet, Deuteronomy 18:15. c. His example is for all: 1 Corinthians 10:11; “ These things happened . . . by way of example.”Hebrews 3:6 --but Christ as a Son over his houseMoses was a servant, but Christ was a Son in God’ s house: a. This is only one of the many figures applied to Jesus: 1. Matthew 16:13-18 : He is the Builder. 2. 1 Peter 2:4-6 : He is Cornerstone. 3. Hebrews 3:6 : Son in the house. 4. Hebrews 10:21 : High priest over the house of God. b. The word “ own” appears in the King James version: “ . . . over His own house.” 1. Milligan challenges this translation. “ In this figure it is not His own house, but the house of God.”2. The expression “ house of Christ” never appears, but always the “ house of God.” a. Ephesians 2:19 : “ Household of God.” b. 1 Timothy 3:15 : “— in the house of God.” c. Hebrews 10:21 : “— over the house of God.” d. 1 Peter 4:17 : “— judgment begins at the house of God.” e. Ephesians 2:22 : “— in whom ye are builders together.” f. 1 Peter 2:7 : “— head of the corner.”Hebrews 3:6 --Whose house are weThe former house was presided over by the High Priest and by Moses: a. It was transitory and typical, a shadow of something better to come. b. Now we are the glorious eternal house of God. It is a joy to be a part of a house that cannot be destroyed: a. Matthew 16:13-18 : The gates of Hades cannot prevail against it. b. Matthew 7:24-27 : Storms of life will not destroy it.Hebrews 3:6 --if we hold fast our boldnessFaithfulness is an absolute essential to salvation, for the book of Hebrews eliminates the doctrine of “ once in grace, always in grace.” a. We are of the household if we “ hold fast” . b. The implication is that when we turn loose, we are no longer in the house of God. c. Many scriptures speak similarly: 1. Matthew 10:22 : “— endureth.” 2. Luke 9:62 : “— putteth his hand to the plow.” 3. Revelation 2:10 : “— faithful unto death.” 4. Hebrews 3:14 : “— if we hold fast.” 5. Hebrews 6:5-6 : “— fall away.” The word “ boldness” is also translated “ confidence” : a. It has the idea of freeness and boldness of speech. b. “ It means an inward state of full and undisturbed confidence.” (Milligan.) Hebrews 3:6 --and the glorying of our hopeIt is also translated, “ the rejoicing of hope” : a. This is a contrast to crying, complaining Israel. b. Hope refers to the object of our faith. 1. It is in the realm of the unseen. Romans 8:24 : “ Hope that is seen is not hope.” 2. We hope for the glorious body, the new heaven and the new earth.Hebrews 3:6 --firm unto the endOur task is to complete a course that we have started: a. God will save us because of our effort, not in spite of it. b. A person cannot become a willful weakling and expect God to save him.Study Questions327. What is the great theme of Chapter Three? 328. What is it that makes men brethren? 329. Can we be called brothers to those who deny the fundamentals of brotherhood? 330. In what way are we made holy? 331. What is the descriptive word used concerning brethren? Is it important? cf. Ephesians 5:5; Hebrews 12:14. 332. Do we live up to the term? 333. Of what are we partakers? 334. How is it a “ heavenly” calling? 335. What heavenly agencies are used? 336. What agencies were used in the life of Peter? Paul? 337. Name some things related to our call concerning our character, relationship, etc. 338. Who is the apostle to be considered? 339. How can He be called an apostle? cf. Luke 4:43. 340. Name the various things said about Jesus in this verse. 341. To whom was Jesus sent primarily? 342. Did He claim to be sent to all men? cf. 1 John 4:14. 343. Does the Christian have a priest? 344. Is the idea developed in this verse? In the book of Hebrews? 345. How is Jesus our High Priest? 346. How often does He sacrifice? 347. What can be said about His sympathy? 348. What can be said about His character? 349. What is meant by the expression, “ of our confession” ? 350. What is the alternate word used for “ confession” in the King James version? 351. Is our confession of faith in Christ also a pledge of profession? 352. What do we confess? 353. What do we confess about Him? 354. What does the scripture declare concerning those who will not confess that He is the Christ? cf. 2 John 1:7; 1 John 2:22. 355. Discuss the faithfulness of Christ throughout His life on earth. cf. Luke 2:49; Hebrews 12:2. 356. If Christ was faithful on earth, what may we suppose about Him now? 357. To whom was He faithful? 358. What does the word “ appointed” mean? 359. Is the word “ advanced” a good translation? 360. Does the word “ made” carry the idea? 361. What appointment is referred to in Hebrews 3:2? 362. Who appointed who? To what was He appointed? 363. Did Jesus approach the appointment gladly? 364. What appointments has God made for the sinner? 365. Does the Christian have any appointments? 366. Discuss Jesus’ faithfulness on the cross. Matthew 26:42. 367. Discuss Moses’ faithfulness in the building of the Tabernacle. 368. Compare the waywardness of Israel with the faithfulness of Moses. 369. Discuss the house referred to here. 370. Is it God’ s house or Moses’ house? 371. Was the Tabernacle, or sanctuary, ever spoken of as belonging to Moses? 372. Does the name of God appear in the original manuscript, as the new version would lead you to believe? 373. Tell of the glory of Moses in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. 374. What does “ glory” mean? 375. What glory had Jesus on earth? 376. What glory is ascribed to Christ in Acts; in the Epistles; in Revelation? 377. Should the church glorify Christ? cf. Ephesians 3:21. 378. Does Hebrews 3:5 infer that Moses did not build the house? 379. Does Hebrews 3:6 infer that Jesus built the house of Israel? 380. What scriptures teach Christ’ s presence during the wilderness journey? 381. Should everything be ascribed to God? 382. Does everything that is made necessitate a builder? 383. Is there room for evolution in this verse? 384. Check different versions. Do they translate it (Hebrews 3:1-6) “ His house” , or “ God’ s house” ? 385. Consult verses that speak of Moses’ faithfulness. cf. Exodus 25:40; Numbers 12:7-8. 386. Whose house is spoken of in Numbers 12:8? 387. What relationship did Moses have to the house? 388. What is meant by “ afterward to be spoken” ? 389. Was Moses speaking a prophecy through his life or by an oral message? 390. Were these Old Testament experiences an example to us? cf. 1 Corinthians 10:11. 391. If Moses was a servant, what was Christ in God’ s house? 392. Was Christ in the house or over it? 393. Is the idea of the faithfulness of Christ inferred here? 394. Is the word “ own” that appears in the King James version a problem of exegesis? Whose house would it be if the word “ own” is allowed? 395. Do we have the expression, “ house of Christ” , in the New Testament? 396. Compare the verses that speak of the house of God, Ephesians 2:19; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 10:21; 1 Peter 4:17. 397. Who is in the house of God? Do Christians comprise it? 398. What qualification is made in this verse? 399. If we turn loose of our boldness, can we be of the house of God? 400. Is this true, “ once in grace, always in grace” ? 401. What are we to hold to? 402. What will keep us in God’ s house? 403. Name some other scriptures which speak of man’ s need for faithfulness. 404. What is “ boldness” ? What other word could be used. 405. How do we hold fast to our boldness? 406. What does the word “ glorying” mean? 407. How do we glory in hope? 408. Is there room for complaint when our hope is alive? 409. What is a firm hope? How does hope differ from faith? 410. How long is our hope to be firm? 411. What “ end” is meant?Commentary on Hebrews 3:1-6 by Burton CoffmanCHRIST IS BETTER THAN MOSES; CHRIST GREATER THAN MOSES; BOTH CHRIST AND MOSES ARE ; CHRIST TO RECEIVE GREATER GLORY; AGAINST ; WARNING FROM THE FATE OF ISRAELHeb_3:1 --Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, even Jesus. (Hebrews 3:1) Holy brethren is the third term of endearment already used in this epistle to describe God's people, the other two being "sanctified" and "sons" (Hebrews 2:11-13). That mortal man should be considered holy is due to the imputation of Christ's righteousness and to their having received the gift of the Holy Spirit subsequent to their being baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38). Thus their holiness was not in any sense a consequence of their being born of Jewish parents, a preponderantly Gentile congregation receiving the same designation (1 Thessalonians 5:26, margin). Partakers of a heavenly calling is a reference to the universal and eternal dimensions of the Christian vocation, which is a heaven-centered faith, its emphasis being emphatically upon the things in heaven, rather than upon the things of earth. This concept pervades the whole book of Hebrews and makes even the most sacred things on earth the mere copies of things in heaven. The heavenly nature of this calling is not seen merely in the fact that it came from heaven, for the Jewish system did also. Rather, here is a reference to the spiritual and eternal inheritance of Christians, as contrasted with the mortal and earthly goals of Judaism. Consider is a common word in English, but it has a rich etymological significance, being formed from two Latin words, "con" (with) plus "sideris" (stars or constellation), thus having a literal meaning related to observing the stars. One who takes the time to behold the beauty and majesty of the night sky is literally WITH THE STARS in his thoughts and emotions and cannot fail to receive deep impressions of awe, wonder, and appreciation. It is with this very attitude that people are invited to consider Christ. The Apostle and High Priest of our confession, even Jesus. Nowhere else in scripture is the title of "Apostle" applied to Christ, but it certainly fits the office of our Lord as the official messenger from heaven, since the primary meaning of the word is "one sent or commissioned for some important communication"; and although the word "apostle" is not in other places used of Christ, the meaning of it surely is. The Old Testament prophecy named him "the messenger of the covenant" (Malachi 3:1), and Jesus referred to this phase of his work as follows, "The Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak" (John 12:49). An additional implication in the meaning of the word "apostle" is that the person sending is greater in dignity than the one sent; and to make clear just what is meant by its reference to Jesus, the author of Hebrews uses the term "Jesus," that being the usual scriptural word where the human nature of our Lord is meant. It was only in his human nature that the lesser dignity of "Apostle" could be imputed to Christ; because, in his eternal nature, he was equal to God (Philippians 2:6). Christ's representation here as High Priest is a part of the argument for his superiority over Moses, who was not a high priest. Moses was prophet, mediator, and king (in a sense); but the office of high priest pertained only to Aaron. Christ was all that Moses was, and more; he was also High Priest. Our confession is not reference to some formal subscription to any such thing as a creed but is used here to mean the holy religion of Christ. Hebrews 3:2 --Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.In Hebrews 2:17, Jesus had already been mentioned as a merciful and faithful high priest, and it is his "faithfulness" that needed stress here. Note how delicately the inspired writer defers to the deserved honor of Moses, whom he did not belittle or diminish in any way. Both Moses and Jesus were faithful to deliver God's message to people, each in his own way, and each in his own capacity. A more detailed study of Moses the type and Jesus the antitype reveals both the similarities and the contrasts. MOSES AND JESUSSimilarities: In their birth, both became sons of virgin princesses, Moses through adoption by Pharaoh's daughter, Christ by means of the incarnation, and his birth by miracle, of the virgin Mary. Both were Israelites, it being specifically prophesied that the Messiah would be raised up from amidst "the brethren" (Deuteronomy 18:15). Both were sent to the children of Israel, Moses from Midian, and Christ from heaven. Both forsook the high status of their lives to perform a mission of rescue, Moses leaving the court of Pharaoh, and Christ leaving heaven. Both were rejected. The Jews said to Moses, "Who made thee a ruler and judge over us" (Exodus 2:14). Christ was rejected and crucified. Both accomplished their missions. Moses delivered Israel from Egypt; Christ delivers from sin all who follow him. Both wrought many miracles, signs and wonders. The first miracle of each had a startling resemblance. Moses changed the water into blood; Christ changed the water into wine. The inauguration of the Law of Moses and that of Christ had this in common: that three thousand souls were involved in each case, three thousand being lost at Sinai, three thousand being saved at Pentecost (Exodus 32:38; Acts 2:38 ff). Both were transfigured, Moses on Sinai (Exodus 34:29-30), Jesus on Mount Hermon (Matthew 17:2). Both delivered God's law to people. Both offered themselves to die for Israel (Exodus 32:32; John 10:17). Both made a marriage with the Gentiles, Moses literally, Christ in a figure, the Gentiles becoming a part of his bride (Numbers 12:1; Ephesians 5:25 ff). Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness; Christ lifted himself upon the cross (John 3:14). Israel was baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea (1 Corinthians 10:2); spiritual Israel are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27). Moses gave to the people bread from heaven (Exodus 16:15); Christ gave the people loaves and fishes in the wilderness, a figure of him who is the Bread of Life (John 6:31; John 6:49 ff). Both were the subjects of a special interposition on the part of God when they died, Moses being buried by God (Deuteronomy 34:6), and Christ being raised from the dead (Mark 16:6). There are also many similarities between the lives of Moses the great Lawgiver of Israel and Jesus Christ the great Lawgiver of all mankind; but the above are far more than enough to establish the truth that Christ was indeed "the Prophet" like unto Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15). Contrasts: Moses was faithful as a servant, Christ as a Son, over God's house. Moses labored in a house he did not build, Christ in the house he built, his own house. Moses did not lead the people into the promised land; Christ does lead the people into glory. Moses was sinful, Christ is sinless (Deuteronomy 32:51-52; Hebrews 4:15). Moses brought only the patterns of things to come, Christ the realities. Moses' miracles were inferior to those of Christ, as in the changing of the water already noted, and because Christ raised the dead. Moses delivered from physical bondage, Christ from the spiritual bondage of sin. Moses gave bread from heaven to sustain physical life, Christ bread from heaven that gives and sustains eternal life. Moses appeared with Christ on the mount of transfiguration but was caught away, so that people saw "Jesus only" (Matthew 17:8). Moses' mission pertained only to Israel, Christ's, ultimately, to the "whole creation" (Mark 16:15). Moses was only a man; Christ was and is both God and man. Moses' body was buried and saw corruption; Christ's was spared that by means of the resurrection. Moses was not a high priest; Christ is the eternal High Priest. It would be nearly impossible to note all of the contrasts which proved the absolute supremacy and superiority of Christ over Moses, but enough are listed to give some indication of it. Hebrews 3:3 --For he hath been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by so much as he that hath built the house hath more honor than the house.This singles out the principal superiority of Christ over Moses and affords another glimpse of the deity and Godhead of Christ, making Christ to be the builder of the house in which Moses served. This is then a reiteration of those immense claims on behalf of Jesus Christ which were outlined in the first paragraph of the epistle. It was long centuries after God had built or established that house in which Moses served, that Jesus was born in Bethlehem; and the identification of Jesus in this verse as the builder of that house places him upon an equality with God. (See under Hebrews 1:8). One cannot pass this verse without regarding the essential unity of God's children in all ages. The Jewish system, no less than the Christian, was divine in its origin; and many New Testament passages emphasize the connection of Old Testament references with that new Israel which supplanted the old (1 Corinthians 10:6; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 15:4; John 5:39; Acts 17:2-3). It was in view of this unity that Jesus said, And ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast forth without. And they shall come from the east and west, and from the north and south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God (Luke 13:28-29). This basic unity of God's heavenly establishment, changed though the covenant was, is attested by the deliberate judgment of mankind in binding both the Old and New Testaments into a single volume to form the Bible. Respect to such a unity does not contradict the fact of progression in the will of God as he moved to abolish the old covenant and establish the new. Hebrews 3:4 --For every house is builded by some one; but he that built all things is God.This verse is engraved in letters of stone over the principal portal of the Central Church of Christ, Houston, Texas. The thought expressed is a teleological thunderbolt; it is the ancient and indestructible argument from design, bluntly and unequivocally stated, first in the truism that every house has a builder, and secondly in the deduction that the far greater house of the whole universe likewise has its builder who can be none other than God. A noted research chemist, Thomas David Parks, said: I see order and design all about me in the inorganic world. I cannot believe that they are there by the haphazard, fortunate coming together of atoms. For me this design demands an intelligence; and this intelligence I call God.[1]Christians ought not to be ashamed of the argument from design; for here it is in the word of God itself, commending itself to the unbiased mind, and standing absolutely uncontradicted by any vaunted achievements of science. The most determined atheist, in his tenderest and most thoughtful hours, cannot escape the persuasive eloquence of that argument from design which demands a Designer. An excellent instance of this is documented in the experience of Whitaker Chambers, who for a while was a militant atheist, but who yielded to the tender whispers of this argument when God spoke to him through the fantastic beauty and loveliness of his little daughter's ear. Chambers was a dedicated Communist; but after he was enlightened, he gave a touching account of how that first ray of light penetrated his soul. Here are his words: My daughter was in her high chair. I was watching her eat. She was the most miraculous thing that had ever happened in my life. I liked to watch her even when she smeared porridge on her face or dropped it meditatively on the floor. My eye came to rest on the delicate convolutions of her ear - those intricate, perfect ears. The thought passed through my mind: "No, these ears were not created by any chance coming together of atoms in nature (the Communist view). This entry is longer than a Bible module can hold. The rest is at https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ntrc/ Hebrews 3:7-19 AND DRAWN FROMTHE EXAMPLE OF THE UNDER MOSESHeb_3:7-19 Hebrews 3:7 ---Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith,— The Apostle now pro­ceeds to make a personal application of the important truths elicited in the course of the preceding paragraph; and to warn his Hebrew brethren against the dangers of apostasy, by referring to God’ s dealings with their fathers. His words may be briefly para­phrased as follows: Since it is true, he says in substance, that Jesus as the Apostle of God is so much superior to Moses; and since it is also true, that your belonging to the house of God under him, and your enjoying the blessings of the New Covenant through him, depend on your holding fast the confidence and the boasting of your hope even to the end of life, you should now take as a warning to yourselves the following solemn admonition made by God to your fathers; and beware lest there be also in any of you an evil heart of unbelief. The quotation is made from the ninety-fifth Psalm, in which David earnestly invites his brethren to worship Jehovah (verses 1, 2) ; (1) on the ground that he is above all gods, the Creator of all things, and the good Shepherd of Israel (verses 3-7) ; and (2) on the ground that the neglect of God’ s word and his ordinances had cost a whole generation of their fa­thers the loss of Canaan (verses 8-11). This last portion of the Psalm, our author here quotes and applies as a part of his own ex­hortations and warnings. Observe that these words of David are ascribed to the Holy Spirit; for “ holy men of God spake [in an­cient times] as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21.) See also 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Hebrews 3:7 ---To-day, if ye will hear his voice,— Or rather, if ye hear his voice. Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation. God never says to anyone, Hearken to my voice and obey my pre­cepts tomorrow. His command is, Do it now; at the very moment that you hear his voice and know his will. And hence the order of the primitive Church was (1) to preach the Gospel to sinners; (2) to receive the confession of such as became penitent believers; and (3)to baptize them on the same day, or even at the same hour of the night. See Acts 2:41 Acts 16:33 Acts 18:8, etc. And after their baptism the converts continued steadfast in the Apostle’ s teachings, giving all diligence to make their calling and their election sure. But now, how very different is the practice of the Church. It is amazing how both saints and sinners now procrastinate and trifle with the word and the ordinances of God. Hebrews 3:8 ---Harden not your hearts,— To harden the heart, is to render it insensible in any way. Here, the admonition of the Apostle to his Hebrew brethren is, not to harden their hearts by neglecting even for a day the voice of Jehovah, however expressed. His com­mands have all respect to the present; and any unnecessary delay in obeying them has always of necessity a hardening influence on the heart. Men who hear the Gospel in their youth or early man­hood, and do not then obey it, seldom do so afterward. It is to all who hear it a savor either of life unto life or of death unto death. (2 Corinthians 2:16.) Under its influence, no man can long remain sta­tionary in the Divine life. He must by the laws and impulses of his own nature become either better or worse, as the current of life flows onward. If he does not soften and purify his heart by obey­ing the truth, he will of necessity harden it by his disobedience. And hence the great concern of the Apostle that all who hear the voice of God should obey it promptly and heartily, even while it is called To-day, lest any should be hardened through the deceitful­ness of sin. Hebrews 3:8 ---as in the provocation, etc.—The Hebrew rendered literally is as follows: Harden not your heart; like Meribah, like the day of Massah in the wilderness. That is, harden not your hearts, as your fathers did at Meribah; as they did on the day of Massah in the wilderness. These names were both given to a place near Mount Horeb, where the children of Israel murmured for water. (Exodus 17:1-7.) And when Moses had supplied their wants, “ he called the name of the place Massah [temptation] and Meribah [strife], because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us or not?” The name Meribah was given also to Kadesh (most likely the same as Kadesh Barnea) in the wilderness of Zin (Numbers 27:3); “ because [there] the children of Israel strove with the Lord and he was sanctified in them.” See Numbers 20:1-13. Whether David, in Psalms 95:8, refers to one or both of these places is a question on which expositors are not wholly agreed. It seems most likely, however, that he has in view only the place of strife and temptation near Mount Horeb; as the strife at Kadesh did not occur until about thirty-seven years after that God had sworn in his wrath that the rebellious generation which came out of Egypt under Moses should never enter into his rest. (Numbers 14:20-35.) This view is corroborated by the Greek translation of our author, which is identical with that of the Septuagint, and may be literally rendered into English as follows: Harden not your hearts as in the bitterness, on the day of temptation in the wilderness. It seems, therefore, that the excessive provocation of the people, here ele­gantly rendered bitterness by the Apostle, occurred on the day of temptation; and of course at the same place, near Mount Horeb. Hebrews 3:9 ---When your fathers tempted me—The Hebrew of this verse is literally rendered into English as follows: Where [expressive of either the place where or the time when] your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. The Textus Receptus of Elzevir runs thus: Where [hou, where or when] your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. This differs from the Hebrew only in the two following unimportant particulars: (1) in the Hebrew, the noun work is singular; but in the Greek, the cor­responding word is plural; (2) in the Hebrew, the expression, forty years, is, according to the Masoretic pointing, connected with what follows, as in the seventeenth verse of this chapter; but in the Greek, it qualifies the preceding verb saw. These slight differ­ences do not, however, in any way affect the sense of the passage, the meaning being obviously the same in both the Hebrew and the Greek. Nor does the reading of Bagster as given in our best manuscripts differ in meaning from the Hebrew text. Literally ren­dered it stands thus: Where your fathers made trial by proof, and saw my works forty years. See critical notes on this verse. Hebrews 3:10 ---Wherefore I was grieved with that generation,— That is to say, Because your fathers so often provoked and tempted me in the wilderness, I was sorely grieved and vexed with them. The word rendered, grieved (prosochizo) is Hellenistic, and like the corresponding Hebrew word means properly to feel a loathing; to be disgusted with any person or thing. The meaning is, that the generation of the children of Israel contemporary with Moses and Aaron, had by their multiplied transgressions become loathsome to God; and, speaking after the manner of men, he was disgusted with them. Many manuscripts have this (toutee) instead of that (ekeinee) generation. In the Hebrew, the word answering to gen­eration has no qualifying epithet. It is, however, sufficiently de­fined by the context; and evidently means the generation which came out of Egypt under Moses, whose carcasses fell in the wilder­ness. Hebrews 3:10 ---and said, They do always err in their heart;— The Greek word rendered err (planao), as well as the corresponding Hebrew word means to wander, to go astray. There is perhaps in the use of this word an allusion to the wanderings of the Israelites in the desert; but it is of their heart-wanderings that Jehovah here com­plains. These, he says, were constant. They do always (aei) wander in heart. The word heart (kardia) means properly the central organ of the blood-vessels, situated in the thorax, and sup­posed to be the seat of animal life. But figuratively it means the seat of the affections, comprehending also not unfrequently the seat of the will and the understanding; as when we speak of a will­ing heart, an understanding heart, an obedient heart, etc. But in all such cases, the reference is primarily and chiefly to man’ s moral and emotional nature. As, for instance, when the fool says in his heart, “ No God,” he expresses a sentiment of his depraved heart, rather than a judgment of his darkened and perverted understand­ing ; though both his heart and his intellect are involved and implicated in the enormous falsehood. Blinded and hardened by the love of sin, he first wishes there were no God; and then, per­chance, he is led to believe what he so ardently desires. See Romans 1:28, and 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12. Hebrews 3:10 ---and they have not known my ways.— The children of Israel were quite as ignorant of the ways of God, as they were of the me­andering paths of the desert. Like benighted wanderers, they were lost in the mazes of their own follies; and had as yet learned but little of the gracious designs of God in his dealings with them. They were still extremely sensuous; and their hearts were set on worldly pleasures and enjoyments. When they failed to reach Ca­naan as soon as they expected, they then turned back in their affec­tions, and began to long for the leeks, onions, and flesh-pots of Egypt. They seemed willing to endure Egyptian servitude, or al­most anything else, rather than submit to that Divine discipline which was necessary to qualify them for the promised rest. Hebrews 3:11 ---So I sware in my wrath,—This is of course a figurative ex­pression, and means simply that when the Israelites murmured and rebelled against God at Kadesh Barnea, he then resolved that they should never enter into his rest. Previous to this they had often provoked and dishonored him by their murmurings against him and his servant Moses. This they did before they crossed the Red Sea, when they were closely pursued by Pharaoh and his hosts. (Exodus 14:10-12.) Another like provocation occurred at Marah in the wilderness of Shur (Exodus 15:22-26) ; another in the wilderness of Sin (Exodus 16:1-3) ; another, at Massah and Meribah near Reph- adim (Exodus 17:1-7) ; another, at Sinai, where they made and worshiped the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-29) ; another, at Taberah in the wilderness (Numbers 11:1-3); another at Kibroth-Hattaavah (Numbers 11:4-34) ; and still another, at Kadesh Barnea, where the people believed the evil report of the ten spies, and refused to go up at the command of God and take possession of the land of Ca­naan (Numbers 14:1-4). On this last occasion, that wicked and per­verse generation filled up the cup of their iniquity; and the Lord said, “ Because all these men who have seen my glory and my miracles which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, have tempted me now these ten times and have not hearkened to my voice; surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it. ... I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel which they murmur against me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears so will I do unto you; your carcasses shall fall in the wilderness; and all that are numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against me, doubtless ye shall not come into the land concerning which I sware to make you all dwell therein, save Caleb, the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun." (Numbers 14:22-30.) After this they wandered through the desert in un­known paths, for about thirty-seven years; at the close of which we find them again at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, murmuring for water; in consequence of which the place was called Meribah Kadesh. (Numbers 20:1-13.) These places can be traced on any good map of the exodus and wanderings of the Israelites. Hebrews 3:11 ---They shall not enter into my rest.—This clause is best ex­plained by referring to the passage just cited from Numbers 14. Up to this time, for about eighteen months after their departure from Egypt, the Lord had borne with the people. But this last act of rebellion was intolerable; and God therefore now swore in his wrath that they should never enter into his rest. The word rest (katapausis) has in this connection a double reference, as will appear in our exegesis of the next chapter. Primarily, it means the rest of Canaan; and secondarily, it means the heavenly rest, of which the rest in Canaan was but a type. See note on 1: 5. From this rest, in its twofold sense, it seems that most of that wicked and perverse generation were excluded. That there were some excep­tions in each case, must of course be conceded. Of this we have the most clear and reliable evidence given in the Old Testament. Joshua and Caleb entered Canaan and enjoyed God’ s rest in its typical sense; and Moses and Aaron, with doubtless some others, though excluded from Canaan, entered into the heavenly rest. But it is not in harmony with the design of the Apostle to notice these exceptions. He purposely leaves all such out of view, and affirms simply what was true of the masses. They, it would seem, were excluded from God’ s rest in its twofold significance. See notes on Hebrews 4:3 Hebrews 4:6. Hebrews 3:12 ---Take heed, brethren, etc.— As if he had said, Beware, brethren, of an evil unbelieving heart such as the Israelites had in the wilderness, lest like them you too apostatize from the living God, and perish on your way to the Promised Land. Three things are clearly implied in the words of our text: viz. (1) that the He­brew Christians were in great danger of apostatizing from the liv­ing God, as their fathers had done. And if so, then it follows that a Christian may fall from grace; for to apostatize from God is sim­ply equivalent to falling away finally and forever from the grace of God. See notes on Hebrews 6:4-6. (2) That this danger arises wholly from “ an evil heart of unbelief.” So long as we have an unwaver­ing trust in God and in his word, all is well. Nothing can, under such circumstances, separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 8:39.) But let the heart at once become evil and distrustful, and then his condition becomes at once awfully alarming. (3) It is further implied in the words of our au­thor, that every Christian may, through the grace of God, avoid the dangers of apostasy, by keeping his heart with all diligence. (Proverbs 4:23.) It is true that without the grace of God we can do nothing by way of saving ourselves or anyone else (John 15:5); and it is also true, that even with this promised grace we can ac­complish comparatively but little (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). The work is of God and not of us. Nevertheless, it has pleased God in the exer­cise of his wisdom and love to give to every man an agency in the work of redemption commensurate with his capacity and means of doing good. And, consequently, the man who “ looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein, he being not a forget­ful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:25.) And hence the following earnest exhorta­tions to constant watchfulness and perseverance in the Divine life. Hebrews 3:13 ---But exhort one another daily,— This admonition is not ad­dressed merely to the Elders of the Church, but to every member of it. All are required to exhort and admonish one another daily as members of the family of God, and “ as joint heirs of the grace of life.” And yet, how very generally is this duty neglected. “ How often,” says Mr. Barnes, “ do church-members see a fellow- member go astray without any exhortation or admonition. How often do they hear reports of the inconsistent lives of other mem­bers, and perhaps contribute to the circulation of these reports themselves, without any pains taken to inquire whether they are true. How often do the poor fear the rich members of the Church, or the rich despise the poor, and see one another live in sin, with­out any attempt to entreat and save them. I would not have the courtesies of life violated. I would not have any assume a dog­matic or dictatorial air. I would have no one step out of his proper sphere of life. But the principle which I would lay down is this: that the fact of church membership should inspire such confidence as to make it proper for one member to exhort another whom he sees going astray. Belonging to the same family; having the same interests in religion; an<J all suffering when one suffers, why should they not be allowed tenderly and kindly to exhort one an­other to a holy life ?” Hebrews 3:13 ---while it is called To-day;— Do not procrastinate, or put off till tomorrow what should be done today. Much may depend in such cases on prompt and proper action; and it is to be feared that thousands are eternally lost through the neglect of it. If the mem­bers of every congregation of disciples, would all watch over one another, not as censors, but as members of the body of Christ, how many errors might be corrected in their incipiency. But as it is, how very different are the results. How many delinquent Chris­tians are allowed to become hardened in sin, before even the Elders of the Church call on them and admonish them! How very unlike these Elders are to the Good Shepherd that careth for the sheep. Hebrews 3:13 ---through the deceitfulness of sin.—That sin (hamartia) is very deceptive is well known to everyone who has examined carefully the workings and operations of his own heart. It has by the fall of man been implanted as a principle in human nature; so that it is now natural for man to follow after its “ deceitful lust.” (Ephesians 4:22.) “ For to will,” says Paul, speaking as a representative of those under law without the helps and consolations of the Gospel, “ is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not. For the good that I would I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but Sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of Sin which is in my members.” (Romans 7:18-23.) True, indeed, in and through the process of regeneration the body of Sin is destroyed (Romans 6:6); so that we Christians are not now, as formerly, its slaves; its has no longer dominion over us (Romans 6:14 Romans 6:17-18) ; for we are not now under law but under grace. But though the body of Sin has been destroyed, its animus still remains as a thorn in the flesh of every Christian; so that unless we are constantly on our guard, and, like Paul, keep our bodies in subjection (1 Corinthians 9:27), we are ever liable, as were the ancient Israelites, to be misled by the deceitfulness of Sin which is in our members. Its promises to us are all pleasure and happiness, but its rewards are misery and death. (Romans 6:23.) And hence the necessity of exhorting one another daily, even while it is called To-day, lest any of us “ be hardened through the deceit­fulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:14 ---For we are made partakers of Christ, etc.— The Apostle assigns here as another reason for constant perseverance and watchfulness, that our being finally partakers of Christ and his benefits, will depend on our holding fast to the end of life the beginning of our confidence in him. We have not yet reached the end of our course. We are still in a state of trial; and we are therefore ever liable to lose through our neglect or disobedience that of which we have already to a certain extent become par­takers; but which, for the present, we hold on certain conditions. “ For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance; but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.” (Matthew 8:12.) See note on verse 6. The word rendered confidence (hupostasis) is of different ety­mology from that which is so rendered (parreesia) in the sixth verse. The former looks rather to the ground of our confidence in Christ; and the latter to our free and open confession of it. They are, however, used here by our author as synonymous terms, to de­note simply that firm and well-grounded confidence in Christ, which if held fast to the end of life, will secure for us an abundant entrance into his everlasting Kingdom. Of this confidence the He­brews were then partakers; they were then in possession of that faith which purifies the heart. And hence the Apostle requires of them simply that they continue to hold fast the beginning of their confidence firm even to the end of life. “ Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Revelation 3:11.) Hebrews 3:15 ---While it is said, Today, etc.— The proper grammatical connection of this verse is still a matter of dispute among the crit­ics. Some of them, as Ebrard and Alford, maintain that it stands properly connected with what immediately precedes; and that the object of our author in the use of this clause is simply to give strength to the affirmation made in the fourteenth verse, that our being made partakers of Christ is conditioned on our holding fast “ the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” As if he had said, “ For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the be­ginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; [as is clearly implied] in the saying, To-day if ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” Others, as Tholuck and Delitzsch, make it the beginning of a sentence, and so connect it with the six­teenth verse as follows: “ In the saying, Today if ye hear his voice harden not your hearts, as in the provocation [it is implied that the provokers to whom the Psalmist refers, were themselves re­deemed of the Lord, and yet fell under his wrath, and came short of the promised rest]. For who were they that having heard gave provocation? Was it not indeed all who under Moses’ leadership came out of Egypt?” Others, as Bengal and Michaelis, connect the fifteenth verse with the thirteenth, and include the fourteenth in parentheses. And others again, as Chrysostom and Erasmus, connect it with the beginning of the fourth chapter, making verses 16-19 parenthetical. On the whole, I think it best to combine the first two., hy­potheses. It seems to me that the fifteenth verse is logically con­nected with both what precedes and what follows: though it does not, as Delitzsch supposes, form the beginning of a sentence. I would therefore render verses 14-19 as follows: For we have been made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confi­dence steadfast unto the end; [as implied] in its being said, To-day if ye hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the provo­cation. [As if the Apostle had said, It is not enough that you have been redeemed, and that you have commenced your march for the heavenly rest: you must persevere in your begun course to the end of life, or otherwise you will all fall short of the promised rest, as did your fathers in the wilderness.] For who were they that having heard did provoke ? Was it not indeed all who came out of Egypt by means of Moses? And with whom was he displeased forty years? Was it not with those that sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he sware that they should not enter into his rest, but to the disobedient? So we see that they could not enter, on account of unbelief. Hebrews 3:16 ---For some, when they had heard, did provoke:—The origi­nal manuscripts of the New Testament were written without any accents and also without any marks of punctuation. As early as 240 B.C. Aristophanes of Byzantium introduced into the School of Alexandria an imperfect system of both accents and punctuation; chiefly, it would seem, for the benefit of teachers and scholars of rhetoric. But accents were not generally used by Christian writers till after the middle of the fifth century; and it was not till about the beginning of the tenth century that the custom of using them became universal. And so also of the system of Greek punctua­tion. It too was gradually introduced with sundry changes and modifications. About the middle of the fifth century, Euthalius, a Deacon of Alexandria, divided the New Testament into lines (sti- choi), each line containing as many words as were to be read with­out any pause or interruption of the voice. In the eighth century, the comma (,) was invented; and the Greek note of interrogation ( ;) in the ninth. But it was not till after the invention of the art of printing, about the middle of the fifteenth century, that the pres­ent system of Greek punctuation was universally adoped by Greek scholars. It is obvious, therefore, that no authority is to be attached to these marks of accent and punctuation, except so far as they are supported by the conditions of the context and the well-known laws and principles of the Greek language. And it may therefore be still a question whether the word tines (tines) in our text should be accented on the first or on the second syllable. If on the first (tines), then it is equivalent to the interrogative pronoun who, and requires a mark of interrogation at the close of the sentence in which it stands. But if on the second (tines), it is an indefinite pronoun equivalent to some, as in our English Version, and re­quires that the sentence shall close with a period. What, then, is the proper meaning of this word? Is it an inter­rogative or an indefinite pronoun? Is it equivalent to who or to some ? That it should be rendered who in the seventeenth and eighteenth verses, is conceded by all: for here, indeed, the context will admit of nothing else. But is it not almost, if not quite, as ob­vious, from the scope of the author’ s argument, that it must have the same meaning in the sixteenth verse? Having, in the verses immediately preceding, solemnly warned his brethren against the dangers of apostasy from Christ, and having illustrated the whole matter by a general reference to the fortunes of their fathers in the wilderness, and also by God’ s subsequent warnings and admoni­tions through David, our author now makes a more sweeping and definite application of Old Testament history. Lest any should at­tempt to avoid the force of his general argument, on the ground of its seeming indefiniteness; and should be disposed to take refuge in the vain hope that though some of the less enlightened of their brethren might fall, they themselves yrould nevertheless escapefearing this, the Apostle makes another more definite and heart­searching appeal to the well known facts of Old Testament history. He reminds his readers by an appeal to their own knowledge of the facts, that it was not merely a few of the most ignorant and super­stitious of their fathers that fell in the wilderness on account of their disobedience; but that it was in fact the whole redeemed na­tion who came out of Egypt under Moses. The few exceptions, consisting of Joshua, Caleb, Eliezer, and perhaps a few more of the Levites, are purposely and with strict rhetorical propriety kept in the background; and the great mass of the people who had been once enlightened and consecrated to God, are brought forward as persons doomed to destruction, in order to make a more vivid and lasting impression on the minds and hearts of the Hebrew breth­ren. For who, says the author, were they that having heard did provoke? Were they the children and servants of your fathers? Or were they a few of the most ignorant and depraved of that gen­eration? Nay indeed, were they not all of the six hundred thou­sand who came out of Egypt by Moses? The force of this appeal could not be avoided; and it must have made a very deep impres­sion on the mind and heart of every Hebrew Christian who read this Epistle. Hebrews 3:17 ---But with whom was he grieved forty years?—With what sort of persons was God displeased for the space of forty years? Was it with babes and slaves and such other persons as were igno­rant of God’ s will? Nay indeed; was it not with them that sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? They were persons who knew God’ s will and transgressed his law. They were all sinners. And their sin so provoked God that he caused their members (chola), such as their arms, legs, etc., to be scattered as fragments through the wilderness; leaving them there as a monument of his righteous displeasure, and as a warning to all subsequent genera­tions. See Numbers 26:64-65. Hebrews 3:18 --And to whom did he sware, etc?— The history of Israel’ s provocations and of God’ s dealings with them, was so fully re­corded in the Old Testament and so generally believed by the He­brew Christians, that any formal presentation of evidence in the case was wholly unnecessary; and our author therefore again, with great rhetorical effect, employs the interrogative style of address. By means of a series of questions addressed to their understanding, he brings home with great power to their hearts and consciences what they were all forced to concede, that the six hundred thou­sand full-grown men who came out of Egypt under Moses, per­ished in the wilderness through their unbelief. They once believed in God and confided in his servant Moses: for how indeed could they do otherwise? They had seen God’ s judgments on Pharaoh and on his hosts in Egypt and in the Red Sea; they had seen the manna rained down from heaven, and they had beheld the waters flowing from the rock at the command of God; they had heard his voice from the top of Sinai, and they had witnessed many other manifestations of his power and Divinity, for the space of eighteen months, before they came to the plains of Kadesh. But after all this, through an evil heart of unbelief, they there rebelled against him, and so provoked him on the very borders of Canaan, that he was constrained to swear in his wrath, that they should not enter into his rest. See Num. 14: 20-35. All this the Hebrews well un­derstood and readily conceded. And hence without further argu­ment, Paul simply concludes in harmony with their own convic­tions, that owing to practical infidelity a whole generation of God’ s chosen people were excluded from the promised rest. Hebrews 3:19 ---So we see, etc.— In this verse, the Apostle states the result of the whole matter. It was not owing to any unforeseen or for­tuitous circumstances, nor to the superior strength of their ene­mies, that the Israelites were unable to enter the land of Canaan; but it was owing simply to their own infidelity and disobedience. And this is given as a warning to all Christians to beware, lest they too fall after the same example of unbelief.Commentary on Hebrews 3:7-19 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_3:7 --Wherefore even as the Holy Spirit saith This is a quotation from Psalms 95:7. a. He attributes these words to the Holy Spirit, thus establishing the inspiration of the scriptures. b. Men who question the inspiration of the Bible have hundreds of such verses of which to dispose.Hebrews 3:7 --Harden not your heartsThis suggests immediate action in favor of God, not against Him. a. This subject is emphasized all through the New Testament: 1. John 9:4 : “— while it is day.” 2. Acts 22:16 : “ Now why tamest thou?” 3. Romans 13:11 : “— awake out of sleep.” 4. Acts 16:33 : “— same hour” Man is able to receive the word, but has the choice of hardening his heart. Hebrews 3:8 --as in the day of provocationThere were two reasons why the Jews needed to be reminded: a. They were foolishly inflated on account of the glory of their race: 1. They needed to be reminded of their own sinfulness. 2. Their feeling of superiority blinded them to the reality of their condition. b. They needed to know that falling away was dangerous. To what does the provocation refer? a. Two possibilities: 1. Numbers, chapters thirteen and fourteen: Spies bring back a report: “ We are as grasshoppers.” (Numbers 13:33) “ And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron and the whole congregation said unto them, Would that we had died in the land of Egypt or would that we had died in the wilderness.” (Numbers 14:2) 2. Exodus 17 may be referred to: a) Here the Israelites cried against Moses and complained. (See Numbers 17:1-7) b) Moses gave the places names. (Numbers 17:7) 1. Massah—proving— tempting. 2. Meribah— chiding— strife. b. We do not know to which of the two places David referred.Hebrews 3:8 --Like as in the day of the trial in the wildernessThe term “ wilderness” refers to any waste land, and this was the type of country in which the Jews traveled. They were led through the wilderness because: a. It was less likely to lead to war. b. It gave God a chance to prove His power and love.Hebrews 3:9 --where your fathers tried Me by proving MeGod brought them gifts— water, manna and quails for food, the cloud and the pillar of fire for guidance and protection— yet they asked, “ Where is His power?” It increased their guilt, when in spite of so many evidences of His power they made so little progress. Trying by proving illustrated: a. Newell— A boy says, “ Father has forbidden me to do this and says I will be punished. I do not believe it. I will do what he said not to do and see if he will.” b. The action of Israel was a trying thing upon the patience of God; yet it also proved that He meant every word spoken. Hebrews 3:9 --and saw My works forty yearsNot once or for a short time— but for forty years. History of their waywardness: a. First, in the wilderness of sin— when they murmured for bread and God gave them manna. Exodus 16:4. b. Second— they murmured because of lack of water. Exodus 17:2-9. This place is called Massah and Meribah. c. Third— During the third year after their departure from Egypt, they provoked God at Sinai by making the golden calf. Exodus 32:10. d. Fourth— At Taberah (Numbers 11:3) they murmured for want of flesh, and were smitten with a plague, Numbers 11:33. Many were buried here. Numbers 11:34. e. Kadesh— Caleb and Joshua as spies are rejected. 1. Numbers 14:30 : God says all shall die but Caleb and Joshua. 2. Deuteronomy 1:34-35 : God ordered them to turn into the wilderness, where they wandered 38 years. Deuteronomy 2:14. f. Wilderness near Mt. Hor. Numbers 21:4-5. No bread or water. God sent serpents, and finally a brazen serpent was erected to save them.g. Newell says it refers to the eleven-day journey from Horeb by way of Mt. Sinai unto Kadesh Barnea that because of unfaithfulness took forty years. Hebrews 3:10 --Wherefore I was displeased with this generation “ Generation” means race, or men of one age. Here was God, their Father, grieved at their refusal to follow His leading. Hebrews 3:10 --and said, They do always err in their heart “ Err” means to wander, go astray. Their consistent errors must have brought the longsuffering Father to the breaking point. Hebrews 3:10 --but they did know My waysThey were as ignorant of God as they were of the paths of the desert. They seemed senseless, unable to understand the ways of God. a. This was not an excuse, but an accusation. b. This condition did not save them, but destroyed them.Hebrews 3:11 --as I sware in my wrath“ Sware” refers to what God spoke. Numbers 14:30-35 : God here stated they shall not enter, because they listened to the report of the ten spies. “ Wrath” refers to His condemnation; a. God has a right to be wrathful. 1. A lack of anger is a weakness. 2. Tolerance is to be desired above intolerance, but it can also become a vice rather than a virtue. b. God has wrath when His longsuffering comes to an end. c. It is not good for man to reap and not sow. 1. It is not good for man to sow wickedness, and not reap the same. 2. God has made a consistent world for us. d. God used them as an example unto us. 1. 1 Corinthians 10:11-12 : “— happened by way of example.”Hebrews 3:11 --They shall not enter into My restNum_14:20 is the place where God reached this decision. The generation that showed a lack of faith was not given the privilege to enter Canaan. Study Questions412. Where is the quotation from the Holy Spirit found? 413. Does this establish the inspiration of the scriptures? 414. Who can harden or soften hearts in this verse? 415. Can you name other scriptures that place the responsibility upon man? cf. Romans 13:11. 416. What day of provocation is referred to, Pharaoh’ s or Israel’ s? 417. Is it a certain time, or the whole exodus? 418. Name some instances of provocation. cf. Numbers 13:32; Exodus 17:1-7. 419. Could it be at Massah and Meribah alone? 420. What is meant by “ trial in the wilderness” ? 421. What is a “ wilderness” in the scriptures? 422. Why did the Israelites go into the wilderness? 423. Who are the “ fathers” referred to here? 424. How did they try God? 425. What is meant by “ try” ? 426. What did the trial prove concerning God? 427. How long did they try God? 428. What is meant by “ works” ? 429. Tell of the Israelites’ provocation of God that brought about works of God. 430. What is meant by “ generation” ? 431. What did God declare concerning that generation? 432. What is meant by “ err” ? 433. Where was the seat of their trouble? 434. Why didn’ t they know God’ s ways? 435. Is ignorance a sufficient excuse for disobedience? 436. What is meant by “ swear” ? 437. What is the wrath of God— anger, or condemnation? 438. Is wrath a good quality or a bad one? 439. Would it be good for man if God were a weakling? 440. Would it be good for man not to reap what he sows? 441. Where and when did this swearing take place? cf. Numbers 14:23. Hebrews 3:12 --Take heed, brethren“ Profit by their mistake,” the author is saying. Society makes a fool of itself every generation: a. One generation seemingly has to try everything for itself rather than to be warned. b. Foolish is the man who will not learn from others. Hebrews 3:12 --lest haply“ Perhaps” , or “ lest there be” , is the meaning of this expression. There is a likelihood of falling away unless a person is careful. Hebrews 3:12 --there shall be in any one of youThis is personal—“any one of you” . We need warning, and we have it. a. 1 Corinthians 10:12 : “ Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” b. 1 Corinthians 9:27 : “— I buffet my body.” c. 1 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Corinthians 10:10. d. 2 Peter 2:4.e. 2 Peter 2:7. f. Jude 1:5 : “ Now I desire to put you in remembrance, though ye know all things once for all, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.”Hebrews 3:12 --an evil heart of unbeliefSin will cause people to disbelieve. The so-called “ good moral man” does not exist: a. Unbelief is evil— sufficient to keep one out of God’ s rest. b. Mark 16:16 : “ He that disbelieveth shall be condemned.” The devil seems to sow doubt. a. To Eve, Genesis 3:4-5 : “ Ye shall not surely die— ye shall be as God.” b. To Jesus. “ If,” Matthew 4. 1. Matthew 4:3 : “ If thou art the Son of God command that these stones become bread.” 2. Matthew 4:5-6 : On pinnacle of temple: “ If thou are the Son of God, cast Thyself down.”Hebrews 3:12 --in falling away from the Living GodYou can not fall away unless you were there. Some say: “ You never had it if you lost it.” The Jews fell away after believing and being saved. This falling away is falling from fellowship, and results in falling into the hands of God. Hebrews 10:31 : “ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living. God.” Hebrews 3:13 --but exhortTo “ exhort” is to give a pep talk: a. We should not let another’ s spiritual enthusiasm freeze up. b. This young Timothy was told to do. 1 Timothy 6:2; “ These things teach and exhort.” c. Be careful lest you get into a rut of browbeating, People need feeding as well as rebuking. “ Exhort” means to encourage.Hebrews 3:13 --one another day by dayWe have a responsibility to one another daily: a. We should have a constant interest in our brethren. b. A day missed in encouragement may result in an eternity lost.Hebrews 3:13 --so long as it is called To-dayIt includes every time that God addresses us. Every time that God’ s sacred mouth speaks, remember, “ Today if ye shall hear His voice.” Jesus warned about the passing of the day: a. John 12:35 : “ Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.” b. John 9:4 : “ The night cometh when no man can work.” A seasonable time will not always last. Hebrews 3:13 --lest any one of youThis makes it broad enough to include all: a. 1 Corinthians 10:12 : “ Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” b. Overconfidence in any endeavor is dangerous.Hebrews 3:13 --be hardenedHe is talking to Christian people, yet some say, “ once saved, always saved.” Sin makes one tough, calloused: a. Saul, a wonderful specimen of mankind, became hardened against David. b. Judas was trained among the other disciples, yet his heart was hardened against Jesus.Hebrews 3:13 --by the deceitfulness of sin Sin is seductive: a. Colossians 2:8 : “— maketh spoil of you through . . . vain deceit.” b. Matthew 13:22 : “— deceitfulness of riches.” The sin here of primary concern is apostasy. Ways to be deceived: a. Deceive self. 1 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 6:3; 1 John 1:8; James 1:22. b. Fair speeches deceive the simple. Romans 16:18. c. Deceitfulness of riches. Matthew 13:22. d. False teachers. Matthew 24:24 : “— lead astray . . . the elect.” e. Deceived by the devil. Revelation 12:9 : “ Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.”Hebrews 3:14 --for we are become partakersIt is also translated, “ made partakers” . a. We become partakers in faithfulness to our call. b. We cannot expect a faithful Christ to save an unfaithful person.Hebrews 3:14 --partakers of ChristChrist partook of man’ s flesh that man might partake of Him. Being a partaker entitles one to the benefits: a. It has the idea of sharing in, participating with. b. The true calling of all true believers is meant here.Hebrews 3:14 --firm unto the end“ As long as life shall last” must be the determination of the child of God: a. There is no time for relaxation, compromise, or half-heartedness. b. “ Hold fast” is the exhortation in Revelation 3:11. We do not know when the “ end” will be, so we must be firm always. Hebrews 3:15 --Today if ye shall hear His voiceThe warning from Psalms 95:7 is quoted: a. It suggests the urgency of action, the very day one hears. b. We have only one chance, Hebrews 9:27. No purgatory, or second chance, is taught in this book. Hebrews 3:16 --For who when they heard did provoke?This passage is translated differently: a. The King James version says: “ For some, when they had heard b. It also is translated: “ Who were those hearers who did bitterly provoke.” How does the difference arise? a. The early manuscripts did not have punctuation or accent marks. b. In 240 B.C., Aristophanes introduced an imperfect system for the benefit of scholars and teachers. c. In the fifth century, Christian writers began to use accents. d. Not until the tenth century did accents have a universal usage. e. The problem arises in the word “ who” . Either: 1. “ Who” is an interrogative and requires a question mark at the end of the sentence, Or. 2. “ Who” is an inadequate pronoun equivalent to “ some” and requires a period at the end of the sentence. The word “ some” suggests that some did not provoke, but this group was very small: a. Joshua and Caleb were two of the hundreds of thousands, so even the word “ all” in this verse is justified. b. The lesson to be gained is to avoid being like the Israelites.Hebrews 3:16 --nay did not all they that came out of Egypt by MosesThe King James version translation may give room for some exceptions: “ Howbeit not all that came out . . .” a. Joshua and Caleb are exceptions. b. Clarke suggests: “ . . . all the priests and whole tribe of Levi, for they were not of the ones to fight.” 1. Numbers 26:63-65 seems to eliminate this. 2. Some may have lived, however, for Eleazar, the son of Aaron, was one who did take possession: a) See Numbers 26:60 : “— Eleazar son of Aaron.” b) Sec Numbers 34:17 and Joshua 24:33. Hebrews 3:17 --And with whom was He displeased forty yearsThe King James version states, “ But with many of them God was not well pleased.” Disbelief or doubt displeases God, as it breaks fellowship, or is a barrier to fellowship: a. Disbelief drove Adam and Eve out of the garden. b. Disbelief drove Israel into the wilderness. c. Disbelief keeps men away from God. Hebrews 11:6.Hebrews 3:17 --was it not with them that sinned whose bodies fell in the wilderness?Individuals are not discussed, but a disbelieving nation is. a. Joshua and Caleb were the exceptions. b. Moses and Aaron did not enter Canaan. c. 1 Corinthians 10:5-13 suggests that not all perished, so we must conclude that those innocent ones who were too young to disbelieve did not perish. d. Numbers 14:29 says that all who were twenty years old or under should enter. Funerals must have been often and sad, as a generation perished in the wilderness because of unbelief. Hebrews 3:18 --and to whom sware He that they should notThis refers to God’ s condemnation and punishment. This is pronounced in Numbers 14:20-38. Numbers 14:22 says that they tempted God ten times. Hebrews 3:18 --not enter into His restIt was a land of rest as God planned it: a. No more bondage and oppression. b. Cisterns, cities, farms, etc., were to be taken over. Deuteronomy 6:10-11. Those who did enter were disobedient like their parents, hence Canaan really never did become a place of rest. Hebrews 3:18 --but to them that were disobedient?King James version: “ But to them that believed not.” a. Mark 16:16 expresses the awfulness of disbelief: 1. You do not have to be a great worker of evil, only a disbeliever. 2. Disbelief in the love, providence and gift of Jesus Christ is sufficient to condemn a man. Disbelief is equivalent to disobedience. Hebrews 3:19 --And we seeGod’ s word is for us to study so as to find out how God deals with man: a. 1 Corinthians 10:11 : “ Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.” b. Wise men profit by others’ mistakes; fools never learn.Hebrews 3:19 --they were not able to enter inThis then is a warning to all Christians. If every word spoken by angels was stedfast, Hebrews 2:2, then this word must be heeded. Reward goes only to the faithful: a. Revelation 2:10. b. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. c. Matthew 10:22.Hebrews 3:19 --because of unbeliefThey were believers who became unbelievers: a. This is a lesson against backsliding, trifling. b. Is this unbelief the same as infidelity? 1. No— it is not believing God. 2. There is a difference in believing God and believing in God. 3. Paul believed God. Acts 27:25 : “ For I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me.” This was backsliding for Israel: a. Hosea describes Israel as a “ backsliding heifer” . See Hosea 4:16. b. Revised Version: “ Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer. Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly like a stubborn heifer.” If you have worked on a farm you can understand this. Some say it is impossible for men to fall away and be lost. If you point out a backslider, they say he was not saved in the first place. It amounts to, “ If you get it, you can’ t lose it; if you lose it, you never had it.” It is a dangerous doctrine, “ If you can’ t be lost— .” People can take all kinds of advantages of God, yet be saved. c. Let us study the Scriptures on the subject: 1. Notice the many names given to backsliders. a) Proverbs 14:14 : “— shall be filled with his own ways—” Hosea 11:7 : “ People who are bent to backsliding—” b) “ Shrinking back” : Hebrews 10:38 : “— righteous shall live by faith.” Some people shrink back. They lack courage. Some are like a horse with a collar sore; they never get in and pull. c) Falling away: Hebrews 3:12 : “— evil heart of unbelief in falling”” Luke 8:13 : “— and in time of temptation fall away.” Hebrews 10:26-31 : “— sin wilfully.” Hebrews 6:4-6 : “ For as touching those who— fell away.” d) Falling from grace: Galatians 5:4 : “— ye are fallen away from grace.” How can man promote the doctrine that man can’ t fall away from grace? e) Being hindered: Galatians 5:7 : “ Ye were running well, Who hindered you . . .” ? f) Removed from the faith: Galatians 1:6 : “— ye are quickly removing from him that—” g) Again entangled therein: 2 Peter 2:20 : “— they are again entangled . . . the last state is become worse with them than the first.” cf. 2 Peter 2:21-22. 2. Some examples of backsliding: a) Israel: Hosea 4:16 : “ Israel slideth back.” Exodus 32 records Moses on the Mount and Israel making a golden calf. b) Solomon: 1 Kings 11:4 : “ When Solomon when he was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods.” cf. Hebrews 3:9. c) Simon Peter: Matthew 26:69-75 : cursing, “ I know not the man.” d) The Galatians: Galatians 1:6 : “ I marvel that ye are so quickly removed.” e) Simon the Sorcerer: Acts 8:13 : “ He believed and was baptized.” Acts 8:23 : “ Thou art in the gall of bitterness—” f) Judas: Matthew 26:48. g) Ananias and Saphira: Acts 5:1-11. 3. Some practical thoughts in relationship to backsliding: a) Our duty to one who errs. Matthew 18:15-17 : “ If thy brother sin against thee, go to him.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 : “ Deliver such a one to Satan.” Galatians 6:1 : “ Restore such a one.” b) Some things that will keep one from backsliding:1) Lord’ s Supper rightly observed: 1 Corinthians 11:30 : “— for this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.” 2) Christian fellowship that exhorts: Hebrews 10:25 : “ Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together—” 3) Guarding one’ s life with doctrine: 1 Timothy 6:20 : “ Guard that which was committed unto thee.” 1 Corinthians 11:2 : “ Hold fast the traditions even as I delivered them unto you.” 4) Prayer and meditation: Matthew 26:41. c) A realization that we need not fail, but that we can escape backsliding: 1 Corinthians 10:13. d) The backslider is not fit for the kingdom: Luke 9:62. e) The way back to God for the backslider: Acts 8:22 : “ Repent and pray.” 4. A warning on backsliding. For the willful sinner there is no way back. Hebrews 4-6 : a. Simon Peter’ s fall was a spur-of-the-moment sin not planned at all; he was sorry, and so he repented. b. Ananias and Sapphira, and Judas each planned their sin; it was willful, and there was no repentance.Study Questions442. Does God feel that one generation should learn from another? 443. Define “ lest haply” . 444. Does He make the application personal? 445. Give some warnings to man in the New Testament. cf. 1 Corinthians 10:12; 1 Corinthians 9:26; 1 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Corinthians 10:10; Jude 1:5; Jude 1:7. 446. What is the significance of “ take heed” ? 447. Is unbelief a serious matter according to Hebrews 3:12? 448. Can a moral man who is an unbeliever be rightly spoken of as a good moral man” ? 449. How serious is unbelief in the category mentioned in Revelation? 450. What did unbelief do to Adam and Eve? 451. What did it do to Israel after the Egyptian bondage? 452. Did the devil try to work on Christ in this realm? 453. What is implied in the expression, “ falling away from God” ? 454. Were, they once with God? 455. Can you fall from a building without first being in it or on it? 456. Does this verse give encouragement to the doctrine of man that “ if you had it, you can’ t lose it; if you lose it, you never had it?” 457. What is our estate if we fall? cf. Hebrews 10:31. 458. Define the word “ exhort” . 459. How are we to exhort? cf. 1 Timothy 6:2. 460. How frequently should we exhort? 461. What is meant by, “ so long as it is called today” ? cf. John 9:4. 462. Does “ any one of you” include you? 463. Is Hebrews 3:12 a warning against overconfidence? cf. 1 Corinthians 10:12. 464. What will harden man? 465. How does sin harden? 466. Give example of hardened hearts in the word of God. 467. What docs sin do to people, according to Hebrews 3:13? Discuss deceit. 468. What is the kind of sin that is involved here? 469. Can you name some verses that speak of various kinds of deceit? 470. Who is deceived in 1 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 6:9; 1 John 1:8? 471. What method is used in Romans 16:18; 2 Peter 2:18? 472. What deceives, according to Matthew 13:22? 473. Who deceives in Matthew 25:24? 474. Who deceives in Revelation 12:9? 475. Define “ partakers” . 476. Why should we be partakers of Christ? Does it entitle us to anything? 477. What qualifies us to be a partaker of Christ? 478. How many evil situations could be avoided “ if” ? Hebrews 3:14. 479. Explain “ hold fast” . 480. What is meant by, “ beginning of our confidence” ? 481. “ Firm unto the end”— end of what? 482. What is the value of the uncertainty of the time of the end? 483. What is the significance of “ today if ye shall hear His voice” ? 484. Whose voice is referred to? 485. What Psalm is quoted? 486. If God has spoken, has man a right to expect more? 487. What did the Jews want from Jesus? 488. What was a “ sign” ? What did Jesus answer? 489. “ Harden not your hearts” puts the responsibility upon whom? 490. How did God harden Pharaoh’ s heart? Was God to blame? 491. “ As in the provocation” : would this refer to the day when the Jews provoked Jesus? 492. What “ day” is referred to? 493. Does “ day” always mean 24 hours? 494. “ For who, when they heard” refers to whom? 495. Is the word “ who” always translated “ who” ? 496. What is implied by the word “ provoke” ? 497. Is it an accurate literal translation to say that all who came out of Egypt did provoke God? 498. Who were some exceptions? 499. Who does Clarke think may have been exceptions? 500. Cf. Numbers 26:63-65 to see if Clarke’ s view can be substantiated. 501. Did any live besides Joshua and Caleb? Cf. Numbers 26:65. 502. How long was God displeased? 503. Show other instances in the life of people when God was displeased. 504. What happened to those with whom God was displeased? 505. If their bodies did not fall, was it an inference that God was not displeased with them? 506. What was the age of those who did get to enter? Cf. Numbers 14:29. 507. How many funerals a day did it require? 508. To whom did God swear? 509. What did He pronounce at this time? Cf. Numbers 14:20-28. 510. What number of times did they provoke God? See Numbers 14:22. 511. In what way was Canaan to be a place of rest? Cf. Deuteronomy 6:10-11. 512. The author has talked about disbelief all the way through, but now he uses the word “ disobedient” . Why? 513. Are “ disbelief” and “ disobedience” the same? 514. “ And we see” has what significance? 515. “ They were not able” carries what warning to us? 516. “ Because of unbelief”— were they ever believers? 517. If so, what warning do we have? 518. Were they rank infidels? 519. Is there a difference in believing God and believing in God? Cf. Acts 27:25. 520. Was disbelief equivalent to backsliding? 521. What terms or synonyms are used for this condition of disbelief? 522. What are some examples of backsliding? 523. What should we do to the backslider? 524. What would you suggest doing to keep people from backsliding? 525. What is the way back to God for the backslider? 526. Is there a way for all backsliders to repent? 527. Why could Simon repent, but Ananias and Sapphira couldn’ t? Commentary on Hebrews 3:7-19 by Burton CoffmanHeb_3:7-11 --Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit saith, Today, if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, Like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness, Where your fathers tried me by proving me, And saw my works forty years. Wherefore, I was displeased with this generation, And said, They do always err in their heart: But they did not know my ways; As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.THE SECOND The quotation here is from Psalms 95:7 ff and introduces the second of a series of exhortations designed to bolster the lagging faith of the Hebrew Christians and to warn them against apostasy, the warning being strongly reinforced by the appeal to the analogous falling away which took place in that generation which entered the wilderness after their deliverance from Egypt but were cut off from entering the promised land. Note the attribution of this Psalm of the Holy Spirit. David, as the human instrument through whom the words came, is not mentioned; and thus the author of this epistle takes his place alongside other New Testament writers in making God the author of the Old Testament (2 Peter 1:21). The experience of Israel in the wilderness of wanderings was indelibly engraved upon the conscience of all the Jews, especially regarding the failure to enter the promised land, the shameful record of which was outlined expressly in their scriptures (Exodus 17; Numbers 13-14; Deuteronomy 9:10). Thus the warning in this place is dramatically intensified by an appeal to the historic disaster that prevented a whole generation from entering Canaan. Today, if ye shall hear his voice is an appeal for action NOW. The consequences of failure are so supremely tragic, and the tendency to procrastination so universal, that action is demanded now, today. One steals who presumes upon tomorrow; tomorrow belongs to God; "Behold now is the acceptable time; behold now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). The statement of Paul underlines the fact that life does not come to people a day at a time, but a moment at a time; hence, NOW is the day of salvation. And why today? (1) People have waited long enough already. (2) There may never be a tomorrow for any man. (3) The difficulty of obedience is only multiplied and compounded by delay. (4) God has commanded obedience NOW. (5) The impulse to respond or obey may diminish or disappear. (6) Subsequent obedience (even if it comes) may not be as effectual and fruitful. (7) There is no better time than NOW to do the Father's will. If you hear his voice raises the question of how God's voice may be heard today; and following are some suggested answers: (1) the voice of God through the holy scriptures as read or preached; (2) the admonitions of faithful loved ones and friends; (3) through conscience which, however depraved, must inevitably retain some vestiges of regard for duty toward God; (4) through the message of God as revealed by consideration of the creation in the light of reason; (5) through God's providential blessings upon every man; and (6) through the spiritual hunger that rises in every heart and which instinctively reaches for a knowledge of God and longs for his approval. Harden not your hearts is another admonition that affixes the responsibility and blame for hardness of heart upon the hardened himself. Only in the sense of his permitting it, is it ever correct to believe that God hardens hearts. True, the Old Testament states that God "hardened Pharaoh's heart" (Exodus 7:13); but the next verse declares that Pharaoh was . The same sunshine melts butter and hardens concrete; and the same gospel saves some and destroys others (2 Corinthians 2:12). People's hearts are hardened by continuing in sin, procrastination, and by the gradual atrophy of spiritual perception brought on by the practice of disobedience. People may go a little at a time, further and further into sin, until finally they become hardened and confirmed in their rebellion against God. This entry is longer than a Bible module can hold. The rest is at https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ntrc/ Hebrews 4:1-10 THE REST WHICH REMAINS FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD Hebrews 4:1-10 Hebrews 4:1 ---Let us therefore fear,— The proper object of fear is danger. And as the Hebrew Christians were then in danger of falling away, the Apostle very properly appeals here to their sense of fear, for the purpose of exciting them to greater diligence in the Divine life. For he well knew that everything depended on their attaining to that rest which remains for the people of God. If they failed in this, they failed in everything. In that event, their confession would be all in vain, and life itself would be worse than an abor­tion. Hebrews 4:1 ---lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest,— The participle being left (kataleipomenees) is in the present tense, implying that the promise of entering God’ s rest is made sure to all Christians who, like Joshua and Caleb, continue faithful to the end of life. This the Apostle here assumes, for the present, on the grounds already stated. But lest anyone should doubt the reality of such a rest, he immediately takes up the consideration of this subject, and makes it his main theme in this paragraph. Hebrews 4:1 ---any of you should seem to come short of it.— Or more ex­actly, Lest any of you may seem (dokee) to have come short of it (hustereekenai). That is, lest it may appear at the end of your course or on the day of final reckoning, that any of you shall have failed to reach the heavenly rest, the sabbatism that remains for the people of God. The Apostle would, in a word, have his Hebrew brethren in Christ take heed, lest while there is remaining to them a promise of entering into God’ s rest, any of them should, like their fathers in the wilderness, fall short of it through their own obstinate unbelief. Hebrews 4:2 ---For unto us was the gospel preached, etc.— This is a very inaccurate translation of the original, and conveys to the English reader quite an erroneous impression. Literally rendered the passage stands thus: For we are evangelized (esmen eueengelis- tnenoi) as well as they. That is, the promise of entering into rest, on given conditions, has been made to us Christians, as well as to the ancient Hebrews. The assertion is designed to set forth more directly and categorically what is assumed in the first verse, viz., that there is really left to us a promise of entering into God’ s rest. The Apostle means to say that the joyful promise of entering into rest, made first to the Israelites, has respect to us as well as to them. Primarily, it had reference to the possession of Canaan; and secondarily, to that better rest of which the rest in Canaan was but a type. This same promise, in its second intention, still remains for the encouragement and consolation of all God’ s people. Into it they will all finally enter; unless, like the Israelites, they fall by the way on account of their own practical infidelity. Hebrews 4:2 ---but the word preached did not profit them,—Literally, the word of hearing (ho logos tees akoees) did not profit them. They heard the message which God delivered to them through Moses, but they were not profited by it. Hebrews 4:2 ---not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.—Or as rendered by Erasmus and others: “ not having been mingled by means of faith with them that heard it.” The word rendered mixed (sugkekramenos) is used metaphorically, and seems to have reference to the mixing of food with the digestive fluids, in order to its being appropriated to the wants of the body; or, according to the above version of Erasmus, it may refer to the food’ s being in­corporated with the tissues of the body by means of these fluids. In both cases the meaning is substantially the same. Food taken into the stomach, unless it be properly digested and appropriated, is of no benefit whatever to the physical organs, but rather an in­jury. And just so it is with the word of hearing. If it is received as seed on the highway, or on stony ground, or among thorns, it is of no service whatever to those who hear it. But when it is well understood, and received into good and honest hearts, it then be­comes as food to the soul, and gives life, and health, and strength to the whole inner man. Then indeed it is more to be desired than gold, yea than much fine gold; and it is “ sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb.” The Israelites were mostly of the stony-ground hearers. They at first received the word with all readiness of mind and promised obedience to its requirements. See Exodus 19:7-8, and Exodus 24:3. But they had no root in themselves; and hence when trials and tribula­tions came, they stumbled and fell. And just so it is with thou­sands of nominal professors in our own day and generation. Under, it may be, the judgments of God or the exciting influences of a protracted meeting, they receive the word with gladness. For a time they are very zealous for the glory of God and the salvation of souls; and many of them are no doubt honest in their profes­sions. But they lack stability. They have no root in themselves. And before the soul is sufficiently nourished, even while the food is in process of digestion, they stumble and fall, as did the Israelites in the wilderness. But others, like Joshua and Caleb, receive the word into good and honest hearts, “ and bring forth fruit with pa­tience.” According to the reading of the Common English Version and also that of Erasmus, the perfect passive participle sunkekramenos relates to logos in the nominative singular. But many manuscripts have the accusative plural (sunkekramenos) ; according to which the reading would be as follows: “ Nevertheless the word of hear­ing did not profit them, unmingled as they were in faith with its hearers” ; or more freely, “ but the word preached did not profit them, because they did not believingly associate with those who obeyed it, such as Joshua and Caleb.” This reading is on the whole preferred by Alford, but it is now very properly rejected by most expositors; being, as they say, inconsistent with the plain and obvious thought of the writer, that “ the word did not profit be­cause it was not received in faith.” Hebrews 4:3 ---For we who have believed do enter into rest:— into the rest; that is, the promised rest. In verse first, our author speaksof a promise being left us of entering into God’ s rest; and in the second verse, he says, the good news of entering into God’ s rest on given conditions, was proclaimed to us as well as to the ancient Is­raelites. And now in the third, he further categorically affirms that all believers in Christ do actually enter into this rest: and as evidence of this, he again quotes from the ninety-fifth Psalm. The exclusion of some on the ground of their unbelief, implies the ad­mission of others on the ground of their belief. Hebrews 4:3 ---if they shall enter into my rest:— The word here rendered if (ei) should be rendered not, as in Hebrews 3:11. The form of the expres­sion is elliptical, being borrowed from the usual mode of taking an oath among the Hebrews, and is equivalent to a strong negative. Thus in 2 Samuel 3:35, David says, “ So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or aught else, till the sun be down.” This is but a solemn and emphatic way of expressing his purpose not to eat anything till after sunset. And so also in this connection, God is here represented as declaring with the solemnity of an oath, that the disobedient Israelites who rebelled against him at Kadesh Barnea, should never enter into his rest. Hebrews 4:3 ---although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.— The logical connection of this clause is somewhat ob­scure in consequence of the passage being so very elliptical. But the Apostle refers here manifestly to the sabbatical rest, which had been sanctified for the glory of God and the good of mankind even from the foundation of the world, or from the time that God fin­ished the work of creation. (Genesis 2:2.) For, to say that the works were finished from the foundation of the world, is equivalent to saying that the Sabbath, commemorative of God’ s rest, was sancti­fied and observed from the same ever memorable epoch. Such is the law of all commemorative institutions. The Passover, for ex­ample, the Pentecost, the Lord’ s Day, and the Lord’ s Supper, were all established in close connection with the events which they were severally intended to celebrate. And hence it is obvious that the oath of God at Kadesh Barnea could not have reference to the sab­batical rest; for this, the Hebrews with others had long enjoyed. But in making this oath Jehovah must have had reference to a fu­ture rest; a rest into which the apostate Israelites never entered. That this is the meaning of this very elliptical passage, is plain from what follows. Hebrews 4:4 ---For he spake, etc.— The allusion here is to Genesis 2:2; and the object of the Apostle in referring to it, is merely to amplify and illustrate still further what he has with characteristic brevity spo­ken of in the preceding verse. He here very clearly intimates that the sabbatical rest was instituted by God, at the close of the Adamic renovation, when on the seventh day “ he rested from all his works which he had made.” And hence it follows, as before stated, that this rest cannot be identical with that from which a whole generation of the Israelites were forever excluded. Hebrews 4:5 ---And in this place again,— In what place? Evidently, in the place which our author has under consideration, and to which he refers in the third verse. But what is this ? Most expositors agree that the reference is to Psalms 95:11; for here the very words of our text occur in the Septuagint, and they are a fair and literal rendering of the original Hebrew. But in the seventh verse, our author clearly refers to Psalms 95:7-8; and as he cites this in proof of a new proposition relating to a much later period, it is alleged by some that in the former case the reference must be to Numbers 14:28-30. There is no difficulty, however, in supposing that in both cases the Apostle refers to the ninety-fifth Psalm. But the citation made in the third and fifth verses is applied only to those Israelites who rebelled against God under Moses, and who on this account were not allowed to enter the land of Canaan; whereas the citation in the seventh verse applies to those of a later period. The argu­ment of the Apostle may, then, be briefly stated as follows: He shows first by referring to Genesis 2:2, that the sabbatical rest was instituted from the foundation of the world, when God had finished the work of creation. And then he proves from Psalms 95:11, that twenty-five hundred years after that important epoch, when the Is­raelites rebelled at Kadesh Barnea, God made oath concerning a rest which was then in the future and from which that perverse and rebellious generation were forever excluded. And hence he infers that this rest could not be the rest of the seventh day, which from the beginning had been enjoyed by all the true worshipers of Jehovah. Hebrews 4:6 ---Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein,— The argument of the Apostle is simply this: A rest was provided and offered to the Israelites. But those to whom it was first offered in the time of Moses failed to enter it, on account of their waywardness and unbelief. God, however, provides nothing in vain. He makes no experiments; and he is never disappointed in any of his plans and purposes. The rest provided remains, therefore, for all true Israelites, who, like Joshua and Caleb, have faith in God and rely on his promises. And hence it follows, as stated in the first and third verses, that there is a rest remaining for the people of God ; and that we who believe do enter into it. But here again there is seeming ground for another objection. Though the first generation of the Israelites redeemed from Egyp­tian bondage, failed to enter the land of Canaan, it was not so with the second. Under Joshua, they crossed the Jordan, and took pos­session of the promised inheritance. And hence it might be in­ferred by some that this was a fulfillment of the promise in its full­est sense; and consequently that outside of Judaism there is really no promised rest for the believer. To the refutation of this objec­tion the Apostle therefore next turns his attention. Hebrews 4:7 ---Again, he limiteth a certain day,— The object of the Apos­tle in this verse is to refute the objection just stated. This he does by referring to the fact that in Psalms 95:7-11, David by the Spirit warns the people of his own generation against the sin of unbelief, lest they too should, like their fathers under Moses, fail to enter into the enjoyment of the promised rest. “ To-day,” he says, “ if ye hear his voice, harden not your heart as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the wilderness, where your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with that generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.” The Psalmist refers back to the time when the Israelites were invited to go up from Kadesh Barnea, and take possession of the land of Canaan. (Numbers 13.) But they refused to do so, and were on account of their dis­obedience condemned to die in the wilderness. (Numbers 14.) And from these well known historical facts David warns and admon­ishes his own contemporaries, and through them all subsequent generations, not to do as the rebellious Israelites had done under Moses; but to promptly enter God’ s rest whenever invited to do so. If ye hear his voice today, obey it today. And hence it is clearly implied, that even in the time of David, the Israelites, though in the possession of Canaan, had really not entered into God’ s rest. The expression, “ after so long a time,” means the time that had intervened between Moses and David: and in the phrase, “ as has been said before,” the Apostle refers back to what he had said in Hebrews 3:7-8. Hebrews 4:8 ---For if Jesus, etc.— Our translators have here very greatly and unnecessarily perplexed the English reader by using the name Jesus instead of Joshua: though it should be observed that these names are identical in Greek. The name Jesous (Ieesious) is al­ways used in Hellenistic Greek for the Hebrew Y’ hoshua in the earlier books of the Old Testament, and for Yeshua in the later books. See note on 2: 13. There can be no doubt, however, that Paul refers here to Joshua the son of Nun, who, after the death of Moses, conducted the Israelites across the Jordan into the prom­ised land. There, the people enjoyed comparative rest. See Joshua 1:15 Joshua 22:4, etc. But it was not the true rest— the rest of God. For had it been so, then, as our author says, God would not after­ward have spoken through David of another day of entering into his rest. Hebrews 4:9 ---There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.—This is the Apostle’ s conclusion logically deduced from all the premises. Over and above the sabbatical rest and the rest of Canaan, there still remains a rest, a sabbatism (sabbatismos), for every child of God. It is God’ s rest; a rest which he has provided, and such as that which he himself enjoys; a rest from all the toils and ills of this sinful and wearisome life. Of this the Christian has even now a foretaste in the Kingdom and patience of God’ s dear Son. “ Come unto me,” says Christ, “ all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29.) You shall even now be released from the oppressive burdens of sin, and find rest to your souls, through the belief of the truth and the consolations of the Holy Spirit. But it is of the heavenly rest, the eternal sabba­tism, of which our author here speaks particularly: for in the elev­enth verse of this chapter he exhorts even his Christian brethren to labor now so as to finally enter the promised rest. We have here, then, another beautiful illustration of the symboli­cal nature and character of the Old Testament economy. As soon as God had finished the work of creation he instituted the Sabbath — (1) for the purpose of commemorating his rest; (2) for the benefit of mankind, by giving them rest from physical labor, and leading them also to higher measures of spiritual culture and en­joyment (Mark 2:27) ; and (3) that it might be a means of fore­shadowing the heavenly rest, which even then he had in his eternal counsels provided for his faithful and obedient children. Nor was this the only Old Testament symbolical representation of God’ s rest. The idea of a future sabbatism was afterward greatly inten­sified by sundry legal observances, such as the rest of the seventh year and the year of Jubilee. And even in the promise of Canaan to Abraham and to his seed for an everlasting possession, there was implied also a promise of Heaven and of a heavenly rest to all who have the faith of Abraham. See Genesis 12:7 Genesis 13:14-17 Genesis 15:18 Genesis 17:8 Genesis 24:7 Genesis 26:4; Exodus 33:1, etc. And hence it is that in Psalms 95:11, the word rest is substituted for land, as in the origi­nal form of the oath given in Numbers 14:28-30. Hebrews 4:10 ---For he that is entered into his rest,—To whom does the Apostle here refer as having entered into rest? To Christ, say some, as Owen, Stark, Ebrard, and Alford; and to any and every departed saint, say others, as Bleek, Liinemann, Stuart, Delitzsch, and others. Which is right? Manifestly the latter, for the follow­ing reasons: (1) Because this view is most in harmony with the context. The object of our author in this verse is to assign a reason for calling the rest which remains for God’ s people a sabbatism; such a rest as God himself has enjoyed ever since he laid the foun­dations of the Earth, and of which the weekly Sabbath was but a symbol. There is, he says, remaining for the people of God, and of course for-every one of them, not merely a rest (katapausis) ; such as the Israelites enjoyed in Canaan, but a keeping of a sabbath (sabbatismos), such as God himself now enjoys. For he (every saint) who enters into God’ s rest, ceases from his labors and keeps a sabbath, just as God did after he had finished the work of crea­tion. The bearing of all this on the Apostle’ s argument is there­fore very plain and obvious. But what could be the object of the writer in referring here to Christ ? And if it was his purpose to do so, then why did he not name him? Why should he refer in this very general and indefinite way to one whose name does not ap­pear in the entire paragraph? (2) The view which we have taken of this matter is also most in harmony with the known facts of the case. It is not true that Christ has yet finished his proper work of regeneration, and entered into his rest, as God did when he had finished the work of creation. That he has finished the work of his earthly mission and made an atonement for our sins, is of course joyfully conceded. But these labors were only preparatory to the great work of recreating the world; a work which is still in prog­ress. Indeed, the whole Christian era is, by Christ himself, called the period of regeneration. (Matthew 19:28.) And hence the work of Christ will continue until he shall have renovated the heavens and the Earth and delivered up the Kingdom to the Father. Then, and not till then, will he keep a sabbath. But now every saint, who, like Joshua and Caleb, is faithful to the end of life, en­ters then into the enjoyment of God’ s rest; which in a subordinate sense is also his own rest. For “ blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.’’ (Revelation 14:13.) It is not to be inferred from this, however, that the spirits of the just made perfect are in a state of slumber, or of slothful inactivity. By no means. The four living creatures and the twenty-four Eld­ers are, throughout the vision of the Apocalypse, represented as worshiping God day and night, and participating even with rapture in the joys of Heaven, as they behold from time to time the triumphs of him who by his own blood has redeemed them to God “ out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Revelation 4:6-11 Revelation 5:5-14 Revelation 6:1 Revelation 6:3 Revelation 6:5 Revelation 6:7, etc.) And so Lazarus was, after death, carried by angels into Abraham’ s bosom (Luke 16:22) ; and the penitent thief went immediately with Christ into paradise (Luke 23:43). To the same effect is also the testimony of Paul. Speaking of Christians, he says, “ To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8); and to be present with the Lord is to be unspeakably happy (Philippians 1:23). These pas­sages are therefore wholly inconsistent with the doctrine of soul- sleeping. They severally imply a state of conscious activity and enjoyment after death, as well as of freedom from the toils and sorrows of this eventful life. There can be no doubt, then, that we will be all actively employed after death. But we will be no more wearied by our exertions: for the redeemed, though serving God day and night in his temple, will “ hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the Sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them into living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:16 Revelation 1:7.)Commentary on Hebrews 4:1-10 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_4:1 --Let us fearHe must be talking to Christian people: a. 1 Peter 1:17 : “— pass the time with fear.” b. Christians must take heed to the dangers that confront all Christians.Hebrews 4:1 --fear therefore lest haplyA trail of bleaching bones and graves in the wilderness, and their wandering in the wilderness forty long years ought to startle us: a. Romans 11:20 : “— by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not high minded but fear.” b. It is not a fear that shakes the confidence, but one that fills with concern and alerts one.Hebrews 4:1 --a promise being leftMilligan: “ The participle ‘ being left’ is in the present tense” : a. This implies the promise is here now, but is made sure to only those who, like Joshua and Caleb, continue faithful to the end. b. We will be disappointed by failure unless we by fear work at our salvation.Hebrews 4:1 --should seem to have come short of itSin is “ to miss the mark” : a. “ Come short” alludes to the Grecian games, and is applied to the loser, no matter how close he came to being the winner. b. At the end of the day, if you are not finished, you fall short. c. In the day of judgment, if you have failed to arrive and have never crossed Jordan, you will not be saved.Hebrews 4:2 --For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us even as also theyThey had an earthly rest preached; we have a heavenly rest. a. Milligan says: “ Literally it should read ‘ we are evangelized as well as they’ .” b. This ties in with Hebrews 1:2 : “— spoken to us in His Son.” c. See Ephesians 1:9 : “— making known unto us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him.” The church is to preach these good tidings: 1 Peter 4:10 : “— steward of the manifold grace of God.” Ephesians 3:10 : “— that might be made known through the church.” Hebrews 4:2 --but the word of hearing did not profit them They would not go up. a. Deuteronomy 1:20-21 : “— and I said unto you, ye are come unto the hill country— go up— take possession— fear not; be not dismayed.” Deuteronomy 1:26 : “— yet ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of Jehovah, your God.” b. Good tidings were rejected for the ten spies’ evil reports. Jesus spoke of a similar people, Matthew 23:37 : “ Ye would not.” a. The test of a sermon is, “ what profit?” b. Some preaching is beautiful, but to no profit.Hebrews 4:2 --because it was not united by faithHearing is useless unless tied to or laid hold of: a. The word “ united” is also translated “ mixed.” b. The place of faith is described in Hebrews 11. “ Mixed” is described by Milligan: “ This is metaphorically used and seems to have reference to the mixing of food with digestive fluids in order to be appropriated to the wants of the body.” Faith is to affect one’ s actions, character and destiny: a. Jesus likened the hearer who does not obey to the foolish man building upon the sand. Matthew 7:26-27. b. Of the spies, only Joshua and Caleb, “ mixed faith” .Hebrews 4:2 --with them that heardFaith is the person’ s responsibility: a. God gives us grace, not faith. b. We do the uniting, the mixing. We have been given ears to hear along with God’ s grace; now, as hearers we are to unite the message with faith. a. Grace saves, Ephesians 2:8, but only by faith on man’ s part. b. Heaven is not a place for faithless people. If heaven were obtained by the grace of God only, everyone would be there.Hebrews 4:3 --For we who have believedIs faith all that is necessary? a. Let James answer. James 2:17 : “ Even so faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone.” James 2:24 : “ We see then how that by works, a man is justified and not by faith only.” b. Faith discussed here is the active kind like Joshua’ s. He talks of faith, for it is the beginning of our experience. Hebrews 4:3 --do enter into that restWhat is our “ rest” ? a. Scriptures that show kinds of rest: 1. 2 Timothy 1:7 : From fear—“ not given us a spirit of fear.” Romans 8:15 : “ For we have not received the spirit of bondage again unto fear.” 2. Romans 8:2 : Bondage to sin—“ For the law of the spirit of life made me free from the law of sin and death.” 3. Galatians 5:1 : Bondage from law—“ Be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.” 4. Romans 8:1 : From condemnation—“ There is therefore now no condemnation.” b. McKnight says that the rest here spoken of is all future rest. It is an inward rest on earth for us, although the final rest will be future. 1. Peace of conscience. 2. Joy in the Holy Spirit. 3. Saved from the guilt and power of sin. Rest is obtained by accepting the words of God: a. Illustration of it: 2 Chronicles 32:8— Hezekiah spoke to his people when the Assyrians came against them. “ With him is an arm of flesh: but with us is Jehovah our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah King of Judah.” b. Sinners are restless, for sin does not satisfy. Use of the word “ rest” in the New Testament: a. Jesus and rest: Matthew 11:28-29 : “ I will give you rest.” b. Rest and persecution: 1. Acts 9:31 : “ Then had the churches rest.” 2. 2 Thessalonians 1:7 : “ And to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of His power in flaming fire.” c. Rest as a blessing on man by God. 1 Peter 4:14 : “ Spirit of God resteth upon you.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 : “ Power of Christ may dwell upon you.” The word “ rest” should be understood in the same way as “ salvation” . a. We are saved, but salvation includes now, as well as our experience of heaven. b. We have rest now, but rest in heaven will be the greatest joy of us all. Hebrews 4:3 --even as he hath said, As I sware in My wrathPsa_95:11 is quoted here in rather a strange setting, it seems, on the first reading of it. The author, like Jesus, quoted often from the Old Testament, which proves its accepted inspiration.Hebrews 4:3 --they shall not enter into My restKing James version: “ If they shall enter” : a. Milligan: The word should not be rendered “ if” but “ not” . b. This expression “ if” seems not widely accepted. Why this negative statement is to verify a positive one preceding it: a. He argues that, since men are by the oath of God excluded from God’ s rest on account of unbelief, this implies that all who believe shall enter into His rest. b. It is an argument from what is contrary.Hebrews 4:3 --although the works were finished from the foundation of the world Some suggested explanations of this expression: a. It probably means the completion of the creation in six days, followed by a rest. 1. The rest of God was after the creation. God looked upon it and saw that it was good. 2. Sin broke the rest of God. b. McKnight says that this rest is mentioned to show it was not the seventh day, but a future rest which they could have had by believing. c. Calvin says: “ To define what our rest is, he reminds us of what Moses relates, that God, having finished the creation of the world, immediately rested from His works; and he finally concludes that the true rest of the faithful will be when they shall rest as God did.” d. Milligan feels that it is used to point out the sabbatical rest sanctified by God for His glory and all mankind. Although there was a rest from the beginning, we can miss it by unbelief: a. Reading it with the warning, we can see the danger of our not entering God’ s eternal rest, just as Israel missed their rest. b. Man and God will have rest when sin and unbelief are ended.Study Questions528. The expression “ let us” would include whom? 529. Who does he say should fear? 530. What kind of a fear is it? 531. What does 1 Peter 1:17 say about fear? 532. What have we seen from Chapter Three to cause fear? 533. What are we to fear? 534. Define “ lest haply” . 535. Does the expression, “ being left” , indicate a present promise? 536. If we should fear, then does it sound as though all will be saved— eternal security? 537. If a generation could be lost, is it not a serious warning to us? 538. What has he stated here that should cause us to fear? 539. What is the promise referred to here? 540. What is meant, “ come short of the promise” ? 541. How can you come short of a promise? 542. Why had good tidings been preached to them? Why did it fail? 543. How do our good tidings compare with theirs? 544. What would have been the profit to them? 545. Compare Deuteronomy 1:20; Deuteronomy 1:26 with our backsliding. 546. Is it inferred that faith alone is sufficient? 547. Give an exegesis of the expression, “ not united by faith” . 548. Compare Matthew 7:26-27 with the idea of mixing faith and obedience. 549. Does faith affect one’ s character and conduct? 550. Is faith our part, or God’ s part, in salvation? 551. How does the word of hearing profit us? 552. Does God give grace, or faith? cf. Ephesians 2:8. 553. How does the hearer unite his faith? 554. If God gives faith, who might we expect to see in heaven? How many? 555. What good does food do if it is not mixed with the blood-stream? 556. Compare Jerusalem on the subject of hearing Christ. 557. Compare James 2:17-24. 558. “ We who have believed” would refer to whom? 559. Is it persons who have believed the Old Testament example? 560. The word “ rest” seems to have a prominent part here. What is involved? Of what are we free? 561. Is rest all future? 562. Read these verses to see what our rest might be. 2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 8:2; Romans 8:15; Galatians 5:1. 563. What kind of experiences are eliminated by the peace and rest of the Christian? 564. What use is made of the term “ rest” in other places in the Bible? cf. Matthew 11:28-29; Acts 9:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Peter 4:14. 565. Read 2 Chronicles 32:8 for an example of a faith that “ rests” . 566. Does the word “ rest” carry a similar idea as the word “ saved” ? 567. Discuss the King James translation, “if they shall enter.” 568. What works are referred to in Hebrews 4:3? 569. What opinions do commentators have on the “ works” here referred to? 570. Does this make God’ s plan of salvation of long standing, if it refers to God’ s early plan of giving man rest from sin? 571. If God has always had provision for man’ s rest, and it was lost by unbelief, what should we conclude? 572. Does the scripture back up this logic? 573. What does the “ seventh day” refer to? cf. Genesis 2:2-3 and Exodus 31:17. Hebrews 4:4 --For He hath said somewhere of the seventh day on this wise.Moses spoke of the first day of rest. a. Genesis 2:2-3. b. Exodus 31:17 : “ For in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.” Why does the author mention it here? a. Milligan says: “ To amplify and illustrate further what he has spoken in the preceding verse.” b. Milligan feels that this rest cannot be identical with that from which a whole generation of the Israelites were forever excluded.Hebrews 4:4 --and God rested on the seventh day from all His worksThis day of rest was instituted by God from the foundation of the world, Twenty-five hundred years later God spoke of a future rest which the Israelites were to be denied. What is God doing now? The scriptures indirectly answer for us. Hebrews 1:3 : Christ is spoken of as “ upholding all things by the word of his power” , John 5:17 : “ My Father worketh until now and I work— .” John 6:29 : “ This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent,” Acts 17:28 : “ In Him we live and move.”Hebrews 4:5 --and in this place againPsa_95:11 : Most authorities agree that “ place” is to be in italics— not in the original manuscript. Hebrews 4:5 --They shall not enter into My restClarke says that this was a second rest promised to the obedient seed of Abraham— spoken in the days of David, when the Jews actually possessed the land. McKnight feels that it refers to the rest in Canaan, and was God’ s rest for two reasons: a. God rested from introducing them after their settlement. b. They were free to worship, free from the fear of their enemies. Study Questions574. When did God first speak of a rest for His people? 575. God’ s rest after six days of creation was what kind of a rest? 576. Why does Paul mention it here? What is the lesson? 577. Why the indefinite “ somewhere” ? 578. How many years after the first seventh day did God give man a seventh day? 579. Does God work today? 580. Are two different rests referred to here as seen by the word “ again” ? 581. In what ways could the Israelites’ experience in Canaan be considered a rest? Hebrews 4:6 --Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto The King James version says “ some must enter” : a. This carries the idea of necessity. b. God did not forsake all men, but some did receive the promise, the faithful ones, Joshua and Caleb. God’ s promise to Abraham must not fail, so God used the next generation to conquer the land. Hebrews 4:6 --and they to whom the good tidings were before preached failed to enter inGood news of freedom from bondage, news of prosperity, were all rejected for a discouraging report of ten spies: a. Read the good news in Exodus 3:8; Exodus 3:17; Exodus 13:5; Exodus 33:3. b. How they could turn away from God’ s providential care seems a mystery to us. Before we condemn that generation, look at the warnings for our generation: a. Acts 20:29-30 : “— speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples.” b. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 : “— form of godliness.” c. 2 Timothy 1:15.Hebrews 4:6 --because of disobedienceFaithlessness is an equivalent to disobedience. Believers need to watch out today: a. They can fall away and be lost, or Israel’ s example means nothing. b. If a believer, a Christian, cannot be lost, then Paul wasted much time in this book.Hebrews 4:7 --he again(Psalms 95:7-8 very likely). The frequency of Old Testament quotations indicates why the gospel was to the Jew first: a. The Old Testament was the Word of God, much of it a type of the New Testament, and much of it a lesson. b. The Jew had a background which gave him an advantage. Hebrews 4:7 --definethIt is also translated “ limited” : a. A certain time in which God’ s grace will work, for He limits man. b. See Genesis 6:3 : “ My spirit will not always strive with man.” God is no weakling. He practices longsuffering, but there is a line man cannot cross.Hebrews 4:7 --a certain day To-dayWhen God decides on the day, it will not be tomorrow, but today: a. Parents in their weakness say “ tomorrow,” and then forget to discipline tomorrow. b. Parents do much threatening which means little but not so with God. Some feel that this section was David’ s way of referring back to Moses’ day for a lesson in David’ s day. Hebrews 4:7 --saying in David so long a time afterwardDavid by the Spirit is warning the people of his own day— living later by about 500 or 600 years, of the danger of unbelief: a. Such a warning is never out of date. b. Every generation needs to be warned, for men always err and disobey.Hebrews 4:7 --(even as hath been said before), To-day if ye shall hear His voice harden not your heartsOne generation can harden its heart as easily as another. The Christian dispensation is no different than any other, so we must heed this warning. Hebrews 4:8 --For if Joshua had given them rest“ Joshua” in the Greek is “ Jesus” . In Acts 7:45, it is translated “ Jesus” . Both names mean “ saviour” . The people did enjoy comparative rest. Joshua 1:15 : “ . . . until the Lord have given your brethren rest.” Joshua 22:4 : “ And now the Lord your God hath given rest.” This was not the true rest. God has something better in store for His people. They to whom David addressed the Psalm were in possession of that land, but they were reminded of the duty of seeking a better rest.Hebrews 4:8 --he would not have spoken afterward of another day Who is “ he” ? a. If it is Joshua, when did he speak it? 1. Newell feels it refers to Joshua’ s farewell address in Joshua 23:1-4, where he tells them to complete the conquest. 2. It shows the incomplete work of Joshua; more rest was needed. b. “ He” must refer to God, who spoke afterward through David, says Milligan. 1. This is not the best rendering. 2. The context has shown that Joshua failed, so he had to speak again in his farewell address of rest. 3. To clinch his argument, David was quoted in Hebrews 4:7. Study Questions582. Is a second rest promised in the days of David correct according to Clarke? 583. What is implied by the expression, “ some should enter” ? 584. Would God’ s plan of salvation have failed if all had failed to enter? 585. What were the good tidings of God? of the ten spies? of Joshua? 586. What has been the main factor in man’ s failure in the past to enter into the rest of God? 587. What verses in the New Testament warn us against similar experiences? 588. If man, who had received the promise, lost out that day, should we not assume there is danger today? 589. What actually caused this disobedience? 590. If man can’ t be lost, what is the purpose of the teaching of this verse? 591. What other word may be used in place of the word “ defineth” of Hebrews 4:7? 592. Compare Genesis 6:3 for God’ s limitation. 593. What is the significance of this limitation? 594. Compare Galatians 4:4 with God’ s limitation of time. 595. If Moses and David found hardened hearts, is it likely that human nature has changed? 596. What hardens a heart? 597. Did Joshua ever promise another rest? Cf. Joshua 1:15; Joshua 22:1-4. 598. Why is it likely not Jesus who is referred to here? 599. Why is “ Joshua” also translated “ Jesus” in the footnote? 600. Why is it likely Joshua is referred to and not David? 601. Who is referred to by “ he would not have spoken afterward of another day” ? 602. Was Joshua’ s rest complete? Is this why God declared it again through David in Hebrews 4:7? 603. If the rest refers to Joshua’ s farewell words, then why is David quoted in Hebrews 4:7? Hebrews 4:9 --There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God“ There remaineth therefore” suggests that there is something better yet to follow: a. Sabbath is a symbol of the rest yet to come. b. This is the consummation of the new creature in Christ. c. Jesus, Matthew 11:28-29 : “ Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden— .” d. Rest fulfilled in Revelation 14:13 : “ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.” cf. Revelation 21:1-5. “ Rest” here is sabbath rest, a state of rest: a. It is not a state of inactivity, but release from the body of sin. b. It is rest from this body of pain, sorrow and affliction. Hebrews 4:9 --for the people of GodThere is the very opposite of comfort and rest for those who are not God’ s people. Luke 16:24 : “ For I am tormented in this flame.” Revelation 14:11 : “ And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image and receiveth a mark . . .”Hebrews 4:10 --For he that is entered into His restWho is referred to here? a. One view favors Christ: 1. For this view, we have only the idea that Christ is resting from his earthly mission. 2. Against it we have several factors: a) First: Christ is not resting, since He is preparing mansions, making intercession for us, etc. b) Second: Jesus is not mentioned here at all. c) Third: We are exhorted by Hebrews 4:11 to enter into the rest, as though it is the Christian’ s rest as referred to in Hebrews 4:10. b. A second view is that it is just a general statement of man entering into rest: 1. McKnight expresses it: “ For the believer who is entered into God’ s rest, hath himself also rested from his works of trial and suffering.” 2. Milligan says this view is most in harmony with the context. Hebrews 4:10 --hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.The Christian enters into a rest, just as did God when He rested: a. Now every saint who, like Joshua and Caleb, is faithful enters into God’ s rest. b. As certainly as God rested, so shall we rest. “ His works” may refer to several things: 1. His own works that have no part in his salvation: a) The Jew must give up the works of the old law. b) The moral man must give up thinking that a moral life is able to save. 2. “ That work which the child of God does in being faithful” : a) The work of God was good, and no doubt the good work of Christian people is referred to here in the parallel. b) The life of self-denial comes to an end, and one enters into a rest with God. Study Questions604. Is David reminding them of seeking a greater rest? 605. What is the significance of the words “ a sabbath rest for the people of God” ? 606. When is this period of rest? 607. Is it a cessation of activity, or is another idea implied in our rest? 608. If the people of God have rest, what will the others have? Cf. Luke 16:24; Revelation 14:10. 609. Who is the “ he” in Hebrews 4:10? 610. Why is it not Jesus? 611. Is Jesus resting? 612. What are the works referred to? Commentary on Hebrews 4:1-10 by Burton CoffmanE ; THE 'S REST BY FAITH; THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD; THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST; AT THE THRONE OF GRACEHeb_4:1 --Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise of being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. (Hebrews 4:1) Why should people fear, especially Christians? Simply because great and eternal rewards are subject to forfeit as long as people are in the flesh, because a powerful and aggressive foe in the person of Satan and his hosts are opposed to us, and because the multitude of distractions, temptations, and necessary labors of life constantly tend to produce that one moment of life in which inattention can lead to everlasting ruin. This fear is reinforced by the thought that many others failed, even after a glorious beginning. The first thirteen verses of this chapter conclude the second exhortation, or warning, and the idea of "a rest" for the people of God, already mentioned in Hebrews 4:18, is taken up and further elaborated. "Rest" in the usage at this place is a much more varied and extensive thing than merely entering Canaan, for it is a concept that is made to stand for all the spiritual and eternal rewards of faith. The Christian rest includes rest in Christ, as procured by taking his yoke and learning of him (Matthew 11:28-29), rest from the labors of life (Revelation 14:13), and rest with the Lord in heaven throughout all eternity; and although the author of Hebrews might have preached the Christian rest from the standpoint of Christ's teachings and those of the apostles, he elected to base his appeal upon the Old Testament, equally valid, and better designed to woo his readers back from a reversion to Judaism; hence the statement that "there was a promise LEFT," in the sense of being "left open." How so? Five hundred years, almost, after Israel entered Canaan, David in Psalms 95:7-11 spoke of there being a rest for God's people, indicating that their final entry into Canaan was not the full attainment of that rest, and that something much more than that was involved. Again, the word "haply" injects the idea of inadvertence. Alas, it must be supposed that the far greater part of Christians falling away from faith in Christ do so unintentionally. Few indeed ever decide boldly against the Lord, and move decisively against him; but, on the contrary, they allow inattention to spiritual things, carelessness in attending worship, neglect of daily prayer and study of the Word, and encroachments upon their time due to worldly and pleasure-loving friends to divert their attention first, and later their whole life and conduct from the path of honor and duty. It is hard to imagine a more urgent and persistent warning than the one given here. Hebrews 4:2 --For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they; but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard.This does not mean that the Jews had the same gospel preached unto them that Christians have received, but that JUST AS they received a good word about the promised rest, so have Christians. There is also here a plain indication of the source of that faith deemed so necessary to salvation, in that it is called a "word of hearing." Faith comes by hearing God's word (Romans 10:16 ff). It is God's word itself, then, that has the power to enter the heart and produce faith. The rendition of the last clause here has been the subject of many disputes and disagreements among scholars, but fortunately the meaning is obvious. As Bruce said it, "The sense is plain enough; the good news had to be assimilated or appropriated by faith if it was to bring any benefit to the hearers."[1]ENDNOTE: [1] F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967), p. 70. Hebrews 4:3 --For we who have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said, As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest; although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.The use of the present tense, "we do enter into that rest," stresses the first and immediate phase of the Christian's rest and focuses the attention of the believer upon the benefits and joys of that Christian service which are already his and in the process of being enjoyed by him. This verse again strikes at the tragic failure of Israel who, though entering Canaan, did not in fact enter into God's rest, in the higher and better sense of becoming a holy nation of righteous and devoted worshipers of God, as God had commanded them (Exodus 19:3-6); but on the other hand, they rebelled against God time and again; they rejected the theocracy, demanded a king like the nations around them, worshipped idols, oppressed the poor, and even made their children pass through the fire to Molech! Thus, while entering a type of God's rest, they failed to attain any reality of it; and furthermore, all this came about in spite of the fact that God was fully prepared to welcome them into such a glorious rest, indeed, had been anticipating it "from the foundation of the world." What is meant by "the foundation of the world"? The words are used in Hebrews 9:26; Matthew 13:35; Matthew 25:34; Luke 11:50; John 17:24; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8 and the message these references carry is that God's plans and purposes for people predate the formation of the world itself. "He chose us in him before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4). And this coincides with Paul's word that "We speak God's wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory" (1 Corinthians 2:7). All efforts to construe "the foundation of the world" as a reference to its reconstruction following the disaster in Eden must be viewed as incorrect, since, by definition, God's "eternal purpose" (Ephesians 8:11) has existed always, and the world has not. Regarding the efforts of some scholars to lessen the force of this, Bruce said, "The attempt to render it `downfall of the world' and link it with the catastrophic interpretation of Gen 1:2 cannot be sustained."[2] Dummelow's perception of this is also helpful: The promise of rest applies to us who are Christians, seeing that those to whom the promise was made failed to attain it. And their failure was not due to the fact that the rest had not been prepared, because it existed since the day that God finished his work of creation. This is proved by the words, "And God rested" in one place, and the words "my rest" in another. God's rest is therefore a fact, and it is clearly his purpose that some shall enter into it.[3][2] Ibid., p. 71. [3] J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Whole Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 1019, Hebrews 4:4 --For he hath said somewhere of the seventh day on this wise, And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.Genesis 2:2 is the text in the author's mind in these words; and the argument is that God's resting on the seventh day, unaccompanied by any subsequent declaration that he has left off resting, makes the rest of God still available for them that will receive it, as it has been from the time God finished creation. The rest God promised his people is thus a share of his own rest and pertains to the felicity and serenity that flow from faithful and humble obedience to God's will. Some interpreters attempt to find millennial implications in the concept of God's rest; but as Bruce stated, The identification of the rest of God in the Epistle to the Hebrews with a coming millennium has, indeed, been ably defended; but it involves the importation of a concept which is in fact alien to it.[4]It should be noted that the "seventh day" of this verse can be nothing other than the seventh day of creation on which God rested and not the Hebrew sabbath. The rest of God is a far greater and more wonderful thing than any system of merely keeping sabbaths or even entering Canaan, both of which things the Jews certainly did; but in the procurement of that more noble rest, they failed. One of the most significant revelations of this chapter is that the seventh day of Creation is still in progress. God rested on the seventh day from all his works (of creation). God is still resting, Hebrews 4:6; Hebrews 4:11. People should take pains to enter that rest because it is yet available. The Bishop of Edinburgh stated that, "From this argument, it is mandatory to conclude that the seventh day is still in progress? ENDNOTE: [4] F. F. Bruce, op. cit., p. 75. Hebrews 4:5 --And in this place again, They shall not enter into my rest.This quotation, as in Hebrews 4:3, is again from Psalms 95:11, serving the purpose, alongside of the quotation from Genesis 2:2, of identifying the rest spoken of here as that of God himself, following the six days of creation, and to which heavenly rest God has always invited people to come and share. To make this place any kind of an argument for people's keeping the sabbath day is to miss the entire argument of the epistle in this portion. The argument is that a rest remains BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ENTERED by the Hebrews! Therefore, it was not entering Canaan nor keeping the sabbath day, for they did that. Thus, the marvelous rest referred to here can be neither of those things but must be understood as a reference back to the rest of God himself which is still in progress, a rest the Jews could have entered but did not, and likewise a rest that many now have the right to enter but may come short of it; hence the warning. Hebrews 4:6 --Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto, and they unto whom the good tidings were before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience.This is a summary of the argument. God desires and has purposed from all eternity that some shall enter into his rest; and, seeing that Israel did not, as proved by David's saying so in Psalms 95, the way is still open for whomsoever will accept the invitation. Hebrews 4:7 --He again defineth a certain day, Today, saying in David so long a time afterward (even as hath been said before) Today if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.Interrupting his chain of thought, and repeating the scriptural basis of it, he appeals again to Psalms 95:7-11, ascribed to David. The thesis turns on the fact that it was "long afterward" (about 500 years) that David urged the people AT THAT TIME, "today," to hear God's voice, to refrain from hardening their hearts, and to enter the rest of God. He thus proved that the rest had not been entered by Israel, that it was open 500 years after Canaan was entered, and that it was still available when the author of Hebrews wrote. This rather extensive appeal is a classical example of the use of repetition to drive home a point; hence the oft-repeated reference and the recurrence, as of a refrain, "Today ... harden not your hearts." Hebrews 4:8 --For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken of another day.This means that if Joshua had given the people the rest spoken of here, in that he led them into Canaan, then David would not have held it up as something yet unattained such a long time after that. The words "Jesus" and "Joshua" are one word, just as the names "Juan" and "John" are the same; and this clears up the translation of this name as "Jesus" in the KJV in this verse. However, it is plain enough that not our Lord, but the ancient Hebrew captain who succeeded Moses and led the children of Israel into Canaan, is the person meant by the author of Hebrews in this verse. The English Revised Version (1885) is therefore correct. Joshua, due to his name, and the fact that he led Israel into the promised land, is viewed as one of the lesser types of the Master. However, there are more contrasts than similarities between them, as witness the following: (1) Joshua in the conquest of Canaan benefited himself and his posterity (Joshua 18:49,50): Christ's ministry benefited not himself but his followers only. The rest that Jesus made available to his disciples was already his own. (2) Joshua did not ALONE conquer Canaan but was aided extensively by all the Israelites; Christ trod the winepress alone (Isaiah 63:3). (3) The conquest of Canaan did not cost Joshua either wounds or death; but Jesus won the eternal land of promise at the cost of suffering and death (1 Peter 1:18-19). (4) Joshua could not totally expel the old inhabitants of Canaan; but the victory of Christ was complete over death, sin, Satan and the grave. Hebrews 4:9 --There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God.Barmby's brief comment on this verse is concise and interesting. The conclusion is now drawn: the true nature of the rest intended being beautifully denoted by the word "sabbath rest," which refers to the divine rest from "the foundation of the world," while the offer of it to true belivers always, and not to Israelites only, is intimated by the phrase, "the people of God."ENDNOTE: Hebrews 4:10 --For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.The effort to make the person who has entered into his rest to be the Saviour appears forced, although some able scholars defend that meaning of it. The view here is that it pertains to the rest which any true follower of the Lamb enters upon his becoming a Christian. Rest is a universal human longing; and, although in youth the desire for rest might not be so urgently felt, its need and urgency, with increasing rigor, appear more and more as life unfolds. The promise of it, like a fleeting mirage, beckons beyond each pressing complex of frustrations, problems, duties, and sorrows; and for countless travelers from time to eternity, there must be frequent emotion, if expressed or not, which contains the cry of the Psalmist, "O that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away and be at rest" (Psalms 55:6); or the hope of Job to be where "the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary be at rest" (Job 3:17). The thought of ceasing from his own works, on the part of the Christian, is also intriguing. If God is resting from his works, what is there that man can do? Does he propose to move everything alone? Surely the works of righteousness, that is, human righteousness, cannot avail unto salvation. This verse also has its application to Christ. He did indeed finish the work of his earthly ministry and enter into that eternal rest to which his followers are invited to come. All who will receive it are invited; and Christ, as representative man, has already entered upon the rest, or into it. The recurring and overwhelming thought of that "rest" so much discussed here is the eternal nature and purity of it, utterly distinguishing it from Canaan, or earthly sabbaths, which even at best were dim and imperfect symbols of a genuine reality, the rest of God. That rest is inherent in the very nature of God, who himself rested on the seventh day of creation, and who surely purposed that his people should share in it, that sharing being made possible only through the sacrifice of Christ. Hebrews 4:11-13 FURTHER TO STRIVE TO GOD’ S REST, IN VIEW OF THE ALL HEART- OF GOD’ S WORDHeb_4:11-13 Heb 4:11 ---Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest.— That is to say, since it is an established fact that there is remaining for the people of God a sabbatical rest; and since it is true that we are all invited to enter into that rest; it therefore becomes us to strive ear­nestly (spondasomen) to do so; lest we too, like the Israelites under Moses, fall short of it through unbelief and disobedience. For them the symbolical rest of Canaan was freely provided; and God himself was present and ready to lead them into it. But they disobeyed him, and rebelled against him; and as a consequence they perished in the wilderness, short of the promised land. And just so, says Paul, it will be with us, if we follow their example. See 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. In order to gain admission into God’ s ever­lasting Kingdom, we must give all diligence in adding to our “ faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to god­liness brotherly-kindness; and to brotherly-kindness love.” (2 Peter 1:5-11.) Care must be taken, however, that in all our efforts to enter the promised rest we strive lawfully; and with constant reference to that purity of heart and perfection of character which God re­quires; and without which, no one will ever enjoy his presence or keep a sabbath with him. (12: 14.) It is not always the man who works most that will finally receive and enjoy most; for there are first that shall be last; and there are last that shall be first. (Matthew 19:30.) It should never be forgotten that by the deeds of law no flesh is justified in the sight of God. (Romans 3:20.) There is noth­ing in these legal acts and observances to purify the soul and fit it for the rest of God: “ for Christ is the end of the law for righteous­ness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10:4.) It is only through the rich merits of his blood, the indwelling and sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, and the constant use of all the means which Heaven has provided for our growth in grace and progress in the Divine life, that we can be prepared for the promised rest. The whole inner man must be cleansed from every mark of sin and from every stain of iniquity, before we can have that full and per­fect communion with God which the redeemed will finally enjoy, and which is in fact the consummation of all happiness. And hence he says to everyone who would enter into his rest, “ Become ye holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16.) And hence we see the duty of constant self-examination while we are endeavoring to work out our salvation with fear and trem­bling (2 Corinthians 13:5) ; for it is God that works in us (Philippians 2:13). His word tries us, and proves us, and searches us even to the very center of our being. This, our author very beautifully and forcibly illustrates in the two following verses. Hebrews 4:12 ---For the word of God is quick, and powerful,— In this verse, the Apostle gives a reason why we should all be so very ear­nest and particular in our endeavors to prepare and qualify our­selves, through Divine grace, for the enjoyment of the rest which remains for the people of God. A single mistake here may prove fatal. For though we keep the whole law, save that we offend only in one point, we are guilty of all. (James 2:10.) Though, like Naa- man, we dip ourselves seven times in the waters of the Jordan, and though our persons may seem to be all pure and holy in the eyes of men and angels, there may, nevertheless, be some secret sin cher­ished in our hearts, that will wholly unfit us for the fellowship of God and the society of Heaven. And if so, it will not escape the eye of him who searches the hearts of the children of men. For the judgment of God is according to truth (kata aletheian) in all cases (Romans 2:2); and his word, by which we are to be judged at the last day, is, like its Author, “ living and powerful.” It has long been a question with expositors, whether “ the word” that is here spoken of is the personal Word, the Logos that became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), or the “ word of hearing” (4: 2), called also “ the word of salvation” (Acts 13:26). Many of the ancients and some of the moderns understand by it the per­sonal Word; who, as they say, “ is living and powerful, and his judgment is sharper and more penetrating than any two-edged sword.” But it is far more simple and natural, as most modern commentators concede, to understand by this the instrumental word, which, as a sharp, two-edged sword, proceeds out of the mouth of the personal Word (Revelation 1:16 Revelation 2:12 Revelation 19:15 Revelation 19:21), with which he now smites the nations; and by means of which he will finally judge all who hear it. This word “ is living and powerful,” because it is always supported by him who is himself the fountain of life (Psalms 36:9) and the source of all power (Romans 13:1). It is not a lifeless abstraction, but a living concrete embodiment of God’ s will, going wherever he pleases, and doing whatever he re­quires. “ For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the Earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so,” says Jehovah, “ shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11.) See references. Hebrews 4:12 ---and sharper than any two-edged sword,— Or “ more cutting than any two-mouth sword.” This can scarcely be predicated, with propriety, of the personal Word; but it applies well to the in­strumental word, the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), which goeth out of the mouth of him that sits upon the horse, and with which he smites the nations (Revelation 19:15). Hebrews 4:12 ---piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, etc. — This passage has given rise to an almost endless number and va­riety of queries and explanations; the consideration of many of which would be of but little service to the reader. I will therefore confine my remarks on it to such matters as seem necessary in order to a fair understanding of the mind of the Spirit. And (1) What is the meaning of soul and spirit in this connection? From the days of Pythagoras (500 B.C.), and more especially from the time of Plato (350 B.C.), the doctrine of a trinity in human nature became somewhat prevalent. These philosophers both taught, in substance, that man consists of a material body (soma), an animal soul (psuche), and an immortal spirit (tineuma). The soul was by them regarded as the seat of animal life, together with its sev­eral instincts, passions, and appetites; and the spirit was supposed to be the seat of the higher intellectual and moral faculties. In this sense, Paul manifestly uses these terms both in our text and also in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. But whether he aims here to speak of man as he really is, or merely to use by way of accommodation the current phraseology of the Greeks, is not so clear. In either case he would equally accomplish his main purpose, which is simply to indicate to his readers by the use of these terms the whole incorporeal nature of man. (2) What does our author mean by the joints (harmoi) and the marrows (mueloi) ? Does he use these words in a literal sense to denote the inner and more concealed parts of the body ? or does he use them metaphorically to denote the most secret and re­condite recesses of the soul and the spirit? The critics are much divided on this point; and it must be confessed that it is not an easy matter to arrive with absolute certainty at the exact meaning of the passage. But after a careful examination of both the text and the context, I am constrained to think with Bengel, Bleek, DeWette, Tholuck, Liinemann, Moll, Alford, and others, that these words are used figuratively to denote the inmost essence of man’ s spiritual nature. This view of the matter is favored (a) by the use of the single conjunction and (kai) between the words soul and spirit, and the compound conjunction both and (te kai) between the words joints and marrows; thus indicating that these two sets of words are not coordinate, but that the latter phrase is subordi­nate to the former. Literally rendered, the passage reads as fol­lows : piercing through even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, both of joints and marrows; and is a discerner of the thoughts and purposes of the heart. The phrase, joints and mar­rows, seems to be a proverbial expression, indicative of the inmost parts of anything; and it is used here to denote the extreme thor­oughness of the dividing process effected in the soul and in the spirit by means of the word of God. (b) This view is also most in harmony with the ascending climax at which the writer evidently aims in the construction of this sentence. The word of God is, first, living; then it is full of power and energy; then it divides and lays bare the soul and the spirit even to the extent of their joints and their marrows; and then rising above the essence of man’ s na­ture, it enters inquisitively and judicially into the realms of his ideas, affections, and desires, and passes judgment on the thoughts and purposes of his heart. Nor does our author stop even here; but passing now from the word of God to God himself as its au­thor, he caps the climax by representing all created things as being naked and fully exposed to the eyes of him to whom we are re­sponsible, and to whom we shall have to render a final account. This is all very beautiful and in perfect harmony with the highly rhetorical character of the Epistle. But who does not feel the in­consistency of passing, in the course of this climax, from the soul and spirit of man to even the most concealed parts of his physical organization ? If the view taken of this passage is correct, then it follows that the once prevalent notion of a separation of the soul from the spirit, and of the joints from the marrows, is incorrect. The sepa­ration takes place within the region of the soul and the region of the spirit; not between them. The living word cleaves and lays bare all parts of the soul and all parts of the spirit, even to the extent of their joints and their marrows; so that all the perfections and imperfections of man’ s spiritual nature are made perfectly manifest. And not only so, but even the thoughts and purposes of his heart are, by this infallible Judge, fully analyzed and perfectly classified. Hebrews 4:13 ---Neither is there any creature, etc.—There is here a mani­fest transition from the word of God, as his efficient and soul-pene­trating instrument, to God himself, in whose presence all things are naked (gumna), presenting themselves as they really are, without any kind of covering; and opened (tetrachelimena), with their heads thrown back, and their faces and necks exposed to full view. This is the proper meaning of the word; but from what is the metaphor taken? Some say, from the ancient custom of offer­ing sacrifice. The victim was first slain; then it was flayed, cut open, and exposed to the eye of the priest for inspection. Others think that the Apostle refers here to the Roman custom of bending back the necks of criminals, so as to expose their faces more fully to the eyes of the public. To this Pliny refers in his panegyric on the emperor Trajan. Speaking of the emperor’ s endeavors to promote virtue and suppress vice, he says, “ There is nothing, how­ever, in this age, that affects us more pleasingly and deservedly than to see from above the supine faces and reverted necks of the informers. We thus know them, and are pleased when, as expiat­ing victims of public disquietude, they are led away to lingering punishments and sufferings more terrible than even the blood of the guilty.” (Panegyr. xxxiv. 3.) Others again suppose that there is an allusion here to the custom of wrestlers who were wont to seize their antagonists by their throats, and bend back their heads and necks for the purpose of more easily effecting their overthrow. On the whole, it seems most probable that the expression had ref­erence primarily to the exposure of criminals; and that Paul used it in its then current sense to denote simply that all creatures stand before God with their necks, as it were, bent backward, and their faces fully exposed to the all-seeing “ eyes of him with whom we have to do.’ Christians are all of one holy brotherhood. (3:1.) It mat­ters not how much they may differ from one another in wealth, tal­ents, learning, and social advantages, they are nevertheless all one in Christ Jesus. The rich should not therefore despise the poor, nor should the poor envy the rich. But all should strive to main­tain “ the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” ; and to promote each other’ s good, as heirs of the grace of life and joint heirs of the eternal inheritance. To think much about Christ as the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, will be of great service to us in many ways (verse 1). It will serve, for instance, to increase our faith in him and our confidence in the perfection and efficacy of the gospel plan of salvation through him. It will increase our love for God, who has so tenderly loved us as to send his own Son to redeem us. It will correct and restrain our selfishness, and make us more zealous for the glory of God and the salvation of the world. And, in a word, it will make us all more humble, more prayerful, and more earnest in our endeavors to “ live soberly, and righteously, and godly.” How much, how very much may depend on the fidelity of God’ s ministers (verse 5). Had the servants of Christ all acted as did Moses, and observed faithfully the more full and encouraging instructions of the Holy Spirit that are given to us in the New Testament, how very different would be both the Church and the world today. How many that are now idolaters would be Chris­tians; and how many of those that are now eternally lost, might today be rejoicing among the spirits of the just made perfect. God still dwells with his people (verse 6). The Church of God is the house of God, as it is written, “ I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my peo­ple.” (2 Corinthians 6:16.) Why, then, do we not draw nigh to him who has come so very near to us? Why not, like Enoch and Moses, walk with him, as seeing him who is invisible? Why not avoid everything that is offensive in his sight, such as the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life ? And why not, like Christ, humbly endeavor to do the will of God in all things? Surely this is but our highest happiness, as it is also our most reasonable service. Fidelity to the end of life is essential in order to the final en­joyment of the great salvation (verses 6, 14). With such warn­ings and admonitions before us as those which are given in this section, it is all folly to rely for happiness on the imaginary “ un­conditional decrees” of God; or on the once prevalent doctrine of “ final perseverance.” “ He that endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:22.) Without this actual perseverance on our part, through the abounding grace of God, nothing can save us from the torments of the damned. It is not enough that God has sent his Son into the world to save it; and that Christ has sent the Holy Spirit to convince mankind “ of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” It is not enough that we have confessed Christ, and that we have been actually washed from our past sins in his blood. We must also continue to persevere in well-doing, seeking for honor, and glory, and immortality, if we would enjoy eternal life. (Romans 2:7.) “ For if we sin willfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more [a] sacrifice for sins.” (10: 26.) “ Let him [then] that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12.) Let no one, then trifle with the commands of God, and with the promptings of an enlightened conscience; no, not even for a day or an hour (verses 7, 13). “ To-day, if ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the wilderness.” All unnecessary delay is dangerous, because it is sinful and serves to harden the hearts of those who yield to its se­ductive influence. And hence the law of the Kingdom of Heaven is (1) to hear; (2) to believe; and (3) to obey from the heart that form of doctrine which is delivered to us in the Gospel. The primi­tive Christians did this; and then went on their way rejoicing. See Acts passim. But the power of sin over the human heart is very great (verse 13). The unregenerate are slaves to its influence. See Romans 6:6-7 Romans 6:17 Romans 6:20 Romans 7:13-23. And even the Christian, enlight­ened and assisted as he is by the Holy Spirit, has need to be con­stantly on his guard, lest he too be ensnared and hardened through its deceitfulness. (1 Corinthians 9:27.) And hence the great importance and necessity of that mutual exhortation and encouragement which our author so earnestly recommends. “ Exhort one another daily,” he says, “ while it is called To-day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” And again he says to the Gala­tian brethren, “ Bear ye one another’ s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2.) God has made us all fellow-helpers one of another, by committing to us the word of reconciliation and exhortation. Why, then, are we so very unfaithful to the trust which God has committed to us in this particular? Why do we not exhort one another daily? Why are we so prone to talk about anything and everything else rather than about the one thing needful? When we meet with our brethren, we are all wont to ask for their welfare. We inquire very particularly about their prosperity in business, and also about their physical health, comforts, and enjoy­ments. But how many of us are in the habit of inquiring after the state and condition of their souls? How many mutual inquiries are made about one another’ s progress in the Divine life; and about the peculiar trials, difficulties, and dangers that beset us, and against which we have to contend in our feeble efforts to reach the heavenly rest? That there is a great want of fidelity among Chris­tians in this respect, admits, I think, of no doubt. But why is it so? Has it ceased to be true that “ Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” ? Or does this habit of worldly conver­sation about secular matters, indicate an alarming want of spiritu­ality in our own poor unbelieving hearts? That public sentiment is a great barrier in the way of religious conversation in the social circle, I freely admit. It is really amazing to what an extent the Devil has succeeded in persuading the people, that it is impolite to speak of God, or of Christ, or of Heaven, in the parlor or on the public highway. And the fear of giving offense, no doubt, often constrains many a Christian to withhold his lips from speaking good, even when the fire of God’ s grace is burning in his soul. (Psalms 39:1-3.) But after making all due allowance for the bind­ing obligations of public sentiment within proper limits, it must, I fear, be conceded that this general delinquency on the part of Christians is fearfully indicative of our own want of faith in God and in the word of his grace. Christ, it is true, never cast pearls before swine; and in some cases he refrained from working mira­cles on account of the extreme wickedness and infidelity of the people. See Matthew 13:58, and Mark 6:5-6. But still, the main burden of his conversation, wherever he went, was “ the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.” May God grant us all grace to walk in his footsteps. Our greatest want has always been a want of faith in God and in the word of his grace (verses 18, 19). It was this that first brought sin into the world. (Genesis 3:6.) It was this that filled the antediluvian earth with violence, and brought in a flood of waters on the ungodly. It was this that caused the dispersion from Babel, and that soon after filled the world with idolatry. It was this that brought down fire and brimstone from Heaven on Sodom and Go­morrah, and made these cities of the plain a monument of God’ s hatred of sin. It was this that so often brought down God’ s judg­ments on even his own chosen people in the wilderness and in Ca­naan, and that has made their descendants a proverb and a by­word in every nation under Heaven. It was this that divided the Church of God, and that filled the dwelling-place of the Most High with all manner of Jewish and Gentile abominations. And it is this that now deprives us all of a thousand spiritual enjoyments, and that will hereafter shut the gates of Heaven against millions who, like the rebellious Israelites, will seek to enter into God’ s rest when it is too late. (Luke 13:24-30.) No wonder, then, that our blessed Savior so often sums up all sin under the head of unbelief. “ When he [the Comforter] is come,” says Christ, “ he will convict the world of sin, because they believe not on me.” (John 16:9.) See also John 3:18-21 John 5:39-47 John 8:24 John 15:22-25, etc. Let us, then, all beware, lest there be also in any of us an evil heart of unbelief in apostatizing from the living God. The main business of life is to labor to enter into God’ s rest. (4: 11.) Here we are all but strangers and pilgrims, traveling, like the Israelites in the wilderness, to the promised inheritance. What folly it is, then, to build costly mansions and monuments on these sandy foundations in the desert over which we are now pass­ing so rapidly on our way to the everlasting Zion! What folly it is to call our lands by our own names. (Psalms 49:11), and to lay up treasures here on Earth, where moth and rust are constantly corroding and corrupting. Let us all look rather to the end of our pilgrimage; and labor to enter into the everlasting rest which is now in reserve for every child of God. And let us rejoice, as did Paul, that it is better to depart and to be with Christ in those heav­enly mansions. How utterly vain are all the hopes and deceits of the hypo­crite ; and with what shame and confusion of face he will stand fi­nally before God, naked and exposed to the all-penetrating eye of him with whom we have to do (verses 11-13). Then, every ref­uge of lies in which he trusted will be swept away; and all the deep, dark, and hidden recesses of his whole spiritual being will be made manifest in the light of God’ s countenance, by means of the living energies of that word which pierces through to the dividing asunder of the soul and of the spirit, even to the extent of their joints and their marrows! May God save us all from such an or­deal on the day of his final reckoning.Commentary on Hebrews 4:11-13 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_4:11 --Let its therefore give diligence to enter into that rest Here is an exhortation to labor: a. Exertion of mind and body is a requirement of salvation. b. This is a lawful work, in a world where men try other methods. 1. 2 Timothy 2:5 : “— strive lawfully.” 2. John 10:1; Some will be like thieves and robbers. There is no room for predestination here, but there is an appeal to work. Hebrews 4:11 --that no man fall after the same example of disobedienceThis does not sound like the position of some who say men are saved, not in spite of apostasy but from apostasy: a. A person may make shipwreck of his faith, for God leaves man free to choose. b. We are no different from the Israelites. c. There are some who put people on probation for church membership, but refuse God the privilege of allowing man to prove his worthiness for eternal life. The example of disobedience is recorded in Numbers 26:65. Hebrews 4:12 --for the Word of God is living“ Living” is also translated “ quick” : Some dispute whether the “ word” is referring to Christ or the scripture: a. It is not the Old Testament law. See 2 Corinthians 3:7. It was a ministration of death. Romans 4:15 : “— worketh wrath.” b. “ The word” is probably not the personal word, but the word of the Person— the Gospel. The Word of God does not beat the air with emptiness: a. It leads some to triumph: 2 Corinthians 2:14 : “ But thanks be to God Who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ.” b. It has the power of binding and loosing. Matthew 18:18 : 1. Some, it draws to salvation; others, are driven to ruin. 2. It promises salvation to some, but pronounces vengeance on others. c. It has the power of God in it. Romans 1:16. It is a living Word because it is backed by a living God and a living Christ. Hebrews 4:12 --and activeIt is also translated “ powerful” : a. Romans 1:16— the power of God is the Gospel: 1. A person uses dynamite to move obstacles. The Word is God’ s means of action. 2. It is God’ s way to move man today. b. No power or action is equal to it. God deals with men not by mere influences, but through His Word, whether written or preached. Hebrews 4:12 --and sharper than any two-edged swordThe “ sword” is a metaphorical word, military expression used to illustrate the character of the Word: a. It is a part of the Christian’ s armor. Ephesians 6:17. b. It goes out of the mouth of the Rider, with which He smites the nations. Revelation 19:15. Two-edged sword: a. It does double duty with one preaching or writing the Word. b. This is simply to say that it is tremendously sharp.Hebrews 4:12 --and piercingThe meaning is that it examines a man thoroughly: a. It searches his thoughts and scrutinizes his will, with all of its desires. b. Calvin insists that its character is to he confined to the faithful only, as they alone are thus searched to the quick. It is piercing for all, Christian and non-Christian: Titus 1:9 : “— to convict the gainsayers.” Jude 1:15 : “— to convict all that are ungodly.” John 16:8 : “ He will convict the world.”Hebrews 4:12 --even to the dividing of soul and spiritSome claim only the Christian has a spirit, hence the word only deals with them. The Word is for all, and is active toward all: a. John 16:8 : “— when the Spirit is come He shall reprove the world of sin.” b. Romans 1:16 : “ Jew and Gentile.” What is the difference between the soul and spirit? Views differ. a. “ Soul” means all the affection; spirit, the intellectual faculty, according to Calvin, He quotes two passages to prove it: 1. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 : “ May your soul, body and spirit be preserved.” 2. Isaiah 26:9 : “ My soul desired Thee in the night; I sought Thee with my spirit.” b. Soul is life, and spirit is personality, say others: 1. “ We do not know whether Paul was speaking of man as he really was or using a current phraseology,” says Milligan. 2. The inner man is emphasized to show how discerning the word is. c. Greek words involved: Body— physical. Soul— animal soul or life. Spirit— immortal. Hebrews 4:12 --of both joints and marrowIndicating that there is nothing so hard or strong in man that it can be hidden. With a sword, man is content to pierce the heart, but God’ s word can delve into the inner man. a. A sword can glance off the bone of an enemy, but nothing can resist the power of God’ s word. b. Milligan thinks this is a proverbial saying indicative of the inmost parts of a person.Hebrews 4:12 --and quick to discern the thoughtsIn the thick darkness of unbelief and hypocrisy is a horrible blindness, but God scatters this away. Vices hidden under the false appearances of virtue are known by God: a. Men may have good reputations, yet harbor evil thoughts, and God knows it. b. God is all-wise, so we have no secrets. Hebrews 4:12 --and intents of the heartSome people are evil, but lack the courage to act: a. Many “ embryo” Hitlers exist in the world, but they lack his initiative. Some people have evil intents, but appear to work from good motives: 1. Romans 16:18 : “— by fair speech deceive.” 2. Galatians 6:12 : “— make fair show in the flesh.” 3. 2 Peter 2:13 : “— sporting while they feast.” Hebrews 4:13 --And there is no creature that is not manifest in His sightNo creature can escape God: a. Some have tried: 1. Adam and Eve hid. 2. Cain said he wasn’ t his brother’ s keeper. 3. Jonah ran away, but he wasn’ t away from God. b. Some will try again, says Revelation 6:16, when they want rocks and mountains to hide them from God’ s wrath. God knows us as we really are. “ Manifest in His sight” means to be made known: a. Evil is manifested. Galatians 5:19 : “ Works of the flesh are manifest.” b. Good is manifested. 1 Timothy 5:25 : The good words of some are manifest. 1 John 3:10 : “ Children of God are manifest.”Hebrews 4:13 --but all things are nakedThere is no covering, camouflaging, or deceit before God. “ This may refer to a sacrificial term,” says Clarke: a. An animal prepared for sacrifice was slain, then cut open so that its intestines were exposed to view. b. It was carefully examined for imperfections. c. It was divided exactly in two, so that the spinal marrow was cloven down the center. Adam and Eve were told by the serpent that when they ate of the tree they would be as God. Genesis 3:5 : a. Note that when they ate they saw their nakedness. b. God has tried to cover man’ s sin since that time.Hebrews 4:13 --laid open before the eyesIt may mean as a criminal has his neck bent back so as to expose the face to full view so that every feature might be seen. Hebrews 4:13 --of Him with Whom we have to doAll men must give an account of themselves: a. The wicked cannot die and go without judgment. Hebrews 9:27; Romans 2:6 : “ Render to every man according to his deeds.” b. Death does not end all; the skeptic cannot get by. We have to face God: 1. Vengeance is His. Romans 12:19; Nahum 1:2. 2. Judgment is His. Hebrews 10:27-31. 3. We must someday confess His Son. Philippians 2:10-11. Study Questions613. What is meant by “ give diligence” ? 614. If man is saved regardless of what he does, would this exhortation to diligence be in order? 615. Compare the idea of diligence with 2 Timothy 2:15. 616. Does this eliminate the doctrine of predestination? 617. Is man saved in spite of his apostasy according to this verse? 618. Why should Baptists put people on probation if they believe “ once saved, always saved” ? Is it consistent? 619. If they can put people on probation, why not extend God the same right? 620. What example of disobedience is referred to in Hebrews 4:11? Cf. Numbers 26:65. 621. Hebrews 4:12 speaks of the Word of God as “ living” . Is this a reference to Christ living? 622. Is the word referred to here an Old Testament word, or the Word of Christ? 623. What scripture would teach that it is not the Old Testament word? Cf. 2 Corinthians 3:7; Romans 4:15. 624. If it is not Christ, then how can it be spoken of as “ living” ? 625. Quote a verse that shows that the word makes “ alive” . 626. How can the Word be spoken of as being “ active” ? What other word could be used? Cf. Romans 1:16. 627. On what does it act? 628. Explain the significance of the expression, “ sharper than any two-edged sword” . 629. Who wields this sword? Is it active without people to wield it? 630. Is it a part of a Christian’ s armor? Cf. Ephesians 6:17. 631. Compare Revelation 19:15 for its use as judgment. 632. What other words could describe the idea of “ piercing” ? 633. How can the word of God be considered “ piercing” ? Cf. Titus 1:9; Jude 1:15; John 16:8. 634. Is the piercing of the spirit limited to the believers only, according to Jude 1:15; John 16:8? 635. Explain the expression, “ dividing of soul and spirit” . 636. Are “ soul” and “ spirit” different, or is this just a current phraseology of Paul’ s day? 637. Could the word “ dividing” refer to a practice of the altar in dissecting the animals? 638. How can the word enter joints and marrow? 639. Is a real sword of man likely to pierce joints and marrow? 640. If not, what is meant? 641. How can the Bible discern man’ s thoughts and intents? 642. Does man always know his own intents? 643. Do we know the intent of others? 644. Do we ever misjudge intents? 645. Are there “ embryo” Hitlers who lack the initiative to be tyrants? 646. Do false teachers have evil intents? Cf. Romans 16:18; Galatians 6:2-4; 2 Peter 2:1. 647. What is meant by “ no creature that is not manifest in His sight” ? What is meant by “ manifest” ? 648. Have some tried to escape His sight? Who? 649. Will they try it again, according to Revelation 6:16? 650. Does this word, “ creature” , include animals? 651. What is meant by, “ all things are naked” ? 652. Could this refer to the sacrifice being examined for flaws? 653. Who felt naked in God’ s presence because of sin? 654. “ Laid open” would refer to what? 655. Who is the person with Whom we have to do— God— Christ? Cf. Hebrews 9:24; Romans 2:6; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:27-31. Commentary on Hebrews 4:11-13 by Burton CoffmanHeb_4:11 --Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, that no man fall after the same example of disobedience.Do people actually enter that rest during the present life? The answer appears to be affirmative, but only in a sense of receiving earnest of it, or in the sense of receiving it as an inheritance to be possessed now but actually entered only in the eternal world. Bruce outlined a similar opinion thus: "It is evidently an experience they do not enjoy in their present mortal state, although it belongs to them as a heritage, and by faith they may live in the good of it here and now."[6] Disobedience, as in Hebrews 3:18 (which see), is the great enemy of that final possession of the rest of God; and the ever-present possibility of disobedience and temptations that woo people to disobedience are factors that contravene the complete enjoyment of that rest in this life. That no man fall prompted this comment by Clark: (It means) lest he fall off from the grace of God, from the gospel and its blessings, and perish everlastingly. This is the meaning of the apostle, who never supposed that a man might not make final shipwreck of faith and of good conscience, as long as he was in a state of probation.[7]Note the injunction to "give diligence" as in the English Revised Version (1885), or to "labor" as in the KJV, which stresses the work to be done by the believer. Without in any sense attributing to one's own efforts any eternal merit, and without supposing such labors to place God under any obligation whatsoever, it is nevertheless one of the conditions of salvation that men labor, work, and strive to enter the narrow way. Many New Testament passages support this thought, such as Luke 13:34; Acts 2:40; Philippians 2:12; Revelation 20:12, etc. [6] J. Barmby, The Pulpit Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962), Vol. 21, Hebrews, p. 109. [7] F. F. Bruce, op. cit., p. 78. Hebrews 4:12 --For the word of God is living, and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.The word of God is to be understood as the Bible, God's revelation of His truth to people, especially in the sense of his commandments; and, although the passage suggests John 1:1, it would not appear that any such personalization of the word is intended here. That the word of God is "living" is corroborated by other New Testament writers such as Luke (Acts 7:38), Peter (1 Peter 1:23), and others. The word "active" shows that the word does not lie inert and dead but at all times carries within itself the mighty power of its divine author. Rather than trying to find subtle differences in the meaning of such words as "soul" and "spirit," it is perhaps just as well to view this verse as a heaping together of powerful terms for the purpose of showing the utmost ability of the word of God to penetrate the complex inward nature of man, to convict him of sin, to expose his hidden motives, and to judge the very nature of life itself. Davidson, as quoted by Bruce, said that this verse is a "rhetorical accumulation of terms to express the whole mental nature of man on all sides."[8] The passage presents God's word as totally different from the word of men, making it infinite in power, all-seeing in discernment, and able to pierce or penetrate any human subterfuge. ENDNOTE: [8] Adam Clarke, Commentary (New York: Carlton and Porter, 1829), p. 711. Hebrews 4:13 --And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.Macknight sees in the words here a reference: to the state in which the sacrifices called burnt offerings were laid on the altar. They were stripped of their skins, their breasts were ripped open, their bowels were taken out, and their backbone was cleft. This is the import of the original word. Then they were divided into quarters; so that outwardly and inwardly they were fully exposed to the eye of the priest, in order to a thorough examination (Leviticus 1:5-6); and, being found without blemish, they were laid in their natural order upon the altar and burnt.[9]Here then is the explanation of the image in the author's mind that caused him to mention such things as joints and marrow, the significant warning to Christians lying in the fact that the word of God is able to discover blemishes or taints of character by means of the most thorough and accurate discernment of the entire man, such being the spiritual equivalent of the priest's minute examination of the ancient sacrifices. Not one little sin shall ever be able to crawl by the eyes of the Eternal God without receiving its just condemnation and punishment; and that is the overwhelming reason why every man should fly to Christ for refuge and forgiveness. These words of Heb 4:13 conclude the second great admonition of the Book of Hebrews. ENDNOTE: [9] A. B. Davidson, The Epistle to the Hebrews (Edinburgh, Scotland, 1882), p. 96. Hebrews 4:14-16 TO IN THE LIFE,AND TO WITH THE THRONE OFGRACE, DRAWN FROM THE EXALTED AND LOVE OF JESUS, AS THE HIGH PRIEST OFOUR Heb_4:14-16 Hebrews 4:14 ---Seeing then that we have a great high priest,— The main discussion of Christ’ s priesthood is to be found in what follows to the close of the eighth section. (10: 18.) But in the first three sec­tions there is enough said of him to warrant the conclusion that we have a great High Priest who has gone up through the heavens into the Holy of holies, there to appear in the prespice of God for us. And hence it is that the Apostle makes this the ground of another earnest exhortation to his Hebrew brethren to hold fast their confes­sion. The title high priest (hiereus megas) occurs first in Lev. 21 : 10, where it is used to designate Aaron and his successors, upon whose heads the anointing oil was poured, and who were severally consecrated to put on the holy garments. The corresponding word in the New Testament (archiereus) is used to designate (1) the High Priest proper; (2) the deputy of the High Priest; (3) any­one who had ever borne the office; and (4) the head of each of the twenty-four courses of the priesthood. (1 Chron. 24.) But here, as well as in Hebrews 2:17 Hebrews 3:1 Hebrews 5:5 Hebrews 5:10 Hebrews 6:20 Hebrews 7:26 Hebrews 8:1 Hebrews 9:11 Hebrews 9:25, it refers to Christ, who, as a Priest upon his throne (Zechariah 6:13), is ever ready to receive and bless those who come unto God by him. The adjective great (megas) is used here, not in its technical sense, as it often is, to distinguish Aaron and his successors in office from Priests of the common order, but in its proper sense to denote the real, personal, and official greatness of Christ, who, as our author shows, is superior even to the angels, as well as to Moses and all the Priests of the Old Covenant. Hebrews 4:14 ---that is passed into the heavens,— More literally, who has passed through (dieleluthota) the heavens. That is, through the aerial and sidereal heavens, on his way to the Heaven of heavens, the Most Holy Place, not made with hands; where, as a Priest, Christ offered his own blood once for all, and then sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3) ; “ a minister of the Sanc­tuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not men” (Hebrews 8:2). Hebrews 4:14 ---Jesus the Son of God,— These words are added by way of ex­planation, to denote more definitely the power, glory, and dignity of our great High Priest. He is not of the house of Aaron; but he is the Son of God, by whom all things were created, and for whom all things were created; “ the brightness of the Father’ s glory and the express image of his person.” See notes on Hebrews 1:2-3 Hebrews 1:8. Hebrews 4:14 ---let us hold fast our profession.— Rather, our concession (homologia). See note on Hebrews 3:1. As Jesus is himself the subject of this confession (Matthew 16:16), we cannot renounce it without re­nouncing him also as our Savior. And to renounce Christ is to seal forever our own condemnation (Hebrews 6:4-6) : “ for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Hebrews 4:15 ---For we have not a high priest which can not, etc.— Our High Priest is not only great in power, glory, and majesty, having in his hands all authority in Heaven and on Earth (Matthew 28:19), but he is also full of love and compassion for us. See notes Hebrews 2:17-18. Hebrews 4:15 ---but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.— What is meant here by our Savior’ s being tempted ? On this point Ebrard very justly remarks as follows: “ Being tempted is, on the one hand, something different from being seduced; and, on the other hand, it is something different from mere physical suffer­ing. He who is seduced, stands not in a purely passive relation, but with his own will acquiesces in the will of seducer; but he who is tempted, is, as such, purely passive. This, however, is not merely physical passivity; headache, as such, is no temptation. But there is a moral obligation lying upon every man, not to let himself be mastered by his natural affections, which in themselves are altogether sinless, but rather to acquire the mastery over them. . . . That a poor man loves his children, and cannot bear that they perish of hunger, is in itself a natural and sinless affec­tion ; but let him be so placed as that, without danger of discovery, he could steal a piece of money, then that natural affection becomes to him a temptation. Now it is quite clear that a man may in this way find himself in a situation of being tempted, without its being necessary to suppose that there is therefore an evil inclination. The poor man may be a truly honest Christian man; the tempta­tion is there; the thought is present to his mind in all the force of a natural affection, If I were at liberty to take this gold, how I might appease the hunger of my children; but at the same time he has an immediate and lively sense of his duty, and not a breath of desire moves him to take the gold. He knows that he dare not do this: it is a settled thing with him that he is not a thief. ... So it was in reference to the temptation of Christ. He was tempted in every respect, in joy and sorrow, in fear and hope, in the most varied situations, but without sin; the being tempted was to him purely passive; purely objective.” No inclination to evil ever defiled his pure spirit. The lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life, had no place in his affections. And hence, though tempted by the Devil through all the avenues and natural desires of the human heart, he was still “ without sin.” Hebrews 4:16 ---Let us therefore, etc.— Since it is true that we have a great High Priest who has gone up through the heavens, even into the very Heaven of heavens; and since it is also true, that though so highly exalted he nevertheless sympathizes with us in all our temp­tations, trials, and afflictions, we should on their account all be en­couraged to approach the Throne of grace with confidence. It is generally thought that the Apostle here makes allusion to the Mercy- seat, on which rested the Shekinah, the visible symbol of God’ s presence in the ancient Tabernacle. And this is most likely true, if in connection with the Mercy-seat be taken also the Ark of the covenant. But it should be observed that the golden lid of the Ark is, in no part of the inspired word called a throne. Its Hebrew name is simply kapporeth, which means a lid or cover; and its Greek name is hilasterion, a propitiatory. This lid could not therefore, in any proper sense, be called by itself a throne of grace. But the whole Ark, including the lid, was a symbol of God’ s throne. (Jeremiah 3:16-17.) And hence the allusion of the Apostle here is, not merely to the Mercy-seat, but to the entire Ark, from the lid of which, sprinkled as it was with blood once every year (Leviticus 16:14-15), God was pleased to make known his gracious will to the peo­ple (Exodus 25:22). Any reference, however, to the Ark of the cov­enant in this connection, is merely for the sake of illustration, for there can be no doubt that by the Throne of grace is here meant the Throne of God; which in 8: 1, is called “ the throne of the Ma­jesty in the heavens” ; because from it the infinitely Majestic One gives his laws and mandates to the universe. But it is here, withequal propriety, called also “ the Throne of grace” ; because from it God dispenses grace, mercy, and peace, to all who come to him and ask for help in the name of Jesus. For being justified by faith, we can now, through our Lord Jesus Christ, approach God as our Father, feeling fully assured that if we ask anything according to his will, he will hear and answer us. (1 John 5:14.) See also Matthew 7:7-11; John 14:13 John 15:7 John 16:24. How very reasonable, then, is the exhortation that we should approach the Throne of grace with confidence (parresia), so that we may obtain mercy and find grace for seasonable help. That is, for such constant help as our trials and circumstances require. And hence we are encour­aged to pray always; to pray without ceasing; and to be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to let our requests be made known unto God. See Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Commentary on Hebrews 4:14-16 by Donald E. Boatman Hebrews 4:14 --Having then a great High PriestChrist has two relationships, enabling man to come to God through Him: a. An Apostle sent to teach, cf. Hebrews 3:1. b. A Priest: 1. This Priest has proven His character by His teaching. 2. This Priest has proven His love by His death. 3. This Priest has proven His superiority by passing through the heavens. Christ’ s high priesthood met the argument of the critical Jew: a. They could not say, “ You have no tabernacle, no sacrifice, no city, no high priest.” We have indeed ! b. The title “ high priest” occurs first in Leviticus 21:10 : 1. There it is used to designate Aaron and his successors. 2. We have a High Priest in heaven itself, not in an earthly tabernacle.Hebrews 4:14 --Who hath passed through the heavens Only Christ has done this: a. He lived in heaven, and passed through the heavens to earth. 1. Philippians 2:5-11. 2. 1 Corinthians 10:4 : “— they (the Israelites) drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the Rock was Christ.” b. He lived on earth, and then passed through the heavens to heaven: 1. Ascension: Acts 1:9. 2. Stephen: Acts 7:56. 3. Peter Acts 2:34-36 : “ seated.” c. He now works in heaven, and will pass again from heaven: 1. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. 2. Acts 1:11 : “— Jesus— shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven” . The Jewish high priest could pass only into the holy of holies on the great day of Atonement: a. We have one who passed through the veil of skies. b. Hebrews 8:1-2 is very good: “— sanctuary which the Lord pitched.”Hebrews 4:14 --Jesus the Son of GodThis identifies our High Priest. He is not of the lineage of Aaron, but of the house of God. Hebrews 4:14 --let us hold fast our confessionMat_10:32 : Our confession is in a Person: That confession gives us a profession. a. It is a work of evangelism: 1. We are saved to serve. 2. We are won to win. 3. We were told to tell. b. It is a way of life: 1. To renounce Christ is to seal our condemnation: Hebrews 6:4-6; Acts 4:12 : “ In none other is there salvation.” 2. Because of His human experience, let us draw near. Hebrews 4:15-16.Hebrews 4:15 --For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.He is a sympathetic, compassionate High Priest, who can be touched with our feelings. Hebrews 2:17 : “ Wherefore it behooved Him in all things to me made unto His brethren.” He is successful as a High Priest: a. Jesus stands by us in temptation. Revelation 3:10. b. His sacrifice is complete. Hebrews 9:26 : “ But now once at the end of the ages hath He been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”Hebrews 4:15 --our infirmities“ Infirmities” is a word that may be taken in various senses: a. 2 Corinthians 12:10 suggests what might be included. b. Probably the feeling of the soul should be included, such as fear, sorrow, dread of death. Since He was made in the likeness of our sinful flesh, we know that he knows our feelings. Hebrews 4:15 --but one that hath been in all points tempted as we areChrist’ s threefold temptation gives us the major threats of the devil: a. Food— satisfy the physical. b. Pinnacle of temple— to extend the mercy of God to selfishness. c. Kingdom— lust for power— rulership.Hebrews 4:15 --yet without sinDescribe your mother and her virtues, but you can’ t use this expression. Other verses tell us that He was perfect: a. 2 Corinthians 5:21 : “ Him who knew no sin, He made to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” b. 1 John 3:5 : “ And ye know that He was manifested to take away sins; and in Him is no sin.” Jesus was tempted without falling into sin, but this is not true of any other. Hebrews 4:16 --Let us therefore draw near with boldnessBecause of the kind of High Priest we have, we should have courage to approach Him: a. He is not a medicine man to Whom we have to bow and feel like a helpless creature. b. Because of His love, we should come without hesitation. c. His experience with this life gives us encouragement. Boldness here is not brazen, but confident.Hebrews 4:16 --unto the throne of graceThe history of the throne of grace is interesting: a. The ark was a symbol of God’ s grace. Jeremiah 3:16. 1. The lid was sprinkled with blood once a year. Leviticus 16:14-15. 2. Here was the mercy seat. Leviticus 16:2; Numbers 7:89; Exodus 25:22. 3. Now we approach God through Jesus Christ Who sits at His right hand. The throne of mercy is God’ s, but Christ is our access to God. Ephesians 2:18. Hebrews 4:16 --that we may receive mercyWe have to make the approach, for God has done His share: a. We must not be cast down with a sense of misery. b. Since all have sinned and fallen short of God’ s grace, we need grace and mercy. Only God gives mercy: a. The devil gives death, not life, and beyond this, he makes people unmerciful. 1. Hitler listened to no pleas of men. 2. Men possessed of the devil are unkind, unforgiving. God has mercy only for those who merit it: a) Look at these verses: 1) Hebrews 10:27 : “— fearful expectation of judgment.”2) Hebrews 10:31 : “— a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” b. If we fail to come to God for mercy, we should not expect it in the judgment.Hebrews 4:16 --and may find grace to help usObserve why Christ can give us help which is superior to that of the priest of the old covenant: a. The priest under the old system had to make atonement for his own sins. Hebrews 5:2-3; Hebrews 7:26-28; Hebrews 9:7. b. They were after the order of Aaron. Hebrews 7:11; Hebrews 7:11-17; Hebrews 8:4-5. c. The old was made without an oath. Hebrews 7:20-22. d. Theirs was temporary. Hebrews 7:23-24. e. They offered oftentimes the same kind of sacrifices. Hebrews 9:25-26. Hebrews 9:28; Hebrews 10:11-12. Hebrews 10:14. f. They entered into the holy of holies every year, Hebrews 9:7-12. g. Christ lives to make intercession, Hebrews 7:25.Hebrews 4:16 --in time of needThree great needs of man in the spiritual realm: a. We are in need when saddened. John 14:1-4. b. We are in need when tempted. 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 2:18. c. We are in need at death, Psalms 23. Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount said God would also care for our physical needs. Summary— Exhortation1. There is a throne of grace where God and man may meet. 2. The mercy place has the atoning blood of the Lamb of God. 3. We must come by faith. Faith and action must be mixed. 4. We may approach in boldness, confidence. 5. God still dwells with His people. Summary – Warning1. Faithfulness forfeited is a forfeit of eternal rest. 2. We cannot trifle with God’ s words, We must act today.3. The great aim of life is to labor for the rest. Study Questions656. Christ is earlier described as an apostle. Where is He here? 657. What is the difference between the two works? 658. What has Christ done to prove that He is a great high priest? 659. When was the title of “ high priest” first used? See Leviticus 21:10. 660. What has Christ done that no other priest could do as far as the heavens are concerned? 661. What time of passing through is referred to here? 662. When will He pass through again? 663. What would the heavens be in type in relationship to the old system? 664. With what term does Paul identify our High Priest? 665. Since this is all true, what exhortation does he have for us? 666. What is our confession? 667. What do we confess concerning this Person? 668. Does this confession amount to a profession? 669. What can be said of our High Priest as far as sympathy is concerned? 670. How does this verse compare with Hebrews 2:17? 671. What does the word “ infirmity” mean? 672. Discuss Paul’ s bearing of infirmities, 2 Corinthians 12:10. 673. What is meant by “ touched with the feeling of our infirmities” ? 674. Do pain, sorrow, suffering help one to be understanding of others? 675. Is God able to be more sympathetic since Christ lived in the flesh? 676. What three categories of temptation did Jesus face? 677. How were the three so all-inclusive? 678. Was He tempted at other times? 679. Can you describe the most beautiful character whom you know with the expression “ without sin” ? 680. Is this a teaching limited to this verse? Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:5. 681. Have you noticed that with the great exaltation of Christ there is an exhortation to man? What is it in Hebrews 4:16? 682. Do heathen people come boldly to their priests? 683. Does boldness allow brazenness and presumption? 684. What is meant by “ boldness” ? 685. What was the place of mercy in times past? Cf. Jeremiah 3:16; Leviticus 16:2; Leviticus 16:14-15. 686. What is our throne of grace? Cf. Ephesians 2:18. 687. What do we receive when we approach the mercy seat? 688. For whom does God have mercy? 689. Is God always merciful? Cf. Hebrews 10:27; Hebrews 10:31. 690. If we do not come to His mercy seat now, should we expect it at the judgment? 691. What is the purpose of grace which we may find there? 692. Could the Old Testament priest help? 693. When is man in need? What are his problems? 694. Is Christ able to help? Commentary on Hebrews 4:14-16 by Burton CoffmanDIVISION IS A BETTER HIGH PRIEST Hebrews 4:14 --Having then a great high priest who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (Hebrews 4:14) The author introduces in this verse the theme of Jesus as the great high priest and proceeds to elaborate the reasons of great superiority over any other. Jesus' passing "through the heavens" contrasts with Aaron's merely passing beyond certain enclosures in the tabernacle; nor should people be careful to determine just how many heavens Jesus passed through, if three or seven, according to the Hebrew speculations about such things; because, as a matter of fact, Jesus Christ has ascended far above "all heavens" (Ephesians 4:10), as Paul said; and a little later in this epistle it is said that Christ is made "higher than the heavens" (Hebrews 7:26). On the plurality of heavens, Bruce wrote that "the plural `heavens' as regularly used in the New Testament and the Septuagint, reflects the Hebrew word use in the Old Testament, which is always plural. What is emphasized here is his transcendence."[10] The holding fast of the believer's confidence corresponds with what was written earlier in Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 3:14. Throughout Hebrews, the weight of responsibility for faithfulness is made to rest upon the diligence and alertness of the believer himself; and he is repeatedly admonished to hold it fast, to glory in it, and to exhort others constantly to the same effect. He is not to be passive at all, but active in claiming the promised redemption. This verse, with the ones preceding and following it, reveals the Christian's great high priest as doing three things that Aaron could not do. He entered God's rest, ascended far above the heavens, and came to the very throne of grace itself. ENDNOTE: [10] James Macknight, Apostolic Epistles (Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1960), p. 526. Hebrews 4:15 --For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are and yet without sin.Far from feeling that our great high priest, so far removed above the heavens, is, from so vast a separation, incapable of proper sympathy for suffering and tempted Christians, the believer is invited to see that Jesus the Son of God knows all about human problems, even temptation, and that he is thereby qualified to provide the utmost sympathy and understanding for human weakness. COULD CHRIST HAVE SINNED? Regarding the temptation of Christ, the question inevitably appears as to the possibility, even, that Jesus could have sinned; but there seems to be no satisfactory explanation of how any person, even the Son of God, could be tempted to do anything impossible for him to do. Without the possibility of yielding to sin, how can there, in fact, be any such thing as temptation? To be sure, this is an old theological battleground. Irving was expelled from the Presbyterian communion as heretical, because he held to the theoretic peccability of Christ.[11] Barmby's learned defense of the position that it was impossible for Jesus to have sinned is as follows: That Christ in his original human nature, partook of all the affections of humanity - hope, fear, desire, joy, grief, indignation, shrinking from suffering, and the like - is apparent, not only from his life, but also from the fact that his assumption of our humanity would otherwise have been incomplete. Such affections are not in themselves sinful; they only are so, when, under temptation, any of them become inordinate, and serve as motives for transgression of duty. He, in virtue of his divine personality, could not through them be seduced into sin; but it does not follow that he could not, in his human nature, feel their power to seduce, or rather the power of the tempter to seduce through them, and thus have personal experience of man's temptation. St. John says of one "born of God" that he "doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9). What is thus said of one "born of God" may be said much more, and without any qualification, of the Son of God, without denying that he too experienced the power of temptation, though altogether proof against it.[12]Interesting and convincing as Barmby's view is, there is much to be said on the other side of the issue; but, in advocating the view that Jesus could have sinned, there is no intention to reflect in any way against the purity and holiness of the Master, so beautifully mentioned by Milligan thus: No inclination to evil ever defiled his pure spirit. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life had not place in his affections. And hence, though tempted by the devil through all the avenues and natural desires of the human heart, he was still "without" sin.[13]However, it should be remembered that Christ had taken upon himself the handicap of human flesh, even the blood of harlots and Gentiles; and, as a man, Christ certainly had the capability of doing wrong if he had elected to do so; and absolutely no logical refutation appears in any of the writings seen on this subject that can explain how any person can be tempted to do that which it is impossible for him to do. If one may hazard a conjecture as to the greatest temptation of Christ, it was likely an impulse to call the whole thing off, abort his mission of redemption, call for the legions of angels, overwhelm his enemies with destruction, and consign the human race to oblivion, a fate fully deserved; and that just such a temptation did occur is seen in Christ's mention of the twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26:53). Only his great eternal love for people enabled our Lord to forego such a termination of his heavenly mission. This whole field of thought is clouded with the veil through which we see "darkly" (1 Corinthians 13:12); dogmatism is certainly out of place, and none is intended here. People may exclaim, "How could Christ be tempted in all points, since he had no child, did not grow old, never married, was not in business, etc., and therefore did not pass through every situation that produces temptation in men?" Such a question overlooks the fact that the basic elements of temptation are actually very few in number; and, just as all of the melodies ever written can be broken down into a few notes of the musical scales, all human temptation resolves into three basic principles, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16), Christ, of course, being thoroughly tempted and tested in all of these areas and yet without sin. [11] F. F. Bruce, op. cit., p. 85. [12] J. Barmby, op. cit., p. 114. [13] Ibid. Hebrews 4:16 --Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace that we may receive mercy, and find grace to help us in time of need.The throne of grace is the throne of God; and certain reflections on that subject are appropriate: (1) the existence of such a thing as God's throne reveals that the universe is a controlled and governed entity and that there is a center of power and authority, called here "the throne of grace." The universe is, therefore, not like a clock left to run down. God is upon the throne. (2) The government of all things is personal. Not a computer, but a throne; not blind senseless matter, but a person; not merely law, but the will of One on the throne - that is the concept of universal government explicit in this mention of the throne. (3) Such a throne, with its undergirdings of righteousness and justice, already mentioned in Hebrews 1:8-9, reveals the antagonism between God and evil, showing that eternal justice will prevail infinitely throughout the whole universe. (4) That throne's being called here a "throne of grace" makes the control center appear as a source of mercy for fallen and sinful man, being called also "the throne of God and of the Lamb" (Revelation 22:3). How wonderful, from this vale of sorrow and death and sin and shame, to lift the thoughts of the spirit toward that throne where the Lamb, or sacrifice, is seated and clothed with the mantle of total authority! Boldly people are commanded to approach the throne of grace. Why? Man's very nature, in the person of Christ, is seated there. He has tasted every temptation, passed through every sorrow. He knows! Out of his loving heart there flows an eternal tide of love, sympathy, and understanding of humankind, suffering the dreadful trials of their probation; and he eagerly anticipates the entry of his beloved children into the joy of their Lord (Matthew 25:23), demanding only that they love him (John 14:15), and able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by him (Hebrews 7:25). Westcott provided an excellent summary of the thought of this text, thus: The minds of the writer and readers are full of the imagery of the Levitical system, and of the ceremonial of the high-priestly atonement; and the form of the exhortation suggests the grandeur of the position in which the Christian is placed, as compared with that of the Jew; "let us therefore," trusting the divine power and human sympathy of Jesus the Son of God, "draw near," as priests ourselves in fellowship with our High Priest - and not remain standing afar off as the congregation of Israel - "to the throne of grace," no symbolic mercy seat, but the very center of divine sovereignty and love.[14][14] R. Milligan, New Testament Commentary (Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1962), Vol. Hebrews, p. 148. [15] Brooke Foss Westcott, The Epistle to the Hebrews (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1965), p. 108. Hebrews 5:1-4 AND THE ; AND OF WOULD IN THE HIGH PRIEST’ S OFFICE Hebrews 5:1-4 Hebrews 5:1 ---For every high priest, etc.— The object of the Apostle in this paragraph, as above indicated, is to further encourage his Hebrew brethren to draw near at all times to the Throne of grace, and there, in the name of Jesus, to seek for seasonable help. This he insists we should feel encouraged to do from the fact that God has himself appointed the priesthood for the very purpose of aiding and supporting us in the discharge of our religious duties. For every High Priest, he says, being taken from among men, is ap­pointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; being able to have compassion for the ignorant and erring, since he himself is compassed with infirmity; and on this account, he is under obligation, as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sins. Since, then, it was God’ s benevo­lent intention in the ordination of the priesthood to comfort and support us in the discharge of our religious duties, we should espe­cially feel encouraged to approach the Throne of grace in the name of Jesus, who, as our ever living High Priest, is so eminently qual­ified to help our infirmities, bear our weaknesses, and procure for us through the sacrifice of himself the pardon of our sins, and that full measure of grace which is necessary for our support under all the trials, temptations, and conflicts of life. Hebrews 5:1 ---is ordained for men— It was not for the benefit of God, but of men, that the priesthood was instituted. God does not need any such help, so far as it respects himself. He was infinitely happy before the sacerdotal office was created, and he would still be so, even if all the laws and ordinances of the priesthood were forever abrogated. Nevertheless, he so loved and pitied our poor, lost, and ruined race, that he gave his own Son to die for it; and in order to make the benefits of Christ’ s death available to all, God instituted the priesthood and many other ordinances as media of blessings to mankind. Surely, then, it is not the will of God that any should perish, but that all should be brought to repentance and to the en­joyment of the great salvation. “ He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”Hebrews 5:1 ---in things pertaining to God,— That is, in religious matters. Aaron and his son were not appointed to any secular calling. It was not their province to cultivate the soil, to carry on commerce, or even to investigate the laws and ordinances of nature. They were called to minister in holy things; and especially to “ offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” The words gifts (dora) and sacrifices (tlmsiai) are sometimes used interchangeably, as in Genesis 4:3-5. But when contrasted, as they are in this case, and also in 8: 3; 9: 9, the former is used for bloodless offerings, and the latter for such as required the life of the victim. Hebrews 5:2 ---Who can have compassion on the ignorant,— The word rendered have compassion (metriopatheo) means to feel moder­ately. “ It comes,” says Delitzsch, “ from the mint of Greek ethical philosophy; and it was employed by Academics, Peripatetics, and Skeptics, to indicate the right mean between a slave-like passion­ateness and a stoical apathy. It is used by Philo to describe Abra­ham’ s sober grief on the loss of Sarah (volume ii. 37), and Jacob’ s imperturbable patience under afflictions (volume ii. 45). Trans­ferred from the language of the schools to general literature, it signifies the disposition of mind which keeps the right mean be­tween excessive feeling and sheer indifference; and here it indi­cates a pathetic judgment which is neither too severe nor too le­nient ; but reasonable, sober, indulgent, and kind.” Such a quality of head and heart was peculiarly necessary in every High Priest; for to him it belonged to decide, in any given case, whether or not a sacrifice could be legally offered for the sin committed. See Leviticus 10:8-11; Deuteronomy 17:8-13 Deuteronomy 24:8 Deuteronomy 33:10; Mai. 2:7. If a man sinned through ignorance or in error, that is, either without a knowledge of God’ s will in the case, or under such temptations as might serve to obscure for the time being his con­sciousness of guilt, then in that event and under such circumstances a sacrifice might be offered, and the sin might be forgiven. (Numbers 15:22-29.) But not so if the sin was committed with a high hand, that is, in a spirit of haughty insolence and open rebellion against God and his government. In that event, there was no room for repentance, and none for sacrifice. The presumptuous sinner was always to be put to death, “ at the mouth of two or three witnesses.” (Numbers 15:30-31; Deuteronomy 17:6.) See notes on 6: 4-6. But in many cases it might be difficult to determine the exact nature and character of the offense. What the Jews were wont to call, by a species of euphemism, a sin of ignorance, might under some cir­cumstances seem, for a time at least, to be a presumptuous sin. And hence the necessity under the Law, as well as under the Gos­pel, of using all lawful means to bring the offending party to re­pentance. This was especially the duty of the High Priest, who, as the head of the sacerdotal order, was charged, on the one hand, with faithfully executing the law of God against all high-handed transgressors; and, on the other, with exercising all due forbear­ance and compassion towards the ignorant and the erring. Hebrews 5:2 ---for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.— A proper sense of our own infirmities enables us to bear with more becoming patience the infirmities of others. “ I have,” says Paul, “ great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart for my breth­ren, my kinsmen, according to the flesh; for I myself was once, like them, wishing to be accursed from Christ.” (Romans 9:2-3.) And just so it was with Aaron and his successors. They, too, like their brethren, were compassed about, and, as it were, clothed with all the weaknesses and infirmities common to our fallen nature. Aaron’ s folly in making the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6) was to him­self, no doubt, a source of much grief and painful experience; but it served, nevertheless, to make him deal more tenderly with others who were afterward overcome by similar temptations. Hebrews 5:3 ---And by reason hereof, etc.— On account of the infirmity which constantly beset him, and which rendered imperfect even his most solemn services, the High Priest was required to offer sacri­fices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. This he did not only on special occasions and for special offenses (Leviticus 4:3-12), but also in all the regular daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly sacrifices that were offered for the sins of the nation; in all these there was an acknowledgement of his own guilt, as well as of the guilt of his brethren. And on the Day of atonement, he was re­quired to go into the Most Holy Place, and there make an offering for his own sins, before he was allowed to offer for the sins of the people. This of course served to make him deal more tenderly and compassionately with the ignorant and the erring. Much of what is said in this paragraph is very beautifully and impressively illustrated by the symbolical dress of the High Priest; several parts of which indicate very clearly the holy and represent­ative character of his office, and also the righteous and benevolent design of his administration. These articles of clothing were (1) a pair of Drawers; (2) a long Coat or Tunic; (3) a Girdle; (4) a Mitre; (5) the Robe of the Ephod; (6) the Ephod; (7) the Breastplate; and (8) the Plate of the Mitre. The first four of these were called “ linen garments,” because they were made of fine white linen, which in all ages has been regarded as a symbol of purity and holiness. See 1 Chronicles 5:12; Revelation 19:8. And hence these were called also “ holy garments.” (Leviticus 16:4.) The four other pieces were also called “ holy garments” (Exodus 28:2 Exodus 28:4); and by the Jews they were frequently designated as “ The golden gar­ments,” because they all consisted more or less of gold, either plated or interwoven with their texture. See Exodus 28. The first of these, the Robe of the Ephod was a long, sky-blue robe, without a seam, and was worn directly under the Ephod. Around its lower border were tassels made of blue, and purple, and scarlet, in the form of pomegranates, alternating with golden bells. The Rabbis say there were seventy-two of each. See Exodus 28:31-35. The Ephod (from to bind) was a short coat worn over the Robe, and with its “ curious girdle” was made of “ gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.” To the shoulder pieces were attached two onyx stones, on which were en­graved the names of the twelve sons of Jacob, “ according to their birth.” (Exodus 28:10.) This phrase, “ according to their births,” is differently understood by the Jewish Rabbis, as well as by Chris­tian writers. Some place the names of the six oldest sons on the right shoulder, and the names of the six youngest on the left, as follows: LEFT RIGHT Gad Reuben Asher Simeon Issachar Levi Zebulun Judah Joseph Dan Benjamin Naphtali Others arrange them alternately on the right and left; placing first in order the six sons of Leah (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issa- char, and Zebulun) ; next, the two sons of Bilhah, Rachel’ s maid (Dan and Naphtali) ; next, the two sons of Zilpah, Leah’ s maid (Gad and Asher), and lastly, the two sons of Rachel (Joseph and Benjamin), as follows:LEFT RIGHT Simeon Reuben Judah Levi Zebulun Issachar Naphtali Dan Asher £ad Benjamin Joseph The Breastplate was a sort of pouch or bag, half a cubit square. It was made of gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine- twined linen. To each of the four corners was attached a gold ring by means of which it was, fastened to the Ephod. On the inside of its face were four rows of precious stones set in sockets of gold, through which they were exposed to view on the outside. And on the external faces of these stones were engraved the names of the Twelve Tribes of the children of Israel, most likely according to their birth, as follows : CarbuncleTopazSardius LeviSimeonReuben DiamondSapphireEmerald NaphtaliDanJudah AmethystAgateLigure IssacharAsherGad JasperOnyxBeryl BenjaminJosephZebulun In this Breastplate were placed the Urim and Thummim (Lights and Perfections) ; names which seem to have been given to the twelve stones, because of their being made, in some miraculous way, the medium through which God made known his will to the High Priest. See Numbers 27:21; Judges 20:27-28; 1 Samuel 23:9 1 Samuel 28:6; Ezra 2:63; and Joseph. Ant. iii. 8, 9. The fourth and last article of the High Priest’ s golden attire was the plate of gold which was fastened to the Mitre by a blue fillet. On this Plate was inscribed Holiness to Jehovah. These articles of clothing are mostly, except the drawers, which are of course con­cealed by the outer garments. Hebrews 5:4. And no man taketh this honor unto himself, etc.— Our au­thor refers here to another essential qualification of every High Priest. He must be “ called of God, as was Aaron.” And the man who claims this honor for himself as did Korah (Num. 16), though sustained by the highest human authority, is really not a High Priest, but a usurper (Acts 23: 5). It is hardly necessary to add that the honor which is here spoken of is simply the honor of being a High Priest, and that it has no reference whatever to the calling of the Christian ministry. Commentary on Hebrews 5:1-4 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_5:1 --For every high priest, being taken from among menGod’ s high priests were men: a. The first indication that Aaron and his sons were to care for the tabernacle is found in Exodus 28:1. b. Their first distinct separation to the office of the priesthood is recorded, in Exodus 28. c. After this, the legal head of the house of Aaron became high priest. Usually the eldest son succeeded in office. The task was theoretically for life. Hebrews 5:1 --is appointed for menGod does not do things because of Himself, but because of men: a. Mark 2:27 : “ Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.” b. John 3:16 : “ God so loved the world.” The world is God’ s object of love, not Himself. Hebrews 5:1 --in things pertaining to God Aaron and his sons were not appointed to secular things, but unto God: a. They were to minister to holy things. b. Their responsibility was not cultivation of the soil, commerce, etc., but to minister in holy things.Hebrews 5:1 --that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sinsWhat is the difference between gifts and sacrifices? a. Gifts usually appear first. See Hebrews 8:3 and Hebrews 9:9. 1. Milligan says gifts and sacrifices are used interchangeably as in Genesis 4:3-5. 2. Milligan says “ gifts” refer to bloodless sacrifices, and “ offerings” to those that require the life of the sacrifice. 3. Mathew Henry says “ gifts” refers to free-will offering. 4. Newell says gifts appear first because the chief and normal business of a priest was to receive the gifts and direct the worship. b. “ Sacrifices for sins” generally is understood to be the blood offerings: 1. All the sins and iniquities of Israel were confessed by the priest on the great day of Atonement, and during the year all sacrifices were under his direction. 2. The priest goes to God on man’ s behalf; the prophet comes from God representing God to men.Hebrews 5:2 --who can bear gentlyThe prophet can cry out against the sins of a people, “ Repent or be destroyed.” a. The priest is to be sympathetic, and to aid in the forgiving of sins. b. The word “ bear gently” means “ have compassion.” 1. The priest had to decide whether a sacrifice for sin could be given legally. Leviticus 10:8-11; Deuteronomy 12:8-13; Deuteronomy 24:8; Deuteronomy 33:10; Malachi 2:7. 2. A bitter judge could be just.Hebrews 5:2 --with the ignorant and erringThe ignorant— see Leviticus 5:17-19. a. If a man sinned through ignorance or in error, or in an occasion where temptation might obscure for a time the guilt, a sacrifice could be given, sin be forgiven. Numbers 15:22-29. b. If it was the sin of the high hand, in the spirit of haughty insolence, there could be no sacrifice. He could be put to death at the testimony of two or three witnesses. Numbers 15:30-31; Deuteronomy 17:6. The erring— those deceived by passions. See Leviticus 6:1-7. a. This was hard to judge, and the high priest hearing gently could sometimes bring a person to repentance. b. Calvin feels that the word, “ erring” , does not refer to the sinners. Hebrews 5:2 --for that he himself is compassed with infirmityThe high priest was in a condition of temptation: a. Paul could understand the Jew having infirmity, for he was one of the best Jews. Romans 9:2-3 : “ I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.” b. “ Infirmity” was a physical condition, meaning “ frailty, feebleness, distress of the soul,” 2 Corinthians 12:5-10.Hebrews 5:3 --And by reason thereof is bound, as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sinsConsider the Old Testament priest: a. To offer for himself as well as for the sins of others. Leviticus 4:3-12 : Leviticus 4:3, “ If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people, then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the Lord for a sin offering.” b. Occasion of sacrifice for self: 1. He offered sacrifices for special sins. Leviticus 4:3-12. On special occasions. 2. He, in the regular daily, weekly, monthly, yearly sacrifice, recognized his own sin. 3. On the day of Atonement he was required to go into the most holy place and there make an offering for his own sins first and then for the people. cf. Hebrews 9:7; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 9:25. Compare the priest with Jesus. He need not offer sacrifices for His sins: Isaiah 53:9 : “ For He had done no violence, neither was there and deceit in His mouth.” Pilate, in Matthew 27:24, could find no sin in Christ’ s life. cf. Hebrews 4:14. Hebrews 5:4 --and no man taketh the honor to himselfNo priest can be self-appointed. It is a task appointed by God: a. Where do priests get their appointments today? Not from God. 1. Some have been tried in the past and have suffered: Numbers 16:10-11 : When Korah sought the position of priest, the earth swallowed all of them up who were faithful to Korah. 2. Jude 1:11 speaks of the “ gainsaying of Korah” . 3. Uzziah meddled with an office and became a leper. 2 Chronicles 26:18. 4. Saul. 1 Samuel 13:8-10. b. A thousand priests can do no good, if not appointed, and it is a sin of which we must have no part.1. Read the warning for those who follow false priests. Revelation 18:4.Hebrews 5:4 --but when he is called of God even as was AaronSee Exodus 24:1 and Exodus 28 for his appointment. See Numbers 16:8 for the sons of Levi being made priests. Study Questions695. Describe the high priest “ taken from among men” . 696. When was the priestly system started? 697. What family was selected to serve? 698. When did the family first serve? 699. What is significant in the statement, “ appointed for men” ? 700. Does God do things for Himself or for men? 701. Was the high priest’ s job secular or religious according to this verse? 702. What is meant by “ offer both gifts and sacrifices” ? 703. Is there a difference? 704. Is this expression a common one? Cf. Hebrews 8:3; Hebrews 9:9. 705. Would “ sacrifices” refer to the blood portion of worship? 706. What is the actual difference between the work of the prophet and priest? 707. What is significant in the expression, “ bear gently” ? 708. With what or whom was he to bear gently— the sacrifice or the sacrificer? 709. Did the prophet bear gently? 710. In what way did he have opportunity either to judge harshly or bear gently? Cf. Leviticus 10:8-11; Deuteronomy 12:8-13; Deuteronomy 24:8; Deuteronomy 33:10; Malachi 2:7. 711. Who would be “ ignorant worshippers? Cf. Leviticus 5:17-19. 712. Were they necessarily interested in being forgiven? 713. How could one sin ignorantly? Cf. Numbers 15:22-29. 714. Were the “ ignorant” and “ erring” two different groups? Cf. Leviticus 6:1-7. 715. How did the high-handed sinner fare? 716. Was there a sacrifice for him? 717. What could be done with him? Cf. Numbers 15:30-31; Deuteronomy 17:6. 718. In what way was the priest like the worshippers? 719. Can you name instances when priests fell in their infirmities? 720. What was the priest bound to do for the people? For himself? Cf, Leviticus 4:3-12. 721. Did the high priest have sacrifices for special sins? Cf. Leviticus 4:3-12. 722. Which sacrifice came first, the one for himself or for the people? Hebrews 9:7; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 9:25. 723. Did Jesus need to make sacrifice for Himself? 724. How did a priest secure his position? 725. Could he usurp the privilege? 726. Did any men ever try? Numbers 16:10-11; Jude 1:11. 727. How did Uzziah meddle with the office of priest. 2 Chronicles 26:18. 728. Did Saul dare to act as a priest? 1 Samuel 13:8-10. 729. What is the danger of following a false priest? Cf. . 730. Whom did God call to be priest besides Aaron? Cf. . 731. Would “ calling” and “ appointing” carry the same idea? Hebrews 5:5-10 PRE-EMINENT OF CHRIST TO AS OUR HIGH PRIEST, WITH FURTHER TO BELIEVE AND OBEY HIM.Hebrews 5:5-10 Hebrews 5:5 ---So also Christ glorified not himself, etc.— He took not on himself the honor and glory of becoming a High Priest. This honor was bestowed by God the Father, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places, thus demonstrating to the world that he was the Son of God, and of course also the promised Prophet, Priest, and King, who was to bring in everlasting righteousness and reign over the house of David forever. See Deuteronomy 18:18; Psalms 110:4; Zechariah 6:13; Isaiah 33:6-7; Daniel 9:24-27. That the citation from Psalms 2:7 has reference to the resurrection of Christ, as the first-born from the dead, is manifest from the application which Paul makes of it in Acts 13:33. See note on Hebrews 1:5. And it seems to follow, therefore, from our premises, that the beginning of Christ’ s priesthood, as well as the beginning of his mediatorial reign, was subsequent to his resurrection. Before he could be thus honored, he must by the grace of God taste death for every man. He must go down into the lowest depths of human suffering, before he could be raised to the royal and sacerdotal honors of the kingdom of grace which he came to inaugurate through the medium and efficacy of his own blood. These honors were in fact bestowed on him as the rewards of his sufferings; and must therefore of necessity come after them. But as already intimated in our notes on 2: 17, it will not do to infer hence that he had never, in any case, previous to his resurrec­tion, acted as a King or a Priest. We often embarrass ourselves by prescribing for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit the same narrow and technical formulae which govern us in our im­perfect operations. It must not be forgotten that Christ was God, one with the Father, and that his whole earthly ministry was, in fact, but a preparation for his mediatorial reign and everlasting priesthood. During this period of preparation he performed some acts involving of necessity the exercise of both his royal and sacer­dotal prerogatives. But these acts were all preparatory and ex­traordinary, so that we may still without doing violence to the Scriptures, assume the resurrection of Christ as the beginning of those honors which resulted in his being made both the High Priest, and the King of the new Institution. See notes on Hebrews 7:17 Hebrews 7:27. Hebrews 5:6 ---As he saith also in another place, etc.— In quoting as above from Psalms 2:7, the Apostle makes no special reference to the honors of the priesthood. His object is more general. He aims simply to prove that God had honored Christ, as his own Son, by raising him from the dead and placing him at his own right hand as the anointed Sovereign of the universe. And from this it might, of course, be fairly inferred that the office of the priesthood, as well as all the other honors of the Son, was bestowed on him by the Father. But the special proof of this, the Apostle now brings for­ward in a quotation from Psalms 110, where David says, “ Jehovah said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand till I make thy enemies thy footstool.” Then addressing the Messiah whom he here calls his Lord, he says, Jehovah shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion; rule thou in the midst of thy enemies. Thy people shall be free-will offerings in the day of thy power; in ornaments of holi­ness ; from the womb of the morning shall be to thee the dew of thy youth. And then he adds, “ Jehovah has sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.” That this is a Messianic Psalm, and that the Holy Spirit speaks here of the priesthood of Christ, is manifest from the scope of the Psalm itself, as well as from the several references which are made to it in the New Testament. See note on 1: 13. And hence the evidence is conclusive, that Christ glorified not himself by assum­ing the honors of the priesthood, but that he has been made both a King and a Priest by the decree of Jehovah. The word forever means here, as in many other passages of Scripture, while time endures. As the duration of the Aaronic priesthood was coextensive with the Jewish age (Exodus 40:15; Numbers 25:13), so also is the duration of Christ’ s priesthood to be coextensive with the Christian age. But at the close of the Chris­tian dispensation, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24), then also he will doubtless cease to act as a Priest; for then the object of his priesthood, as well as of his mediatorial reign, will have been accomplished. In the New Jeru­salem there will be no sin, and of course no more need of a sin- offering. Hebrews 5:6 ---after the order of Melchisedec.— The proper import of this ex­pression is more fully and clearly set forth in the seventh chapter. Suffice it to say in this connection, that as Melchisedec was a king upon his throne, as well as a priest so also is Christ. (Zechariah 6:13.) In this respect, as well as in several others, the rank (taxis) of Melchisedec was superior to that of Aaron. See notes on Hebrews 7:1-10. Hebrews 5:7 ---Who in the days of his flesh,—That the pronoun “who” in this connection refers to Christ, as the proper subject of the dis­course, and not to Melchisedec, is quite obvious. But what is its proper predicate? What did Jesus do, when, in the days of his flesh, he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death? The proper answer to this question is given in the eighth verse, as will be seen by simply omitting the pleonastic “ he” of the English Ver­sion. Thus, “ Who . . . though he was a Son, yet learned obedi­ence by the things which he suffered.” The object of the Apostle in these verses, is manifestly to show that Jesus was not only called of God from among men to officiate as a High Priest for men in things pertaining to God; but that having passed also through the deepest scenes of human suffering, and having thereby learned les­sons of practical obedience and submission to the will of his Father, he is now most eminently qualified to sympathize with us, and also to aid and comfort us in all our trials, temptations, and afflictions. But let us now look more narrowly into the meaning of the several words and phrases of this profoundly interesting pas­sage. “ In the days of his flesh” means simply the period of his humiliation, while he appeared here on Earth as a man. “ Flesh and blood,” we are told (1 Corinthians 15:50), “ can not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Christ’ s body is now glorified and freed from all the weaknesses and infirmities of the flesh. (Philippians 3:21.) But it was not so while he tabernacled here on Earth. Then, he had a body in all respects such as we now have, save that it was in no sense defiled and corrupted by sin. Hebrews 5:7 ---when he had offered up prayers and supplications, etc.— This expression restricts the meaning of the preceding remark to a particular period of Christ’ s earthly mission. True, indeed, during his whole life, and particularly during the period of his public min­istry, he learned obedience from what he suffered. But it is evi­dent that the Apostle has special reference here to his final suffer­ings, beginning with his agony in Gethsemane and ending with his greater agony on the cross. From these especially, he learned obe­dience. And while suffering in the garden, he poured out his prayers and supplications, no doubt, with strong crying and tears “ to Him who was able to save him from death.” Such at least is the natural inference from the following testimony of Luke. He says, “ when he [Jesus] was at the place [Gethsemane], he said unto them [his disciples], Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’ s cast, and kneeled down and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing re­move this cup from me; nevertheless not my will but thine be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed more ear­nestly ; and his sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:40-44.) From this it seems that his mental agony was so intensely great as to cause both his sweat and blood to issue from the pores of his oppressed body. Instances of a like nature, under excessive passion, are mentioned by Aristotle, Diodorus, Siculus, Galen, Sir John Chardin, Voltaire, and others. And hence it is reasonable to suppose, that under the extreme agony of the hour, the prayers and supplications of Christ would be mingled, as our author says, with loud exclamations and tears of the deepest anguish. The Greek words rendered prayers and supplications (deeseis te kai hiketerias) are often used interchangeably for prayers in gen­eral. But when used together, as in this instance, the former de­notes such petitions as flow from a sense of our wants; and the latter, such as are prompted by a deep sense of our own helpless­ness. The word hiketeria is properly an adjective; and with the noun elaia expressed or understood, it was used by the Greeks to denote the olive branch, borne by supplicants in token of their very humble and earnest entreaties. And hence it came, by metonymy, to signify the prayer of anyone, who, in an humble and servile manner, asks help of another. The following brief extract from Livy will serve to illustrate this passage: “ Ten delegates from the Socrians, squalid and covered with rags, came into the hall where the consuls were sitting, holding out in their hands olive branches covered with wool, according to the custom of the Greeks; and prostrated themselves on the ground before the tribunal with a lamentable cry.” (L. xxix. 16.) Their supplications were availing. By a decree of the Roman Senate, the consul, Q Pleminius, the oppressor of the Socrians, was arrested, loaded with chains, and con­fined in a dungeon, where he finally expired. Hebrews 5:7===to him who was able to save him from death,— These words are well explained by a remark which Jesus made to Peter, when he drew his sword to defend Jesus from the violence of the multi­tude. (Matthew 26:53-54.) “ Thinkest thou,” said he. “ that I can not now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be?” Ah, yes, that was the difficulty. “ How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled?” Jesus well knew that either he himself must die for mankind, or otherwise that the whole race must perish forever. There seems to have been no other possible alternative. And therefore, bitter as the cup was, he did not hesitate to drink it to its very dregs. Hebrews 5:7 ---and was heard in that he feared;—This has long been a per­plexing passage to most expositors. Delitzsch renders the Greek text as follows: “ and having been heard because of his piety” ; Al­ford, thus: “ and he was heard by reason of his reverent submis­sion.” With these learned authors, agree substantially many other able commentators. But to my mind this rendering is not satisfac­tory. For (1) it gives a very unusual meaning to the Greek prep­osition apo, which generally corresponds with the Latin ab or abs, and means from. Winer says, “ It is used to denote simply the point from which motion or action proceeds; and hence it implies distance or separation.” (2) While it is, of course, conceded that the word eulabia may mean “ piety” or “ reverent submission,” I can­not think but that the rendering “ godly fear,” or “ reverential fear,” is more suitable to the occasion, and that it better harmonizes with the terms and conditions of the context. This, too, corresponds well with the etymology of the word and also with Greek usage. “ Eulabeia,” says Prof. Trench, “ which occurs only twice in the New Testament (Hebrews 5:7 Hebrews 12:28) and on each occasion signi­fies piety contemplated on the side on which it is a fear of God, is of course from eu lambanesthai the image underlying the word being that of a careful taking hold of, the cautious handling of some precious yet delicate vessel, which with ruder or less anxious handling might be broken. But such a carefulness and cautious­ness in the conducting of affairs, springing as no doubt it does in part from a fear of miscarriage, easily lies open to the charge of timidity. Thus Demosthenes claims for himself that he was only eitlabes [cautious], where his enemies charged him with being deilos [timid] and atolmos [cowardly]. It is not wonderful then that fear should have come to be regarded as an essential element of eulabeia; though, for the most part, no dishonorable fear; but such as a wise and good man might not be ashamed to entertain.” (Syn. of the N. Test.) (3) I am at a loss to see why the piety of Christ should be assigned as a reason for his being heard on this or any other particular occasion. This sounds too much as a mere truism. Who that believes in Christ as the Son of God ever doubted this? “ I know,” said he, addressing his Father, “ that thou hearest me always.” (John 11:42.) For these reasons chiefly I am constrained to think with Calvin, Beza, Erasmus, Bengal, Hammond, Wetstein, Storr, Ernesti, Kuinoel, DeWette, Stuart, Tholuck, Ebrard, and others, that the expression should be rendered substantially as in our Common Version, “ he was heard from his pious fear” ; that is, he was heard and so delivered from his pious and reverential fear. The word heard (eisakoustheis) is used in a pregnant sense, as in Psalms 22:21; where David, speaking as a type of Christ, says in reference to his last sufferings, “ Thou hast heard me from the horns of the uni­corns” ; which is equivalent to saying, Thou hast heard my suppli­cations, and delivered me from the horns of the unicorns. Such instances of brachylogy occur very frequently in the Holy Scrip­tures. We conclude, then, that Christ’ s prayers and supplications were heard, and that he was in a measure delivered from his reverential fear. But what was the object of this fear? Not death, as Calvin and others suppose; for from this he was not delivered in the sense of the context. He had to meet and suffer death in its most appall­ing forms, soon after his agony in the garden. But be it remem­bered (1) that Christ was a man; and that, as a man, he possessed all the sinless feelings and propensities of our nature. As a man, he had a heart to fear and tremble, like other men, in view of great undertakings and responsibilities. (2) That while in the garden, he was on the eve of incurring, not merely physical death, for that was only a circumstance, but a degree of mental agony, arising from his feelings of moral obligation, ^at which even the angels might have stood appalled. He was about to stand between God and man, and meet in his own person the claims of the Divine gov­ernment against the sinner. He knew that in a little while his Father’ s face would be hid from him; and that his frail human na­ture would be literally crushed under the tremendous weight of the responsibilities which he had incurred. And (3) it should also be remembered, that the hour of his adversaries had come, and that he was then delivered up to be most severely tried and tempted by the Evil One. (Luke 22:53.) Christ knew this; and he earnestly warned his disciples to be vigilant and to pray, lest indeed they should all be overcome by the Tempter. (Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38; Luke 22:40.) But it was of course against Christ himself that Satan was about to direct most of his fiery darts. The Temp­ter came, and doubtless presented every motive that Hell could in­vent that might serve to terrify him; to weaken his trust and confi­dence in God; to make him apprehensive that he might not be equal to the occasion; and to induce him to shrink back from the appalling scene that was before him. The temptation to do so was no doubt very great, and his agony became most alarming. His whole physical frame was so impressed by his mental emotions that sweat and blood, as we have seen, issued from the pores of his op­pressed body. But his prayers were heard. An angel was sent to strengthen him. (Luke 22:43.) He was now in a measure deliv­ered from his pious and fearful apprehensions; and he rose from the ground, returned to his disciples, and calmly met the ruthless mob that were coming to lead him to the cross. But there a still more intense agony awaited him. Though some­what relieved from his pious yet fearful apprehension that, as a man, he would not be equal to the occasion; and that he might per- adventure fail to so meet and satisfy the claims of the Divine gov­ernment on man as to make it possible for God to justify penitent believers, he had nevertheless now to meet and endure the solemn and awful reality. He had to pass through such a spiritual ordeal as no creature had ever before experienced. The nails that pierced his hands and his feet were but as nothing. Persons of ordinary strength generally lived on the cross from one to four or five days, and sometimes even longer. But Jesus, though in the prime of manhood, survived but six hours after his crucifixion. The weight of our indebtedness to the Divine government fell like a mountain avalanche on his soul. The light of God’ s countenance was withheld; and a horror of appalling darkness overwhelmed his spirit. He could bear no more. He said, “ It is finished.” His heart broke under the weight of his mental agony; and he meekly bowed his head and expired! See Dr. Stroud’ s treatise “ On the Physical Cause of the Death of Christ.” Hebrews 5:8 ---Though he were a Son, etc.— Though he was the Son of God, he claimed no special privileges on that account; but as a loyal subject of the Divine government, he submitted willingly to all that was required of him as the Redeemer of the world. And thus he not only magnified God’ s law and “ made it honorable” ; but he also, as a man, learned experimentally both the duty and the necessity of obedience, from what he suffered. Hebrews 5:9 ---And being made perfect,— By means of these sufferings, he was made a perfect Savior; that is, he was thereby fully qualified in every respect to become the Redeemer of mankind. See note on 2: 10. And now he offers salvation freely to all them that obey him. It is not his purpose to save men in their sins, but to save them from their sins. And hence, though he has by the grace of God tasted death for every man and so made an atonement for all, he nevertheless bestows salvation only on those who obey him. “ Not every one,” says he, “ that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7 Matthew 21.) 1. Hebrews 5:10 ---Called of God an high priest— This is the title of honor which the Father bestowed on the Son,Three examples of punishment from the Old Testament, as evidence of the fact that the heretics of which he warned would not escape the vengeance of God. (a) The unfaithful Israelites in the wilderness. (Jude 1:5; Jude 1:8.)(b) The angels which sinned. (Jude 1:6; Jude 1:9.)(c) The cities of the plain. (Jude 1:7; Jude 1:10.) 2. Three instances of individual wickedness. (Jude 1:11.) When he set him at his own right hand in the heavenly realms. There he will reign as a King, and thereHow very encouraging is the thought that we have now a great High Priest in the heavens, through whose efficacious atone­ment and intercession, the throne of the universe has become a throne of grace to all penitent believers. (4: 14-16.) Though in and of ourselves utterly unworthy of the least of all God’ s mercies, we can nevertheless now approach him in the name of Jesus, and through the rich merits of his atoning blood, find grace sufficient to supply all our wants. “ For this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us.” (1 John 5:14.) “ He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?” “ Ask,” then, “ and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” What a marvelous thing it is, then, that all men do not, in obedience to the Divine Call, approach the Throne of grace; and in the name of our ascended High Priest seek for those blessings which we all so much need. Like the poor thoughtless wayward prodigal, millions are perishing in a strange land, for want of the bread of life; while in our Father’ s house there is enough for all and to spare. “ Come now,” says God to his erring children, “ come, and let us reason together; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18.) And again he says, “ Ho, ev­ery one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money [come] ; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1.) And yet the poor demented sinner goes on in his follies, as careless and indif­ferent as if no blood had been shed for him, and as if no Throne of grace had been provided for his benefit! What a marvelous illus­tration we have in all this of the exceeding sinfulness and deceitful­ness of sin. Religion has been provided for the benefit of mankind. (Hebrews 5:1-4.) Not only is every High Priest, taken from among men, or­dained for men, in things pertaining to God; but the whole scheme of redemption has been provided for a like purpose. It is for our sake that Jesus became incarnate. For us, he suffered, and bled, and died. For us, he ascended to the heavens, and paid the ran­som price of our redemption. For us, he sent the Holy Spirit to be in us as a well of water springing up into everlasting life. For us, he has founded the Church, and endowed it with all the ordi­nances of his grace. For us, he has provided the Holy Scriptures and all things else pertaining to life and godliness. And hence it follows, that if we are straitened in any respect, it is simply in our­selves, and not in God, nor in the bountiful provisions of his grace. “ Ye will not come unto me,” says Christ, “ that ye may have life.” (John 5:40.) How infinitely great must have been the sufferings of Christ for us. (Hebrews 5:5-10.) These we shall never be able to comprehend fully. The claims of the Divine government on fallen man is a question that far transcends the reach and capacity of our finite reason. And hence we can never compute the ransom that was paid for our redemption. But we may form some faint conception of what Jesus suffered on our account from what is recorded in the last few pages of his memoirs. How very significant, for instance, were the loud exclamations which he uttered, and the briny tears which he shed in the garden of Gethsemane! How expressive were the drops of bloody sweat which then and there fell from his oppressed body to the Earth! And above all, what a world of mental agony is indicated by the rupture of his heart! Remember, dear sinner, that all this was endured for us. For what the Law of Moses could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God has done by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and by an offering for sin has condemned sin in the flesh; so that the righteousness required by the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4.) Who, then, can withhold his heart and his affections from such a Savior ? Who that understands this matter as he should, is not constrained to give up his soul, his life, and his all to the service of him who has done so much for our redemption ? And this, be it observed, is just what every man is required to give, who would enjoy the great salvation that has been so freely procured for us through the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. He has become “ the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him” (verse 9). We are of course saved by grace through faith; and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8.) But nevertheless, it has pleased God to make our enjoy­ment of the purchased blessings depend on a willing observance of all that is required of us in the Gospel. Thus it is that God per­mits and enables us to show our loyalty to him and to his govern­ment; to educate and prepare ourselves for Heaven; and at the same time, to do good to all men as we may have opportunity. he will intercede for his people as a Priest upon his throne, until he shall have perfected the redeemed, and delivered up the Kingdom to the Father. After that there will be no more need of either a Mediator or an Intercessor.There can be no doubt, therefore, that Jesus is eminently quali­fied to act as a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertain­ing to God. For (1) he has received his appointment directly from God as did Aaron. (2) Being the Son of God, he occupies a rank far above all created intelligences; and is able therefore to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him. (3) He has borne temptations, trials, and afflictions, incomparably greater than those endured by any other man. And hence he knows well how to sympathize with the afflicted, and how to support and deliver those that are tempted. (4) He has by his own obedience unto death learned the necessity of a strict compliance with all the re­quirements of the Divine law. And hence he knows how to sup­port and save those that obey him. Commentary on Hebrews 5:5-10 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_5:5 --So Christ also glorified not Himself to he made a High Priest The devil offered Him glory, but He rejected it: a. He asked God to glorify Him. John 17:5 : “ And now, Father, glorify Thou me with Thine own self, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.” b. He sought to glorify God: 1. John 17:4; “ I have glorified Thee on earth: I have accomplished the work that Thou hast given me to do.” 2. John 8:50 : “ I sought not My own glory.” c. He exhibited the glory of God: 1. John 1:14. “ The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 2. 2 Corinthians 4:6 : “ Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 3. Hebrews 1:3 : “ Who, being the effulgence of His glory.” Christ was one who was willing to humble Himself, not to exalt Himself,Hebrews 5:5 --but he that spake unto HimGod planned for Christ to be High Priest. He said this in Psalms 2:7. Hebrews 5:5 --Thou art my Son. This day have I begotten Thee:God prophetically called Jesus His “ Son” . The word, “ begotten” , does not refer to His origin but to His resurrection. Hebrews 5:6 --as he saith also in another place This is found in Psalms 110 : a. This is one of the clearest of prophecies in the Psalms concerning Christ. b. The Jew applies this to David: 1. This Psalm is applied to Christ by the apostles in Acts 2:34. 2. This cannot apply to David. It was not lawful for kings to exercise the priesthood. 3. Uzziah was meddling with an office that did not belong to him, so provoked God and was smitten with leprosy. 2 Chronicles 26:18.Hebrews 5:6 --Thou art a priest forever, after the order of MelchizedekThis is rare: He was both king and priest. The comparison here is the important thing: a. Aaron was temporary— Christ was eternal. b. Aaron’ s office was successive— passed on to his children. Melchizedek’ s and Christ’ s office was personal, non heriditary. c. Melchizedek’ s priesthood, then, is above Aaron’ s priesthood. “ Without father and mother” is discussed in Hebrews 7. a. Matthew Henry says that this scripture is “ not to be taken literally.” His genealogy is not given in order that he might be a type of Christ. b. Archeologists have found this expression inscribed on tablets of that era. “ Forever” means “ while time endures” . When 1 Corinthians 15:24 is fulfilled, His office will no doubt end. Hebrews 5:7 --Who in the days of His flesh“ While Christ was on the earth” is meant: a. This word, “ who” , does not refer to Melchizedek, but to Christ. b. It is obvious by Hebrews 5:8 that Jesus is meant.Hebrews 5:7 --Having offered up prayers“ A request, petition” is meant by the word, “ prayers” : a. John 17 : great prayers of oneness. b. He prayed before performing miracles. c. He prayed before going to the cross. Luke 22:40-44. If Christ prayed, then surely we need to pray, yet few have callouses on their knees. Hebrews 5:7 --and supplications“ Supplications” are prayers prompted by a deep sense of need, and our own helplessness. a. When used separately, the words, “ prayer” and “ supplications” are used interchangeably. b. When used together, it means a prayer prompted by a deep sense of helplessness.Hebrews 5:7 --with strong crying and tearsThis is to show the intensity of His grief. These are the outward symptoms of grief. Examples of it: a. Matthew 26:42 : “— let this cup pass from Me.” b. Matthew 27:46 : “ My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”Hebrews 5:7 --unto Him that was able to save Him from deathHe was not immediately delivered from death: a. He obtained what He prayed for when He came forth a conqueror. 1. If the death referred to is physical death, God could have saved him. Angels could have saved Him. Matthew 26:53-54. 2. God could not save Him and still carry out His purpose, See Matthew 26:53-54. b. God was able to do things not asked of Him by Christ. Death should be studied in the light of some prepositions: a. The preposition: 1. “ from.” 2. “ out of.” b. Newell says He did not ask God to save Him from dying, but to save Him out of death.Hebrews 5:7 --and having been heardDid not God forsake Him? a. Yes, in order that the flesh could die. b. If we live in God, He must forsake us in order for us to die. God heard his prayers, however, for Christ did not see corruption in the grave as do all others. Newell says His prayer was for the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning Himself. Hebrews 5:7 --for his godly fearSome interpret: “ Having been heard for his piety.” “ He was heard by reason of His reverent submission.” “ Fear of responsibilities.” What was the object of His fear? a. Milligan: “ He had a heart to fear and tremble, like other men in view of great undertakings: 1. The fact that Jesus told them to watch and pray lest they enter into temptation was proof of this. 2. It was not fear of death, but fear of being unequal to the occasion. b. Matthew Henry says He was ready to sink under the heavy load of the world of sin and coming suffering. God heard His prayer and supported him in the agonies.Hebrews 5:8 --Though he was a sonIf God’ s Son had to be obedient, may we expect special favors, namely the right to disobedience? a. May we impose upon God? b. May we alter His teaching— climb up some other way? Obedience is the natural thing for true family relationship.Hebrews 5:8 --yet He learned obedienceHe was not driven to this by force: a. He was not trained to it like an oxen, but He willingly submitted. b. He learned it fully, for in a very special way He was called to deny himself. Obedience made Him a consecrated one: a. Jesus was consecrated, sanctified to the office of priest by obedience. b. It was not a legal obedience, but an objective obedience.Hebrews 5:8 --by the things which he sufferedObedience to the call of the cross was “ becoming obedient.” Philippians 2:6-8 : “ Suffered” must refer to all the experiences of Christ while in the flesh. Hebrews 5:9 --and having been made perfectThe Greek word means “ sanctified” as well as “ made perfect” : a. His obedience further consecrated Him to His task. b. Nothing could make Christ move from His purpose. What is meant by the word, “ perfection” ? a. Newell: “ . . . not moral perfection.” b. The perfection refers to His humiliation and suffering, culminating at the cross. Luke 13:32 : “ And He said unto them, Go and say to that fox, (Herod) behold I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I am perfected.” c. Tested by every temptation.Hebrews 5:9 --He became unto all that obey HimThere is no room here for the false doctrine of “ only believe” : a. We must obey, which is an imitation of Christ in obedience. b. The obedience of Christ to the cross made Him the Author of our salvation. As Christ became Saviour by obedience, so we must be saved by obedience. Hebrews 5:9 --the Author of eternal salvation“ Author” is from the Greek word, “ cause” : a. “ Cause” is used to denote that which constitutes an occasion of action, A rock may crush a house, but there was something that moved the rock. b. Without Christ’ s cross there would be no blood for the remission of our sins, So Christ is our “ cause” of salvation, “ In none other is there salvation.” Acts 4:12. Eternal salvation is the joy of all who will obey. Hebrews 5:10 --Named of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek“ Named of God”— the one Father appointed Him to the task. “ Named” also means “ called of God, saluted, acknowledged” . When did His priesthood begin? a. Perhaps when He made purification for sins, which was the offering. Hebrews 7:28. b. After the offering, He went into the heavens to intercede at the throne of grace. Hebrews 7:25. The order of Aaron was only for the duration of the Mosaic system, but the order of Melchizedek is forever. a. Melchizedek was singular in his office. b. He had no predecessors or successors to his office. Study Questions732. According to verse five, did Christ seek the job of priest? 733. Did the devil tempt Him to glorify himself? 734. What does Hebrews 1:3 say concerning Christ’ s glory? 735. When did God speak concerning Christ? Hebrews 5:5 b. 736. Does Psalms 2:7 refer to the day that Christ was begotten physically of God? 737. How do we know from other sources that this declaration refers to Christ, and not David? Cf. Acts 2:34. 738. Were kings allowed to serve as priests under the Mosaic law? 739. After what order was Christ? 740. In what way? 741. Was Melchizedek just a priest? 742. In what ways could Christ’ s and Melchizedek’ s priesthood be forever? 743. Was Aaron’ s priesthood a successive one? 744. What is meant, “ who in the days of His flesh” ? 745. Who is referred to, Christ or Melchizedek? 746. Is the doctrine that Christ lived in the flesh of great importance? 747. Did Christ offer up prayers? 748. On what occasion? 749. On whose behalf? 750. Could they be considered priestly prayers? 751. What are supplications? 752. Are the words “ prayers” and “ supplications” synonymous? 753. What is meant by, “ strong crying” ? 754. On what occasion did Christ pray with tears? 755. Was His grief prophesied? 756. To Whom did Christ pray? 757. Then are God and Christ two different persons? 758. Could God save Christ from death? 759. Why didn’ t He? Why did not Christ come down from the cross? 760. Did God answer Christ’ s prayer? 761. Did Christ’ s prayer concern death? 762. Did Christ pray to be saved from death, or out of death? 763. If it was death for which He prayed, why did He not ask for angels as He said He could do? Matthew 26:53-54. 764. Why did flesh have to die? 765. If God heard Him, as the text says, did not God answer His prayer? 766. Did God forsake Him on the cross? Harmonize. 767. What in the character of Christ caused God to hear Christ’ s prayer? 768. Was Christ fearful? Discuss. 769. What could have been an object of fear? 770. Did He have a heart to fear and tremble as others have? 771. If God’ s son had to be obedient, can we expect special favors? 772. Can we expect to impose our will on God and make Him obedient to us? 773. If God will save a man on man’ s terms, who is being obedient to whom? 774. What is meant by, “ He learned obedience” ? 775. Was He driven to it by force, or was it a sanctification to His office? 776. Was it a legal obedience, or an objective that caused obedience? 777. To what great act of obedience did Christ submit? See Philippians 2:5-11. 778. What taught Him obedience? 779. Would “ things He suffered” refer to hardships only or all of the experiences in the flesh? 780. What did He suffer? 781. Define the meaning of the word translated “ perfect.” 782. Does “ having been made perfect” refer to immediate or continuous action? 783. Does “ made perfect” refer to moral excellence? 784. Would Luke 13:32 help to throw light on the question? 785. Could it be “ proven perfect” that the author has in mind? 786. Did the testing of every temptation prove Him to be perfect? 787. Could we say that He was proven to be sanctified? 788. To whom does He prove to be the Author of salvation? 789. If it is for men that obey Him, can the moral man expect salvation? 790. Can the person who desires substitutes above obedience expect salvation? 791. Is there room for “ only believe” here? 792. If we follow Christ, should we not follow the great virtue, the spirit of obedience? 793. If Christ became our Saviour by obedience, must we not be obedient, for salvation to be ours? 794. What is meant, “ the author” ? 795. In what way is He “ the cause” ? Isn’ t God the great primary cause? 796. How long is our salvation to last? 797. What is meant by, “ named of God” ? 798. What other word could be used than “ named” ? 799. When did Christ’ s priestly work begin? Cf. Hebrews 7:28; Hebrews 7:25. 800. Is it fair to name a beginning of the priesthood when it is after the order of one without beginning and end? 801. Of what duration was the Mosaic priesthood? 802. Why was Christ not named after the Aaronic priesthood? 803. Was He of the proper tribe for the Aaronic one? Hebrews 5:11-14 AN TO THE HEBREW ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR TO THE STUDY OF GOD’ S WORDHeb_5:11-14 Hebrews 5:11 ---Of whom—(peri hou) concerning which. These words have been variously applied (1) to Melchisedec, (2) to Christ, and (3) to the priesthood of Christ after the order of Melchisedec, as the leading and proper subject of the discourse. The last of these views is adopted by Hofmann, Delitzsch, Moll, and others: and it is certainly the view which harmonizes best with the context. The reference to Christ, as Delitzsch justly remarks, is too remote; and the reference to Melchisedec is too narrow. It is not of Christ personally, nor is it of Melchisedec personally, that our author has so much to say; but is of the priesthood of Christ, the subject of the last section, about which he wishes to say much to his readers. This is obvious from what immediately follows this digression, in the course of the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth chapters. Hebrews 5:11 ---hard to be uttered,— (dusermenentos) difficult of interpretation. There is no profounder theme, nor is there any one that is more difficult of interpretation, than the priesthood of Christ. To treat of it fully involves the consideration of man’ s fallen and sinful state; his indebtedness to the Divine government; the shedding of Christ’ s blood and all that he endured for the sins of the world; the ransom which he paid for our redemption; the efficacy of his blood and his intercessions, through which the gates of Heaven have been opened wide for the reception of every poor penitent sinner who comes to God by 'him. Hebrews 5:11 ---dull of hearing.— The word rendered dull (nothroi) means sluggish, indolent, slow to move; and that which is rendered hear­ing (tais akoais) means the ears or perceptive faculties of the soul. These were sluggish and inert. Instead of quickening the powers of their understanding and the susceptibilities of their heart, by the regular and systematic study of God’ s word, many of the Hebrew Christians had become (gegonate) dull in their apprehension of spiritual things. Hebrews 5:12 ---For when for the time— From what is said in this verse, Mynster, Ebrard, and some others, confidently infer that the Epis­tle was not sent to the Church of Jerusalem. For this, we know, was the mother of all the churches; and as 3he enjoyed for some time the instruction of all the Apostles, and the instruction of James the Less, son of Alphaeus, till about A.D. 62, according to Josephus (Ant. xx. 9, 1) ; or even to A.D. 69, according to Hege- sippus and Eusebius (Eccl. Hist. ii. 23) ; it is thought that such ignorance of the word of God, as is here implied, could not be fairly ascribed to this most favored of all the primitive churches. This is certainly a very plausible objection against the commonly received hypothesis that the Epistle was addressed primarily to the saints living in and around Jerusalem. But be it observed (1) that there had evidently been a backward movement among the disciples for whom this Epistle was written. Ye have become (ge­gonate) dull in your hearing, says the Apostle; and ye have be­come such as have need of milk and not of solid food. They had evidently seen and known more prosperous times; but they had ceased to be diligent students of the word of God, and had therefore relapsed somewhat into the darkness and errors of the judaiz- ing party. (2) This is not at all wonderful, when we consider the very unfavorable state of affairs that was then prevailing in Jerusa­lem, and indeed throughout Palestine. The same spirit of persecu­tion that seized and imprisoned Paul in A.D. 58, continued to rage in Judea, until Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70. And hence it is not at all remarkable that, under such circumstances, many of the weaker brethren should become somewhat disheartened. (3) We are not to suppose that the Apostle here describes the actual condition of all the disciples to whom the Epistle was written. Perhaps no more than a minority of them are really included in this severe admonition. Paul often speaks in this general way, when he has really reference to only a part of those that are ad­dressed. See, for example, 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 1 Corinthians 5:2 1 Corinthians 6:5-6. This, he manifestly does in this instance. Some of the Hebrew converts had become discouraged. Their hands were hanging down, and their knees were feeble. (Hebrews 12:12-13.) They were almost ready to abandon the Christian conflict, and fall back again into the embrace of Judaism. Others were daily becoming more and more slothful; and there was therefore great need just at this crisis, of the severe rebuke which the Apostle here administers to them, as well as of the many encouragements with which he labors to sustain and sup­port them. But that many of his readers were still strong in the faith, and fully prepared to comprehend even the highest mysteries of the Gospel, when properly unfolded and illustrated, is evident from the fact, that after making this brief digression, he proceeds at once to the regular and systematic discussion of Christ’ s priest­hood. There seems, therefore, to be no just ground for the above allegation of Ebrard and others, that the Epistle was not addressed to the Hebrew Christians living in and around Jerusalem. Hebrews 5:12 ---ye ought to be teachers,— The Apostle does not mean by this, that the Hebrew brethren should all be teachers in a public and of­ficial sense; but simply that they should be able to explain the Gos­pel to others in their several places and relations, as parents, neigh­bors, and friends. The Church of Christ is a school for the im­provement of all its members; and while it is certainly impossible for everyone to become an efficient Elder or Evangelist, it is nev­ertheless the duty of all to “ grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18.) Hebrews 5:12 ---ye have need, etc.— Instead of going forward, they had, it seems, rather gone backward in their knowledge of Divine things; so that they had need to be instructed again in the very elements of the Christian Religion. Our author does not mean to say, as in our English Version, that his readers had need to be instructed again as to “ which be [are] the first principles of the Oracles of God.” It is not of their incapacity to distinguish between the rudi­ments of the Gospel and its more profound and mysterious princi­ples, but of their ignorance of the rudiments themselves, that the Apostle here complains. And 'hence with Luther, Calvin, Bleek, Alford, etc., I would render the passage as follows: “ Ye again have need that some one teach you the rudiments of the beginning of the Oracles of God.” The word oracle (logion) means simply a Divine utterance, a communication from God. It occurs but four times in the New Testament (Acts 7:38; Romans 3:2; Hebrews 5:12; 1 Peter 4:11), in all of which it clearly means the inspired utter­ances of God. In this instance, it has reference to the communica­tions of God made known to us in the Gospel; the elements of Which are given in Hebrews 6:1-2. Hebrews 5:13 ---For every one that useth milk, etc.— This language is of course metaphorical. As newborn babes in the kingdom of nature need to be fed on milk, so also it is with babes in the Kingdom of Christ. They, too, must be fed with “ the pure milk of the word” that they may grow thereby. (1 Peter 2:2.) And hence Paul says to the brethren in Corinth, “ I have fed you with milk, and not with meat [solid food] ; for hitherto ye were not able to bear it; neither yet now are ye able.” (1 Corinthians 3:2.) And so also he says here to the Hebrew brethren, “ Ye are become such as have need of milk [the mere rudiments, or elementary lessons, of the Christian Religion], and not of solid food [the more difficult and profound instructions of the Gospel]. “ For every one,” he says, “ that partakes of milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is but a babe in Christ.” By the “ word of righteousness/' the Apostle means simply the word of the Gospel, in which God’ s plan of righteousness by faith is revealed in order to faith (Romans 1:17) ; so that being justified by faith we may attain to the righ­teousness that is required of every believer. Hebrews 5:14 ---But strong meat belongeth, etc.— In both this and the preceding verse, there is a blending together of the literal and the figurative; but not to such an extent as to obscure in any way the sense of either passage. Indeed, the meaning is so very plain in both cases, that our author does not deem it necessary to complete the allegory; but having introduced his subject by means of an il­lustrating metaphor, he very beautifully and with laconic brevity combines the literal and the figurative in the same clause. The analogy may be stated fully as follows: As solid food belongs only to those who are of full age, and who, by reason of habitual exer­cise, have their senses so perfectly educated, as to be able to dis­cern through them the physical properties of bodies; so also the more profound and abstruse principles of the Christian Religion, such as the priesthood of Christ, his atonement, etc., are suitable only for those, who, from long study and experience in the school of Christ, have their inward senses so trained as to be able to dis­criminate accurately between the right and the wrong, the good and the evil. The idea is, that discipline of both head and heart is essentially necessary in order to qualify Christians for the right apprehension and just appreciation of the more difficult parts of the Christian system. Every faculty of man’ s intellectual and moral nature, as well as every part of his physical organization, is de­veloped, strengthened, and quickened, by means of a judicious course of exercise. And the disciple who habitually neglects this course of discipline, can never attain to the stature of a perfect man in Christ Jesus. By the necessities of his own nature, he will ever remain but, as it were, a babe in Christ; if indeed he does not ut­terly fall away from all the hopes and consolations of the Gospel. This neglect of study and moral discipline was the great error and misfortune of the Hebrews. Many of them, it would seem, had never progressed beyond the mere alphabet of the Christian Re­ligion. And hence they were but illy prepared to enter with the Apostle on the consideration of the many difficult and sublime themes that are discussed in the following chapters. The word rendered senses (aistheteria) means properly the physical organs of sensation, such as the eyes, the ears, and the fin­gers, through which we perceive the qualities and properties of things that are material. But metaphorically, it signifies, as in this connection, the faculties of the soul, by means of which we dis­criminate between those things which differ in their moral quali­ties. Commentary on Hebrews 5:11-14 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_5:11 --Of whomOf whom— who is meant? a. It is applied to three different persons: 1. To Melchizedek. 2. To Christ. 3. To the endless priesthood. b. So little is known of Melchizedek, we are quick to believe that he might be referred to here.Hebrews 5:11 --We have many things to sayNow he is discussing Christ’ s priesthood, so we may assume “ of whom” refers to Christ. He is not speaking of Melchizedek except as an illustration; Christ is the main subject: a. He has much to say about Christ and little about Melchizedek. b. The many things are wonderful things. Hebrews 5:11 --and hard of interpretationIt is also translated, “ hard to be uttered” : a. Difficulty of interpretation may lie in one of three directions: (Newell) 1. The teacher’ s inability. 2. The subject, deep and difficult. 3. The hearers. b. It wasn’ t the teacher, it wasn’ t the subject, so the listener was at fault.Hebrews 5:11 --seeing ye are become dull of hearingThe brightness of His glory could not be seen because of their dullness, their darkness. a. Their souls did not keep pace with the doctrines delivered. b. They had a love for their brethren, but they were dull of hearing. Jesus found the Jews this way and quoted Isaiah against them. cf. Matthew 13:14-15.Hebrews 5:12 --For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers Time should have been used to advantage: a. Newell: “ Over 30 years from Pentecost to the writing of Hebrews.” b. Christians are to grow; they are not to be stunted. Teaching should be the objective of all-Christians: a. People who attend Bible School, worship, prayer meeting, evangelistic services, ought to get to the place where they can teach others. b. Most churches find it difficult to find a few teachers for their Bible School.Hebrews 5:12 --Ye have need again that some one teach you the rudimentsLiterally, teach you a second time. Kindergarten lessons sometimes must be learned in adulthood. Hebrews 5:12 --of the first principles of the oracles of GodThe average church member can’ t turn to God’ s word and point out the pattern for the church or its doctrine. a. Church people complain at hearing old messages over and over again, but they often couldn’ t turn to a scripture on the subject. b. Those who are teachers love to hear the Word taught. “ Of the oracles of God” : what is meant? a. It may refer to the notices which the prophets gave of the priesthood of Christ. Psalms 110; Isaiah 53. b. “ Oracle” simply means a divine utterance, and appears four times in the New Testament. (Milligan) 1. Acts 7:38. 2. Romans 3:2. 3. Hebrews 5:12. 4. 1 Peter 4:11.Hebrews 5:12 --and are become such as have need of milkThey once were in better condition than now: a. When they first became Christians they were not so dull of hearing. b. It is a sad day when men cannot digest God’ s deep treasures. “ As have need of milk” . a. “ Milk” , a metaphor, is used to indicate first principles. cf. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2. b. These early principles are enumerated in Hebrews 6:2-3. Hebrews 5:12 --and not of solid foodDeeper teaching— weightier problems— heavier responsibilities— they could not digest: a. Babes are on a very weak diet. b. They had not grown out of the high chair age. c. The scaffolding of Christianity was the thing upon which they depended. Hebrews 5:13 --For every one that partaketh of milk is without experienceBabes can do only what they are taught, and that is very little: a. The Hebrews had not experienced the things that mature Christians were to experience. b. The walk of holiness, launching out on faith was needed, Babes have milk carried to them; adults take milk to babes. Hebrews 5:13 --of the word of righteousnessThese have not been able to launch out into the sea of experience for Christ: a. Matthew 6:33. b. They were still in the crib. “ Word of righteousness” is suggestive: a. Matthew 5:20 : “ Righteousness” is that which goes on beyond the right, the plain duty. b. It means purity of heart, attitude of mind. Hebrews 5:13 --he is a babeWhat are the characteristics of a “ babe” ? a. They are tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. Ephesians 4:14. So is a baby. b. They belong to some special sect and cry, “ My church” . c. They glory in men. 1 Corinthians 1:12 : “ I am of Paul,” “ Apollos.” d. A babe sleeps instead of serving. Our spiritual capacity suggests our spiritual age. Hebrews 5:14 --But solid food is for full-grown menFullgrown men spiritually are needed. 1 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 14:20; Ephesians 4:13. The value of solid food is seen in Ephesians 4:14. Hebrews 5:14 --who by reason of use have their senses exercised Miserable is the person who fails to use his spiritual senses. a. By believing, praying, thanking and by being obedient, we can make full use of our spiritual faculties. b. The only way to exercise is by action, by using the abilities given to us. c. People will be spiritually impotent until they use their senses. The word for “ senses” is an interesting word: a. Clark says it signifies the different sense organs as eyes, ears, tongue, palate, and nervous system in general. b. The soul has its sensations: love, joy, compassion, etc. c. The five senses of man have spiritual significance. 1. Taste: 1 Peter 2:3; Psalms 34:8; Hebrews 6:4; Matthew 5:6. 2. Hearing: Isaiah 55:3; Revelation 3:22. 3. Sight: Psalms 119:18; Ephesians 1:18. 4. Smell: Philippians 4:18. 5. Feeling: Ephesians 4:32. Exercise is a requirement for one’ s spiritual development: a. This word “ exercise” is a metaphor taken from the athletes or contenders in the Grecian games. b. These men applied all their powers that they might be ready for competition.Hebrews 5:14 --to discern good and evilThose who do not exercise will see little or no harm in the pleasures of the world. a. So many good people get into trouble, because, “ I didn’ t see any harm in it.” b. The iceberg is dangerous because three-fifths of it is beneath the water, unseen, with jagged edges which may tear great holes in the ship. Sin brings a tolerance for evil, so that men do not bother to discern good and evil. Study Questions804. Who is meant in the expression “ of whom” ? Hebrews 5:11. 805. Are there many things to say of Melchizedek? 806. In what three matters may difficulty of interpretation be possible? Hebrews 5:11. 807. Is it hard to interpret “ of whom” “ Christ” or “ Melchizedek” ? 808. Is it the teacher’ s fault here? 809. Is the subject hard to understand? 810. In the light of this verse, where is the difficulty? Hebrews 5:11. 811. Do you understand what is hard of interpretation? 812. Is “ dull of hearing” an offensive accusation? 813. What made Paul think that they were dull? 814. Did Jesus feel that His generation was dull? Cf. Matthew 13:14-15. 815. “ Reason of time” would refer to what? 816. How much time had expired between Jesus’ death and the writing of the Hebrew letter? 817. Is Paul implying that all of them ought to be teachers? 818. How many of our converts aspire to be teachers? 819. How many become teachers? 820. How many are even interested in learning, according to Bible School, church, prayer meeting attendance? 821. Are elders expected to be teachers? 822. Should a man be an elder if he has all of the other qualifications? If he can’ t express himself, is he fit? 823. “ Need again” would mean what? 824. What are “ rudiments” ? 825. “ First principles” would mean what? 826. Do people complain at hearing simple things repeated over and over again? 827. Are the “ dull of hearing” ones the complainers or the teachers? 828. What do “ oracles of God” refer to? 829. Is “ oracles” a common word in the New Testament? Cf. Acts 7:38; Romans 3:2; Hebrews 5:12; 1 Peter 4:11. 830. What would the “ milk” refer to? Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2. 831. What does Peter say about milk? 1 Peter 2:2. 832. What does “ solid food” refer to? 833. Why could they not digest it? 834. Did they not understand Aaron’ s priesthood? 835. Could it refer back to the priesthood of which he wanted to say many things? 836. Name some things that would be classed as “ solid food” . 837. Is there much hope of evangelizing the world with “ high chair” Christians? 838. What is the future of the church when folk cannot wield the sword of the spirit? 839. What is meant by “ experience” ? 840. What experience does the baby in Christ lack? 841. Can a baby do more than it is taught? Is the same true of spiritual babes? 842. Would Romans 14:1-6 have a bearing on this subject? 843. Do we have any clues in Hebrews as to the particular shortcomings of the people which caused this to be written? For instance, in Corinthians and Galatians special problems are named. 844. What is meant by “ word of righteousness” ? 845. Can you define “ righteousness” ? 846. What could they have lacked that kept them from being righteous? 847. Did Jesus have anything to say concerning righteousness? 848. What does a baby do that weak Christians do? 849. Could our spiritual capacity be an indication of our spiritual age? 850. What do you consider “ solid food” to be? 851. Observe that wisdom is connected with fullgrown men. 1 Corinthians 2:6. 852. What comparison can be make with stature and Christ? See Ephesians 4:13-14. 853. It is said of Jesus that he increased in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52. What evidence do we have that He did? 854. Could these or the lack of them prove that we have or have not attained spiritual adulthood? 855. Do you know of anyone whom you consider to be full-grown? 856. Should a man be an elder in the church if he is a babe? 857. What would the “ senses” refer to? 858. What sensation does the spiritual person have? 859. What can you do to exercise your senses? 860. Are the five senses referred to in the Word? See 1 Peter 2:3; Hebrews 6:4; Psalms 119:18; Ephesians 1:8. 861. Look at Ephesians 4:32 for “ feeling” . 862. What does Philippians 4:18 say concerning smell? 863. Why should a person exercise himself? 864. What is meant by discernment? 865. Why is it an effort to detect evil? Isn’ t it obvious? Hebrews 6:1-8 AN TO GO ON FROM THE STUDYOF THE OF , IN Heb_6:1-8 Hebrews 6:1 ---Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, — The word therefore (dio) is illative, showing the connection of what precedes with what follows. In the last paragraph, the Apos­tle avers that none but the perfect (teleioi) are capable of receiv­ing, digesting, and duly appropriating the more abstruse and diffi­cult themes of the Gospel. And hence he exhorts his Hebrew brethren to become perfect; to be no longer babes in Christ, but to go on with him to perfection in the knowledge of Divine things. Hebrews 6:1 --- But not laying again the foundation, etc.— The first thing neces­sary in building, is to lay a foundation, and to lay it well. And the man who neglects this, and who, without a proper foundation, be­gins to build an edifice, will never accomplish much in the way of churches, and communities. There are certain fundamental principles of architecture. But equally puerile and absurd is the course of the man who keeps forever laying the foundation, and proceeds no fur­ther. The foundation is of course necessary; but the superstruc­ture is equally necessary to complete the building. And just so it is with regard to the spiritual edification of individuals, families, belonging to the Religion of Christ, a clear and correct under­standing of which is essential to all future progress in the Divine life; just as a foundation is necessary to a building, or as a knowl­edge of the English alphabet is essential to the study of the higher branches of English literature. But having once properly under­stood these elementary principles of the Christian Religion, we should henceforth go on to perfection in the knowledge of Christ. These elementary principles of Christianity, as here laid down by our author, are:(1) Repentance from dead works,— The word rendered re­pentance (metanoia) means properly a change of mind. It im­plies, therefore, that the sinner has obtained new views of Christ, of sin, and of holiness. He is made to realize that it was for him that Jesus wept, and bled, and died. And this conviction begets in his heart a godly sorrow for his sins. As he now looks on him who was pierced for his transgressions and bruised for his iniqui­ties, he is himself greatly grieved in spirit; and he resolves that with the help of God he will henceforth “ cease to do evil, and learn to do well.” The resolution is no sooner formed than the change of life begins. His simple inquiry now is, “ Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” And having obtained an answer to this question, he no longer confers with flesh and blood; but with an humble, loyal, loving, prayerful, and obedient heart, he at once takes upon him the yoke of Christ, and submits in all things to his will and government. Here then we have (1) a change of the understanding, arising through Divine grace from the force of the testimony submitted; a change of feeling, a deep sense of conviction wrought in the heart, by the aforesaid change of the understanding; (3) a change of the will, effected by the antecedent change of the heart; and (4) a change of conduct, growing out of the change of the will. Which of these four elementary changes constitutes what is properly called true and genuine repentance ? They are all essential links in the same chain of causation; and it may therefore be conceded that they are all implied in the word repentance. But the question is, not what is implied in this word, but rather what is expressed by it in the inspired writings. That it denotes a change, subsequent to that which is effected in the understanding by means of testimony, and even to that which follows as an immediate effect of this in the region of the affections, is manifest from such passages as the fol­lowing: “ Now I rejoice,” says Paul, “ not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance (eis metanoian) ; for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this self-same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you; yea, what clearing of yourselves; yea, what indignation; yea, what fear; yea, what vehe­ment desire; yea, what zeal; yea, what revenge. In all things, ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” (2 Corinthians 7:9-11.) From this, it seems that Paul had, by a prudent and judi­cious presentation of facts and arguments in his first Epistle to the Corinthians, wrought a logical change in their understanding; and this change of judgment produced in turn a corresponding change in their feelings. Their hearts were now filled with godly sorrow. But neither of these changes constitutes repentance. It is some­thing which follows after all this in the chain of causation. Fbr says Paul, “ Ye sorrowed to repentance” And again he says, “ Godly sorrow worketh repentanceGodly sorrow, then, is es­sential to repentance, as an antecedent cause is always necessary to an effect. But repentance follows godly sorrow, as godly sorrow itself follows a certain class of our moral judgments. Does repentance then consist in a change of the will, or in a change of conduct, or in both? Peter answers this question in Acts 3:19, where he says to the multitude, “ Repent then, and turn, in order that your sins may be blotted out, that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.” Here the word turn (epistrephate) expresses all that appertains to the required change of conduct; and as repentance is antecedent to this, it follows as a logical necessity from our premises that repent­ance consists essentially, in a change of the will. That the word repentance is often used in a more comprehensive sense, so as to include godly sorrow and also reformation of life is, I think, quite obvious from sundry passages of Scripture. The latter of these (reformation of life) is, indeed, clearly implied in the expression, “ repentance from dead works.” But the essential element of re­pentance, in every case, is a change of the will. It consists simply in a perfect and unreserved submission of the will of the sinner to the will of God. This change is always the legitimate effect of godly sorrow in the heart, and always leads to a change of conduct, or a reformation in the life of the penitent believer. “ Dead works” are by many supposed to be the works of the Law. They are so called, it is alleged, because of their utter ineffi­ciency in the way of procuring life and salvation for the sinner. But is not this using the phrase in too limited a sense ? Are not all required to repent and turn from everything that is sinful and that leads to death, such as the works of the flesh enumerated in Galatians 5:19-21 ? The Apostle here seems to use the phrase “ repentance from dead works” in its widest sense, embracing everything from which the sinner is required to turn in his conversion from dark­ness to light, and from the service of Satan to the service of God. (2) Faith toward God.—“ Faith,” we are told, “ comes by hear­ing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17.) And hence John says, “ These [things] are written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:31.) It is evident, there­fore, that the first element of Gospel faith is belief, a firm in­tellectual conviction, resting on the evidence submitted, that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Son of the living God; and that there is, in fact, “ no other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12.) Under favorable cir­cumstances, this conviction begets, as we have seen, godly sorrow in the heart; and, at the same time, some degree of confidence and trust in Christ, as the Son of God and Savior of sinners. But however strong may be the belief, or intellectual conviction of the sinner, touching the person and character of Jesus as the Son of God, his trust (which may be regarded as the second element of faith) both in God and in Christ will of necessity be comparatively weak until he repents. This arises necessarily out of the condi­tions of offered pardon. The promise of salvation is to those who believe, repent, and reform. How, then, can the impenitent sinner trust confidently in God or in Christ? Manifestly, this is impossi­ble. He may indeed under the firm persuasion that Jesus has by the grace of God tasted death for every man, cherish some degree of hope, and repose some degree of trust in God, even before he fully repents of his sins, and resolves to reform his life; nay, in­deed, this he must do, if he ever repents. But it is not until the will of the sinner is wholly subjected to the will of God, that he can fully trust in God, and rely on him for every needed blessing. And hence it is that faith and repentance have a mutual and reflex influence on each other. Faith leads to repentance; while repent­ance again serves very greatly to increase our faith; and especially, that element of it which relates to the heart, and which we call trust in God. And hence it is perhaps, that in this summary of the rudiments of the Christian Religion, faith is placed after repent­ance; because it is the faith of the heart, to which the Apostle has here special, though not exclusive, reference— his main object in the whole Epistle being to persuade his brethren to repent from all dead works, and to trust in God through Christ for every needed blessing. As he says also in Rom. 10: 10, “ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation/' And again he says in the same Epistle, “ But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Rom. 4:5.) It is scarcely necessary to add, that faith in God implies also faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit; for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God (Deut. 4: 4); so that he who honoreth not the Son, honoreth not the Father who sent him (John 5: 23); and he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit blasphemes against God (Matt. 12: 31, 32; Acts 5: 4). It is all folly to profess to believe in God, while we reject the claims of Christ as the Savior of the world. “ This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” (John 17: 3.) (3) Of the doctrine of baptisms,— This is given as the third elementary principle of the Christian Religion. But why does our author speak of baptisms (baptismoi) in the plural number? And how is this to be reconciled with what he says in Eph. 4:5: “ [There is] one Lord, one faith, one baptism” ? In answer to these queries, it is alleged (a) that the Apostle refers here not only to Christian baptism, as in Eph. 4: 5, but also to the baptism of John, the baptism of Jewish proselytes, and the divers Jewish washings referred to in 9: 10. (Bleek, Hofmann, Delitzsch, Alford). But with what propriety could all these be ranked under the head of Christian doctrine? Why should the baptism of John and the va­rious Jewish washings be treated as elementary principles of the Christian Religion? On the same principle, it seems to me, we might arrange and classify all the rites and ceremonies of the Law, as elements of the doctrine of Christ, (b) Some think that the plural is used here for the singular; and that nothing more is really intended than the one ordinance of Christian baptism, as in Eph. 4: 5. (Syr. Version, Stuart.) But if so, why does our author use the plural number, when he might have so readily used the singu­lar? Such an arbitrary use of words is not in harmony with the usual accuracy of the inspired writers, (c) Others suppose that our author has reference to the several acts of baptism, three thou­sand of which were performed on the day of the opening of Christ’ s reign on Earth. (Theodoret, Storr.) But in reply to this, it is enough to say that it is not of any special acts of faith, re­pentance, baptism, etc., that our author is here speaking, but of certain elementary and fundamental principles and elements of the kingdom of Christ, (d) Others again think that the allusion is to trine-immersion, or the threefold dipping of confessing penitents. (DeWette, etc.) But of such an ordinance, the New Testament knows nothing. The practice of trine-immersion is post-apostolic, and has no sanction whatever in the word of God. Is there then a plurality of baptisms under the reign and admin­istration of the Lord Jesus, and which may therefore be ranked with the rudiments of the doctrine of Christ? If so, what are they? That every believing confessing penitent is required to be bap­tized, or immersed, in water, is manifest from such passages as the following: Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38 Acts 8:12 Acts 8:36-37 Acts 10:47-48, etc. This is always to be done, as appears from these Scriptures, in the name of the Lord Jesus; and the candidate is in all cases baptized into (eis) the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. It is therefore one baptism, and but one. And hence Paul argues from this the necessity of there being but one body, ani­mated by one Spirit, and governed by one supreme Head. (Ephesians 4:3-16.) There is then unquestionably one baptism in water, and but one, in which all penitent believers put on Christ (Galatians 3:27), and are all immersed into the one body (1 Corinthians 12:13). But is this all? Is there no other baptism to be administered under the reign of Christ? In Matthew 3:12, we have the testimony of John the Baptist, that Christ would be a Baptizer, as well as himself. Speaking to the vast multitudes that came to be baptized by him, he said, “ I indeed baptize you in (en) water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you in (en) the Holy Spirit and in fire; whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:11-12.) John did not, and could not, unerringly know the hearts of the people. He was ever liable to be deceived; and he no doubt baptized some very un­worthy persons. But not so with the Baptizer who was to come after him. He would thoroughly separate the good from the bad; and the former, here represented by the wheat, he would baptize in the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 2:38; Ephesians 5:18) ; but the latter, represented by the chaff, he would baptize in fire. See 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2 Peter 3:7 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 20:15. We have then under the reign of Christ, as elementary ordi­nances of the New Economy (1) a baptism in water, in which all penitent believers who confess Christ are introduced into his body; (2) a baptism in the Holy Spirit, administered by Christ himself to all who are really begotten by the Spirit and born of water; and (3) a baptism in fire, by means of which the wicked will all be finally overwhelmed in sufferings. See references. Are not these, then, the baptisms of which our author here speaks? If so, it may be asked, Then why does he not use the word baptisma instead of baptismos? The former is the common term used for baptism in the New Testament; and the latter is used in both Mark 7:4 Mark 7:8, and Hebrews 9:10, for Jewish washings. There seems therefore to be some weight in this objection; but it is perhaps only in appearance, as these words are both derivatives from bap- tizo and each signifies a dipping or an immersion. And besides, Josephus uses baptismos in speaking of John’ s baptism. (Ant. xviii. 5, 2). I am therefore, on the whole, inclined to the opinion, that it is to these three baptisms that our author here refers. If this is not his meaning, then I think we must accept the first hypothesis as advocated by Bleek, Hofmann, and others. (4)And of laying on of hands,— The laying on of hands is a natural sign, indicating the bestowment of any gift, trust, or bless­ing. And hence we find that in the primitive Church, hands were imposed (a) in imparting spiritual gifts (Acts 8:17); (b) in healing the sick (Acts 28:8) ; and (c) in ordaining men to the work of the ministry (Acts 6:6 Acts 13:3 Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14 1 Timothy 5:22). The last only is an established ordinance of the Church. It is to be observed throughout the entire period of the regeneration, while the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, and while the Apostles shall sit on twelve thrones judging the redeemed Is­rael of God. And hence it is manifest that the doctrine of this or­dinance involves also the whole subject of ordination and church organization. For the command to lay hands suddenly on no man (1 Timothy 5:22), implies of necessity the consideration of the sev­eral classes of church officers, together with their prescribed func­tions and scriptural qualifications, as well as the condition of the Church itself, and the special fitness or unfitness of the individual for the work to which he is about to be consecrated. Most appro­priately therefore is this ordinance ranked among the rudiments of Christian doctrine. (5)And of resurrection of the dead,— In the original Greek, the word answering to resurrection (anastasis) is anarthrous, being sufficiently defined by the adjunct which follows. But the ar­ticle is required by our English idiom, and the whole phrase should be rendered, “ And of the resurrection of the dead.’’ This elemen­tary doctrine of the Christian Religion was denied by the Saddu- cees (Matthew 22:23), and by the heathen philosophers generally (Acts 17:32) ; but the Apostles often dwell on it as a fundamental doctrine of the Gospel, showing that through Christ all will be raised from the dead, to be judged for the deeds done in the body. See references. Hebrews 6:2 ---And of eternal judgment.— Many of God’ s judgments are now of only temporary duration; because they are designed for our correction and discipline. (2 Corinthians 4:17; Hebrews 12:6-11.) But not so with the final and general judgment. It will never be reversed; and hence it will in its effects and consequences endure forever. The decree of Jehovah touching the character and destiny of man­kind after the judgment, is given by the Holy Spirit as follows: “ He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still." (Revelation 22:11.) And accordingly, Christ closes his description of the general judg­ment, by saying that the wicked shall go away into everlasting (aionios) punishment; but the righteous, into everlasting (aion- ios) life. (Matthew 25:46.) Hebrews 6:3 ---And this will we do, etc.— That is, we will, with the help of God, go on to perfection. The Apostle well knew that without God’ s help, they could accomplish nothing. (John 15:5.) And hence while urging his brethren, by all the high motives of the Gospel, to greater diligence in making their calling and election sure, he is careful to remind them of the necessity of submitting to the will of God, and looking to him for help in all things. Hebrews 6:4 ---For it is impossible—The word “ /or” (gar) connects the main thought of the preceding paragraph with what follows. The object of the Apostle is to set before his readers the fearful import of the dangers to which they were exposed; and his idea is simply this: we must with the help of God strive earnestly to go on to perfection; for otherwise, we are in constant danger of apostatiz­ing, and so of placing ourselves beyond the possibility of recovery. For it is impossible, he says, to renew and save those who were once in covenant with Christ, but who have apostatized from him. Various attempts have been made, but in vain, to soften the meaning of this expression. The fact is as plainly taught as it can be, both in the Scriptures and in history, that it is morally impossi­ble to bring some men to repentance. Their hearts have been so hardened by sin, that no power consistent with the will and gov­ernment of God can soften them. These persons may have been once truly converted to Christ, or they may not. To some of the latter class, Christ refers in Matthew 12:31-32. These clearly showed the desperate depravity of their hearts on that occasion by openly blaspheming the Holy Spirit; for which sin, Christ says, there is no forgiveness. But it is obviously of the former class, of those who had been once truly converted and afterward apostatized, that our author here speaks. This will appear more obvious as we pro­ceed with the exegesis of the several clauses of this paragraph. Hebrews 6:4 ---those who were once enlightened,— In John 8:12, Christ says to the Jews, “ I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” And hence it is, that to be enlightened, is often given in the New Testa­ment as a characteristic mark of the true followers of Christ. Thus, for instance, our author reminds his Hebrew brethren, that after they were enlightened they endured a great fight of afflictions. (Hebrews 10:32.) And to the Ephesians he says, “ Ye were once (pote) darkness; but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8.) There can be no doubt therefore that the Apostle refers here to those who had been once translated from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. See also Colossians 1:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 2:9-11. Hebrews 6:4 ---and have tasted of the heavenly gift,— The word tasted (geu- samenous) means here as in 2: 9, to experience, to partake of. But what is the heavenly gift, of which our author speaks? Some say that it is Christ himself; some, that it is the Holy Spirit; some, the remission of sins; and some, the Lord’ s Supper. But to me it seems most probable, that it is the new life which we enjoy in Christ; including of course remission of sins, justification, and all in fact that pertains to our present salvation. This view accords well with the context and also with many parallel passages. Thus, for example, in John 6: 33, Christ says, “ The bread of God is he who cometh down from Heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” And in 20: 31, of the same narrative, John himself bears witness saying, “ These things are written that ye might believe, and that believing ye might have life through his name.” In some passages, the believer is said to have eternal life (John 3:36 John 5:24 John 6:47); and hence it is inferred by some that he can never die. And this is certainly true, if he continue to hold fast the beginning of his confidence steadfast even to the end of this mortal life. The true believer never dies; that is, he never dies while he is a true believer. For Christ says, “ Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:26.) So long as we continue faithful, “ Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor princi­palities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39.) But be it observed, that it is only by metonymy that the Christian is now said to have eternal life. For this life is in Christ; and hence, as John says, “ He that hath the Son hath life.” (1 John 5:12.) And in the verse immediately preceding, he says, “ This is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” Beyond all doubt, then, there is eternal life in Christ; and everyone therefore who has the Son has also the life that is in him. But if he let go the Son, he is then himself cast off as a branch, and withers. (John 15:1-5.) And hence, as we learn, the actual enjoyment of eternal life is a matter that belongs to the future, and is an object of hope even with the Christian. It is the gift of God, through Jesus Christ, to be bestowed on all who perse­vere in well doing to the end of their earthly pilgrimage. So Christ and his Apostles both testify in many passages of the in­spired word. In Mark 10:29-30, for example, Christ says to his disciples, “ Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or chil­dren, or lands, for my sake and the Gospel’ s, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions: and in the world to come, eternal life.” And in like manner Paul says to Timothy, “ Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the prom­ise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8.) And again he exhorts Timothy to “ lay hold on eternal life.” (1 Timothy 6:12). See also Matthew 25:46; Luke 18:30; John 12:25; Titus 1:5 Titus 3:7; 1 John 2:25. So long, then, as a man abides in him who is himself the foun­tain of all life, he has life; and in a metonymical sense, he may be said to have eternal life. But if, by apostasy, he ever separates himself from Christ, then of course death is inevitable. (John 15:6; Colossians 3:3-4.) On any other hypothesis, the argument of the apostle in this paragraph, and indeed throughout this whole Epis­tle, is not only pointless, but it is also deceptive. If there is no possibility of falling from grace, and so forfeiting our claims to eternal life, then for what purpose was this Epistle written? And why all the warnings and admonitions to Christians that abound, not only in this Epistle, but also throughout the whole Bible ? God does not so deceive his children. He is too kind, too merciful, too benevolent, and too just, to allow anyone, speaking by the Holy Spirit, to alarm and terrify his people by either false representa­tions or delusive arguments. “ By grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,” bestowed freely on all them who persevere in well-doing to the end of life. Hebrews 6:4 ---and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost.— To be made a partaker of the Holy Spirit is the peculiar favor of God vouchsafed to the Christian. The world cannot receive it, says Christ. (John 14:17.) But it is freely promised to all who by faith and obedi­ence put on Christ, and so walk in him. Thus, for instance, Paul says to the Galatians, “ Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4:6.) And again he says to the Roman brethren, “ but ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Romans 8:9-11.) This partaking of the Holy Spirit is therefore quite different from its enlightening and vivifying influences spoken of in the preceding context; and also from “ the good word of God,” and the miraculous gifts and demonstrations of the Spirit referred to in the following context. The Apostle here speaks manifestly of the indwelling of the Spirit itself in the soul of the believer, according to the promise of Christ given in John 7:37-39, and the promise Peter as recorded in Acts 2:38. And hence we are again constrained to believe that the writer has reference here to persons who were once in cove­nant with God, and who for a time enjoyed all the blessings and benefits of his church on earth. Hebrews 6:5 ---And have tasted the good word of God,— The Greek word for taste, (geuomai), is followed in the fourth verse by a noun in the genitive case; but here it is followed by a noun in the accusa­tive. These two constructions do not differ essentially from each other; and hence we sometimes find the genitive, as in 2: 9, where we would naturally expect the accusative. But when the two cases are used, as here, in connection with each other, a difference of meaning would seem to be intended by the author. And hence it is probable that the accusative case is used after the verb in this instance to denote the full and experimental enjoyment of “ the good word of God,” and of the powerful demonstrations of the Holy Spirit, which none but the obedient believer in the kingdom of Christ is able to realize. (John 7:17; Romans 12:2.) To him, the good word of God sustained, as it is by the demonstrations of the Holy Spirit, is the food of the soul; sweeter to his taste than honey, yea, than the honey-comb. Hebrews 6:5 ---and the powers of the world to come.—(mellontos aionos) of the coming age. The word powers (dunameis) has manifest refer­ence to the works of the Spirit in revealing the truth, supporting the truth, and carrying forward the work of redemption to its full and perfect consummation. The coming age is therefore identical, at least in part, with the Christian age, or the period of Christ’ s mediatorial reign. Whether it extends beyond this limit, so as to embrace also the era of the New Earth, is worthy of consideration. See note on Hebrews 2:5. But certain it is that the writer embraces in this remark the whole Gospel dispensation. There is therefore here, as Albert Barnes justly remarks, “ a reg­ular gradation from the first elements of piety in the soul to its highest developments; and whether the Apostle so designed it or not, the language describes the successive steps by which the true Christian advances to the highest stage of Christian experience. The mind is (a) enlightened; then (b) it tastes of the heavenly gift, or has some experience of it; then (c) it is made to partake of the influences of the Holy Spirit; then (d) there is experience of the excellence and loveliness of the word of God; and (e) finally there is a participation, of the full powers of the new dispensation; of the extraordinary energy which God puts forth in the Gospel to sanctify and save the soul.” And hence it seems evident that the persons referred to by the Apostle, had the fullest evidence, both external and internal, as well as experimental, that the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone that believes and obeys it. Hebrews 6:6 ---If they shall fall away,— (kai parapesontas) and having fallen away. On this expression, Dr. Macknight remarks as fol­lows : “ The verbs photistlientas, geusamenous, and genethentas, being all aorists, are rightly rendered by our translators in the past time; who were enlightened, have tasted, and were made partakers. Wherefore, parapesontas, being an aorist, ought likewise to have been translated in past time, have fallen away. Nevertheless, our translators following Beza, who without any authority from an­cient manuscripts, inserted in his version the word si (if), have rendered this clause, ‘ if they shall fall away’ ; that this text might not appear to contradict the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. But as no translator should take upon him to add to or to alter the Scriptures for the sake of any favorite doctrine, I have translated parapesontas in the past time, have fallen away, accord­ing to the true import of the word as standing in connection with the other aorists in the preceding verses.” It is therefore possible that a man may have been once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and been made a partaker of the Holy Spirit, and that he may have experienced the blessed sanctifying influences of the good word of God, sustained and supported by the powerful demonstrations of the reign of Heaven, and nevertheless fall away beyond the reach of recovery. “ Let him [then] that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.” to renew them again to repentance:— To do this in the case of those who have apostatized from Christ is simply impossible. When the cord of life and love that binds the true believer to Christ, has been once completely severed, the parties so separated can never again be reunited. The case of the apostate is as hope­less as is that of Satan himself. Nothing remains for him but “ a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries.” This is so clearly taught both here and in 10 : 26-29, that of the fact itself there can be no ques­tion. But why is it so? Is it owing simply to the fact that the heart of the apostate becomes so hardened by sin that no moral power can renew it? Or does God then also withdraw his con­verting and renewing power from every such abandoned sinner? That both are true seems very evident from such passages as the following: Gen. 6: 3; Num. 15: 30, 31; Prov. 1: 24-32; Isa. 55: 6; Hos. 4: 17; Rom. 1: 24, 26, 28; 2 Thess. 2: 11, 12. Hebrews 6:6 ---seeing they crucify, etc.—We have given in this clause the characteristic spirit of that class of persons to whom the Apostle refers in our text. They would crucify, if they could, the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. The mere backslider, though fallen, has still faith in Christ. It may be very weak, and almost ready to perish. But with proper care it may be revived and strengthened, and the poor repenting sinner will then mourn over his sins and transgressions, as one that mourns for an only son, or as “ one that is in bitterness for his first-born.” But not so with the hardened apostate. He has no longer any trust and confi­dence in Christ. Hatred has taken the place of love in his heart, and esteeming the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sancti­fied an unholy thing, he tramples it under his feet in contempt, and if it were possible he would even crucify again the Son of God, and expose him to public reproach. On this whole subject, Dean Alford makes the following very just and critical remarks: “ In later times the great combat over our passage has been between the Calvinistic and Armenian expos­itors. To favor their peculiar views of indefectibility, the former have endeavored to weaken the force of the participial clauses as implying any real participation in the spiritual life. So Calvin, Beza, Owen, Tait, etc. Owen says, ‘ The persons here intended are not true and sincere believers:— for (1) in their full and large description there is no mention of faith or believing, etc.’— But all this is clearly wrong, and contrary to the plainest sense of the terms here used. The writer even heaps clause upon clause to show that no such shallow tasting, no ‘ primoribus tantum labris gustasse [no mere tasting with the top of the lips] is intended. And the whole contextual argument is against the view, for it is the very fact of these persons having veritably entered into the spiritual life, which makes it impossible to renew them afresh if they shall fall away. If they have never entered it, if they are unre­generate, what possible logic is it, or even common sense at all, to say that their shallow taste and partial apprehension, makes it im­possible to renew them? And what again to say that it is impossi­ble palin anakainizein [to renew again] persons in whose case no anakainismos [renewal] has ever taken place? If they never have believed, never have been regenerated, how can it be more difficult to renew them to repentance, than the heathen or any un­regenerate person ? Our landmark of exegesis must be to hold fast the plain simple sense of the passage, and recognize the fact that the persons are truly the partakers of the spiritual life— regenerate by the Holy Spirit.” These critical reasonings and observations are not to be gain- sayed; they are, in fact, wholly unanswerable. But how painful it is after all this to hear from the same learned author such unautho­rized remarks as the following: “ Elect, of course, they are not, or they could not fall away, by the very force of the term. But this is one among many passages, wherein the Scripture, as ever from the teaching of the church, we learn that elect and regenerate are not convertible terms. All elect are regenerate; but all regenerate are not elect. The regenerate may fall away; the elect never can.” Here the learned author certainly attempts to make a groundless distinction. Where in the Scriptures is it taught that some of the regenerate are not elect ?! Dean Alford was an able critic; but in his theological speculations he frequently errs. Equally strange and absurd is the hypothesis of the good and venerable Albert Barnes. He says, “ The passage proves that if true believers should apostatize, it would be impossible to renew and save them. If then it should be asked whether I believe that any true Christian ever did or ever will fall from grace, and wholly lose his religion, I would answer unhesitatingly no” Why, then, all this earnest warning about a matter which never did occur, and which from the very nature of the case never can occur?! Why spend our time in solemnly warning the people to beware lest the heavens fall, if by the decrees and ordinances of Jehovah it is made absolutely impossible that they ever can fall ?! Hebrews 6:7 ---For the earth, etc.— The word “ for” introduces a compar­ison, the object of which is to show still further the necessity of growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, and also to illustrate at the same time the awful consequences of not striving to bring forth in our lives the required fruits of the Gospel. Land, says our author, which has drunk in the rain which comes often upon it, and brings forth herbage fit for them on whose account it is also tilled, partakes of blessing from God; but bearing thorns and thistles, it is rejected as worthless, and is nigh unto a curse, whose end is for burning. In this passage the apostle refers for illustration to two kinds of land: the soil of the one is good, and imbibing the rain which falls frequently upon it, it brings forth herbs and plants suitable for those on whose account it is cultivated. And hence, as a consequence of this, it is blessed of God after the manner of the primitive blessing, by being made more fruitful. (Genesis 1:28.) See references. This soil represents the fruit-bearing Christian, who, as Hosea says, “ shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.” (Hosea 14:5-6.) And again Christ says, “ Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:2.) Hebrews 6:8 ---But that which beareth thorns, etc.— There is some land which no ordinary cultivation can render productive. It may be plowed deep, and sowed with the best of seed; the rains and the dews may descend upon it, and the sunshine of heaven may warm and cherish it, but it is all in vain. Bringing forth nothing but thorns and thistles, it is rejected as unfit for cultivation, and is burned over, not to prepare it for future tillage, but, it may be, for the beasts of the field, or to prevent its injurious effects on the lands around it. This land represents those nominal Christians who bring forth no fruit to perfection. God will finally treat them as the farmer treats the barren soil. They are even now nigh unto cursing, like the barren fig-tree (Mark 11:21) ; and their end is for burning. They will all finally have their part in the lake of fire, “ where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched.” Commentary on Hebrews 6:1-8 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_6:1 --Wherefore leaving doctrine of the first principlesThe initial steps are the simple things: a. Isaiah 35:8 : Observe what Isaiah said: “ Wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err.” b. These first principles are named in verses one and two, They are not “ left,” but serve as the foundation. a. Not left in the sense that they are forsaken. b. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12, 13, discusses the gifts of the Spirit and says, faith, hope and love are greater. Hebrews 6:1 --let us press onPaul set the example, saying, “ I press toward the mark.” Philippians 3:14. The Christian that isn’ t growing is going back toward the world, Hebrews 6:1 --to perfectiona. Perfection is of God: 1. Psalms 18:32 : “ The God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect.” 2. Psalms 138:8 : “ Jehovah will perfect that which concerneth me. Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, endureth forever.” b. God is the standard: 1. Matthew 5:48 : “ Ye therefore shall be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The part of God’ s Word in perfection— our guide is perfect. a. James 1:25 : “ But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.” b. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 : “ Every scripture inspired of God, is also profitable for teaching— .” Our Saviour was perfect. See Hebrews 4:15 and Hebrews 5:9. Hebrews 6:1 --not laying again a foundationIn building a house we do not leave the foundation, yet to be always at work building it would be ridiculous. a. The structure ought to rise above the foundation. b. One foundation for a building is sufficient. God speaks of us as His building. 1 Corinthians 3:9 : “ Ye are God’ s building.” Ephesians 2:22 : “ In whom ye also are builded together— .” Colossians 2:7 : . . . “ rooted and builded up in Him.”Hebrews 6:1 --of repentenceSome people are always in some scrape. They are always in need of forgiveness and repentance. a. Repentance means that we do not continue in evil, occasionally regretting it. b. John’ s listeners needed to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. We are not to live in constant need of repentance, but to avoid evil. Hebrews 6:1 --from dead worksThe past of an individual is to be buried at baptism and ought never to need repenting of again. What is “ dead works” ? a. The vain effort to relieve a troubled conscience by legal obedience. b. It is not service, but religious performances. c. Newell has a unique idea here: 1. He says that Gentiles were commanded to repent of sins. Acts 8:22. They were never commanded to repent of dead works. 2. Milligan, however, feels that this is using the word in too limited a sense. d. Works of the law were dead works, but surely “ dead works” refers to all services of Satan.Hebrews 6:1 --and of faith towards GodThe initial faith that caused one to act for God must not be considered sufficient. a. Genuine faith produces righteousness. b. Few men disbelieve in a higher Power, but this is not sufficient. The Jew had a faith in God, What he needed was a faith that included Jesus Christ. Hebrews 6:2 --of the teaching of baptismsWhy “ baptisms” in the plural? a. Chrysostom: Because they who returned to first principles abrogated their first baptism. b. Calvin: “ Baptisms” didn’ t have reference to many baptisms but solemn rites or the stated days of baptizing. c. John Owen, translator of Calvin’ s commentary: “ Some of these folk had been baptized by John, some were afterwards baptized only in the name of Christ (Acts 19:5); others were baptized in the name of the trinity.” d. This may allude to the Levitical law, says Clarke, for they had immersions, sprinklings, washings. e. Some say the two baptisms that John preached, baptism in the Holy Spirit and in fire. Matthew 3:11. f. Newell says, “ Plural because unto the Jews God had prescribed.” 1. John the Baptist’ s baptism. 2. Christian baptism. g. Milligan says, (1) a baptism in water in which all penitent believers who confess Christ are introduced into his body; (2) a baptism in the Holy Spirit administered by Christ himself to all who are really begotten by the Spirit and born of the water; and (3) a baptism in fire by means of which the wicked will all be finally overwhelmed in sufferings. The point to gain is that it is an initiatory step, and one is not to sit on the edge of the baptistry.Hebrews 6:2 --and of laying on of handsThe “ laying on of hands” on the baptized was an apostolic practice by which miraculous gift of tongues, etc., was bestowed. a. The evidence from scripture: 1. See Acts 8:14 b, 15: “ Peter and John, who, when they were came down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit.” Hebrews 6:17 : “ Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.” 2. Acts 19:6 : Paul laid on his hands, and they spoke with tongues. b. Two groups were able to impart gifts: 1. The apostles, Acts 19:6 : “ And when Paul had laid his hands upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” 2 Timothy 1:6 : “— gift in thee through the laying on of my hands.” 2. The presbytery, 1 Timothy 4:14 : “ Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.”3. The laying on of hands was also connected with bodily healings. Acts 5:12 : “ By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people.” Cf. Acts 9:41; Acts 28:8. It was also done to set aside men for special tasks: a. The seven in Jerusalem set aside for the care of Grecian widows. Acts 6:6. b. Paul and Barnabas. Acts 13:3. A warning as in order; laying on of hands was not to be done hastily. 1 Timothy 5:22.Hebrews 6:2 --and of resurrection of the deadDoes he mean “ raised to walk in newness” from the dead, a spiritual condition, or does he mean a physical death? a. Resurrection is a tenet of faith, a phase of the gospel. 1. Peter used the resurrection story to persuade the Jews of sin against God. 2. After this doctrine is believed, we are to press on to matters of life. An Easter and Christmas religion is too apparent in our day, and no doubt was in theirs. a. Many people go to church on Easter and sometimes on Christmas and never again during the year. b. The resurrection is one of the primary things, for it is a part of the gospel. 1 Corinthians 15:1-5. It was the judgment to come, included in Paul’ s sermon, that terrified Felix. See Acts 24:25. a. A fear or a confidence is not sufficient. b. We are to build a wonderful Christian life on the foundation of our belief. c. The fact that we are to be raised should be an inducement to repent and to live righteously. Resurrection and judgment are connected with our Lord’ s resurrection, Acts 17:31 and Acts 24:25. Hebrews 6:2 --and of eternal judgmentAn impelling motive is fear, a first principle. a. A person who progresses in the Christian life has less fear in proportion to how much love is increased. b. The reason some never repent is that they have never heard this doctrine of judgment. The apostles were not afraid to preach this doctrine. a. Paul used fear of judgment with Felix, Acts 24:25. b. Peter used fear to move the people on Pentecost. c. Jesus taught it. Observe that six things have been named in the life that begin in relationship to Christ. a. Repentance from dead works. b. Faith toward God. c. Baptisms. d. Laying on of hands. e. Resurrection from the dead. f. Eternal judgment.Hebrews 6:3 --and this will we do“ And this will we do” refers to Hebrews 6:1. a. What will we do? 1. Leave the first principles. Hebrews 6:1. 2. Press on to perfection. Hebrews 6:1. b. Paul uses the word “ we” , perhaps to speak generally and personally. Hebrews 6:3 --if God permitThis is a warning to the backslider. a. Work now without delay, for there will not always be the opportunity for making progress. b. Perhaps the Apostate has rejected God as in Noah’ s evil day when God will not always strive. Genesis 6:3. c. Remember Jacob could not change his promise although Esau begged. Hebrews 12:17. There are other views on this expression. a. Milligan: “ This we will do with the help of God.” b. Newell: “ We beg you, guard your heart against that awful thought, that there are those truly seeking to get back to God whom He will not receive.” Let us remember that there is an unpardonable sin. a. The verses, Matthew 12:31-33 : All sin be forgiven but against the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 6:4 : It is impossible to renew them who have turned back into sin. b. Jesus did not say all would be forgiven if men desired it, but that one sin could not be forgiven. Study Questions866. What does verse one say to leave? 867. Does it mean to forsake them? 868. Do we actually leave them or build upon them? 869. What are “ first principles” ? Do they refer to “ rudiments” in Hebrews 5:12, or the “ foundation” referred to in Hebrews 6:1? 870. Define “ pressing on” . 871. Is a half-hearted attempt pressing on? 872. What did Paul say about pressing on in Philippians 3:14? 873. What is our standard of perfection? 874. Can we use God and Christ both as a standard? 875. How do we know Christ to be a perfect standard? Cf. Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 5:9. 876. What part does the scripture have in perfection? See 2 Timothy 3:16-17. 877. Do we need any other guidebook according to this? 878. How many foundations are made when one is building a house? 879. How many should we have to build upon in our lives? 880. If a person spent a lifetime building a foundation on his house, would we consider him wise? 881. What verses speak of us as a building? 882. Does this verse condemn repentance? 883. What kind of person is in constant need of repentance? 884. What could be listed as “ dead works” ? Does “ dead works” pertain to the law, since they were mentioned in Hebrews? 885. Should we have to continually repent of sins that have been buried in baptism? 886. Do we need to try to repent of some dead and buried sin? 887. If we truly repent of a sin, do we ever need to repent of it again? 888. Are we to repent of faith toward God, or does “ faith” refer back to “ Let us press on to perfection” ? 889. How can we ever get to the place where we are not laying a foundation of faith? 890. What can you build upon if you are to press beyond the foundation of faith? 891. Does 1 Corinthians 13:13 have a bearing on the subject? 892. Is a life prompted by love greater than one prompted by faith? Explain. 893. Why does he say “ faith toward God” ? 894. Is baptism in Hebrews 6:2 singular or plural? 895. Why is baptism in the plural here? Did the Hebrews have two? 896. What baptism could be referred to? What have men suggested? 897. Is the Christian baptized more than once? 898. Were the early Christians who were first followers of John baptized the second time? 899. If baptism is an initial act of obedience, what should be expected to follow? 900. What does the laying on of hands refer to? 901. Who did the laying on of the hands? 902. Could all Christians impart special powers? Cf. Acts 8:15-17. 903. Could “ the presbytery” refer to apostles who were considered elders? 904. What accompanied the laying on of hands? 905. Was it always to impart miraculous gifts? Cf. Acts 6:6; Acts 13:3. 906. Was this to be done with great care? Cf. 1 Timothy 5:22. 907. What “ resurrection of the dead” is referred to, ours or Christ’ s? 908. Is the doctrine of the Christ’ s resurrection something to build upon? 909. Is our resurrection from the watery grave to be built upon? 910. Does the observance of Easter and the indifference until a year later indicate a spiritual illness like the Hebrews had? 911. How often did the apostles refer to the resurrection? With what subjects is it connected? Cf. Acts 24:15; Acts 17:31. 912. What special way did Peter use the doctrine of Christ’ s resurrection on the day of Pentecost? 913. Do you suppose that some assume we will inherit eternal life regardless of failure to grow just because it is so freely promised? 914. How can eternal judgment be a foundation? 915. Is fear a very strong impelling motive? 916. Does fear decrease as love increases? 917. Should we preach the doctrine of eternal judgment? 918. What will we do according to verse one? 919. Why does he use the “ we” ? Has Paul failed to see the need of learning first principles? 920. Is he saying we will do this, or is there some doubt about the ability to accomplish it? 921. Is it the same expression as in James 4:15? 922. Is it a warning lest they fall into a state of apostasy so severe as to keep them from finding God’ s help? 923. Name a day when God’ s Spirit would not strive. Hebrews 6:4 --For as touching those who were once enlightenedObviously, full Christians are up for discussion. a. Clarke’ s commentary: “ I do not consider them as having any reference to any person professing Christianity. They are not applicable to backsliders of any kind.” b. Enlightenment refers to those who have known. c. This expression is the mark of a true Christian. 1. Hebrews 10:32 : Paul points out that the Hebrew brethren were once enlightened and endured affliction. 2. Ephesians 5:8 “ Now are ye light in the Lord.” 3. Colossians 1:12 : Saints in the light. 4. 1 Thessalonians 5:5 : Sons of light. 5. 1 Peter 2:9 : Into His marvelous light. 6. 1 John 2:10 : “ He that loveth his brother abideth in light,” If “ once enlightened” does not refer to Christian people, how many repetitions of enlightenment does it take to make one a Christian? Notice the word “ impossible” appears in this expression in the King James version. a. In the American Standard it appears in Hebrews 6:6. b. In the Greek it is in Hebrews 6:4 : “ For impossible (it is) those once for all enlightened—” Hebrews 6:4 --and tasted of the heavenly giftGod’ s word should always be sweet to us, but to some it is not. a. Milligan: “ The word ‘ tasted’ means to experience, partake.” b. Newell: “— makes a difference in tasting and drinking.” (p. 187) 1. A person can “ taste” and be lost, he says. 2. The drinkers are truly saved. a) The drinker commits himself to what he drinks and is therefore saved. b) He says thousands taste of the heavenly gift, eternal life, who never drink that water. c) The context shows that he is desperate for a point of view. What is meant, “ the heavenly gift” ? a. See the scriptures that offer suggestions. 1. John 6:51 : Christ, the Living Bread that came down from heaven. 2. 1 Peter 2:3 : “ . . . if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” 3. Psalms 104:34 : Meditation of Him shall be sweet. b. Others say it refers to the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38. c. Others say it refers to the new life. 1. John 6:33 : “ The bread of God is He who cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world.” 2. John 4:1-14 : To the woman at the well. 3. John 3:36. 4. 1 John 5:12 : “— He who hath the Son hath life.” Salvation in Christ is most likely meant, for in this section he names the word of God, Holy Spirit; so salvation remains. a. Christ is a gift; grace is a gift. b. The gift of salvation and Christ were experienced by these Hebrews. This entry is longer than a Bible module can hold. The rest is at https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ntrc/ Hebrews 6:9-12 TO GREATER ZEAL AFTER THE FULL OFHOPE, DRAWN CHIEFLY FROM THE OF GOD, AND THEIR OWN DEEDS Heb_6:9-12 Heb 6:9 ---But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you,— The apostle having solemnly warned the Hebrew Christians against the threatening dangers and fearful consequences of apostasy, now speaks a word for their encouragement. They were still his “ be­loved” brethren, much endeared to him by their many Christian excellences, as well as by the ties of consanguinity, and he felt as­sured that a better destiny awaited them than that which he had just described and illustrated by the case of the barren and repro­bate land, the end of which is for burning. Hebrews 6:9 ---and things that accompany salvation,— Things that stand in immediate connection with salvation, indicating that the Hebrews were still in a saved state; and, furthermore, giving hope and promise that they would persevere in well doing, even to the end of life. Some of these things the Apostle specifies in the following verse. Hebrews 6:10 ---For God is not unrighteous— It seems from Hebrews 5:12 that the Hebrew brethren had been culpably negligent in the study of God’ s word; but, as we learn from our text, they had notwithstanding this been diligent in works of benevolence. They had faithfully ministered to the saints, and they were still continuing to do so. This, when done in the name of God and for the sake of Christ, is always a favorable indication of vital piety. See references. And hence the Apostle expresses his conviction that God would be mindful of them, and that he would sustain them in all their works of faith and labors of love. The word labor (tou kopou) is now generally acknowledged to be an interpolation from 1 Thessalonians 1:3. Literally rendered, ac­cording to our best authorities, the passage stands thus: For God is not unrighteous [so as] to forget your work, and the love which you have shown for his name, [in] having ministered to the saints, and [in still] ministering. The name of God is here equiv­alent to God himself as revealed to us in his Holy Oracles. He himself was the supreme object of this love, and whatever was done for the saints was done therefore for the sake and glory of his name. “ Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,” says Christ, “ ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40.) Hebrews 6:11 ---And we desire— Or, rather, But (de) we earnestly desire that every one of you do show the same diligence with regard to the full assurance of your hope until the end. It is our earnest wish that every one of you should even to the end of life show forth the same diligence in all things that appertain to the full as­surance of hope, that you have so far manifested in your deeds of charity; that you show, for example, the same degree of diligence in the study of the Holy Scriptures, in prayer, praise, and medita­tion ; and also in whatever else is required of you in order to the full enjoyment of the great salvation. This will serve to increase your faith (John 7:17; Romans 12:2) ; and this again will perfect your hope and love (Romans 5:1-5). Hope is a complex emotion of the human mind consisting of a desire for some known object, and an expectation of receiving and enjoying it. The object of the Christian’ s hope is, of course, eternal life. And the full assurance (plerophoria) of this hope is simply the hope itself so increased and intensified, as to leave in our minds no doubt whatever that by the grace of God we will finally attain to the enjoyment of the object. This is to be reached only through the diligent use of all the means which God has himself ordained for our perfection in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. And hence Paul’ s anxiety that his Hebrew brethren should give all dili­gence to make their calling and election sure. Hebrews 6:12 ---That ye be not slothful,— Or, rather, That ye become (ge­ne sthe) not slothful, but imitators of them who through faith and endurance inherit the promises: such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Stephen the first Christian martyr, and James the Apostle who was slain with the sword of Herod Agrippa. These, and many other Patri­archs, Jews, and Christians, had through faith and patience perse­vered in well doing to the end of life, and then they all entered upon the enjoyment of the blessings which are promised to those who die in the Lord. See Exodus 3:6; Daniel 12:13; Luke 16:22 Luke 16:25 ; 2 Corinthians 5:1-9; Philippians 1:21-23; Revelation 2:10 Revelation 14:13. To this blessed state of the spirits of the just made perfect, all the promises of the Bible may be said to have reference either di­rectly or indirectly. In this they all concentrate as in one common focus. And hence they may all be regarded either as one or as many according to circumstances, just as we call the whole Bible the Scripture (he graphe), when we contemplate it as one book; or the Scriptures (hai graphed), when we consider it with refer­ence to its several parts. In 1 John 2:25, everything appertain­ing to the future state of the redeemed, seems to be summed up in the one promise of eternal life. But in our text, the Apostle evi­dently looks at the promises of God to his redeemed saints distributively; having reference to the promise of a future rest (Hebrews 4:3-9.); ; the promise of houses not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:2); the promise of God’ s presence (2 Corinthians 5:6 2 Corinthians 5:8), etc. Commentary on Hebrews 6:9-12 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_6:9 --But beloved we are persuaded better things of youThis is a word of encouragement to a people for whom Paul had affection. The better things would be the “ herbs” , rather than the “ thorns and thistles” . The word “ persuaded” indicates hopefulness on the part of the author. a. Vincent: It is a past hesitation overcome. b. Westcott: The form implies that the writer had felt misgivings and had overcome them. The word “ beloved” is one frequently applied to saints. See Romans 1:7; Romans 11:28; 1 John 3:2; 1 John 4:1; 3 John 1:1-2; 3 John 1:5; 3 John 1:11. Hebrews 6:9 --and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speakWhat are the things that accompanied the saved as seen in the Word of God? a. Pentecostal brethren: fairer things. Acts 2:42. b. Stephen: forgiveness. Acts 7:58-60. No retaliation. c. Ethiopian eunuch: Rejoicing. Acts 8:39. d. Paul: Straightway proclaimed Jesus. Acts 9:36-39. e. Dorcas: Benevolent spirit. Acts 9:36-37. f. Bereans: Examining hearts. Acts 17:11. Though he has warned against backsliding and apostasy, he is hopeful that Christian fruit will be produced by them. Hebrews 6:10 --for God is not unrighteous to forget your workGod’ s character is at stake in relationship to memory. a. A person who forgets leaves himself open for accusations. b. He may be accused of intentional forgetting or carelessness if he forgets. An honest person is obligated to remember to keep his promise. a. These people had worked, and God is under obligation to honor faithful work. b. We see the brethren, (Hebrews 5:12) had been neglectful of Bible study but they were to be commended for their work.Hebrews 6:10 --and the love which ye showed toward His name in that ye ministered unto the saints and still do ministerWe serve God by serving our fellow man. a. Ministering to saints is showing love to God. b. Jesus emphasized this, Matthew 25:40. c. John approaches the subject, 1 John 4:20. These people seem to have been strong on the “ social gospel” . a. It seems strange that neglected Bible reading would accompany this virtue. b. A national love, nurtured by persecution, may account for it in some measure. c. The Jew has always looked out for the Jew. Hebrews 6:11 --And we desire that each one may show the same diligenceDesire for each individual to be faithful is expressed. a. God is interested in each individual. Matthew 10:30 : “ Hairs of your head are numbered,” Hebrews 4:13 : “ There is no creature that is not manifest in His sight.” b. As individuals, we must stand before God, and not rest on the virtue of a group. The Hebrews were benevolent in spirit, but each one was to be praised for this. Hebrews 6:11 --unto the fulness of hopeIt may also be translated, “ to the full assurance of hope” . “ Fulness of hope” refers to future glory intensified. Hope is an emotion, longing, fervent expectation. Hebrews 6:11 --even to the end;Stedfastness is an exhortation oft repeated. Revelation 2:10 : “ Be thou faithful unto death.” Matthew 10:22 and Colossians 1:22-23. “ The end” refers to their pilgrimage on earth. Hebrews 6:12 --that ye be not sluggish, Some Christians lack fervor, and show sluggishness when fervency is needed. a. James 5:16 : “ Fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” b. Romans 12:11 : “ Fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” A sluggard condition is awful in the sight of God. a. It is conceited. Proverbs 26:16 : “ The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit.” b. It is sleepy, Proverbs 6:9 : “ How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?” c. It stands condemned. Revelation 3:16 : “— so because thou art lukewarm.” Hebrews 6:12 --but imitators (from Greek mimic, translated “ followed”) This is a characteristic of people, for most people imitate. Observe passages on “ imitator” . 1 Corinthians 11:1 : “ Be ye imitators of me even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 4:16 : “ I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me.” 1 Thessalonians 1:6 : “ And ye become imitators of us, and of the Lord.” Hebrews 2:14 : “ For ye brethren become imitators of the churches.” We are also to imitate God, as mentioned in Ephesians 5:1 : “ Be ye therefore imitators of God as beloved children.” Hebrews 6:12 --who through faith and patience inherit the promisesStedfastness is a characteristic of a strong faith. The backslider will not inherit the blessing, and should not be imitated. This passage does not sound as though salvation is a gift without works. Study Questions1022. Is the apostle hopeful for the Hebrews? (Hebrews 6:9) 1023. Does the text suggest any affection? 1024. What would the expression “ better things” refer to, “ thorns” or “ herbs” ? 1025. What things accompany salvation? 1026. Name the conversions in Acts and point out things that could be considered “ fruit” or “ better things” . 1027. Are the “ better things” a return to repentance, or general good works? Is the conjunction “ and” significant in Hebrews 6:9? 1028. How is God’ s character involved in Hebrews 6:10? 1029. What charges may be brought against a forgetter? 1030. Is God duty-bound to honor good works? Always? Cf. Matt. 1031. What is the work of the Hebrews which is deserving of honor? 1032. How is service to our fellow man an evidence of love for God? 1033. Is this always true? 1034. Is service to our fellow man service to God? 1035. What did Jesus say? Matthew 25:40. 1036. What did Jesus say? 1 John 4:20. 1037. What does Hebrews 5:12 give as a clue to their trouble? 1038. How may we account for the fact that they were strong on the “ social gospel” ? 1039. What is Paul’ s desire for individuals in Hebrews 6:11? 1040. Is he saying that, as a group, they could be commended for works, but, individually, they could not? 1041. What is meant by “ fulness of hope” ? 1042. How long is it to be maintained? 1043. Does this verse teach that there is no hope for people who lack diligence? 1044. Describe a sluggish spiritual condition. 1045. Compare James 5:16 and Romans 12:11 with regard to sluggishness. 1046. Could sluggishness and the lukewarmness of Rev 3:16 be the same? 1047. What is meant by the exhortation to “ be imitators” ? 1048. Whose examples are we to follow? 1049. Could this be an allusion to the persons of Chapter Eleven? 1050. Why is he not urging us to imitate God as in Ephesians 5:1? 1051. How do we know that he is not doing this? 1052. What two companionate virtues are linked with the receiving of promise? 1053. Is it possible to see the “ faith alone” doctrine in this verse? Hebrews 6:13-20 FURTHER DRAWN FROMTHE EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM, AND ALSO FROMTHE PROMISE AND OATH OF GOD MADE TO HIMAND TO ALL HIS SEEDHeb_6:13-20 Hebrews 6:13 ---For when God made promise to Abraham,— Between this and the preceding paragraph there is a very close connection. Having exhorted the Hebrews not to be slothful, but to be imita­tors of those who having finished their earthly course, were then partaking of the blessings promised to the faithful, our author very naturally reverts to Abraham as the most illustrious of these, and to the promise which God made to him and to his seed after him. The particular promise to which the apostle here refers, was made to Abraham immediately after the very remarkable manifestation of his faith in the offering of his son Isaac, and it is found recorded in Genesis 22:15-18, as follows: “ And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son; that in bless­ing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea­shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” In this promise, confirmed by an oath, about twenty-five years probably after the birth of Isaac (Joseph, Ant. i. 13, 2), there are several elements which claim our consid­eration. (1) It is evidently implied in this promise that Abraham himself would be personally blessed; (2) that he would have a very numerous posterity according to the flesh (Exodus 1:7; Deuteronomy 1:10); ; (3) that through his seed the Messiah would come and bless all the nations (Galatians 3:16) ; and (4) that his mystical family, the family of the faithful, would also be very numerous (Romans 4:11 Romans 4:16). It is obvious that this promise had no reference whatever ei­ther to the birth of Isaac or to his rescue from the altar, but as Ebrard says, it is clearly implied in the promise itself that its ful­fillment “ was to be looked for at some future time. For there can be no need of conforming with an oath the promise of a gift which is forthwith and immediately bestowed: an oath is then only neces­sary when the fulfillment is so remote as to make it possible that doubts might spring up in the mind of the receiver of the promise, from the long delay.” Hebrews 6:13 ---because he could swear by no greater,— In this paragraph the apostle has in view a twofold object. (1) He aims to show by the example of Abraham that faith and perseverance in well-doing will, in the end, certainly receive their reward. “ Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come.” (2) He wishes to remind his readers that their hope rests on the same secure foundation as that on which the hope of Abraham rested; and that if they will like him persevere to the end in the way of obedience, they, too, as well as he, will certainly obtain the promised blessing. The first of these is the leading thought in verses 13-15, and the second is brought out more prominently in what follows. The subject of the oath is mentioned incidentally in the thirteenth verse merely for the purpose of showing on what ground the patient endur­ance of Abraham rested; and its consideration will therefore fall more appropriately under the exegesis of verses 16-18, where it becomes the principal subject of the discourse. Hebrews 6:14 ---Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee,— We have in this clause a Hebraism expressive of intensity, both in blessing and in multiplying. For the purpose of expressing any thought with em­phasis and energy, the Hebrews were wont to place the infinitive absolute before the finite verb, as in the expression, “ To die thou shalt die” : that is, “ Thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:17.) This Hebrew idiom is expressed in Hellenistic Greek by placing some­times a cognate noun (as in Genesis 2:17; Luke 22:15), and some­times a participle before the finite verb. The latter construction occurs in this instance both in our text and in the Septuagint. The Hebrew literally rendered stands thus: To bless, I will bless thee, and to multiply I will multiply thy seed; that is, I will very greatly bless thee, and I will very greatly multiply thy seed. It is obvious, therefore, that the expression, “ multiplying I will multiply thee,” is equivalent to “ multiplying I will multiply thy seed.” The form is changed perhaps merely for the sake of brevity and uni­formity. Hebrews 6:15 ---And so after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.—What promise? Manifestly the promise confirmed by the oath (Gen. 22: 15-18) ; but not in either its fullest extension or comprehension. Its fulfillment will not be entirely consummated until the spirits of all the redeemed, united with their glorified bod­ies, shall enter upon the full enjoyment of the eternal inheritance. (Ephesians 1:14; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21.) But after patiently waiting for about fifty years, he obtained the promise so far as it related to his own personal enjoyment of the promised rest. He then quit the scenes of this mortal life, and joined “ the spirits of the just made perfect.” (Hebrews 12:23.) That this is the meaning of the Apostle is clear from the fact that Abraham is here mentioned as one of those who in the twelfth verse are said to be “ inheriting the promises.” See notes on Hebrews 11:39-40. Hebrews 6:16 ---For men verily swear by the greater;—The custom of swearing on solemn and important occasions is of very ancient date. The first recorded instance of it is found in Genesis 14:22-23, where Abraham is represented as saying to the King of Sodom, “ I have lifted up my hand unto the Lord, the Most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a shoe-latchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say I have made Abram rich.” Compare Exodus 6:8; Deuteronomy 32:40; Daniel 12:7; Revelation 10:5-6. Here we have implied all that is essential to an oath, which consists (1) of an invocation, in which God is called on to witness the truth of what is sworn; and (2) of an imprecation, in which God is called on to punish falsehood. Many, indeed, define an oath simply as “ an ap­peal to God for the truth of what is testified or promised/' But even in this there is implied the element of imprecation, as well as that of invocation, for if God is a witness he is also a judge and an avenger of all perjury and falsehood. And hence an oath may be defined as “ an ultimate appeal to Divine authority, in order to rat­ify an assertion.” I speak here of course only of the civil and reli­gious oaths of what are commonly called Christian nations. Among the Jews, Greeks, and Romans, there came to be a familiar distinction between their greater and their lesser oaths. These less solemn forms of adjuration included oaths by sacred objects, or by things peculiarly dear to those who employ them. Thus the Jews swore by Jerusalem and by the Temple; the Greeks, as well as the Romans, by the souls of the dead, by the ashes of their fa­thers, by their life or the lives of their friends, by their heads, and by their right hands.” (Amer. Cyc.) But on all very grave occa­sions, the Jews appealed to God, and the heathen to their superior divinities, such as Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto. And accordingly, as our author says, it has, ever been the custom of mankind, on all grave and important occasions, to swear by the greater; that is, by some being or beings supposed to be superior to themselves.Hebrews 6:17 ---and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.— The Apostle here states a general truth. It is a remarkable fact that in all ages and in all nations, men have commonly reposed great confidence in a declaration made under the solemnities of an oath, and hence it is generally an end of all strife. Of the truth of this we have much evidence given in the Bible, as well as in civil history. Abimelech seems to have rested with confidence in the oath of Abraham (Genesis 21:22-32) ; and Jacob, in the oath of Jo­seph (Genesis 47:31). See references. Hebrews 6:17 ---Wherein God willing, etc.— The meaning is, Since it is an acknowledged fact that men everywhere place so much confidence in an oath, God therefore (en o, on this account), in condescension to human weakness and human custom, being anxious to show to the heirs of the promise (tes epangelias) that it was his fixed and unchangeable purpose to bestow on them all that he had promised to their father, Abraham, became, as it were, a third party between them and himself, and so interposed as a covenanter with an oath. Primarily, this assurance was intended for the consolation and en­couragement of both the families of this illustrious Patriarch. It was to Jacob and his sons a sure pledge that, in due time, their literal descendants would inherit Canaan, and enjoy the promised rest. But before our author wrote this Epistle, the Old Covenant had been nailed to the cross. (Colossians 2:14.) The typical rights and privileges of the family according to the flesh, were all abrogated with the death of Christ, and henceforth the promise has reference only to the family of the faithful. “ For,” says Paul in his Epistle to the Galatians, “ ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’ s, then are ye Abraham’ s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29.) Hebrews 6:18 ---That by two immutable things,— His promise and his oath. We may, I think, safely affirm that God can do anything that is consistent with his own nature, and nothing that is contrary to it. He can create a universe, and he can raise the dead, but he cannot lie or deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13), because he is himself the truth absolute (John 14:6 John 14:17; 1 John 5:6). And hence his promises are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 1:20.) “ Heaven and earth shall pass away,” says Christ, “ but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35.) Every promise of God is, like him­self, absolutely unchangeable. With an oath or without an oath, it remains the same until it is accomplished. (Matthew 5:18.) No op­posing power in Heaven, Earth, or Hell, can ever nullify or set aside a decree or promise of Jehovah. But God deals with men, as men. He humbles himself to behold the things that are in heaven and that are in the earth. (Psalms 113:6.) And hence, in order that he might give to the heirs of the promise every possible ground of encouragement, he, as it were, ratified his promise with an oath; thus making it, as we are wont to say doubly sure that he will bless all the seed of Abraham, and bring them into the enjoy­ment of the inheritance which is “ incorruptible, and undefiled, and which fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 1:4.) Hebrews 6:18 ---who have fled for refuge, etc.— This remark includes the whole family of the faithful in Christ Jesus, every one of whom has fled from “ coming wrath” to lay hold on the hope of eternal life offered to us in the Gospel (Titus 1:2) ; just as the guilty sinner, under the Law, was wont to flee to one of the cities of refuge, or to lay hold on the horns of the altar (1 Kings 1:5 1 Kings 2:28). It is worthy of remark that there is but one hope for fallen man, even as there is also but one Spirit, “ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all.” (Ephesians 4:6.) Hebrews 6:19 ---Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul,— The hope of the believer is to his soul what a “ sure and steadfast” anchor is to a ship. The storm may rage and the billows may rise like mountains, but so long as the anchor holds, the ship rides prosper­ously and triumphantly over the troubled waters. And so it is with the soul of the Christian. So long as his hope is “ sure and steadfast,” so long he is perfectly secure. But when his hope is lost, all is lost. He is then like a ship driven by a tempest. This figure does not occur elsewhere in the Bible, but in the Greek and Roman classics, and also on the ancient coins, an anchor is often used as an emblem of hope. Socrates says, for example, “ To ground hope on a false assumption, is like trusting in a weak anchor.” Hebrews 6:19 ---and which entereth into that within the vail;— By that within the vail is obviously meant Heaven itself, of which the Most Holy Place in the ancient Tabernacle was but a type. See notes on 9: 8, 12, 24. But what is it that entereth into that within the vail ? Is it the hope or is it the anchor ? Grammatically, the present par­ticiple entering (eiserchomenen) may refer to either. And, ac­cordingly, Bleek, Storr, Kuinoel, Bloomfield, and others, refer it to hope (elpida—hen), supposing that the figure is dropped with the adjectives sure and steadfast. But it is more natural to continue the figure, or rather to introduce a second figure by a change of the imagery, and refer the participle “ entering,” as well as the adjec­tives “ sure and steadfast” to the word anchor (agkuran). So the passage is construed by Beza, DeWette, Ebrard, Liinemann, De- litzsch, Alford, Moll, etc. On this point Ebrard happily remarks as follows: “ Two figures are here not so much mixed as elegantly combined. The author might compare the world to a sea, the soul to a ship, the future still concealed glory to the covered bottom of the sea, the remote firm land stretching beneath the water and covered by the water. Or he might compare the present life upon earth to the fore-court, and the future blessedness to the heavenly Sanctuary, which is still, as it were, concealed from us by a vail. He has, however, combined the two figures. The soul, like a ship­wrecked mariner, clings to an anchor, and sees not where the cable of the anchor runs to, where it is made fast. It knows, however, that it is firmly fixed behind the vail which conceals from it the future glory, and that if it only keeps fast hold of the anchor, it will in due time be drawn in with the anchor, by a rescuing hand, into the Holiest of all. Thus there is in the hope itself that which the fulfillment of it certainly brings about.” “ The image,” says Delitzsch, “ is a bold and noble one, selected from natural things to portray those above nature. The iron anchor of the seaman is cast downward into the deep of the sea, but the hope-anchor of the Christian is thrown upward into the deep of Heaven, and passing through the super-celestial waters, finds there its ground and fast­holding.” Hebrews 6:20 ---Whither the forerunner is for us entered,— A forerunner (prodromos), is properly one who runs before. In the Septuagint the word is twice applied to the first-ripe fruit. (Numbers 13:21; Isaiah 28:4) ; and in the Greek classics it is often used to denote scouts of calvary or infantry sent before an army. Here it is very appro­priately applied to Christ as the one who has gone before his peo­ple to prepare mansions for them. “ I go" he says, “ to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2.) As our great High Priest, he has gone into Heaven itself, there to appear in the presence of God for us. (Hebrews 9:24.) And hence it is that our hope-anchor rests also within the vail. While Christ is there, and our hope in him is steadfast, there is no danger. We have only to work on, and trust in him to the end, and then when he who is our life shall appear, we, too, will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4.) Hebrews 6:20 ---made a high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. —In these words we have a beautiful and natural transition from the previous digression to the main theme of the Epistle. The Apostle having sufficiently admonished his readers, and prepared their minds and hearts for the consideration of his subject, now gracefully returns to the point from which he suddenly broke off in Hebrews 5:11; and proceeds at once to show the superiority of Christ’ s priesthood over that of Aaron and his successors. Dullness of hearing in things sacred and Divine has always been a great obstacle in the way of religious instruction. (5:11) ) It was so under the Old Testament economy; it was so in the time of Christ and his Apostles, and it is so in our own day and generation. How many are even now keen to discern all that is good and excellent in secular literature, who have no relish whatever for the Oracles of God. In this respect, their hearts have become gross; “ their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed.” (Matthew 12:15.) Light has come into the world, but alas! how many there are who still “ love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil.” (John 3:19.) Oh that God would take away our hard and stony hearts, and give us hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19) ^hearts inclined to hear the truth, to understand it, to receive it, and to obey it. It is the duty of all Christians to make constant progress in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (verse 12) The word of God is the good seed of the Kingdom, without which it is altogether vain to look for the fruits of righteousness in the lives of professing Christians. True, indeed, our piety is not al­ways commensurate with our knowledge. Various hindrances may concur to prevent the word from having its proper and legiti­mate effect on the lives of those who hear it. (Matthew 13:18-23.) But as a rich harvest was never gathered without the sowing of seed, so also it is folly to look for the fruits of the Spirit in the lives and hearts of those who are destitute of the word of life. It can no longer be pleaded that “ ignorance is the mother of devo­tion.” The mother of superstition and fanaticism it may be, but certainly not of that holy spiritual devotion which is acceptable in the sight of God. “ God is spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” And hence Paul says to the Colossians, “ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wis­dom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16.) And again he says to Timothy, “ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for re­proof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17.) It is the duty of all Christians to become teachers of the word of God (verse 12). They cannot, of course, all become Eld­ers and Evangelists, but they may all with the blessing of God soon qualify themselves to tell the simple story of the cross to their friends, neighbors, and fellow-citizens. And hence the last com­mission given by Christ to his disciples embraces every one of them. (Revelation 22:17.) “ Let him that heareth, say Come,” is one of the last and most solemn admonitions of Christ to all his faithful followers. If, then, all would act faithfully under this last commis­sion of our blessed Lord, and would labor earnestly to instruct oth­ers in even the rudiments of the Christian Religion, what a power­ful influence it would have in promoting the cause and kingdom of Christ. How soon under such circumstances the wilderness and the solitary places of the earth would be made glad, and the very deserts of the world be made to “ rejoice and blossom as the rose.” Who can doubt that the very best consequences would follow if every Christian would labor as God gives him opportunity, to instruct the young and the ignorant in the way of life. But alas, of how many it may still be said, that while for the time they ought to be teachers of others, they have need that some one instruct them again in even the “ first principles of the Oracles of God.” Christianity, like every other department of knowledge, has its elementary and its more advanced and recondite principles. (6: 1-3.) And hence care should always be taken to adapt our in­structions to the age and capacity of our readers, and also of our hearers, as the case may be. It is all folly to attempt to instruct in the principles of Grammar and Rhetoric children who have not studied even the alphabet, or to drill in the Calculus those who are ignorant of even the common rules of Arithmetic. And no less ab­surd is the practice of attempting to instruct in many things per­taining to the decrees of God, the priesthood of Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit, such babes in Christ as have not mastered even the elementary lessons of Christianity relating to repentance from dead works, faith toward God, the doctrine of baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judg­ment. Much time and labor are vainly spent in attempting to feed the infants of God’ s family on the solid food of Christian doctrine rather than on the pure and simple milk of the word of truth. (1 Peter 2:2.) It is dangerous to rest satisfied with a knowledge of the mere rudiments of Christianity or to stop short of perfection in the knowledge of Christ. (6: 1-3.) Our course should be ever onward and upward in all that pertains to holiness and happiness. The time is short, the work is great, and the prize to be won or lost, is of infinite value. It becomes us, therefore, to give all diligence while life lasts, in adding to our faith knowledge, as well as tem­perance, patience, godliness, brotherly-kindness, and love. And after we shall have done this, to even the utmost extent of our abil­ity, how little we shall know of the length and breadth, the depth and height of the love of God which passes all understanding. But small as our attainments may be; we have nevertheless the satis­faction to know that they will be quite sufficient to prepare us for a joyful admission into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:11.) After that, when with Proph­ets and Apostles we stand on the heights of the everlasting Zion, we will be better qualified to make further and higher advances in the knowledge of Divine things. How very dreadful and alarming is the condition of the apos­tate (verses 4-8). Once enlightened and comforted by the good word of God, a partaker of the heavenly gift and of the Holy Spirit, but now fallen; dead in trespasses and in sins, without God and without hope; beyond the reach of mercy, even through the blood of the everlasting covenant wherewith he was once sancti­fied! “ Oh wretched state of deep despair!” What mind can fathom the abyss of woe that awaits such an abandoned reprobate ? And yet to think that such a doom may perchance be ours! The very thought of even such a possibility should constrain us to put forth every energy of body, soul, and spirit, to make our calling and election sure. To be banished from God as unfit for the society of Heaven; to have our portion with the devil and his angels; to weep forever, “ but not in Mercy’ s sight!” And all this for what? Simply because we would not accept of the great salvation, by ceasing to do evil, and learning to do well. Because we would not humbly, and in reliance on Divine grace, even try to do the will of him who made us, preserved us, and gave his own Son to re­deem us. May God save us from such folly and madness by helping and enabling us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Any evidence of spiritual vitality is always encouraging (verses 9, 10). The sick may be revived, but the condition of the dead is hopeless. Every possible effort should therefore be made, and made speedily, to raise up the hands that hang down, and to strengthen the feeble knees. God never abandons any of his erring children while there is even a spark of spiritual life in their souls. It is only when they wholly apostatize from him, by going so far in sin as to sever the last cord of their spiritual union with him, that he gives them up to blindness of mind and hardness of heart. Till then he follows them with even more than a father’ s care and a mother’ s love. “ Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you. For I am merci­ful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever. Only ac­knowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. Turn, O backsliding Israel, saith the Lord, for I am married unto you; and I will take you, one of a city and two of a family, and will bring you to Zion.” (Jeremiah 3:12-14.) While, then, God labors to reform and restore his backsliding children, we should feel en­couraged to do likewise, for God is not willing that any should per­ish, but that all should be brought to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9.) See also Matthew 18:12-15; Luke 15:4-7 Luke 22:32; Galatians 6:1; Hebrews 12:13; James 5:19-20; 1 John 5:16; Jude 1:22-23. The departed saints are now happy (verses 12, 15). They are inheriting the promises in a far higher and fuller sense than they did during their earthly pilgrimage (verse 12). True, indeed, it is said of Abraham, as well as of many of his children, that he was greatly blessed during his sojourn on earth. (Genesis 24:1 Genesis 24:35.) But all this was but as nothing in comparison with the blessing which he received after that he had patiently waited even to the end of his pilgrimage (verse 15). For “ he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise,” that is, of the same heavenly inheritance. (11: 16.) “ For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (11: 9, 10.) And just so it was also with Isaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets, Apostles, and other holy men of old, “ who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” (11:33, 34.) “ These all died in faith, not having re­ceived the promises, but having seen them afar off, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (11: 13.) These have all entered into the rest of God (4: 10), and are now heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). The entire universe is now theirs, so far as they are now capable of enjoying it. (1 Corinthians 3:22-23.) Heaven is now their home, and the earth, when purified from sin, will be added to their possessions, and become the place of their abode. See notes on 2: 5-9. There, invested as they will be with their glorified bodies, they will probably enter on still higher degrees of enjoyment. There God will lead them to fountains of living water, and there he will make all things abound to their everlasting felicity. Surely, then, it is better to depart and be with Christ (Philippians 1:23); for “ while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:6). It is right to make oath on grave and momentous occasions (verses 13, 17). This, it seems, has ever been a custom among men, and God himself is here represented as having acted in har­mony with this custom. But surely he would not have done so had the custom been in itself sinful, as some allege. That the practice of swearing has been carried to very great excess, even in our civil courts, I readily grant; and that there is in our depraved hearts a lamentable tendency to take the name of God in vain, is, alas, but too evident. All such profane trifling with the name and attributes of God is sinful (Exodus 20:7) ; and so also is the habit of swearing by Heaven, or by the earth, or by any other creature. All such profanity is wholly inconsistent with the spirit of our holy religion, and is most emphatically forbidden by Christ (Matthew 5:33-37), and also by the Apostle James (James 5:12). But to swear by God when the occasion requires it, that is, when nothing else would serve to remove doubt and give to society the necessary confidence, seems to be in harmony with the example of God himself on sun­dry occasions. See references. How wonderfully deep and profound are the counsels of Je­hovah (verses 13-18). Who without the aid of the Holy Spirit would ever have supposed that God’ s promise to Abraham compre­hended all that has been developed from it in the history of God’ s dealings with mankind? Who would have thought, for instance, that in that promise there was given to Abraham and to his seed a pledge that they should be the heirs of the world (Romans 4:13), and partakers of all the rights and privileges of the everlasting kingdom (Galatians 3:29) ? But it is even so. God’ s ways are not as our ways, nor are his thoughts as our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9.) Well may we exclaim with Paul, in view of the whole plan of re­demption, “ Oh the depth of the riches, and of the wisdom, and of the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things; to whom be glory for­ever. Amen.” The hope of the Christian rests on a sure foundation (verse 19). Unlike the hopes of the world, it will never make us ashamed by disappointing us; for even now we have here a fore­taste of the joys and felicities of Heaven, through “ the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.” (Romans 5:10.) This is a sure earnest of what is to follow. (Ephesians 1:14). And besides, Jesus as our forerunner has for us entered into that within the vail. There he has made an atonement for us with his own blood; there he has provided for us heavenly mansions, and there he ever lives and reigns to make intercession for us, and to supply all our wants. Surely this is sufficient ground of encouragement for those “ who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us.” For if when we were enemies to God by wicked works, we were reconciled to him by the death of his Son,, much more being now reconciled by his death, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10.) Commentary on Hebrews 6:13-20 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_6:13 --For when God made promise to AbrahamThe occasions of the promise, Genesis 12:1; his call, Genesis 15. Genesis 22:15-18. The content, Hebrews 12:1-3. He was to be blessed in seven ways: a. Abraham would be personally blessed. b. He would have numerous descendants. c. Through him the Messiah would come. d. His spiritual followers would be great. Romans 4:11; Romans 4:16. e. His name would be great. f. God would curse them that cursed him. g. He would be a blessing to the whole world. Observe that “ promise” is singular, but has several ‘ features, Genesis 12:1-3. Abraham is a good example of faith and perseverance. Hebrews 6:13 --since He could swear by none greater He sware by HimselfThe occasion—Genesis 22:16-17 : “ By myself I have sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son—“ The swearing is to make binding the promise. Hebrews 6:14 --saying, surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply theeThis is a Hebraism (Hebrew idiom) of intensity. This is expressed in Genesis 22:17. Hebrews 6:15 --having patiently enduredWhat trials did we have? a. Called to a strange land, living in tents, digging wells. b. Lot was a source of worry. c. Called to give his son. Genesis 22:15-18. d. Sorrow for Sodom and Gomorrah. It covered about 100 years, from the departure from Haran to being gathered with his people. See Genesis 11:31; Genesis 12:4. Terah was 205, Abraham 75 when he departed out of Haran. We must patiently endure. Hebrews 12:1 : “ Let us run the race with patience.” Hebrews 10:36 : “ For ye have need of patience, that having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise.” Preachers must exercise it. 1 Timothy 6:11 : “ O man of God, flee these things and follow.” Hebrews 6:15 --he obtained the promiseMilligan: “ The promise confirmed by the oath.” Genesis 22:15-18. He lived long enough to see most of the promises fulfilled. a. The promise had several features, and Abraham saw them fulfilled in Christ. Milligan, page 258, says that Abraham was received by God into His rest. Hebrews 6:16 --For men swear by the greater, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmationIn a promise, the assertation of an intention is made. In an oath, the person’ s character is publicly and solemnly put behind the assertion. In a promise, we look at words; in an oath, we look at who and what the promiser is. Hebrews 6:17 --Wherein God being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise.God desired to show in a greater way his plan for his people. a. Since man everywhere acknowledges the value of an oath, God condescended to give an oath. b. This was to show to the family of Abraham God’ s plan to carry out His promise. Primarily this was assurance intended to console and to encourage. Hebrews 6:17 --the immutability of His counsel“ Immutable” means to be unchangeable, invariable, Both Jew and Gentile are included in God’ s plan, Acts 2:39, God’ s good tidings are expressed as counsel. a. Men need advice, counsel and guidance, and God is able to give it. b. Man’ s changeable opinions are not to be compared with God’ s unchanging counsel.Hebrews 6:17 --interposed with an oath“ Interposed” is also translated “ mediated.” This is to make His promise double sure. God calls attention to His divine being and pledges to fulfill His promises. Hebrews 6:18 --that by two immutable things What are the “ two things” ? a. Calvin says the two things are, (1) what He says; and (2) what He swears is immutable. b. Some suggest the two things are: 1. The promise. 2. The oath. c. Others say two oaths are referred to. 1. The promise— the oath made to Abraham respecting a Son, the Messiah. 2. The second refers to Christ’ s priesthood, recorded in Psalms 110:4 : “ Jehovah hath sworn and will not repent. Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. d. It seems the two immutable things appear in Hebrews 6:17 : 1. The promise. 2. The oath. God’ s words are dependable words. Numbers 23:19; Psalms 12:1-7. Hebrews 6:18 --in which it is impossible for God to lieThe character of God would be altered if He lied. a. God would cease to be God if He were untruthful. b. If He could not carry out His promise, He would not be all-wise. God is absolute, hence there is the impossibility of Him being anything less than true. Hebrews 6:18 --we may have a strong encouragementThis may also be translated, “ strong consolation.” This is the influence of the two immutable things. With so much encouragement, why should we fail to find refuge? Hebrews 6:18 --who have fled for refugeAn allusion to the cities of refuge is made here. See Exodus 21:13; Numbers 35; Deuteronomy 19; Joshua 20. Three cities on each side of the Jordan afforded an opportunity of safety, or refuge, to evil men. The Christian has refuge in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 6:18 --to lay hold of the hope set before usThis we must do if we expect to attain. 1 Timothy 6:12 : “ Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:19 : “ laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed.” This shows man’ s responsibility. Hebrews 6:19 --which we have as an anchor of the soul An anchor gives stability. a. A sea captain said once to young man, “ Wherever you go, go to church. I find that it costs a little to anchor my ship, but that keeps it from drifting out onto the waves where it will be lost.” b. Observe that “ fled” is past tense in Hebrews 6:18 b. This is present tense. Our hope seems to be the “ anchor” . a. Hope is an emotion of the heart. It is very important, for men will work, suffer, as long as there is hope. b. Without hope, man grasps at straws and flounders in futility. Hebrews 6:19 --a hopeWhat is included? a. Resurrection. b. Mansions in the sky. c. Second coming of Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Peter 3:12-18, d. Our hope rests in the Person of Christ.Hebrews 6:19 --both sure and stedfastUntil a soul enters into God, it finds nothing stable. a. A ship is worth little if its anchor is not adequate. b. Because of the nature of God and the accomplishments of Christ, we may rest in confidence. As long as the anchor holds, the Christian rides the waves in spite of troubled waters. Hebrews 6:19 --and entering into that which is within the veilAre we to enter? Who is referred to in this verse? a. If this is so of us, he is teaching that the Christian by faith now should enter into the spiritual reward hidden behind the veil. b. Forgiveness is within the veil, so in a sense the Christians enter within the veil as they enter into forgiveness. Is he not saying Jesus entered, this verse going with the next? a. No one claims inspiration for the insertion of verse numerals. 1. In 1551 Sir Robert Stephens was the first to divide any part of the Bible into verses. 2. This was done in a Greek New Testament about 300 years after the division into chapters by Cardinal Hugo. b. The expression can well go with Hebrews 6:19. Milligan raises the question, “ Is it the hope, or is it the anchor that enters within the veil?” a. Let the expression go with Hebrews 6:19 and his problem is solved. b. The author surely is not mixing the figures of “ anchor” and “ veil” .Hebrews 6:20 --whither as a forerunnerA forerunner is a common experience of men. a. Pioneer travelers had their scouts. b. Armies had their forerunners. c. Children of Israel had theirs. d. Jesus had John the Baptist. e. We have Jesus. The word is also translated “ precursor.” a. “ Precursor” means “ runner, harbinger, omen” . b. It is used in the Septuagint to designate the first ripe grapes and figs. Numbers 13:20; Isaiah 28:4. Vincent has the idea that Christ goes nowhere but where his people can go also. Hebrews 6:20 --Jesus entered for usHe entered ahead of us and for us. Murray: “ There was a veil that separated man from God. Jesus came from within to live without the veil and rend it and open a way for us. We may enter in and dwell therein the power of the Holy Ghost.” Hebrews 6:20 --having become a high priest forever after the order of MelchizedekThe priesthood of Aaron was temporary, but Christ’ s priesthood is after an eternal one. A priest of Christ’ s ability eliminates any need for one on earth. Who was Melchizedek? a. He was a man. Hebrews 7:4b. He was a person of whom little is known. 1. He is named eight times in Hebrews. 2. He is named twice in the Old Testament. Genesis 14; Psalms 110. Study Questions1054. In Hebrews 6:13-20, what great example has Paul given? 1055. What seven features appear in the promise in Genesis 12:1-3? 1056. The word “ promise” is singular, but can you name various times that God promised? 1057. What clue is given in this verse as to what event in Abraham’ s life may be involved here? 1058. What is the swearing? When did God swear to Abraham? 1059. Does this verse refer to Genesis 12 or Genesis 22:16? 1060. Why did God swear by Himself? 1061. What singular act did Abraham do to cause God to swear? Cf. Genesis 22:16-17. 1062. What is the significance of the double expressions in Hebrews 6:14? 1063. What did Abraham patiently endure? Name some instances. 1064. How many years did he endure? 1065. Compare Paul’ s exhortation to us in Hebrews 12:1 with Hebrews 10:36. 1066. What did Abraham obtain— all of the seven promises in Genesis 12? 1067. If not, if Abraham did not see all of them fulfilled, how can it be said that he obtained? 1068. What is the significance of Heb 6:16? 1069. What is the difference between a promise and an oath? 1070. For confirmation, which do we consider the most important? 1071. What is the difference between man’ s oath and God’ s oath? 1072. Define “ God being minded” . 1073. What was He minded to do? 1074. Is this what is meant by “ more abundantly” ? 1075. Who was this evidence for, Abraham or his descendants? 1076. Define the word “ immutable” . 1077. In what way could the promises and oath be considered counsel? 1078. Define “ interposed with an oath” . 1079. Explain what the oath does for a promise. 1080. What are the two immutable things of Heb 6:18? 1081. Could it refer to two oaths, or to a promise and an oath? 1082. If God lied, what would it do to His character? 1083. If God could not carry out a promise, what would it do to His being? 1084. How can a swearing to Abraham be an encouragement to us of the 20th century? 1085. Describe the allusion to Old Testament cities of refuge. 1086. What is our refuge? Where is it stated? 1087. What are we to do with our hope? 1088. Whose responsibility is it? 1089. What figure of speech is referred to in Hebrews 6:19? 1090. What is the purpose of an anchor? 1091. What is our “ anchor” ? 1092. How does our “ anchor” serve to link us with the future? 1093. What happens when men give up hope? 1094. Can you tell the difference between faith and hope? 1095. In Whom is our hope? 1096. What things make up our hope? 1097. Is our hope a “ what” , or a “ whom” here? 1098. What words describe our hope? 1099. Is this a description of Christ? 1100. Is it our hope that is described as sure and steadfast, or is Christ described as sure and steadfast? 1101. Who is referred to as entering into the veil? 1102. If Christ is referred to, why is it not expressed in past tense,— as being done at His ascension? 1103. Now look again at “ lay hold”— are we to lay hold on hope, or on Christ? 1104. Is it “ hope” or “ anchor” that enters the veil? 1105. If the Christian is entering, what does he enter into? 1106. Is it the veil that he enters, or is it something contained within? 1107. Is Hebrews 6:20 an enlargement on Hebrews 6:19, that Christ entered the veil, or that we should be encouraged to enter since Christ entered ahead of us? 1108. What is the purpose of a forerunner? 1109. What is meant, “ He entered for us” ? 1110. If He did it for us, do we have to enter? 1111. What is the purpose of the entering? 1112. Why did He have to do it this way? Hebrews 7:1-10 SECTION SIX Hebrews 7:1-28 and Hebrews 8:1-5Having by the admonitions and warnings given in the preceding section, excited his Hebrew brethren to greater diligence in the study of God’ s word, the Apostle again resumes the consideration of Christ’ s priesthood. His main object in this section is to set forth clearly and prominently its great superiority over that of Aaron and his successors. This he does—I. By showing that the priesthood of Melchisedec was of a higher order than that of Aaron. And as the priesthood of Mel­chisedec was only a type of the priesthood of Christ, it follows of necessity that the latter is even more than the former superior to that of Aaron. (Hebrews 7:1-10.) That the priesthood of Melchisedec was superior to that of the Levitical order, he proves—1. From the fact that Melchisedec was a king as well as a priest (Hebrews 7:1-2).2. From the fact that Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, paid tithes to him (Hebrews 7:2).3. From the fact that, as a priest, Melchisedec appears on the typical canvas alone, without predecessors and without successors. II. In this, the unity, immutability, and general perfection of Christ’ s priesthood are beautifully illustrated (Hebrews 7:3).1. From the fact that Abraham himself acknowledged the supe­riority of Melchisedec (1) by giving him a tithe of the spoils, and (2) by receiving his blessing (Hebrews 7:2 Hebrews 7:7).2. From the fact that on the principle of federal representation, even Levi himself paid tithes to Melchisedec through Abraham (Hebrews 7:9-10). From all of which it follows that the priesthood of Melchisedec is of a higher order than that of Aaron, and conse­quently that the priesthood of Christ is greatly superior to the Levitical. III. The Apostle further demonstrates the superiority of Christ’ s priesthood over that of Levi, from the fact that God had promised by David that he would introduce a new order of priesthood. This, as our author shows, implies an imperfection in the Levitical order, and also in the whole law of Moses (Hebrews 7:11-19). For1. If the Levitical priesthood had reached the end of God’ s be­nevolent purposes, then certainly he would not have thought of in­troducing another of a different order (Hebrews 7:11).2. But this he has done. For in Psalms 110:4, as our author has shown in Hebrews 5:5-6, God promised to make his Son Jesus a High Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. And as Jesus is not of the tribe of Levi but of Judah, it follows that the Levitical priesthood is abolished, and with it also the whole law of Moses, of which the Levitical priesthood was the basis (Hebrews 7:12-14).3. This is further and still more manifestly implied in the stipu­lated terms and conditions of the new order of priesthood. Christ holds his office, not as did the Levitical Priests “ after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.” He is a priest forever according to the decree of Jehovah as given in Psalms 110:4.4. The whole law of Moses, then, embracing the carnal com­mandment relating to the Levitical priesthood is abrogated, being, as it was, incapable of perfecting anything, and a new and better ground of hope is now brought in through the priesthood of Christ; so that we can now, at all times, draw near to God, as chil­dren to a father, and obtain from him seasonable help (Hebrews 7:18-19). IV. The Apostle makes a third argument in proof of the superiority of Christ’ s priesthood on the ground that it was instituted with an oath. “ Jehovah has sworn, and will not repent,” says David, addressing the Messiah, “ thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.”1. But no such solemnities were observed in inaugurating the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 7:20-22).2. Now when it is understood that God never makes oath, save on the most sol­emn occasions and in reference to the most important matters this argument is of very great force. V. The fourth argument is drawn from the frequent changes that occurred in the Levitical priesthood, occasioned by the death of the high priest (Hebrews 7:23-25).1. From the inauguration of the Levitical priesthood to the birth of Christ, sixty-seven different persons held the office of high priest, and from the same epoch to the destruction of Jerusalem, eighty-one persons ministered in this office (Hebrews 7:23).2. But no such imperfection exists in the priesthood of Christ; he ever lives to intercede for his people, and to save even to the uttermost those who come unto God by him (Hebrews 7:24-25). VI. In the next place he proves the superiority of Christ’ s priesthood from his perfectly holy and sinless nature (Hebrews 7:26-28).1. The Levitical high priests were all sinners like other men, and hence they had to offer sacrifices daily for themselves as well as for the people.2. But Christ being without sin, had no need to offer sacrifice for himself. And so perfect was the one offering of himself which he made for the sins of the people that no further offering is re­quired. God can now be just in justifying all who believe in Jesus. VII. Finally and chiefly, the Apostle proves the superiority of Christ’ s priesthood from his exalted position and his official dig­nity (Hebrews 8:1-5).1. He sits enthroned on the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens (Hebrews 8:1).2. He is a minister of the Sanctuary and also of the true Taber­nacle, of which Jehovah himself is the supreme architect. In these archetypes of both the tabernacle of Moses, and the temple of Solo­mon, Jesus ever ministers as our high jpriest, dealing not with shadows as did the priests under the Law, but with the sublime realities of the economy of redemption (Hebrews 8:2-5). It appears, then, from the preceding analysis that the main thoughts and divisions of this section may be briefly summed up as follows:I. Hebrews 7:1-10. The Melchisedecian order of priesthood superior to the Levitical.II. Hebrews 7:11-19. The Levitical priesthood and law of Moses both abrogated on account of their insufficiency, and a better ground of hope brought in through the priesthood of Christ.III. Hebrews 7:20-22. The superiority of Christ’ s priesthood proved from the fact that, unlike the Levitical, it was inaugurated with an oath.IV. Hebrews 7:23-25. The frequent changes in the Levitical priesthood occasioned by the death of the high priest, contrasted with the ever-enduring and unchangeable character of Christ’ s priesthood.V. Hebrews 7:26-28. The great superiority of Christ’ s priesthood proved and illustrated from his own pure and spotless character, and from the perfection of the one offering which he made for the sins of the world.VI. Heb 8: 1-5. The superiority of Christ’ s priesthood further demonstrated from the higher and more exalted sphere of his min­istry. THE ORDER OF TO THE Heb_7:1-10 Hebrews 7:1 ---For this Melchisedec,—The Apostle expresses here in one compact sentence the main characteristics of Melchisedec as a type of Christ. His object is to amplify and illustrate the closing re­mark of the last section that Christ is “ made a high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.” This he goes on to say is true, for Melchisedec being king of Salem, etc., abides a priest continu­ally, and so also does Christ. Who this Melchisedec was, has long been a question of interest with both the learned and the unlearned. Some say that he was Christ himself (Ambrose, Hottinger) ; some, that he was the Holy Spirit (Hieracas, Epiphanius) ; some, that he was an angel (Ori- gen, Didymus) ; some, that he was Enoch (Hulsius, Calmet) ; some, that he was Shem (Jerome, Luther); and some have conjec­tured that he was an extraordinary emanation from the Deity which suddenly appeared for a little while on the stage of action, and was then as suddenly removed from it. But all such notions are purely hypothetical, and are wholly inconsistent with the man­ifest purpose of God in making Melchisedec an extraordinary type of his own Son as the great high priest of our confession. For it is very obvious that the Holy Spirit has intentionally thrown an im­penetrable veil over both the birth and the death of Melchisedec, over both his parentage and his posterity, for the purpose of mak­ing him a more perfect type of Christ. He now stands before us on the typical canvas alone, without father, without mother, with­out genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life. He appears in the sacerdotal drama by himself, and in the prime of manhood, honored and respected by the most eminent servants of God “ as a priest upon his throne,” thus beautifully illustrating in his own person the royal dignity and the perpetual character of Christ’ s priesthood. But let it be once clearly demonstrated that he was Shem, the son of Noah, or any other person of known genealogy, and that moment the analogy fails, and he forever ceases to be a fit type of Christ. It was not, therefore, a matter of chance, or of accident, but of real design on the part of God, that so little is said in history of this truly great and mysterious person. He comes out suddenly from the dark, invisible background of the drama of human redemption; appears for a little while as a royal priest, and then retires forever without leaving behind him the slightest recorded evidence that he had either predecessors or suc­cessors ; that he had either beginning of days or end of life. And hence it is really more than folly to ransack the archives of antiq­uity with the view of discovering anything more concerning him than what is recorded in the fourteenth chapter of Genesis. Josephus, after the manner of Moses, represents him simply as the king of Salem, and says that “ he supplied Abraham’ s army in a hospitable manner, and gave them provisions in abundance.” (Ant. 10, 2.) So also Philo speaks of him as a real person. He says, “ God made him king of Salem,” and he calls him “ the priest of the Most High God.” (Legg. Alleg. Section 25, 26.) The name Mcl- chisedec, as our author defines it, means simply king of righteous­ness. Hebrews 7:1 ---King of Salem,— Some expositors, as Bohme and Bleek, think that we have in these words, as in Melchi-tsedek, a mere title (Melek-Salem) of this illustrious personage, and that there is really here no reference to any locality. Others, as Jerome and Ewald, suppose that the Salem of our text is the same as the Salim of Joh 3:23, near to which John was baptizing. But the com­mon opinion of both Jewish and Christian writers has always been that the Salem of our text is the same as Jerusalem. This was the view of Josephus (Ant. i. 10, 2; vii. 3, 2; Bell. vi. 10), and is prob­ably correct for the following reasons: (1) the name Salem is manifestly given to Jerusalem in Psalms 76:2. (2)The name Jerusalem is composed as some think of Jebus-Salem (Judges 19:10), or as others with more probability, suppose, of Jeru-Salem, which means foundation of peace. (3) The situation of Jerusalem corresponds well with the facts recorded in Genesis 14:17-20. (4) The name Melchi-tsedek is formed after the same analogy as Adoni-tsedek (lord of righteousness) the name of another king of Jerusalem. (Joshua 10:1.) And (5) since it was God’ s purpose to make Jerusalem prominent above all other places in bringing about the reign of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), it is most likely that he would select it in preference to any other locality for the sacer­dotal reign of the king of righteousness. Hebrews 7:1 ---priest of the most high God,— The Hebrew word kohen, ren­dered priest, occurs about seven hundred times in the Old Testa­ment, and like the Greek hiereus, is always used to denote one who offers sacrifice and ministers in other sacred things. It is first of all applied to Melchisedec in Genesis 14:18, who is there, as well as in our text, called “ priest of the Most High God.” The title “ Most High,” is given to God, as Philo says, “ not because there is any other God who is not most high, for God being one is in Heaven above, and the earth beneath, and there is none other be­side him.” (Legg. Alleg. Section 26.) Hebrews 7:1 ---who met Abraham, etc.— The account of this meeting is given in the fourteenth chapter of Genesis, to which the reader is re­ferred for all necessary details. Suffice it to say here, that after Abraham had completely routed and vanquished the four kings whose names and places are there recorded, and was returning, laden with the spoils of victory to Hebron, the place of his sojourn about twenty miles south of Jerusalem, he was met on his way thither by Melchisedec, who refreshed him and his servants with bread and wine, and, as the priest of the Most High God, he blessed Abraham, saying, “ Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth, and blessed be the Most High God who hath delivered thine enemies into thine hand.” Hebrews 7:2 ---To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all,— This act of devotion on the part of Abraham, as well as the vow of Jacob (Genesis 28:22), clearly indicates that the custom of paying tithes to God for the maintenance of his worship and the support of true religion, was of very remote antiquity. Indeed, there is no reason to doubt that the paying of tithes, as well as the offering of sacri­fice, was of Divine origin, and that a law to this effect was given to Adam and his family soon after the fall. And accordingly we find traces of its observance not only among the Patriarchs, but also among many of the most ancient nations, such as the Babylonians, the Greeks, the Romans, and the Carthaginians. And hence Moses does not introduce tithing as a novelty, but finding it, as he found sacrifice, already in vogue, he merely gave new laws and regulations concerning it, making that now obligatory which was perhaps before somewhat voluntary. While, therefore, the offer­ings of Abraham to Melchisedec were most likely voluntary on the part of this illustrious Patriarch, it is but reasonable to suppose that he made them in harmony with what he knew to be an exist­ing religious ordinance, and also on account of the great respect which he had for Melchisedec as a priest of the Most High God. Hebrews 7:3 ---Without Father, etc.— The Greeks and Romans were wont to apply the epithets “ without father” (apator) and “ without mother” (ametor), (1) to their gods; (2) to orphans; and (3) to persons of unknown or obscure parentage. Thus, for instance, Livy says of Servius Tullius, that “ he was born of no father.” (Lib. iv. 3.) So also the Jews were accustomed to use these terms of persons, the names of whose parents were not given in the Holy Scriptures or in their genealogies. Philo, for example, speaking of Sarah, the wife of Abraham, says, “ She is said not to have had a mother, having received the inheritance of relationship from her father only” (DeEbriet, Section 14) : meaning evidently that her mother’ s name is not found in the sacred records. And to the same effect is the Rabbinical maxim which says of the Gentile pros­elyte that “ He has no father,” after his conversion to Judaism. In this popular sense, the Apostle manifestly uses these negative epithets in our text, to denote simply that the parentage of Mel- chisedec is unknown; that so far as the record goes, he was with­out father and without mother, and furthermore that he was with­out descent, or rather, without genealogy (agenealogetos). Nothing concerning either his ancestry or his posterity is recorded in the Holy Scriptures. There, he appears on the page of typical history isolated and alone. See note on verse 1. Hebrews 7:3 ---having neither beginning of days nor end of life;— This is but a part of the constructive parallelism which the Apostle frames here with the view of amplifying his description of Melchisedec in his typical relations to Christ as the great high priest of our con­fession. Christ, in the sense in which he is here contemplated by our author, had no predecessors, and he will have no successors. He himself will continue to officiate as our royal high priest during the entire period of his mediatorial reign. And so it was with Melchisedec. So far as the record goes, his priesthood, as well as that of Christ, was unbroken, uninterrupted by any changes of suc­cession. All that is here meant by his being made like unto the Son of God, and abiding a priest perpetually (eis to dienekes) is simply this: that like Jesus he completely fills up the entire era of his royal priesthood in his own proper person. This period, how­ever short, is intended to serve as a typical representation of the era of Christ’ s priesthood, and Melchisedec is thus made a more perfect type of Christ than was Aaron or any of his successors. The word perpetually (dienekes) and forever (aion) are relative terms, and are simply exhaustive of the period to which they are severally applied, whether it be long or short. And all that is therefore implied in the words of the text is simply this: that as the shadow, however small it may be, corresponds with the sub­stance which forms it, so also did the priesthood of Melchisedec correspond with that of Christ. Each of them was unbroken, un­interrupted, and relatively perfect in itself. Great care is therefore necessary in dealing with these relative terms and expressions, lest peradventure we give them an extension which is wholly beyond what was intended by the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 7:4 ---Now consider how great this man was,—The Apostle aims here to exalt the character of Melchisedec with the view of still further exalting the character and priesthood of Christ, of whom Melchisedec was an eminent type. This he does by comparing Melchisedec with Abraham, who, at that time, had apparently reached the very summit of human greatness. “ Of his own free­will, he had, from motives of pure benevolence, engaged in an en­terprise which resulted in the overthrow of four kings and the de­liverance of five, and now he was returning to his quiet home cov­ered with glory and the spoils of victory. But just at this moment, when raised above his fellow-men in deeds of prowess and works of mercy, he encounters the venerable form of the king of Salem, who steps forth for an instant from his mysterious seclusion, and as speedily retires again, but not before Abraham, at his highest exaltation, has acknowledged in Melchisedec one superior to him­self” (Del. in loc.). This Abraham did (1) by paying to Mel­chisedec the tenth of all the spoils which he had taken, and (2) by receiving the blessing of Melchisedec as the priest of the Most High God. The Greek word rendered spoils (akdrothinion), means literally the top of the heap. It generally occurs in the plural number, and is variously used to denote the first fruits of the harvest, taken as they usually were from the top of the heap of corn, and also the best of the spoils of war, which the heathens generally consecrated to the honor and worship of their gods. In our text it means not the whole of the booty taken, but only those choice articles of it which Abraham selected and offered to Melchisedec as the tenth of all. Hebrews 7:5 ---And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, etc.— The Apostle goes on to demonstrate still further the very exalted per­sonal and official dignity of Melchisedec. This he does in the first place by drawing a broad line of distinction between Melchisedec and the Levitical priests. These, he concedes, were in official rank superior to the laity, as is clearly indicated by their receiving tithes from them. But this difference of rank between the priests and the people, is modified by the fact that they were all brethren, descend­ants of the common stock of Abraham, and also by the fact that the priests had a legal right to tax the people as a reward for ser­vices rendered. But not so in the case of Melchisedec and Abra­ham. Melchisedec bore no such relation to Abraham; he was not of the same kindred, nor had he, so far as we know, any legal right to tax Abraham for his services. And yet, so great was his per­sonal and official dignity, that even Abraham, the honored father of the whole stock of Israel, including the priesthood as well as the people, paid tithes to him and received his blessing. The whole sentence is well rendered by Delitzsch as follows: “ And, indeed, while the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood, have a command­ment to take tithes from the people, according to the law, that is, from their own brethren, although issued like themselves from the loins of Abraham; he, on the other hand, who hath no part in their genealogy, hath received tithes from Abraham himself, and be­stowed his blessing on the possessor of the promises.” Hebrews 7:5 ---have a commandment to take tithes of the people— The Apostle speaks here not of all the sons of Levi, but of those only “ who receive the office of the priesthood” ; that is, of the house of Aaron. (Exodus 28:1; Numbers 17:1-11.) These, he says, have a com­mand to tithe the people. But we learn from Numbers 18:22-32, that the people were required to pay a tithe of all their increase to the Levites, and that the Levites were in turn required to pay a tithe of this tithe to the priests. And hence some allege that there is a discrepancy between the requirements of the law and the statement that is here made by our author. But this, as in other cases, is only in appearance. It is owing simply to the very great brevity with which the Apostle makes reference to the provisions of the law. Had his object been to give us a critical analysis of the law, touching the mutual relations, duties, and obligations of the priests, Levites, and people, the case would have been very different. We would then have reason to expect that every point would be stated and discussed with clearness and precision. But in a general ref­erence, such as our author here makes to the law, it is perfectly legitimate to say, as he does, that the priests “ have a command­ment to tithe the people” ; that is, indirectly through the Levites. The priests tithed the Levites, and the Levites tithed the people. But in reality it was all done for the sake of the priesthood, for the Levites were the servants of the priests. (Numbers 18:2-6.) Hebrews 7:6 ---But he whose descent is not reckoned from them— that is, from the sons of Levi. In this verse the Apostle brings out fully the great contrast between Melchisedec and the Levitical priests. These, indeed, tithed their brethren, a fact which may well excite our surprise when we remember that these brethren were all the children of Abraham, the honored heirs of the promises. But stranger still by far is the fact that Melchisedec, of a wholly differ­ent stock, and without any legal authority, tithed Abraham himself, and blessed him who had the promises. In all this, the transcen­dent dignity of Melchisedec, as the honored priest of the Most High God, is abundantly manifested. Hebrews 7:7 ---And without all contradiction, the less is blessed of the better.— The words rendered less (elatton) and better (kreitton) are both in the neuter gender, thus indicating the general and proverbial character of the proposition. yThe Apostle expresses here a sort of axiomatic truth; a truth which is so very plain in itself, and which is so generally acknowledged that it is really be­yond dispute. “ Now beyond all controversy,” he says, “ the infe­rior is blessed by the superior.” The one who blesses is to the one who receives the blessing as the giver is to the receiver. So it was in the case of Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 27:27-29) ; so it was in the case of Christ and his Apostles (Luke 14:10-11) ; and so also it was in the case of Melchisedec and Abraham (Genesis 19:17-20). Hebrews 7:8 ---And here men that die receive tithes, etc.— The word “ here” (hode) refers to the Levitical economy; and “ there” (ekei), to the administration of Melchisedec, as given in the four­teenth chapter of Genesis. Under the Law, the death of the high priest was always made a matter of record; and so also was the inauguration of his successor. Aaron died and left his office to his son Eleazar; Eleazar, to Phinehas; Phinehas, to Abishua; Abi- shua, to Bukki; Bukki, to Uzzi, etc. (1 Chronicles 6:50-52.) And hence it came to pass, that under the Mosaic economy, the mortal­ity of the priesthood was one of its most prominent features. But not so in the inspired representation which is given us of the priesthood of Melchisedec. When we look at it as a pictorial de­lineation of the priesthood of Christ, we see no signs of death or mortality in it, or about it. Every feature of it beams with life and durability. It has in appearance neither beginning nor ending. And hence so far as the inspired representation goes, Melchisedec lives forever. He can never die. As Delitzsch very forcibly and justly remarks on this point, “ The witness of the Scripture con­cerning him is simply that he liveth. The actual historical Mel­chisedec no doubt died; but the Melchisedec of the second narra­tive does nothing but live,— fixed, as it were, by the pencil of inspi­ration in unchangeable existence; and so made the type of the eter­nal Priest, the Son of God. The sacred writer has here still only Genesis 14:17-20 in view: the abrupt and absolute way in which Melchisedec is there introduced is for him a testimony that he liv­eth.” This, and nothing more than this, I am constrained to think is the meaning of the author. True, indeed, there is a sense in which the type may be said to live in the antitype. David still lives in the person of Christ; and thus it is that his throne endures throughout all generations. (Psalm 89: 19-37.) And so also Mel­chisedec, as a royal Priest, still lives in Christ, and his priesthood endures forever. But to this view of the matter, I do not think our author makes any reference in this connection. He is here con­templating Melchisedec as a type of Christ, not with the view of exalting Melchisedec through Christ, but rather with the view of exalting the priesthood of Christ through that of Melchisedec. And hence he speaks of Melchisedec in his official relations, simply as a type of Christ. Hebrews 7:9 ---And as I may so say,—(kai hos epos eipein) and “ as the saying is” ; or “ so to speak.” This phrase is often used by Greek writers to modify or soften a paradoxical or apparently harsh ex­pression, which is liable to be pressed too far; and so the Apostle clearly uses it in this connection. So far as he has gone, his argu­ment might seem to be applicable only to Abraham. He has yet made no direct comparison between Melchisedec and the Levitical priesthood. But now for the purpose of covering the whole ground, so that no room might be left for Jewish objections, he proceeds to show still further that his reasoning applies to Levi and his descendants, as well as to Abraham. For, as he says, Levi also, so to speak, paid tithes through (dia) Abraham. How he did this, the Apostle goes on to show in the next verse. Hebrews 7:10 ---For he was yet in the loins of his father, etc.— This decla­ration is given in proof of the previous allegation, that Levi himself was tithed by Melchisedec through Abraham. The fact then is in­disputable ; but the sense in which this was done is still a matter of legitimate inquiry. To say with some, that this is simply an “ argu- mentum ad hominem” is to trifle with the word of God. Nothing short of an “ argumentum ad rem” will at all satisfactorily meet the case and fulfill the design of the Apostle. His object is not to il­lustrate, but to prove; it is not to remove an objection, but to es­tablish a fact. And hence any explanation of this difficult passage, founded on “ Jewish prejudices” or “ Rabbinical conceits,” is wholly out of the question. The context admits of no such evasion as this. And yet on the other hand there is danger of taking these words of the Apostle in too literal a sense; otherwise he would not have used the qualifying phrase, “ so to speak” That Levi did not personally and by his own voluntary act pay tithes through Abra­ham, as his appointed agent, is very certain for as the Apostle says, Levi was not then born: he was yet in the loins of his great grand­father Abraham, when Melchisedec met him. What then is the meaning of this passage? This will perhaps be best understood by considering a parallel case. Such a one occurs in Romans 5:12. Here the same Apostle says, “ By one man sin en­tered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed through upon all men, for that all sinned (hemarton).” That is, the fact that all men die, depends on the antecedent fact, that all men sinned. But how? “ Not,” says Paul, “ after the similitude of Adam’ s transgression.” He sinned in his own proper person; and the rest of mankind, so to speak, sinned in him. For the Apostle adds (verse 19), “ by the disobedience of the one the many were made sinners.” God created mankind in Adam (Genesis 1:26-27), and with him as the head and representative of the race he made a covenant, upon the keeping of which depended the life, not only of Adam himself, but also of his entire posterity. When he trans­gressed the covenant he died, and then also the race died in him; because, so to speak, they all sinned in him: for they were all still in the loins of Adam when he ate of the forbidden fruit. And hence it is that we are all by nature (phusei) under the curse of that broken law, and treated by God as children of wrath, until we are redeemed by the second Adam. Now just so it was with Abraham and his posterity. God made a covenant with him also, as the head and representative of his race. Their fortunes were therefore largely involved in his fortunes; their dignity, in his dignity; and their rights and privileges, in the honors which God bestowed on him as the father and founder of his own elect people. When Abraham therefore paid tithes to Melchisedec, Levi also and his posterity virtually paid tithes through him as their federal head and representative: for they were all yet in the loins of their father Abraham, when he met and honored Melchisedec as the Priest of the Most High God. This is the simple fact of the case, as it is here stated by the Apostle, and used by him as an essential element of his promises. And hence it should be received by all, as a fact, however incompetent we may be to understand the principle which underlies it in all its ethical and religious bearings. Infidels may scoff and sneer at this principle of federal representation as “ un­just and absurd” ; but it somehow happens that we cannot get rid of it, nor act independently of it even in secular matters. Individuals, corporations, and governments, are every day making arrangements, signing pledges, and sealing documents which in­volve largely the interests and fortunes of others, as well as of themselves. It would be much more becoming, then, in frail and fallible men, humbly to confess their ignorance in such cases, and to try to learn more of the infinite wisdom of God, as exhibited in the works of creation, providence, and redemption, rather than scoffingly and scornfully to reject as “ unjust and absurd,” matters about which they yet know but little, and into which the angels de­sire to look with reverence. (1 Peter 1:12.)Without then making any further attempt at explanation, we simply admit the fact as here stated, that Levi himself, and of course his whole posterity including the house of Aaron, virtually paid tithes to Melchisedec through Abraham, on the principle of federal representation. And consequently it clearly follows from the premises submitted that the Levitical Priests were all inferior to Melchisedec, and still more to Christ, of whom Melchisedec was but a type. Commentary on Hebrews 7:1-10 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_7:1 --For this MelchizedekNo doubt it was a rare thing to find one like Melchizedek living in the midst of idolatry, superstitions, yet being true. See Milligan for suggestions as to his identity. p. 195. There are many theories concerning who he was: a. Christ. b. Holy Spirit. c. An angel. d. Enoch. e. Shem. f. An emanation from the Deity. g. Melchizedek himself. Scarcity of knowledge about him. a. Genesis 14 : Three short verses. b. Psalms 110:4 : Appears about 1,000 years later. c. Hebrews 7:1 : Another 1,000 years later. It is doubtful that he was Shem, for Shem’ s genealogy is given. Let him be Melchizedek— be himself. Hebrews 7:1 --King of SalemWhat is Salem? a. We know it as Jerusalem. 1. “ Salem” meant “ peace” . 2. “ Habitation of peace” , or “ city of peace” , is its name, but it has seldom known peace. b. This city David later chose as his capital when Hebron was too far south for his united kingdom. Who were the people over whom he ruled? a. Genesis 14:18 is the first mention of the City. Melchizedek was king and he was the priest of the Most High God. b. He seems to have been an actual king, in that others such as the king of Sodom were mentioned in the same words. Hebrews 7:1 --priest of God Most HighIt seems a little strange that in a country abounding in corruption, a man would be found preserving the pure worship of God. a. Sodom and Gomorrah was on one side and the Canaanites on the other, yet here was a king who acted also as priest. b. The world had seemed to turn from God, but here was Melchizedek remaining true. Christ came into a world of sin, yet he remained true and faithful and became our sinless High Priest. Hebrews 7:1 --and met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings Lot had been taken prisoner, Genesis 14, by several kings. a. Amrapheal, King of Shinar. b. Ariock— King of Ellasar. c. Chedorlaomer— King of Elam. d. Tidal— King of Nations. Abraham completely routed these men and released Lot, Being a priest of the God that Abraham worshipped, we can see why these two would be on friendly terms. Hebrews 7:1 --and blessed him The blessing: a. Genesis 14:19 : “ Blessed be Abraham of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth.” The word “ who” establishes the fact that Melchizedek did the blessing. Newell, p. 211: “ It is idle to contend that Melchizedek was not connected with sacrifice but with blessing only,” See Hebrews 7:15; Hebrews 7:17; Hebrews 7:24. Hebrews 7:2 --to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of allIn Genesis 14:20 it is difficult to find who paid tithes to whom, but this verse leaves no doubt, This act of devotion on the part of Abraham indicated a custom that was practiced in early times. a. We see Jacob, Genesis 28:22, vowing to tithe. b. There must have been a custom of divine origin going back to Adam, of which we know little. Abraham paid voluntarily, but no doubt it was in harmony with what he knew to be an ordinance. Hebrews 7:2 --being first by interpretationThe word or name is translated for us to give its meaning. Words were significant in those days, such as: a. Eve: “ mother of all living” . b. Joshua: “ saviour” . Actually, he was king in a double sense. a. Hebrews defines his name to mean King of righteousness, then points out the fact that he was King of Salem. b. This double relationship likewise fits Christ. Hebrews 7:2 --King of RighteousnessJesus is also righteousness. a. Zechariah 2:10 : “ Rejoice, O daughter of Zion, behold thy righteous king cometh unto thee.” It is actually in Christ’ s priestly function that He becomes our righteousness. See Hebrews 9:25-28. Hebrews 7:2 --and then also King of Salem, which is King of peaceAbraham had moved into the territory of Melchizedek, but we see him making a peaceful gesture toward Abraham, the victorious warrior. a. Genesis 14:18 : He brought bread and wine. b. In Psalms 104:15 we read: “ Wine maketh glad the heart of man and bread strengtheneth the heart of man.” This gesture refreshed Abraham’ s servants, and thus proved Melchizedek’ s right for receiving the tithe, as well as being king of a city whose name is “ peace” . Hebrews 7:3 --without father without motherSince the archeologists find this expression, we know that it was a current expression. Milligan says, “ It is folly to ransack the archives of antiquity with the view of discovering more about him than Genesis 14 tells us.” He comes out suddenly from the dark invisible background of the drama of human redemption, then retires forever without leaving any trace of predecessors or successors. Greeks, Romans, and Jews spoke of a person as being with our parents: a. When their names were not known— obscure parentage. b. An orphan. c. Their gods. Hebrews 7:3 --without genealogyWithout traced ancestry. This may mean in his position, for none are recorded before him or after him. Hebrews 7:3 --having neither beginning of days nor end of lifeHis birth and death are not recorded, as though eternity were ascribed to him. Calvin says this omission of birth and life was done to give us an idea of one above the common order of men. Wescott agrees (p. 173). The interference is that the silence is intentioned and significant. Hebrews 7:3 --but made like unto the Son of God“ Made like” is also translated, “ being like” , Some say he was like God’ s Son “ in that no lineage is given” , but Christ had lineage, Newell; “ There is no note of the beginning of his priesthood nor of its ending, He comes on the scene as a continual priest without earthly or human connection,” Milligan says: “ Like Jesus, he completely fills up the entire era of his royal priesthood in his own proper person.” Hebrews 7:3 --abideth a priest continuallyThe words “ continually” , “ perpetually” , “ forever” are related terms, and are simply indicative of the period to which they are applied, whether it be long or short. Newell, p. 219: “ It does not say that the man Melchizedek is a continual priest today.” Study Questions1113. Name some ideas that men have concerning who Melchizedek was. 1114. How can we rule Shem out? 1115. How may we account for him in a land of idolatry? 1116. Can we account for him the same as we do Abraham, who was living in a center of moon worship? 1117. What is “ Salem” , over which he was king? 1118. How do we know that he was not an idolatrous king? 1119. Who would be the “ Most High God” ? 1120. What is the slaughter of the kings referred to here? 1121. Who had been taken captive? 1122. Name the kings of Genesis 14. 1123. How may we account for the fact that Abraham was able to accomplish a great victory? 1124. May we assume that Abraham was a mighty chieftain leading a vast army? 1125. May we presume that Melchizedek’ s army helped since he met Abraham on his return? 1126. Who was blessed here? Who blesses, the lesser or the greater? 1127. What all is involved in blessing? 1128. Where did Abraham get an idea of a tithe? 1129. Could this custom be a part of God’ s original command when Cain disobeyed God? 1130. What is interpreted here? 1131. Was he doubly a king? 1132. Was Jesus King of Righteousness? Cf. Zechariah 9:9. 1133. In what way was Melchizedek king of peace? 1134. If he were not, would he be inclined to make war on Abraham, an invader from Ur? 1135. What had he done to prove that he was peaceful? Cf. Genesis 14:18. Hebrews 7:4 --Now consider how great this man wasThe apostle’ s aim here is to exalt the character of Melchizedek, with the view of still further exalting the character and priesthood of Christ. “ Great”— Few men are called great in the Bible. a. Genesis 12:2 : Abraham. b. 2 Samuel 7:9 : David, “ I will make thee a great name.” c. 2 Kings 4:8 : Shunem— a great woman. d. Luke 1:15 : John the Baptist.Hebrews 7:4 --upon whom Abraham, the patriarch “ Patriarch” defined: a. A father or ruler of a family. b. The progenitor of a race. Abraham was a great person, Now if he paid tithes to Melchizedek then we can see how great Melchizedek was. Hebrews 7:4 --gave a tenth out of the chief spoilsThe best tithe is suggested. Milligan says: “ The top of the heap.” Genesis 14:20 is the account. The first cities conquered by the Israelites were to be devoted to God. The first fruits, the chief spoils were to be given to God. Hebrews 7:4 --and they indeed of the sons of LeviThere is not much difference in rank here, for the priests and people were brethren. There is not as much as in the case of Abraham and Melchizedek. Abraham was a great-grandfather of Levi, Aaron’ s ancestor. Hebrews 7:5 --that receive the priest’ s officeThis refers only to the house of Aaron. a. Exodus 28:1. b. Numbers 17:1-11. See also Numbers 18:22-32. a. The people were required to pay tithes to the Levites. b. The Levites were in turn to pay a tithe to the priests. c. The Levites were the servants of the priests. Numbers 18:2-6.Hebrews 7:5 --have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the lawThis commandment is found in Numbers 18. Support of God’ s servants is a commandment of God and should be preached. Hebrews 7:5 --that is of their brethrenBrethren received tithes of brethren, though actually we give unto God. The Levites, in receiving and using the tenth, were blessed as the servants of God. Hebrews 7:5 --though these have come out of the loins of AbrahamThe argument is: Abraham, who excelled all others, was yet inferior to Melchizedek; then Melchizedek had the highest place of honor and is superior to all the sons of Levi. These Levites, although they received offerings, were of the same parents. Hebrews 7:6 --but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of AbrahamMelchizedek has no lineage, yet he received tithes from Abraham. This is stated to show the great and high place of Melchizedek. Hebrews 7:6 --and hath blessed him that hath the promisesAbraham had the promise, This indicates the greatness of Melchizedek; the lesser individual had the promise but was blessed. There are three kinds of blessings in the scriptures: a. Matthew 5:44 : Prayer for a blessing. b. Genesis 12 : Prophetic blessings as in the case of the patriarchs. c. Sacerdotal blessing: See Numbers 6:23-27. “ Sacerdotal” means, “ pertaining to a priest” . Hebrews 7:7 --but without any dispute the less is blessed of the betterMelchizedek blessed Abraham; hence, the “ less” is Abraham, What does it mean: “ bless” ? a. It is a symbol of greater authority. 1. Isaac blessed his son, Jacob. 2. Jacob blessed his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Genesis 48:20. 3. Priest blessed the people, Numbers 6:23. 4. Luke 24:50 : Christ blessed the apostles. b. It indicates great power. Hebrews 7:8 --And here men that die receive tithes.The tithes were paid to men who died; thus it was an everchanging priesthood, The word “ here” refers to the Levitical system, and “ there” to the administration of Melchizedek. Hebrews 7:8 --but there oneWhere is “ there” ? It refers back to Melchizedek. If it referred to paying tithes to Christ now, it would say “ here” and not “ there.” Hebrews 7:8 --of whom is it witnessed that he livethThe silence of his death is an evidence of his life. He is showing that Melchizedek was perpetual; that of the Levites was temporary. He lives in type. Christ is the antitype. “ Witness” is two kinds: a. That of the eye. b. That of testimony. “ Witness” : where is the witness? a. Hebrews 7:3 is the witness of eternality. b. No ending is recorded for Melchizedek.Hebrews 7:9 --and, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithesThrough Abraham, Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek. Abraham, by paying tithes, made himself and his posterity inferior to the priesthood of Melchizedek. (Calvin, p. 163.) This is to establish greatness in the type of Christ’ s priesthood. “ Who receiveth tithes” refers to the Levites. a. Should the preacher tithe when he has been paid in tithes? b. Certainly, for he is as much a steward of God as others. The superiority of the ancient order cannot be escaped by verses nine and ten.Hebrews 7:10 --For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met himMilligan says Levi then actually paid tithes to Melchizedek through the principle of federal representation. a. In a corporation, individuals pay, make obligations which bind on others. b. If we took our tithes and handed it to our children it would be quite a gift. This is not done, so my children are tithing. Would this also include Jesus, since Judah also was in the loins? a. Christ is not of the same order. Matthew 22:45 : “ If he is the son of David, how does David call Him his Lord?” b. Christ did not serve as priest on earth. He could not, for He was not of the Levitical tribe. Hebrews 8:4. Study Questions1136. What is the significance of, “ without father without mother” ? 1137. Explain “ without genealogy” . Does this rule out Shem as being Melchizedek? 1138. Explain “ neither beginning of days nor end of life” . 1139. How was he like unto the Son of God? 1140. How could this be true when Christ has lineage? 1141. Explain “ abideth a priest continually” . 1142. Does “ forever” always mean from the dawn of history until the extremity of the future? 1143. Why does he want us to consider how great Melchizedek was? 1144. Define “ patriarch” . 1145. Why does he say “ chief spoils” ? 1146. Did God ever require the chief spoils again? 1147. What can be said in this regard concerning Jericho and Ai? 1148. How were the Levites supported? 1149. How were the priests supported? 1150. What function was performed by Levites who were not priests? Cf. Numbers 18:2-6. 1151. What is the significance of “ tithes from brethren” ? 1152. What law were the Levites under? 1153. What is the significance of saying that they, the Levites, came out of the loins of Abraham? 1154. Does this make Melchizedek superior to the Levite? 1155. Who is the “ them” referred to in verse six? 1156. Who has the promise? 1157. Who has the blessing? 1158. What does he mean by, “ without dispute” ? 1159. Give illustrations of greater men blessing the lesser. 1160. Did Jesus ever bless His disciples? Cf. Luke 24:50. 1161. What is meant by, “ here men that die receive tithes” ? 1162. Was he speaking of the law, or the present church? 1163. What does the word “ there” refer to in Hebrews 7:8? 1164. If it referred to Christ, would it say “ there” or “ here” ? 1165. Who is living in Hebrews 7:8? 1166. How could it be said that Melchizedek “ liveth” ? 1167. Who is witnessed as living— Christ or Melchizedek? 1168. What witness is there that Melchizedek lives? 1169. Where is the witness that Melchizedek lives? Cf. Hebrews 7:3. 1170. Isaiah 7:3 the witness? 1171. From whom did the Levites receive tithes? 1172. Explain Hebrews 7:9. 1173. Does he mean that Abraham made his posterity inferior to Melchizedek by payment of tithes to Melchizedek? 1174. May we infer that the preacher who receives tithes therefore ought to tithe? 1175. To whom did the Levites pay tithes as argued by Hebrews 7:9? 1176. How many years before the Levitical priesthood did the Levites tithe through Abraham? Hebrews 7:11-19 THE AND THELAW OF MOSES BOTH OF THEIR ;AND A BETTER GROUND OF IN THROUGH OF CHRISTHeb_7:11-19 Hebrews 7:11 ---If therefore perfection, etc.— The Greek word for perfec­tion (teleiosis) means properly completion, consummation, perfec­tion. It may therefore be used to denote the end or consummation of any scheme, plan, or purpose. But here, it evidently means the full consummation of God’ s benevolent designs and purposes in ref­erence to the redemption of mankind; including of course pardon, justification, sanctification, and whatever else is necessary in order to our enjoyment of full and perfect blessedness. All this, the Jews were wont to believe, would be finally secured to the seed of Abraham through the Levitical priesthood and the other provisions of the Old Covenant. And hence it was, that rejecting God’ s plan of justification by grace through faith in Christ, they went about to establish their own righteousness by the works of the Law. (Romans 10:3.) To those who were in danger of being misled by this de­lusion, the Apostle here addresses himself. If, he says, perfection were attainable through the Levitical priesthood, then whence the necessity that another priest should arise of a wholly different order? If God’ s honor could be promoted and man’ s salvation se­cured through the services of Aaron and his successors, then why did God say by David that he would raise up another Priest after the order of Melchisedec? Manifestly, this implies that there was imperfection in the Levitical priesthood: for otherwise, God would certainly not have abolished it, and established another. He never would have required that the blood of his own dear Son should be shed and offered for the sins of the world, if these sins could have been expiated by means of the Levitical offerings. So Paul rea­sons very forcibly in his letter to the Galatians. “ If,” he says, “ there had been a law given which could have given life, then ver­ily righteousness would have been by law.” (Galatians 3:21.) God would never have set aside the Law and introduced the Gospel, as a means of justification, had the Law been adequate to save men from their sins. “ But now the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” (Galatians 3:22.) Hebrews 7:11 ---for under it the people received the law.— (ho laos gar epi antes nenomothetetai), for upon it the people have received the law. The idea is that the priesthood was, so to speak, the basis of the whole Mosaic economy. It was the main object with reference to which the law was given, and consequently it was also the ground on which the law properly rested. Had no priesthood been contemplated, then indeed no law would have been given. But as a priesthood was necessary in order to the accomplishment of God’ s benevolent purposes, then it followed that the law was also necessary, not only to prescribe and regulate the several functions of the priesthood, but also to serve as a civil code, to convict men of sin, to restrain idolatry, and to support in various ways the wor­ship of the true God, till the Seed should come to whom the prom­ise was made. (Galatians 3:19.) It is obvious, therefore, that the ob­ject of the Apostle in introducing this parenthetical clause, was simply to keep prominent before his readers the fundamental bear­ings of the Levitical priesthood; to remind them that it was in fact the foundation of the Old Economy, and that the whole law of Moses stood or fell with it. Hebrews 7:12 ---For the priesthood being changed, etc.— This clearly fol­lows from the premises submitted. Concede that the priesthood was the basis of the law, the ground on which it rested; and then it follows of necessity that any change in the priesthood must have an effect also on the whole law. Take away the foundation, and the superstructure must fall to the ground. Remove from any system that which is central and fundamental, and then all that depends on it falls at once for want of the necessary support. The abrogation of the Levitical priesthood was therefore not a matter of small mo­ment. God would never have effected a change involving such consequences, for light and unimportant reasons. But this very change he has effected as our author now proceeds to show. Hebrews 7:13 ---For he of whom these things are spoken— The Apostle as­sumes here what was doubtless conceded by all his readers, and of which he has, in fact, already spoken with sufficient fullness (see notes on Hebrews 5:5-6), that Christ has been made a priest by the decree of him who said to him, “ Thou art my Son, this day have I begot­ten thee.” But this, our author insists, implies of necessity a transfer of the priesthood; and by consequence, the abrogation of the whole law. For it is evident, he says, that our Lord has sprung up as a branch out of the house of David (Jeremiah 23:5), and from the tribe of Judah. But according to the law of Moses, none but those of the house of Aaron were allowed to minister at the altar. (Num. 16:1 to 18: 7.) (See Numbers 18:7) And consequently it follows that in the decree given in Psalms 110:4, God contemplated a transfer of the priesthood, and also the abolition of the whole Sinaitic Covenant. Hebrews 7:14 ---For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah;—This is evident from the given references: see particularly the genealogies of Christ as recorded by Matthew and Luke. In the word “ sprang” (anatetalken), there is a beautiful allusion to the springing up of plants, as in Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5 Jeremiah 33:15; and Zechariah 6:12. Or it may be, as some have alleged, that the Apostle draws his imagery from the rising of the sun, as does the prophet Malachi (Mai. 4: 2) ; or from the rising of a star, as Balaam does in Numbers 24:17. But as he has here in view the genealogy of Christ, it is more natural to suppose that, in harmony with Hebrew usage, he refers to Christ’ s springing up as a branch from the roots of Jesse. Hebrews 7:15 ---And it is yet far more evident:— What is far more evident? In reply to this, it is alleged (1) that it is the distinction between the Levitical priesthood and that of the New Testament (Chrysos­tom) ; (2) that it is the fact that our Lord sprang out of Judah (Ebrard) ; (3) that the law of Moses is abrogated (Alford) ; (4) that perfection was not attainable through the Levitical priesthood (Delitzsch) ; and (5) that a change of the priesthood involves of necessity a change also of the law (Tholuck). The passage is con­fessedly a very difficult one, and where there is so great a diversity of views even among the ablest critics, it becomes us to be cau­tious and modest in giving our own judgment. I fully agree with Alford, however, in this, that the view of Ebrard is wholly inad­missible, and that “ his whole commentary on this verse is one of those curiosities of exegesis which unhappily abound in his other­wise valuable commentary.” But it seems to me that the more judicious Alford has also failed to perceive the exact point of the argument. The abolition of the law is indeed a necessary consequence of what is here uppermost in the mind of the Apostle, but it is certainly not the main thought which he here endeavors to set forth and support by a twofold argument. This, according to my understanding of the passage, is the fact, not merely that the Levitical priesthood was insufficient; but more particularly that, in consequence of this, there had been made such a change in the priesthood as in effect to abolish both the Levitical order of priesthood, and also the law which was given in reference to it. This the Apostle proves (1) from the fact that Christ, though of the tribe of Judah, is now a priest, contrary to the provi­sions of the law (Numbers 16:40 Numbers 17:1-9) ; and (2) from the fact that, according to the decree of Jehovah Christ’ s priesthood is of a wholly different order from that of the house of Aaron. This it is which makes the aforesaid change so very obvious. True, indeed, the transfer of sacerdotal functions from the tribe of Levi to the tribe of Judah, is very strong evidence of such a change, but not so strong as that which we gather from the transfer which was made according to the oath of Jehovah, from the order of Levi to that of Melchisedec. This thought our author now proceeds to develop more fully in the following verse. Hebrews 7:16 ---Who is made, not after the law of a carnal command­ment,—The Levitical priests were all so constituted. Their ap­pointment was made, not on account of any superior excellence on their part, but solely on the ground of carnal descent. It was made, therefore, as Paul says, “ according to the law of a carnal commandment,’’ but Christ received his appointment “ according to the power of an endless life.” These two clauses are placed in con­trast with each other, and they will therefore be best understood by comparing together the several antithetical words of which they are composed. Thus we find that law is opposed to power; carnal, to endless; and commandment to life. By the word law (nomos) in this connection, some understand the whole law of Moses (Chrysostom, Calvin, Bengel, Tholuck) ; but others, with more propriety, understand by it simply the rule of priestly suc­cession as prescribed by the carnal commandment. This is the view of Alford, T. S. Green, Moll, and others. In either case it had reference only to outward and perishable forms, and it was therefore wholly destitute of the internal power which com­mended Christ to the Father, and on the ground of which he received his appointment from the Father, as the high priest of our confession. The Levitical priests had all the form of god­liness, but many of them were wholly destitute of its power. But in Christ dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9.) And hence he is able to save, even to the uttermost, all who come to God by him. The word carnal (sarkinos) may have reference (1) to anything composed of flesh; (2) to anything re­lating to the flesh; and (3) to whatever has the properties, charac­teristics, or accidents of the flesh, such as frailty, weakness, cor­ruptibility, etc. As it is here used in contrast with “ endless” or imperishable (akatalutou) it seems to indicate externality, frailty, or perishableness. The idea is that the commandment was out­ward and perishable, liable at any time to be changed or abrogated, but the life of Christ is inherent and imperishable. It is this in­trinsic difference between the two orders of priesthood which makes them so very distinct from one another, and which, there­fore, serves to make the aforesaid change so very obvious. Hebrews 7:17 ---For he testifieth, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.— Or rather, Thou shall be a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. The verb is not expressed in either the Hebrew or the Greek, but the historical circumstances clearly indi­cate that the decree of Jehovah, as given in Psalms 110:4, has ref­erence to the future. Christ was not a high priest in the time of David, nor could he become a priest after the order of Melchisedec until after his death, burial, and resurrection. For if we draw a picture of the priesthood of Melchisedec, we see in it no beginning, no ending, no interruption by death or anything else. Nothing, in fact, appears in it but life— continued and uninterrupted life, crowned with royal and sacerdotal honors. And just so it must ever be with every correct representation of the priesthood of Christ. It must, in these respects, resemble the priesthood of Melchisedec, for they are of the same order, and are therefore similar in these essential points. That Christ acted, in some respects, both as a king and a priest while he was on earth we may readily grant. But such acts were only preparatory, and therefore extraordinary. His royal entrance into Jerusalem, for instance, and his giving himself up voluntarily to death, were but a shadow of what was to follow. The fact is, that the precise time when he was fully in­vested with the royal and sacerdotal honors and prerogatives of the new dispensation, is not known to mortals. The first manifestation of this was given on the day of Pentecost, just fifty days after his resurrection. But then he appeared, as Melchisedec appeared to Abraham, in all his royal and sacerdotal dignity, to bless all who would acknowledge his authority as the priest of the Most High God. And just so he ever lives, and reigns, and intercedes for his people. For like Melchisedec, he had no predecessor, and like him he will have no successor. As he is the only begotten Son of the Father, so also he is now the only king and high priest that is ap­pointed by the Father; and as such he will sit as a priest upon his throne until the purposes of God in reference to the redemption of mankind shall have been fully accomplished. Then, and not till then, will he deliver up both the kingdom and the priesthood to the Father. But that epoch, like the beginning of his administration, is concealed from the eyes of mortals. In the representation of his priesthood, therefore, as given by the Holy Spirit, there is neither beginning nor ending. Like Melchisedec, he abides a priest per­petually. See note on Hebrews 7:27. Hebrews 7:18 ---For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment— In this verse and the next following, we have the argument of the paragraph amplified and brought out to its legitimate results. In the twelfth verse, the Apostle speaks simply of a change or transfer (metathesis) of the priesthood and the law. But that change, as he now proceeds to show, results of necessity in a com­plete abrogation (athetesis) or setting aside of the commandment relating to the priesthood, and also of the whole law, in order to make way for the bringing in of a better ground of hope, through the Gospel of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The con­struction of the sentence is well given, and the main thought hap­pily expressed by Delitzsch as follows: “ For while there taketh place, on the one hand, a disannulling of the foregoing command­ment, because of its weakness and insufficiency (for the law had perfected nothing), there is, on the other hand, a bringing in, over and above, of a better hope, through which we draw nigh to God.” Hebrews 7:19 ---For the law made nothing perfect,— This parenthetical clause is thrown in here for the purpose of explaining on what ac­count the law was abrogated. It was an introductory arrange­ment, and had not the power to bring anything to perfection. Had it been sufficient to meet and accomplish God’ s benevolent de­signs in reference to the justification, sanctification, and redemp­tion of mankind, then indeed, as our author very clearly intimates in the eleventh verse of this chapter, and also in Galatians 3:21, perfec­tion would have been by the law. In that event, Christ would never have died for the salvation of the world (Galatians 2:21), and the New Economy would never have been inaugurated. But the fact is, as here stated, that owing to the weakness and imperfection of the flesh (Romans 8:3) the law perfected nothing. And hence when God had accomplished his benevolent designs in giving it to the Israelites, he then took it out of the way, and gave the Gospel to the world as the only efficient means of purifying our “ con­sciences from dead works,” and fitting us for his service here, and for the enjoyment of his presence hereafter. (Hebrews 9:14.) Hebrews 7:19 ---but the bringing in of a better hope did;— This is an erro­neous construction, and serves to mislead the reader. The idea which the Apostle wishes to convey to his readers is simply this: that, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of the Old Economy on account of its weakness and insufficiency; and on the other hand, there is the bringing in of the New Economy, by which we may all now, as priests, draw nigh to God and worship him in spirit and in truth. So Alford, Green, and others, rightly construe this passage, and this rendering is sustained by such other passages as Romans 5:1-2; Hebrews 10:19-22, and 1 Peter 2:5. Commentary on Hebrews 7:11-19 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_7:11 --Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthoodGod’ s full benevolent and saving purpose was not in it. Frail, sinful man, acting as priests, could not be perfect. The Greek word for “ perfection” means “ properly completed, consummated” . Hebrews 7:11 --for under it hath the people received the lawThis is to say that the law was annexed to the priesthood. It was to show that the priesthood was foundational. a. With it the law stood or fell. b. The law then was no ultimate end at which we ought to stop. c. When the priesthood was changed, naturally the law would go with it.Hebrews 7:11 --what further need was there that another Priest arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron?If the old system could bring perfection, then why did God Speak through David of a change? Cf. Psalms 110:4. The blood of Jesus, not after the order of Aaron, would not have been required if perfection could be gained otherwise. Hebrews 7:12 --for the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the lawThe Seventh Day Adventists cannot escape this. a. Galatians 3:21 : “ If there had been a law given which could have given life, then verily righteousness would have been of law.” b. Galatians 3:23-29. c. Colossians 2:14 states that the law was nailed to the cross. d. We are not obligated under law to tithe, but we are under love to do more. 1. The law of the tithe is changed, for that is the portion of the law he has dealt with in the tithe. 2. We cannot worship with a tithe, which is already God’ s, only as we sacrifice beyond the tithe.Hebrews 7:13 --For He of whom these things are saidPsa_110:4 : “ Jehovah hath sworn and will not repent. Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” All of this discussion is centered upon Christ. Hebrews 7:13 --belongeth to another tribeJesus came from the house of David, of the tribe of Judah. Jeremiah 23:5 is the prophecy: “ Behold the days cometh, saith Jehovah, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and he shall reign as King and deal wisely.” This shows the completeness of the change. The tribe of Judah was not allowed in the Old Testament to fill the priestly office. a. 2 Chronicles 26:19 : King Uzziah of the tribe of Judah tried it, and became leprous. Hebrews 7:13 --from which no man hath given attendance at the altarThe tribe of Judah could not serve at the altar. Christ is a priest contrary to the law. Hebrews 7:14 --For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah, as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests“ It is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah” refers to the genealogies and prophecies. “ Which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests” indicates the silence. Hebrews 7:15 --And what we say is yet more abundantly evidentThe argument of silence, he says, is not all of the matter. The author is interested in giving unanswerable argument, and such is found only in the scriptures. Hebrews 7:15 --if after the likeness of Melchisedek there ariseth another priest How was Melchizedek’ s and Christ’ s priesthood different from the Levitical? a. The Levitical Priesthood Many priests Yearly, repeated sacrifices Sinful Final death b. Christ’ s priesthood One priest Once Sinless c. The likeness is in the character of the office. Hebrews 7:16 --Who hath been madeThe Levites were made priests, not because of superiority, but by carnal descent. Priests were made, appointed, and no one could take the office upon himself. Hebrews 7:16 --not after the law of a carnal commandment a. Law was added as a temporary thing. b. Law was given because of their hardness. 1. Matthew 19:8. 2. Mark 10:5. c. Carnality is used here to suggest temporariness. Hebrews 7:16 --but after the power of an endless lifeChrist is greater than the Levitical priests. a. Those priests had no power, but our Priest does. Matthew 28:18. b. Those priests were not kings, but Christ is. c. Those priests did not have full sympathy, but Christ is touched with our infirmities. Hebrews 4:15. Newell says: “ Endlessness is not the best word here, for it is the undying character of the risen Lord that is meant rather than its mere endlessness.” Hebrews 7:17 --For it is witnessed of Him, Thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek“ It is witnessed of Him” refers to a testimony. a. Also translated “ it is testified” . See Psalms 110:4. b. The scriptures are the best interpreters of the scriptures. This ought to settle the question with the Jew, for David spoke of it. Hebrews 7:18 --for there is a disannullingThe old covenant is done away. It was for the children of Israel only. a. Leviticus 27:34; “ These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.” “ Disannulling is the Greek athetcsis—the same word as in Hebrews 9:26 where we have “ putting away sin” , The disappearance is thorough. The disannulling is discussed in several books of the New Testament: a. Romans 6:14. b. Romans 7:4-6. c Colossians 2:14. d. Ephesians 2:15. Hebrews 7:18 --of a foregoing commandmentThis refers to the old covenant. The inferiority of the old foregoing commandments is evident. a. They were never given to the entire human race. b. The law was given to Israel— to no other. Psalms 147:19-20. c. The object was to reveal sin, not to save. d. Its principle was law; the new law is love. Hebrews 7:18 --because of its weaknessIt could not make alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22 : “ In Christ all are made alive,” It could not take away sin. a. Hebrews 10:4 : “ For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.” b. Only one life could show the real love of God. 1. Not of cattle. 2. Not of angels. 3. Not of men, but Christ’ s life. c. Christ’ s blood is able to take away sins, where other blood was unable to do so. d. Romans 3:25 : Once for all. Cp. Hebrews 9:28. e. Galatians 3:21 : “ If there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.” Hebrews 7:18 --and unprofitablenessDoes this disagree with Galatians 3:24? a. It brought us to that which is profitable. b. It was unprofitable in its ability to take away sin. c. It must mean that within itself it was unprofitable.Hebrews 7:19 --for the law made nothing perfectIt was not sufficient to meet and accomplish God’ s purpose. a. Galatians 3:21 : “ Is the law against the promises of God? God forbid; for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.” b. Romans 8:3 : “ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending His Own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” Milligan argues that “ Owing to the weakness and imperfection of the flesh (Romans 8:3) the law perfected nothing.” Hebrews 7:19 --and a bringing in thereupon of a better hopeAll can see the superior hope of the Christian as seen in the power of Christ. a. Romans 8:11 : “ But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwelleth in you, He that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” The wise person should always take the better when it is offered. Hebrews 7:19 --through which we draw nigh unto GodIt is Christ, John 14:6, the Way, our Hope, which brings us nigh unto God. We may define our Hope in particulars, such as new body, new home, etc., but the fact remains that Christ is our Hope. Study Questions1177. Does Hebrews 7:11 indicate that the law that contained the Levitical priesthood was not adequate? 1178. In what way did it lack perfection? 1179. What is actually meant by the word “ perfect” here? 1180. Does this verse say that the law was affixed to an already existing priesthood? 1181. Who did Jacob and his sons pay tithes to? 1182. Jacob vowed to tithe. Who received it? 1183. The inability of the law called for what? 1184. Why couldn’ t it have been that God would improve the Aaronic priesthood instead of reckoning it after Melchizedek? 1185. When God changed priesthoods, what else did he also change? 1186. What does this do to the Seventh Day Adventist doctrine? 1187. Why did the law have to be changed? Cf. Galatians 3:21. 1188. What does this verse do to the law of tithe? 1189. Are we obligated more since we are under a greater priesthood? 1190. Can it be said that Jesus is a Priest contrary to the law of Moses? 1191. Is this an argument from silence— nothing said, nothing condemned? 1192. Of what tribe did Jesus come? 1193. What is the evidence? 1194. What did Moses have to say? 1195. What did the prophets say? 1196. If Christ had been of the tribe of Levi, would it have been as complete a change? 1197. What happened to King Uzziah of Judah when he tried to act as priest? Cf. 2 Chronicles 26:19. 1198. Is the author through arguing the case according to Hebrews 7:15? 1199. What is the more abundant argument? Is all of it found in Hebrews 7:15? 1200. Name the differences in Christ’ s priesthood and the Levitical one. 1201. How is Christ’ s like that of Melchizedek? 1202. How were the Levitical priests chosen? 1203. Was it because of superiority over the other tribes? 1204. What is meant by, “ carnal commandment” ? 1205. Why was the law given at all? Cf. Matthew 19:8 and Mark 10:5. 1206. Whose endless life is referred to here? 1207. Could it be said that Melchizedek’ s endless life had power? 1208. What is meant by endless life? 1209. Is the word “ after” a period of time? 1210. Describe the power that Christ had that these priests did not have. 1211. A witness is referred to here. What is witnessed? Hebrews 7:17. 1212. What is the witness? Could it be Psalms 110:4? 1213. What word could be used in place of “ witness” ? 1214. Define the word “ disannulling.” 1215. Was the law a universal law? Cf. Psalms 147:19-20; Leviticus 27:34. 1216. If it was for the Jews only, how much was there a need for a universal law? 1217. Compare the disannulling expression with Romans 6:14; Romans 7:4-6; Colossians 2:14; Ephesians 2:15. 1218. What does the “ foregoing commandment” refer to? 1219. If there were ten, why is it singular here? 1220. In what ways was the earlier commandment inferior to Christ’ s covenant? 1221. In what way was it weak? 1222. Could it make man alive? Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:22. 1223. Could it take away sin? Cf. Hebrews 10:4. 1224. Could anything less than Christ demonstrate so great a love? 1225. Was the law of no value when he says that it was unprofitable? 1226. Galatians 3:24 says something was a “ tutor” . What was it? 1227. In what realm was the law unprofitable? 1228. He says that the law made nothing perfect?. Is this the fault of the law or of the men to whom it was directed? Cf. Romans 8:3; Galatians 3:21. 1229. Was there ever a perfect person under the law? 1230. What brought in a better hope— the law? 1231. Was it the law of Moses, or the new priestly system? 1232. Why do you think so? 1233. Read the 18th and 19th verses as one sentence to give the true exegesis. 1234. Should we not always take the better of two ways? 1235. Name the ways in which our better hope works. 1236. What is it in this verse that helps us to draw nigh unto God? 1237. Is he saying that Christ is our Hope, and it is through Him that we draw nigh unto God? Hebrews 7:20-22 THE OF CHRIST’ PROVED FROM THE , UNLIKE THE , IT WITH AN OATHHeb_7:20-22 Heb 7:20 ---And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:—I have in the analysis of this, as in that of every other sec­tion, endeavored to assist the reader by indicating the extent and scope of each of the several paragraphs of which it is composed. The change of thought at the close of each of these may, I think, be readily perceived by all who read the Epistle with even ordinary care and reflection. Caution, however, is necessary lest perchance we make the breach of thought greater than what is really de­manded or warranted by the construction and course of the argu­ment. The connection of thought is very close throughout this en­tire section; and the several parts of it are all very intimately con­nected together, as links of the same chain. In the first paragraph, we have discussed and demonstrated very clearly, the superiority of the Melchisedecian order of priesthood. In the second, the Apostle shows that it was God’ s purpose of old, even in the time of David, to set aside the Old Economy and introduce the New; thereby proving indirectly from Psalms 110:4, the very great supe­riority of Christ’ s priesthood over that of Aaron. But as yet, the meaning of this oracle of Jehovah is but partially developed. It furnishes indeed the main line of thought throughout the remain­der of the section, leading the Apostle to the sublime conclusion in which his whole argument finally culminates, that Jesus is now a High Priest and Minister of the Holy of holies, and also of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man. The third phase of thought in this line of argument is given, as indicated, in verses 20-22; in which the Apostle further demonstrates the supe­riority of Christ’ s priesthood from the fact that it was confirmed and its perpetuity guaranteed by the oath of God. The reasoning of the Apostle, says Dr. Macknight, “ is founded on the conceded fact that God never interposed his oath except to show the cer­tainty and immutability of the thing sworn. Thus he swore to Abraham, Genesis 22:16-18, that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed; and to the rebellious Israelites, that they should never enter into his rest, Deut. 1: 34, 35; and to Moses, that he should not go into Canaan, Deut. 4:21; and to David, that his seed should endure forever, and his throne unto all generations, Psalm 89: 4. Wherefore, since Christ was made a priest, not without an oath that he should be a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec, that circumstance showed God’ s purpose never to change or abolish his priesthood; and never to change or abolish the covenant which was established on his priesthood. Whereas the Levitical priesthood and the Law of Moses being established with­out an oath, were thereby declared to be changeable at God’ s plea­sure.” Hebrews 7:21 ---For those priests were made without an oath: without the swearing of an oath.—(horkomosia from orchos an oath and om- nutni to swear). God simply said to Moses, “ Take unto thee Aaron thy brother and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’ s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar Aaron’ s sons.” (Exodus 28:1.) There was nothing extraordinary in the mode of their appointment. They were consecrated merely in the way of ordinary legislation, with becoming rites and ceremonies. See Exodus 24 and Leviticus 8, 9. But the manner of Christ’ s appointment was altogether extraordinary. God himself made oath on the occasion, as David testifies in Psalms 110:4, “ Jehovah has sworn and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Mel­chisedec.” It is therefore clearly indicated that God will never set aside the priesthood of Christ, as he did that of Levi, in order to make way for another of a different order. When God is said to repent, the meaning is that he simply wills a change; and when it is said that he will not repent, it means that he will never will a change. And consequently there is nothing beyond the priesthood of Christ, to which it will ever give place, as a means of accom­plishing God’ s benevolent purposes in the redemption of mankind. Christ himself will continue to officiate as a priest upon his throne, until the work of man’ s redemption shall have been fully consum­mated. Hebrews 7:22 ---By so much, etc.—The Levitical priests received their ap­pointment according to the law of a mutable and transitory Institu­tion ; an Institution which perfected nothing, because it was in its design wholly preparatory and introductory to a better state of things; and which was therefore finally set aside in order to make way for the inauguration of a new and better Institution, of which Christ is made the Surety. But as before intimated, this new ar­rangement embracing the priesthood of Christ and all else pertain­ing to the justification, sanctification, and redemption of mankind, can never be set aside in order to make room for anything else. God’ s oath is given as a pledge of this; and Christ himself being constituted a priest by the oath of God, now stands as security that this new covenant or arrangement will never be abrogated, until the benevolent designs of God shall have been accomplished in the salvation of all who believe and obey him. For as the Levitical priesthood was the basis of the Old Covenant (verse 11), so also is the priesthood of Christ the basis of the New Covenant; and as this will, according to the oath of Jehovah, endure to the final con­summation of all that God has promised by his holy Apostles and Prophets, so also will the New Covenant of which Christ is made the Surety, continue until God’ s eternal government is magnified in the everlasting salvation of the righteous, and the eternal con­demnation of the wicked. This, the oath of Jehovah clearly indi­cates showing, as Peter says, that this is the true grace of God in which we now stand. (1 Peter 5:12.) And hence the difference of being made a priest with or without an oath is very great; and just so great is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New. The Greek word rendered testament (diatheke) means properly a disposition or an arrangement. And it is accordingly used (1) to denote any arrangement made by a superior for the benefit of an inferior; such, for example, as that which God made for the Israel­ites at Mount Sinai. And (2) it is used in the same sense as sun- theke to denote a mutual agreement between equals; such as the covenant which Abraham made with Abimelech. (Genesis 21:22-32.) In our text, it is evidently used in the former sense, to denote God’ s gracious arrangement made through Christ for the salvation of the world on given conditions. But what shall we call this dia theke? The word arrangement, or disposition, is too generic; and the word will, or testament, is specifically different. For as our author says (9: 16), before a testament can be carried into effect, there must of necessity take place the death of the testator. In this sense, which is very common in the Greek classics, the word dia theke can never of course be literally and strictly applied to any of God’ s arrangements for the benefit of mankind. And to the word covenant there is this objection, that in its usual acceptation it rep­resents the parties as too much on an equality. It corresponds much better with the second meaning of diatheke than with the first. But as it is now used by our writers to represent diatheke in both senses, it is perhaps on the whole the best word that we can employ in this instance. This covenant is better than the old cove­nant in many respects (see notes, on 8: 6-13), but chiefly in this, that founded as it is on the everlasting and efficacious priesthood of Christ, it cannot fail to secure for all who accept of its condi­tions, free, full, and everlasting forgiveness. Of this better covenant, Christ is made the Surety (engnos). But what is the meaning of this? Some think that the word is used in the same sense as mediator (mesites) in Hebrews 8:6 Hebrews 9:15 Hebrews 12:24; Galatians 3:19-20; and 1 Timothy 2:5. But if this had been Paul’ s meaning, he would doubtless have used the word mediator as in other instances. The word enguos does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament; but in classic Greek, it means a surety, a sponsor or a bondsman: one who pledges his name, property, or influence that a promise shall be fulfilled, or that something else shall be done. In this sense it is manifestly used in our text. Jesus has become the surety, sponsor, or bondsman of the New Covenant. But in what sense, and for what purpose? “ It can not be,” says Albert Barnes, “ that he is a bondsman for God that he will main­tain the covenant, and be true to the promises which he makes; for we need no such security of the Divine faithfulness and veracity. It cannot be that he becomes responsible for the Divine conduct in any way; for no such responsibility is needed or possible. But it must mean that he is security, or bondsman on the part of man.” This is plausible, but it does not well harmonize with the context.The argument of the Apostle requires us to understand this secur­ity as given on the part of God for the greater encouragement and consolation of his children; just as he gave the oath to Abraham and to his seed after him. (6: 17, 18.) “ Jesus,” says Liinemann, “ is become the surety of a better covenant; that is, in his person security is given to men that a better covenant is made and sanctioned by God. For Christ, the Son of God, became man to publish this covenant on earth; he has sealed it with his death and sufferings; and by his resurrection from the dead, he was declared with power to be sent by God as the founder of such a covenant.” Commentary on Hebrews 7:20-22 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_7:20 --And inasmuch as it is not without the taking of an oathPsa_110:4 expresses this oath, This is more of the abundant evidence. a. God’ s oath is to show the certainty and immutability of the thing sworn. 1. He swore to Abraham. Genesis 22:16-18. 2. He swore that Israel would not enter his rest. Deuteronomy 1:35. 3. He swore that Moses would not enter Canaan, Deuteronomy 4:21. 4. He swore that David and his seed would endure. Psalms 89:4. b. Now Christ’ s priesthood is sworn to, to show its unchangeableness, The Levitical priesthood not being sworn to indicates that it was temporary. Hebrews 7:21 --For they indeed have been made priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him that saith of Him, The Lord sware and will not repent Himself, Thou art a Priest forever“ For they indeed have been made priest without an oath” indicates a contract. a. Their priesthood came by natural descent. b. The value of the covenant is determined by the presence or absence of an oath. An oath is something final and determinative in nature, “ But He with an oath” shows the superiority of Christ’ s priesthood. This is found in Psalms 110:4, “ By him that saith of Him” indicates God’ s oath. “ The Lord sware and will not repent Himself, Thou art a Priest forever,” indicates the unchangeable priesthood. Hebrews 7:22 --by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant “ By so much”— a term of measurement. a. Hebrews 1:4 : A fuller revelation. b. Hebrews 3:3 : “ More honor.” c. Hebrews 7:22 : Better covenant. d. Hebrews 8:6 : Better ministry. e. Hebrews 9:14 : Complete cleansing. “ . . . hath Jesus become the surety” has the idea of “ binding.” a. The Greek word for “ surety” is egguos, and appears only here. 1. It means a sponsor or bondswoman. 2. Acts 17:30-31 : It gives the idea of final evidence. “ Of a better covenant” ought to be of interest to all: a. See Hebrews 8:6, which says it is better because of better promises involved. b. Most people realize the superiority of anything new over the old, except those who deal with antiques. 1. Too many are interested in religious antiques. 2. The new covenant with a superior priest and promises should be preferred. Study Questions1238. What was without an oath, or is this what the author says? 1239. Where is the oath recorded? Cf. Psalms 110:4. 1240. Is this more of the abundant evidence of Heb 7:15? 1241. What other times did God swear? Cf. Genesis 22:16-18; Deuteronomy 4:21; Deuteronomy 8:1. 1242. If the Levitical priesthood was not sworn to, what can be assumed? 1243. What was the content of the oath? 1244. If the Levitical priests were not appointed by an oath, how were they appointed? 1245. Is the value of a priesthood determined by the oath? 1246. What is meant by “ will not repent Himself” ? 1247. What is meant by the expression, “ by so much” ? 1248. What is implied by the word “ surety” ? 1249. What is the surety of? 1250. How is it a better covenant? Cf. Hebrews 1:4; Hebrews 3:3; Hebrews 7:22; Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:14. Hebrews 7:23-25 THE CHANGES IN THE ­HOOD BY THE DEATH OFTHE HIGH PRIEST, WITH THEEVER- AND R OF CHRIST’ S Heb_7:23-25 Hebrews 7:23 ---And they truly were many priests,— The contrast made here by the Apostle, is not between Christ and all the Levitical priests, but, as we learn from the context, only between Christ and the high priests. In this sense the word priest (hiereus), is often used in the Holy Scriptures; as, for example, in Exodus 29:30 Exodus 31:10; Leviticus 1:7 Leviticus 4:3 Leviticus 4:5-7, etc. The title high priest occurs first in Leviticus 21:10. See note Hebrews 4:14. These high priests under the law were not permitted to continue long in office, because they were soon cut off by death. Thus, Joseph, surnamed Caiaphas, who served from A.D. 26 to A.D. 35, was the sixty-seventh in the line of Aaron, and Phannias, the last who wore the mitre, A.D. 70, was the eighty-first in order, showing that mortality was a prominent feature in the Levitical priesthood. See “ Calmet’ s Dictionary of the Holy BibleArt. on the priesthood. Hebrews 7:24 ---But this man, because he continueth ever, etc.—Christ is not subject to death like the Levitical priests. He continues in life forever, and hence he has an unchangeable priesthood. This same point of contrast was slightly touched on by the Apostle in the eighth verse, and also in the sixteenth. But in the former in­stance, as Alford justly remarks, his object was to show the abid­ing nature of the superiority of the priesthood; its endurance in Melchisedec, and in Christ, Melchisedec’ s antitype, as contrasted with dying men who here receive tithes, and in the latter it was to bring out the differences between the ordinances which constituted the two priesthoods, the one, the law of a carnal commandment; the other the power of an endless life. Here, however, in the twenty-fourth verse, it is the personal contrast that is brought out and made prominent. The many change, but the one abides. And hence he has an unchangeable priesthood. Hebrews 7:25 ---Wherefore he is able also, etc.—The object of the Apostle in this verse is very nearly the same as in Romans 8:28-31; viz.: to give to the ransomed sons and daughters of the Lord God Al­mighty strong assurance that if they continue faithful to the end of life, Christ will certainly save them from all the power and devices of their enemies. But here he does not embrace so wide a range of thought as he does in the eighth of Romans. There, he refers par­ticularly to the decrees of God as indicating his benevolent designs and purposes with respect to all the faithful in Christ Jesus. But here, the ground of consolation is the fact that Christ ever lives “ to make intercession for those who come unto God by him.” The Apostle assumes, of course, that in order to redeem man Christ be­came flesh and dwelt among us; that for this purpose he died and made an offering of his own blood for the sins of the world, and that to this end he has been invested with all authority in heaven and on the earth. All this is implied in the argument. But the main ground of encouragement in this paragraph is the consoling fact that Christ, having died for our sins according to the Scrip­tures, and having also by the offering of his own blood made an atonement for the sins of the world, now lives, and lives forever, to intercede for those who come unto God by him, and so to perfect their salvation. The word intercede (eutunkano) is used here in a very com­prehensive sense, to denote all that Christ is now doing for the jus­tification, sanctification, and redemption of his people. Seated, as he is, on the right hand of the Father, and clothed with omnipotent power and authority, he is ever ready to plead for those who have been cleansed by his blood, ever ready to defend them against all the assaults of their enemies, and, in a word, ever ready to make all things work together for their good. Commentary on Hebrews 7:23-25 by Donald E. Boatman Hebrews 7:23 --And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuingThe old law had to have many priests because they were subject to death, and successors had to be trained. The new covenant has one eternal Priest since He is not subject to death.Hebrews 7:24—but He, because He abideth forever, hath His priesthood unchangeableWith early priests you might have a sympathetic priest today, and a different one tomorrow. Christ is the same always, perfection always. What a consolation this is ! Hebrews 7:25 --Wherefore also He is able to save to the uttermost Christ is able to save, without doubt. a. We have One Who is able; all others are unable. b. “ Uttermost” means “ to the extreme, completely” . This is a contrast to the feebleness of the old covenant. a. No sinner is too deep in sin to be gone. b. No condition of man is too far away for God through Christ to save. Hebrews 7:25 --them that draw near unto God This job is never done. We must always draw near. 1 Corinthians 9:26. Christianity is a growth; we keep on drawing near. Philippians 3:14. Study Questions1251. What is the purpose of pointing out the many priests of the old system? 1252. How is Christ’ s priesthood superior in relationship to time? 1253. What value is there in having Christ as an eternal priest? 1254. If Christ was perfect on earth, what consolation have we about Him now? 1255. What assurance do we have that His priesthood will be changeless? 1256. What is Christ able to do? 1257. How does the ability of Christ compare to that of the false saviors of men? 1258. “ Unto the uttermost” has what significance? 1259. Is the idea of “ uttermost” in contrast to the feebleness of the Jewish covenant? 1260. Where does salvation take place— here or hereafter? 1261. What qualification is there to salvation? 1262. How about the people who never draw nigh? 1263. Do we ever actually get so close to God that we do not need to keep drawing near? Cf. 1 Corinthians 9:26. Hebrews 7:26-28 THE OF CHRIST’ PROVED AND HIS OWN PURE AND , AND THE OFTHE ONE WHICH HE MADE FORTHE SINS OF THE WORLDHeb_7:26-28 Hebrews 7:26 ---For such an high priest became us,— That is, we ourselves needed just such a high priest; such a one as the Apostle has de­scribed in this section, and such as he describes still further in this paragraph: one “ who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” The word holy (ho- sios) means godlike, pious, devout, religious. It is used here to denote the pious and reverential bearing of Christ in his relations to God. Harmless (akakos) means without malice or ill-will to anyone. It indicates a person who is kind, benevolent, and gra­cious to all. Undefiled (amiaitos) means without spot, immacu­late. It here denotes that Christ is never, like the Levitical priests, disqualified for the performance of his duties in consequence of any personal defilement. There is no defect or blemish about him. “ He is the chief among ten thousand, and the one that is altogether lovely.” He is constantly purifying others, but he is himself never defiled. And hence there is no necessity that he should, like the Levitical priests, bathe and purify himself before making purifica­tion for the sins of the people. He is moreover <(separate from sin­ners,” not only because he is himself without sin (4: 15), but also perhaps because he is exalted far above all sinners. “ And made higher than the heavensor, as Paul says in Ephesians 4:10, “ He is exalted far above all heavens.” This is, by some expositors, con­strued as indicating that Christ has gone literally above all created heavens, even the dwelling place of angels and of the spirits of the just made perfect, into “ the place of God,” the uncreated glory of the Divine presence and essence, “ which,” says Delitzsch, “ is not essentially different from God himself, who is above all, and through all, and in all.” (Ephesians 4:6.) And again he says, “ He [Christ] has passed away from the world and entered into God— and now he mediates for us in the Holy of holies of the Divine na­ture.” This, it seems to me, is but “ to darken counsel by words without knowledge.” Delitzsch is an able critic, and, in the main, a judicious commentator, but occasionally his speculations savor more of the Hegelian philosophy than of the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. I am not sure, however, that I myself fully un­derstand the meaning of the Spirit in some of these apparently hy­perbolical expressions. But I am inclined to think that nothing more is intended by the Apostle than to strongly indicate Christ’ s absolute supremacy over the whole created universe, as when he says to the brethren at Ephesus, “ God hath put all things under his [Christ’ s] feet, and given him to be the Head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22-23.) See also 1 Corinthians 15:27, and 1 Peter 3:22. Hebrews 7:27 ---Who needeth not daily, etc.—The high priest was officially the head of the Levitical priesthood, and to him was therefore com­mitted, in a special manner, an oversight of all the services of the Tabernacle. He was not required by any law or statute to offer the daily sacrifice in person, but as the head of the priesthood, he was of course chiefly responsible for the offering of the daily sacri­fice, and also all the other sacrifices of the year. And hence what was done by a subordinate priest might be said to be done by the high priest, on the principle that “ what any one does by another he does himself.” For a like reason, being first in authority and first in responsibility, he was also relatively the first for whom the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly sacrifices were offered. On the day of atone­ment he was therefore required to slay a young bullock and make an atonement for himself and his house, before he was allowed to make expiation for the sins of the people. (Leviticus 16:11-15.) But in the daily offerings, the distinction between himself and the peo­ple is not made so obvious, because, in this case, there was but one lamb offered in the morning and one in the evening. (Exodus 29:38­46; Numbers 28:1-10.) It is obvious, however, from the nature of the case, as well as from the words of our text, that the high priest was relatively the first represented in the daily, as well as in the yearly offerings. He, like the rest of the Israelites, sinned daily, and hence the necessity that he should make a daily offering, either in his own proper person, or through a representative, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. For priority in point of privilege always implies priority in point of obligation. This is a law of the moral universe. Hebrews 7:27 ---For this he did once when he offered up himself.— What did he do once? or rather, once for all (ephapax) ? Evidently, he of­fered himself once, and once only, for the sins of the people. To say that the offering was for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people, would be blasphemous, and plainly contrary to one of the most clearly illustrated laws of sacrifice under the Old Econ­omy, that none but an innocent victim could suffer for the guilty. And besides, it is contradictory of what is taught elsewhere in this same Epistle. See notes on Hebrews 4:15 and Hebrews 7:26. Beyond all doubt then it was for the sins of the people, and for these only, that Christ offered himself once for all. But when and where did he do this? Was it when he expired on the cross? Or was it when he “ entered into that within the Vail,” to make an atonement for the sins of the world? Or does the Holy Spirit in this remark refer to both of these events as to­gether constituting the one great offering ? Under the Law, the victim was first brought to the north side of the altar of burnt-offerings, and there the sinner was required to lay his hand upon its head and kill it. (Leviticus 1:4-5 Leviticus 3:2 Leviticus 3:8 Leviticus 3:13 Leviticus 4:4, etc.) If the whole congregation sinned, the Elders were re­quired to act as their representatives. (Leviticus 4:15.) On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest performed this service for the people; but not until he had first offered a young bullock for himself and his house. (Leviticus 16:11-16.) The slaying of the victim was not therefore, of necessity, a priestly act. This was only preparatory to the offering, and was usually performed by the sinner himself. But after this was done, the priests were required to dispose of the several parts of the victim, as prescribed in the Law. On the Day of atonement the High Priest took the blood of the victim with in­cense into the Most Holy Place; and there, while burning the in­cense before the Lord, he sprinkled of the blood seven times on and before the Mercy-Seat; making an atonement for the Most Holy Place itself, and also for all the people. In like manner he made an atonement for the Tabernacle of the congregation and for the Altar of burnt-offerings. The fat of the victim was then consumed on the Altar, and its flesh was burned without the camp. (Leviticus 16:15-28.) This reference to the Old Economy may serve to illustrate in some measure the great atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. He, like an innocent lamb, had no direct agency in putting himself to death. This was done by sinners. Jews and Gentiles united in laying their guilty hands on his sacred and consecrated head, and in hurrying him off to the cross. He was by them led as a lamb to the slaughter, “ and as a sheep before her shearer is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7.) True, indeed, he came from Heaven to Earth, and assumed our nature, so that he might by the grace of God taste death for every man. And for this purpose he went up to Jerusalem before the Passover (Mark 10:32-34), and gave himself up to the people, knowing perfectly well all that was about to befall him there. It is not too much to say that he even sought death; went voluntarily to the cross, and gave up his life a ransom for the many. But in this there was no priestly offering. It was all preparatory to the great sin-offering that Christ was about to make in the Holy of holies for the sins of the world. That the Apostle may have some reference here to Christ’ s death on the cross, as well as the offering of his blood in Heaven, is quite probable. These two events are, of course, inseparably connected, but not I think as parts of the atoning act. The former of these, like his incarnation, is rather preparatory to this. And hence it seems most probable, that Christ did not begin to act in the full capacity of a Priest, till after his resurrection. Then, and not till This view of the matter is corroborated by what is further said of Christ’ s priesthood in this Epistle. In 8: 3, for instance, our author after saying that Christ is now a High Priest, and that as such he must have something to offer, goes on to state in sub­stance, that he could not lawfully make his offering on Earth; and that he is therefore exalted to Heaven, and made “ a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” To the same effect is also his teaching in 9: 7, 12, 14, 24-26; 10: 10, 11, 14. From all of which it is, I think, mani­fest that Christ, as our great High Priest, entered into Heaven it­self, and there once for all made an offering of himself unto God for us. Hebrews 7:28 ---For the law maketh men high priests who have infirmi­ty; — Such was the character of the Levitical High Priests. Some of them were very wicked, proud, vain, and ambitious men: and all of them, without exception, were subject to the common weak­nesses and infirmities of our nature. Even Aaron himself, the first and doubtless one of the best of the order, made a golden calf and encouraged the people to worship the idol. (Ex. 32: 1-29.) And hence the necessity that these High Priests should daily offer up sacrifices for themselves as well as for the sins of the people. But not so with Jesus, the Son of God, who was made a High Priest by “ the word of the oath” which was given after the Law. He has by the one offering of himself in the heavenly Sanctuary, not only made expiation for the sins of the people, but by the sufferings and trials which he endured on Earth he has himself been perfected (tetelciomenos) forevermore. See notes on 2: 10 and verse 9. Comment on Hebrews 7:26-28 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_7:26 --For such a high priest became usThe writer says we ourselves needed such a high priest, and he became all that we needed, “ Became us” probably refers to the partaking of Christ’ s human flesh with us in order that we might partake of his salvation. Hebrews 7:26 --holyThe word “ holy” means “ godlike, pious, devout” . The Levitical priesthood was sometimes corrupt. a. Greedy. 1 Samuel 2:13-17. b. Drunken. Isaiah 28:7. c. Profane and wicked. 1 Samuel 2:22-24. d. Unjust. Jeremiah 6:13. e. Corrupters of the law. Isaiah 28:7; Malachi 2:8. f. Slow to sanctify themselves for God’ s service. 2 Chronicles 29:34. Christ offered himself without spot or blemish, Hebrews 9:14. Hebrews 7:26 --guilelessIt is also translated “ harmless” . a. The cleansing of the temple at first seems an exception, but note that He did no one harm. b. No evil intent was intended. “ Guileless” means “ without malice or ill will to anyone” . a. The prayer on the cross proved it. b. His compassion on earth proved it also. “ Guile” means “ deceitfulness, cunning” . “ Guileless” means that one is without these traits. Hebrews 7:26 --undefiledPriests could be disqualified for sin or some blemish, but Christ was not defiled. The devil tried to defile Him with sin, but He refused. Hebrews 7:26 --separated from sinnersHe ate with them, which brought criticism, but He was separate. Matthew 9:10-13; Matthew 11:19. Hebrews 4:15 : He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. a. Although He ate with sinners, yet He cannot be named among them. b. His flesh did not see corruption as does that of sinners. At the right hand of God, He is separated from sinners. Hebrews 7:26 --and made higher than the heavensOther expressions that are similar: a. Ephesians 4:10 : He is exalted far above all heavens. b. Ephesians 1:20-21. The idea is to show His supremacy over all creation. This exaltation does not change His affections. Hebrews 7:27 --who needeth not daily like those high priestsThe high priest was officially the head of the priesthood, and was responsible for the daily sacrifices. The contrast is found between “ daily” and “ one” sacrifice. Hebrews 7:27 --to offer up sacrifices first for His Own sinsThe method of sacrifice: a. The victim was brought to the north side of the altar of burnt offering, and there the sinner was required to lay his hand upon its head and kill it. Leviticus 1:4-5; Leviticus 3:2; Leviticus 3:8; Leviticus 3:13; Leviticus 4:4. b. If the whole congregation sinned, the elders were required to act as their representatives. Leviticus 4:15. c. On the day of Atonement, the high priest performed this. First he offered a young bullock for himself and his house. Leviticus 16:11-16. The earthly priest had his own sins to concern him as well as the people’ s sins who were under him. Hebrews 7:27 --for this He did once for allChrist’ s sacrifice reaches out to all men everywhere. This sacrifice is so complete that it needs no repetition. Hebrews 7:27 --when He offered up Himself.Here is the superiority of Christ over every high priest. This is only a part of it. God delivered up Christ. Acts 2:23 : “ Him being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay.” Christ’ s sacrifice of self was sufficient. Remember, Christ laid down His life. a. John 10:15-18. b. John 13:37.Hebrews 7:28 --For the law appointeth men high priestsTheir place was not assumed, but came by appointment. Exodus 29:44; Numbers 3:3, The tribe of Levi and the house of Aaron, of course, were men of human frailty. Hebrews 7:28 --having infirmityThe priests were not always ideal, but wicked, proud and ambitious. Aaron, the first priest, made a golden calf and encouraged the people to worship idols, Exodus 32:1-19. They were to be perfect physical specimens, however. Hebrews 7:28 --but the word of the oath which was after the lawDavid spoke after the law, being second king of Israel, which dispensation followed the judges. This oath is found in Psalms 110:4. Hebrews 7:28 --appointeth a Son perfected forevermoreAlthough Christ was compassed by trial, temptation and difficulties, we see no infirmity in Him. He now accomplishes the will of God forevermore. Study Questions1264. Is drawing near equivalent to Christian growth? Philippians 3:14. 1265. If we cease to grow, are we failing to draw nigh? 1266. In Hebrews 7:26-28 what is Paul’ s main discussion? 1267. How do you explain “ became us” ? 1268. Would it refer to Christ’ s partaking of human flesh? 1269. Does it mean that He became like us or for us? 1270. Define this first attribute of Christ. 1271. Was this true of the priests of Christ’ s day? 1272. What sins were the priests guilty of in Old Testament times? 2 Chronicles 29:34. Cf. 1 Samuel 2:13-17; Isaiah 28:7; Jeremiah 6:13; 1 Samuel 2:22-24; Malachi 2:8. 1273. What can be said of Christ’ s sacrifice in regard to holiness? Cf. Hebrews 9:14. 1274. What is meant by “ guile” ?. 1275. Define “ guileless” . 1276. What other word is found in some versions? 1277. If it means harmless” , was His cleansing of the temple an exception? 1278. Did Christ ever prove that He was without ill will? 1279. What did His compassion show? 1280. What did His prayer on the cross reveal? 1281. What attempts were made to defile Him? 1282. How did the Jews try to defile Him? 1283. How did the apostles unconsciously try to do it? 1284. With what is man defiled? 1285. When did this separation take place? 1286. Did He separate Himself from sinners while on earth? 1287. Did men misunderstand Him for associating with sinful people? Cf. Matthew 9:10-13; Matthew 11:19. 1288. Do we face such situations today? 1289. What is meant by “ heavens” ? 1290. Is this verse referring to location or rank? 1291. See what Ephesians 4:10 and Ephesians 1:20-21 have to say. 1292. Quote Peter on Pentecost when he dealt with a similar thought. 1293. In what way is Christ higher? 1294. Does this exaltation show. His supremacy over the earth and heavens? 1295. What contrast is there with the word “ daily” ? 1296. What, officially, was the duty of high priests of men? 1297. How did the high priests go about making sacrifices for themselves? 1298. How did the high priest go about making sacrifices for other individuals? 1299. How did they make the sacrifices for a congregation? 1300. Did Jesus have to sacrifice for Himself? If not, why not? 1301. What is the significance of “ He did once” ? 1302. How universal is His sacrifice? 1303. Does “ all” mean all men of all races? 1304. Why did man’ s sacrifice need repetition? 1305. When he offered himself, was this in contrast to Old Testament priestly sacrifices? 1306. It says that he “ offered up himself” . Do all the scriptures speak thus? Cf. Acts 2:23. 1307. Did Christ lay down His life, according to other verses?’ John 10:15-18; John 13:37. 1308. What did Jesus say to Peter that would prove that Christ was laying down His life when Peter had a sword? 1309. What did Jesus say to His disciples who tried to keep Him from Jerusalem? 1310. What is the significance of the word “ law” ? What law? How did men get to be priests? Cf. Exodus 29:44; Numbers 3:3. 1311. How may we explain priests having infirmities, when they were to be perfect specimens? 1312. Do you think that preachers ought today to be good specimens physically, mentally, spiritually? 1313. What does the word “ infirmity” mean? 1314. Did Aaron ever show a lack of strength of character? 1315. What is meant by “ the oath which was after the law” ? 1316. Where is the oath found? 1317. Who spoke it? What is the date for David? 1318. Did Jesus ever show any weakness of resolution? 1319. Was His prayer in the garden an indication of infirmity? 1320. What shows Him to have been above weakness in resolution in His prayer on the cross? 1321. What is His appointment in this verse? 1322. How could He be appointed a Son? Hebrews 8:1-5 THE OF CHRIST’ FURTHER THE HIGHER AND OF HIS Heb_8:1-5 Hebrews 8:1 ---Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum. Or more literally: But the crown upon the things spoken [is this]; we have such a High Priest who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man.— The word rendered sum (kephalaion) means (1) that which is chief or principal; (2) the sum or result of numbers added together and set down at the head of the column; (3) the crown or that which gives completeness to anything, and (4) the division of a book, as a chapter or section. The object of the Apostle is not to give a summary of what was said before, for in the next verse, he states as an additional argument, the sublime fact that Jesus is now a Minister of the heavenly Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man. His idea therefore seems to be this: that in what follows we have not only the chief, but also the crowning point of the whole argument. It all culminates in the glorious and important fact that Jesus is now a High Priest and Minister, not of the typical economy, but of the real; not of the shadow, but of the substance. Hebrews 8:1---who is set on the right hand, etc.—Who sat down (ekath- isen) : that is, when he made his one offering in the heavenly Sanc­tuary. The best commentary on these words is given by the Apos­tle himself in Hebrews 10:11-13. “ Every High Priest,” he says, [belong­ing to the Levitical order] “ standeth daily ministering and offer­ing oftentimes the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, forever sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies he made his footstool.” Hebrews 8:2 ---A minister of the sanctuary,— The word rendered minister (leitonrgos) means a public officer of high and honorable rank, whether civil, military, or religious. It is here applied to Christ, as the High Priest of the New Covenant. The word sanctuary (ta hagia) means Heaven itself, the archetype of the Most Holy Place of the ancient Tabernacle. In this sense, the same Greek words are used in Hebrews 9:8 Hebrews 9:12 Hebrews 9:24-25 Hebrews 10:19 Hebrews 13:11. Hebrews 8:2 ---and of the true tabernacle,— The adjective true (alethinos) denotes not only the real as opposed to the false (as alethes), but also, and more particularly, the perfect and substantial, as opposed to the imperfect and unsubstantial. The Tabernacle of Moses was a real structure, formed and fashioned according to the exact model which was shown to him in the mount. But nevertheless it was a mere shadow of the true; the type of that in which Christ now officiates as our High Priest. The former was made by human hands, and was constructed of perishable materials; but the latter is the workmanship of God himself, a Bethel that will never wax old. What, then, is this true Tabernacle, of which Christ has become the prime Minister? Some, as Moll and Kendrick, maintain that it is identical with the Sanctuary; and that the term true tabernacle is therefore but another name for Heaven itself, into which Christ has for us en­tered. They argue that the rending of the Vail, when Christ was crucified, was a virtual removal of all distinctions between the Holy Place and the Most Holy; and that henceforth they were to be regarded as one and the same; so that the name, true tabernacle, is used here but as an explanatory synonym of the word sanctuary. But to this it may be objected (1) that the rending of the Vail did not in any way change the local relations and objects of the two apartments. It only indicated that henceforth the way from the Holy Place into the Most Holy was made manifest. See 9: 8. (2) Moll’ s view is inconsistent with the most natural construction and obvious meaning of the sentence. The first impression of any one on reading the text would be that the Apostle refers here to two separate and distinct apartments. (3) It is opposed to the ttsus loquendi of the Hebrews, for whose special benefit the Epistle was written. Sometimes indeed the word tabernacle (skene) is used as the name of the whole structure, including both the Holy Place and the Most Holy; and sometimes it is used to denote ei­ther of these apartments. But when it is used, as here, in connec­tion with the word sanctuary (to hagion or ta hagia) it means simply the east room of the Tabernacle, or that of which this was a type. See Leviticus 16:16-17 Leviticus 16:20 Leviticus 16:23 Leviticus 16:33, etc. And (4) in 9: 11, 12, our author evidently keeps up a distinction between the Tabernacle and the Holy of holies; for Christ, he says, according to the most approved rendering of the passage, passed through the true or more perfect Tabernacle into the Most Holy Place. For these and other like reasons, most expositors justly maintain that there is still a difference between the Sanctuary and the true Tabernacle. But if there is a difference, what is it ? Macknight, following Josephus and Philo, makes the whole Tab­ernacle a symbolical representation of the universe; alleging that the Most Holy Place was symbolical of Heaven, and that the Holy Place was a symbol of the whole Earth. See Jos. Ant. iii. 7.3. This hypothesis originated in an attempt on the part of Jose­phus, Philo, and others, to make the symbolical system of Moses harmonize with the tenets and speculations of Gentile philosophy. It has no foundation whatever in the word of God. Delitzsch maintains, as we have seen (Hebrews 7:26), that the Sanctu­ary was a symbol of the uncreated Holy of holies of the Divine na­ture, into which Christ entered when he ascended from Mount Olivet; and that the Tabernacle proper or Holy Place was a sym­bol of the highest created heaven, where dwell the angels and the spirits of the just made perfect. But this again is too fanciful, and without scriptural support. A more plausible hypothesis is that of Hofmann and others, who maintain that by the true Tabernacle is meant here the glorified body, or, as some say, the human nature, of Christ. In support of this hypothesis it is alleged (1) that in John 1:14, it is said, “ The Word was made flesh and dwelt (eskenosen, tabernacled) among us” ; (2) that in John 2:21, Christ himself speaks of his body as a tabernacle or temple (3) that in Hebrews 10:20, the Vail of the Temple is represented as a symbol of his flesh; and (4) that in Ephesians 2:19-22, Christ and the Church are together compared to a holy temple. All this is quite plausible, but by no means conclusive. That Christ's body may be properly compared to a tabernacle, no one, of course, doubts who believes the Bible to be the word of God. But this is not the question. The point to be determined is, not whether there is any analogy between the body of Christ and a tabernacle, but whether it is the antitype for the symbolizing of which the Jewish Tabernacle was constructed. That it is not, seems probable for several reasons; but chiefly for this, that the true Tabernacle is here represented not as a part of Christ, but simply as the sphere in which he, in his full and proper personality performs his ministry. Is then the Church of Christ the true Tabernacle? In favor of this hypothesis it may be said (1) that the Church sustains the same relation to Heaven that the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and Temple did to the Most Holy. God’ s only re­vealed way of entering into Heaven is through the Church. (2) The Holy Place of the Tabernacle had ordinances corresponding with the ordinances of the Church. In it was the Table supplied constantly with the twelve loaves emblematical of the bread of life, of which we partake, not in, but through, the ordinances of the Church, particularly the Lord’ s Supper. See John 6:33 John 6:35 John 6:48 John 6:50 John 6:53-56. There, too, was the Altar of incense, corresponding with the altar of prayer (Psalms 141:2; Luke 1:9-10; Revelation 5:8 Revelation 8:3-4) ; and there was the light of the seven lamps of the golden Candlestick, corresponding with the light of the Holy Spirit, by means of which the Church is made the light of the world (Isaiah 60:1; Matthew 5:14; Revelation 1:20). (3) The Church of Christ is compared in Acts 15:16-17, to a booth or tent (skene), so en­larged that the Gentiles, as well as the Jews, may find shelter and protection under it. Compare Isaiah 54:1-4. (4) In 1 Corinthians 3:16, Paul says to the Corinthian brethren, “ Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” And in 2 Corinthians 6:16, he says, “ Ye are the Temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” And again the same Apostle says in his Epistle to the Ephesians (2: 19-22), “ Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the build­ing fitly framed together groweth into a holy Temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.” In like manner, writing to Timothy, he calls the Church the house of God (1 Timothy 3:15) ; and so he does also in Hebrews 3:6 Hebrews 10:21. The same thought is also expressed in 1 Peter 2:5. From all of which we are constrained to believe that the true Tabernacle and the Church of Christ cannot be separated: they are certainly identical in whole or in part. But to this view, it is proper to say, there is this apparent objec­tion. The Church of Christ did not exist as a distinct organization till the Day of Pentecost, A.D. 34, about ten days after Christ’ s ascension. That God had a people even from the beginning, and that Christ had followers from the beginning of his public ministry, is of course conceded. But not till the Pentecost that next fol­lowed after his resurrection, was he publicly proclaimed the anointed Sovereign of the universe (Acts 2:36) ; not till then was any one baptized by his authority into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) ; and not till then was the Spirit given to animate the body (John 7:37-39). And yet it is said in Hebrews 9:11-12, that Christ entered through a greater and more perfect Tabernacle (than that of Moses) into the Most Holy Place. Now I think it must be conceded that this greater and more perfect Tabernacle is identical with the true Tabernacle of our text; and if the true Tabernacle is identical with the Church, then how could it be said with propriety that Christ went up through the Church ten days before it had a distinct organic existence ? Perhaps a reference to Christ’ s mode of teaching by parables may assist us in solving this confessedly difficult problem. At one time he compares the kingdom of Heaven to a grain of mustard seed; at another, to leaven; at another, to a dragnet; at another, to ten virgins, etc.; his object being in all these cases to illustrate only some one element or characteristic of his Kingdom. Seldom, if ever, does he include in his comparisons all that belongs to it as a complete and perfect organization. May not Paul then, in like manner, speak by synecdoche of the greater and more perfect Tab­ernacle, having reference at the same time to some of the elements of the Church of Christ? The Church is the same thing as the Kingdom of Christ on earth, only viewed under different aspects. It, as well as the Kingdom, has its essential elements. Christ is its head; believers anointed with the Holy Spirit are its members: the promise given to Abraham concerning Christ (Galatians 3:17) may be regarded as its constitution; the rules and regulations given by the Apostles are its laws and ordinances; Apostles, Prophets, Evange­lists, Elders, and Deacons, are its officers; the sanctified portion of the Earth is its territory, and the blue vault of heaven, covered with cherubim, may perhaps be regarded as an emblem of its can­opy or inner curtain. Now as Christ so often speaks of his Church or Kingdom by synecdoche, putting a part for the whole; and as the inner curtain of the Tabernacle is often put for the Tabernacle itself (see, for instance, Exodus 40:19), may we not with propriety regard the sky, covered as it is with the wings of angels and the protecting shield of God’ s providence, as emblematical of the greater and more perfect Tabernacle referred to in Hebrews 9:11 ? And is not this view corroborated by what is said in Hebrews 4:14? See notes on Hebrews 9:11. If this view of the matter is correct, it may serve to explain that precept of the Law which required that no one should be in the Tabernacle while the High Priest went into the Holy of holies to make an atonement for the people. (Leviticus 16:17.) When Christ went up through the heavens (Hebrews 4:14) into the Most Holy Place, on the fortieth day after his resurrection, he left behind him many sincere and devoted followers; but it was not until after that he had made expiation for the sins of the world, and came out to bless the people by his Spirit on the following Pentecost, that the Church was fully organized and prepared for a habitation of God through the Spirit. Then, for the first time, believers were received into it on condition of their repenting and being baptized into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 8:3 ---For every high priest is ordained, etc.— The logical train of thought in this connection is well stated by Delitzsch as follows: “ Christ is a priest in the heavenly archetypal Sanctuary (verses 1, 2), for there is no priest without some sacrificial function (verse 3);; and if here on earth he would not be a priest at all (verse 4), where there are priests already who serve the typical and shadowy Sanctuary (verse 5). The priestly functions of Christ must therefore be discharged in a higher sphere, and so it is.” Or to express the same train of thought syllogistically, “ A priest’ s office is to offer sacrifice; Christ is a priest; and therefore he must have some­thing to offer. The sphere in which Christ’ s priestly office is dis­charged must be either an earthly or a heavenly one; but an earthly one it cannot be, inasmuch as on earth (in the material Tabernacle) there are other priests officiating according to the law, and therefore Christ’ s sphere of priestly operation must be a heav­enly one.” To this view of the matter it has been objected that Christ is thus represented as making frequent and continual offerings like the Levitical priests, whereas our author says distinctly that he has made but one offering, and that this has been made once for all, never again to be repeated. See Hebrews 7:27 Hebrews 9:12 Hebrews 9:26 Hebrews 9:28 Hebrews 10:12. But the allegation does not logically follow from the premises, for the Apostle speaks here indefinitely with regard to time, and the whole expression may be rendered thus: “ Wherefore it [was] necessary that this [Priest] should also have something which he might offer” (prosenegke). So the passage is translated by Beza, Bengel, Bleek, De Wette, Lunemann, Hofmann, Macknight, and others. And hence the reference may be simply to the one offering which Christ made of himself in the heavenly Sanctuary after his ascension. But as this one offering of Christ, by means of which he made an atonement for the sins of the world, is the ground of his continued ministry in our behalf, I am inclined to think with Delitzsch, Alford, Moll, and others, that the Apostle refers here particularly to the constant use and application of the one offering of Christ, as the only means of procuring our pardon, justification, and sanctification. Christ’ s one offering is, in fact, a continual of­fering; an offering the efficacy of which will endure forever. So that while he officiates as a minister in the heavenly Sanctuary, and in the true Tabernacle, he will always have to offer what is fully adequate to the justification and salvation of all who come unto God by him. Hebrews 8:4 ---For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest,—The meaning of this verse is quite obvious from what precedes. As Christ was not of the house of Aaron, he could not lawfully offici­ate as a priest on earth. (Numbers 18:1-7.) True, indeed, as our au­thor shows in 7: 11-19, the law had ere this been abolished. As a religious institution, it was abrogated when Christ was crucified. (Colossians 2:14.) But no other law creating a new order of earthly priesthood had been enacted in its place. And as, for wise and be­nevolent reasons, God allowed the law of Moses to continue for a time as a civil institution, it was, in fact, the only existing law on earth, of Divine appointment, according to which gifts and sacri­fices could be rightfully offered. This point of the argument was, of course, well understood and appreciated by the Hebrew breth­ren. Hebrews 8:5 ---Who serve unto the example, etc.— Or more literally and correctly: Who serve the delineation and shadow of heavenly things. The word rendered delineation (hupodeigma) means (1) a private sign or secret token, and (2) a delineation or copy of anything. Here, it denotes that the Jewish Tabernacle, with all that pertained to it, was but a faint symbolical representation of the heavenly Sanctuary and the true Tabernacle. The word shadow (skia) is added with the view of intensifying the thought; thus in­dicating that the given representation was wholly destitute of the substance which is inherent in the heavenly realities. Hebrews 8:5 ---as Moses was admonished of God, etc.— The Apostle now submits as proof of the above allegation, the fact recorded in Exodus 25:40, that when Moses was about to make the Tabernacle, God directed him to frame it according to the exact pattern (tupos) showed to him in the mount. In order that this symbolical struc­ture might exactly correspond in its shadowy outlines with the heavenly archetypes, God, it seems, caused Moses to see in vision a just representation of these on Mount Sinai, and then instructed him to make the Tabernacle according to this pattern. And hence, according to the testimony of Moses, the Jewish Tabernacle was not an original structure, but only a copy of the representation which God gave to him of the heavenly Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle. From all of which it is evident that the sphere of Christ’ s ministry is greatly superior to that in which Aaron and his successors performed their services, and consequently that his priesthood is also greatly superior to theirs. It is no objection to the view above taken of the true Taberna­cle, that it is here ranked and classified with the “ heavenly things,” of which the Jewish Tabernacle was but a shadowy representation. For the Church of Christ is in no proper sense a worldly institu­tion. It is in all its essential elements identical with the kingdom of heaven, and hence those who become members of it are said to sit down together “ in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” See Ephesians 1:3 Ephesians 2:6; Hebrews 9:23. 1. How true it is that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Hebrews 7:1-10.) Who, without the aid of the Holy Spirit, would have ever thought that the fourteenth chapter of Genesis has any reference to Christ? But it is even so. God who sees the end from the beginning, knows always by what means his ends and purposes can be best accomplished. To effect these, he often turns the hearts of kings as the rivers of water (Proverbs 21:1), and makes the history of individuals and of nations fill up the exact measure of his benevolent intentions. Thus it was, for instance, that he made Hagar a type of the Old Covenant, and Sarah a type of the New (Galatians 4:21-31) ; and thus it was that he made Melchisedec a type of Christ; so that in the ages to come he might make it manifest to all that he is himself the author of the whole plan of re¬demption, and that his son, Jesus Christ, is the Alpha and Omega of the whole Bible. 2. As Jesus had no predecessor, so also he has no successor in office (verses 16, 17). Like Melchisedec, he remains a priest upon his throne perpetually. Not that he has to offer daily, w’ eekly, monthly, and yearly sacrifices, like the Levitical priests; for by one offering he has made full and complete expiation for the sins of the world. But as he ever lives to make intercession for us, so also he must of necessity be continually presenting the one offering ofhimself to God, as the ground of his intercessions, and as the only means of our justification. This priestly function can never be transferred to another. And consequently the word of the oath which was since the Law maketh him a priest forevermore. 3. The Old Testament is not “a fable devised by learned and crafty Hebrews,” but a revelation from God, given to us by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20-21.) What Jew would ever ot his own accord have predicted the rise of another priest after the order of Melchisedec, and not after the order of Aaron? What, but the Spirit of the Almighty, could have ever induced David to utter a prophecy involving the abroga¬tion of the whole Jewish economy? Truly, ‘‘ all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” 4. None who believe in Christ need ever be dismayed at the approach of death or anything else, for he is both able and willing “ to save to the uttermost all who come unto God through him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for us” (Hebrews 7:5). All other helps will fail, sooner or later. Our friends may now comfort us in many ways; and physicians by their skill and timely remedies may greatly relieve our present sufferings. But death will soon separate us all, and put an end to all our kind offices here in behalf of one another. For no man can redeem his brother from death, nor save him from the corruption of the grave. But Jesus never forsakes those who trust in him. (Hebrews 13:5.) Having washed us from our sins in his own precious blood, he will not desert us in the hour of death, nor will he then allow any calamity to overcome us; so that we may say confidently with David, “ Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” (Psalms 23:4.) And with Paul we may exclaim, “ O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55.) But what else than the religion of Jesus can fill the soul with such con¬fidence and consolation ? What has infidelity to offer in the hour of death to her many votaries? What has she ever done, and what can she do, to enlighten the understanding and fill the heart with confidence in reference to the future? What skeptic was ever known to say, as does Paul, “ We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” ? Who but the Christian can say with confidence, “ To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” ? And again, “ It is better to depart and to be with Christ” ? And still again, “ There is a rest which remains for the people of God” ? This is the language of him, and of him only, who knows in whom he has believed, and who is fully persuaded that he is able to keep that which he has committed to him. (2 Timothy 1:12.) 5. The religion of the Lord Jesus is just such a religion as we all need (Hebrews 7:26-27). Notwithstanding all that infidels and scoffers have said against it, it so happens that the man who understands and obeys it most perfectly, is always, other things being equal, the most happy and the most useful member of society. And so, also, it is with whole communities and nations. Those that are most completely under the influence of the religion of Christ, are always the most happy and prosperous. The religions of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Celts, and Goths, all failed because of their incapacity to make men happy. There was nothing in them to satisfy the longing desires of the human heart. And for the same reason, Brahmanism, Buddhism, Mahometanism, and all other systems of false religion, are now waxing old and “ are ready to vanish away.” But Christianity is constantly gaining more power and influence over mankind, as civilization advances. And it is doing so simply because it presents to us a perfect Savior; one who is “ holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” It reveals to us the only proper antidote for sin, the only atonement that is at all adequate to so meet and satisfy the claims of the Divine government, that God can be just in justifying those who believe in Jesus. It presents to us just such motives as best serve to make us hate sin, love holiness, do justice, and walk humbly, righteously, and godly in this present world. And, finally, it offers to us on the simple conditions of faith and obedience, just such a salvation as the heart of every man desires: a salvation from sin, death, hell, and the grave. And, in a word, it withholds from us nothing that is calculated to elevate, refine, and purify the heart; to make us like God; to fit us for doing his will here, and for enjoying his presence hereafter. Can such a religion be a falsehood? Judge the tree by its fruit. 6. How infinitely glorious and exalted is the great High Priest of our confession! (Hebrews 8:1-2.) Having by the grace of God tasted death for every man, and made an atonement for the sins of the world, he now sits as a priest upon his throne, and officiates as a minister of the heavenly Sanctuary and the true Tabernacle. No wonder, then, that all heaven is filled with his praises, while the angels and the redeemed behold his glory and think of his conde¬scending love in providing for the ransom of millions, who without his atoning sacrifice must have perished forever. “ But angels can never express,Nor saints who sit nearest his throne,How rich are his treasures of grace;No, this is a secret unknown.” Commentary on Hebrews 8:1-5 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_8:1 --The chief point is this, we have such a high priestEverything said builds up to this one great point. All the discussion is to show the great superiority of Christ over all. Hebrews 8:1 --Who sat down on the right hand of the throneThe authors are agreed. a. This is where Peter said He was on Pentecost, Acts 2. b. This is where Stephen saw Him, Acts 7:55. c. John saw Him there, Revelation 4. When did He sit down? a. Hebrews 10:11-13 answers: “ But this Man after He had offered one sacrifice for sins, forever sat down on the right hand of God.” Hebrews 8:1 --of the majesty in the heavensThe “ majesty” refers to God. The “ heavens” would refer to the holy of holies where Christ now serves as Priest. Hebrews 8:2 --a minister of the sanctuaryThe word “ minister” usually means a public office of high and honorable rank. a. This can be civil, or military, or religious. b. Christ ministers in the sanctuary, indicating a spiritual service. The word “ sanctuary” is also translated “ holy things” . Milligan believes the word in the Greek means heaven itself. He says the word is used in that sense in Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 9:24-25; Hebrews 10:19; Hebrews 13:11. The word “ sanctuary” probably refers to the heavens but the holy of holies and the tabernacle, to the church.Hebrews 8:2 --and of the true tabernacleHere he means the substantial one— the perfect as in contrast with the imperfect. Milligan has a lengthy discussion at this point (p. 219.) a. Some try to say that the sanctuary and the tabernacle are different, others that they are the same. b. “ . . . and of” indicates a different subject is referred to than the sanctuary. The church must be referred to here, for many scriptures teach that the church is a building. Acts 15:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 2:5; Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 10:21. Hebrews 8:2 --which the Lord pitched, not manThis is a temple not made with hands. a. Stephen said so. Acts 7:48. b. Paul said so. Acts 17:24. Matthew 16:18 : “ I will build My church,” was a claim of Christ. a. If the Lord pitched it, then we have no right to build otherwise. b. The pattern is pitched; let us build accordingly. Hebrews 8:3 --For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices “ Gifts” would refer to the free-will offerings. “ Sacrifices” refers to those specifically commanded of God. Hebrews 8:3 --wherefore it is necessary that this High Priest also have somewhat to offerWhat could He offer but Himself? This offering does not need to be repeated—Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 9:26; Hebrews 9:28; Hebrews 10:12. Jesus told what the greatest love was: “— to lay down a life for a friend,” John 15:13. a. Christ was therefore obligated to die for man. b. If He gave anything less, He could not show His love as marvelously.Hebrews 8:4 --Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all He could not lawfully do it. a. He was not of the house of Aaron; therefore, He was not qualified, Numbers 18:1-7. Severe punishment was provided for one who invaded the office. Numbers 16:1-35; Numbers 18:3-7; 2 Chronicles 26:16-21. Observe that even Levites were killed if they encroached upon the office. Numbers 18:3. Hebrews 8:5 --who serve that which is a copy“ Serve” means “ the performance of sacred rites” . a. The old covenant with its ordinances and priests pictured to us a priesthood to come. b. “ Serve” as used here means to “ portray” . “ Copy” means “ an example” . a. The Levitical priests were serving as an example of what later was to come. b. This made it very important that all things be made and done according to the pattern.Hebrews 8:5 --and shadow of the heavenly thingsThis is true typology. Too many endeavor to stretch typology over all the Old Testament, and they make some strange lessons. We can best understand heavenly things when God illustrates on earth as He did with this type. Hebrews 8:5 --Even as Moses is warned of God when he is about to make the tabernacleThe warning is Exodus 25:40. This is stronger than just being informed how to build. Hebrews 8:5 --that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mountMoses was not allowed to change— add or substitute. Observe three things: a. The ancient rituals were appointed for a purpose. b. All modes of worship are false which are not invented by the hand of God. c. There are no true symbols except those which the Lord gives. We have similar warnings today. Galatians 1:8-9; Revelation 22:18-19; 1 Corinthians 11:2. What would the church be like if it were built according to the pattern? a. The modernist says there is no pattern. b. How can we find fault with Protestantism and Catholicism if there is no pattern? c. God has a pattern for His church, and we must build accordingly. Study Questions1323. In verse one Paul speaks of a “ chief point” . What is it? 1324. Where is this High Priest? 1325. Is there significance in the statement, “ right hand” ? 1326. Did other preachers and writers locate Him differently? 1327. What verse of the Bible tells us when He sat down there? 1328. What does the word “ majesty” refer to? 1329. What does the word “ heavens” refer to? 1330. What is the meaning of the word “ minister” ? 1331. What is the meaning of the word “ sanctuary” ? 1332. Could it mean “ holy things” ? Why? 1333. Could it mean heaven, or the holy of holies? 1334. What is the true tabernacle? 1335. Is the church ever spoken of as a building? Cf. Acts 15:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Hebrews 3:6. 1336. Does Revelation 21:3, which says, “ Behold the tabernacle of God is with men” , have a bearing? 1337. Does Hebrews 9:11 refer to the same tabernacle? 1338. Verse two says this tabernacle was pitched by God, not man. If it is not the church, then what has He built besides the church, and where is it recorded? 1339. What is meant by the name “ Lord”— Christ or God? 1340. If the Lord pitched, what is meant by it? 1341. Do we have any right to build differently than the Lord commanded? 1342. In this verse two words are significant, “ sacrifices” and “ gifts” , What is the difference? 1343. Would Christ be performing a priestly duty if He had nothing to offer? 1344. What did He offer?. 1345. Is this offering repeated? Cf. Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 9:26; Hebrews 9:28; Hebrews 10:12. 1346. Verse four is a short one stating that Christ could not act as High Priest on earth, Why? 1347. Compare Numbers 18:3 to see that Levites were limited in duties and privileges. 1348. What is the meaning of the word “ serve” ? 1349. What is the meaning of the word “ copy” ? 1350. If all the Old Testament ritual and service was a copy or example of something to follow, was it necessary for the copy to be right? 1351. What happens in a newspaper if the first copy has mistakes undetected or carelessly prepared? 1352. What is a warning? Is it generally accompanied by a threat? 1353. Of what was Moses warned? Exodus 25:40. 1354. Is this stronger than just telling him how to build? 1355. Would “ according to the pattern” allow for substituting or alterations? 1356. Where did Moses get his pattern? 1357. Are there true symbols other than those of God? 1358. Do we have any warnings about the gospel being kept pure? Cf. Galatians 1:8-9; Revelation 22:18-19; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17. 1359. If the modernist is correct that there is no pattern for the church, do we have any right to be critical of Catholicism or Protestantism? 1360. What would have been revealed about the character of Moses if he had dared to change the pattern, or was careless? 1361. Could the same charge be brought to us? Hebrews 8:6-13 OF THE NEW Heb_8:6-13 Heb 8:6 ---But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry,—That is, a ministry more excellent than that of the Levitical priests. The degree of this superior excellence is measured, as our author now proceeds to show, by the superior excellence of the new and better covenant of which Christ has become the Mediator. The word mediator (mesitcs) means one who intervenes or goes between two parties, as an interpreter, a reconciler, an internuncio, or an inter­cessor. “ In all ages, and in all parts of the world,” says Calmet, “ there has constantly prevailed such a sense of the infinite holiness of the supreme Divinity, with so deep a conviction of the imperfec­tions of human nature and the guilt of man, as to deter worshipers from coming directly into the presence of a being so awful; and recourse has therefore been had to mediators. Among the Sabi- ans, the celestial intelligences were constituted mediators; among other idolaters, their various idols; and this notion still prevails in Hindostan and elsewhere. Sacrifices were thought to be a kind of mediator; and, in short, there has been a universal feeling, a senti­ment never forgotten, of the necessity of an interpreter or mediator between God and man.” Under the Old Covenant, the office of mediator was filled pri­marily by Moses (Exodus 20:19-21 Exodus 24; Galatians 3:19-20) ; and after him it seems that the high priest discharged the duties of a media­tor, standing, as he ever did, between God and the people, espe­cially on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). But under the New Covenant there is but “ one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5.) He stands as security on the part of God, that he will graciously fulfill all his promises to man (Hebrews 7:22) ; and on the part of man he appears before God, not only to plead our cause, but also to make purification for our sins, with his own blood, according to the Scriptures. Through him God can now be just in pardoning and justifying every obedient penitent believer; and through him, unworthy as we are, we can now come to God, as children to a father, and obtain mercy and find grace for seasonable help. (Hebrews 4:16.) The superior excellencies of the “ better covenant" and the “ bet­ter promises" will become more obvious as we proceed with the exegesis of the following verses. Hebrews 8:7 ---For if that first covenant had been faultless, etc.— The form of the argument which our author uses here is the same which he has employed in Hebrews 7:11. If the first covenant had been sufficient to accomplish God’ s purposes with respect to the salva­tion of man, then most assuredly he would never have set it aside and made way for another. “ For if," as Paul argues in his epistle to the Galatians (Galatians 3:21), “ there had been given a law that was able to give life, then, indeed, righteousness would have been by law” ; and the New Covenant in that event would never have been inaugurated. But when it was fully demonstrated by the deeds of law no flesh could be justified before God (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16 Galatians 3:11) ; then it pleased God to give to his people a new and better covenant, which is established on better promises. Let it not be supposed, however, that God was in any way disap­pointed in his purposes with respect to the Old Covenant. He can never be disappointed, as man is often disappointed; for known unto him are all his works from eternity (apo aionos). Acts 15:18.) The fact is that the Law, or Old Covenant, was never given for the purpose of justifying any man. It was added simply “ on account of transgressions, till the seed should come, to whom the promise was made"; and it was intended to serve as a schoolmas­ter in bringing us to Christ. (Galatians 3:19 Galatians 3:24.) But the Holy Spirit often speaks of things relatively, according to our conceptions of them. See, for example, Matthew 19:17 and John 1:21. And just so it is in this case. The Jews all looked upon the Old Covenant as the power of God for the salvation of the seed of Abraham ac­cording to the flesh. And viewed in this light, it was of course faulty; for by it no man ever was or ever could be saved. And hence when God had accomplished his benevolent purpose in giving it to the people, he then took it out of the way, and gave to them a better covenant “ established on better promises.” Hebrews 8:8 ---For finding fault with them—Or as it may be rendered in more exact harmony with the context: For finding fault he saith to them. God found fault with the Covenant, as above explained, and he also found fault with the people, for they were constantly transgressing the laws and requirements of the Covenant; and it, as a consequence, was constantly condemning them. Such an ar¬rangement, therefore, however necessary as a preliminary measure, was never intended to accomplish fully God’ s benevolent designs and purposes with regard to the salvation of the world. And hence after the conquest of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, about 588 B.C., while the captives were detained at Ramah, God revived the hearts of his disconsolate children by giving to them the very en¬couraging series of prophecies found in Jeremiah 30-31, from which our author makes the beautiful extract given in the following verses. Hebrews 8:8 ---Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make, etc.—Or more literally: Behold, the days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will accomplish (sunteleso) upon the house of Is¬rael and upon the house of Judah a new covenant. Man makes a covenant with his fellow-man; but God perfects his arrangements according to the counsel of his own will, and then bestows them on (epi) his people. And hence the idea of the prophet seems to be this: that in the last days, under the reign of the Messiah, God would himself complete and bestow upon the house of Israel and upon the house of Judah the arrangement (diatheke) which, though hid for ages, was really intended from the beginning for the benefit of mankind. The name Israel means “ He will be a prince with God.” It was given (1) to Jacob himself, Genesis 32:28; (2) to all the descen¬dants of Jacob taken collectively, Exodus 4:22; (3) to the ten tribes that revolted from Rehoboam, 1 Kings 12:19-20; and (4) to all believers in Christ, Romans 9:6. The term “ house of Israel,” as used in our text, means evidently the ten tribes that revolted from the line of David, and made Jeroboam their king, 975 B.C. Most of them were carried away captive into Assyria by Shalmaneser, 721 B.C. But some of them remained in Canaan (2 Chronicles 30 , etc.) ; and others, it seems, returned thither at different periods. See Jeremiah 1:4-7; Ezra 2:70 Ezra 6:16¬18; 8: 35, etc. The name Judah means “ praise,” or he will be praised. It was given (1) to the fourth son of Jacob by Leah, Genesis 29:35; (2) to his descendants, called also the tribe of Judah, Numbers 1:7; (3) to all who followed Rehoboam, including the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and some also from the tribes of Simeon and Dan. (4) After the captivity the name Jew was applied indiscriminately to all who were known to be of any of the tribes of Israel, and even to Jewish proselytes. And (5) it is used by Paul to denote any believer in Christ. (Romans 2:29.) In our text the appellations “ house of Israel” and “ house of Judah” are manifestly used, as in the time of Jeremiah, to denote all the descendants of Israel. With these and for these God prom¬ised by that prophet that he would, in the latter days, make a new and better covenant than he had made with their fathers at Mount Sinai. But not with them as separate and distinct houses, nor even as tribes; but simply as individuals. All tribal and family distinctions are now lost in Israel; and all who now enter into cov¬enant with God become members of the one household of faith, in which there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free, nei¬ther male nor female; but all are one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28.) But why is this called a new covenant? Is it not the same as that of which Paul speaks in Galatians 3:17; and which he says was given to Abraham four hundred and thirty years before the law was given from Mount Sinai ? In order to answer these questions properly it is necessary to go back to the time when God called Abraham out of Ur of Chaldea, and examine the promise which God then made to this illustrious patriarch, in connection with all its subsequent developments. The first account of this promise is given in Genesis 12:1-3, as follows: “ Now the Lord had said unto Abraham, Get thee out of thy coun¬try, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’ s house, unto a land that I will show thee; and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” The same promise is variously repeated and somewhat amplified in, etc. Now, it is true that in these several passages we have given what may be regarded as four distinct promises. These are (1) a promise that Abraham should have a numerous offspring; (2) that God would be a God to him and to his seed after him; (3) that he would give to him and to his seed an everlasting possession; and (4) that he would bless all the nations of the earth through him and his seed. These may of course be considered as so many separate and distinct promises; but it is more in harmony with the design of the Spirit and the general tenor of the Holy Scriptures to consider them as but elementary parts of the one general promise (Ephesians 2:12) ; having, however, a double reference; the one side of it looking to what was carnal and temporal, and the other to what was spiritual and eternal. The first element of this promise, for instance, was a pledge to Abraham that he should have a numerous family; first, according to the flesh; and secondly, according to the Spirit: the second that God would be a God to both of these families, though in a far higher sense to the latter than to the former: the third, that each of them should become heirs of an everlasting inheritance: and the fourth, that through each of them the world would be blessed. For awhile, the spiritual side of the promise was almost wholly concealed in the distance behind the carnal; which from time to time became more and more prominent by sundry new developments. The most important of these was the covenant of circumcision, given in Genesis 17:9-14. This was a sign of the more general and comprehensive covenant which God made with Abraham in reference to his natural posterity. It served to distinguish the He¬brew race from all others; and it was to all of them, save those only who were excepted by special enactment, a pledge of the promised inheritance; while it had at the same time, like other ele-ments of the carnal promise, a typical significance, looking to the spiritual circumcision of the family of the faithful. See Romans 2:28-29; Ephesians 1:13-14; Philippians 3:3; Colossians 2:9-12. At length, just four hundred and thirty years after the giving of this twofold promise to Abraham, the carnal side of it was fully developed into the Old or Sinaitic Covenant. In this were of course embraced many various and distinct elements, such as the laws and ordinances relating to the different kinds of sacrifices, the consecration of the Levites, the covenant of the priesthood, etc.; all serving, however, to form and perfect one great national Institution, answering all the ends and purposes of civil government; and serving at the same time to check the progress of idolatry, to illustrate the exceeding heinousness of sin and the necessity of holiness, and also to typify and adumbrate the glorious realities embraced in the spiritual side of the Abrahamic promise, which in due time was also to be developed into a far more gracious and comprehensive Institution. In the meantime the carnal was the stay and support of the spiritual, while the spiritual served also to preserve and sanctify the carnal. They were united, but not blended together: for “ the Law is not of faith,” says Paul (Galatians 3:12) ; and again he says in substance, Faith is not of the Law (Romans 9:6). So matters stood until Christ came, “ made of a woman made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the law.” (Galatians 4:4-5.) For about three and a half years he instructed the people, and, by his personal ministry, developed to a great extent the beauties, riches, and superlative excellencies of the spiritual ele¬ment of the Abrahamic promise. But still it was in an imperfect state, not yet having received its full and proper development. Nor could this be done really while the first Institution was stand¬ing. It was necessary that the Old Covenant should be abrogated before the New could be fully inaugurated. This was done at the death of Christ. Then the Law of Moses was taken out of the way, being nailed to the cross. (Colossians 2:14.) After that it was no longer binding on any one as a religious Institution; though it was through the forbearance of God allowed to remain as a civil Institution, for about thirty-six years longer, until the destruction of Je¬rusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70. In the meantime the spiritual element of the Abrahamic promise was fully developed in the Church of Christ, which was set up as a separate and distinct In¬stitution on the Day of Pentecost which next followed after his death, burial, and resurrection. Then, for the first time, he was publicly proclaimed to the world as the anointed Sovereign of the universe (Acts 2:36) ; and then also believing penitents were first required to be baptized by his authority into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Compare Matthew 28:19 with Acts 2:38. From that time forward, the Church of Christ is repeatedly spoken of as an existing reality, a distinct and independent body, enjoying the many blessings and privileges of the New Covenant. See Acts 2:47 Acts 5:11 Acts 8:1 Acts 8:3 Acts 9:31 Acts 11:15; Colossians 1:13, etc. It will now be an easy matter for the reader to reconcile Galatians 3:17 with Jeremiah 31:31. When Paul, writing to the Galatians, says, the covenant concerning Christ (eis Christon) was given to Abraham four hundred and thirty years before the giving of the Law upon Mount Sinai, he refers simply to the spiritual elements of the Abrahamic promise. But when with Jeremiah, he speaks of the constitution, laws, and ordinances of the Church of Christ, as a new covenant, he then manifestly refers to the full and perfect development of the spiritual side of the aforesaid promise under the personal reign and administration of the Lord Jesus. They were identical in the sense in which an oak is identical with the acorn from which it is produced; and in like manner they were also very different. But in no proper sense was either of them identical with the Old Covenant; the Old being to the New as the shadow is to the substance, or as the type is to the antitype. (Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 10:1.) All this may perhaps be made still more evident to some of my youthful readers by means of the following diagram : Hebrews 8:9 ---Not according to the covenant—That is, the Sinaitic Cove¬nant into which the carnal element of the Abrahamic promise was finally expanded. The word day is here used metaphorically for the period during which God led the people on their way from Egypt to Canaan. Certain pledges were of course given to them before they left Egypt, but the Covenant was made at Sinai. See references. Hebrews 8:9 ---because they continued not in my covenant,—God here gives the reason why he was about to accomplish upon the house of Is¬rael and the house of Judah a new covenant. It had now become manifest that by the Old Covenant no flesh could be justified be¬fore God: for the people were continually violating its require¬ments, and consequently God was under the necessity, so to speak, of rejecting them. Hebrews 8:9 ---and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.—Because they re¬jected me and my covenant, saith Jehovah, I also rejected them. The Hebrew may be literally rendered as follows; For they broke my covenant, and I was a lord to them. That is, I treated them as a lord treats his unfaithful servants : I rejected them. Hebrews 8:10 ---For this is the covenant, etc.—The Apostle now proceeds to state, according to the prophecy of Jeremiah, the several points of difference between the Old and the New Covenant: the first of which consists in the carnal externality of the former, and the spir¬itual internality of the latter. Hebrews 8:10 ---I will put my laws into their minds, etc.—The ten fundamental precepts of the Old Covenant were written on two tables of stone (Exodus 34:1 Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 10:1-5; 2 Corinthians 3:7), and the other laws and ordinances most likely on skins prepared for the purpose (Exodus 24:7; Hebrews 9:19 Hebrews 10:7). Many of the pious Hebrews no doubt, like David, treasured up these laws in their minds and in their hearts (Psalms 119:11) ; and, like Abraham, they were justified by faith through the covenant concerning Christ. But multitudes of those who lived under the Old Covenant never received the impress of God’ s law upon either their understanding or their hearts. And hence it was always to them but as a letter inscribed on stone, and not as an indwelling and life-giving power inscribed on their hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:6.) But not so under the New Cove¬nant. For unless a man is begotten by the Spirit, through the word of truth, the good seed of the kingdom, he cannot become a member of it, nor can he be a partaker of its benefits. Compare John 3:3 and John 3:5, with 1 Corinthians 4:15; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23. God first enlightens the understanding by means of his inspired word, and then he inscribes it on the heart. Through the heart, the truth affects the will, and through the will it controls and sanctifies the life, so that all the members of the New Covenant are really “ voluntary offerings,” according to the promise of God to his Son. (Psalms 110:3.) It is not therefore “ the letter,” but it is “ the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” that constrains us to do the will of God from the heart. Hebrews 8:10 ---and I will be to them a God, etc.—This is the second of the “ better promises” on which the New Covenant is established. Under the Old Covenant, there were of course many true believers who, like Abraham, took Jehovah to be their God, all of whom he received and acknowledged as his people. (Exodus 19:5; Leviticus 26:12.) But many, now knowing their right hands from their left, were of course incapable of so receiving him, and others were not willing to do so, preferring the worship of Baal, and other heathen idols, to the worship of the only living and true God. “ The fact is,” says Delitzsch, “ there is no period in the history of Israel before the captivity, in which more or less idolatry was not united with the worship of Jehovah, except it be in the time of David and the first years of Solomon, during which the influence of Samuel continued to be felt. And when, by the captivity, idol worship was completely eradicated from the people, as far at least as regards that part of it which returned, it is well known that a hypocritical letter worship got the mastery over them, which was very little better.” But under the New Economy, no such state of things is at all possible. No one can really become a member of the New Covenant, except by faith and obedience (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, etc.), and no one can continue to be a member of it except on the same conditions (6: 4-6; 10: 26-31; 2 Peter 1:1-11). “ Know ye therefore,” says Paul, “ that they who are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:7 Galatians 3:29.) To all such, God is now a God in even a higher sense than he was to the ancient patriarchs, for to none of them was the Holy Spirit given, as it is now given to all the subjects of the New Covenant, because that Jesus was not then glorified. (John 7:37-39.) But now we are not only brought nearer to God by the offering of Christ, but we are also filled with his Spirit, through which we are enabled to cry “ Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4:6.) Thus it is that Jehovah is now our God, and that we are his people “ in truth and in righteousness.” (Zechariah 8:8.) Hebrews 8:11 ---And they shall teach every man his neighbor, etc.— The word polites means a citizen, and with the possessive pronoun his (autou), as in our text, it means a fellow-citizen. And hence the whole verse may be properly rendered as follows: And they shall not teach every one his fellow-citizen, and every one his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all will know me from the least to the greatest of them. But of whom does the Lord speak when he says, They will all know me? Evidently, of the members of the New Covenant, and of these only. They must all know the Lord from the least of them even to the greatest of them. And hence we have given here a very striking point of contrast between the Old and the New Covenant. For if we except the few Gentile proselytes, who on condition of their being circumcised, were admitted to some of the rights and privileges of the Theocracy, all the subjects of the Old Covenant had to be taught to know the Lord. But not so under the New Covenant. No one, ignorant of Jehovah, can possibly become a member of it: “ for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:40) The ground of this difference will become more obvious if we reflect for a moment on the relation which the Old Covenant sus­tained to the New, and also on the leading object for which the Old was instituted. Be it observed, then, that to communicate to mankind, in a clear and intelligible way, the whole plan of redemp­tion through Christ, was a very difficult and intricate problem; difficult in itself on account of its unique and supernatural charac­ter ; difficult on account of the many imperfections of the languages through which it had to be communicated; and difficult also on account of the preternatural blindness and depravity of the human heart. Now, in order to overcome these and other like obstacles, as far as possible, and to make the scheme of redemption plain and intelligible to all, it pleased God to explain and illustrate it by means of a series of material signs and symbols, which none of course but a Being of infinite knowledge was capable of inventing. For this purpose, he made Abraham the father of two families, the first embracing all his posterity according to the flesh, save such only as God himself saw fit to eliminate by special enactment, and the second embracing all who have the faith of Abraham. The first were made types of the second with respect to their birth, their circumcision, their inheritance, etc. The first became members of the Old Covenant, whether in its incipiency or in its fully devel­oped state, by virtue of their natural birth, just as all mankind are by their natural birth made subject to the conditions of the Adamic covenant, and as the descendants of Levi were by virtue of their birth made subject to the conditions of the Levitical covenant. This is evident from such considerations as the following: (1) from the terms of the covenant which God made with Abraham respecting himself and his posterity (Genesis 17:7-8) ; (2) from the fact that every male that was found to be uncircumcised after the eighth day was to be regarded and treated as a transgressor of the covenant (Genesis 17:14) ; (3) from the fact that all females of the stock of Abraham, through Jacob, were from their birth regarded as mem­bers of the Covenant (see, for instance, Numbers 36) ; (4) from the fact that this is everywhere conceded by Christ and his Apostles, as well as by the ancient prophets (see Matthew 3:9; John 8:33 John 8:37, etc.) ; and (5) from the existing analogies between the Old and the New Covenant. As the family of the faithful now become members of the New Covenant by being born of water and of the Spirit (John 3:3 and John 3:5), so also the children of Abraham, by natural de­scent, became members of the Old Covenant by being born of the flesh. Now this being so, one of the first lessons which the subjects of the Old Covenant had to learn was to know the Lord. But this necessity does not, and cannot, exist under the New Covenant, for its subjects are “ born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:13.) God begets us, not by natural generation, but by means of “ the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18.) And hence it is evident that all the subjects of the New Covenant must know the Lord. True, indeed, they are required to grow in knowledge, as well as in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18.) Leaving the rudiments of the doctrine of Christ, we must go on to perfection, but not by learning again to know the Lord. This is the Alpha of the Christian Religion, with­out which no one ever did or ever can become a subject of the New Covenant, and a partaker of its benefits. Hebrews 8:12 ---For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,— This is given as the fourth of the “ better promises” on which the New Covenant is established. The law having a mere shadow of the good things pertaining to the New Covenant, could never with its bloody rites take away the sins of the people. (10: 4.) And hence, on the Day of Atonement all the sins of the year, for which many sacrifices had already been offered, were again called into remem­brance. But under the New Covenant the case is wholly different, for the blood of Christ cleanses us thoroughly from all our sins. (1 John 1:7.) It is to the moral government of the universe what the blood of bulls and of goats was to the symbolical government of the Jews. It meets fully and satisfactorily the claims of the Divine government against every penitent believer, and procures for him, on given conditions, free, full, and absolute forgiveness. And hence it is that those who are justified by faith through the blood of Christ, have no more consciousness of their past sins. God treats them as if they had never sinned, for he says: “ Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” That is, he deals with the justified as if their sins were wholly forgotten, so that no one can ever successfully prefer a charge against the elect of God. See Isaiah 54:17; Romans 8:33. Hebrews 8:13 ---In that he saith, A new covenant, etc.—The terms old and new are relative. And hence the Apostle argues that the use of the epithet new implies that the first had become old. Nay more, he further insists that the Old Covenant was even then “ ready to van­ish away.” As a religious Institution, it was, as we have seen, abolished when Christ was crucified. He then took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. (Colossians 2:14.) And as a civil Institu­tion it continued for only about seven years after the writing of this Epistle. God then took it entirely out of the way, forever abolishing at the same time the whole Tabernacle service in order to stay more effectually the hand of persecution, and correct the extreme judaizing tendencies that were then threatening to corrupt the simplicity of the Gospel, especially throughout Palestine. 1. What a blessed thing it is to be a subject of the new and better covenant: to enjoy its rights and privileges here, and its eternal honors and rewards hereafter (verse 6). To have Jehovah for our God, to have his laws and ordinances inscribed as a living power on our hearts, and to have our sins and iniquities all blotted out through the blood of Christ, knowing at the same time that if “ our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens”— what more could we desire than this ? 2. No irresponsible persons, whether they be infants or idiots, can become members of the New Covenant (verse 11). For God himself says of its subjects that they will all know him, from the least even to the greatest of them. But such knowledge is above the capacity of infants and idiots. And hence they can never belawfully received as members of the church of Christ. True, in¬deed, all who were of the seed of Abraham and of the stock of Is¬rael, became members of the Old Covenant by virtue of their birth. But these were but types of those who by a birth of water and of the Spirit put on Christ and receive the sign and seal of the New Covenant. (Romans 2:28-29; Philippians 3:3; Colossians 2:9-12; Ephesians 1:13-14.) The babes of the New Covenant are therefore the new con¬verts who believe in Christ and obey his commandments. (Matthew 18:6.) 3. Let it not be supposed, however, that those who die in their infancy are excluded from the benefits of Christ’ s death and media¬tion. By no means: for we say with truth, as did Paul (Romans 5:15-17), “ In him the tribes of Adam boast more blessings than their fathers lost.” Though infants are not proper subjects of the New Covenant, they are nevertheless all embraced in the more comprehensive arrangement of the Godhead, made for the benefit of all classes of mankind. Those, therefore, who die in their in¬fancy will be saved, unconditionally on their part, through the sac¬rifice and mediation of the Lord Jesus. “ For as by the one man’ s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19) ; that is, so far as it respects the Adamic covenant. And hence it follows that all mankind will in due time be saved, through Christ, from the effects of the first transgression. And then will be fulfilled in its fullest sense the saying of the Psalmist, “ Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.” (Psalms 8:2.) 4. The New Covenant was framed for the benefit of those, and only those, who have attained to the years of responsibility. In it and through it we have given all that is really necessary to the at¬tainment of life and godliness. He who believes, repents, and is baptized by the authority of Christ into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, has the fullest possible as¬surance that his past sins are all forgiven (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38) ; and if, giving all diligence, he continue in well doing, he has then also the assurance that in the end he will receive an abundant entrance into God’ s everlasting kingdom (2 Peter 1:5-11). But he who, on the other hand, willfully neglects these laws and ordinances of the New Covenant, will just as certainly be banished with an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power. (Mark 16:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9.) And hence it follows that everyone who has in his possession the Holy Scriptures, may even now read and understand his destiny. On this point there can be no mistake or failure so far as it respects God. “ He is not a man that he should lie, nor is he the Son of man that he should repent.” What a man sows, he will most as¬suredly reap: “ He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6:8.) 5. But how is it with the millions who have no knowledge of God, nor of the gracious provisions of the New Covenant? Will they be saved, or will they be lost? If lost, it will not be on account of the Adamic transgression, for as we have seen, all will be finally saved from it through Christ. Nor will it be on the ground that they have rejected Christ, and the offer of salvation through him; for this they have not done. But it will be simply owing to their own personal transgressions, many of which they have all committed (Romans 1:18-32) ; and from which there is no salvation but through Christ (Acts 4:12). 6. If saved at all, then, it must be by means of the Gospel. But how can they be saved by that of which they have no knowledge? Does not Paul say that the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to every one that believeth, because in it is revealed God’ s plan of justification by faith in order to faith? (Romans 1:16-17.) And does not the commission given by Christ to his apostles, and through them to the church (Matthew 28:18-20), clearly indicate that there is no salvation for those who are dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1-3), except through the knowledge and faith of the Gospel? And did not the apostles act constantly under the influ¬ence of this conviction? When charged, as they doubtless often were, with being beside themselves in their great zeal to save the world from sin and death, the defense which Paul makes in his own behalf and also in behalf of his brethren is simply this; “ The love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that he died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15.) On no other hypothesis can we explain the labors and teachings of the apostles than they looked upon the whole heathen world as lost, eter¬nally and irrecoverably lost, unless saved by the Gospel. That some men may still, under extraordinary circumstances, be saved, as were the ancient patriarchs, with a very limited knowledge of God and of his Gospel, we may, I think, joyfully concede. But that any one who lives and dies in idolatry, can ever be admitted to a participation in the honors and privileges of God’ s everlasting kingdom, seems to me to be quite impossible; for “ this is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3.) 7. We see, then, the wisdom and benevolence of God in making the church the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15) ; the golden candlestick that is to dispense the light of the Gospel to the benighted nations of the earth (Matthew 5:14; Philippians 2:15; Revelation 1:20). Let her then faithfully fulfill her mission, as did the apostles, and very soon the idols of the heathen will be cast “ to the moles and to the bats,” and the whole earth will be filled with the knowl¬edge and the glory of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:6-9.) Commentary on Hebrews 8:6-13 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_8:6 --But now hath He obtained a ministry While on earth He ministered. a. Acts 10:38 : Jesus of Nazareth went about doing good. b. Philippians 2:5-11. This is not a contrast with His earthly ministry, but with the Levitical ministry. The context proves it. Hebrews 8:6 --the more excellentIt was a ministry “ more excellent” than that of the Levitical priests. His ministry is that ministry in heaven. The way that it is more excellent is seen in this verse: it has better promises. Hebrews 8:6 --by so much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant A mediator is one who intervenes or goes between two parties. Moses was a mediator. Exodus 20:19-21; Exodus 24; Galatians 3:19-20. We have one and only one mediator. 1 Timothy 2:5 : “ For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus.” The high priest served on the day of Atonement. Leviticus 16. Hebrews 8:6 --which hath been enacted upon better promisesThe promises were largely physical in the old covenant. a. Deuteronomy 11:26. b. Deuteronomy 20:9-20. c. Observe the promises of the tithe in Malachi. The better promises of the new: a. New home. John 14:1-6. b. New body. 1 Corinthians 15. c. Eternal life. John 3:16. d. Absolute forgiveness of sins.Hebrews 8:7 --for if that first covenant had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second.See Galatians 3:21 : “ If there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.” Romans 3:20 : “ For through the law cometh the knowledge of sin.” Many verses speak of the purity and righteousness of the law, but it was perfect insofar as its purpose was to bring men to Christ. Its purpose being limited, a second was needed. Hebrews 8:8 --for finding fault with themFinding fault with the people? Milligan says “ yes” . a. Why? Because they had not kept the law. b. Milligan interprets it to read, “ finding fault, He saith to them,” Finding fault with the covenant? Yes. Romans 8:3; “ For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh,” Galatians 3:21. Hebrews 8:8 --Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenantWhen was this? a. The prophecy was given after the conquest of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. Jeremiah 31:31. b. Notice the order of covenants: 1. Genesis 12:1-3 to Abraham, repeated in Genesis 13:14-17; Genesis 15:1-6; Genesis 15:18-21; Genesis 17:1-8; Genesis 22:15-18. a) This looked to the covenant with Israel, then to all men. b) It looked to the covenant with all men, gentiles too. 2. The Mosaic covenant is referred to. This covenant was first physical, but Christ’ s is spiritual. After the old had been tried, God prophesied of a new one. Hebrews 8:8 --with the house of IsraelIsrael means “ praise with God” . Notice to whom the term is applied: a. Jacob, Genesis 32:28. b. To all his descendants collectively, Exodus 4:22. c. To the ten tribes that revolted from Rehoboam, 1 Kings 12:19-20. d. To all believers in Christ, Romans 9:6. Newell says, “ It isn’ t made yet.” Hebrews 8:8 --and with the house of JudahJudah means “ praise” . Why is Judah singled out? a. Because the tribe of Judah followed Rehoboam; thus all the Hebrews are to be included. b. The tribe of Benjamin and some from the tribes of Simeon and Dan followed Rehoboam. The gathering of the Jews will be into one body, under the new covenant. a. Abraham’ s children had been divided; only Christ could unite. b. Too many are seeking a restoration of the Jews in Palestine. The restoration will be under Christ. 1. God is not interested in the place where the Jew’ s body is, but the condition of his heart. 2. If he is Christian, he can live anywhere.Hebrews 8:9 --Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them out by the hand to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt.That was the Abrahamic promise being fulfilled to make them a mighty nation. The covenant with Moses had a very important carnal side. a. God moved them out of law and order from Egypt; now they must have a new law. b. The Mosaic covenant is largely carnal, in that it is a system of law that was given to make a nation. The day of this covenant is done and another covenant is established that is unlike the old one. Hebrews 8:9 --for they continued not in My covenantGod promised them an abundance of everything, provided they would serve Him. They failed to keep their side. a. The wilderness experience is one time they failed. b. The sinfulness that led to the Babylonian captivity is another example. Hebrews 8:9 --and I regarded them not, saith the LordHe treated them as unfaithful people. He was Lord to them, so He could treat them as such. As Lord He could reject them. Since they did not abide faithful, God was free to let sin take its course with them. Hebrews 8:10 --for this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those daysThe time element should be noted here. a. After the days of Israel’ s rebellion is noted in Hebrews 8:9. b. God was free to make a new covenant, since Israel was so unfaithful. 1. They departed from God while Moses was in the mount. 2. They departed from God instead of conquering the land. 3. They departed from God and were carried away into captivity. In the light of Jewish history, God was under no obligation to continue the old covenant Hebrews 8:10 --I will put my laws into their mindThe old was engraved on stones, skins. These people were born into a Jewish environment and were to be obedient as a member of the nation. The old was written on stone, two tables, Exodus 34:1; Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:1-5; 2 Corinthians 3:7. With the new covenant you cannot be a part of it unless you know in your mind what it is. a. With the old it was accomplished by birth, and then teaching. b. With the new law, it is accomplished by teaching and birth, “ born again” . John 3:5.Hebrews 8:10 --and on their heart also I will write themThe Christian has a born-again experience by which the Word lives in his heart. He belongs to God, not because of a fleshly birth which he could do nothing about, but because of a decision of life. The verse does not expressly deny that Old Testament characters did not have the law in their hearts, but a procedure is contrasted. Hebrews 8:10 --and I will be to them a God and they shall be to Me a peopleSonship is a wonderful privilege. See Galatians 4:6 : “ And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying, Abba Father.” Also Galatians 4:7. The privilege to pray, “ Our Father” is an experience that only the Christian has. Hebrews 8:11 --And they shall not teach every man his fellow citizen and every man his brotherUnder the old, you were a member and had to be taught, but under the new you are taught, and thus you become a member. a. The Jews had these multitudes of laws, and it was necessary for them to be taught constantly in order for the Jew to live up to them. b. The new is spiritual. You were already obedient. c. In the old you were a part of it by virtue of physical birth, but in the new you choose, and therefore know. No one ignorant of Jehovah can possibly become a member of the new covenant. See Hebrews 11:6 : “ He that cometh unto God.” John 1:13 : “ Born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” We are fellow citizens in Christ. See Ephesians 2:19. The brotherly relationship is obtained by the same method, teaching; hence, both know the Lord. Hebrews 8:11 --saying, know the LordWe know the Lord already; that is why we are brothers. Brothers in Christ do not need to say, “ Know the Lord,” for knowing the Lord made them brothers. Hebrews 8:11 --for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest of themGod’ s grace would be poured out upon all. This refers to people who are capable of knowing God. a. Infants are not referred to here. b. New babies in Christ would be the least, and mature Christians the greatest. God’ s grace would be poured out upon all ranks of men.Hebrews 8:12 --for 1 will be merciful to their iniquitiesThere was no mercy under the old like God’ s mercy now. a. The elders could stone a wayward individual at once; there was no room for repentance. b. This is one of the better promises referred to in Hebrews 8:6. Calvin passes over this verse, but his editor makes a note. a. He says the verse differs in words, though not in substance, both from the Hebrew, and from the Septuagint version. b. In Hebrew, “ remission” or “ forgiveness” is its meaning, but here, the idea expressed is mercy. Hebrews 8:12 --and their sins will I remember no moreThe people of earth say, “ I will forgive, but I will not forget.” The Lord will not hold forgiven sins against us. See these verses: a. Romans 8:33 : “ Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’ s elect? It is God that justifieth.” b. Psalms 103:12 : expresses the fact of sins hidden from God as far as the east is from the west. In the Old Testament there was a covering temporarily from God’ s sight by the blood of offerings. a. In those sacrifices there was a remembrance of sin year by year on the great day of Atonement. Hebrews 10:3. b. Now the blood of the eternal covenant offered by the Lamb of God takes away sin completely. Hebrews 8:13 --in that He saith a new covenant He hath made the first oldHow could He call something “ new” without implying something old? As the new is substituted, it must be that the former has come to an end. When the dispensation of Moses was gone, so were the ceremonies to cease. Hebrews 8:13 --but that which is becoming old and waxeth aged is nigh unto vanishing away. It ended actually with Christ’ s death. a. Colossians 2:14— nailing it to the cross. It ended practically with the destruction of Jerusalem, A.D. 10. a. As long as the Jews’ city stood, they would insist on the sacrifices and ceremonies, not realizing that the hope of Israel had been crucified and raised. b. Hebrews was likely written before the destruction of the city, so this is then prophetic. Study Questions1362. Hebrews 8:5 speaks of Moses. Does Hebrews 8:6 say that he now has a better ministry? 1363. Who obtained a better ministry? 1364. In what way is it more excellent? 1365. In what way did Jesus minister on earth? Acts 10:38. 1366. What would happen if all members of the church did good? 1367. Is this a contrast to Christ’ s earthly ministry, or a contrast to the Levitical priesthood ministry? 1368. Is it Christ’ s earthly ministry or His heavenly one alluded to here? 1369. What is the “ ministry the more excellent” ? 1370. Why is it superior? 1371. Was Moses a mediator? Cf. Galatians 3:19-20; Exodus 20:19-21; Exodus 20:24. 1372. Did the Jews have others? Cf. Leviticus 16:1. 1373. Does the Christian have more than one? Cf. 1 Timothy 2:5. 1374. What is a mediator? 1375. In what ways is our new covenant better? 1376. What does verse six say that makes it better? 1377. Name some of the promises. 1378. Why are the new promises better? 1379. Can we say that most of the promises of God in the Old Testament were physical? 1380. Is there an allusion to spiritual promises in God’ s promise to Abraham? 1381. Can we say that we were blessed more than Abraham? 1382. What was the nature of the blessings in Malachi 4? 1383. Does it seem that people are more interested in physical than spiritual blessings? 1384. What does the author find wrong with the first covenant? Does he name any faults? 1385. Compare Galatians 3:17-21 for the fault of the law. 1386. If it had no fault, why did God give it? Cf. Romans 3:20. 1387. God found fault with what or whom? Hebrews 8:8. 1388. How does Milligan translate verse eight? 1389. How do you feel toward the alternate reading in the American Standard Version of verse eight? 1390. Could it be that He found fault with the law and the people too? 1391. Where is the quotation of what God said found in the Old Testament? 1392. What did He say? 1393. When did He say it? 1394. With whom was it to be made? 1395. What does the word “ Israel” mean? 1396. To whom is the term applied? Cf. Genesis 32:28; Exodus 4:22; 1 Kings 12:19-20; Romans 9:6. 1397. Why does he say “ Israel and Judah” ? 1398. What do some interpreters say concerning this prophecy? 1399. Is God likely to be more interested in locating the Jews in Palestine than in saving the Gentiles? 1400. Are the Jews to be gathered in a place or under a covenant? 1401. What one thing will unite all of Abraham’ s seed? 1402. What “ fathers” are referred to, Moses or Abraham? Could Moses be called their father? 1403. What part of Abraham’ s promise was being fulfilled? 1404. What was God planning when he led them out? 1405. Was the repeated covenant with Moses mostly carnal? 1406. What fault did God find with them? 1407. Was God obligated to keep His side, when they failed to keep theirs? 1408. What happened to them to prove they disobeyed? 1409. What is meant by “ I regarded them not” ? Could it mean that He would not protect them? 1410. After what “ days” are referred to here? 1411. Where were the laws to be put under the new covenant? 1412. What is the difference here from the Old Testament laws? 1413. Can you be a part of the new covenant without having the law in your mind? 1414. Discuss the processes of birth and teaching in relationship to the two covenants. 1415. What is the method of God’ s “ writing” on their heart? 1416. Did not the old covenant people have it on their heart? 1417. Were they under the covenant before it was on their mind? 1418. Are the procedures or methods of becoming a part of the two covenants contrasted here? 1419. Is the Christian in the covenant before it is written in his heart? 1420. What relationship does God have to those under the new covenant? 1421. Who are “ they” ? How inclusive is it? Hebrews 8:11. 1422. What kind of condition is referred to where no teaching is necessary? 1423. Did “ brother” and “ citizen” have a system of institution under the old covenant? 1424. What eliminates the teaching of the old covenant? Is it the spiritual birth? Old— born, then taught. New— taught, then born. 1425. Brotherhood is obtained by all by the same method. Is that why some do not have to teach others? 1426. Who would be considered the “ least” and “ greatest” ? 1427. Are these ranks in the new covenant? 1428. What can be said of mercy in the two covenants? Hebrews 8:12. 1429. Did the Jews of Jesus’ day seem merciful? 1430. Give an example of Christ’ s superior mercy. 1431. Show some instances of severity in the Old Testament. 1432. How superior to man’ s forgiveness is God’ s forgiveness? 1433. How can God remember sins no more? Can He forget them? 1434. What will cover them? 1435. How often was their remembrance under the old covenant? Cf. Hebrews 10:3. 1436. Is this true of the New Testament? 1437. Can you have something called “ new” without implying something “ old” ? 1438. Is there any significance to the continuous action, indicated by the word “ becoming” ? Hebrews 8:13 b. 1439. Did man consider it old as soon as God did? 1440. If the law is a tutor, should we feel that it is a good thing for the Jew to be faithful in its observance? 1441. Does the continuous action indicated by the phrase, “ becoming old” , imply that Jerusalem had not been destroyed? Hebrews 9:1-5THE , OF THE JEWISH Hebrews 9:1-5 Hebrews 9:1 ---Then verily the first covenant— The Apostle returns here to the line of argument from which he was led off in the sixth verse of the eighth chapter by a comparison of the two covenants. In the fifth verse of the same chapter he speaks of the high priest under the first covenant serving the Tabernacle of Moses, which, he says, was but a shadowy representation of the heavenly things belonging to the second covenant. And now he simply concedes what is really implied in 8: 5, that the first covenant had its “ ordi­nances of Divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.” His object is not in any way to disparage the Old Covenant, but to honor it as far as truth will permit. And hence he readily grants that it, as well as the New Covenant, was of Divine origin; that it had the ordinances of Divine service appointed by God himself, and a worldly sanctuary framed in every respect according to the pattern which God showed to Moses in the Mount. The word covenant (diatheke) is not expressed in the original; but is manifestly implied, as may be seen from both what precedes and what follows. And it is, therefore, now generally conceded that the word covenant, and not tabernacle (skene), should be sup­plied in our English text. The word rendered ordinances (di- kaiomata) is a verbal noun, and means (1) a righteous action, an act by which righteousness is fulfilled (Romans 5:18) ; (2) a righ­teous judgment, indicating that a sinner is made righteous through the righteousness of Christ (Romans 5:16) ; (3) a righteous decree or appointment, an ordinance, law, rule, or regulation relating to the worship of God. In this last sense, the word is manifestly used in our text and also in the tenth verse of this chapter. The word sanctuary (hagion) means here, as in Exodus 25:8, a holy dwelling place, referring to the entire Tabernacle. It is called a worldly (kosmikon) sanctuary in contrast with the heavenly (epouranion) sanctuary of the New Covenant. (8:2; 9:23.) It was a material perishable structure made with hands, and pertained wholly to this perishable world. But not so with the heavenly sanctuary. It, in­cluding both apartments, is “ a building of God, a house not made with hands,” and it will endure forever. Hebrews 9:2 ---For there was a tabernacle made;— Our author now pro­ceeds to illustrate and amplify the general statement made in the first verse; viz.: that ‘‘ the first covenant had ordinances of Divine service and a worldly sanctuary.” This, he insists, is true; for there was a tabernacle prepared (katcskcusthe) ; that is, framed and furnished according to the pattern which was showed to Moses in the Mount. For particulars see Exodus 26:1-30. The word tabernacle (skene) as used here is but a synonym of sanctu­ary in the first verse. It includes both the Holy Place and the Most Holy, each of which is also called a tabernacle in what fol­lows. Hebrews 9:2 ---The first, wherein was the candlestick,— That is, the first or east room of the Tabernacle, called the Holy Place. It stood first in position, because the high priest had always to pass through it on his way into the Holy of Holies. On the south side of this apartment stood the candlestick made out of a talent of gold. (Exodus 25:31-40.) It consisted of an upright shaft (which the rabbis say was four cubits high) and six branches, all ornamented with “ bowls, knops and flowers.” On the top of the main stem and each branch there was a lamp in which pure olive oil was kept con­stantly burning. (Exodus 27:20-21; Leviticus 24:1-4.) This candlestick was a type of the Church of Christ not as a dwellingplace like the Tabernacle, but as God’ s appointed means for perpetuating and dispensing the light of the Gospel. (Zechariah 4:1-14; Revelation 1:20.) And hence every Christian congregation should be a light-supporter and a light-dispenser. (1 Timothy 3:15.) But observe, the candlestick served only to support and dispense the light. It was the oil, not the candlestick, that produced it; and throughout the Bible oil is used as the appropriate symbol of the Holy Spirit. See, for example, Isaiah 16:1; Acts 10:38; Hebrews 1:9; 1 John 2:20 1 John 2:27. The seven lamps seem to be symbolical of the perfect light of the Gospel. Hebrews 9:2 ---And the table and the shewbread,— On the north side of the Holy Place, opposite the candlestick, stood the table of shewbread, or bread of the face, so called because it always stood in the pres­ence or before the face of Jehovah. This table was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. It was two cubits long, one cubit broad, and a cubit and a half high. Around its upper edge was a cornice of gold, and on its sides were fastened four rings through which were placed two staves of acacia wood covered with gold, for the purpose of bearing it conveniently from place to place. Its dishes and cups were all of gold. (Exodus 25:23-30.)TABLE OF On this table were placed every Sabbath day by the high priest twelve cakes of fine flour, six in a row, and on each row a cup of frankincense. (Leviticus 24:5-9.) Each cake was made of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, consisting of about seven quarts. These cakes were eaten by the priests, and were symbolical of the spiri­tual food of Christians, all of whom are made priests to God through Christ. (1 Peter 2:5 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6 Revelation 5:10.) The frankin­cense seems to have been emblematical of praise and thanksgiving. (Revelation 5:8.) In the Holy Place immediately before the vail stood the altar of incense. It, too, was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold, and was two cubits high, and one cubit in length and breadth. Like the table, it had a cornice of gold around its upper edge. It had also four rings of gold through which were placed two staves of acacia wood overlaid with gold, by means of which it was carried by the Kohathites. It had also four horns, or projecting corners, on which the high priest made an atonement once every year. (Exodus 30:1-10.)ALTAR OF INCENSEOn this altar the priests every morning and evening burned sweet incense made out of equal parts of stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. (Exodus 30:34-38.) This incense when burned sent forth a delightful perfume, and seems to have been typical of the prayers of the saints. See Psalms 141:2; Luke 1:9-10; Revelation 5:8 Revelation 8:3-4. And hence we see the propriety of placing this altar of prayer directly before the Ark of the Covenant, which in con­nection with the Mercy Seat was a symbol of God’ s throne. (Jer. 3: 16. 17; Hebrews 4:16.) Every priest in offering incense on this altar drew near to the throne of grace. Hebrews 9:3 ---And after the second vail,— The first vail (kalumma) was suspended at the doorway on the east end of the Tabernacle, from golden hooks attached to five pillars overlaid with gold, each of which rested on a socket of brass. (Exodus 26:36-37.) But the sec­ond or partition vail (katapetasma) divided the whole Tabernacle into two apartments: that on the east was called the Holy Place; and that on the west, the Most Holy. This vail, like the inner curtain of the Tabernacle, was beautifully variegated with colors of blue, purple, and scarlet; and curiously embroidered all over with figures of cherubim. It was suspended directly under the golden clasps of the inner curtain, from hooks of gold attached to four pil­lars of acacia wood overlaid with gold and resting on four sockets of silver. (Exodus 26:31-34.) The Rabbis say that this vail was made of thread six double; and that after the erection of the Temple it was renewed regularly year by year. Hebrews 9:4 ---Which had the golden censer,— It is still a question with the critics, whether the word which is here rendered censer (thumi- aterion from thumiao to burn incense) is used by our author to de­note the Golden Censer on which, according to the Mishna, the High Priest burned incense once a year in the Holy of holies (Leviticus 16:12), or the Golden Altar on which he burned incense every morning and evening (Exodus 30:7-8). In favor of the former rendering, it is alleged by Luther, Michaelis, Bengel, Bohme, Reland, and many others, (1) that this is more in har­mony with Greek usage. The word commonly used in the Septua- gint for the altar of incense is thusiasterion. Indeed the word thu- miaterion occurs but twice in this entire work (2 Chronicles 26:19; Ezekiel 8:11), in both of which cases it evidently means a censer. It is, however, frequently used by later writers, as Joseph and Philo, for the Altar of Incense. (2) It is alleged that the con struction of our text favors the same hypothesis. For, from such passages as Exodus 30:6-8, it is perfectly obvious that the Altar of Incense stood before the Vail in the Holy Place, and that incense was burned on it daily; but the thumiaterion of our text is classi­fied with the Ark of the Covenant, and seems to be located behind the Vail in the Most Holy Place. In reply to this it is urged by Olshausen, Ebrard, Delitzsch, and others, that the Apostle does not say that the golden thumiaterion was in the Most Holy Place; but only that it belonged to it. He simply affirms that the Holiest of all had a golden thumiaterion and the Ark of the Covenant. But behind the second Vail, he says [was], the tabernacle which is called The Holiest of all, having (echousa) a golden thumiaterion, and the Ark of the Covenant overlaid on all sides with gold; which was the golden vase containing the manna, and the rod of Aaron which had budded, and the tables of the covenant. Now, as a house may be said to have many things which are really not in it, such as a sign, an awning, etc., it is alleged by some that our au­thor means nothing more in the above expression than simply this: that though the Golden Altar was located in the Holy Place before the Vail, it was, nevertheless, in its significance more properly con­nected with the Most Holy. And this view is thought to be sup­ported by 1 Kings 6:22, which may be literally rendered as fol­lows : And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had fin­ished all the house; also the whole altar which [pertains] to the Oracle, he overlaid with gold. The main reason alleged in support of the second rendering is found in what would otherwise seem to be an unaccountable omis­sion by the author, in speaking of the symbolical furniture of the Tabernacle. It is urged that the Apostle would certainly not have overlooked so important an article as the Altar of Incense, and name one that is not even referred to in the Law of Moses, unless it be in Leviticus 16:12. But here, the vessel used for carrying the coals of fire from the Brazen Altar, is not called in the Septuagint a golden thumiaterion, but simply a pureion, a fire-pan. In the Hebrew it is called a machtah which also means a fire-pan; but the golden censer spoken of in the Mishna is called a kaph; that is a curved vessel, as a dish or a pan. This objection to the common rendering is certainly not without force. The omission, if indeed it is such, is certainly a very re markable one, and one that is not easily accounted for. It should, however, be remembered (1) that it was not the purpose of our au­thor to enter into minute details in describing the furniture of the Tabernacle (9: 4) ; but only to give a general outline of its divi­sions, apparatus, etc. (2) In the discussions which follow these introductory remarks, he has reference chiefly to the solemn ser­vices of the Day of Atonement; and as on that day, the most sol­emn and important part of the incense offering was made in the Most Holy Place, and in the Golden Censer, the Apostle may have deemed it unnecessary to speak further in detail of the less impos­ing services of the same kind that were performed in the Holy Place and on the Golden Altar. (3) It is remarkable that Jose­phus makes the same omission both in his Jewish War and in his Antiquities. In speaking of the conquest of Judea and Jerusalem by the Romans, he says, “ Pompey and those that were about him went into the Temple itself, whither it was not lawful for any to enter but the High Priest, and saw what was deposited therein: viz., the Candlestick with its lamps, and the Table, and the pouring vessels, and the censers, all made entirely of gold; as also a great quantity of spices heaped together, with two thousand talents of sa­cred money” (J. War. b. 1, 7, 6). On the whole I agree with Alford, and I might say with the ma­jority of commentators both ancient and modern, that “ the balance inclines toward the censer interpretation; though I do not feel by any means that the difficulty is wholly removed; and I would hail with pleasure any new solution which might clear it still further.” Hebrews 9:4 ---And the ark of the covenant— This was a sort of chest, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half broad, and a cubit and a half high. It was made of acacia wood, overlaid on all sides with pure gold. Around the upper edge, was a cornice of gold; and on each side there were two rings of gold, through which were in­serted two staves, for the purpose of bearing the Ark from place to place. (Exodus 25:10-16.) Hebrews 9:4 ---Wherein was the golden pot, etc.— In the Ark were placed a golden vase containing an omer (about seven pints) of manna (Exodus 16:32-34) ; Aaron’ s rod that budded and brought forth al­monds (Numbers 17:1-11); and the two tables of the covenant (Deuteronomy 10:1-5). It seems from 1 Kings 8:9, that both the vase of manna and Aaron’ s rod had been removed from the Ark and most likely lost, before the building of the Temple; but our author speaks here of the original order and disposition of matters in the time of Moses. The Ark itself was in some way lost during the Chaldean catastrophe. It was never restored after the Babylonian captivity; but in its stead, there was placed in the second Temple a stone slab of three fingers in thickness, called by the Rabbis Eben Sh’ theyah which means a stone of drinking. Hebrews 9:5 ---And over it, the cherubim of glory— On the Ark was placed a cover (hilasterion) of pure gold; two cubits and a half long, a cubit and a half wide, and of unknown thickness. The original word kapporeth means simply a cover. But as from it, God was wont to give forth his gracious responses (Numbers 7:89), it hence obtained the name Propitiatory or Mercy Seat. On the ends of it were formed out of the same piece of solid gold from which the Propitiatory was made, two cherubim with wings extended, and having each his face turned toward the other, and also toward the Mercy Seat, as if anxious to look into the profound mysteries of the Ark upon which rested the Shekinah. (1 Peter 1:12.) The word cherub means a keeper, a guardian. These figures, as well as the cherubim of the vail and the linen curtain, were most likely symbolical of the angels who are sent to minister to the heirs of salvation. (Hebrews 1:14.) But of these matters, as our author says, it is not now necessary to speak particularly. I trust that enough has already been said on the general structure and the furniture of the Tabernacle to pre­pare the reader for the more profound and interesting themes which are discussed in the following paragraphs. Commentary on Hebrews 9:1-5 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_9:1 --Now even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service The point he is making is this: a. The whole form of worshipping God was annexed to the old covenant. b. It had sacrifices, ablutions and symbols connected with the sanctuary. c. They were divine services, for God planned them. Exodus 31:1-10 states that Bezalel was given the Spirit of God in order to construct the tabernacle and design the clothes. Hebrews 9:1 --Ordinances: (Services) a. Milligan says that “ services” is a verbal noun and means: 1. A righteous action, an act by which righteousness is fulfilled. Romans 5:18. 2. A righteous judgment, indicating that a sinner is made righteous through the righteousness of Christ. Romans 5:16. 3. A righteous decree, or appointment, ordinance, law, rule.b. Milligan feels that the latter one (No. 3) is preferable here.Hebrews 9:1 --and its sanctuary a sanctuary of this worldThese words are stated to draw a contrast between the earthly tabernacle services with the Holy of holies in heaven. The Holy of holies in heaven has a Priest who has finished the sacrifice and is seated at the right hand of God. Hebrews 9:2 --for there was a tabernacle prepared, the first, wherein were“ The first” is inserted. perhaps, to distinguish between the tabernacle and the temple, say some. The context indicates that the Holy place is referred to. Most authorities agree that this is the tabernacle, for the temple did not possess the tablets of stone after the captivity. Hebrews 9:2 --the candlestickIt was made of a talent of gold. Exodus 25:31-40. Rabbis say that it was four cubits high, had six branches. It stood on the south side. Hebrews 9:2 --and the tableThis stood on the north opposite the candlestick. It was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. On it were placed the twelve loaves, changed each sabbath. The setting of the table with bread, once a week, is a type of the Lord’ s table. Hebrews 9:2 --and the showbreadAlso called “ the bread of the face” , so-called because it was in the presence of God. On the table were placed every sabbath day by the high priest twelve cakes made of fine flour, six in a row, and on each row a cup of frankincense. Leviticus 24:5-9. Hebrews 9:2 --which is called the Holy PlaceThe word “ first” must refer to this place, In this section of the tabernacle, the priests worked” continually. Hebrews 9:3 --and after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies“ After the second veil” refers to the veil that separated the Holy of Holies. a. The first was at the entrance to the Holy Place. b. The second refers to the one separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. 1. The temple in Jerusalem at the time of Christ had a veil, for it was torn from the top to the bottom, Matthew 27:51. 2. The temple of Solomon had wooden doors, 1 Kings 6:31-33, Into this second veil the priest entered but once a year. Hebrews 9:7. Hebrews 9:4 --having a golden altar of incenseThis is not mentioned by Moses as to location, some say, The high priest went in once a year to burn incense. Some think it was left just inside all year. This verse seems to locate it in the Holy of Holies. McKnight says it was left in the Holy of Holies close enough so the priest could reach beneath the veil and pull it out. Newell says it was placed close to the veil in the holy place but is regarded by the Spirit of God, in Hebrews 9:4, as belonging to the Holy of Holies. He says see Exodus 30:1; Exodus 30:6-7; Exodus 30:10; Exodus 40:5. Solomon’ s building was like it. 1 Kings 6:19-22. The altars of incense represent prayer in the study of types. Hebrews 9:4 --and the ark of the covenantThe instructions for the building of this container: Deuteronomy 10:1-5. It was a sort of chest overlaid with gold. a. In it were the two tables of the law. 1 Kings 8:9. b. The things it contained are named in this verse, but the word “ wherein” may not mean in the ark, but rather in the Holy of Holies. c. It was made of shittim wood (acacia) 2½ cubits long and 1½ cubits broad and deep.Hebrews 9:4 --overlaid round about with goldGod has always used beautiful things in worship to impress the people with its importance. God also makes wonderful use of simple things likewise, as seen in the emblems of the Lord’ s Supper. Hebrews 9:4 --wherein was a golden pot holding the mannaSee Exodus 16:32-34. Manna was kept from the wilderness journey. a. It contained an omer (seven pints). Was the pot in the ark? a. No, says 1 Kings 8:9, only the tables of stone. b. By the time of Solomon, perhaps other contents had been lost, and so the time element enters into the problem here. c. McKnight suggests that the words may mean “ nigh to” the pot, and the rod may have been a part of the ark, but not actually in it.Hebrews 9:4 --and Aaron’ s rod that buddedSee Numbers 17:1-11— It blossomed and bore ripe almonds. Clarke says that this was in the ark. However the reading may be understood to mean in the Holy of Holies. See 1 Kings 8:9 which says only the tables were in the ark. The time element should be considered. Hebrews 9:4 --and the tables of the covenantDeu_10:1-5 gives the account of the construction of it. 1 Kings 8:9 indicates that the pot of manna and Aaron’ s rod had been removed from the ark and likely lost before the temple. Hebrews 9:5 --and above it cherubim of glory“ Cherubim” is plural of “ cherub” . It means “ keeper, guardian” . See Ezekiel 1:5-11; Ezekiel 1:13-14 for their physical appearance. Ezekiel 1:24; Ezekiel 10:5 : “ The sound of their wings was as the voice of God.” These were of gold, and were at each end of the mercy seat. Exodus 25:18-20. The cherubim seem to be an order of angels. Genesis 3:24. The word “ glory” may be understood in the light that these angels surround God, so between them would be the peace of God’ s glory. Hebrews 9:5 --overshadowing the mercy seatThey were at each end, facing each other, but looking down on the cover or the mercy seat, The presence of the angels abiding in figure form renders a fit image of heaven. Hebrews 9:5 --of which things we cannot now speak severallyChrist can be seen in each. He is the Light, Bread, Ark, the Word, Examination of details is not necessary to perceive the lesson gained, Detail is not desired, but contrast is the author’ s purpose.Study Questions1442. What is referred to as the “ first covenant” ? 1443. What was included in the divine services? 1444. What is meant by “ ordinances” ? 1445. What is meant by “ ablutions” ? 1446. Who was instructed to construct the tabernacle and to make the priestly garments? 1447. What was the sanctuary? 1448. Why is it called “ of this world” ? 1449. What other names did it have? 1450. How was its construction financed? See Exodus 25:1-8; Exodus 35:4-29; Exodus 36:5-7. 1451. Is there any significance to the word “ first” ? 1452. Do other translations have the word? 1453. Why could it not refer to Solomon’ s temple? 1454. Where was the location of the candlestick, table, and showbread? 1455. Describe the tabernacle— the whole situation. 1456. Where did one enter? 1457. What was the size? 1458. How many parts did it have? 1459. As you enter, what did you see first? Next? What next? 1460. What was on the right side of it? 1461. What was on the left side of it? 1462. What was in the center? 1463. What is seen next as you proceed? 1464. What was in the Holy of Holies? 1465. What was in the ark? 1466. Which way did the tabernacle face? 1467. How large was the tent of meeting, or the Holy Place? 1468. Name the materials involved in construction of the whole tabernacle. 1469. What were the walls of the court made of? 1470. What were the walls of the Holy Place made of? 1471. How were they held together? 1472. We have a second veil mentioned. Where is it? Where was the first veil? 1473. Did the temple at Jerusalem have a veil? 1474. What was done to it? Matthew 27:51. 1475. Did Solomon’ s temple have a veil? See 1 Kings 6:31-33. 1476. How often and who had the privilege to enter this second veil? See Hebrews 9:7. 1477. Where was the altar of incense located? 1478. What had a golden altar of incense? 1479. What are the opinions as to its location? 1480. What does Exodus 30:1; Exodus 30:6-7; Exodus 30:10 and Exodus 40:5 says? Cf. Exodus 16:33; Numbers 17:10; Leviticus 16:12; Leviticus 16:15. 1481. Was it an expensive thing? 1482. Does God always use beautiful and expensive things? 1483. Describe the ark of the covenant. 1484. Why do 1 Kings 8:9 and 2 Chronicles 5:10 differ in regard to the content of the ark of the covenant? 1485. What did it contain? 1486. How large was it? 1487. Does the word “ wherein” mean that the pot was in the ark or in the Holy of Holies? 1488. What does 1 Kings 8:9 say? 1489. Could the pot have been lost by the time of 1 Kings 8:9? 1490. What do you think of McKnight’ s explanation, saying, “ nigh to” ? Is this not the way the denominations deny water baptism? 1491. Describe Aaron’ s rod that budded. 1492. Does 1 Kings 8:9 affect this? 1493. Observe the Catholic Bible translation. 1494. What did it bud with? Numbers 17:1-11. 1495. What is referred to by “ the tables of the covenant” ? Would this require the ark to be of sturdy construction to hold heavy tablets of stone? 1496. What appears above the ark? 1497. What is the meaning of the word “ seraphim” ? 1498. Is there more than one? 1499. Who were they? See Genesis 3:24. 1500. What do we know about their appearance? See Ezekiel 1:5-11; Ezekiel 1:13-14. 1501. Were the cherubim silent? Cf. Ezekiel 1:24; Ezekiel 10:5. 1502. Were they alive above the ark? See Exodus 25:18-20. 1503. If they had been alive, is it possible the interpretation of 1 Kings 8:9 means that articles were lost by the time of the temple? 1504. Does the author feel that he has gone into the subject thoroughly according to Hebrews 9:5? Hebrews 9:6-10 OF OF THE JEWISH AGE, AND OF ITS AND Heb_9:6-10 Hebrews 9:6 ---Now when these things were thus ordained,— The Apostle having described the Tabernacle with sufficient minuteness, pro­ceeds now to show what was done in it. These things, he says, being thus arranged, the Priests enter constantly [every day] into the first tabernacle [the Holy Place] accomplishing [there] the ser­vices [of their order]. These services consisted in dressing the lamps and offering the incense every morning and evening; and of the change of the presence-bread on every Sabbath. The present tense (eisiasin) may be used here as the historical present, indicat­ing merely what was customary; or it may denote that these ser­vices were still performed in the Temple when this Epistle was written in A.D. 63. Hebrews 9:7 ---But into the second went the high priest alone, once every year,— That is, into the second apartment, the Most Holy Place, of the Tabernacle. Into this, none but the High Priest was allowed to enter; and he only once a year, on the tenth day of the seventh month. But on that day he entered the Most Holy Place at least three times, perhaps four. This will be best explained by indicating briefly the varied services of that most solemn of all the days of the year, as given in the sixteenth chapter of Leviticus. After the usual morning services and the offering of the sacrifices prescribed in Numbers 29:7-11, the High Priest was required (1) tokill the bullock which he has provided for a sin-offering for himself and for his house (Leviticus 16:11) ; (2) to carry a pan of coals from the Brazen Altar and also a portion of sweet-incense into the Most Holy Place, and there to burn the incense before the Lord (verses 12, 13) ; (3) to enter the second time with the blood of the bul­lock, and to sprinkle it seven times on and before the Mercy Seat (verse 14) ; (4) to slay the goat of the sin-offering for the people (verse 15) ; (5) to go the third time within the Vail, with the blood of this goat, and to do with it as he had done with the blood of the bullock; (6) to make an atonement for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of the congregation, as he had done for the Most Holy, by smearing with the blood of the two victims the horns of the Golden Altar (Exodus 30:10), and also most likely by sprinkling the blood seven times with his finger on and before the Altar, as he had before sprinkled it on and before the Mercy seat (verse 16, compare Josephus Ant. iii. 10, 3) ; (7) to make an atonement for the altar of burnt-offerings, by smearing its horns with the mingled blood of the two victims, and by sprinkling of the mixture seven times on it, as he had on the Altar of Incense (verses 18, 19). The Rabbis say that for this purpose the blood of the two victims was mingled in a basin. (8) After this the High Priest was re­quired to send away the live goat to asasel, which means a state of complete separation (verses 20-22) ; (9) to bathe himself and put on his golden garments, which he had put off before entering the Most Holy Place (verses 23, 24) ; and (10) to offer the burnt-of­ferings for himself and the people, and the fat of the sin-offerings; and then to cause their flesh to be burned without the camp (verses 24, 25). After this, according to the Mishna (Yoma v. 1; viii. 4), he again put off his golden garments, and entering the Most Holy Place the fourth time, he brought out “ the bowl and the censer.” When, therefore, the Apostle says that the high priest went into the Most Holy Place, “ not without blood,” he does not mean that he was required to carry blood with him every time that he entered it; but only that he had to do this on the day on which he went in to make an atonement for himself and for the errors of the people. The word rendered errors (agnoemata) means ignorance, involun­tary error, etc. But it here includes all sins, save those only which were committed “ with a high hand,” and in open defiance and contempt of God’ s law. For such sins, no sacrifice was to be offered. (Numbers 15:30-31; Hebrews 10:28.) See notes on Hebrews 5:2. Hebrews 9:8 ---The Holy Spirit this signifying,— The Holy Spirit is here acknowledged to be the designer, as well as the interpreter of the Old Economy. It not only moved the ancient prophets to speak to the people the words and thoughts of God (see references), but it also breathed into the inanimate types of the Old Covenant a lan­guage which shows that they are all of God, and are designed to shadow forth and illustrate the sublime mysteries of redemption. And not only so,— not only were these types made shadows of good things to come, but they were moreover so framed as to indi­cate also in various ways the comparative darkness of the Jewish age. The fact, for instance, that none but the high priest was al­lowed to go behind the Vail, and that even he was allowed to do this but once a year, and then not without blood which he was re­quired to offer for his own sins and for the sins of the people,— all this served to demonstrate that the way into Heaven, the antitype of the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle (verses 12, 24), was still a mystery, a matter that was not fully understood by anyone but God himself while the Tabernacle and Temple worship was continued. That God did, in anticipation of the shedding of Christ’ s blood, justify and save believers, under both the Patriar­chal and the Jewish age, is of course conceded. See Exodus 3:6; 2 Kings 2:1 2 Kings 2:11; Daniel 12:13; Luke 16:22 Luke 23:43; Romans 3:25-26; Hebrews 6:15 Hebrews 11:13-16, etc. But the ground on which they were so justified and made happy, was yet a mystery to men and angels; for none, it seems, but the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit yet understood that Christ must suffer and rise from the dead, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached to all nations through him, as the way, the truth, the resurrection, and the life. See references under.2 But when Christ’ s body was broken for our sins according to the Scriptures, then also was the Vail of the Temple “ rent in twain from the top to the bottom” (Matthew 27:51) ; and henceforth the way into Heaven, through the torn flesh of Jesus, was made manifest. Then also the Old Tabernacle, with all that pertained to it fell to the ground; and on its ruins was erected the true Tabernacle of which Christ has become the prime Minister. (Hebrews 8:2 Hebrews 9:11.)Hebrews 9:8 ---While as the first tabernacle was standing:— First in what respect? Does the Apostle mean first in time, or first in place? First in place or position say Ebrard, Delitzsch, Alford, Moll, and others. These able critics insist that the word “ first” is used here, as in verse sixth, to denote simply the Holy Place, standing as it did in front of the Most Holy. So long as it stood in that position, it served of course to obscure the way leading through the Vail into the Most Holy Place, which in the second verse is called the second tabernacle. All this is of course conceded as a matter of fact. But is this the meaning of the passage? I think not. It seems to me that the Apostle has reference here to the entire Jew­ish Tabernacle, which however, he uses symbolically for the whole system of Jewish worship, begun in the Tabernacle and continued in the Temple; and that the second Tabernacle, with which the first is contrasted, is the “ greater and more perfect Tabernacle” of the eleventh verse, together perhaps with the heavenly Sanctuary into which Christ has for us entered. Previous to Christ’ s entry, the way into the Holiest of all was not made manifest to anyone. Until the vail of Christ’ s flesh was rent (Hebrews 10:20), no man, and perhaps no angel (1 Peter 1:12), understood how God could be just in justifying any of Adam’ s race, and receiving them into glory. But when Christ died for our sins according to the Scrip­tures, then all was made manifest. (Romans 3:25-26.) Henceforth Jesus was everywhere proclaimed as the way into the Holiest of all. See references. Hebrews 9:9===Which was a figure for the time then present,— Or rather, Which [tabernacle] was a figure [reaching down] to the present time. The idea of the Apostle seems to be this: that the Jewish Tabernacle with all its rites was made a symbol (parabole) of the good things of the kingdom of heaven; and that as the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24), even so the symbolic worship of the Tabernacle was designed to continue until the beginning of the new dispensation under the reign of Christ. But no longer; for since the coming of Christ, we are no longer under the schoolmaster. (Galatians 3:25.) Hebrews 9:9 ---In which were offered— (kathen) according to which [fig­ure] are offered both gifts and sacrifices. The present tense (prospherontai) seems to denote that the Levitical sacrifices were still offered by the Jews, according to the laws and ordinances of the ancient Tabernacle. Hebrews 9:9 ---That could not, etc.— These bloody sacrifices procured for those who offered them a good relative standing with respect to the honors, rights, and privileges of the Old Covenant; but nothing more. They had no power to perfect anyone with respect to his own moral consciousness. They were, in fact, but shadows of the sacrifice of Christ (10: 1), and could therefore procure for neither priest nor people anything more than a mere symbolical pardon of sins. Hebrews 9:10 ---Which stood only in meats, etc.— The construction of this sentence is somewhat obscure; and hence several different render­ings have been proposed. The main trouble is to determine the proper antecedent member of the relation expressed by the prepo­sition epi, the usual meaning of which is on, upon, or in addition to. What was on, upon, or in addition to meats, and drinks, and divers washings? “ Gifts and sacrifices,” say Delitzsch, Alford, etc.; “ The service,” say Luther and some of the more ancient com­mentators; “ Carnal ordinances” representing gifts and sacrifices, say Green and Liinemann; “ Perfect,” say Ebrard and some of the Christian fathers: that is, they say, the gifts and sacrifices offered could not perfect anyone with respect to his conscience, but only with respect to meats, and drinks, and divers washings. On the whole, I agree in the main with Alford and Delitzsch. The object of the Apostle seems to be to connect the offering of sacrifices with certain other matters relating to meats, and drinks, and divers washings,— all of which he characterizes as carnal ordinances, im­posed on the people till the coming of Christ. Hebrews 9:10 ---And divers washings:—(diaphorois baptisinois) washings which were performed by immersing in water whatever was to be cleansed. These had reference (1) to the washing of the whole body (louo) ; as, for instance, the body of every Priest at the time of his consecration (Exodus 29:4) ; of the High Priest on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:4 Leviticus 16:24) ; of a Priest defiled with any unclean­ness (Leviticus 22:6) ; of the Priest who officiated at the services of the red heifer (Numbers 19:7) ; of the man who burned the red hei­fer (Numbers 19:8) ; of the person cleansed with the water of purifi­cation (Numbers 19:19) ; of the healed leper (Leviticus 14:8-9) ; of any one who had eaten the flesh of an animal dead of disease (Leviticus 17:15) ; of the conductor of the scape-goat (Leviticus 16:26) ; of the man who burned the sin-offering without the camp on the day of atone­ment (Leviticus 16:28) ; of a person unclean from a running issue (Leviticus 15:13) ; of a person rendered unclean by coming in contact with anything defiled by a running issue (Leviticus 15:8) ; of a per­son defiled by semen virile (Leviticus 15:16 Leviticus 15:18) ; of a person defiled by female uncleanness (Leviticus 15:22 Leviticus 15:27) : (2) to the washing of the hands and feet (nipto) ; as of the Priests (Exodus 30:19-20) ; of the Elders of the congregation (Deuteronomy 21:6): (3) to the washing of garments (pluno) ; as of the Levites at the time of their conse­cration (Numbers 8:7) ; of the Priest who officiated at the sacrifice of the red heifer (Numbers 19:7) ; of the man who burned the red heifer (Numbers 19:8): (4) to the washing of the inwards and legs of the burnt-offerings (pluno); see, for instance, Exodus 29:7; Leviticus 1:9 Leviticus 1:13 : (5) to the washing of wooden vessels (nipto) ; see Leviticus 15:12 : and (6) to such spoils of war as could not be made to pass through the fire (Numbers 31:21-23). These washings were all but carnal ordinances, and had in themselves no efficacy beyond the purifying of the flesh; but in that age of types and shadows, these were all necessary to indicate and illustrate the moral purity that is required of all who would enjoy the benefits of the New Covenant. Hebrews 9:10 ---Until the time of reformation.— That is, until the coming of Christ and the inauguration of the New Covenant. Then old things were to pass away, and all things become new. And hence the new era is called the period of the regeneration. (Matthew 19:28.)Commentary on Hebrews 9:6-10 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_9:6 --Now these things having been thus prepared the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle accomplishing the servicesThe priest went into the Holy Place twice daily. a.There was the incense to burn in the morning. b. There was the evening sacrifice.c. There was a continued task, Leviticus 4:6. Observe the contrasts that can be made: a. The high priest of Israel dared not go in at all times. Leviticus 16:2. b. He went in only once a year. Leviticus 16:12-15. c. He went in with blood; blood of animals, not his own. d. He had to repeat the sacrifice yearly, It was never finished. e. He had to pass through a veil that shut out all the people. f. He was subject to death, and his office passed to another, Hebrews 7:23. Christ’ s priesthood is forever. Hebrews 7:24. g. The sacrifices of the priest made a remembrance of sins. Christ takes them away.Hebrews 9:7 --but into the second the high priest aloneOnly the high priest entered, and once a year, but he could enter several times on that day. Leviticus 16. He alone had this privilege. Hebrews 9:7 --once in the yearThis was a day prescribed by law. It was the tenth of the month Tisri, perhaps the 1st of October, for Tisri corresponds to our September and October. Some say Leviticus 16:12-15 shows he went in three times on that day, Jewish tradition says four times. One time may be for the purpose of bringing out the golden censer. He brought in the incense and some say he placed it on the golden censer. Some say it was brought in too. a. if it were placed just inside, it could be reached from beneath the veil. b. Wherever the censer was placed, it was a part of the Holy of Holies. Hebrews 9:7 --not without bloodHe brought the blood of a bullock. a. He sprinkled some portion of it seven times before the ark and the veil. Leviticus 16:14. b. The blood was sprinkled in the inward tabernacle before the symbol of the divine presence. Milligan says that this doesn’ t mean that he took blood all four times. Hebrews 9:7 --which he offereth for himselfOffered animal blood for himself since he was a sinner. It was not his own blood. See Hebrews 9:25. Christ offered His own blood for all, but there was no need for offering blood for His sin, since He had none. Hebrews 4:15. Hebrews 9:7 --and for the errors of the peopleClarke says, “ For the sins of which they were not conscious— sins done in ignorance” . See Numbers 15:28-29. Of course no sacrifice existed for sin of “ high hand,” in open defiance, contempt. See Numbers 15:30-31. By this the people were absolved of all sin of the past year and now had access to the mercy seat. Hebrews 9:8 --the Holy Spirit this signifyingThe Holy Spirit designed, but also served as an interpreter. a. We see in Hebrews 10:14-22 the lesson that entrance has been made into heaven. b. While the old covenant was in existence, entrance had not been made. The Holy Spirit could signify a new message after the temple veil was ripped at the time of Christ’ s crucifixion. Hebrews 9:8 --that the way into the Holy Place hath not yet been made manifestThe fact that the priest could go in only once a year and then only if he had blood demonstrated that the way into heaven was not yet revealed, a. They in a sense had salvation. 1. Exodus 3:6. 2. 2 Kings 2:1; 2 Kings 2:11. 3. Daniel 12:13. But all of it looked forward to Christ, which they did not understand. This suggests that it all was temporary; something better was in the future. Hebrews 9:8 --while the first tabernacle is yet standingThe Old Testament is a closed way; the heavens were not opened by it, The New Testament is an open way. a. Open veil— The old one was rent in twain. b. Open tomb. c. Open church. d. Open heavens.Hebrews 9:9 --which is a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfectEven when the sacrifices were done and performed perfectly, yet now man knew he was a sinner. It took the torn flesh of Christ to reveal the mercy seat of God. a. The temple veil being torn (Matthew 27:51) shows that God had now opened the Holy of Holies for man. b. These sacrifices reminded men of sin, but could not cleanse the conscience. “ As touching the conscience” : a. The law was to point out sin and to make men conscious of sin. b. These caused the sinner to be concerned. Hebrews 10:3 : “ But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance made of sins year by year.” c. We can have a cleansed conscience. 1. Hebrews 9:14 : “ Cleanse your conscience from dead works.” 2. Hebrews 10:22 : “ . . . having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.” 3. 1 Timothy 3:9 : “ . . . holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.” 4. 1 Peter 3:21 : “ . . . but the answer of a good conscience toward God” . Hebrews 9:10 --being only with meatsCommentators have practically nothing to say here except Milligan, who feels the language is difficult. The point is that all of this is carnal, and Milligan feels that man’ s conscience was clear only in respect to meats and drinks and washings. The gifts and sacrifices could not clear his conscience, says Milligan. It seems to me that Hebrews says man’ s conscience could not be cleared with gifts and sacrifices, since it was done only with meats, drinks, etc. Hebrews 9:10 --and drinksThis refers to the drink offerings that accompanied the other offerings. See Exodus 29:40-41. a. According to Peloubet, this was excluded from the sin and trespass offering. b. At all set feasts the drink offering was presented. Leviticus 23:13; Leviticus 23:18; Leviticus 23:37. Other verses are: Numbers 15:4-7; Numbers 10-21 : Numbers 28:7-8; Numbers 9-10; Numbers 14-31; and Numbers 29:6-39. We see in Leviticus 10:9 that Aaron was forbidden the right to drink wine throughout his generations. Hebrews 9:10 --and divers washingsThe washings were immersion in type. Here are some of them: a. Whole body was washed. 1. The priest’ s whole body was washed at the time of his consecration. Leviticus 16:4. 2. High priest on day of Atonement. Leviticus 16:4; Leviticus 16:24. 3. Priest defiled with uncleanness. Leviticus 22:6. 4. Priest who officiated at the services of the red heifer. Numbers 19:7. 5. Man who burned the red heifer. Numbers 19:8. b. Washing of hands and feet. c. Washing of garments. d. Washing of inwards and legs of burnt offerings. e. Washing of wooden vessels. f. Washing of spoils of war as could not pass through fire. Numbers 31:21-23. Hebrews 9:10 --carnal ordinancesa. Some would depend upon them today. 1. 1 Timothy 4:1-3 : “ Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats.” b. These things made the flesh clean, not the spirit righteous. Hebrews 9:10 --imposed until a time of reformationThis may refer to the prophecy of Jer 31:37, says one commentator. It is also translated “ time of rectifying” . This refers to the coming of Christ and the new covenant. Study Questions1505. What is meant by the expression that “ the priest go in continually” ? 1506. How many times daily did they go in, and what did they do? 1507. What continual task did they have? Leviticus 4:6. 1508. Where was this done? 1509. Was the author of Hebrews speaking of the temple in Jerusalem, or the original tabernacle? 1510. What is meant by the word “ second” ? 1511. Contrast the work of the priest with that of the high priest. 1512. Contrast his work with that of Christ. 1513. What day was it that allowed the high priest to go into the Holy of Holies? 1514. Did he go in more than once on this day? Cf. Leviticus 16:12-15. 1515. What did he have to possess when he went in? 1516. Does this mean he took blood all four times, if he went in that many? 1517. What persons were in need of the blood? 1518. Compare Hebrews 9:25 here. 1519. Does Hebrews 4:15 tell why Jesus didn’ t offer blood for Himself? 1520. What does “ the errors of the people” refer to? 1521. Was it for sins of which they were ignorant? Cf. Numbers 15:28-29. 1522. Was there a sacrifice for deliberate sin? Cf. Numbers 15:30-31. 1523. What fringe was worn as a memorial to the breaking of one of the ten commandments? Cf. Numbers 15:37-41. 1524. What did the Holy Spirit signify? 1525. Did these old covenant people realize that heaven was not open yet to man? 1526. How long was heaven closed? 1527. What did God do to show that heaven was open and that the old covenant no longer had a closed Holy of Holies? 1528. What is meant by the word “ figure” ? 1529. What did it prefigure? 1530. What is meant by “ both gifts and sacrifices” ? 1531. What effect did the sacrifices have on the conscience? 1532. Could they make the conscience clear? 1533. Read Hebrews 10:3 for a discussion of the cleansing of sin. 1534. Can the Christian have a clear conscience? Cf. Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:22; 1 Timothy 3:9; 1 Peter 3:21. 1535. What kinds of attempts at reconciliation are mentioned in Hebrews 9:10? 1536. What does “ meats” refer to? 1537. What is referred to by “ drinks” ? 1538. Was it an offering? Cf. Exodus 29:40-41. 1539. What material was used in the drink offering? Leviticus 23:13; Leviticus 23:18; Leviticus 23:37. 1540. Does it accompany all the offerings? 1541. Were all the priests allowed to drink wine in the drink offerings? Cf. Leviticus 10:9. 1542. What is meant by “ divers washings” ? 1543. What things and persons were washed? 1544. Were the priests washed after each sacrifice? 1545. Were all sacrifices washed? 1546. Define the meaning of “ carnal ordinances” . 1547. Do people depend upon carnal ordinances today for salvation? Cf. 1 Timothy 4:1-3. 1548. How long were these things to last? 1549. What is meant by the word “ reformation” ? 1550. Is this Luther’ s reformation or Campbell’ s restoration? 1551. What other word is used by translators? 1552. How do we know what is meant? 1553. Are these commandments ordained this side of the cross? Hebrews 9:11-14 THE HIGHER, PURER AND CHRIST AS THE HIGH OF THENEW ECONOMYHeb_9:11-14 Hebrews 9:11 --- But Christ being come— (paragenomenos) having come forward as a historical person. (Matthew 3:1.) The Apostle makes the appearance of Christ (not his incarnation, but his historical manifestation) the grand turning point in the economy of redemp tion. Previous to his coming it was fit and right that all the Levit- ical ordinances should be carefully observed, and particularly that the high priest should go once every year into the most Holy Place to make a symbolical atonement for the people. But when Christ came forward as the high priest of the new institution, types and shadows were no longer necessary; and he, therefore, took them all out of the way, nailing them to his cross. (Col. 2; 14.) Hebrews 9:11 ---Through a greater and more perfect tabernacle,— There is here, as well as in the following verses, a manifest reference to the services of the first Tabernacle. As the high priest passed through the Holy Place of this symbolic edifice on his way into the Most Holy; so also Christ passed through a greater and more perfect Tabernacle than the Holy Place of the ancient Tabernacle on his way into heaven. But what is this greater and more perfect Tabernacle? The whole earth, says Macknight; the human nature of Christ, says Chrysostom; the holy life of Christ, says Ebrard; the glorified body of Christ, says Hofmann; the aerial and siderial heavens, says Bleek; the heaven of angels and of the just made perfect, says Delitzsch. The Apostle says here but little concerning it; he merely tells us that it is “ a greater and more perfect Tabernacle” than was that of Moses; and furthermore that it is “ not made with hands; that is, not of this creation” (tautes tes ktiseos). The Old Covenant had a wordly sanctuary (Hebrews 9:1) ; but the Sanctuary of the New Covenant is not of this world (John 18:36) ; it is heavenly. Its most Holy Place is heaven itself (Hebrews 9:23-24) ; and its Holy Place is the house which God has established on earth for his peo­ple, and in which he himself condescends to dwell with them through his Spirit (Eph. 2: 20-22). It therefore manifestly in­cludes the Church of Christ. Indeed the building was never com­plete until the Church was established as a distinct and indepen­dent body on Pentecost A.D. 34, ten days after Christ’ s ascension. We know, however, that God has been the dwelling-place of his people in all generations. (Psalms 90:1.) He has always had a place of refuge and shelter for those who trust in him. Under the shadow of his wings the faithful have always reposed with confi­dence. But as the covenant concerning Christ was, for a time, in but an incipient state (see notes on 8: 8), so also it was with the house of God which is from heaven. For a long time it was but little more than a curtain, designed for the protection and shelter of those who reposed under it. But when our Solomon (peace­able), the Prince of Peace, became king, he converted the tent into a magnificent temple. See notes on Hebrews 8:2. Hebrews 9:12 ---Neither by the blood of goats, etc.— The Apostle is still keeping up a comparison between the services of the high priest on the Day of Atonement and the services of Christ, when he, as our High Priest, entered for us “ into that within the vail.” The former gained admittance into the earthly sanctuary by means of (dia) the blood of a calf or young bullock (Sept, moschos) and that of a goat (Sept, chimaros) ; but Christ entered heaven itself as the high priest of the New Covenant by means of his own blood. It was, so to speak, the key by means of which the heavenly Sanc­tuary was opened, and Christ was allowed to enter, once for all in our behalf, into the immediate presence of the King eternal, im­mortal and invisible. Hebrews 9:12 ---Having obtained eternal redemption for us, or rather, obtain­ing eternal redemption for us. That is, he obtained it by means of the offering which he then and there made. The verb entered (ei- selthen) and the participle obtaining (heurantenos) are both aorists, and express contemporaneous acts; so that it was not merely by means of his death, but by the offering of his blood in connection with his death, that he paid the ransom price of our redemption. The high priest under the Law first slew the victim and then car­ried its blood into the most Holy Place, where he offered it for the sins of the people, thereby procuring for them a sort of typical and relative pardon. But Christ, by means of his own blood offered in heaven itself, has procured for his people absolute and eternal re­demption. The word redemption (lutrosis or apolutrosis) involves the idea (1) of a ransom price (lutron) paid for the release of a slave or captive; and (2) the deliverance procured by means of the price that is paid for this purpose. In this case the price paid was the precious blood of Christ, in consequence of which God can now be just in justifying every true believer. See Matthew 20:28; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Timothy 2:6; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19. But in our text it is the deliverance that is made prominent, and that is said to be eternal; for “ their sins and their iniquities,” says God, “ I will remember no more.” Hebrews 9:13 ---For if the blood of bulls, etc.—In this verse and the follow­ing our author proceeds to develop still further the amazing effi­cacy of the blood of Christ. For this purpose he again refers to the symbolical effects of the blood of bulls and goats by means of which purification was made for the sins of the people on the Day of Atonement. Hebrews 9:13 ---And the ashes of an heifer—These ashes, as we learn from Numbers 19, were prepared by burning without the camp of Israel a red or earth-colored heifer, together with cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet. Out of these ashes was prepared the water of purification, by means of which were cleansed all who were symbolically defiled by the touch of a dead body, or by being in the same tent with a dead body. This was a solemn ordinance of Divine appointment, and as such had an efficacy, as well as the sprinkling of the blood of bulls and of goats, in symbolically cleansing the people and securing to them the continued enjoyment of their rights and privi­leges as members of a typical and carnal institution. Hebrews 9:14 ---How much more, etc.—The form of the argument, used here by the Apostle is what is technically called a minori ad majus, from the less to the greater. He concedes that the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of an heifer did secure for the members of the Old Covenant a certain kind of purification; they sanctified to the purifying of the flesh. But now he says, “ How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge [purify] your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” The meaning evidently is that the blood of Christ is far more efficacious in cleansing the moral nature of man from all spiritual defilement than were the aforesaid carnal ordinances in cleansing the flesh. For the latter cleansing was only temporary and symbolical. There was no real­ity in it. It served only to demonstrate the extremely polluting na­ture of sin, and the great necessity of that real spiritual cleansing which can be effected only through the infinitely precious blood of Christ. (1 John 1:7.) This is a matter, however, which belongs more properly to faith than to philosophy. Nothing short of infi­nite knowledge would enable us to fully trace out and explain the influence of the blood of Christ on the government of God, and on the nature, character and destiny of mankind. Without then at­tempting to be wise above what is written on this profound theme, let us simply and joyfully accept the unequivocal declaration of the Holy Spirit, that the blood of Christ is sufficient to cleanse our consciences from all the works of the flesh leading to death (Hebrews 6:2), and so to fit us for the service of God who is himself infinitely holy. But what is meant by “the eternal Spirit” through which Christ offered himself without spot to God ? In reply to this query, we have given the following hypotheses: (1) that the expression denotes the Divine nature of Christ (Beza,Ernesti, Ebrard, Delitzsch, Alford) ; (2) that it means the Holy Spirit (Bleek, Tholuck, Moll) ; (3) that it signifies the endless and immortal life of Christ (Grotius, Limborch, Schleusner) ; (4) that it has reference to the glorified and exalted person of Christ (Doderlein, Storr) ; (5) that it represents the Divine influence by which Christ was moved to offer himself up as a sacrifice for the sins of the world (Kuinoel, Winzer, Stuart). That something may be said in favor of each of these hypotheses, is manifest from the names by which they are supported. But that the first is the true one seems most probable for the following reasons: (1) It is manifestly the design of the Apostle, in using this expression, to heighten and intensify the value of Christ’ s offering. And this he could do in no more effectual way than by telling us that the offer­ing was made and rendered perfect by means of his own Divine nature. It was the sacrifice of his perfect humanity, sustained and supported by his own Divinity, that gave to his offering its infinite value. That it was made in some respect through the will and agency of the Father himself, is proved by the fact that “ the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14) ; and that it was made also through the agency of the Holy Spirit, is equally manifest from the fact that it was through the Spirit that the Word became incarnate (Luke 1:35), and that Christ afterward performed his miracles (Matthew 12:28 Matthew 12:31-32). God bestowed on him the gift of the Spirit without measure (John 3:34), so that it may be truthfully said that under its influence he went to the cross, rose from the dead, ascended to the heavens, and there made an offering for the sins of the world. All this is of course conceded. But it is not to any extraneous influence, but to the personal dignity, glory, and Divinity of Christ himself that the infinite value of his offering is to be ascribed. (2) This seems to be further indicated by the form of the expression. It is not “ through the Holy Spirit,” as we have given in a few manuscripts (D, A, B, F, H, etc.) ; nor is it “ through the eternal Spirit,” as in our English Version, but it is according to our best authorities (B, D, K, L, etc.), simply, “ through eternal Spirit,” that Christ offered himself without spot to God. The eternal Spirit that is here spo­ken of, as Alford justly observes, “ is Spirit absolute; Divine Spirit; and thus it is self-conscious, laying down its own course, purely of itself, unbounded by conditions. The animals which were offered had no will, no spirit (pneuma) of their own which could concur with the act of sacrifice. Theirs was a transitory life, of no potency or value. They were offered through law (dia notnou) rather than through any consent or agency or countera­gency of their own. But Christ offered himself, with his own con­sent assisting and empowering the sacrifice. And what was that consent? The consent of what? Of the spirit of a man, such as yours or mine, given in and through our finite spirit, whose acts are bounded by its own allotted space and time, and its own re­sponsibilities? No: but the consenting act of his Divine personal­ity— his eternal Spirit (pneuma aionion), his Godhead, which from before time acquiesced in, and wrought with the purpose of the Father.” Commentary on Hebrews 9:11-14 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_9:11 --But Christ having come a High Priest of the good things to comeOur blessings are future; the old was present. a. Human priests were busy obtaining divine favor, but Jesus has obtained it. b. The good things to come are those things obtained by His blood— pardon, access, heaven, etc. Some say “ blessings to come” may refer to those promised in the Old Testament. Hebrews 9:11 --sanctify unto the cleanness of the fleshGod has always had a meeting place for His people. a. The altar has been that place in the past. b. Now God comes where men are gathered in His name. Samaritan woman: John 4:21. God will some day have all who love Him around the throne. Hebrews 9:11 --not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creationThe new tabernacle is eternal, not made with the feeble hands of men. Compare Revelation 11:19; Revelation 15:5. Hebrews 9:12 --nor yet through the blood of goats and calvesChrist’ s blood was of more value than that of beasts. The old priests entered with the blood of a calf or a young bullock. Leviticus 16:3. Hebrews 9:12 --but through His Own bloodThe death of Christ was discussed at the transfiguration. Luke 9:28-36. His death was foretold: Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 53. Hebrews 9:12 --entered in once for all into the Holy Place One entrance was sufficient. When did He enter? Between the statements to Mary and to Thomas? a. He told Mary not to touch Him, for He had not yet ascended. John 20:17. b. He told Thomas to touch Him. John 20:27. c. Until greater light is thrown on these verses, we may assume the entrance was made after His commission was given and He made the ascension. Hebrews 9:12 --having obtained eternal redemptionMilligan: The word “ entered” is a verb, Aorish, and the word “ obtaining” is a participle, Aorists and these are contemporaneous acts. A redemption price that would stand good forever. Hebrews 9:13 --For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heiferIs this different from Hebrews 9:12? Bulls and calves are named. a. Calves are young bullocks, so there is no difference. b. It was by the blood of these that the priest was able to enter heaven with his own blood. c. This blood of goats and bulls also served to cleanse the flesh ceremonially. “ The ashes of a heifer” also had an important part. a. The heifer was red. Numbers 19:2. 1. The heifer was burned outside the camp, together with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet. 2. The ashes were then prepared in water of purification to cleanse all who had touched a dead body or who had been in the tent with one. b. Christ had no defilement, so this was never needed for Him. Hebrews 9:13 --sprinklingIt had to be applied to the people or else it was not sufficient, Numbers 19:11-13. a. Calvin, the Presbyterian, in his commentary does not deal with the word “ sprinkling” , so he does not advocate that it is a type of baptism by sprinkling. b. To dip all the people in blood would have been an impossibility. Blood must be applied today. a. Baptism is into the death of Christ. b. The Lord’ s Supper is a partaking of His blood. Hebrews 9:13 --them that have been defiledThis water of purification was sprinkled upon anyone who had touched a dead body. Numbers 19:11-12. Observe the whole chapter for the process. Numbers 19. Hebrews 9:13 --sanctify unto the cleanness of the fleshIf the blood of beasts was a true symbol of purgation, how much more shall the Christ purify man. It is not cleanness of flesh that we must seek, but cleanness of the spirit. a. Peter says baptism is not a physical bath but a cleansing of the conscience. 1 Peter 3:21. b. John 3:5 speaks of a “ new birth” . Hebrews 9:14 --how much more shall the blood of ChristThe blood of Christ is of singular importance. a. John 1:29 : “ Behold the Lamb of God, That taketh away the sin of the world.” b. 1 John 3:5 : “ Ye know that He was manifested to take away sin.” c. 1 John 1:9 : “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If the blood of animals had some value, of course Christ’ s blood would have much more. Hebrews 9:14 --Who through the Eternal SpiritNote the place of the Spirit in Jesus’ life: a. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18-20. b. His commission was given by the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:2. c. Jesus performed His miracles by the Spirit. 1. Matthew 12:28 : “ But if I by the spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you.” 2. Acts 10:38 : God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. d. His death was done through the Spirit. Hebrews 9:14. e. By the Spirit He was raised from the dead. 1 Peter 3:18. There are different opinions as to what Spirit is referred to. a. Some manuscripts read. “ His Eternal Spirit.” b. Some suggest the thought that the trinity concurred in the salvation of the world. c. Others think “ Eternal Spirit” refers to His endless life.Hebrews 9:14 --offered himselfDoes John 3:16 not say, “ God gave” ? Yes, but that is not all. Christ came voluntarily. a. Philippians 2:5-11. b. John 10:18; John 13:37-38. No one can find sin in Jesus. Hebrews 9:14 --without blemish unto Goda. Hebrews 4:15 : He was tempted in all points, yet without sin. b. Threefold temptation endured without sin, Matthew 4. c. Pilate said at His trial, “ I find no fault in Him.” The old sacrifices that were, without spot or blemish, were a type of Jesus. a. They were examined outwardly and inwardly to be sure of perfection. b. The life of Jesus was thoroughly examined, but no guile was found in Him. Hebrews 9:14 --cleanse your conscience“ Purify” and purge” are also words used for “ cleanse” . The final step of entrance into the kingdom is to cleanse the conscience. 1 Peter 3:21. a. Baptism is not for cleansing the flesh, but to cleanse the conscience. b. When absolute forgiveness is assured, then the conscience is at rest. Hebrews 9:14 --from dead worksGeneral acts which bring the penalty of death. If it is not God’ s work, then it is a dead work. The conscience drives the heart of one who knows sin, to find relief, “ Dead works” , therefore, are the vain attempts to relieve a troubled conscience. Hebrews 9:14 --to serve the living GodThis is the purpose of being purged. We are not to plunge again into sin. a. 2 Peter 2:21 : “ It were better for them not to have known—“ Conversion has a high aim. b. Every convert should be converted to serve God.Study Questions1554. Of what is Christ a High Priest? 1555. Do the “ things to come” refer to our blessings in the future or those looked forward to by the old? 1556. What good things do we expect? 1557. What tabernacle is referred to? 1558. Are hands involved in its making? 1559. Do we have to have a building in which to meet God? Cf. John 4:21. 1560. How does Revelation describe the new tabernacle? Revelation 11:19; Revelation 15:5. 1561. Translate Hebrews 9:12 in your own words. 1562. Does it mean that Christ entered without blood? 1563. What blood did He take with Him to enter? 1564. Does this mean that Jesus ascended to heaven with His earthly crucified body? 1565. Can we infer that Jesus did not enter heaven after His resurrection until His final disappearance? Cf. John 20:17; John 20:27. 1566. What was obtained by Christ’ s entrance? 1567. Is there a difference in sacrifices here, since bulls are mentioned? 1568. How were the ashes of the heifer used? 1569. What were the ashes mixed with? See Numbers 19. 1570. Who was cleansed by this mixture? 1571. What was sprinkled? 1572. Who was sprinkled? 1573. Why were the people sprinkled with blood, rather than being dipped in it? 1574. Is there anything significant now about cleansing the flesh? 1575. Is man in the New Testament to have a cleansed flesh or a cleansed spirit? Cf. 1 Peter 3:21; John 3:5. 1576. What contrast is seen in Hebrews 9:13 and Hebrews 9:14? 1577. What does the blood of Christ do? Cf. John 1:29; 1 John 3:5; 1 John 1:9. 1578. If blood of animals served a purpose, may we expect Christ’ s blood to be more effective? 1579. What adjective describes Christ’ s Spirit? 1580. Is it His Spirit or the Holy Spirit referred to? 1581. What has Christ accomplished by the Spirit? 1582. Does “ offered Himself” conflict with John 3:16? Cf. Philippians 2:5-11; John 10:18; John 13:37-38. 1583. “ Without blemish unto God” is not a new idea. What other verses teach His sinlessness? 1584. Were the Old Testament sacrifices to be perfect? 1585. How did they insure a perfect sacrifice? 1586. Was the life of Jesus thoroughly examined? 1587. Of what is man’ s conscience cleansed? 1588. What could be classified as “ dead works” ? 1589. Are all things that are not God’ s works “ dead works” ? 1590. What is the final act that cleanses a man’ s conscience as he is obedient to God? 1591. After the cleansing, what is expected of man? 1592. What is involved in service? 1593. Do all understand that cleansing is for consecration? Hebrews 9:15-24 THE ETERNAL FOR THE OF ALL AGES,THROUGH THE DEATH OF THE LORD JESUSHeb_9:15-24 Hebrews 9:15 ---And for this cause—(kai dia tonto) on this account; viz., that the blood of Christ has an inherent power and efficacy, such as the legal sacrifices had not: a power to purify the conscience from dead works, and to fit all who are purified and sanctified by it for the service and enjoyment of the living God for this very reason. Hebrews 9:15 ---he is the mediator of the new testament,—This clause is ex­plained with sufficient fullness in our notes on Hebrews 8:6 Hebrews 8:8, to which the reader is referred. The word rendered testament (diatheke) means here a covenant, and the “ new testament” of this verse is the same as the New Covenant of Heb 8:8. Hebrews 9:15 ---that by means of death, etc.— Or more literally, so that [his] death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions grounded on the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance. The Apostle here plainly declares that the death of Christ was necessary in order to the redemption of the transgressions which were commit­ted under the Old Covenant during the Jewish age. But what was then true in this respect of the Jewish age, was also equally true of all previous ages. For as Hofmann says, our author here “ regards the history of God’ s relations to mankind as one great whole, of which the religious history of Israel forms a typical part, exhibit­ing in one crucial instance the incapacity of the whole human race to satisfy the requirements of the Divine will. From this point of view, atonement for transgressions under the law will mean the same thing as the atonement of the sins of men in general, re­garded as violations of the revealed will of God; and the death of Christ will be an atonement, not merely for sins in the abstract, but especially for sin in its most aggravated form, as conscious trans­gression of that revealed will. The special reference here made to transgressions under the covenant of Sinai has its ground not only in this, that that covenant had a real significance for mankind in general, but also that the point which the sacred writer has here mainly in view, is the transition from it and its failures to the sav­ing dispensation of the Gospel. That transition could not take place without a death which would annihilate the transgressions of the former covenant.” But the death of bulls and goats was wholly unavailing for the purpose. (Hebrews 10:4.) And hence the neces­sity that Christ should die for the people, before the “ called” of any age could have an absolute right to the free and full enjoyment of the eternal inheritance. But does it follow from this, as many suppose, that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and other faithful men of the Patriarchal and Jewish ages were still “ under the dominion of sin and death,” until Christ came, and by his death and alleged descent into Hades procured their deliverance? I think not, for the Scriptures everywhere teach that these holy men of old were justified by faith and obedi­ence as well as we (Romans 4:4; James 2:21-23, etc.), and this of course implies that they were received and treated by God as just persons, and that after their death they were immediately trans­lated, if not directly to heaven, at least to a place and state of high spiritual enjoyment (Exodus 3:6; Daniel 12:13; Luke 16:23-26, etc.). And this is manifestly Paul’ s idea in Romans 3:25-26, where he says in substance that God had, as it were, passed by the sins of those faithful men for a time, and that in the end of the ages he had set forth Jesus Christ as a propitiatory sacrifice for a demon­stration of his administrative justice in doing so. That no sin was ever forgiven absolutely, without the blood of Christ, is of course conceded, and so also no debt was ever paid absolutely by a mere paper currency. But nevertheless we know that thousands of obli­gations have been practically cancelled by notes, bonds, and other like documents. And just so God seems to have administered the affairs of his government during the Patriarchal and Jewish ages. He, too, so to speak, issued in the meantime a sort of promissory notes, based on the infinite value of the blood of Christ, which he knew was to be shed in due time. By means of these notes he was enabled (if I may say it with reverence) to meet, for the time being, all the claims of justice, and still to treat as just and righ­teous all who like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, became loyal sub­jects of his government. But no one could read his “ title clear to mansions in the skies,” until by the blood of Christ his sins were all cancelled absolutely, and the notes and bonds that had been is­sued in behalf of the sinner were all redeemed by the one great atoning sacrifice. See notes on Hebrews 11:39-40. Hebrews 9:15 ---they who are called—That is, all in every age who by faith and obedience have become the children of God, “ and heirs according to the promise.” For all such, God has provided “ an inheritance which is incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 1:4.) But before any could rightfully inherit it and claim it as their own, the covenant through which it has been provided had to be sealed and ratified with the blood of Jesus. The neces­sity of this the Apostle now proceeds to illustrate (1) by the anal­ogous case of a will of testament; and (2) by example of the Old Covenant. Hebrews 9:16 ---For where a testament is, etc.—That is, before a testament can have any legal force, the death of the testator must be known and publicly acknowledged as a fact. The reference which our au­thor makes to “ the eternal inheritance” at the close of the preced­ing verse, suggested to his mind the case of a testament, and this thought he now takes up, not for the purpose of proving, but sim­ply of illustrating the necessity of Christ’ s death. Hebrews 9:17 ---For a testament is of force after men are dead:— This is a well known law of all civilized nations. So long as the testator lives, it is his privilege to change his will as he pleases, and nothing but his death can therefore immutably fix and ratify its various stipulations. Previous to this indeed, his intended heirs may be al­lowed to enjoy to any extent the benefits of his estate. But not until the will is ratified by his death, can they claim a legal right to the inheritance as their own. And so it was with respect to the eternal inheritance. “ After Abraham had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” (Hebrews 6:15.) That is, immediately after his death he was received into the enjoyment of the promised rest, as one of God’ s elect, and henceforth he was allowed to partake of the benefits of the inheritance so far as he was capable of enjoying them. (Hebrews 11:10 Hebrews 11:16.) And he also doubtless looked forward to the time when he and his children would be constituted the rightful owners of all things (Romans 4:13; 1 Corinthians 3:21-23), not excepting the redeemed and renovated earth. See notes onHeb_2:5-9. But it was not until the New Covenant was inaugurated by the death of Christ and ratified by his blood, that any one could claim, as we now claim, an absolute right to the eternal inheritance. I see no reason for the protracted controversy that critics have kept up with respect to the meaning of the word diatheke in the sixteenth and seventeenth verses. It is quite evident that the dia- themenos of these verses is the maker of the diatheke, and that his death must of necessity take place before the diatheke can have any legal force. This is not true in the case of a covenant, but only in the case of a will or testament. And hence, beyond all doubt, the word diatheke in these verses means a will or testament. But on the other hand, it is equally obvious that this word cannot in this sense be literally applied to any of God’ s arrangements with men, nor does our author so intend to apply it. He refers to the well- known law of a will as an analogous case, merely for the purpose of illustrating his point, and of so impressing more deeply on the mind of his readers the necessity of Christ’ s death, before God could consistently bestow on the heirs of the promise a right in fee-simple to the eternal inheritance. The word diathemenos means both a covenanter and a testator, and the word diatheke means in like manner both a covenant and a testament. And hence it was perfectly natural and legitimate that our author should, in this in­stance, pass from the first meaning of diatheke to the second, with­out however intending to apply the word to any of God’ s arrange­ments in a sense which would be altogether inapposite. Hebrews 9:18 ---Whereupon neither was the first testament dedicated without blood.— Or more literally, Wherefore neither was the first covenant inaugurated without blood. The sixteenth and sev­enteenth verses are but an illustration of the fundamental principle submitted in the fifteenth, viz., that the death of Christ was neces­sary in order to redemption from the sins committed under the Old Covenant, and also to the rightful inauguration of the New Cove­nant, so that all the redeemed might have a legal right to the eter­nal inheritance. This thought the Apostle now proceeds to illus­trate still further by referring to the way in which the Old Cove­nant was inaugurated. Since therefore it is thus and so in the case of a will, it is also analogically true of all the diathekai of God; they, too, must be inaugurated and ratified by means of death and the sprinkling of blood. And hence even the Old Covenant, which was but a type of the New, was not inaugurated without blood. Hebrews 9:19 ---For when Moses had spoken, etc.— There is reference here to the solemn transactions that are recorded in Exodus 24:1-8. When Moses had received from God the laws and ordinances re­corded in Exodus 20-23, he recited them to the people, and they all answered with one voice and said, “ All the words which the Lord hath said we will do.” After this; he wrote all the words and commandments of the Lord in a book; and when he had again re­cited them to the people, and had received their second response, he then proceeded, as our author says, to ratify the covenant, by taking “ the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop,” with which he “ sprinkled both the book and all the people.” The account of these transactions, as given by both Moses and Paul, is very brief, each of them writing under the in­fluence of plenary inspiration, like Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, selected only such particulars as best served to accomplish his purpose. Moses makes no mention of the blood of goats, nor of the water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, which were used on the occasion, nor does he speak of the sprinkling of the book of the covenant. And Paul, on the other hand, says nothing about build­ing the altar and the twelve pillars, nor does he specify the particu­lar kinds of offerings which were offered by the young men at the bidding of Moses. Like the Gospel narratives, however, these ac­counts are both true so far as they go, for on no fair principle of interpretation can mere omissions be construed as inconsistencies or discrepancies. The hyssop and scarlet wool were used on other occasions for the sprinkling of blood and water. See Exodus 12:22; Leviticus 14:4-7; Numbers 19:18-19, etc. Usually the bunch of hyssop was fastened to a stick of cedar wood, by means of a scarlet band, and then wrapped round with scarlet wool for the purpose of ab­sorbing the blood and the water that were to be sprinkled. Hebrews 9:20 ---Saying, This is the blood of the testament— That is, This is^the blood by means of which the covenant is ratified, and you yourselves purified and consecrated to God, as his peculiar people. This shows that without the shedding and sprinkling of blood, the people could not be received into covenant relation with God: nay more, that without this blood, the covenant itself could have no va­lidity. Hebrews 9:20 ---Which God hath enjoined unto you.— The use of the word en­joined (eneteilato) shows very clearly that the Sinaitic Covenant was not a mere compact or agreement (suntheke), as made be­tween equals. On the contrary, it was a solemn arrangement (dia- theke) proposed by God himself to the people for their acceptance; and which when accepted unconditionally on their part, had to be ratified with blood. Hebrews 9:21 ---Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, etc.— This cannot have reference to the occasion spoken of in Exodus 24:1-8; for the Tabernacle was not then constructed. But the Apostle must refer here to the consecration of the Tabernacle ac­cording to the directions given in Exodus 40:9-11. True indeed there is no explicit mention made in these about the sprinkling of blood. God simply says to Moses, “ Thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the Tabernacle and all that is therein, and thou shalt hallow it and all the vessels thereof; and it shall be holy. And thou shalt anoint the altar of burnt-offerings and all its vessels, and sanctify the altar; and it shall be an altar most holy. And thou shalt anoint the laver and its foot, and sanctify it.” In all this, there is nothing said about the sprinkling of blood on either the Tabernacle or its furniture. But neither is there anything said in the following verses (12-16) of the same chapter, about sprinkling blood on Aaron and his sons: and yet we know from Leviticus 8:30, that blood, as well as oil, was sprinkled on the Priests at the time of their con­secration. The mere silence of Moses is therefore no evidence that the Tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry were not purified with blood, as well as anointed with oil. We all believe on the tes­timony of Paul (Acts 20:35), that Christ said on one occasion, “ It is more blessed to give than to receive” ; though this saying is not recorded in any of the Gospel narratives. And just so we rea­son in the case under consideration. The statement of Paul is quite sufficient on this point, without further evidence; though it is worthy of notice that the testimony of Josephus is to the same ef­fect as that of Paul. Speaking of the consecration of the Priests he says, “ And when Moses had sprinkled Aaron’ s vestments, himself, and his sons, with the blood of the beasts that were slain, and had purified them with spring water and ointment, they became God’ s Priests. After this manner did he consecrate them and their gar­ments for seven days together. The same did he to the Tabernacle and the vessels thereto belonging,— both with oil first incensed, as I said, and with blood of bulls and rams slain day by day, one, according to its kind.” (Ant. iii. 8, 6.) From this statement of Jo, as well as from the narrative of Moses (Ex. 40: 9-16), it seems most likely that the consecration of the Tabernacle and that of the Priest took place at the same time. Hebrews 9:22 ---And almost all things are by the law purged with blood: — That is, the Law required that almost everything defiled in any way, should be purified by means of blood. In some cases, indeed, purification was made by means of water (Leviticus 16:26 Leviticus 16:28; Numbers 31:24) ; and in others, by fire and water (Numbers 31:22-23) ; but the exceptions to the general rule of purification by blood, were but few. Hebrews 9:22 ---And without the shedding of blood is no remission.— To this law, there was no exception. Every sin required an atonement; and no atonement could be made without blood. The only appar­ent exception given in the Law is in the case of one who was too poor to bring “ two turtle-doves or two young pigeons for a sin- offering.” (Leviticus 5:11-13.) In that event, he was required to bring to the Priest the tenth part of a ephah (about seven pints) of fine flour, without oil or frankincense, a handful of which, the Priest was to burn as a memorial upon the altar. But that even in this case, the sin of the poor man was not forgiven without the shed­ding of blood, seems evident from what follows in the next verse of the same chapter, where it is said, “ And the priest shall make an atonement for him for the sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.” This atonement, it seems, could not be made with­out blood; for God says (Leviticus 17:11), “ I have given it [the blood] to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” This law was regarded by the Jews as universal in its application: for in the Talmud it is said, “ There is no atonement except in blood” (Yoma 51). It is most likely therefore that in this case, the Priest was required to make an atonement for the sin of the poor man, at the public expense. The memorial was made with flour; but the atonement with blood. Hebrews 9:23 ---It was therefore necessary, etc.— Without these sacrifices required by the Law, the Tabernacle and all its furniture would have been unclean; and the Priests themselves would have been unclean; so that no acceptable service could have been rendered to God in either the court or the Tabernacle. Nay more, without these sacrifices, the book of the covenant would have been unclean, and the covenant itself would never have been ratified. The very existence of the Theocracy depended, therefore, on the shedding and sprinkling of blood, without which the whole nation of Israel would have been cast off as an unclean thing. Hebrews 9:23 ---But the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these;— This profoundly significant phrase naturally sug­gests to our minds the following queries: (1) What are the “ better sacrifices” with which the heavenly things are cleansed? (2) What are the heavenly things that are cleansed by means of these sacrifices? And (3) what is meant by the sacrificial cleansing of these heavenly things? (1) By the better sacrifices is evidently meant the sacrifice of Christ himself. The plural is put for the singular by synecdoche, because of the plurality of the Levitical sacrifices which are spoken of in the same verse. See a similar case in Luke 16:9. (2) “ The heavenly things” include all the antitypes of the Jew­ish Tabernacle, etc. The Holy Place had to be cleansed with the blood of bulls and goats, and so also had the Most Holy Place. (Leviticus 16:11-20; Hebrews 9:21.) But the former was a type of the Church, as God’ s dwelling-place on Earth; and the latter was a type of Heaven itself where God ever dwells with the spirits of the just made perfect. See notes on Hebrews 8:2, and also on Hebrews 9:11-12. It is evident therefore that in the “ heavenly things” are included both the Church on earth and the Church of the redeemed in Heaven. For as our author says, Christ has not entered into holy places made with hands, counterparts of the true, but into Heaven itself, now to be manifested in the presence of God in our behalf. (3) The third query is confessedly one of great difficulty: and it may perhaps be entirely above our present very limited attain­ments in the knowledge of Divine things. That the Church on Earth with all that pertains to it, needs the cleansing influence of the blood of Christ in order to make it a fit temple for the Holy Spirit, and to qualify its members severally for a place in the upper Sanctuary, is obvious enough. On this point, therefore, discussion is wholly unnecessary. But why should Heaven itself, or anything belonging to it, need to be cleansed by the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus? In reply to this question it is alleged (1) that the necessity arises from the sin of those angels who kept not their first estate, but who in consequence of their rebellion were cast down to Tartarus. (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6.) But angels are not em­braced in our premises; and must not therefore be forced into our conclusions. See note on 2: 16. (2) It is supposed that “ in con­sequence of the presence of sin in us, the Holy of holies in the heavenly world could not be reopened for our approach, until it was itself anointed with the blood of atonement” (Stier). In the verb purified (katharisesthai), says Bloomfield, “ there is a meton­ymy, such as we often find when things partly similar and partly dissimilar are compared. For by the legal purifications, an en­trance was afforded to the Sanctuary; so, by taking the effect as standing for the cause, Heaven is said to be purified or consecrated by the service of Christ, instead of saying that an entrance by it is given to that Heaven. So Rosenmuller and others. This is plau­sible ; but to my mind it is not altogether satisfactory. It looks too much like making the substance conform to the shadow, rather than the shadow to the substance. Nothing short of a real purifi­cation of “ the heavenly things” will, it seems to me, fairly meet the requirements of the text. And I am therefore inclined to think that for the present, at least, this is for us rather a matter of faith than of philosophy. When we can fully comprehend and explain how much more holy God is than any of the holy angels (Revelation 15:4), and how it is that the very heavens are not clean in his sight (Job 15:15), we may then perhaps understand more clearly than we do now, how it is that “ the heavenly things,” embracing even the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, should need to be purified with the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus. The fact it­self seems to be clearly revealed in our text; but the reason of it is not so obvious. Can it be owing to the fact, that many of the saints were admitted into Heaven in anticipation of the death of Christ, and that though justified by faith, through the grace and forbearance of God, they nevertheless required the purifying appli­cation of the blood of Christ when shed, in order to make them absolutely holy. See notes on Hebrews 9:15. Hebrews 9:24 ---For Christ is not entered, etc.— In this verse the Apostle brings to a close the argument begun in the fifteenth, showing the necessity of Christ’ s death in order that the called might have an absolute right to the eternal inheritance. The services of the “ wordly sanctuary” required the blood of bulls and of goats, with­out which the high priest could not enter the Holy of holies to intercede for the people. But now the sphere and object of Christ’ s ministry require better sacrifices than these. “ For Christ,” as our author says, “ did not enter into holy places made with hands, mere counterparts of the true, but into heaven itself, now to be mani­fested in the presence of God in our behalf.” And hence the neces­sity that he should have to offer a sacrifice sufficient to meet, to the fullest extent, all that is required by infinite Justice. By the “ holy places” (hagia) of our text are meant such as those into which the Jewish high priest entered in performing the services of the ancient Tabernacle. The word rendered figures (antitupa) means properly copies taken from a given pattern (tupos) ; such as counterfeit bills, etc. According to Scripture usage, the original heavenly realities are properly called archetypes (archetupa) ; the patterns shown to Moses in the Mount, the types (tupos) ; and the counterparts of these constructed by Moses, anti­types (antitupa). But in our modern usage we are wont to call the last of these types; and to apply both the names archetypes and antitypes to the original heavenly realities which the types were made to represent. The verb appear (emphanisthenai) is used in a forensic sense to denote that Christ is now manifested in the pres­ence of God as our Advocate. “ The whole comparison,” says Prof. Stuart, “ is taken from the custom of the Jewish high priest, who when he entered the most Holy Place was said to appear be­fore God or to draw near to God, because the presence of God was manifested over the Mercy Seat in the Holy of holies; and God was represented, and was conceived of by the Jews as sitting en­throned upon the Mercy Seat. Now as the high priest appeared before God in the Jewish Temple and offered the blood of beasts for expiation on the great Day of Atonement in behalf of the Jew­ish nation, so Christ in the heavenly Temple enters the most Holy Place with his own blood to procure pardon (aionon lutrosin) for us.” Commentary on Hebrews 9:15-24 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_9:15 --And for this causeIt means “ on account of this” (blood). It may also be translated, “ therefore” , or “ wherefore” . Hebrews 9:15 --He is the mediatorJesus is the Mediator for man. Note that he does not call Him “ testament” . No need for any other is felt if we know Christ in His purity. Hebrews 9:15 --new covenant“ Testament” is also used for “ covenant” , “ Covenant” is better, It is the new contract between God and man. The word means both “ covenant” and “ testament” F.N. of American Standard Bible. Milligan: It means covenant, McKnight: If it is testament, who died for it to be in force? Hebrews 9:15 --that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressionsThat by means of death all men could have forgiveness. Hebrews 10:4 says that the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin. a. We would ask then, “ Are the Jews who were faithful in their sacrifices lost?” b. This verse surely answers the question, saying that those under the first covenant are taken care of by the sacrifice of Jesus.Hebrews 9:15 --that were under the first covenantDoes this mean all the dead Jews, or does it mean simply those who were living under the first covenant? Milligan: “ The death of Christ was necessary in order to accomplish the redemption of the transgressions which were committed under the old covenant during the Jewish age.” p. 257. The exception Milligan states would be those who were justified by faith— Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Romans 4:23, James 2:21-23. Where did these men go? Milligan, 251: a. If not immediately to heaven, at least to a place and state of high spiritual enjoyment. 1. Exodus 3:6. 2. Daniel 12:13. 3. Luke 10:23-24. b. This is what Paul refers to in Romans 3:25-26.Hebrews 9:15 --they that have been calledMilligan: The blood was a necessity before the called of any age could have an absolute right to the free and full enjoyment of the eternal inheritance. This is not merely a promised land calling, but for eternal life for all the called of all generations. Blood of bulls and goats Christ Adam— X……………………X……………………X— Eternity Hebrews 10:4 Blood Hebrews 9:15 --may receive the promise of the eternal inheritanceThis is not a physical land inheritance, but an eternal one in the presence of God. a. 1 Peter 1:4 : “ An inheritance incorruptible, undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you” . b. Jesus said: “ Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” Our inheritance is with Christ as a joint heir. Romans 8:17.Hebrews 9:16 --for where a testament isNewell says to translate the word “ testament” is confusing and incorrect. a. A covenant has a mediator but not a testament, he says. b. A testament has someone to execute it; so Newell is strained here. Milligan: The word means both covenant and testament, and here he uses the second meaning. Calvin: The Greek means both. p. 208. Hebrews 9;16--there must of necessityDeath is necessary to the culmination of a testament. Inheritance follows the death of the testator. Hebrews 9:16 --be the death of him that made itThe testament, or will, goes into effect after the death of the testator. As long as the testator lives, he can change that will, but death fixes its points. Hebrews 9:17 --for a testament is of force, where there hath been a death: for it doth never avail while he that made it livethLegal language is used here. The testament is generally kept in a safety deposit box until the death of the testator. A division of the inheritance follows the death of the testator. Hebrews 9:18 --wherefore even the first covenant hath not been dedicated without bloodGod has always emphasized sacrifice. a. Their sacrifices were to keep alive the knowledge of the fact of sin and the need of forgiveness. b. We have baptism, and the Lord’ s Supper, to remind us today, See Exodus 24:4-8 for the dedication.Hebrews 9:19 --for when every commandment had been spokenThis refers to Exodus 24:4-8, When they were recited the people said, “ This we will do,” He then wrote them and reread them, Hebrews 9:7, The people responded again, Then they were ratified by the blood. Hebrews 9:19 --He took the blood of calves and goats with waterThe blood was put in basins and mingled with water to keep it from coagulating. He then took hyssop bound together with hyssop and dipped this in the basin and sprinkled it upon the people nearest him. a. They represented all the people. b. It was impossible to have blood enough for all. Milligan says Moses doesn’ t mention all the details. Paul adds here that the water, blood of bulls and goats, scarlet wool, hyssop, sprinkling of the book of the covenant were part of the ceremony. Hebrews 9:19 --and scarlet woolThe wool was to help absorb the water and blood. It was scarlet, no doubt, for symbolism. Hebrews 9:19 --and hyssopOccasions for the use of it are found in Exodus 12:22; Leviticus 14:4-7; Numbers 19:18-19. Usually the bunch of hyssop was fastened to a stick of cedar wood by means of a scarlet band and then wrapped round with scarlet wool for the purpose of absorbing the blood and water that were to be sprinkled. (Milligan, p. 260.) Hebrews 9:19 --and sprinkled both the book itself and all the peopleUpon the book— why? a. To show that it was ratified by blood. b. The book was then sanctified for their obedience. The people were sanctified to obey the words of the book. Hebrews 9:20 --saying, (Exodus 24:8) This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded to you-wardThis is the blood by which the covenant is ratified. This was not a covenant of equals, but words sanctified from one who had the right to command. Hebrews 9:21 --moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry be sprinkled in like manner with the bloodThis is not the same occasion as in Exodus 24:1-8 referred to, but later when it was constructed. The tabernacle was not constructed in Exodus 24:1-8 so it must refer to Exodus 40:9-11. Hebrews 9:22 --and according to the law I may almost say all things are cleansed with blood“ Almost” : the law required that almost everything defiled should be purified by blood. In some cases it was done with water: a. Leviticus 16:26-28. b. Numbers 31:24. Sometimes it was done by fire and water: a. Numbers 31:22-23. Hebrews 9:22 --and apart from the shedding of blood there is no remissionBlood is spoken of as being essential to atonement. a. Leviticus 17:11 : “ I have given it (the blood) to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul.” The poorest people who could not afford a sacrifice no doubt had theirs made by public expense. (Milligan, p. 261.) a. Leviticus 5:11-13 : Those too poor to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons for a sin offering were to bring seven pints of an ephah of fine flour, without oil or frankincense, a handful of which the priest was to burn as a memorial upon the altar. b. Note, however, Hebrews 9:13. The priest made atonement for him, which was very likely a blood sacrifice at public expense. c. The memorial was made with flour, but the atonement was with blood.Hebrews 9:23 --It was necessary thereforeThe necessity is found only in the type. If the old is to picture the new, then cleansing is necessary. Hebrews 9:23 --that the copies of the things in the heavensPerhaps the church is referred to. It was bought with blood. Acts 20:28 : “ . . . feed the church of the Lord which He purchased with His own blood” . a. If the church is not meant here, then heaven is, and heaven then is cleansed. b. If the tabernacle is a picture of the church, then the church may be referred to. The heavenly pattern was to be cleansed in a different way than the old. Milligan: “ Copy” is also translated “ pattern” . Hebrews 9:23 --should be cleansed with theseMcKnight says this refers to the cleansing of the tabernacle. a. See Leviticus 16:16-18 where atonement is made for the Holy Place. b. This made it ceremonially prepared for the worship services. The copies, or pattern, were made ceremonially clean to picture a pure church and a pure heaven.Hebrews 9:23 --but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these Milligan says perhaps because of the sins of angels, Heaven itself must be cleansed. “ Heavenly things” do not necessarily have to be in heaven. Milligan: The “ heavenly things” refers to both the church on earth and heaven itself. The church is a heavenly thing, the kingdom of heaven, so why believe he is talking about heaven itself? Why would heaven need to be cleansed? a. Milligan says: “ Take this as a matter of faith” , for we cannot give a satisfying answer. Hebrews 9:24 --For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true, but into heaven itself now to appear before the face of God for us Does heaven have a tabernacle? a. Yes, according to Revelation 11:19. So Hebrews 9:23 may refer to heaven. Is heaven in need of cleansing? a. We would first answer no, for God does not dwell where sin is. b. Our answer is to be qualified, however. See Job 15:15; Job 25:5. The important part of the verse for us is expressed in “ now to appear before the face of God for us.” a. The cleansing of heaven may not be clear, but this surely is. b. Christ is before God for us.Study Questions1594. What is meant by “ for this cause” ? 1595. What is the work of a mediator? 1596. Is there room for Christ’ s mother here in forgiving sin? 1597. What kind of a covenant does Jesus serve? 1598. Is God obligated to keep His part of the covenant if man fails to keep his? 1599. Does the blood of Christ act backwards as well as forwards? 1600. For whom was Christ’ s blood shed? 1601. Can we say then that the Jews under the old covenant are saved? 1602. Were all saved by the blood of Christ? 1603. Who was excepted, according to Milligan? 1604. Compare Romans 4:3-4 and James 2:21-23 for his proof texts. 1605. Does Romans 3:25-26 teach that Christ’ s blood was retroactive? 1606. What is meant by “ passing over” in Romans 3:25? Does it mean rolled forward? 1607. What does the calling refer to here? 1608. Is it the Hebrew promised land or eternal life? 1609. How is the inheritance described? 1610. How does 1 Peter 1:4 describe it? 1611. With whom is our inheritance? Romans 8:17. 1612. What is meant by “ testament” ? 1613. Is it as good a word as covenant? 1614. What are the differences between “ testament” and “ covenant” ? 1615. What is necessary for the fulfillment of a testament? 1616. When do we inherit from a testament? 1617. Whose death is necessary? 1618. Does death fix the terms with finality? 1619. Is it logical to say that Jesus was the dead Testator of the New Testament? 1620. What kind of language is used here in regard to the testament. 1621. Then do we have the right to be legalistic in our preaching? 1622. What is necessary to set a will in force? 1623. How was the first covenant dedicated? 1624. Why did God require the constant sacrifices? 1625. What do we have today to remind us of sin? 1626. What commandments are referred to here? Cf. Exodus 24:4-8. 1627. Did the people approve? 1628. Where is this occasion discussed in the Old Testament? 1629. Why was water mixed with the blood? 1630. Why was wool used? 1631. Why was it scarlet wool? 1632. What is hyssop? 1633. How was it used? 1634. Why was the book sprinkled? 1635. Why were the people sprinkled? 1636. Is this a covenant between equals? 1637. Have we the right to question the one who has the right to command? 1638. What is the significance of the tabernacle and vessels being sanctified by bipod? Was it done frequently? Cf. Exodus 24:1-8; Exodus 40:9-11. 1639. Is the church sprinkled with blood? Cf. Ephesians 5:25-26. 1640. Is the author in doubt when he says, “ I may almost say” ? 1641. What does he mean by “ almost” ? 1642. Do you think that you can express a better translation of this verse? 1643. What things were not purified by blood? 1644. What other element was used? Cf. Leviticus 16:26-28; Numbers 31:24. 1645. What other cleanser was used? Cf. Numbers 31:22-23. 1646. What was the purpose of blood being shed, as expressed in this verse? Cf. Leviticus 17:11. 1647. How could sin be atoned if one could not afford a blood sacrifice? Cf. Leviticus 5:11-13. 1648. What is meant by “ memorial” ? 1649. Did the priest offer blood for the poor people? 1650. If so, how were these offerings financed? 1652. What was necessary as expressed in Hebrews 9:23? 1653. What is meant by “ copies of the things in the heavens” ? 1654. Is “ copies” referring to sacrifice or tabernacle or both? 1655. Was the tabernacle a copy of something in heaven? 1656. Was heaven cleansed? If so, how? 1657. Could it mean that He simply entered heaven with His blood? 1658. What is referred to by the word “ these” ? 1659. If the tabernacle was a type of the church, and it was cleansed, what should we expect of the church? 1660. Do you know of any “ dirty” churches? 1661. What will cleanse the church? 1662. Does heaven have to be cleansed? Cf. Job 15:15 and Job 25:5. 1663. Does “ heavenly” refer to a place or a kind of things? 1664. If the church and the kingdom of God are the same, could it be considered the “ heavenly things” referred to? 1665. If heaven had to be cleansed, how could it have been cleansed by Christ’ s blood when it was shed on earth? 1666. This verse teaches that Christ entered a holy place. Does heaven have a tabernacle? Cf. Revelation 11:19. 1667. What is meant by “ appear before the face of God” ? 1668. Why is He before the face of God? 1669. How may we harmonize this with other passages where Christ is seated at the right hand of God? 1670. How often does Christ offer Himself? 1671. How often does Christ enter the Holy Place? Hebrews 9:25-28 FURTHER OF THE THOSE THAT ARE AS THE HIGH PRIEST OF Heb_9:25-28 Hebrews 9:25 ---Nor yet that he should offer himself often,— In the preceding paragraph our author has forcibly proved and illustrated the necessity of Christ’ s death as the only ground of redemption from sin. In doing this he reasons mainly from the analogies of the Old and New Covenant. Under the Old Covenant there was no remission of sins without blood; and so he argues there can be none under the New Covenant. But between these two institu­tions there are also many important points of contrast as well as of similarity, one of which the Apostle has already stated in the twenty- fourth verse; viz.: that Christ has not entered into the sanctuary made with hands like that into which Aaron and his successors en­tered ; on the contrary, he has gone into heaven itself, henceforth to appear in the presence of God for us. In the twenty-fifth verse he goes on to state another point of difference between the work of Christ and that of the Levitical high priests. These had to offer the same sacrifices year by year, but not so with Christ. Hebrews 9:26 ---For then must he often have suffered, etc.—Every offering of himself in heaven would of course imply an antecedent sacri­ficial death on earth. If, then, an annual offering were necessary, an annual sacrificial death would also be necessary. But in that event he must have often suffered since the foundation of the world (apo kataboles kosmou) ; that is, since the epoch of the Adamic renovation. But this he has not done. He has suffered but one death, and has, therefore, made but one offering. Hebrews 9:26 ---But now once in the end of the world, etc.— Or more liter­ally: But now once in the end of the ages (epi suntcleia ton aio- non), he has been manifested for the putting away of sin by the sacrifice of himself: thus demonstrating that the one offering of himself is sufficient to meet all the requirements of the case; and that it is not, therefore, necessary to repeat the offering as the high priests were required to do under the Old Economy. The one of­fering of Christ, therefore, reaches back in its meritorious effects to the fall of man and forward to the end of time. Another point of contrast made here by the Apostle consists in this, that the high priest under the Law went into the Holy of Ho­lies with alien blood (en haimati allotrioi) ; that is, invested, as it were, with the blood of a young bullock and a goat; but Christ went into heaven invested with his own blood, by means of which he has paid the immense debt that was due to Divine Justice, and so obtained eternal redemption for all who love and obey him. Hebrews 9:27 ---And as it is appointed unto men once to die,— The Apos­tle still keeps up the contrast between Christ and the Jewish high priest. The latter, as we have seen, went once a year with the blood of an innocent victim into the Holy of Holies, and there having made an offering for himself and for the sins of the peo­ple, he came out of the sanctuary still defiled by sin; and he had, therefore, to repeat the same offerings year by year continually. But not so with Christ. His case, on the contrary, rather resem­bles, in some respects, the lot of all men. They are all by the Di­vine sentence (Genesis 3:19) appointed to die once. Hebrews 9:27 ---But after this the judgment: or, rather, “ But after this, judg­ment” (krisis without the article). The Apostle seems to refer here more particularly to the judgment which is virtually pro­nounced on every man immediately after death than to the general judgment which will take place at the close of Christ’ s mediatorial reign, though both of these may be included in his remark. But as every one goes to his own proper place after death (Daniel 12:13; Luke 16:22-23; Acts 1:25; 2 Corinthians 5:1 2 Corinthians 5:8, etc.), it follows, of course, that the true character of every individual is determined on his exit from this world; and that his destiny is then also virtually determined. And just so it was in the case of Christ, as our au­thor now proceeds to show. Hebrews 9:28 ---So Christ [also] was once offered to bear the sins of many;—That is, he died once under the fearful load of human guilt, for Jehovah laid on him the iniquities of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6.) But no sooner did he die than he was justified. The unrighteous decision of Pilate and the Jewish Sanhedrin was immediately reversed in the Supreme Court of the universe. God himself then acknowl­edged him as his Son, raised his body from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly realms, angels, and authori­ties, and powers being made subject to him. (Ephesians 1:20-22; 1 Peter 3:22, etc.) Hebrews 9:28 ---And unto them that look for him, etc.—This refers to the sec­ond personal advent of Christ, when he shall come out of the Holy of Holies, as did the High Priest under the Law, to bless those who are anxiously waiting for his appearing. But he will not then come like the High Priest still laden with sin. Once, indeed, he bore the iniquity of us all; and so very great was the burden of our guilt as we have seen (notes Hebrews 5:7), that it even crushed the blood from his veins, and finally ruptured his heart. But the blood which then flowed from his heart, under the tremendous pressure of human guilt, has washed away from him, as well as from us, all our iniquities, so that when he comes the second time there will not be a trace of sin about his person. But robed in the habiliments of righteousness, he will come in power and glory to redeem his saints, and to take vengeance on them who know not God, and who obey not the Gospel. Then we too will “ be made the righ­teousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21.)Commentary on Hebrews 9:25-28 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_9:25 --nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not of his ownChrist’ s one sacrifice is contrasted with old covenant “ often.” Christ entered once with His own blood. That one time is sufficient. Hebrews 9:26 --else must He often have sufferedThe sacrifice of Jesus is necessary for atonement, but it comes in the midst of the generations of man. A constant sacrifice of Jesus is not needful when one brings absolute forgivenessHeb_9:26 --since the foundation of the world.He was the Lamb. Revelation 13:8. His blood is still considered as in the act of being continually poured out. Hebrews 9:26 --but now once at the end of the agesThe conclusion of the Jewish dispensation is referred to. At the end of an age is sufficient, as much so as if it had taken place before or during the age. Some understand this to be future. Hebrews 9:26 --hath He been manifested to put away sinClarke says he was manifested to abolish sin offerings. This ended the Mosaic laws. The sin offering ceased, as foretold by Daniel 9:24. Others” opinion: a. It refers to the putting away of the guilt, power, and being of sins from the souls of believers. b. Of course, sin offerings are ended, but to put away sin was the real purpose.Hebrews 9:26 --by the sacrifice of HimselfNo blood of animals is involved here. God gave, but Christ came to offer Himself. Compare Hebrews 2:14 for the importance of this verse. Hebrews 9:27 --it is appointed unto man once to dieAll are under the decree, “ Dust thou are and unto dust shalt thou return.” Genesis 3:19. Death and judgment are the appointments which the ungodly ought to dread. a. There are exceptions to the sentence of death: Enoch, Elijah, those persons who are alive at His coming. See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Man makes the second-death appointment by his choice to live in sin. Hebrews 9:27 --and after this Cometh judgmentIt is death once and judgment once, no second chance and no transmigration of the soul. No purgatory is alluded to here. a. A person’ s true character has been revealed while on this earth, and nothing can be done to change it after death. b. The rich man found out that nothing could be done, for a gulf is fixed. Judgment discussed: John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:11-15.Hebrews 9:28 --so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of manyIsa_53:4-6 : “ Jehovah hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Our sin is borne by the Christ. a. This gives us peace. b. This gives us remission of sins.Hebrews 9:28 --shall appear a second timeHe shall come out of the Holy of Holies a. 1 Thessalonians 4:16. b. Acts 1:11. Christ’ s appearance this time will be that of a victor, and not a slain lamb. Hebrews 9:28 --apart from sinHe will not come then bearing the sins of the people. He will come as Saviour and Judge. All men shall then see. He is the Way, Truth, and Life. Hebrews 9:28 --to them that wait for HimThis is one difference between the godly and the unsaved. a. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 : “ How ye turned unto God from idols to serve a living and true God.” b. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 : “ And to wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, Who delivereth us from the wrath to come.” “ Them that wait”—For what do we wait? a. 2 Peter 3:13 : “ We look for new heavens and a new earth.” Hebrews 9:28 --unto salvationa. 2 Timothy 4:8 : “ Unto all them that love His appearing.” b. 2 Peter 3:17. This will be the final experience of the Christian, We talked about being saved now, but at His coming, salvation will be ours, The experience of the reward is referred to here.Special Study On Hebrews 9:27 Judgment: KrisisOften in the New Testament the word “ judgment” ethically means: (1) To decide, give a verdict, declare an opinion: Krino. Luke 11:42; Acts 15:19. (2) To investigate, scrutinize, Anakrino: 1 Corinthians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 4:3. (3) To discriminate, distinguish: Diakrino. 1 Corinthians 11:31; 1 Corinthians 14:29. Since God’ s judgments are declarations of His divine justice with His own condemnations, justice, condemnation, and judgment sometimes are all the same, Cf. Romans 5:16. In John 5:29 we read of the resurrection of judgment, which is also translated “ damnation.” The last judgment may be thought of as an act when God interposes into human history directly to bring this present course of the world to an end, and determines the eternal fate of human beings and places them in surroundings which fit their spiritual condition. We have a different idea in Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10, where we are told that we must appear before the judgment seat (bema) of Christ. In Hebrews 10:30 we read that God will “ judge” His people— the word is Krino—meaning to give a verdict. He will do the same for the adulterers, according to Hebrews 13:4. The word krisis, translated “ judgment” , is often used in the Word of God.Matthew uses the word often in speaking of judgment, such as, “ the men of Ninevah will rise up in the day of judgment;” “ the queen of the south rising up in judgment.” Matthew 12:41-42. The same word is used in Hebrews 9:27, “ . . . once to die, and after this cometh judgment.” Also Hebrews 10:27. 1 John 4:17 speaks of having boldness in the day of judgment. In 1 Peter 4:17, we read that judgment must begin at the house of God. The word is Krima. It is the same word as in Matthew 7:2, “ With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged.” In 1 Corinthians 4:4, Paul says, “ He that judgeth me is the Lord.”—Anakrino.This verse, Hebrews 9:27, does not leave room for transmigration of the soul, purgatory, or repentance. When the body returns to dust and man has his appointment, his death sentence or his commendation is fixed. Study Questions1672. What is meant by “ blood not of His own” ? 1673. Why did other priests have to offer blood often? 1674. Why does Jesus not need other blood? 1675. What is meant by “ Since the foundation of the world” ? Cf. Matthew 13:35; Matthew 25:34; Revelation 13:8. 1676. Compare Revelation 13:8 in various translations. 1677. Can it be true that Jesus was slain “ from the foundation of the world” ? 1678. What is meant by “ end of the ages” ? 1679. Discuss the word “ manifested” . 1680. What is meant by “ put away sin” ? 1681. How did Jesus put sin away? 1682. What appointment is referred to? 1683. Does this mean that a date is set for us? 1684. Name some who escaped that appointment. 1685. Will others escape it? Cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. 1686. How soon comes judgment after death? 1687. Is there room for purgatory? 1688. Can anything be done according to the story of the rich man and Lazarus? 1689. What is meant by judgment? 1690. Compare John 5:28-29 and Revelation 20:11-15. 1691. Is the Christian judged? Cf. Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 10:30. 1692. Does the next verse read as though we are judged? 1693. Discuss the expression, “bear the sins.” 1694. Discuss this subject in comparison to Isaiah 53:4-6. 1695. What is meant by “ appear a second time” ? 1696. How will He appear in relationship to sin next time? 1697. To whom will He appear? 1698. What is meant by “ wait for Him” ? 1699. Is waiting the kind of thing some have done by selling everything, then watching for Him to come at a given time? Hebrews 10:1-4 THE UTTER MORAL OFTHE Heb_10:1-4 Hebrews 10:1 ---For the law having a shadow, etc.— In this and the next fol­lowing paragraph, we have, as Alford justly observes, the leading thoughts of the whole section brought “ together in one grand finale, just as in the finale of a piece of music, all the hitherto scat­tered elements are united in one effective whole.” But it is not a mere summary of the thoughts and arguments of the section, that is here presented. New thoughts are introduced, and others are set forth in a fuller and more attractive light. In the last para­graph, for instance, it is fairly implied though not categorically ex­pressed, that the blood of Christ and that alone “ cleanses from all sin.” This thought the Apostle now proceeds to amplify and illus­trate still further, by showing in the first place the utter insuffi­ciency of the Levitical sacrifices. That they had no power to take away sin, he argues from the nature of the sacrifices themselves and the character of the services that were rendered under the Old Covenant. For the Law, he says, having a mere shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never, with the same sacrifices which they offer year by year con­tinually, perfect those who draw near [to God, by means of them]. The word shadow (skia) is used here metaphorically to denote that the Law, as a religious institution, was but a faint out­line, a mere symbolical adumbration of the good things of the Kingdom of Christ. And the word image (eikoi) means the true bodily shape which belongs to the things themselves; the essential form of the good things, in contrast with the shadowy representa­tion of them as given in the Law. In the Gospel, we have both the image (eikon) and the essence (hupostasis) : but in the Law we have nothing more than a mere unsubstantial shadow of them. And hence the Law had no power to take away sin; nor could it make any one perfect, except in a mere civil and symbolical sense. Hebrews 10:2 ---For then would they not have ceased to be offered?— If these bloody sacrifices had been really efficacious in taking away the sins of the people, there would of course have been no need of repeating them with reference to the same sins; because, as our au­thor says, the worshipers having been thoroughly cleansed once for all, would have no more consciousness of sins so forgiven. A debt that has been once fairly and fully cancelled, is not to be paid a second time. If a disease has been once thoroughly eradicated from the system, there is no further need of medicine. And just so, if a sin is once effectually blotted out, it is remembered no more. Hebrews 10:3 ---But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.— For special sins, the Law required special of­ferings. “ If any soul sin through ignorance,” said God to Moses, “ then he shall bring a she-goat of the first year for a sin-offering. And the Priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the Lord, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.” (Numbers 15:27-28.) See also Leviticus 4:3 Leviticus 4:14 Leviticus 4:23 Leviticus 4:28. Besides these special of­ferings, others were offered daily (Exodus 29:38-46) ; weekly (Numbers 28:9-10) ; monthly (Numbers 28:11-15) ; and yearly at each of the three great festivals (Leviticus 23). But nevertheless on the tenth day of the seventh month, all the sins of the past year were again called into remembrance; and an atonement was made, first for the sins of the Priests (Leviticus 16:11-14), and then for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16:15). Nor did even these sacrifices offered on the Day of Atonement, suffice to cover the sins of the worshipers, as any one may see from the following ordinance relating to the scape goat. “ And when he [Aaron] hath made an end of reconciling the Holy Place and the Tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat; and Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness. And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities into a land not inhab­ited ; and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.” (Lev. 16: 20­22.) Thus it appears that what all the sacrifices of the year could not accomplish, was symbolically effected by the goat, on whose in­nocent head were laid the sins of the nation for the whole of the preceding year, to be borne away by it into a land of separation: ‘‘ the Holy Spirit this signifying,” that in due time Christ would, in like manner, bear away on his own person all our sins into a state of everlasting oblivion. Hebrews 10:4 ---For it is not possible, etc.— Why not? Who can fully and satisfactorily answer this question? The fact is clearly and cate­gorically stated by the Spirit that “ searches all things, yea even the deep things of God.” And some of the reasons are plain and obvi­ous enough. It may be alleged, for instance, that every sinner is under condemnation; and that something is necessary in order to his redemption. And, furthermore, it may be shown that the sin­ner has really nothing to offer as a ransom for his soul: “ for,” says God, “ every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thou­sand hills.” (Psalms 50:10.) All this, and much more, may be truthfully urged in support of the Apostle’ s declaration. But until we can estimate aright the exceeding sinfulness of sin and the just claims of the Divine Government on the sinner, I am inclined to think that all our speculations on this matter must fall short of a true and full solution of the question. It becomes us, therefore, to receive humbly and implicitly, as a matter of faith, what reaches far beyond the narrow limits of our speculative philosophy. That these sacrifices were of Divine appointment, is, of course, conceded by all who believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God; and that they served to secure for the Israelites symbolical forgiveness, and, as a consequence of this, continued membership in the sym­bolical Church of the Old Covenant, is also equally obvious. But beyond this, they only served to direct the minds and hearts of the people to “ the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” Commentary on Hebrews 10:1-4 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb 10:1--For the law having a shadow of the good things to comeLaw shadowed the gospel. Aaron shadowed the Christ. Levitical sacrifices shadowed the Lamb of God. Purification in the Old Testament pictured complete redemption in Christ. Earthly Canaan pictured the heavenly rest. The tabernacle pictured the church.Hebrews 10:1--not the very image of the thingsIt was a simple representation. The gospel is the image or thing itself. An artist first draws a shadowy picture, then fills in with color. So, the law is a foreshadow of the gospel age. Hebrews 10:1--can never with the same sacrifices year by yearThere were yearly sacrifices, Leviticus 23, and these were performed in the same manner by priests who were subject to death and had to be succeeded. The blood of Christ had been shed, which the old sacrifices pictured, but the Jews did not see that they were done away. Hebrews 10:1--which they offer continually make perfect them that draw nighNo perfection existed in the old, yet the Jews accept these sacrifices in place of the perfect sacrifice. The Jews must quit drawing nigh unto the old, and must approach the new. a. Hebrews 10:22 tells how to draw nigh. b. James 4:8 holds a promise to those who draw nigh. c. Hebrews 10:38-39 shows danger in not drawing nigh.Hebrews 10:2--else would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshippers, having been once cleansed would have had no more consciousness of sinsRepetition would not have been necessary if results were obtained, A debt cancelled does not need a repeated payment, Sacrifices made them conscious of sin, not free from it. A person needs cleansing in order to escape a consciousness of sin. a. It can be done. Acts 22:16. b. Romans 6:1-6 pictures death to old sins and the sinner. Hebrews 10:3--but in those sacrifices there is a remembrance made of sins year by yearNote the word is “ remembrance”—not remission. a. There were special offerings: Numbers 15:27-28; Leviticus 4:3; Leviticus 4:14; Leviticus 4:23; Leviticus 4:28. b. There were daily ones: Exodus 29:38-46. c. Weekly ones: Numbers 28:9-10. d. Monthly: Numbers 28:11-15. e. Yearly at three great festivals. With the Christian there is forgiveness immediately upon repentance because of the one great sacrifice. Hebrews 10:4--for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Let this verse answer the question, “ Were the sacrifices able to cleanse from sin?” a. They were to make atonement, yes, but only as performed by faith, at last to be made final in the blood offering of Jesus. b. See Romans 4:25 : “— delivered up for our trespasses—“ This shows that Christ’ s sacrifice is the one great sacrifice. Let the Jew turn from the impossible sacrifices to the possible sacrifice. Study Questions1700. What is the law likened to? Would your explanation please a Seventh Day Adventist? 1701. Was “ shadow” a general word or a specific one? 1702. What is meant by “ shadow” ? 1703. It was to foreshadow good things. What were the good things? 1704. What did the law shadow? 1705. What did Aaron foreshadow? 1706. What did purification precede? 1707. What did the earthly Canaan represent? 1708. What did the tabernacle picture? 1709. How can you best define or explain “ shadow” ? 1710. Is it the same idea as “ image” in the next phrase? 1711. Do you think that a good illustration of “ shadow” would be the artist’ s first sketch before the actual oil painting? 1712. What does verse one say about the futility of the old law? 1713. Why did God have them do it, if year after year it could not remove sin? 1714. What is meant by “ which they offer continually” ? 1715. Who is referred to as drawing nigh? 1716. What did they draw nigh to? 1717. How can we draw nigh to the “ good things” ? Cf. Hebrews 10:22; James 4:8; Hebrews 10:38. 1718. Is this first phrase an affirmation or a question? 1719. What is the implied answer? 1720. Would repetition have been necessary if they could have achieved perfection? 1721. Did their sacrifices free their conscience? 1722. Does the Lord’ s Supper also disturb our conscience? 1723. How do the Lord’ s Supper and the Jewish sacrifice compare in this respect? 1724. How does baptism into Christ compare with Jewish sacrifices in regard to conscience? See Acts 22:16; Romans 6:1-6. 1725. This verse uses the expression “ once cleansed.” If they were cleansed by one sacrifice, why did their conscience trouble them? 1726. Is it answered in Hebrews 10:3? 1727. Is the word “ remembrance synonymous with “ remission” ? 1728. Does “ year by year” refer to the three great yearly sacrifices? 1729. How often did they have sacrifices? 1730. What were the daily sacrifices for? See Exodus 29:38-46. 1731. Were there sacrifices of a less frequent nature? See Numbers 28:9-10. 1732. Were there sacrifices less frequent than weekly ones? See “ monthly”—Numbers 28:11-15. 1733. What advantage does the Christian have? 1734. If we have to observe communion each week for forgiveness, is our condition the same? 1735. What sins do we remember at communion time? Hebrews 10:5-18 THE ALL- OF THE OF CHRIST SHOWN(1) IN ITS THEWILL OF GOD, AND(2) IN ITS FOR ALLTHE , FREE, FULL,AND Heb_10:5-18 Hebrews 10:5 ---Wherefore when he cometh into the world,— That is, since it is now manifest that the Levitical sacrifices had no power to take away sin, and since, therefore, a better sacrifice was needed for this purpose, Christ on coming into the world as God’ s chosen minister to redeem it, says : Hebrews 10:5 ---Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, etc.— This citation is from the fortieth Psalm, and has reference primarily to David as a type of Christ; and secondarily to Christ himself as the anti­type. See notes on 1:5. In the first part of this Psalm, David praises God for deliverance from his persecutors, as well as for many other tokens of Divine grace. And then with an earnest de­sire to serve God and to do his will, he says, Sacrifice and offering thou hast not desired; ears hast thou digged out for me: burnt- offering and sin-offering thou hast not asked. Then said I, Lo, I come [I bring myself as a sacrifice] (in the volume of the book it is written of me) ; to do thy will, O my God I have delighted, and thy Law is in the midst of my bowels. In this remarkable utter­ance of David, we have clearly set forth the utter insufficiency of the legal sacrifices to accomplish the will of God; and also Christ’ s purpose to do this by the sacrifice of himself. The general meaning of the passage then is plain enough. But how is the Greek rendering of our text, “ a body hast thou pre­pared me,” to be reconciled with the Hebrew, “ ears hast thou digged out for me?” It will not do to say with some that our au­thor follows the Septuagint Version, without regard to the exact meaning of the passage. He never does this. When the Septua­gint expresses correctly the meaning of the original, he then com­monly quotes from it; otherwise, he either so modifies the render­ing as to make it correct, or he gives us a new translation of the Hebrew. Even in the few lines which are here cited, there are several slight departures from the Septuagint; but in the clause which we have now under consideration, he follows the Septuagint exactly; no doubt because it expresses exactly the mind of the Spirit. But how is this? To the careless and superficial reader, there may at first seem to be no connection between digging out, or thor­oughly opening the ears of any one, and providing a body for him. But the thoughtful reader will at once see that, in the case of Christ, the two expressions are nearly equivalent, and that the lat­ter differs from the former chiefly in this: that it is rather more specific and expressive. To dig out the ears of a person means simply to make him a willing and obedient servant. (Ex. 21:6.) But in order to so qualify Christ as to make him a fit servant for the redemption of mankind, a body was absolutely necessary. Without this, there could have been no adequate sacrifice for sin, and without an adequate sacrifice, there could have been no suit­able atonement, and without an atonement, the claims of Divine Justice could not have been satisfied, and without this, the will of God could never have been accomplished in the redemption of mankind. The Greek, therefore, though not an exact translation of the Hebrew, is nevertheless in perfect harmony with it, plainly indicating that both come from the same fountain of Divine inspi­ration. The only question of doubt, then, is simply this: Whence did the translators of the Septuagint obtain the specific idea which they have here so happily expressed? Or in other words, How came they to put such a construction on the original Hebrew? To me it seems most probable that they simply followed the current interpretation of the passage, as it had been explained by the an­cient prophets. See 1 Corinthians 14:1-4, and 1 Peter 1:10-12. Hebrews 10:6 ---In burnt offerings, etc.—This is but an echo of the sentiment expressed in the preceding verse, making with it a sort of Hebrew parallelism, in which “ burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin” are made to correspond with sacrifices and offerings in general. Together, the two verses express with great emphasis the utter insufficiency of the Levitical sacrifices to accomplish the will of God in the redemption of mankind. For the law of the burnt offerings, see Leviticus 1:1-17, and for that of the sin offerings, see Leviticus 4:1-5. The former was so called because it was wholly consumed on the altar, but the latter received its name from its having always special reference to sin and to the sin-offering of Christ. The former was instituted immediately after the fall of man, and in con­nection with the meat offering it constituted an important part of the Patriarchal worship. But the sin offering was instituted after the giving of the Law. It is first mentioned in Exodus 24:14. Hebrews 10:7 ---Then said I, Lo, I come— The Septuagint rendering of this verse corresponds exactly with the Hebrew, and is as follows: Then said I, Lo, I come [to do thy will] : (in the volume of the book it is written of me) ; to do thy will, O my God, I have de­lighted. Our author, by omitting the latter part of the third clause, has changed in some measure the form of the whole verse, without affecting its meaning. He simply makes the phrase, “ to do thy will" in the third clause, depends directly on “ I come” in the first. The second clause is thrown in parenthetically. It is manifestly David that speaks in the Psalm from which the Apostle makes this citation. But, as Delitzsch says, “ he speaks in typically ordered words which issue, as it were, from the very soul of the Antitype, the Anointed of the future, who will not only be the King of Israel, but also the Captain of their salvation, as well as of that of the whole world.— David speaks; but Christ, whose Spirit already dwells and works in David, and who will hereafter receive from David his human nature, now already speaks in him.” See notes on 1: 5. Hebrews 10:7 ---in the volume of the book it is written of me,— That is, in the roll or volume of the Law. “ Anciently,” says A. Clarke, “ books were written on skins and rolled up. Among the Romans they were called volumina from volvo, I roll: and the Pentateuch in the Jewish synagogues is still written in the same way. There were two wooden rollers; on one they rolled on, and from the other they rolled off, as they proceeded in the reading.” In the volume of the Pentateuch, which every king of Israel was required to transcribe and carry with him as a vade mecum (Deuteronomy 17:14-20), there is constant reference to Christ. Indeed, we may truly say of it, as John has said of the Apocalypse, “ The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of the prophecy.’ ' (Revelation 19:10.) This testimony is given not only directly in such passages as Genesis 3:15 Genesis 22:17 Genesis 49:10; Deuteronomy 18:18; but also indirectly in all the types and shadows of the Old Covenant. Hebrews 10:8 ---Above when he said,— Our author now proceeds to explain and apply the foregoing prophecy, and for this purpose he quotes it again substantially in such a form as best serves to give point and energy to his argument. But in doing so, he wholly overlooks the type, and applies the words of the Psalm directly to Christ as their true and proper author. It is no longer David, but Christ himself who appears in front of the great drama of redemption, and who comes forward to do the will of God, by giving his own life for the salvation of the world. “ Above,” (that is in the former part of the quotation,) “ when he [Christ] saith, Sacrifices, and offerings, and whole burnt offerings, and offerings for sin, thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; such as are offered according to the law.” Hebrews 10:9 ---Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will— The reader will observe that in the preceding verse the Apostle has thrown to­gether all the various kinds of Levitical offerings, no doubt for the purpose of making the contrast between them and the one offering of Christ, as strong and as pointed as possible. Numerous and various as they were, they nevertheless all failed to fulfill the will of God; but this, Christ has fully accomplished by the one offering of himself. Hebrews 10:9 ---he taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.— The thing taken out of the way is not merely the Levitical sacri­fices, but the whole arrangement under which they were offered, and the thing established is the more gracious and perfect arrangement according to which the offering of Christ was made once for all. This is indicated (1) by the use of the abstract neuters, “ the first” (to proton) and “ the second” (to deuteron) ; and (2) by what follows in the next verse. Hebrews 10:10 ---By the which will we are sanctified through the offering, etc.— From this clause taken in connection with what precedes, it is quite manifest that the thing taken out of the way, embracing the Old Covenant with all its rites and ceremonies, was not the will of God, but that the thing established and ratified by the sacrifice of Christ, is the will of God. “ He taketh away the first,” which was not the will of God; “ that he may establish the second,” which is the will of God. The term “ will” as used here, denotes God’ s re­deeming purpose, conceived before the foundation of the world but gradually developed in the Holy Scriptures, and finally ratified by the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus. In the accomplishing of this will, embracing as it does the whole Gospel plan of salvation, “ we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:11 ---And every priest standeth daily ministering, etc.—The keynote of what follows is found in the last word of the tenth verse, (ephapax) “ once for all.” The Levitical sacrifices were not only numerous and various, but they were also often repeated: “ Every priest standeth, day by day, ministering and offering often­times the same sacrifices which can never take away sins.” “ The same wearisome circle of ineffectual efforts,” says Tholuck, “ which has been shown to characterize the performances of the high priest on the Day of Atonement, is now exhibited as characteristic of the priestly institute in general.” Several manuscripts and some of the ancient versions have high priests (archiereus) instead of priest (hiereus), but the balance of authority is in favor of the reading found in our English Version. Hebrews 10:12 ---But this man, after he had, etc.— The main point of contrast here is, not between the one sacrifice and the many, but between the often repeated offerings of the many sacrifices of the Law, and the one offering of the sacrifice of Christ. For while every Leviti- cal priest standeth daily ministering, as one who has never finished his work; Christ, on the other hand, having offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down perpetually on the right hand of God, as one who has accomplished his work; that is, the particular work to which our author here refers: the work of making an atonement for the sins of the world. This will never have to be repeated. The contrast that is here made by the Apostle is well presented by Menken as follows: “ The priest of the Old Testament stands timid and uneasy in the Holy Place, anxiously performing his awful ser­vice there, and hastening to depart when the service is done, as from a place where he has no free access, and can never feel at home, whereas Christ sits down in everlasting rest and blessedness at the right hand of the Majesty in the Holy of Holies, his work accomplished, and he himself awaiting its reward.” Hebrews 10:13 ---From henceforth expecting, etc.— The Apostle refers again to Psalms 110:1, where David by the Spirit says, Jehovah said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand till I make thy enemies thy foot­stool. Christ is represented in our text as calmly and patiently waiting for the fulfillment of this promise. Not that he has ceased to work for the redemption of mankind, for he must reign, and that, too, with infinite power and energy, until the last enemy, death, shall be destroyed. (1 Corinthians 15:25-26; Revelation 19:11-21, etc.) But his sacrificial work is done. The one offering which he made of himself is all-sufficient, as our author shows further in the fol­lowing verse. Hebrews 10:14 ---For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.— This is assigned as the reason why Christ has not to stand and daily repeat his offering, like the Levitical priests. The one offering which he has made of himself is enough. By it he has forever perfected them that are sanctified. But who are they? Evidently the same as the sanctified in 2: 11; those who by faith and obedience have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27), and who have risen with him from the baptismal grave to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12 Colossians 3:1). All such have come to perfection in Christ, finding as they do in him all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), so that they have only to persevere in well doing to the end of life, by abiding in Christ as the branch abides in the vine, and then with spirits as pure as the angels before the throne of God, they will join the redeemed millions “ who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Hebrews 10:15 ---Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us:—Our author now proceeds to prove and illustrate his position still fur­ther by referring to the inspired Hebrew writings. For this pur­pose he again quotes from the prophecy of Jeremiah (31: 33, 34), showing clearly that even under the Old Economy, it was God’ s purpose that through the blood of the New Covenant the sanctified in Christ Jesus should enjoy absolute and eternal forgiveness. But in making use of this passage, he quotes only so much of it as has a direct bearing on his argument, and by so abbreviating it, he has left the construction of it somewhat doubtful. The main point to be determined is simply this: Where does the protasis of the sen­tence end, and the apodosis begin? Hebrews 10:16-17---Most commentators, since Beza, make the division in the middle of the sixteenth verse as fol­lows : “ For after having said, This is the covenant which I will make with them after those days, the Lord [then] says, Patting my laws into their hearts, I will also write them on their under­standing; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more But some of our ablest expositors make the apodosis begin with the seventeenth verse, and render the whole passage as follows: “ For after having said, This is the covenant which I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, putting my laws into their hearts, I will also write them on their understanding, [he then adds] and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” On the whole, I think with Beza, Delitzsch, and others, that the first construction is the most natural, and also most consistent with our author’ s free manner of quoting from the original text. It mat­ters but little, however, which of these renderings is adopted. In ei­ther case, the main object of the writer is evidently to prove from the Old Testament Scriptures, that the subjects of the New Cove­nant enjoy, through the one offering of Christ, free, full, and abso­lute forgiveness. Hebrews 10:18 ---Now where remission of these is, there is no more offer­ing for sin.—That is, where there is absolute forgiveness of sins, there is no further need of a sin-offering. Another atonement would be wholly superfluous. This, as we have seen in comment­ing on 8: 12, is one of the leading points of contrast between the Old and the New Covenant. Under the former, the offerings were numerous, and were perpetually repeated; while they served to procure for the Israelites nothing more than a mere civil and ec­clesiastical forgiveness. But under the latter, the one offering of Christ procures for all the sanctified absolute and everlasting for­giveness. 1. This is one of the most profoundly interesting sections in the whole Bible. Leading us back, as it does, to the original gracious purpose of God, conceived, of course, before the foundation of the world, but gradually revealed and illustrated from the fall of man until it was fully developed in the kingdom of Christ, it embraces within itself an outline of the whole remedial system. We see in it both the shadow and the substance in their true and proper rela¬tions to each other; and all looking to the one grand consumma¬tion, when the last enemy, Death, having been vanquished, the kingdom will be delivered up to God the Father. To understand this one section, therefore, in all its legitimate bearings, is, in fact, to understand the whole economy of Divine grace. 2. Judaism, though in itself but a shadow, differs nevertheless in many respects from all false systems of religion; but chiefly in this, that it has in Christianity a real corresponding substance. The religious systems of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and other heathen nations, were nothing but shadows; mere counterfeits without any corresponding realities. The Romans, for instance, had their high priest or Pontifex Maximus, as well as the Jews. But while the Jewish high priest was a type of Christ, the Roman Pontifex Maximus was a type of nothing: a mere shadow of a shadow, without any corresponding substance. And this is true also of all the heathen temples, sacrifices, etc.; so that there is really no proper parallelism between Judaism and any other system of religion outside of the Bible. The one was given by God him¬self ; but the other is wholly of human origin. 3. Christians should ever rejoice that the way into the holiest of all is now made manifest. (Hebrews 9:8 Hebrews 10:19-20.) Christ has made it so very plain, that all may now understand it and walk in it. Indeed he is himself the way, the truth, the resurrection and the life. The man who is in him, and who walks in him, cannot fail to enter, even as he himself did, into the holy of holies. Well, therefore, might Christ now say to us, as he once said to his disciples while on earth, “ Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.,, Let us all then strive to walk worthy of our high and holy calling; “ with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” 4. The great end of all religion is to purify the conscience from all that is impure and unholy; and so to qualify us for the service of God here, and for the enjoyment of his presence hereafter. (Hebrews 9:14.) Without this, all outward purifications are of no avail. The body will soon go to corruption, do as we may. “ Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,” is the irrevocable decree of God with respect to all flesh. But if by Divine grace the spirit is made like that of Christ, then also the body will in due time be made like the body of Christ. (1 John 3:2.) And if we are like Christ, we will be with him (John 14:3), and be made heirs of the universe through him (1 Corinthians 3:21-23). 5. There has ever been but one ground of pardon, justification, sanctification, and redemption. The conditions of enjoying the great boon of eternal life have varied somewhat in different ages and under different circumstances. Some things were required of the Jews, which are not now required of Christians; and some things are required of Christians, which were wholly unknown to the Jews. But neither Jews nor Christians ever did or ever can do anything by way of making an atonement for sin. This can be done only through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, which was just as necessary “ for the redemption of the sins that were com¬mitted under the first covenant,” as it is for the redemption of those that are now committed under the second covenant. (9: 15; Romans 3:25-26.) This is the fountain which God by the mouth of Zechariah (13: 1) promised that he would open “ to the house of David for sin and for uncleanness” ; and this is the fountain to which every penitent sinner is now invited to come and be cleansed. 6. How infinitely glorious will be the second advent of our blessed Lord. (Hebrews 9:28.) His first coming was in weakness, poverty, and suffering, because he was then “ made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law; that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5.) He had then to be “ made sin for us, though he knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21.) But now his sacrificial work is done. His sufferings and sorrows are all over. He has borne away all our sins in his own person; and by the one offering of himself he has brought in everlasting righteousness. And hence when he comes again, it will be to redeem his saints, “ and to convict all the impious concerning all their works of im¬piety which they impiously did, and concerning all the hard things which impious sinners spoke against him.” (Jude 1:14-15.) Then “ all that are in their graves will hear his voice and come forth; they that have done good, to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29.) The judgment will sit, and the books will be opened. And then every man will be rewarded according to his works. (Revelation 20:11-15.) Sinner, are you prepared to meet him at his coming? If not, why not at once repent of your sins? Why not accept of the mercy which he now offers to you through the Gospel? “ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2.) 7. God is not an arbitrary, but a just and righteous Sovereign. (Hebrews 10:1-4.) Otherwise he might have accepted the blood of bulls and of goats as an atonement for sin; nay more, he might have even allowed all sin to pass with impunity. But this was impossi¬ble. God’ s own nature would not allow this. Justice, absolute and eternal justice, had to be satisfied before any sinner could be par¬doned absolutely; for justice and judgment are the habitation of God’ s throne. (Psalms 89:14.) But nothing it seems save the blood of Christ was sufficient to pay the ransom. And hence even this was not withheld by our ever gracious and merciful Father. For, as told, he “ so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16.) But before this can be made available to the sinner, it must be humbly and thankfully ac¬cepted by him. He must reverently bow to the authority of Jesus, and receive him as the anointed Sovereign of the universe. (Philippians 2:9-11.) To those who do so willingly, Christ has become the author of eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9) ; but to those who reject Christ, the Gospel is but a savor of death unto death (2 Corinthians 2:16). Better for all such that they had never been born; for by an eternal moral necessity they must be banished “ with an everlasting de¬struction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe.” (2 Thessalonians 1:9-10.) 8. How infinitely consoling is the assurance given to us in this section, that the one offering of Christ has so far satisfied the will of God, by meeting the claims of Divine justice against the sinner, that he can now be just in justifying every one who believes and obeys him. (Hebrews 10:5-10; Romans 3:25-26.) This is indeed to us as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, reaching even within the Vail. For, as our author says in his letter to the Romans ( Romans 5:10), “ If when we were enemies to God by wicked works, we were reconciled to him by the death of his Son; much more being now reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” On this rock we may now rest our hopes in confidence, feeling assured that “ all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28) ; and that “ neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). May God help us then to renounce all self-righteousness and self¬reliance, and to trust only in him “ who of God has become unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” Commentary on Hebrews 10:5-18 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_10:5 --Wherefore when He cometh into the worldSince the Levitical sacrifices had no power to take away sin, therefore a better sacrifice was needed, Christ came therefore to give a sacrifice that could redeem the world. Hebrews 10:5 --He saith (Psalms 40:6) Calvin says this Psalm is improperly applied to Christ, for look at the contrast. It says, “ My iniquities have laid hold on me.” (Hebrews 10:12.) Christ could quote part of the verse and apply it to Himself without applying all of it to Himself. Hebrews 10:5 --sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest notWe would expect Christ to have some things to say on the matter of sacrifice, and this is it. Christ says God was not satisfied with the old covenant atonement. Hebrews 10:5 --but a body didst Thou prepare for MeThis is New Testament doctrine. a. John 1:14 : “ The Word became flesh.” b. Philippians 2:5-11. Observe how the Psalm reads in the original language: “ An ear Thou hast opened for Me.” “ An ear Thou hast bored for Me.” a. This alludes to an ancient custom: A man’ s ear was bored, then he was a servant forever. Exodus 21:5-6. b. It was in this spirit that Christ submitted. Evidently the author quoted thought, and not verbatim, says Milligan. It seems the quotation was from the Septuagint— the Greek. Changes in words are sometimes necessary in translation into other languages for illustration. a. The verse in Matthew 7:10, “ Will he give him a serpent?” if translated into Hindu would not be the meaning that Jesus portrays, because of local Indian custom. Hebrews 10:6 --in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hadst no pleasureThis is an echo of the former verse. Burnt offerings are discussed in Leviticus 1:1-17. a. This offering is so named because it was consumed upon the altar. b. Milligan says this was the offering instituted immediately after the fall. The sin offering is discussed in Leviticus 4:1 to Leviticus 5:13. a. This was an important part of the sacrifices in that it had special reference to sin. b. It is first mentioned in Exodus 29:14. Hebrews 10:7 --then said I, Lo I am comeThe New Testament says that Jesus came. a. John said so: John 1:11 : “ He came unto His own.” b. Jesus said so: John 6:38; John 6:41, Matthew 20:28. An interesting study is made when we examine the scriptures where Jesus said, “ I come,” “ come,” etc. Hebrews 10:7 --in the roll of the book it is written of meAlso translated “ volume” or “ chapter,” and the word “ book” refers to the Old Testament. The psalmist doesn’ t say where, but note Jesus’ own words in Luke 24:44. See Genesis 3:15; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 49:10; Deuteronomy 18:18; also Old Testament prophecies. “ Roll” refers to the scroll type of preservation of manuscripts. Hebrews 10:7 --to do Thy will, O GodOthers tried, but only Christ could actually do the will of God. Luke 24:44 : All will be fulfilled concerning Christ, In Gethsemane Christ prayed to do God’ s will. John 4:23-34 : “ I have meat to eat that ye know not of. My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to accomplish His work.” The devil made a supreme effort to turn Jesus from the will of God as he tempted Him after Jesus’ baptism. a. Fortunately for the world the devil failed. b. Only as we do the will of God will the obedience of Christ avail in our life. Hebrews 10:8 --saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law)Here he names all the sacrifices to indicate the inability of all of them. Four classes are named, with the amazing statement that God had no pleasure in any of those offered according to law. “ Neither hadst pleasure therein” is suggestive. a. Of course, if done in hypocrisy God would not be pleased. 1. David realized the futility of the old sacrifices. See Psalms 51:16 : “ For Thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it. Thou delightest not in burnt offering.” 2. The prophets cried out against the Jews for unsatisfactory sacrifices. See Amos 5:21-24. b. Here he refers no doubt to those that are done correctly, but still there is no pleasure in them, for they are offered according to law. Hebrews 10:9 --then hath He said, Lo I am come to do thy willWhile this expression is found in Hebrews 10:9, it is really a conclusion to Hebrews 10:8. Since God has no pleasure in the old sacrifices, Christ came to make a sacrifice that would please God. Christ made it plain that He was doing the Father’ s will John 4:34; John 5:30. Hebrews 10:9 --He taketh away the firstThe whole arrangement under which these sacrifices were made is taken away. The whole plan is now removed; not just the scaffolding, but all. This checks with Hebrews 7:18-19 where we learn the foregoing commandment is disannulled. It is taken away through the sacrifice of Jesus. a. He fulfilled Matthew 5:17, so it could be taken away. b. It was nailed to the cross. Colossians 2:14.Hebrews 10:9 --that He may establish the secondThe new covenant is the second, The second is discussed in the next verse. Wise is the person that lives under the covenant that is established. a. We cannot expect salvation upon something that God does not recognize. b. This is the rock upon which we are to establish our lives, Milligan says the first was not the will of God, but the second is His will. Hebrews 10:10 --by which willa. This sounds a little dangerous. b. Galatians 3:24 shows that God had a purpose in the law. If the law had value, then it must have been God’ s will. a. Of course, certain marriage laws were added, because of their hardness of heart, Mark 10:4, but the law was of God. b. The law was His will for that dispensation. Hebrews 10:10 --we have been sanctifiedObserve Newell, page 339, for a foolish point. a. He says the character of the object is not changed, but its relation to God is changed. b. “ Sanctified” here does not refer to our consecration or action of the Holy Spirit within us. He quotes the following: 1 Thessalonians 5:23 : “ And the God of peace Himself sanctify you.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13 : “ Unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit.” 1 Peter 1:2. Surely we are changed when we are sanctified by the new will, for we have a new birth, a new will. Hebrews 10:10 --through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. See what happens by reading Hebrews 10:14. “ Perfection” is the word. The word “ sanctified” is not the whole truth, for we are perfected. a. This must refer to the absoluteness of the effect of Christ’ s work on the cross in respect to cleansing and saving from sin. b. The offering, of course, does not make us live perfectly. 1 John 1:10. Hebrews 10:10 --once for allThe old sacrifices were numerous, various and repeated often, and brought no perfection. Christ’ s sacrifice was offered once and sanctifies unto perfection. Study Questions1736. Does this verse answer the question concerning the remission of sins under the old covenant? 1737. The Jew had the impossible, but the Christian has the possible. Is this true? 1738. What did “ atonement” mean if it did not mean “ cleansing from sin” ? 1739. Could we use the word “ appeasement” for “ atonement” ? 1740. Who is speaking in Hebrews 10:5? 1741. Can this Psalm refer to Christ when Hebrews 10:12 speaks of iniquities? 1742. Observe different translations. Do all translations say “ He” , or do some say “ Christ” as though it appears this way in the original? What does one of the new versions say? 1743. Where did Christ say it? Is there any New Testament verse in the four gospels where it is recorded? 1744. Could Christ quote only a part of a verse and apply it to Himself? 1745. What is meant by “ wouldest not” ? 1746. What is meant by “ the body Thou didst prepare for Me” ? 1747. Is this New Testament doctrine? 1748. Quote some verses that show that Christ had a body. 1749. Can you read this in the Psalm? 1750. How may we explain the difference? 1751. Does the author quote thought or verbatim? 1752. What is meant by ear boring? See Exodus 21:5-6. 1753. What does “ whole burnt offering” refer to? Cf. Leviticus 1:11-17. Why is it thus called? 1754. Where was the sin offering made? Cf. Exodus 29:14. 1755. What was the sin offering like? Leviticus 4:1 to Leviticus 5:13. 1756. Could the two offerings be the same? If not, what is the whole burnt offering for? Cf. Leviticus 1:13. 1757. What material was used? Cf. Exodus 29:14. 1758. Where in the New Testament do we find the expression, “ I come” ? Cf. John 6:38; John 6:41; Matthew 20:28. 1759. Does it make any difference whether we believe that Jesus came or not? 1760. What is meant by “ roll of the book” ? What would “ roll” suggest in reference to the shape of Old Testament scriptures? 1761. Did Jesus ever refer to the Psalms as referring to Him? Cf. Luke 24:44. 1762. Could Jesus refer to God as “ O God” ? 1763. Is the expression “ to do Thy will” significant? Did others try to do it? Did Christ succeed? 1764. Was it an easy thing for Jesus to do the will of God? 1765. How early did He announce that He intended to do it? 1766. Was age twelve the first? Cf. John 4:32; John 4:34; John 5:30. 1767. Did the devil ever try to keep Him from it? 1768. What was actually God’ s will for Christ? 1769. What does the expression, “ saying above,” refer to? 1770. How many classes of sacrifices are named here? 1771. This verse says that God had “ no pleasure in them.” Does this refer to hypocritical sacrifices and offerings? Cf. Psalms 51:16; Amos 5:21-24. 1772. Can we assume that good sacrifices performed correctly are referred to here? 1773. Does the expression “ according to the law” verify it? 1774. What is the implication in Hebrews 10:9? 1775. Does it mean that He would make a sacrifice that would please God? 1776. What is taken away? 1777. Is it the sacrifices taken away or the whole law? 1778. Is this the same as Hebrews 7:18-19 says? 1779. Is this what Colossians 2:14 means? 1780. How could He take it away? Cf. Matthew 5:17. 1781. What is the second thing referred to? 1782. What is meant by “ establish” ? 1783. Do you base your hope on something established or something taken away? 1784. How is the second established? 1785. What is established in this second covenant? How? 1786. “ By which will”— does this refer to the will of the covenant or the will of God? 1787. Did God have purpose in the old? Cf. Galatians 3:24. 1788. Was everything that the Jew observed as law the actual will of God? Cf. Mark 10:4. 1789. What is it that sanctifies? 1790. Does the sanctification refer to our character, or our state, or both? 1791. What part does Jesus have in this sanctification? 1792. Compare this word “ offering” with the power of the offering in Hebrews 10:14. 1793. Does the expression “ once for all” speak of a sacrifice in contrast to others? 1794. Is it for all people in this verse, or is it a statement of finality?CommentaryHeb_10:11 --And every high priest indeed standeth day by dayIn Exodus 29:38-46 are found recorded the daily sacrifices. The wearisome, continuous, “ ineffectual sacrifices are contrasted here with the one effectual sacrifice. Hebrews 10:11 --ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices the which can never take away sinsThis idea is expressed often, so evidently we are to understand that no sin was taken away by the Old Testament sacrifices. a. However, it was essential that they be done. b. For us, confession of faith, repentance, baptism, and belief are essential, although actually it is the blood of Christ that cleanses. c. If they had failed to act in good faith, they could not have the blood of Christ applied, just as we today cannot if we fail to act upon the steps of salvation. For them it was a sacrifice that could “ never” take away sin. With Christ it is a sacrifice that “ can ever” take away sin. Hebrews 10:12 --but He, when He had offered one sacrifice for sins foreverOne sacrifice forever effectual was done by Christ. “ Forever” goes with one sacrifice, not “ sat down” . Christ is to leave heaven to receive those that wait for Him. Hebrews 9:28.Hebrews 10:12 --sat down at the right hand of GodThe priest had to hasten out of the Holy of Holies, for it was a place where he had no free access. He could never feel at home there. Christ sits down with God in the glory of His work accomplished. Hebrews 10:13 --henceforth expectingThis is Christ waiting for the fulfillment of a promise. Milligan says He is calmly and patiently waiting, but surely Christ must be greatly sorrowed at the slow progress of His church with its indifference, coldness, and stinginess. Hebrews 10:13 --till His enemies be made the footstool of His feetPsa_110:1 is referred to here. His sacrificial work is over, but the last enemy, death, is to be destroyed. 1 Corinthians 15:25-26. See also Revelation 20:11-14. Hebrews 10:14 --for by one offering He hath perfected foreverIt does not mean that the believer is perfected immediately into a full-grown person in Christ. The sacrifice does take away all sin so that the person stands perfectly cleansed before God and a new creature in Christ. Romans 6:1-4. It is perfection in standing, not actual perfection, which makes one faultless and sinless in life. One sacrifice forever perfects forever; therefore Christ does not have to stand and daily repeat His sacrifices. Hebrews 10:14 --them that are sanctifiedWho are the sanctified? a. His brethren, in verse Hebrews 2:11, must be the answer. b. Those baptized into Christ. Galatians 3:27. c. Those who walk in a newness of life. Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Colossians 3:1; 2 Peter 1:3. Does this mean that we are perfected, and therefore have no danger of falling? a. We must abide in Christ as a branch. b. We must not shrink back. Hebrews 10:39. Study Questions1795. Describe the day-by-day sacrifices of the priest. Exodus 29:38-46. 1796. What is the author’ s purpose in mentioning it? 1797. Why did they do it if it couldn’ t cleanse? 1798. Can we say that it is a contrast of “ never” and “ ever” ? 1799. Contrast the number of sacrifices under the old with the new. 1800. How soon did Jesus sit down? 1801. Where is He seated? 1802. What does this signify? 1803. Is Jesus seated forever, or is it a sacrifice forever? 1804. What word could express the thought “ expecting” ? 1805. What work is yet to be done? 1806. What Psalm is quoted? 1807. Enemies are named. What or who are they? 1808. What is the last enemy according to 1 Corinthians 15:26? 1809. What enemies are named in Revelation 19:11-12? 1810. Is the Christian perfected forever? 1811. Does the verse teach that all who are sanctified have no sin? Cf. 1 John 1:10. 1812. Is it perfection in standing that he is describing? 1813. Who is included in the words, “ them that are sanctified” ? 1814. Could it be those of Heb 2:11? Cf. Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12. 1815. What does the word “ sanctify” mean? 1816. Is it a condition over which we have no control? 1817. If believers cannot fall, why does he close the chapter warning against shrinking back? Cf. Hebrews 10:39. CommentaryHeb_10:15 --And the Holy Spirit also beareth witness to us; for after He hath saidPaul calls attention to Jeremiah 31:33-34. This is given to show that God planned that through one offering, the obedient may have absolute forgiveness. Hebrews 10:16 --This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord: and I will put My laws on their heart and upon their mind also will I write themThese words are quoted from Jeremiah and are found in Hebrews, chapters 8, 10, 12 as directed inspiration of the Holy Spirit to Hebrew believers. How wonderful that God’ s laws may be found within the heart of man ! Hebrews 10:17 --and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more“ Remember no more” is a contrast to “ remembrance year by year.” Man remembers, but God forgets when He forgives. Hebrews 10:17 --now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sinWe need no other offering. John 14:6; Acts 4:12; “ In none other is there salvation.” When sin is forgiven under the new covenant, there just isn’ t any other sacrifice necessary. Study Questions1818. Beginning with Hebrews 10:15 and ending with Hebrews 10:18, what evidence does he use to establish and confirm the finality of God’ s sacrifice? 1819. What prophet confirms it? 1820. What writing material is contrasted here? 1821. Does it imply that the new covenant would not be written except in the heart and mind? 1822. In what other chapters does he quote from Jeremiah? 1823. What is the difference between sin and iniquities? 1824. Can sin be defined as breaking divine will? 1825. Is iniquity that which lacks justice, hence is unrighteous, etc.? 1826. How thorough is God’ s ability to forget? 1827. Is “ no more” a contrast to anything inferior in the old? 1828. Why do we not need sacrifices according to this verse? 1829. Define “ remission.” 1830. How does Acts 4:12 apply here? Hebrews 10:19-25 AN TO , PURITY. ,AND IN THE WORSHIP AND SERVICE OF GOD Hebrews 10:19-25 Hebrews 10:19 ---Having therefore, etc.—In the preceding section the Apos­tle has shown (1) that the way into the Holiest of all, though dark and mysterious to the ancients, has now been made manifest to us through the shed blood of Christ; (2) that Christ has himself en­tered it by means of his own blood with which he has made an atonement for the sins of the world; (3) that he ever lives there as a priest on his throne to intercede for us and to bless us; and (4) that by virtue of his atoning blood, we, too, are allowed to follow him and to be with him as joint heirs of the eternal inheritance. All this, then, serves to inspire us, not exactly with “ boldness,” but rather with a joyful confidence (parresia) as regards our entrance into the Holiest of all, through the blood of Jesus. On this point there is really no longer any reason for doubting. We now “ know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1.) We are therefore no longer in bondage through the fear of death, having confidence that “ it is better to depart and be with Christ.” The phrase, “ by the blood of Christ,” denotes the means by and through which this joyful access to heaven has been procured for us as illustrated in the preceding sec­tion. Hebrews 10:20 ---By a new and living way,— The meaning of this expression will be best understood when viewed in its proper relations to other parts of the sentence, the whole of which may be literally rendered as follows: Having therefore, brethren, confidence with respect to the entrance of the Holy of holies by means of the blood of Jesus, which [entrance or entranceway] he consecrated for us [as] a way fresh and living [leading] through the vail, that is through his flesh, etc. From this, it will be seen that our English Version gives the sense of the passage pretty accurately, without, however, giving the exact grammatical relation of the words as they stand in the original. The new and living way is the same as the entrance way. It is called new, fresh, or recent way, because it had but recently been initiated and consecrated by Christ, and it is called a living way, because like Christ himself it is ever fresh and living. “ The way into the Sanctuary of the Old Testament,” says Hofmann, “ was simply a lifeless pavement, trodden by the high priest and by him alone. But the way that has been opened and consecrated for us by Jesus Christ, is one that really leads and car­ries all who enter it into the heavenly rest:— a living way, because one with the living person and abiding work of the Lord Jesus.” It is also a way that leads through the vail; that is, through the rent flesh of Christ. As the vail was the only medium of access to God under the Old Economy, so also is the rent flesh of Christ the only medium of access to him under the New Economy. And hence when the heart of Christ was ruptured on the cross (see notes on Hebrews 5:7), the vail of the temple was then also “ rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” (Matthew 27:51.) Then, and not till then, was the way of entrance into the Holies of all made manifest to men and angels. Hebrews 10:21 ---And having an high priest over the house of God;— Liter­ally, And having a great priest (hierea megan) over the house of God. True, indeed, in the Septuagint, as well as in the writings of Philo, these words (hierens megas) are often used in the sense of archicrus (archiereus). But as they are not in any other instance so used by our author, it is most likely that he uses the word great in this instance, as in Hebrews 4:14, to denote Christ’ s personal dignity and royal highness. Like Melchisedec, he sits as a priest upon his throne, while he presides over the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15.) The house of God may, however, in this instance, de­note the church in heaven as well as the church on earth, for Christ is a minister of both the heavenly Sanctuary and the true Tabernacle. (Hebrews 8:2.) Hebrews 10:22 ---Let us draw near—Draw near to what? Evidently to God and to the throne of his grace, as we are exhorted to do in Hebrews 4:16. The priests of the Old Covenant drew near to God symbolically, whenever they approached the golden altar to 'burn incense, for be­tween this altar and the Ark of the Covenant, on which God’ s presence was manifested, there was but little space. The vail, however, still intervened between the worshiped and the worship­ers, and the whole scene was, in fact, one of mystery and terror to the priests, as well as to the people. But not so under the New Economy. “ For as many as are [now] led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” For as Paul assures us (Romans 8:15), we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but we have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. And thus having a joyful confidence as respects the en­trance into the Holiest of all, and having a great sympathetic high priest over the house of God, we may all now draw near to God as his redeemed children, and find grace for seasonable help. But this near approach into the presence of our heavenly Father should always be made with becoming reverence and with due preparation of both head and heart. “ I will be sanctified,” says God, “ in them that come nigh me.” (Leviticus 10:3.) And accord­ingly the children of Israel were required to wash their clothes and to purify themselves for three days, before they were allowed to approach God at Mount Sinai. (Exodus 19:10.) “ God is spirit,” says Christ, “ and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24.) This is just as necessary now as it ever was. And hence while the Apostle would have all his Hebrew brethren approach God in prayer and praise, he would have them do so (1) with a true heart; (2) in the full assurance of faith; (3) having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience; and (4) having their bodies washed with pure water. Let us consider each of these in order. Hebrews 10:22 ---with a true heart— That is, with a heart that is free from all guile, deceit, and hypocrisy. A heart made true by the knowledge of itself and of the grace of God, through the enlightening and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit. “ When this knowledge takes root,” says Ebrard, “ it will dispel the delusive fancy that God needs no atonement; that God is only a dead idol, who knows not the anger of holy love. It will dispel, too, the confidence in false self-made atonements, including all merit of works, and it will de­stroy all self-deception about an atonement through any other sac­rifices than the sacrifice of Christ.” A true heart, then, is a heart which, while renouncing all self-righteousness and every other “ refuge of lies,” receives Christ and trusts in him as the way, the truth, the resurrection, and the life. Hebrews 10:22 ---In full assurance of faith,— That is, with a faith that dispels all doubt with regard to God and his promises; a faith which enables us to “ take God at his word,” and to do just what he commands, feeling perfectly sure that all things work together for good to them that love and serve him. That such a degree of faith is desir­able no one can doubt; and that it is also attainable through the grace of God is perhaps equally certain. And if so, then surely it should be most earnestly sought for by all; for to approach God in a doubtful state of mind is very dishonoring to him as well as inju­rious to ourselves. Hebrews 10:22 ---Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,— The word rendered conscience (suneidesis) may mean here, as in Hebrews 9:9 Hebrews 9:14, either conscience or consciousness; either the moral faculty of the soul, or the state of mind resulting from the exercise of this faculty. Every act that we perform contrary to the known will of God defiles our conscience and also our consciousness; we have them both an evil conscience and an evil self-consciousness. And this, so long as it continues, must seriously interrupt our union, communion and fellowship with God. The child that is suffering from an evil consciousness on account of its having transgressed the known will of its father cannot, so long as the feeling lasts, approach him with perfect confidence. But when it repents of the evil, confesses the wrong, and feels fully assured that the fault is forgiven, then what a change comes over it. It can then properly appreciate a father’ s love, and draw near to him with filial and joy­ful confidence. And just so it is with every child of God. So long as we feel conscious of guilt, so long we feel also that there is a strong barrier between us and our God. For if our heart con­demns us, we know that God also condemns us. (1 John 3:20.) But “ if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9.) And this he does in all cases by applying to our hearts the blood of sprinkling; for it is this, and only this, that can cleanse from sin. (1 John 1:7.) And when our hearts are thus purified, we have then “ confidence toward God” (1 John 3:21) ; and we can then approach him as his redeemed children and have sweet communion and fellowship with him. “ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Hebrews 10:22 ---And our bodies washed with pure water.— There is here a manifest reference to the bath of regeneration. (Titus 3:5.) It will not do to say with Calvin, Limborch, Owen, Bengel and oth­ers that this is a mere symbolical expression, having reference simply to the inward cleansing of the soul by the blood of Christ and the renewing influence of the Holy Spirit. The strong and pointed antithesis which the Apostle here makes between the sprin­kling of the heart and the washing of the body forbids any such interpretation of the passage. This is conceded by Delitzsch, Al­ford, Moll and others. Indeed nearly all eminent expositors are now agreed that there is here a manifest reference to the ordinance of Christian baptism. Alford says, “ There can be no reasonable doubt that this clause refers directly to Christian baptism. The bath of water (loutron ton hudatos) of Ephesians 5:26, and the bath of regeneration (loutron palingenesias) of Titus 3:5, are analogous expressions; and the express mention of body (soma) here as dis­tinguished from hearts (kardias) before, stamps this interpretation with certainty. To the same effect are the remarks of Prof. Stuart. In commenting on our text he says, “ It seems to me that there is a plain allusion to the use of water in the initiatory rite of Christian baptism. This is altogether consonant with the method of our author who is everywhere comparing Christian institutions with Jewish ones. So in the case before us he says, The Jews were sprinkled with blood in order that they might be purified so as to have access to God; Christians are internally sprinkled, that is, purified by the blood of Jesus. The Jews were washed with water in order to be ceremonially purified so as to come before God; Christians have been washed by the purifying water of bap­tism. So Ananias exhorts Saul to be baptized and wash away his sins. (Acts 22:16.) In this latter case and in that before us the phrase is borrowed from the legal rite of washing for purification.” To these very judicious remarks I need only add that the obvious design of our author in using this expression is to indicate that the whole man, both soul and body, should be sanctified and conse­crated to the service of God. See Romans 12:1. Hebrews 10:23 ---Let us hold fast, etc.— This would be better rendered as fol­lows: Let us hold fast the confession of the hope (homologian tcs elpidos) without wavering. See notes on 3: 1. I agree with Bloomfield that this is “ a pregnant expression,” and that its full meaning might be expressed thus: “ Let us hold fast the faith which we have confessed and cling to the hope which it ministers.” The idea is, that we are still but pilgrims here as all our fathers were. We have not yet reached the goal of our destiny. Eternal life is still with us an object of hope. And hence the necessity of clinging to this hope as the anchor of our souls. Hebrews 10:23 ---For he is faithful that promised;— This clause is added by the Apostle for the purpose of encouraging his Hebrew brethren and all who might read this Epistle to hold fast the confession of their hope without wavering even to the end of life. To persuade them to do this was, indeed, his leading object in writing the Epistle; and hence his frequent reference to the fidelity of God, as well as to the glory and dignity of Christ. See notes on Hebrews 6:18. Hebrews 10:24 ---And let us consider one another— That is, Let us not be selfish, caring merely for ourselves; but let us have constantly in mind each other’ s wants and circumstances as members of the one family of God; and that, too, for the purpose of exciting and en­couraging one another to love and good works. The same senti­ment is earnestly inculcated by Christ in his sermon on the Mount, where he says to his disciples, “ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16.) “ How beautifully,” says Delitzsch, “ is the exhortation here disposed of in conformity with the Pauline triad of Christian graces. (1 Corinthians 13:13; Colossians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:3 1 Thessalonians 5:8.) First, we have the injunction to approach in the full assur­ance of faith; then that to hold fast the confession of our hope; and now, third, to godly rivalry in the manifestations of Christian char­ity” Hebrews 10:25 ---Not forsaking the. assembling of ourselves, etc.— The Apostle refers here, not to apostasy from the Church, as some al­lege, but simply to the neglect of public and social worship. The time when this letter was written was manifestly a time of persecu­tion in Jerusalem and perhaps, throughout Palestine. (12: 4.) Many of the Hebrew brethren were no doubt greatly discouraged; and some of them had fallen into the habit of neglecting the regular meetings of the Church. This was clearly wrong for several rea­sons. (1) Because by so doing, they neglected and set at naught an ordinance of God. Nothing is more obvious in the history of the primitive Church than that the members of the several congre­gations were wont to meet together on every Lord’ s Day, and no doubt also frequently during the week for public and social wor­ship. (Acts 2:42 Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, etc.) And as these meetings were held with the sanction of the Apostles, and for a time under their immediate supervision, they had, as a matter of course, all the force and obligation of a Divine ordinance. (2) Be-cause by neglecting his ordinance of God, the disciples deprived themselves of many social and religious privileges. The Church of Christ is a social institution designed for the edification and im­provement of all its members. And besides, Christ says that wher­ever even two or three are met together in his name he will be with them. (Matthew 18:20.) But when Christ meets with his people it is of course to bless them, and to strengthen them for the many trials and conflicts of life. No one can, therefore, properly estimate his loss in willingly absenting himself from the meetings of his breth­ren. (3) The delinquent Hebrews were doing wrong, also, be­cause of the bad example which they were setting before others. Christ intends that every one of his disciples shall be a living wit­ness for the truth. No wonder, then, that the Apostle so earnestly exhorted the Hebrews, not to neglect the duty and privilege of meeting with their brethren for public and social worship. Hebrews 10:25 ---And so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.—To what day does our author here refer? To the day of judgment, say Delitzsch, Alford, Moll, and others; when Christ will come in person to raise the dead and reward every man according to his works. But this interpretation is manifestly erroneous. To me at least it seems perfectly obvious that the Apostle refers here to a day which both he and his brethren were looking for as a day that was then very near at hand: a day that was about to come on that generation, and try the faith of many. And hence I am con­strained to think with Macknight, Scott, Stuart, and others, that the reference is most likely to the day of Jerusalem’ s overthrow. Christ had himself foretold the near approach of that event (Matthew 24:34) ; he had also spoken of the signs of its coming and of the great calamities that would accompany it (Matthew 24:4-41). No doubt, therefore, the Christians in Palestine were all looking for­ward with much anxiety to the time when this prophecy would be fulfilled. They would naturally speak of it as “ the day” ; the day of trial; the day when seeing Jerusalem encompassed with armies, they would themselves have to flee to the mountains. (Luke 21:20-22.) If this is not the meaning of the Apostle, I would then under­stand him as referring simply to the day when Christ comes in his providence to call on each individual to give an account of his stewardship. In this general sense the passage may be regarded, like the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), as an admoni­tion and warning to all Christians in all ages and in all nations. But to refer it exclusively to the day when Christ will come in per­son to judge the world is clearly inadmissible. See notes on Hebrews 10:37. Commentary on Hebrews 9:19-25 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_9:19 --Having therefore, brethren, boldnessWe need not be fearful, trembling souls, with an inferiority complex, before a forgiving Christ. Salvation has been planned; let us accept it at once. Come with confidence. 1 John 3:21 : “ Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God.” The high priest of old entered with fear and trembling because if he neglected a small item he could expect death, but we may enter with assurance of life. Hebrews 9:19 --to enter into the Holy PlaceDoes he mean heaven or the church? a. McKnight says, “ Heaven itself where Deity dwells.” b. Milligan agrees that the “ holiest of places” is referred to. We only enter heaven as we have entered the kingdom of heaven, the church.Hebrews 9:19 --by the blood of Jesus ChristThe priest could enter only with blood, so there is now no other way. Jesus is the Door (John 10:9) of the church, of heaven itself. Hebrews 9:20 --by the way which He dedicated for us a new and living Way, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh. We have a dedicated Way dedicated by Jesus. a. John 14:6— speaks of Christ as the Way. b. Christ’ s Way became a persecuted Way, Acts 9:2. c. The word “ Christianity” does not appear. It was spoken of as The Way, Acts 19:9 : “ But spoke evil of The Way,” Acts 19:23 : “ Arose no small stir about The Way.” Acts 24:14 : “ After The Way, which they call a sect.” The new and living Way is in contrast to the old way. a. It is a Way prepared by a living Saviour, in contrast to the lifeless pavement trodden by the high priest. b. We attain it by a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1. c. “ New” means “ freshly slain, newly slain” . Newell, p. 344. 1. Thayer is quoted: “ Properly, lately slaughtered.” 2. Vincent: “ Later the word was weakened into ‘ new.’” d. It is as though He were just now slain for us. “ Through the veil, that is to say, His flesh,” contrasts the old veil with the new. a. The Jew could not enter the tabernacle’ s Holy of Holies, but we shall have the privilege to pass through the veil into heaven. b. Christ’ s way is so superior to the old covenant that a Jew is foolish to fail to see it. c. Christ’ s flesh is the veil here in figure, but it is spoken of in another sense by Jesus. John 6:54 : “ Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day.” Also John 6:55-56. Hebrews 10:21 --and having a great High PriestNewell says we do not serve Him as Priest; He serves us, But of course Christ has other relationships with His people which demand service. “ Great” is probably used to indicate His personal dignity and royal highness. We Christians “ have Him.” What a glorious privilege! Hebrews 10:21 --over the house of GodThe place where people dwell is meant by the word “ house.” He must mean the church if “ house” is meant. a. McKnight says this was meant by the translators. b. McKnight disagrees, however, and feels heaven is meant. Milligan feels that both the church and heaven are meant. a. See 1 Timothy 3:15 : The church is the house of God. b. See Hebrews 8:2 : Christ is a minister of the heavenly sanctuary. “ Things pertaining to God” may be meant. Hebrews 10:22 --let us draw nearHere we have the approach of man to his God. a. It must be done, and clone correctly. b. Proper attitudes are symbolized in the Old Testament. 1. Without washing, the priests were not allowed to minister, and were threatened with death. Exodus 30:19-21. 2. This symbolized the washing of the inward heart. We cannot come to God unrepentant and unclean in heart. Hebrews 10:22 --with a true heartAbsence of hypocrisy, deceit, guile, not with a heart that trusts in sacrifices of animals, but in God. There is nothing in Christ but truth, so we must make our lives correspond with His. Hebrews 10:22 --in fulness of faithBeing fully persuaded, full of conviction. Hebrews speaks of “ shrinking back” , Hebrews 10:39, which is the opposite of fulness of faith. Hebrews 10:22 --having our hearts sprinkledThis is symbolism; you can’ t actually sprinkle your heart. a. You can’ t run it through a grinder and sprinkle it. b. You can’ t open up the heart and Sprinkle on it a substance. “ Sprinkled” means cleansed. Observe the many related verses: 1 John 1:7 : “ The blood of His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Numbers 19:2-10 : The Hebrews were sprinkled. Hebrews 12:24 : “ We are come to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than Abel.” Note in 9th chapter— sprinkling with hyssop.a. 1 Peter 1:2 : “ Unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” b. Newell observes that beginning with Exodus 29:16 the word “ sprinkle” appears forty times.Hebrews 10:22 --from an evil conscienceCompare 1 John 1:9 : “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The Christian can never forget his sin and be free, but he can feel that his conscience is cleansed. Hebrews 10:22 --and having our body washedObserve these similar New Testament verses: Titus 3:5 : “ Both of regeneration— according to His mercy He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 5:26 : “ That He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the Word.” Acts 22:16 “ And now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins calling on His name.” The Old Testament parallel: a. The high priest was to wash his flesh before putting on the garments. Leviticus 16:4. b. Levites were cleansed the same way. c. See Leviticus 8:6; Leviticus 8:24. Both sprinkling and washing with water are illustrated in the consecration of Aaron and his sons. d. Exodus 30:19-21 : Priests were to wash before serving, and were threatened with death if they failed to do so. Calvin, page 237, should be noted here: 1. “ (This scripture) is generally understood of baptism, but it seems to me more probable that the apostle alludes to the ancient ceremonies of the law; and so by water he designates the Spirit of God, according to what is said by Ezekiel: ‘ I will sprinkle clean water upon you.’ Ezekiel 36:25.” If sprinkling is figurative, then washing must be likewise. a. The subject of immersion is not so destitute of proof that this verse is needful to prove it. b. Milligan challenges this and says it refers to the bath of regeneration as found in Titus 3:5. Hebrews 10:22 --with pure waterObserve Newell, page 350: “ It doesn’ t refer to baptism for it is just as effective with muddy water as with pure water.” Does he mean purified water? There is no instruction as to purification in the New Testament. a. In the case of Philip and the eunuch, no purification of the water took place. b. On Pentecost, no purification of water is suggested. If actual clean water is meant here literally, then at times the Jordan and many streams would delay baptism until the muddy season expired. Hebrews 10:23 --let us hold fast theMan’ s job, not God’ s, is stated here. a. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 “ Prove all things, hold fast that which is good.” b. 2 Timothy 1:13 : “ Hold fast the pattern of sound words.” c. Hebrews 3:6 : “ Whose house we are, if we hold fast our boldness and the glory of our hope firm unto the end.” d. Hebrews 4:14 : “ Having a great High Priest, let us hold fast our confession.” e. Revelation 2:25 : “ Nevertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come.” f. Revelation 3:3 : “ Hold fast and repent.” g. Revelation 3:11 : “ Hold fast which thou hast.” Too many exhortations to “ hold fast” are found to believe that God will do all of it. Hebrews 10:23 --confession of our hopeThe word “ profession” probably is the meaning. Confession’ s importance is stated frequently in the New Testament: a. Luke 12:8-9. b. Romans 10:9-10. c. Hebrews 13:15. d. Matthew 10:32. We confess the Person in Whom is our hope. Hebrews 10:23 --that it waver notSmall faith, wavering faith, is condemned. James 1:6 : “ But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting, for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.” Matthew 14:31, to Peter who was sinking: “ O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” As a wavering S. O. S. is fatal for men and ships, so a wavering faith often fails to bring God to the rescue. Hebrews 10:23 --for He is faithful Who promisedSince Christ and God are so faithful, there is no need for an occasion of doubt. a. Christ did all that He said He would do on earth, so proving His faithfulness. b. He said He would rise from the dead, and He proved it, so no more evidence is needed. Christ’ s faithful life ought to make us steadfast in His promises. Hebrews 10:24 --and let us consider one anotherWe are our brother’ s keeper, although Cain inferred otherwise. We can’ t live the Christian life alone, and we must be considerate of others. Hebrews 10:24 --to provokeMeans “ to excite, to stir up.” Our lives are to be salt, light, leaven and provocation. Matthew 5:16. Hebrews 10:24 --unto love and good worksToo many Christians have people mad and disgusted instead of encouraged to good work. Love for one another, love for the Lord, the church, good works, must be encouraged by our lives. Hebrews 10:25 --not forsaking our own assembling together Nothing is accomplished without assembling. a. Political rallies depend upon assemblies for victories. b. Education, for sharing of knowledge, depends on regular attendance. We have definite reasons for assembling. a. To worship God. b. To fellowship with His people. c. To commemorate Christ’ s death. Observe “ assembling” in the scripture: Acts 2:42 : “ They continued.” Acts 2:44-46 : “ And all that believed were together— continuing stedfastly with one accord.” Acts 4:23 : “ Being let go they came to their own company.” Acts 4:32; Acts 5:12-14; Acts 11:26; Acts 12:12. Hebrews 10:25 --as the custom of some isPerhaps because of persecution some were neglectful. What excuse is there for people who have such a custom today? a. Freedom of worship has come to mean “ free not to worship.” b. Those who neglect to worship are those who neglect to encourage, to pray and to pay. Hebrews 10:25 --but exhorting one anotherSome say to exhort one another of the coming day of judgment, but we don’ t exhort to assemble for this. Some say the day of death, but this isn’ t a day to exhort. The day of assembling to worship is what he means when he tells us to exhort. a. A day of worship approaching is a day for us to exhort brethren to anticipate. b. He is talking about assembling, and we must exhort brethren to get ready to assemble as the day for assembling around the table of the Lord approaches. Hebrews 10:25 --so much the moreIt should cause us to be more zealous, more diligent as time hastens. Exhortation should be more intense as the time factor becomes more prominent. Hebrews 10:25 --as ye see the day drawing nighThe Lord’ s Day must be referred to, the day for assembling to remember the Lord. Milligan, page 284, also McKnight, have a conviction here: “ It refers to the day of Jerusalem’ s overthrow.” “ If not the above, then it refers to Christ’ s coming.” It is true that the expression, “ the day,” refers to future events connected with the coming of the Lord, but not in this verse. a. The text speaks of assembling that can be forsaken. b. Those who were forsaking assembling were not forsaking an assembly in judgment time, but regular assembly privileges afforded to them then each Lord’ s Day.Study Questions1831. Who is blessed with boldness? Hebrews 10:19. 1832. Did the high priest of old have fear? 1833. What is the Holy Place referred to here— heaven, or the church, or the Presence of God? 1834. With what do we enter as we do it with boldness? 1835. What adjectives describe the Way? 1836. Is the word “ Way” a familiar one in the New Testament? 1837. A road, a building is generally dedicated, How about Christ’ s Way? 1838. Can it be now considered a new Way? What did the idea express in the beginning? 1839. In what way can it be considered a living Way? 1840. What kind of a sacrifice must we make to attain? 1841. What is the veil to our Holy of Holies? 1842. How important is the blood atonement of Christ as seen by this chapter? 1843. What does John 6:54-56 say concerning His flesh? 1844. Is blood conditional with us as it was with the priest? 1845. What does the Christian possess in verse twenty? 1846. Has the Hebrew author given any pre-eminence to Jesus’ mother, Mary, the blessed virgin? 1847. Has he mentioned her? 1848. What is suggested by the word “ great” ? Hebrews 10:21. 1849. What is meant by “ the house of God” ? 1850. Compare 1 Timothy 3:15 for a similar expression. 1851. Compare Hebrews 8:2. 1852. Is it actually a house, or “ things pertaining to God’ s house” ? 1853. Do we use the word “ house” to mean other than a dwelling? 1854. What would cause us to draw near to the house of God? 1855. Would we be so bold if we had not such a great Priest? 1856. What must be the condition of our heart? 1857. What would characterize a true heart? 1858. Describe “ fulness.” Hebrews 10:22. 1859. Is it the opposite of a shrinking faith? 1860. Does this verse teach sprinkling? 1861. Is it figurative or literal sprinkling? 1862. Can you literally sprinkle the heart? 1863. What is the significance of the term? 1864. What were the occasions for sprinkling in the Old Testament? 1865. What word could be used in place of the word “ sprinkle” ? 1866. What other verses in the Bible use the word “ sprinkle” ? 1867. Is there any place where it speaks of using sprinkled water as a substitute for immersion? 1868. Does the word “ water” appear with the word “ sprinkle” ? What word does appear with it? 1869. What is the sprinkling to do for us? 1870. How can a person have a free conscience when he can’ t forget his sin even though God does? 1871. A washing is referred to here. Is this an isolated teaching? Cf. Titus 3:5; Ephesians 5:26; Acts 22:16. 1872. Is it fair to say that sprinkling is figurative and that this is literal? 1873. What Old Testament practices do we have as an example of washing? Cf. Leviticus 16:4; Leviticus 8:6; Leviticus 8:24; Exodus 30:19-21. 1874. Does Ezekiel 36:25 bear on the subject? 1875. Who was the prophecy concerning? 1876. What is meant by “ pure water” ? Is it holy water or purified water? 1877. Do we have any example in the New Testament of purifying water? 1878. Would this eliminate baptizing in the Jordan during the muddy season? 1879. When is a water pure— to the heathen, to the farmer drinking from a well, to the scientist, or to the health nurse? 1880. If this verse does not refer to our immersion, then what does it refer to? 1881. Does it read “ having had our body washed” ? 1882. Is it something that the Christian experiences, or is it something that we have had done in the past? 1883. God has prepared the sacrifice. Whose job is named here? Hebrews 10:23. 1884. Is the expression “ hold fast” a familiar one? 1885. If God will not let us go, then are these not unnecessary admonitions? 1886. How can one “ hold fast” ? 1887. What are we to hold to? 1888. Does the word “ confession” carry the idea of “ profession” ? 1889. Do we confess hope or confess a Person in Whom is our hope? 1890. Is the word “ hope” personalized? 1891. What must not waver? Did Simon waver while walking on the water? 1892. What will the sailor do in a lifeboat when he loses hope? 1893. What will the wavering Christian do? 1894. What does this verse teach that will bolster our hope? Hebrews 10:23. 1895. Did Christ keep His word on earth? 1896. What great declaration did He make that was established so that our hope could be a reality? 1897. Does this verse teach that we are our brother’ s keeper? 1898. Did Cain infer otherwise? 1899. Do we consider one another as we ought? 1900. What is the meaning of the word “ provoke” ? 1901. Are we “ provoking” people, thereby causing dissension in the church? 1902. If we provoke people to love, what should they love? 1903. How can we encourage people in good works? 1904. How can we do it through our work as a minister, elder, Bible School teacher? 1905. What could be included in good works? 1906. Can you name anything great accomplished with people, without having assemblies? 1907. Can you have an army without assemblies for drill and instruction? 1908. What definite reasons may be given for the Christian assembly? 1909. What examples do we have in the Bible? 1910. Is the day of assembly the day that draweth nigh? 1911. How can we see any other day drawing nigh? 1912. If it is not the day of worship, what are we to encourage— to exhort? 1913. If it is not a day of worship, what is violated? What does the willful sin refer to? 1914. If neglect of worship was a serious transgression in the Old Testament, is it not a sorer sin under the new covenant? 1915. If absenteeism is condemned, is it the same as willful sin? 1916. What was the custom of some? Who do you suppose they were? 1917. Why do you suppose that they were neglectful? 1918. Why do people neglect attending church today? 1919. Can 30% to 50% of a church in assembly be as effective as it should be? 1920. Do we have a responsibility to our brethren in this matter? 1921. If church people exhorted, would the preacher be so occupied with non-assembling Christians that he does not have time to call on the non-professing ones? 1922. What do you say when you exhort? 1923. What is meant by “ so much the more” ? 1924. This verse suggests a time element. What ought consideration of it do to us? 1925. What is the day referred to here? 1926. What day do some think it is? 1927. Does it not refer to a day of assembly, which men were neglecting by failure to assemble? 1928. Is there anything to suggest that it refers to the overthrow of Jerusalem? 1929. Could it refer to Christ’ s coming? 1930. Could this day be forsaken by us? 1931. Is it possible to neglect a day if you do not know that it is a day drawing nigh? 1932. If absenteeism is discussed in the previous verse, then what is the willful sin here? 1933. Ought we to be very much alarmed at the small percentage of a membership gathered around Christ’ s table? 1934. What percent of your members were present last Lord’ s, Day? 1935. What if a company tried to manufacture with such absenteeism? 1936. What truth have we received? Hebrews 10:26. 1937. What should truth produce in us— neglect or diligence? 1938. Should the Christian be a willful exhorter or neglectful assembler? Hebrews 10:26-31 A SOLEMN WARNING DANGERS AND OF Heb_10:26-31 Heb 10:26 ---For if we sin willfully, etc.— To sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth is the same as to aposta­tize from Christ, for which there is no forgiveness. See notes on Hebrews 6:4-6. The use of the present participle (hamartanonton) shows that the sin is not one of error or inadvertence; not a sin of mo­mentary excitement; but rather that it is a sin of habit; a sin that is willingly and deliberately persisted in; a sin that is committed with a high hand and in open violation and contempt of God’ s law. For the law in reference to these two classes of sins, see Numbers 15:22ff. The word rendered knowledge (epignosis) means more than a mere objective knowledge (gnosis) of the truth. It rather de­notes a full experimental knowledge, such as we gain by the active application of our minds to the study of the truth. And hence it is of “ those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heav­enly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the world to come,” that our author speaks. If such persons apostatize from Christ— Hebrews 10:26 ---There remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,— Or rather, there remaineth no longer (ouk eti) a sacrifice for sins. The idea of the Apostle is not simply that those who presumptuously reject the sacrifice of Christ can obtain salvation through no other; but fur­ther, he means to say that in the case of such high-handed trans­gressors, even the sacrifice of Christ is no longer available. The man who was once a Christian, a true child of God, and who as such was made a partaker of the Holy Spirit, and yet falls away as an apostate from Christ, can obtain no more forgiveness in any way. “ His desperate condition,” as Delitzsch justly remarks, “ is both the natural consequence of his willful error, and also a con­dign punishment inflicted by the Divine hand. He not only shuts out himself from grace, but the door of repentance is shut behind him; and he has before him only the prospect of a damnation from which there is no escape.” Hebrews 10:27 ---But a certain fearful looking for of judgment— This is the fearful condition of every apostate from Christ. Cut off from all hope of being saved, nothing remains for him but a certain fearful anticipation of coming judgment and a fervor of fire which will fi­nally consume all the enemies of God. There seems to be an allu­sion here to the fire which came out from God and consumed the two hundred and fifty Levites who participated in the rebellion of Korah (Numbers 16:35); and perhaps also to the destruction of Nadab, Abihu, and other like rebels against the Divine govern­ment. See references. So, God himself is represented as a con­suming fire (Hebrews 12:29), before whom all the wicked will finally per­ish (2 Thessalonians 1:8). This thought our author now proceeds to il­lustrate still further by a reference to the law of Moses.Hebrews 10:28 ---He that despised Moses' law, etc.— The Apostle does not speak here of all manner of sins and transgressions committed under the Old Covenant, but only of such as were committed “ with a high hand,” and in open rebellion against God and in contempt of his government: such, for example, as the sin of idolatry; the law concerning which was inexorably laid down as follows: “ If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant, and hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; and it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently, and behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: then thou shalt bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses shall he that is worthy of death <be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.” (Deuteronomy 17:2-7.) This is the best possible commentary on our text. It proves be­yond all doubt that for the apostate under the Old Covenant there was no forgiveness. And now he proceeds to show by an argu­ment, a minori ad majus, that the case of the apostate under the superior light and privileges of the New Covenant, is even more intolerable. Hebrews 10:29 ---Of how much sorer punishment, etc.— The lesson is taught by our Lord himself, that wherever much is given, there also is much always required. “ That servant,” he says, “ who knew his lord’ s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required; and to whom men have committed much, of him will they ask the more.” (Luke 12:47-48.) And just so our author reasons in the case before us. If the apostate under the Old Cove­nant was punished with so great severity, much more shall the apostate, who under the superior light of the New Covenant has trampled under foot the Son of God, and accounted the blood of the covenant by means of which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace, suffer the extreme penalties of the divine law. The threefold specification of his guilt is given here for the purpose of more clearly defining the desperately wicked and abandoned course of the apostate. Let us notice each of these in order: Hebrews 10:29 ---Who hath trodden under foot the Son of God,— The in­effably glorious and perfect Being who in infinite condescension be­came flesh and died to redeem him; who sent his good Spirit to enlighten, comfort, and sanctify him; and who, in a word, did all that Heaven could do to save him from his sins, and to make him an heir of honor, glory, and immortality;— this is the Being whom the apostate, as far as he can, now tramples under foot, and treats as an object of extreme hatred and contempt! What else can such a one expect but the extreme terrors and torments of the coming judgment. Hebrews 10:29 ---And hath counted, etc.— The word rendered unholy (koinon) means (a) what is common; and (b) what is unholy or im­pure. Its secondary meaning is to be preferred here as being more in harmony with the context. The apostate treats this blood, by means of which he was himself once sanctified, as an unholy and impure thing. The use of the word sanctified (hegiasthe) shows very clearly that the subject of the discourse was once a Christian, a true child of God, and prospectively an heir of glory. But now he is a child of the devil and an enemy of all righteousness. Hebrews 10:29 ---Hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?— That is, to the Holy Spirit. It is here called the Spirit of grace, because through it God imparts all grace, comfort, and salvation to our helpless and sinful race. By it, Christ himself worked all his mira­cles (Matthew 12:28) ; and by it, he convinces the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8) ; and by it, he com­forts his saints and helps their infirmities (John 7:39; Romans 8:26). To insult this Spirit, then, as does the apostate, is manifestly the height of all wickedness, maliciousness, and impiety. And hence, as Christ says (Matthew 12:32), for those who do so there is no forgiveness. Nothing remains for them but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a jealousy of fire which will devour all the adversaries of God. Hebrews 10:30 ---For we know him that hath said,—The meaning is, we know the character of God: we know him to be a God of truth; a God of justice; and a God of infinite power and holiness. We know, therefore, that he will certainly execute all his threatenings on his enemies, while he at the same time fulfills all his promises to his children. Hebrews 10:30 ---Vengeance belongeth unto me, etc.— This is a quotation from Deuteronomy 32:35. It is cited in Romans 12:19, to show that vengeance does not belong to us but to God. Here, it is cited to prove that God will certainly, in due time, render a just recompense to all his enemies. Hebrews 10:30 ---And again, the Lord shall judge his people.— This is a cita­tion from Deuteronomy 32:36. The same expression is found also in Psalms 135:14; but it is most likely that our author quotes from the law as given by Moses. The passage is variously explained by exposi­tors. Some take it to mean that the Lord will vindicate and avenge his people, by executing just judgment on his and their enemies (Delitzsch, Alford, Moll, Stuart) ; but others think that the object of our author is rather to show that God is so very just and righ­teous, that he will not allow the sins of even his own children to pass with impunity, much less the daring impiety of apostates (Bleek, Lunemann, De Wette). “ For if the righteous scarcely be saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear ?” (1 Peter 4:18.) Perhaps both ideas may be included in the Apostle’ s argu­ment. Hebrews 10:31 ---It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.—This is plain enough from the scope of the passage and the explanations already given. For if God is infinitely just and infi­nitely holy, it must indeed be indescribably awful to fall into his hands to be punished forever and ever. True, indeed, David says, “ Let us fall now into the hands of the Lord; for his mercies are great; and let us not fall into the hand of man.” (2 Samuel 24:14.) But David was not an apostate. It was for correction, and not for everlasting punishment, that he chose to fall into the hand of the Lord, rather than into the hands of his enemies. The cases are, therefore, not at all parallel. For it is not for the purpose of being corrected during the short space of three days, or even three centu­ries, that the apostate falls into the hands of Jehovah; but it is that he may be “ punished with an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:9.) “ These,” says Christ, “ shall go away into everlasting (aionion) punishment; but the righteous, into everlasting (aion- ion) life.” (Matthew 25:46.) Commentary on Hebrews 10:26-31 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_10:26 --for if we sin wilfullyObserve he has been talking about absentees. a.Deliberately absenting oneself from the Lord’ s Supper is wilful sin. b. Church members should examine their hearts to see if it is an excuse or a reason that kept them from the table. Hebrews 10:26 --Sinning wilfully is producing sina. Producing sin is not in the nature of the Christian. 2 Peter 1:4 : “ Become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.” 1. 1 John 2:1 : “ These things I write unto you that you may not sin.” 2. 1 John 3:9 : “ Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin because His seed abideth in him and he cannot sin, because he is begotten of God.” b. Note the Greek word for “ sin wilfully” , poion— poiei, in I John. 1. The verb is poico: “ to make, to form, to construct.” 2. The unregenerate man lives in sin and loves it; the regenerate man may lapse into sin, but he loathes it. c. The Christian does not practice or form sin. Hebrews 10:26 --after that we have received the knowledge of the truthA knowledge of the truth should make us produce fruit of the Spirit, instead wilful sin. A return to sin is a worse state than the first, according to 2 Peter 2:20-22. Hebrews 10:26 --there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sinThe Jews had none for the sin of the high hand. a. Numbers 15:30 : “ But the soul that doeth aught with a high hand, whether he be home born or a sojourner, the same blasphemeth Jehovah and that soul shall be cut off from among the people.” b. See Isaiah 1:10-15; Isaiah 59:1-2. c. Also Jeremiah 6:19-20; Jeremiah 7:9-16. God hates sin deeply, and for those enlightened ones who know better and have the power to escape and refuse it, there is no sacrifice to cover it. With the power of God, there is no excuse for wilful sin. See Philippians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 10:13. The Christian Life Not willful SinNot unto Death Sacrifice for sinRenewed unto Repentance With ChristExhorts Christ Faith in BloodHonor to Holy Spirit Holy The Willful Sinner Contrast the above with Hebrews 10:29 Sin of High HandWillful Sin Cp. Numbers 15:30 Death No sacrifice for sin Falling away; impossible to renew without Christ Trodden underfoot the Son of God Counted the blood an unholy thing Done despite unto the Spirit of Grace Hebrews 10:27 --but a certain fearful expectation of judgmentThose who go out from the blood of Christ have not only an evil conscience to feel but also the wrath of God to face. Hebrews 10:27 --and a fierceness of fireOf course this is not a new doctrine. a. Fire destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. b. Fire destroyed Korah and his rebellious company. Numbers 16:35. c. John preached about fire. Matthew 3. d. Peter preached about fire. 2 Peter 3:8-14. e. Hebrews 10:27 says God is a consuming Fire. f. Christ will come as a flaming Fire. 2 Thessalonians 1:8. This Greek word Luxos does not always mean fire. a. In Acts 13:45 it is translated “ envy, jealously” . b. Acts 5:7—“ wrath, indignation” . c. Romans 10:2, It is translated “ zeal” . d. Hebrews 10:27. The American Standard Version footnotes it as “ jealousy” . Hebrews 10:27 --which shall devour the adversariesWhether the above word is “ fire,” “ jealousy,” or “ indignation,” the result is the same. a. The backward-treading individual is to be counted as an enemy. b. Those not for Him are adversaries. Matthew 12:30. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 16:9, says that there are many adversaries. Hebrews 10:28 --a man that hath set at naught Moses’ law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses“ Setting aside” amounted to apostasy and was a capital offense. Deuteronomy 17:3-6. “ Without compassion” shows the strictness of an absolute God. a. Numbers 15:32-36 is an example. b. Sentiment cannot enforce the law. Enforcement calls for all sentiment to be aside. Two or three witnesses were required to establish the fact. a. See Deuteronomy 17:6. b. Note the fact that an elder must likewise have a plurality of accusers before being condemned. 1 Timothy 5:19. Hebrews 10:29 --of how much sorer punishmentSuch offenses were trifling in comparison to turning against Christ after once being for Him. The word “ sorer” carries the idea of severity. Hebrews 10:29 --think ye, shall he be judged worthyDeserving the worst for deserting the best is suggested. Cf. Luke 12:47-48. a. Jesus suggested that the one who knew that he was sinning, but did not cease from it, deserved many stripes. b. How undeserving of forgiveness is the one who turns his back on Christ after knowing Him. Note the three charges against such a one: a. Treading upon Christ. b. Discounting the blood of Christ. c. Insulting the Spirit. Hebrews 10:29 --who hath trodden under foot the Son of God“ Who has treated Christ with contempt” is meant here. It is an utter disregard of the King of our lives, tramping upon Him as though we were king and He a lowly conquered creature. Hebrews 10:29 --and hath counted the blood of the covenantNote the ways it is spoken of: Hebrews 10:19 : “ The blood of Jesus.” Hebrews 9:14 : “ The blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:2 : “ The blood of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:19 : “ The precious blood of Christ.” 1 John 1:7 : “ The blood of Jesus, his Son.” Revelation 7:14 : “ White in the blood of the Lamb.” The blood is to take away the errors of repentant people, not wilful sinners. Hebrews 10:29 --wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing“ Unholy” in Greek means “ common,” in contrast to “ sacred.” He has treated it as though no power or atonement were in it. Hebrews 10:29 --and hath done despiteInsult, defiance is meant here, We see people who try to hurt loved ones; this is spite. Despite is an intensified form of the word, translated, “ to treat shamefully” in Matthew 22:6; “ to insult” in Luke 18:32; Acts 14:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:2. Hebrews 10:29 --unto the Spirit of graceThe Spirit that bestowed upon them such wonderful blessings is meant, When we turn from the path of the fruit of the Spirit to produce evil fruit, we endanger our soul. How important is the Spirit? Matthew 12:28 : By Him Christ worked miracles. John 16:8 : By Him God convinces the world of righteousness and judgment. John 7:39 and Romans 8:26 : He comforts the saints and helps their infirmities. When we insult Him there is no forgiveness. Matthew 12:32; also Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10. Hebrews 10:30 --for we know Him that saidDeu_32:35-36 : God is speaking. The Hebrews knew the God that stated this. The Hebrews knew the faithful God Who in times past punished men for sin. They no doubt knew the severity of God in His dealing with Ananias and Sapphira. Hebrews 10:30 --vengeance belongeth unto MeGod has certain rights, and vengeance is one of them. a. Leviticus 19:18 : “ Thou shalt not avenge.” b. Romans 12:19 : “ Avenge not yourselves.” c. 1 Thessalonians 4:6 : “ The Lord is the avenger.” A discussion of vengeance should consider three things; a. God delegated the power to execute apostates of the nation of Israel to the rulers of the people. b. Now He has resumed the power, and He reserves apostates for an everlasting destruction.Justice demands vengeance. Hebrews 10:30 --I will recompenseGod can do an adequate job. a. Romans 1:27 : “ Receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.” b. Hebrews 2:2 : “ Every transgression received a just recompense of reward.” How shall we escape? c. 1 Peter 4:18 : “ For if the righteous are scarcely saved.” Man’ s judgment is feeble in comparison to God’ s. a. Observe these scriptures: Matthew 25:46 : “ These shall go into everlasting punishment.” 2 Thessalonians 1:9 : “ Everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.” 2 Peter 3:10-13. b. Compare this with our one-to-five year imprisonments with good food, libraries, recreation, etc., furnished to the criminal. And again, Deuteronomy 32:36. Hebrews 10:30 --the Lord shall judge His people “ Judge” here means “ govern.” a. God will divide the godly from the hypocrites. See Psalms 1:5 : “ Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment.” Also Matthew 25:46. b. The hypocrites may grow as tares, but their doom is certain. I am glad God governs His people and that He will judge us, rather than men who judge by the outward appearance.Hebrews 10:31 --it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Examples of it— Old Testament characters: a. Adam and Eve. b. Cain. c. People of Noah’ s day. d. Sodom and Gomorrah. e. Korah. An example of it in the New Testament is that of Ananias and Sapphira. The destruction pictured by Peter, and by the Book of Revelation, is the worst yet.Study Questions 1939. What was the willful sin in the Old Testament called? Cf. Numbers 15:30. 1940. What does Peter say concerning the Christian who returns to evil? Cf. 2 Peter 2:20-22. 1941. Was there a sacrifice for sin of the high hand in the Old Testament? Cf. Numbers 15:30; Isaiah 1:10-15; Isaiah 59:1-2; Jeremiah 6:19-20; Jeremiah 7:9-16. 1942. Does God hate the sin of the enlightened ones more than the sin of those living in sin? 1943. What is meant by “ no more sacrifice for sin” ? 1944. With the power of God at our disposal, is there any excuse for our falling? Cf. Philippians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 10:13. 1945. Does this verse mean that such a one can’ t return and repent? 1946. What may the backslider expect? Hebrews 10:26. 1947. What is Paul’ s adjective to describe the expectation of judgment? 1948. What does Hebrews 10:31 say about it? 1949. What is the cause for God’ s ability to be fierce according to Nahum 1:2; Nahum 1:6-7? 1950. What will accompany the judgment? 1951. Has God ever used fire to destroy people? See Genesis 19:28; Numbers 16:35. 1952. Is the expression “ fierceness of fire” a new doctrine? 1953. Did John preach about fire? Cf. Matthew 3. 1954. Did Paul? Cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Hebrews 10:27. 1955. Did Peter? Cf. 2 Peter 3:8-14. 1956. Does the word translated “ fire” always mean “ fire” ? 1957. What other meanings has it? Is it ever so translated? 1958. Is the result the same, as seen by the word “ devour” ? 1959. Is the indifferent person an adversary? Cf. Matthew 12:30. 1960. Was it a great sin to set aside the law of Moses? 1961. Was it a capital offense? Cf. Deuteronomy 17:3-6. 1962. Do we have an example of the lack of compassion? See Numbers 15:32-36. 1963. Why did God insist on a multiplicity of witnesses? 1964. Does God require witnesses against an elder? Cf. 1 Timothy 5:19. 1965. Is God sentimental when His laws are concerned? 1966. What does the word “ sorer” mean? 1967. Do we deserve the worst when we have broken the best? Cf. Luke 12:47-48. 1968. How deserving of forgiveness is the one who turns his back on it? 1969. What are the sins named in this verse as deserving of punishment? 1970. How can we tread upon Christ? 1971. Do we walk on Him when we neglect His table for visiting, fishing, picnicking, etc.? 1972. In what relationship does he speak of the blood here? 1973. How is it expressed in other verses? Cf. Hebrews 10:19; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 7:14. 1974. What is meant by the expression “ unholy thing” ? 1975. How can the backslider by his life make the sacrifice seem unholy? 1976. Define “ done despite.” 1977. See other verses for examples. Cf. Matthew 22:6; Luke 18:32; Acts 14:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:2. 1978. If the Spirit produces the blessings in our lives, what may we expect if we treat Him shamefully? 1979. If He is the Comforter, may we expect comfort by insulting Him? 1980. What did Jesus say concerning sin against the Holy Spirit? Matthew 12:32; Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10. 1981. Who is known in Hebrews 10:30? 1982. What verse is quoted? 1983. Did these people know God? 1984. Do you suppose that they knew Ananias and Sapphira? 1985. What is meant by “ vengeance” ? 1986. Was this an old doctrine carried over into the New Testament? Cf. Leviticus 19:18; Romans 12:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:6. 1987. Does justice demand vengeance? 1988. Is a law of value if God does not enforce it and punish for it? 1989. Does God mean by “ recompense” that He can do an adequate job? 1990. Will He give a just recompense? Cf. Hebrews 2:2; Romans 1:27. 1991. How does God’ s judgment compare with our modern penal systems, with libraries, food, recreation, etc.? 1992. Did Jesus teach the judgment of God?. Cf. Matthew 25:46. 1993. What is meant by God judging His people? 1994. Does God exercise His absolute power now? 1995. How does God’ s judgment differ from man’ s? 1996. If man judges by outward appearance, ought we to be the more careful? 1997. Give examples of the fearfulness of God’ s judgment in the Old Testament. In the New Testament. 1998. Is that pictured in Revelation and by Peter worse? 1999. What former days are to be recalled? 2000. What pleasant and worthwhile memories should they recall? 2001. What would “ enlightened” refer to? Hebrews 10:32. 2002. What had they endured in suffering? 2003. Could it be the persecution after Stephen’ s death? 2004. What kind of good could come from such a memory? 2005. Does easy living make for careless religion? 2006. What is meant by “ gazingstock” ? 2007. What does the word “ partly” refer to? 2008. Could it mean that some of them had been gazingstocks, and others had not? 2009. Was it common for people to be publicly abused?. Cf. Acts 19:29; 1 Corinthians 4:9. 2010. What is the difference between reproaches and afflictions? 2011. Does Hebrews 10:34 give a clue? 2012. How could they “ partly” be partakers with abused people? 2013. Could Hebrews 6:10 be a reference to this? 2014. What two things were commendable in their life according to this verse? 2015. Does the King James Version read differently here? 2016. Is the commendation in order in either case? 2017. What is meant by spoiling of possessions? Hebrews 10:33. 2018. What possessions cannot be spoiled by man? 2019. What is implied by the word “ abiding” ? 2020. “ Cast away” would be the sign of what? Hebrews 10:32-34 AND THE HEBREW , ON OF THEIR Hebrews 10:32-34 Hebrews 10:32 ---But call to remembrance, etc.—We are here reminded of the very happy and encouraging turn which our author gave to his argument in the sixth chapter. Having there treated of the alarm­ing state of the apostate, he reminded his readers that though sadly delinquent in some respects, they were, nevertheless, still far re­moved from the sin of apostasy. “ God,” he says, “ is not unrigh­teous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” And just so he proceeds in this instance. Having pre­sented to the Hebrew brethren the awful doom of those who reject Christ and the great salvation purchased through his blood, he next encourages them by referring to their first love, and remind­ing them how heroically they had endured their former afflictions. Hebrews 10:32 ---After ye were illuminated,—That is, after they had been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of him who is himself the light of the world (John 8:12), the Sun of righteousness that has risen upon the nations (Mai. 4:2). Those who follow him cannot walk in darkness. See notes on Hebrews 6:4. Hebrews 10:32 --- Ye endured a great fight of afflictions.—These afflictions were such as occurred after the martyrdom of Stephen, when there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem. (Acts 8:1 Acts 12:1-3, etc.) All these, the Hebrew brethren of Je­rusalem and Palestine had borne patiently and even heroically, as faithful “ soldiers of the cross.” And now the Apostle would have them be consistent, and persevere in like manner even to the end. Hebrews 10:33 ---Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock, etc.— The ob­ject of the Apostle in this verse, is to particularize and further il­lustrate the very severe nature and character of their former trials and afflictions; and also to remind them still further of the great readiness of mind with which they had endured them. They not only bore with patience and Christian fortitude the severe trials to which they themselves were subjected by their persecutors; but they also, it seems, voluntarily became the companions of others who were suffering in like manner. To be made a gazingstock (theatrizomenoi) is to be exposed to public abuse and insult, as criminals often were in the Greek and Roman theaters. (Acts 19:29; 1 Corinthians 4:9.) Speaking of these barbarous exhibitions, Seneca says in his seventh epistle: “ In the morning men are exposed to lions and bears: at midday, to their spectators. Those that kill are opposed to one another; and the victor is detained for another slaughter. The conclusion of the fight is death.” The word re­proaches (oneidismoi) has reference to the reproachful epithets which were heaped upon the Christians by their persecutors; and the word afflictions (thlipseis) denotes the various sufferings and calamities which they endured. All these they had borne with pa­tience and Christian fortitude; and they had even voluntarily be­come the companions or partners (koinonoi) of those who were suffering from like reproaches and afflictions. This they did, no doubt, by contributing of their means for their support and com­fort ; and by doing all in their power to alleviate and remove their sufferings. Hebrews 10:34 ---For ye had compassion of me in my bonds,— Or rather, according to the above critical note, For ye sympathised with them who were in bonds. This reading is, on the whole, best sustained by both the internal and the external evidence; and it is therefore preferred by Grotius, Bengel, Semler, Wetstein, Michaelis, Gries- bach, Scholz, Kuinoel, Bleek, Knapp, Ebrard, Delitzsch, and Moll, as well as by the authorities cited in the above note. It is proper to add, however, that the reading of the Textus Receptus is sup­ported by the Codex Sinaiticus and several other valuable manu­scripts. It is therefore a satisfaction to know that the difference of these readings does not materially affect the sense of the passage; the obvious purpose of the writer being in either case to praise and encourage the Hebrews on account of their former sympathy for those who were in bonds and afflictions. Hebrews 10:34 ---And took joyfully the spoiling of your goods,— This may refer (1) to the losses which the Hebrews sustained in consequence of their becoming Christians; just as it sometimes now hap­pens even in our own day. “ When a Jew,” says Ebrard, “ shows himself determined to become a Christian, he is disinherited by his relatives; his share of the property is withheld from him; his credit and every source of gain, withdrawn; and he falls into a state of complete destitution.” This same kind of injustice was extensively practiced in primitive times by both Jews and Gentiles. But (2) it is probable that the Apostle refers here more particularly to the heavy losses of property which the Hebrew Christians had in­curred in times of persecution. In either case, they bore all joy­fully, just as the Apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus. (Acts 5:41.) Hebrews 10:34 ---Knowing in yourselves, etc.— Or, according to the most ap­proved reading, Knowing that ye have for yourselves a better pos­session, and one that is enduring. Some valuable manuscripts, as D, K, L, etc., retain the phrase in heaven (en ouranois). But whether these words are spurious or genuine, the sense of the pas­sage is in either case manifestly the same, as it is, no doubt, to the heavenly inheritance that our author here refers. See 1 Peter 1:4. The Hebrews, it seems, had joyfully submitted to being robbed of their earthly possessions; because, like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they had constantly in view the heavenly country, and also the city which had the foundations. (Hebrews 11:10 Hebrews 11:16.) “ Thus,” observes De­litzsch, “ the sacred writer raises the hearts and minds of those whom his previous language might have depressed. He had led them to the brink of a terrible precipice of negligence and apostasy, down which they seemed in danger of falling; and now he leads them back from it to the contemplation of their own steadfast and favored past." Commentary on Hebrews 10:32-34 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_10:32 --but call to remembrance the former daysThey had had days of strife, battle and victory over sin, and these should be remembered. Early days of Christian experience, a reminder of past faithfulness, should encourage me to strive again. Hebrews 10:32 --in which after ye were enlightened Enlightment is of Christ. John 8:12 : “ I am the Light of the world, He that followeth Me shall not walk in the darkness, hut shall have the Light of life.” God’ s word casts the light for men to follow. Hebrews 10:32 --ye endured a great conflict of sufferingsProbably the persecution that broke out after Stephen’ s death. Acts 8:1; Acts 12:3. The persecution by brethren of loved ones is the most severe. Jesus prophesied that brethren would deliver up brethren. Matthew 10:21-22. Hebrews 10:33 --partly being made a gazing-stock“ Exposed to public shame” is meant. The meaning or use of the word “ partly” should be considered. a. Some suggest: “ This suffering took place partly while they were being made a gazingstock.” b. Likely not all had endured the same suffering. In Greek and Roman theaters, criminals were often publicly abused and insulted. Acts 19:29 and 1 Corinthians 4:9. Hebrews 10:33 --both by reproaches and afflictions“ Reproaches” were the unkind words heaped upon the Christians, The unbelievers treated the Christians as they treated Christ. “ Afflictions” refers to those various sufferings and calamities which they endured. Hebrews 10:33 --and partly becoming partakers with them that were so usedIf they as individuals had not suffered, they had helped financially those that had been persecuted, This may be alluded in Hebrews 6:10. Hebrews 10:34 --for ye both had compassion on them that were in bondsKing James version: “ For ye had compassion of me in my bonds,” makes it personal. a. The difference appears in some manuscripts. b. The difference doesn’ t affect the meaning. 1. In either case he praises them for their faithfulness. 2. Paul had endured all that is named, so if they had helped Paul only, they had shared. This is the commendable thing about the Hebrews, as seen in Hebrews 6. Hebrews 10:34 --and took joyfully the spoiling of your possessionsThe early church was scattered, Acts 8, which no doubt meant possessions were taken from them. Those whose treasures are in heaven do not sorrow for earthly losses. Hebrews 10:34 --knowing that ye yourselves have a better possession and an abiding oneOur possessions cannot be spoiled. Matthew 6:19 : “ lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume” ; 1 Corinthians 9:25 : “ They do it to obtain a corruptible crown” ; 1 Peter 1:4. Everything here is temporary, while in heaven everything is abiding.Study Questions 2021. The Christian should be girding for battle, What kind of a soldier would he be if he lost his courage? 2022. Is boldness the same as cocksureness? 2023. Is there room for haughtiness in this boldness? 2024. What apostle had boldness? 2025. What is meant by “ recompense” ? 2026. Is it evident that the Christian will be rewarded? 2027. Did Jesus ever warn concerning working for a losing cause? Hebrews 10:35-39 THE HEBREWS ARE FURTHER ENCOUR­AGED TO ; AND TO PER­ FAITH EVEN TO THE END,WHICH TO THEM WAS THEN VERY NEARAT HAND, WHEN THEY WOULD ALL FOR Heb_10:35-39 Hebrews 10:35 ---Cast not away therefore your confidence,— There seems to be an allusion here to the conduct of weak and cowardly soldiers, who in the day of battle were wont to throw aside their shields and turn their backs on the enemy. This was regarded by the ancients as extremely dishonorable. And hence when the Lacedemonian women presented shields to their sons on going to battle, they were in the habit of saying to them, “ Bring this back, or 'be brought back upon it." The same sentiment prevailed also among the an­cient Germans. Tacitus says, that “ to lose or cast away the shield in battle, was regarded by them as a matter of the greatest dis­honor ; and that those who acted so were not allowed to be present at the sacrifices, nor to attend the public assemblies of the people." (Germ. c. vi.) In allusion to this very prevalent feeling among the ancients, our author exhorts his Hebrew brethren not to act the part of cowardly soldiers by voluntarily casting away the shield of faith, or rather of that holy and joyful confidence (parresia) which faith inspires in the soul; but to quit themselves like men; “ to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might"; knowing that no one could ever deprive them of this most valuable weapon of their Christian panoply, unless they would themselves voluntar­ily cast it aside, and then turn about and act as cowards. Hebrews 10:35 ---Which hath great recompense of reward.— This joyful and well grounded confidence gives us peace of mind here, and secures for all who possess it, “ glory, honor, and immortality” hereafter. Great indeed, therefore, is the recompense of its reward. It should be remembered, however, that this reward is not bestowed on any­one as a matter of debt, but of grace. “ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8.) This confidence is therefore but one of the legiti­mate fruits of God’ s gracious plan; and it serves as a means of en­joying the salvation that has been so freely purchased for us through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus. Hebrews 10:36 ---For ye have need of patience,— Patience is necessary at all times, and especially in times of trial and affliction. For without it, God’ s gracious chastisements are unavailing; they only serve to irritate and excite our evil passions, and to make us more discon­tented. But with patience, they always give us a joyful and ap­proving experience which fills us with an increase of hope and love. (Romans 5:3-5.) And accordingly James exhorts his brethren of the dispersion to let patience have her perfect work, that they “ might be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” The man who does this, can always with Paul “ glory in tribulations,” knowing that “ these light afflictions which are but momentary [serve to] work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17.) Hebrews 10:36 ---After ye have done the will of God,— That is, after ye have done and suffered all that God requires of you. The Apostle does not mean to say that Christians should fulfill the will of God, as Christ did by means of his atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 10:7 Hebrews 10:9) ; but only that they should do and suffer patiently, in obedience to God’ s will, whatever he himself may appoint or permit for their own spiritual improvement, as well as for the welfare of others. Hebrews 10:36 ---Ye might receive the promise.— The whole verse may be more literally and simply rendered as follows: For ye have need of pa­tience ; that having done the will of God, ye may receive the prom­ise. By “ the promise” is not meant the word of the promise; for that had been long previously given to Abrahapi and to his seed. (Galatians 3:29.) But “ the promise” here means the thing promised. It is the eternal life with all its accompanying blessings, upon the enjoyment of which the soul of every true believer enters immedi­ately after death. (Luke 16:22; 2 Corinthians 5:6 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23, etc.) And so we read that after Abraham had patiently endured “ he ob­tained the promise.” (Hebrews 6:15.) The object of the Apostle, then, in the use of these words, is simply to persuade the Hebrew Chris­tians to walk in the footsteps of their father Abraham; so that like him, when the toils and trials of life were all over, they too might obtain the promise, and enter on the enjoyment of the eternal in­heritance. Hebrews 10:37 ---For yet a little while, etc.— More literally: For yet a little little while [that is, a very little while], he who is coming (ho erchomenos) will come, and will not tarry. The coming One here spoken of is manifestly Christ himself. But what is meant by his coming? To what coming does our author here refer ? Many say, “ To his second personal coming.” But this is plainly inconsistent with the scope of the Apostle's exhortation, as well as with the truth itself. His obvious design in the passage is to encourage the Hebrew brethren to persevere in their begun Christian course, on the ground that the coming of Christ was then very near at hand, when they would all be delivered from the snares, reproaches, and violence of their persecutors. But how could he consistently and truthfully encourage them to do this, on the ground that the second personal advent of Christ was then very near at hand ? It will not do to say with some that the Apostles themselves so believed and so taught. They did neither, but just the reverse. For when some of the Thessalonian brethren so understood Paul's teaching (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17), he promptly addressed to them a second letter, in which he very emphatically corrected their mistake. “ Now we beseech you, brethren,” he says, “ by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ [the Lord] is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,” etc. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3.) This, then, is a clear and satisfactory refutation of the charge, that the Apostles believed and taught that the second per­sonal coming of Christ was near at hand in their own day. And so also is the book of Revelation a refutation of it. Indeed, with this prophetic chart before us, no one can yet say understandingly that the second personal advent of Christ is even now near at hand. For after the destruction of Babylon, a long period of religious prosperity will intervene before the final judgment, which will take place immediately after Christ’ s second coming. See Matthew 13:30 Matthew 13:41-46 Matthew 16:27 Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:5-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; 2 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 3:7-10; Revelation 20:11-15. The coming of Christ, as referred to in our text, must therefore mean, not his second personal coming, but his coming in providence most likely, to destroy Jerusalem, and so to deliver his elect from the violent persecutions to which they had long been subjected by the unbelieving Jews. (Matthew 24:29-41.) To this Christ himself refers encouragingly in Luke 21:28; where, speaking of the signs of Jerusalem’ s approaching ruin, he says, “ When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh.” The fall of Jerusalem put an end, of course, to Jewish persecution; and in this way and to this extent, it brought deliverance to the Christians of Palestine. And as this occurred in A.D. 70, about seven years after the writing of this Epistle, the evidence seems very clear that the Apostle has reference here to that ever memorable event. See note on the last clause of verse 25. This view of the matter is also further corroborated by the fact that our author finds in the prophecy of Habakkuk, concerning the overthrow of the Chaldean monarchy, language so very appro­priate to his purpose that he here takes and applies it as his own; thereby showing that the two cases are very analogous. The words of the prophecy may be literally rendered as follows, begin­ning with 2: 2, for the sake of the connection. And Jehovah an­swered me and said, Write the vision, and engrave it on smooth tablets, so that he may run [that is, read fluently] who reads it. For yet the vision is for an appointed time, and it will hasten to the end, and will not lie: if it tarry wait for it, for it will surely come; it will not be behind [the appointed time]. Behold his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him; but the just by his faith shall live. From this it will be seen that our author does not quote the exact words of God’ s reply to the Prophet; but as is usual in such cases of accommodation (see Romans 10:6-8), he so modifies the language as to adapt it to the case in hand. The main lesson is, however, the same in both Hebrews and Habakkuk; viz.: that God would certainly come and execute his purposes at the ap­pointed time: and that while the proud and self-reliant would of necessity perish under the righteous judgments of God, the just man’ s faith, if it wavered not, would certainly support him under the severest trials. This was all impressively illustrated in the fall of Jerusalem. The unbelieving Jews were all slain or taken captive; but not a Christian perished in the siege. Eusebius says, “ When the whole congregation of the Church in Jerusalem, according to an oracle given by revelation to approved persons among them before the war, were commanded to depart from the city and inhabit a city which they call Pella, beyond the Jordan, to which when all those who believed in Christ had removed from Jerusalem, and when the saints had totally abandoned the royal city which is the metropolis of the Jews, then the Divine vengeance seized them who had dealt so wickedly with Christ and his Apostles, and utterly destroyed that wicked and abominable generation.’’ (Eccl. Hist. iii. v.) To the same effect testifies also Epiphanius. He says, “ The disciples of Christ being warned by an angel, removed to Pella; and after­ward when Hadrian rebuilt Jerusalem and called it after his own family name, yElia Colonia, they returned thither.” Hebrews 10:38 ---Now the just shall live by faith:— The following readings are submitted for the consideration of the thoughtful: (1) but the just by his faith shall live (Hebrew) ; (2) but the just by faith shall live (Rec.) ; (3) but the just by the faith of me shall live (Sept. Codex B) ; (4) but my just one by faith shall live (Sept. Codex A). In all these readings there is an ambiguity depending 1. How transcendently great are the honors, birthrights and privileges of the children of God (verses 19-21). Having now free access to the Holiest of all by the blood of Jesus, and having a great high priest over the house of God, we need fear no evil so long as we walk worthy of our high and holy calling. All the events of life must and will work together for our good while here (Romans 8:28); and death itself will but serve to elevate us to a higher state of glory, honor and blessedness hereafter (Hebrews 4:10). “ For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dis¬solved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1.) Who then that has the faith and experience of Paul would not like him prefer to depart and be with Christ. (Philippians 1:23.) 2. But let it not be forgotten that, after all, the enjoyment of heaven depends essentially, through Divine grace, on our own exertions (Hebrews 10:23). “ Work out your own salvation,” says Paul, “ with fear and trembling; for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13.) The blood of Christ is of no avail to the man who lives and dies in willful disobedience. Christ came to save men from their sins, not in them. And hence the force and propriety of the exhortation that we should draw near to God “ with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” God himself is infinitely holy; and they only can enjoy his presence who purify their souls by obeying the truth, through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren. (1 Peter 1:22.) 3. Obedience consists in doing from the heart the will of God, as it is revealed to us in his Holy Word (Hebrews 10:23). It is, indeed, wholly useless for us to attempt to serve God in any other way. “ In vain,” says Christ, “ they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:9.) So he once said to the Jews, and so he still says to thousands today. For it must be confessed that many who profess to be the followers of Christ have departed quite as far from the letter and spirit of the New Covenant, as the Jews had departed from the Old. Indeed this spirit of will-worship is a weakness and proneness of human nature, not confined to any one age or people. The mystery of iniquity was at work even in Paul’ s time (2 Thessalonians 2:7); and many have since departed still further and further from the faith and simplicity of the Gospel. How many thousands, for instance, who habitually desecrate the Lord’ s Day, are not superstitiously punctilious in ob¬serving days and festivals of their own creation. And to how many thousands might it still be said, as Paul once said to the Corinthians, “ When ye come together into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’ s Supper.” O that God would raise up another Elijah to restore to the Church what the Man of sin has taken away; and to free her, at the same time, from the many oppressive burdens which he has arrogantly imposed on her. 4. Christians should never neglect the meetings appointed for public and social worship, especially on the Lord’ s Day (Hebrews 10:25). Those who do so, show but a poor appreciation of their rights and privileges, and at the same time they set before others an example which often leads to the very worst of consequences. God has given to us a social nature, and he has also given to us a religion that is in all respects adapted to the wants of our nature: a religion that knows but “ one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6.) And hence we are required to bear one another’ s burdens (Galatians 6:1) ; to exhort and admonish one another daily, lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13). The habit of going to meeting merely for the purpose of hearing some distinguished preacher has become entirely too common in the church of Christ. Indeed, it has become a very great evil. Christians should meet together to worship God, and to commemorate the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, as did the primitive church, whether they have a preacher with them or not. If there is present anyone who is in all respects well qualified to instruct and edify the congregation, let us thank God for the favor and gratefully listen to the words of his servant. But if no such one is in the meeting, we have neverthe¬less the precious promise that Christ himself is present to bless all who meet in his name, and to honor him in the ordinances of his own appointment. (Matthew 28:20.) Let the Lord’ s Day, then, be wholly sanctified to the honor and glory of him who has inscribed his own name upon it, as a day that is most holy. Let it be a day of holy joy, and prayer, and praise, in the family, in the Sunday-school, in the social meeting, and in the public assembly of the saints, and very soon the happy consequences will be felt throughout all Christendom. 5. We have all reason to anticipate a day of trial, as well as the ancient Hebrews (Hebrews 10:25). God has not called us to go to Heaven“ On flowery beds of ease,While others fought to win the prize,And sailed through bloody seas.” This world is preordained and arranged for our education and discipline, and it is therefore a great blessing to be allowed to suffer patiently for the sake of Christ and his church (Philippians 1:29.) But the danger is that in the hour of trial our faith may fail us. and that in consequence of our great weakness we may bring dishonor on the cause of Christ. Many have done so; some to their own shame and everlasting disgrace; and others, like Peter, to their deepest grief and mortification. We cannot, therefore, be too ear¬nest in our supplications at the throne of grace, that God would help us, and not allow us to be tempted above what we are able to bear, but that he would enable us to come off more than con¬querors through him who has so tenderly loved us. This, God will certainly do if we only trust in him and rely on him as we should. See 1 Corinthians 10:13; Isaiah 49:15. 6. It is well to remember our first love and to think often of the joy, comfort, and consolation which filled our hearts when we first put on Christ and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 10:32-34). Then, we had no thought of ever looking back to the flesh-pots of Egypt, or to anything else pertaining to “ the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life.” Jesus was to us “ the chief among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely.” We then felt that we would gladly bear anything for the honor and glory of his name, and that we would never murmur or com-plain in the service of him who bore the cross for us. But, alas! how many become discouraged by the way, and are almost per¬suaded to turn back and walk no more with Jesus. Such persons need to be encouraged. The spirit is often willing when the flesh is weak. And it not unfrequently revives the hearts of these dis¬couraged ones to talk with them of “ the former days,” when they willingly and joyfully bore much for the sake of Christ. 7. It is a consolation to know that the period of our earthly trials is of but short duration (Hebrews 10:37). If we had to endure these trials and afflictions for even a few hundred years, many of us might faint by the way. But not so. Our blessed Lord says to each of us, “ Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his works shall be” (Revelation 22:12). “ He that overcometh,” he says, “ shall be clothed with white rai¬ment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life; but I will confess his name before my Father and his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Revelation 3:5-6.) Commentary on Hebrews 10:35-39 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_10:35 --cast not away therefore your boldnessThe cowards in battle would throw aside their weapons and flee, and of course this meant defeat. The Christian is to gird on, to be strong, to be confident, with the shield of faith. Ephesians 6:13-18. The word “ boldness” here is not “ cockiness” nor haughtiness, but confidence. a. This is gained in Christ. See Ephesians 3:12. b. Only the confident have the confidence of God.Hebrews 10:35 --which hath great recompense of rewardThe faithful know that their labor is not vain in the Lord. a. 1 Corinthians 15:58 : Eternal life will be ours. b. Galatians 6:9 : “ We shall” expresses certainty. c. John 6:27 : Some labor for that which perishes. If we cast away our confidence, we throw away our chances for eternal life. Hebrews 10:36 --for ye have need of patienceThe author’ s analysis of their specific need is patience. We win our own salvation by patience, and also win the souls of others. See Luke 21:19. Hebrews 10:36 --that having done the will of God ye may receive the promisePatience in spite of discouragement leads one on to do the will of God, When God’ s will is done, then God’ s promise is assured and received. a. Abraham found it to be true, Hebrews 6:15. b. The children of Abraham by faith will someday obtain the promise. Eternal life and all its joys is meant here. Hebrews 10:37 --for yet a very little whileThis suggests that a short time remains, Milligan and the American Standard Version editors feel that this language is from Habakkuk 2:3. Hebrews 10:37 --He that cometh shall come and shall not tarryMilligan: ‘ Obviously it is Christ,” He says not the second coming, but the providential coming to save them from Jerusalem. Newell thinks Christ’ s coming is the promise found in Hebrews 10:36. The Christian does not look to death but to the coming of Christ.Hebrews 10:39 --but My righteous oneFootnote: “ the righteous one.” If the expression, “ My righteous,” is allowed, we see the ground on which God claims us, the principle of faith. We ought to live so that God will say to us, “ My righteous one.” Hebrews 10:39 --shall live by faithThis is a quotation from Habakkuk 2:3-4. It appears three times in the New Testament, and each time in an interesting light. a. Romans 1:17 : Connected with the “ just” or “ righteous.” b. Galatians 3:3 : Connected with the subject of being perfected. c. Hebrews 10:38 : Set in the midst of conflict of sufferings. Hebrews 10:38 --and if he shrink backThe words “ any man” appear in the King James version, but not in the original. a. It is not “ any man” that he is speaking of, but the just man. b. We are to live by faith, in spite of all that the devil sends against us. With God by our side let us not shrink back like Saul’ s army, but like David live by faith, and we are a match for any enemy. The danger lies in living by appearance rather than by faith. See 2 Corinthians 5:7. Hebrews 10:38 --My soul hath no pleasure in himShrinking back puts us in the class with Cain, wilderness wandering Israel, Ahab and the others. God loves the persevering, like Joshua, Abraham, David, Paul and others named in the following chapter. Hebrews 10:39 --but we are not of them that shrink backIt may seem a little thing to yield to sin, but how terrible are the results. a. It is a turning from glory to doom. b. The Christian is to “ keep on keeping on.” Hebrews 10:39 --unto perditionThis sets forth damnation; and note that it is a place of bad company. a. The false Christ, antichrist, and false prophets are doomed to perdition. Revelation 17:8-11. b. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 : The same word is applied to this evil one. c. Judas was the “ son of perdition.” John 17:12. d. 1 Timothy 6:9 speaks of destruction and perdition together. e. 2 Peter 3:7 : Perdition of ungodly men. “ Shrinking back” then must be a condition in danger of being permanent. Hebrews 10:39 --but them that have faith unto the saving of the soulIt is a joy to be on the salvation side of faith. a. The author no doubt expresses this to give them courage. b. We are on the road to eternal life, whereas the shrinkersback are on the road to perdition. There is a faith that will not save us. a. The wavering faith will not. Hebrews 10:39. b. The faith without works. See James 2:17-26. Study Questions2028. If we lose our boldness, what hope have we? 2029. Has the author analyzed the need of the Hebrews? 2030. What did he conclude that they needed? Cf. Luke 21:19. 2031. What is an alternate translation of the word “ patience” ? 2032. Name some Old Testament characters who exemplified patience. 2033. What will patience lead one to do according to verse thirty-six? 2034. What is the promise mentioned here? 2035. Why is it singular when we have so many promises? 2036. What does he say concerning time? 2037. Is this a quotation? 2038. Who is the One coming? 2039. Is it the actual coming or a providential coming? 2040. What do the scholars mean by the “ providential” coming? 2041. Could the promise of Heb 10:36 be the coming referred to in Hebrews 10:37? 2042. If it referred to the actual coming of Christ, then is this false hope in Hebrews 10:36-37? 2043. What is meant by “ righteous one” ? 2044. How can we be considered righteous when we have sin? 2045. Does it say “ My righteous one” or “ the righteous one” ? 2046. Is this an original statement by the Hebrew author? 2047. Is living by faith peculiar to God’ s people, or does the principle of faith act in other relationships? 2048. How does the King James Version differ here? 2049. Is it any man, or the righteous man referred to here? 2050. What is meant by “ shrink back” ? Shrink from what? 2051. Is the believer a shrinker— a coward? 2052. Does God have a soul? 2053. In whose class would we be if we shrink back? 2054. Name some courageous people in whom God was pleased. 2055. Does the author identify himself with the shrinkers or perseverers? 2056. What is meant by “ perdition” ? 2057. The Christian keeps on for what? 2058. The shrinker shrinks back to what? 2059. In whose company would we be if we shrank back? Cf. Revelation 17:8-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 6:9; 2 Peter 3:7. 2060. If perdition is so serious, can we take backsliding lightly? 2061. In what class are those who keep on keeping on? 2062. Is this a statement to give courage? 2063. Does this verse imply two kinds of faith, one that saves and one that cannot? 2064. Who has a faith that will not save? 2065. What does James 2:17-26 say about faith? Hebrews 11:1-3 THE NATURE, , POWER OF FAITH Hebrews 11:1-3 Hebrews 11:1 ---Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,—It is I think obvious from the context that the object of our author in this verse is, not to define faith, not to tell what it is in and of itself, but simply to describe it in its relations to the human soul, as a means of endurance and principle of enjoyment. Having shown from Habakkuk, its marvelous conservative power, it was natural that he should next explain wherein its great strength lieth; and how it is that it wields so great an influence over the character, lives, and fortunes of those who possess it. This he does with great clear­ness, beauty, and energy in the course of this section. He begins by telling us that faith is the hupostasis of things hoped for. This is all plain enough except the word hupostasis. What does it mean? In Hebrews 1:3, it evidently means essence or substance, in con­trast with the outward manifestations of the Deity; and in Hebrews 3:14, it just as clearly means confidence in God and in the word of his grace. In this latter sense, confidence in reference to the things hoped for, it is here taken by Luther, Melancthon, Grotius, Bohme, Tholuck, Bleek, DeWette, Bloomfield, McLean, Lunemann, Ebrard, Stuart, Delitzsch, Alford, Moll, and most other modern interpreters. “ There can be no reasonable doubt,” says Alford, “ that this is the true meaning here.” But others, as Chrysostom, Ambrose, Augustine, Bengel, and the translators of our English Version, see in this word something more than “ a well grounded confidence.” They allege that, in the use of this term, the Apostle means to say that faith is in effect to the soul of the believer the very substance or essence of things hoped for: so that, by means of it, he is able to enjoy as present realities, what without faith would be to him in effect but as mere nonentities. It was faith, say they, that gave to the heavenly country such a substantive existence in the minds of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as enabled them to enjoy it, in a measure, even while they were strangers and pilgrims on the Earth. That this is all implied in the use of the word hupos- tasis, is I think very clear from the several illustrations which fol­low in this chapter. But it is not so clear to my mind that the Apostle intends to express by this word anything more than a firm and well grounded confidence in reference to the objects of our hope. This confidence is of course followed by many joyful and encouraging effects, some of which are well illustrated by the re­marks of Chrysostom and Augustine. For other instances of the use of this word, see 2 Corinthians 9:4 2 Corinthians 11:17. Hebrews 11:1 ---the evidence of things not seen.—This, in connection with the preceding clause, forms a sort of constructive Hebrew parallelism. The expression, “ things not seen” comprehends more than “ the things hoped for.” The latter has reference only to future good; but the former embraces all the invisible realities of the universe, past, present, and future, about which the Holy Spirit has borne witness. The word here rendered evidence (elenkos) is also used in different senses. It may denote (1) the proof or demonstration, by means of which any proposition is shown to be true or false; and (2) the conviction or full persuasion wrought in the mind by means of this demonstration. Commentators are much divided as to the proper meaning of the word in this connec­tion. Some, as Bengel, Bohme, Stier, Ebrard, Hofmann, Stuart, Delitzsch, and Alford, take it objectively, in the sense of proof or demonstration; and others, as Kuinoel, Menken, Bleek, De Wette, Liinemann, etc., take it subjectively, in the sense of conviction or firm persuasion. For my own part, I think as in the former case, that both ideas are implied in the Apostle’ s use of the term; but that it is the subjective element to which he has most direct reference, and which he intends to express by the word elegchos. There can, of course, be no conviction without a sufficient proof; but it is not I think to the proof, but to its effect on the soul, that the Apostle here particularly refers. This is most in harmony with his main object throughout the entire chapter, which is manifestly to describe faith in its relations to the soul, both as a power of en­durance, and a means and principle of enjoyment. He, therefore, begins the discussion with the simple affirmation, that faith is to the soul of the believer confidence with respect to things hoped for, and conviction with respect to things not seen: that is, with respect to such invisible realities as are revealed to us in the word of God. For where there is no testimony there can be no faith. (Romans 10:17.) But when God speaks, his word is to the believer an end of all controversy. It is to the Christian what a demonstration is to the mathematician: it gives confidence with respect to whatever is promised; and it begets conviction with respect to the truth of whatever is affirmed. Do the Scriptures teach, for example, that “ the hour is coming in which all that are in their graves shall hear his [Christ’ s] voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation ?”— the Christian receives this testi­mony, believes it, and acts in reference to it with all confidence. Why so? Simply because God says so. No reasoning, no philoso­phy, and no demonstration of any kind, can ever go beyond this. And hence it is, that to the believer all the promises of God are yea and amen in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20) ; and like Moses he endures as seeing him who is invisible (Hebrews 11:27). The word elenkos occurs only here and in 2 Timothy 3:16. In the latter case, it means conviction of sin, or of any erroneous notions or hy­potheses. Hebrews 11:2 ---For by it the elders obtained a good report.— Our author now proceeds with the proof and illustration of his main thesis, as submitted in the first verse. That faith is confidence with respect to the objects of our hope, and conviction with respect to those in­visible realities which are revealed to us in the word of God, he argues (1) from the fact that by it (en taute) the elders obtained a good name and a most enviable reputation from God as well as from his people; and (2) from the fact that by means of it we are convinced that the universe was framed by the word of God. These elders (hoi presbuteroi) were not only persons in official authority, but the term is used here to indicate all the heroic men of the Old Testament from Abel down to the Maccabees, as we learn from what follows. They were not generally distinguished for their wealth, their talents, their learning, or their worldly at­tainments of any kind; but they were men of faith. They believed God's word; and they were, therefore, constrained to look upward for life, health, and happiness. They set their affections on things that are above, and not on things that are on the Earth, knowing that they were but strangers and pilgrims in the world. This un­wavering confidence in God and in the word of his grace, gave them even while here a realization of good things to come, and en­abled them to endure with meekness and fortitude the severest trials and afflictions. Hebrews 11:3 ---Through faith we understand, etc.—This is given by our author as an example of the “ things not seen.” The creation of the universe is a matter which we did not and which we cannot perceive by means of our corporeal senses: nor is it discernible by even the eye of reason through the medium of the light of nature. This, all must concede. But to the eye of faith it is just as plain that “ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” as that Columbus discovered America, or that George Washington was once President of the United States. The critics are not agreed as to the textual meaning of the word that is here rendered worlds (aiones). Literally, it means ages; and it is so rendered by Alford and most of the Greek Fathers. But it seems to me, judging from the terms of the context, that the Apostle intends to express here about the same general thought that Moses expresses in Genesis 1:1; and I, therefore, agree with Delitzsch and others that aiones is used here by metonymy to denote at least the whole material universe. See note 1: 3. This will become more obvious from the consideration of the following clause. Hebrews 11:3 ---so that things are seen, etc.:— or rather, according to our best authorities, So that that which is seen [the visible universe] has not come into being from visible materials, as the heathen philoso­phers all believed and taught. Thales maintained that God made all things out of water or chaos. Plato concedes the eternity of three distinct principles, viz., God, matter, and ideas: meaning by the ideas a sort of incorporeal archetypes according to which God framed and fashioned all things. Aristotle held to the eternity of matter; and says, it was the common opinion of naturalists that “ Nothing can be made out of nothing.” This is as far as philoso­phy goes or can go. But our faith assures us that God alone is eternal; and that in the beginning he created the Heavens and the Earth. (Genesis 1:1.) It assures us moreover that through the eternal Word, who was with God and who was God, all things came into being (egeueto) ; and that without him not even one thing came into being which is in being (John 1:1-3). And just so in our text. The Apostle makes no attempt at explanation; but like Moses he simply affirms, by the authority of the Holy Spirit, that God did not make the universe, as an architect makes a house, or as an artist makes a steam engine out of pre-existing materials; but that in the beginning he' created it by the word of his power. “ He spake,” and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Commentary on Hebrews 11:1-3 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_1:1 --Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen“ Faith” in the original languages: a. The Greek is pistis— in its forms means “ steady, faithful.” b. In the Hebrew several words are used, also with the idea of stability, steadiness. The world of men lives by faith in all realms. a. An auto is driven by faith, or else we would stay off the highway. We have a faith in the machine, faith in self, faith in others. b. We travel by train, bus, airplane, and ship, by faith in these respects: in pilot, navigator, engineer and on the signal system. c. We marry on faith. Faith is important for true love. d. History is accepted by faith. Some of the questions about faith: a. The importance of faith. How important is it? 1. Hebrews 11:6 : Without faith it is impossible to please God. 2. Abraham’ s life illustrates it to be a basis of friendship with God. b. What is faith? 1. Hebrews 11:1 defines it. 2. Belief that God exists. 3. Belief in Christ. 4. Belief in the unseen or the spiritual. 5. The substantiating of things hoped for. c. How do we get faith? 1. Romans 10:17 : It comes by hearing. Illustrations of it: Pentecost; Phillipian Jailor; Ethiopian eunuch. 2. John 7:17 : It comes by doing. a) John 14:1-4 : Two things about God:— He exists and, He is a rewarder. Christ is the Son of God. John 20:31. b) Hebrews 11:1 : “ Things hoped for.” d. How is this faith stated? Matthew 16:16 : “ Thou art the Christ.” e. What part does the Bible have in faith? John 20:31 : “ These are written.” f. Does faith alone save us? James 2:24 : “ Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only.” g. What is the end of your faith? 1 Peter 1:9 : “ Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” 1. We have a new body every seven years, but it slowly wears out. 2. Through it all the real person endures. h. What is the end of one who does not believe? 1. John 8:24 : “ If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.” 2. Revelation 21:8 : “ But for the fearful and unbelieving, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” 3. Mark 16:16 : “— he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.” Hebrews 11:1 --is assuranceKing James Version—“ evidence.” Alternate—“ giving substance, essence, confidence.” Greek—Hyportasia, “ title deeds”— Rimmer. Other appearances of the word hypostasis:a. Hebrews 1:3 : “ The very image of His substance.” b. Hebrews 3:14 : “ If we hold fast the beginning of your confidence.” Faith is the substantiating or giving substance of these things hoped for. Faith precedes prayer. Prayer is not working at God’ s reluctance, but taking hold of His willingness.Hebrews 11:1 --of things hoped forHe is only defining; he does not give the things hoped for, but we see them in this eleventh chapter— what faith was to others. a. To Abraham, a new city. b. To Daniel: Mouths of lions to be stopped. Our faith becomes hope when it expects, anticipates. Hebrews 11:1 --a convictionAlso translated “ test, evidence.” It is full persuasion wrought in the mind. Noah could have conviction without ever looking at the sky if he had faith. Some Christians are so pessimistic and faithless that they blow out their candles to see how dark it is. Too many are like Peter, who was afraid and began to sink. Matthew 14:30. Faith is Forsaking AllITake Him.Hebrews 11:1 --of things not seenThis is spiritual. a. God, Christ, divine power, heaven are not seen, but by faith we believe in Their existence. b. Reward, reunion are unseen, but are nonetheless real to the person. c. Faith therefore becomes a power in our lives when it launches us out beyond the physical. things are nonetheless real in other realms. a. Wind is unseen, yet we believe it exists. b. Force of gravity exists. c. Tracks of an unseen person convince us of his existence, so does God’ s handiwork convince us of His existence. Illustration. Hebrews 11:2-3. Hebrews 11:2 --For thereinHe now illustrates what faith has accomplished. In their faith they were conquerors. Hebrews 11:2 --the elders“ Elders” ordinarily refers to those in authority. Milligan says here it refers to all the heroes of the faith. Hebrews 11:2 --had witness born to themApproved of God, by His blessings perhaps. a. Enoch had witness born to him that he had been well pleasing. Hebrews 11:4. b. Abel had witness born to him that he had been well pleasing.Disapproval of God by His curses was manifested. a. Cain was sent out. b. God turned the Israelites free to wander for forty years. Note the King James Version: “ Obtained a good report.” a. This is misleading if you think of it in the light that an elder is to be of good report. b. Their report was not good to those of the outside, for note in Hebrews 11:25-28 they were tortured, etc. c. It was an approval on the divine side. Hebrews 11:3 --by faith we understandThings that seem impossible are understood when faith takes hold, Faith puts meaning in life. a. Atheists are always chronic complainers. b. The atheists build no hospitals, orphanages, or charitable organizations, but condemn the faith of those who do. c. If this is a mechanistic world, then it is meaningless; but we see too much of God to believe in atheism.Hebrews 11:3 --that the worlds have been framed“Worlds”—the literal meaning is from the Greek aieves, ages,” May mean the world that is seen— the physical world, universe. The same word is rendered “ world” in Hebrews 11:30 and in 1 Corinthians 10:11, Here he affirms what Moses has stated. a. Look at the theories suggested by men who have no faith. b. The Java man, “ missing link” theories, are promoted by those missing faith. Ages began with creation: a. Ephesians 1:4 : “ Before the foundation of the world.” b. 2 Timothy 1:9 : Before times eternal. c. Titus 1:2 : Before time eternal. “ Framed” is translated by others in such language as this: “ Compacted, adjusted, produced, formed” ; and Calvin says, “ Fitted or joined together.” Hebrews 11:3 --by the Word of GodGenesis says that God spoke things into existence with the words, “ Let there be . . .” The “ Word” takes on new meaning when we come to the New Testament: a. John 1:1 says Christ was the Word. b. Hebrews 1:2 : “ By Whom also He made the worlds.” c. Hebrews 11:3 : Framed by the Word.Hebrews 11:3 --so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appearCalvin says, “ as that they become the visible of things not visible, or not apparent.” Heathens, infidels, atheists have their ideas, but all are more difficult to believe than Genesis. Genesis uses the word bara, “ to create,” generally understood to mean to make something out of nothing. a. The use of the word in other places does not bear this out, however. b. God did not make them out of material which we see. Study Questions2066. In the original language, what idea does the word “ faith” convey? 2067. Are shrinking and shirking compatible? 2068. Is faith limited only to religion? 2069. If you had no faith in men, what would be eliminated in your life? Could you eat a loaf of bread? Could you travel by bus, airplane? Could you be treated by a physician? Could you accept any history? Could you believe in Washington, Lincoln? 2070. What is Paul’ s definition of faith? 2071. What part of the definition includes belief in God? 2072. What would be included in “ things hoped for” ? 2073. How is Abraham an illustration of faith? 2074. Is faith more valuable than knowledge? 2075. How do we get faith? Cf. Romans 10:17. 2076. Give an illustration of the method. 2077. Can you name one who received faith otherwise? 2078. What objects are required in faith? 2079. What two things are we to believe about God? 2080. What are we to believe about Christ? 2081. How is faith stated? 2082. Dare we ask men to confess more? 2083. Do we require unwritten confessionals, while condemning written ones? 2084. What part does the Bible have in faith? Cf. John 20:30-31. 2085. Is faith alone sufficient? Cf. James 2:24. 2086. What is the end of our faith? 1 Peter 1:9. 2087. What is the end of the disbeliever? Cf. John 8:24; Revelation 21:8; Mark 16:16. 2088. What does he mean that faith is “ assurance” ? 2089. Which is the better translation—“ evidence” or “ assurance” ? 2090. What other words may be used? 2091. What things might be included in the “ things hoped for” ? 2092. Tell what the following people hoped for: Abraham, Daniel, David. 2093. Does this not sound like hope rather than faith? 2094. Could you have hope without faith? 2095. What is meant by the word “ conviction” ? 2096. What evidence did Noah have that it would rain? 2097. What evidence do you have of your faith in God? Christ? 2098. Is it things yet to be seen or not seen? 2099. Is it something seen by the eye of faith? 2100. What are the “ things not seen” ? 2101. How do you know unseen things exist? 2102. Are the unseen things less real? 2103. How do you know there is gravity, wind, electricity? 2104. “ The elders” would refer to whom? 2105. “ Witness borne to them” could be differently expressed. How? 2106. How did Enoch have witness borne? Abel? 2107. What does he mean by saying, “ by faith we understand” ? 2108. Can faith understand? 2109. Does infidelity render purpose and meaning to life? 2110. What does the word “ world” mean? 2111. What does the word “ framed” mean? 2112. How does this compare with the theory of evolution? 2113. What brought everything into existence according to the Word of God? 2114. What method was used? 2115. Identify the word used in verse three. 2116. What is included in the expression, “ what is seen” ? 2117. Does this help to solve what the “ world” is in the first part of the verse? 2118. Does he mean that the present things are not remolded old things? 2119. Does this fit the pre-creation theory? 2120. Could the expression “ had become waste and void” taught by pre-creation theorists have any substantiation here? Hebrews 11:4-31 SUNDRY FROM THE HISTORY OF THE , OF THE NATURE, POWER, AND OF FAITH Hebrews 11:4-31 Hebrews 11:4 ---By faith Abel offered, etc.— Cain and Abel both brought of­ferings, but of different kinds. Cain brought of the fruits of the ground, but Abel brought of the firstlings and fatness of his sheep or goats. (Genesis 4:3-5.) Wherein, then, did the superior excel­lence of Abel’ s offering consist ? Not in its greater intrinsic value, for Cain’ s offering may have been quite as costly as that of Abel. Of this, we cannot judge positively from anything given in the in­spired record. Nor can we determine in what the offering of Cain consisted, further than this: that it was purely a vegetable offering. True, indeed, it is called a mine hah, a meat offering, and in Leviti­cus 2: 1-16, the minchah is described as consisting of fine flour, or unleavened cakes, or parched corn, to which were added a portion of salt, oil, and frankincense. But in Genesis 4:3-5, the word min­chah seems to be used, not in its legal and specific sense, but in its more general signification, to denote an offering of any kind, for in the fourth verse the offering of Abel is also called a minchah, though it consisted of lambs or goats; neither of which were in­cluded in the legal meat offering. If, then, the superiority of Abel’ s offering did not consist in its greater intrinsic value, in what did it consist? Evidently, as our author says, in its being offered in faith, and in obedience to the command of God: for “ To obey,” says Samuel, “ is better than sac­rifice ; and to hearken, than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22.) And Solomon says, “ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.” (Proverbs 15:18.) That is, the most costly offering of the wicked man is hateful in the sight of God, while a mere prayer that costs nothing, if it be offered in faith and in obedience to God’ s will, is his delight. Cain, like King Saul, was a proud, haughty, and self-reliant rationalist. Instead of honoring God by bringing as he was required, a bleed­ing victim from his flock, he presumptuously substituted for it, what was more in accordance with his own blinded and perverted reason. But Abel was a man of faith; a man who trembled at the word of the Lord, and whose only question was, therefore, “ Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” In this, he and Cain had both been sufficiently instructed, for the Apostle says that Abel offered in faith. But this he could not do without a Divine warrant. In all such cases, faith must of necessity rest on the word of God. (Romans 10:17.) Sacrifice is therefore, beyond all doubt, of Divine origin, and the superior excellence of Abel’ s offering consisted simply in this: that in making it, he acted strictly in compliance with the re­vealed will of God. It does not follow, as Magee, Bloomfield, and others suppose, that Abel understood the typical import of his sacrifice, and that through it he showed his faith in the sacrifice of Christ, which was afterward to be offered for the sins of the world. That he may have had some faint conception of God’ s far-reaching designs in in­stituting sacrifice, is quite probable. Of this we cannot speak with certainty. All that is plainly and fairly implied in our text, is sim­ply this: that Abel did what he did in consequence of his firm and unwavering faith in God. He knew God’ s will, and like Noah, Abraham, and others named in this chapter, he resolved to do it. Hebrews 11:4 ---by which he obtained witness, etc.— The meaning is, not that he obtained this “ witness” by his sacrifice, but rather by his faith in offering the sacrifice. Faith is the leading thought in the whole sentence, and to “ faith” as the leading word, the pronouns which and it have both reference. But how and from whom did he ob­tain this witness? The answer to this question is given in the fol­lowing clause. Hebrews 11:4 ---God testifying of his gifts:— (epi tois dorois) with respect to his gifts. This God did, no doubt, in the usual way, by causing fire to come down and consume the victims which Abel offered. See references. So say the Jews as well as most Christian exposi­tors. Abel’ s offering, like that of Elijah (1 Kings 18:38) was ac­cepted by its being consumed on the altar, but Cain’ s offering, like the offerings of the false prophets, remained unconsumed, and of course unaccepted. This at once greatly excited and provoked the envy of Cain, and so he was moved to kill Abel, “ because,” says John, “ his own works were evil, and his brother’ s righteous.” (1 John 3:12.) Hebrews 11:4 ---and by it he being dead yet speaketh.— The Textus Receptus, with the manuscripts, D, E, J, K, and the old Italic version, has the passive form of the verb (laleitai) “ is spoken of.” But some of the best manuscripts, most of the ancient versions, and several of the Greek Fathers, have the active voice (lalei), as in our English Version. This reading is also best supported by the internal evi­dence, and it is therefore now justly preferred by most expositors. The idea is not that Abel “ is now spoken of” as a faithful man, and so commended for his piety, but rather that he, though dead, still speaks to us by his faith and example. What, then, does he say? Most commentators, as Calvin, Ebrard, Delitzsch, Alford, etc., maintain that there is here direct reference to Genesis 4:10, and that in harmony with the record there given, Abel’ s blood still calls to God for vengeance. But it is not by his blood, but by his faith that he still speaks. And I therefore agree with Chrysostom, Stuart, and a few others, that what the Apostle means is simply this: that Abel by his faith and example still speaks to us, warning, admonishing, and encouraging us to obey God’ s will by doing just what he has commanded us to do, and giving us assurance, at the same time, that all things will cer­tainly work together for the good of those who do this. His is the first example on record of just such an exercise of faith as God commends and approves, and hence it is, perhaps, that the Holy Spirit has given to it so great prominence. Hebrews 11:5 ---By faith Enoch was translated—There is but little said in the Bible respecting this eminently pious man. In Genesis 5:24, Moses says: “ And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, be­cause God took him.’’ And from Jude (5: 14), we learn that he was a prophet, and that he warned his contemporaries that the Lord would finally come with “ his holy myriads to execute judg­ment on all, and to convict all the impious concerning all the hard sayings which impious sinners spoke against him.’’ Having thus, like Noah, been for a time a preacher of righteousness, the Lord rewarded him for his fidelity by translating him no doubt to Heaven, as he afterward translated Elijah. (1 Kings 2:1 1 Kings 2:11.) So the Psalmist expresses his confidence that, after death, the Lord would receive him to glory. (Psalms 73:24.) Hebrews 11:6 ---that he should not see death;—That is, that he should not experience death like other men. So the word see is often used in the Holy Scriptures. See, for example, Psalms 89:48; Luke 2:26 ; John 8:51. Enoch did not experience death as men ordinar­ily do, but was miraculously delivered from it, perhaps in the same way that the living saints will be at the second coming of Christ. “ Behold I show you a mystery,” says Paul; “ we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we [the living saints] shall be changed.” (1 Cor. 15: 51, 52.) All attempts at explanation in such cases, however, are wholly unwarranted by the word of God. See Deut. 29:29. Hebrews 11:6 ---and was not found, because God had translated him:— The meaning is, that he was not found on earth, because God had translated him from earth to heaven, as he afterward translated Elijah. After Elijah’ s removal, the sons of the prophets sent out fifty men, who sought for him three days diligently, but they did not find him, because God had taken him. (2 Kings 2: 17.) And so, also, it seems to have been in the case of Enoch. His friends no doubt made diligent search for him, but it was all in vain. “ He was not found,” because God had removed him from earth to higher and better climes. Hebrews 11:6 ---for before his translation, etc.— The idea is that he pleased God before his translation, as is proved by the testimony. But this he could not have done without faith, as our author now proceeds to show. Hebrews 11:6 ---But without faith it is impossible to please him:— Why so? The fact is clearly stated in our text, and it is even further emphasized in what follows: “ He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” The same fundamental truth is also abundantly set forth in other passages. In Romans 8:8, for example, Paul says, “ They that are in the flesh can not please God.” And again in Romans 14:23, he says, “ Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” There can be no doubt, therefore, that faith in God is essential to all acceptable worship and service of any kind. But why is it so? Is it owing simply to an arbitrary arrange­ment on the part of God ? or does it arise from a moral necessity ? That the latter, and not the former, is true, will I think appear manifest from a little reflection. Be it observed, then, (1) that there was a time when God was and nothing else beside him. By his own power he gave birth and being to all things. See Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16, etc. (2) He created all things according to the counsel of his own will, and in harmony with his own na­ture. See Ephesians 1:11; Romans 11:34, etc. (3) Hence it follows that whatever is in harmony with God’ s will is right, and that whatever is not in harmony with it is wrong— necessarily, immuta­bly, and eternally wrong. (4) Every man, therefore, who acts from any other ruling motive than the known will of God, is so far a rebel against God and his government. What he does may of course serve to promote in many respects the interests of society. He may, for instance, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, instruct the ignorant, and if need be he may even die for his friends or his country. But unless, in all this, he acts from a supreme regard to the will of God, his conduct is wanting in one of the essential ele­ments of virtue, and cannot, therefore, be otherwise than displeas­ing to God. (5) But no man can act in harmony with the will of God unless he has faith in God and in the revelation which he has made to us of himself, for his own glory and for the good of his creatures. This is self-evident. And hence it follows, as our au­thor says, that he who would come to God and serve him accepta­bly, “ must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Enoch did this. He walked with God. And the Apostle therefore justly argues that he had faith in God, and that his marvelous deliverance from death was both an attestation and a reward of his faith. Hebrews 11:7 ---By faith Noah, being warned of God, etc.— From the brief record that is here given of Noah’ s faith, we learn (1) that he was divinely admonished (chrematistheis) with regard to the coming deluge. One hundred and twenty years before it occurred, God warned him of its coming, and directed him to go to work and pre­pare an ark for the saving of himself and his house. (Genesis 6:3-18.) (2) That he believed God and did just as he was commanded. Moved by a reverential fear (eulabetheis) through his belief in God’ s testimony, he prepared an ark for the saving of his house. This, under the circumstances, was a very remarkable instance of strong and unwavering faith in God. For (a) the time appointed was still far off in the future, (b) There were as yet no natural indications that such an event as the destruction of the world by a deluge would ever occur, (c) The experience of mankind was against it. For sixteen hundred years, the natural order of events had been uninterrupted, and no doubt many of the so-called philos­ophers of that age would be forward in proving to the people that such a catastrophe was physically impossible, (d) The profane and wicked scoffers of the age would also, as a matter of course, do all that they could by their wit, ridicule, and sarcasm, to destroy Noah’ s faith in the promise of God, and to dissuade him from his great undertaking. But nothing could move him from his purpose. Throughout the long period of one hundred and twenty years, he continued strong in faith giving glory to God. (3) By his faith and obedience he condemned the world, as Christ says the men of Nineveh and the queen of the south will, on the day of judgment condemn the unbelieving and disobedient men and women of his own generation. (Matthew 12:41-42.) Every man, in fact, who gives heed to God’ s warnings and admonitions, condemns by his faith and practice all who neglect to do so. Thus, Noah con­demned his own disobedient contemporaries, and thus also he will, on the day of final reckoning, condemn millions of our own more highly favored generation. (4) By his faith, he also became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Several eminent expositors, as Cramer, Michaelis, Bisping, and Hofmann, make the phrase “ by which (dia hes) depend on the word ark (kibotos) ; that is, they say Noah condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness of faith by building the ark. But it is better with Bengel, Menken, Bohme, Bleek, De Wette, McLean, Ebrard, Lii- nemann, Delitzsch, Alford, and others, to make “ faith” the antece­dent of the relative “ which.” Faith is the leading thought of the whole sentence, and the word faith is therefore properly made the governing word in construction. It should be observed, however, that the building of the Ark is included in the word faith, for it is not of faith in the abstract, but of faith in all its practical bearings that the Apostle is speaking. This is obvious from all the exam­ples of faith that are given in this section. Indeed, the faith which God commends and requires is, in no case, a mere cold, lifeless, abstraction; it is a living, active, fruit-bearing principle, which is constantly manifesting and developing itself in the life as well as in the heart of the individual. Such was the faith of Abel; such was the faith of Enoch; and such also was the faith of Noah, through which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righ­teousness which is according to the law of faith. (Romans 3:21-31.) Hebrews 11:8 ---By faith Abraham, when he was called— In this verse we have given (1) the fact that Abraham received a call from God; (2) that by this call he was required to leave his home and kindred in Ur of Chaldea, and go out into a strange land; (3) that this land, though promised to his posterity, was wholly unknown to him at the time; and (4) that he nevertheless obeyed God, and went out of his own country, not knowing whither he went. The original call is not recorded in the Scriptures; but in Genesis 12:1-3 it is repeated in substance as follows: “ Now the Lord had said to Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’ s house, unto a land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” This call must have been a very severe test of Abraham’ s faith. To leave a comfortable home and friends and follow the call of another, at any time and under any circumstances, shows a very strong degree of trust and con­fidence in the one who calls us. But this Abraham did, and did promptly. Taking with him his father Terah, and Lot his nephew, he immediately left Ur of Chaldea and came to Haran, where he remained five years. But when his father was dead he left Haran and passed over into Canaan, where he sojourned for one hundred years. These numbers may be easily verified as follows. We learn from Galatians 3:17 and Exodus 12:40-41, that from the call of Abra­ham to the Exodus or giving of the Law was four hundred and thirty years; and from Genesis 15:14 we also learn that from the birth of Isaac to the Exodus was four hundred years. Consequently thirty years intervened between the call of Abraham and the birth of Isaac. But when Isaac was born Abraham was a hundred years old (Genesis 21:5) ; and hence he was seventy years old when he was first called and received the promise. But he was seventy-five years old when he came to Canaan (Genesis 12:4); and he was a hundred and seventy-five years old when he died. (Genesis 25:7.) And hence he sojourned five years in Haran and a hundred years in Canaan. Hebrews 11:9 ---By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, etc.— It ap­pears from this that Abraham never regarded Canaan as his home. He knew, of course, that when the Amorites should have filled up the cup of their iniquity in the fourth generation, the land would be given to his posterity for an everlasting possession (Genesis 15:16). But until that time neither he nor his seed had any rights and privileges in Canaan beyond what might have been enjoyed by other strangers under like circumstances. “ God,” says Stephen, “ gave him no inheritance in it; no, not so much as to set his foot on; yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.” (Acts 7:5.) And hence Abraham had to purchase the cave of Machpelah as a burying-place from Ephron the Hittite (Genesis 23:3-20) ; and hence, also, neither he, nor Isaac, nor Jacob, ever built a perma­nent residence in the country. They were satisfied to live in mov­able tents and fragile booths, feeling assured that, according to “ the promise,” they were all heirs of a better inheritance than any that was then to be found on this sin-stained earth. Hebrews 11:10 ---For he looked for a city, etc.— This is given by the Apostle as the reason why Abraham was satisfied to live as a stranger and sojourner in Canaan. He did so because he was looking for the city (ten polin) which hath the foundations (tous themelious), whose Architect and Builder is God. From this and other like passages we are constrained to think that God had given to the pa­triarchs information with regard to the heavenly country far be­yond what is now recorded in Genesis or any other part of the Old Testament. What we find there at present was written for our in­struction, as well as for the benefit of the ancients (Romans 15:4). But much may have been said to them which would in no way ben­efit us; and which was, therefore, excluded from the Canon by Moses, Ezra and other inspired writers. The origin of sacrifice, for instance, is nowhere expressly mentioned in the Old Testa­ment ; nor is there anything said in it respecting the origin of the Patriarchal priesthood. Information, clear, full, and explicit, on all such matters, was of course needed by the ancients; but for us the more general instructions of the Bible are quite sufficient. And so, also, we think it was with respect to the heavenly country. The Patriarchs seem to have received revelations concerning it which have never been transmitted to us; for it is obvious that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, lived in constant expectation of enter­ing it at the close of their earthly pilgrimage. They were satisfied to live here as strangers and pilgrims, knowing that they had in heaven a city having permanent foundations whose Architect and Framer is God. This city is manifestly the heavenly Jerusalem (Galatians 4:28; Hebrews 12:22 Hebrews 13:14), which for the present is lo­cated in heaven, but which will hereafter descend to the earth after that it shall have been renovated by fire (Revelation 21). Then will be fulfilled in its full and proper sense the promise made to Abraham that he and his seed should be the heirs of the world. (Romans 4:13.) “ The meaning of the whole verse,” says Prof. Stuart, “ most evidently is that Abraham looked for a permanent abode in the heavenly country; that is, his hopes and expectations were placed upon the world to come.” It was faith in this which was the dem­onstration of things not seen, and which moved him to obey the commands of God, and to do and suffer whatever he required. The fact then that the saints under the Old Testament were moved in their conduct by considerations which had respect to the invisi­ble world, or an immortal state of existence, is plainly implied here by the reasoning of the Apostle. God is here called the architect (technites) of the heavenly city, because he is the author of the plan; and he is also called the builder (demiourgos), because it is he himself who executes the plan. He is the master-builder as well as the projector of the heavenly Jerusalem. Hebrews 11:11 ---Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed,— Or more exactly, By faith even Sarah herself re­ceived strength to conceive seed. The emphatic manner in which this is expressed seems to indicate that there was something very extraordinary 'in the case of Sarah. But what was it ? On this point the commentators differ. Some think that our author has reference merely to what he more fully and distinctly states in what follows, viz.: that Sarah, though now past the time of bear­ing, through faith received strength for the conception of seed (Schlichting, Schultz, Stuart, etc.). But the majority maintain that there is in these words an allusion also to the fact that, at the outset, Sarah herself was unbelieving. (Genesis 18:9-15.) Thus Macknight: “ By faith in God’ s promise, even Sarah herself, though at first she thought the matter impossible, received strength for the conception of seed, and brought forth a son when past the age of child-bearing; because she at length attained to the strong­est persuasion of the faithfulness and power of Him who had promised her a son.” So also Bleek, DeWette, Winer, Liinemann, and others. In this instance, the minority are probably right. It seems most likely that the Apostle makes no reference here what­ever to the former incredulity of Sarah; but only to her past bar­renness and advanced age. For at that time she was about ninety years old (Genesis 17:17) ; far beyond the natural period of child­bearing. But nevertheless, through her strong faith in God, she obtained the promise. Hebrews 11:12 ---Therefore sprang there even of one, etc.—The word therefore shows that what follows is to be taken as a result and conse­quence of the faith of Abraham and Sarah. They had both waited long and patiently for the fulfillment of the promise: and now when Abraham is about a hundred years old, and Sarah ninety, their faith brought to them the promised reward. “ Though it tarry, wait for it; for it will surely come; it will not be behind the appointed time." (Habakkuk 2:4.) They did wait; and finally, as a re­ward for their faith in God and in the word of his promise, “ there sprang from one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of Heaven in multitude; and as the sands of the sea shore innumera­ble.” For Abraham, says Paul, “ against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’ s womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:18-21.) And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness; and not only so, but in consequence of this, Isaac was born, and his descendants were multiplied as the dust of the earth. See refer­ences. The bearing of this illustration of the main argument of the Apostle is very obvious. Nothing could better serve to strengthen the hands and encourage the hearts of the desponding and perse­cuted Hebrews, than this reference to the faith of their illustrious ancestor. God himself makes a like reference to it, by the Prophet Isaiah, for the purpose of encouraging the Israelites under the Ba­bylonish captivity. “ Hearken unto me,” he says, “ yfc that pursue righteousness, ye that seek Jehovah: look unto the rock whence ye were hewn; and to the hollow of the cave whence ye were digged: look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah who bore you; for I called him, being a single person, and I blessed him, and I multi­plied him.” (Isaiah 51:1-2.) Hebrews 11:13 ---These all died in faith,— (kata pistin) according to faith: that is, in the exercise of faith and in the enjoyment of its many blessings. They died as they had lived, in jaith. But of whom does the Apostle here speak? Who are the “ all” who died in faith? Some, as Oecumenius, Theophylact, and Primasius, think that our author refers here to the aforesaid faithful antediluvian Patriarchs, as well as to the postdiluvian. But in this they are manifestly in error. The context makes it quite obvious, that only Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob, are included in this remark. They are the persons who received the promises (Galatians 3:16), and who might have returned to their father-land had they been inclined to do so. But they all preferred remaining as strangers and pilgrims in Canaan, because their hearts were set on the heavenly country into which they hoped to enter soon. Hebrews 11:13 ---Not having received the promises,— What promises? Manifestly not the verbal promises; for these they did receive (Galatians 3:16): but the word promises (epangliai) is used here to de­note the things promised. These they did not receive during their earthly pilgrimage; they only saw them afar off, and “ greeted them as the wanderer greets his longed-for home, even when he comes in sight of it at a distance; drawing to himself, as it were, magnet­ically and embracing, with inward love, that which is yet afar off” (Del. in loc.) But the important question still arises, What were the things promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which they did not receive during their earthly pilgrimage, but which they only saw by faith in the far distant future? In order to answer this question properly it is necessary to refer again to the inspired record and see what pledges were given by God to these illustrious patriarchs. These, as we learn from Gene­sis, were (1) that Abraham should have a numerous offspring (Genesis 13:16 Genesis 15:3-5 Genesis 17:2 Genesis 17:4 Genesis 22:16) ; (2) that God would be a God to him and to his seed after him (Genesis 17:1-8); (3) that he would give to him and to his seed an everlasting inheritance (Genesis 12:7 Genesis 13:15 Genesis 15:18-21 Genesis 17:8); and (4) that through him and his seed, all the nations of the earth should be blessed (Genesis 12:3 Genesis 22:18). To each of these God attached a double significance. See notes on 8: 8. They each consisted, so to speak, of two elements, one of which had reference to the carnal side of the covenant, and the other to the spiritual side: one to the type, and the other to the antitype. Thus Abraham was made the hon­ored father of two families; to each of which an inheritance was promised, and through each of which the world was to be blessed. Now it is true that while Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob sojourned on Earth, their offspring was not very numerous; nor did they then receive the earthly inheritance; nor was the world as yet blessed by them. And hence it is quite possible that there may be some allusion in our text to the temporal and typical blessings which were promised. But certain it is, that our author refers here chiefly to the spiritual and antitypical blessings which God had promised to Abraham; and especially, as in the thirty-ninth verse, to the coming of Christ and the blessings of his mediatorial reign. “ Abraham/' says Christ, “ rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad." (John 8:56.) To Christ, then, as the promised Seed, and to the inheritance redeemed by his blood (Ephesians 1:14), our author refers chiefly, if not exclusively, in the use of the word “ promises.” These, the Patriarchs did not receive while here on earth; but through the telescope of faith they saw them afar off, and embraced them with joy and singleness of heart, confessing at the same time that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth. Hebrews 11:14 ---For they that say such things, etc.—All men naturally de­sire a home. To this they are prompted by one of the strongest and deepest natural instincts of the human heart. And hence though many may, like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, wander about as pilgrims and sojourners for awhile, it is always with a view of securing a permanent home somewhere. The case of these Patri­archs, as our author insists, was not an exception to this law of our nature. They declared very plainly, both in word and in deed that they were seeking after a home, a father-land (patrida), a fixed and permanent residence. Hebrews 11:15 ---And truly, if they had been mindful, etc.— If they had de­sired to return to Ur of Chaldea, or to Haran, there was nothing to prevent their doing so. They had not been banished from their father-land, nor have we any reason to think that God would have so interfered as to prevent their return. He always prefers a will­ing service. And hence the Apostle argues that these Patriarchs might all have returned to Chaldea had they been so minded. But none of them ever showed any desire to do so. “ Abraham in par­ticular,” says Macknight, “ considered the very thought of return­ing into Chaldea as a renunciation of his interests in the promises of God. And therefore he made his steward Eliezer swear to him that on no pretense whatever would he carry Isaac into Chaldea.” (Genesis 24:5-8.) Hebrews 11:15 ---But now they desire a better country— Better than either Canaan or Chaldea. The course of the argument is well expressed by Kuinoel as follows: “ If these Patriarchs had sought a country in those parts, or had regarded their native or ancestral land as their true country, they might have found means to return thither. But they did not consider Canaan as their country, nor did they return to Chaldea, and therefore they desired not an earthly but a heavenly country.” Hebrews 11:16 ---wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:— Since it is true that these patriarchs sought no earthly home, but set their hearts steadfastly on heaven as their permanent abode, God is therefore not ashamed to be called their God, for he himself says repeatedly, “ I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6 Exodus 3:15 Exodus 4:5, etc.), thus verifying the promise which he had previously made to Abraham that he would be a God to him and to his seed after him. (Genesis 17:7.) Hebrews 11:16 ---for he hath prepared for them a city.— This is given as evi­dence of the fact that God approved and rewarded the fidelity of these his devoted servants. He did not allow them to dwell always in tents and booths, but according to “ the promise” made to Abra­ham, he prepared for them a home in “ the city which hath the foundations,” the heavenly Jerusalem. See notes on Hebrews 6:15 Hebrews 9:15 Hebrews 11:10. Nothing could more clearly indicate the strong and abiding faith of these patriarchs in a future state of rewards and punishments, than does this passage (Hebrews 11:13-16). So fully convinced were they of such a state, that like Paul (Philippians 3:8), they were willing to suffer the loss of all things earthly, provided only that they might attain to the rest which remains for the people of God. The ground of their justification was to them of course still a mystery. See note on Hebrews 9:8. They did not yet understand that the very foun­dations of the heavenly city were laid prospectively in the blood of the Lord Jesus, and that in the end of the ages, he would appear to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, so that God might be just in justifying all true believers. This was to them still a mystery, as it was also to even the angels in glory. (1 Peter 1:12.) Nevertheless, they seem to have had no doubt whatever of the fact that when their earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, they would then have “ a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Hebrews 11:17 ---By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Issac: — The account of this severest and last recorded trial of Abraham’ s faith, is found in Genesis 22:1-14. Previous to this, God had tried him in various ways and on various occasions. He had called on him to leave his home and his kindred, and to become a wanderer in a foreign land during the rest of his life. He had long delayed the fulfillment of the promise which he had made with regard to the birth of Isaac. And he had furthermore put Abraham severely to the proof when he required him to send away Ishmael and his mother with a scanty supply of bread and water. (Genesis 21:9-14.) But all these trials were light and insignificant in comparison with that to which reference is made in our text. Hitherto God had sustained him with the assurance that he would give him a son by Sarah, and that in and through that son should in due time be fulfilled all other promises. But now when Isaac, according to Jose­phus (Ant. I. 13, 2), was about twenty-five years of age, God says to Abraham, “ Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” (Genesis 22:2.) How very strange and startling is this or­acle! How many plausible reasons might have been alleged for neglecting it! Had Abraham possessed the spirit of Cain or of some of our modern rationalists, how easily he might have per­suaded himself that there was some mistake or delusion in the case; that the command could not be from God; that it was incon­sistent with both his character and his promises. But no; nothing of this occurred in the case of Abraham. He knew that the voice of command was the voice of God, and that was enough. He “ rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for a burnt offering, and rose up and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto the young men, Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it upon Isaac his son, and he took the fire in his hand and a knife, and they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father and said, My father; and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. So they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son and laid him upon the altar on the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” (Genesis 22:3-10.) How very calm and deliberate is the good old patriarch in this most trying and affecting scene. Nothing is done rashly or under an impulse of momentary excitement. He had ample time and op­portunity to reflect seriously and prayerfully on the whole matter, and he did so. The distance traveled from Beersheba to Jerusa­lem, the land of Moriah, was about forty-two miles, and more than two days were occupied in making the journey. In the meantime, the presence and conversation of Isaac, as well as the quiet solitude of the way, all served to bring the matter home to the heart of the anxious father, and to make him feel most deeply the solemn and awful import of what he was about to do. But nothing could move him from his purpose to obey God. He builded an altar, laid the wood in order, bound Isaac, and drew the fatal knife. The deed was mentally done. In Abraham’ s purpose, Isaac was a slain vic­tim. But while his arm was executing the volition, it was sud­denly and unexpectedly arrested by a voice from heaven. The evi­dence of Abraham’ s loyalty and fidelity was sufficient, and God then honored him by re-assuring him with an oath that in blessing he would bless him, and in multiplying he would multiply him. Hebrews 11:18 ---Of whom it was said, etc.— (pros on) to whom it was said [that is, to Abraham] that In Isaac shall thy seed be called. This clause is variously interpreted by expositors. But the meaning ob­viously is that Abraham’ s posterity with respect to the promised Seed was to be reckoned in and from Isaac. In this sense he was not only his son, but he was his only son. True, indeed, he had other children beside Isaac, but by God’ s decree they were all elim­inated from the regular line of descent, and the covenant was es­tablished with Isaac and his descendants through Jacob and with them only. (Genesis 17:17-21 Genesis 21:12 Genesis 25:4-5.) The object of the Apostle in adding this clause was, therefore, simply to illustrate still further the great strength of Abraham’ s faith by showing that even against hope he still hoped and believed that God would fulfill his promise in yet giving him a son through Isaac, by raising him from the.-dead. Hebrews 11:19 ---Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from Hie dead;— This was to Abraham the only possible solution of this very mysterious and intricate problem. God had said to him, “ My covenant will I establish with Isaac” (Genesis 17:21); and again, “ In Isaac shall thy seed be called” (Genesis 21:12). But now he is required to offer him up as a burnt offering! How are the facts to be reconciled? Abraham knew that the promise of God could not and would not fail, and as he could not anticipate that God would interfere, as he did, so as to prevent the actual immolation of his son, there was really left for him no other alternative than simply to conclude that God would restore Isaac to life. This conviction seems to be implied in the remark which he made to his servants: “ Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again.” The word rendered come again (we will return) is in the plural number, and seems to indicate a belief on the part of Abraham that God would immediately raise Isaac up again from the dead. Hebrews 11:19 ---from whence also he received him in a figure.— On the mean­ing of this clause the commentators are much divided. Some of them as Hammond, Whitby, Newcome, Schultz, and Stuart, suppose that the Apostle refers here to the supernatural birth of Isaac. “ The sentiment.” says Stuart, “ seems to be this: Abraham believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead, because he had as it were obtained him from the dead; that is, he was born of those who were as good as dead.” But if this had been the idea of the Apostle, he would most likely have used the pluperfect tense in­stead of the aorist. And besides, it would, as Alford suggests, be harsh and unnatural to make the phrase ufrom the dead” refer in this case to Abraham and Sarah. I therefore think with Beza, Delitzsch, Alford, and others, that the reference is not to the birth of Isaac, but to his rescue from the altar. Abraham received him back from the altar, as one raised from the dead. He had been figuratively (en parabole) sacrificed; and he was therefore now fig­uratively raised from the dead and restored to his father, as a re­ward for his fidelity. For as Bloomfield says, “ Isaac was in a manner dead in his father’ s opinion and in his own, and he was restored to his father from the gates of the grave.” Hebrews 11:20 ---By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau— The idea is, that the blessing of Isaac was bestowed in faith. Indeed, it could not be bestowed on any other ground, for at that time there were no natural indications that could in any way serve to define the for­tunes of Jacob and Esau and their descendants. See Genesis 27:26-40. But relying on the promises of God, and guided by the spirit of inspiration, Isaac blessed his sons concerning things to come. “ This blessing of Isaac," says Delitzsch, “ had the wondrous power of shaping and controlling the future of his posterity, because in virtue of his faith his mind and will had become one with the mind and will of God himself." (Compare Genesis 27:37 with Jeremiah 1:10 and other parallel passages.) And hence we find in the words of Isaac a prophetic outline of the fortunes of the two races. “ At first, the elder seemed to prosper more than his brother Jacob. There were dukes in Edom before there reigned any kings over the children of Israel (Genesis 36:31) ; and whilst Israel was in bondage in Egypt, Edom was an independent people. But Saul defeated, and David conquered the Edomites (1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Samuel 8:14); and they were, notwithstanding some revolts, constantly sub­ject to Judah (1 Kings 11:14; 2 Kings 14:7 2 Kings 14:22; 2 Chronicles 28:7). Judas Maccabaeus defeated them frequently. (1 Maccabees 5; 2 Maccabees 10.) At length his nephew, Hyracanus, completely con­quered them, and compelled them to be circumcised, and incorpo­rated them into the Jewish nation (Joseph. Ant. 13, 9, 1) ; though finally under Antipater and Herod, they established an Idumean dynasty, which continued till the destruction of the Jewish polity." (Browne on Genesis 27:40.) Hebrews 11:21 ---By faith Jacob, when he was dying, etc.—From the bless­ing of Jacob and Esau by their father, our author next passes to the blessing of the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, by their grandfather. (Genesis 48:1-22.) When Joseph heard that his father was sick and near unto death, he took with him his two sons, and went to see him. And when he arrived, Jacob said to him, “ God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, and said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruit­ful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of peo­ple ; and I will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlast­ing possession. And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born unto thee in the land of Egypt, before I came into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they are mine.” Thus they were adopted as the sons of Jacob, and each of them was made the honored head of a separate and distinct tribe. After this, the old man in the exercise of a true and living faith, and guided by the spirit of inspiration, “ wittingly put his right hand on Ephraim, and his left hand on Manasseh, and said, The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God who fed me like a shepherd all my life long unto this day, the Angel who redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” Hebrews 11:21 ---And worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff.— This act of devotion did not occur at the same time that Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, but previous to it, when Joseph had sworn to his father that he would not bury him in Egypt. (Genesis 47:31.) The chronological order of the two events is reversed, probably for the purpose of bringing together the blessings of the two patriarchs, Isaac and Jacob. The reading in Genesis differs slightly from that which is here given by our author. According to the Masoretic text, followed by the Chaldee Targums, the Greek versions of Aquila and Symmachus, and the Latin Vulgate, the rendering is as follows: “ And Is­rael bowed himself upon the bed’ s head;” but the Septuagint and the Syriac versions agree with our text in this Epistle. How, then, is this apparent discrepancy to be removed, and the Greek and Hebrew readings reconciled? Two ways have been proposed. (1) It is alleged that both readings are correct: that Jacob wor­shiped, leaning on the head of his bed and also on the top of his staff. And this is plausible, as well as possible; for it was custom­ary among the ancients to set the staff of the chief and the spear of the warrior at the head of the bed. But (2) the alleged discrep­ancy may be owing wholly to a mistake of the Masorites. The Hebrew word may mean either a bed or a staff, depending simply on points which did not belong to the original text, but which were attached to it by the Masorites after the commencement of the Christian era. Thus matteh means a rod or staff, and mittah means a bed or couch. Now as these points were added by unin­spired men, there is really no ground whatever for the allegation that there is a discrepancy between the readings of the original Hebrew and the Greek. For if the first explanation is not correct, then beyond all doubt the error lies with the Masorites and not with Paul; for on no condition can we concede, as some have done, that the Apostle has here followed an incorrect version of the original. He never does this; but always expresses the thoughts of the Holy Spirit in words which the Holy Spirit teacheth. (1 Corinthians 2:13.) Hebrews 11:22 ---By faith Joseph, when he died,— (teleuton) when drawing near to his end, made mention concerning the exodus of the chil­dren of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones. “ I die,” he said, “ but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” (Genesis 50:24.) His prosperity in Egypt had in no way impaired his faith in the promises of God; but feeling perfectly confident that his brethren would at the time appointed leave Egypt and return to Canaan, he made them swear that they would carry his bones up with them. And hence after his death, he was embalmed and put in a wooden chest, so that at the proper time his remains might be ready for removal. Hebrews 11:23 ---By faith Moses, when he was bom, etc.— The command of Pharaoh was, “ Every son that is born shall be cast into the river.” (Exodus 1:22.) The penalty for neglecting this ordinance was no doubt very severe, depending perhaps on the arbitrary will of the wicked and despotic sovereign. But the parents of Moses, Amram and Jochebed, trusting in the promises of God, refused to obey the king's mandate. Deeming it proper, however, to use all lawful means for the preservation of the child’ s life, they first concealed him, most likely in their own house, for the space of three months; and then finding themselves unable to protect him longer, they cast him wholly on the care of Jehovah. This they did by constructing an ark of papyrus; and having made it water-tight with asphaltum and bitumen, they put the child in it, and placed it among the flags on the brink of the river. (Exodus 2:3.) Thus when Moses was in a measure forsaken by his father and mother, then the Lord took him up (Psalms 27:10) ; and under his care he was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was highly honored as the son of Thermuthis, the daughter of Pharaoh (Exodus 2:5-10). The word rendered proper (asteios) means properly urbane, polite; fair, beautiful, comely. Stephen says that Moses was fair of God (asteios to theo) ; that is, very fair: and Philo says, “ As soon as he was born he displayed a more beautiful and noble form than usual.” (Vita Mos. i. 3.) Hebrews 11:24 ---By faith Moses, when he was come to years,—(megas genomenos) when he became great: that is, when he had grown up; when he had attained to the years of manhood and responsi­bility. (Acts 7:23.) Hebrews 11:24 ---refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’ s daughter;— It is not necessary to suppose that he did this in any direct and formal way; but only that he felt and manifested a preference for his He­brew brethren. (Exodus 2:11-12; Acts 7:24.) Hebrews 11:25 ---Choosing rather to suffer affliction, etc.— The Israelites are here called “ the people of God” in contrast with the idolatrous Egyptians. The alternative offered to Moses was to remain, as he was, associated with the latter, where, as the adopted son of Phar­aoh’ s daughter, he would be allowed to enjoy the honors and lux­uries of a corrupt and licentious court; or to share in the future blessings of the Abrahamic covenant, by casting in his lot with the enslaved and despised Israelites. The contrasts were assuredly very great. The Egyptians were at that time among the most learned, powerful, and influential nations on Earth; and the He­brews were among the most oppressed and degraded. But to the eye of faith, their future prospects were quite reversed. Moses knew perfectly well, that the pleasures of sin in the family and court of Pharaoh were to be enjoyed only for a season, and that in the end they would be as gall and wormwood to the soul: and he knew just as well, on the other hand, that the blessings of God guaranteed to his people through the Abrahamic covenant would be sure and everlasting. On these points he was fully convinced. And hence he did not hesitate as to which he should choose; know­ing that “ the triumphing of the wicked is short, and that the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment” (Job 20:5), but that the good man “ shall not be moved forever; and that the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.” (Psalms 112:6.) Hebrews 11:26 ---Esteeming the reproach of Christ, etc.— This is given by the Apostle, in explanation of the conduct and preference of Moses, in leaving the court of Pharaoh. He chose to suffer afflic­tion with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming, as he did, the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. But what does Paul mean here by “ the reproach of Christ” ? In reply to this query, it is alleged (1) that the reproach of Christ is such reproach as Christ himself endured (Liinemann, Stuart) ; (2) that it is re­proach suffered on account of Christ (Chrysostom, Ebrard) ; (3) that it is the reproach which fell on Moses as a type of Christ (Hofmann) ; and (4) that it is the reproach which Christ had to bear in his own person and also in the person of every true be­liever (Bleek, Delitzsch, Alford). The last of these explanations is preferable, because it is the most general and comprehensive. It is certainly true, that the reproach of Moses was similar to the re­proach of Christ; and it is also true, that he suffered as a type of Christ and on account of his belief in Christ. But more than all this is manifestly intended by the Apostle. As Christ is the righ­teousness of all the redeemed (2 Corinthians 5:21), so also it may be truly said that all reproach suffered for righteousness’ sake, since the world began, has been suffered for Christ’ s sake. And this is certainly the view which Paul takes of the matter, when he speaks of filling up “ that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ.” (Colossians 1:24.) See also ; Philippians 3:10; 2 Timothy 1:8 2 Timothy 2:9-10. There is, then, as Paul says to the Philippians, a “ fellowship” in the sufferings and reproaches of Christ, as well as in the enjoyment and privileges of the Gospel. This fel­lowship extended back even to the ancients, and was preferred by Moses to all the honors which he might have enjoyed in the court and family of Pharaoh. Hebrews 11:26 ---for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.— By faith he looked forward to the great and final recompense: the real and abiding pleasures of the heavenly country, and the rest which remains for the people of God. And with his eye fixed on these, he esteemed the reproach of Christ as of more value than all the treasures of Egypt; knowing that our present light afflictions which are but for a moment, serve to work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Hebrews 11:27 ---By faith he forsook Egypt,— When did he do this? Was it when he renounced his allegiance to Pharaoh, turned his back on all the honors and pleasures of Egypt, and fled for safety into Midian? Or was it when he led the children of Israel out of Egypt into the wilderness of Arabia ? The latter view is supported by Calvin, Grotius, Bohme, Kuinoel, Bleek, Ebrard, Bisping, Scott, Clarke, Stuart, and others; because say they, when Moses fled into Midian, he certainly did fear the wrath of Pharaoh, as we learn from Exodus 2:14-15. But surely he did not fear him any more than did his parents, Amram and Jochebed, when they con­cealed their child three months, and then committed him to the care and providence of God by exposing him on the brink of the river, in an ark of bulrushes. And yet our author says of them, that “ they were not afraid of the king’ s commandment” (Hebrews 11:23). Manifestly, then, the Apostle uses the word fear in both these in­stances in a relative sense. Moses and his parents both feared the tyrant, so far that they thought it necessary to use all lawful means for their personal safety, but they did not fear him so far as to dis­obey God on his account, nor had they any fear that he would ever be able to nullify or set aside the decrees and purposes of God concerning Israel. In this sense, it may be truly said of both Moses and his parents that they did not fear “ the wrath of the king.” And this being so, it is certainly more natural to under­stand the Apostle as having reference to the flight of Moses into Midian. This seems obvious for several reasons. (1) Because this is the only explanation which accords with the chronological order of the events recorded in our text. The Passover was insti­tuted by Moses after his return from Midian, but not after the Exodus. (2) It seems to be implied in our text that this departure from Egypt was in opposition to the will of Pharaoh, and in defi­ance of his wrath; but the Exodus was made with his earnest and urgent request. (Exodus 12:31-33.) (3) Had our author referred here to the Exodus, he would most likely not have spoken of Moses alone but of him in connection with those who forsook Egypt with him, as in verse 29. I therefore agree with Bengel, Michaelis, Schlutz, DeWette, Delitzsch, Alford, and most of the ancient expositors, that our author has reference, not to the Exo­dus, but to the previous flight of Moses into the land of Midian. (Exodus 2:13-15.) Then it was that he renounced all connection with Egypt, and publicly avowed his purpose to suffer afflictions with the people of God, rather than to enjoy “ the pleasures of sin for a season.” Hebrews 11:27 ---for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.— By the eye of faith he saw the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, standing by him, ready to fulfill at the proper time all the promises that he had made to his chosen people. And hence he had no fears that Phar­aoh would succeed in his diabolical attempts to hold Israel in per­petual bondage. He knew full well that by God's irrevocable de­cree, Canaan would in due time be given to the seed of Abraham for a possession, and that heaven itself was also prepared for as many of them as would walk in the footsteps of their illustrious ancestor. Hebrews 11:28 ---Through faith he kept the passover,— The Passover was a positive ordinance instituted by God through Moses for the follow­ing purposes: (1) to commemorate the fact that the angel of death passed over, and so spared the first-born of the Israelites, on the night on which he destroyed all the first-born of the Egyptians; (2) to educate the people in the knowledge and worship of the liv­ing and true God; and (3) to typify the sacrifice of Christ, who, as our passover, has been sacrificed for us. (1 Corinthians 5:7.) Like the Lord’ s Supper, this ordinance was instituted in anticipation of the event which it was designed to commemorate; and the faith of Moses was shown in this instance in his doing and causing to be done just what the Lord himself had commanded. Under his di­rections, every Hebrew family (or two families in case they were small) was required (1) to select a lamb or a kid of the first year without blemish, on the tenth day of the month Nisan; (2) to kill it on the evening of the fourteenth; (3) to sprinkle its blood on the lintel and doorposts; and (4) to eat its flesh on the night follow­ing, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, and this they were re­quired to do with their loins girded, their shoes on their feet, and their staves in their hands, so that they might be ready at the ap­pointed moment to begin their march of freedom. All this they did simply on the authority of God’ s word, as delivered to Moses, clearly showing that their faith was to them as a conviction or demonstration of things not seen. And in this, as in other in­stances, they were not disappointed. For while the Israelites were thus preparing for their exodus, even at the hour of midnight, “ the Lord smote the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne, unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon, and all the first-born of cattle. And Phar­aoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants, and all the Egyp­tians, and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.” But when the destroying angel saw the blood on the lintel and doorposts of the houses of the children of Israel, he passed over and did not “ touch them.” Hebrews 11:29 ---By faith they passed through the Red Sea— When the Is­raelites left their headquarters at Rameses, they came first to Suc- coth, thence to Etham; thence to Pihahiroth; and thence to the shore of the Red Sea. (Exodus 14:2.) Here they were overtaken by Pharaoh with all his hosts; and to the eye of sense and reason, their ruin seemed inevitable. But God said to Moses, “ Lift up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea and divide it.” He did so; “ and the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon dry ground; and the waters were a wall unto them on the right hand and on the left.” (Exodus 14:16.) Hebrews 11:29 ---which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.— The Egyptians pursued the Israelites and went in after them into “ the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’ s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked upon the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, and took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians. And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Phar­aoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall unto them on the right hand, and on the left.” (Exodus 14:23-29.) Here we have a very striking and impressive illustration of the power and saving efficacy of faith, on the one hand; and also of the ruinous effects of infidelity on the other. It was their belief in God and in his word that saved the Israelites, and it was the unbelief and persistent dis­obedience of the Egyptians that brought on their ruin. Hebrews 11:30 ---By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, etc.— Here, again, it is the faith of the Israelites that secures for them the victory. When they came before Jericho, the Lord said to them, “ Ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the Ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns. And the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they shall make a long blast with the rams’ horns, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up, every man straight before him.” (Joshua 6:3-5.) All this they did, as they were commanded. And it came to pass, on the seventh day, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet and shouted with a great shout, that “ the wall fell down flat; so that the people went up into the city every man straight before him, and they took the city.” (Joshua 6:20.) Thus, without the use of the usual implements of war, but simply by their faith in God and obedience to his will, they achieved a most important victory. How true it is that “ in Jehovah is our strength,” and in him also is “ our salvation.” For if we would gain the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, we must still say with Paul, “ The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 11:4.) Hebrews 11:31 ---By faith the harlot Rahab perished not, etc.— See Joshua 2:1-22 Joshua 6:22-25. This entry is longer than a Bible module can hold. The rest is at https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ntrc/ Hebrews 11:32-38 OTHER GENERAL THE , , OF MEN AND WOMEN UNDER THE OLD Hebrews 11:32-38 Hebrews 11:32 ---And what shall I more say?— The Apostle perceiving at this point of the discussion that the time and space allotted to his subject would not admit of further details, proceeds now to give in a general way such a summary of matters as he thought would best serve to illustrate the power of faith, and so to strengthen and en­courage his brethren. Hebrews 11:32 ---for the time would fail me—This form of expression is often used by classicial writers to denote simply that much that might be said on a given subject, has to be omitted for want of time. Hebrews 11:32 ---to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, etc.—Chronologically, these names would stand as follows: Barak, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, Samuel, David, and the prophets. But our author seems to place Gideon before Barak, and Samson before Jephthah, on account of the more prominent position which they hold in sacred history, and Samuel is placed after David, most likely for the purpose of di­rectly connecting him with the prophets. Gideon, son of Joash, of the tribe of Manasseh, was the fifth Judge of Israel. He was surnamed Jerubbaal (i.e., Let Baal plead) on account of his opposition to Baal in breaking down his altar and cutting down his grove. Afterward when the Midianites, the Amalekites, and “ the children of the east country,” were gath­ered together against Israel, “ the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet,” and there were gathered unto them thirty-two thousand men. The number was, however, re­duced to three hundred, and with these Gideon by faith routed the assembled hosts, and “ put to flight the armies of the aliens.” See Judges 6:11 to Judges 8:32. Barak was a leader of Israel, of the tribe of Naphtali. He be­came renowned for the great victory which he gained over the Ca- naanites. After the death of Ehud, the third Judge of the children of Israel, they did evil in the sight of the Lord, and he “ sold them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan, that lived at Hazor, the captain of whose host was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and for twenty years he might­ily oppressed the children of Israel.” (Judges 4:2-3.) And Debo­rah the prophetess, who was then judging Israel, sent and called Barak, and said to him, “ Hath not the Lord God of Israel com­manded, saying, Go and draw toward Mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the chil­dren of Zebulun ? And I will draw unto thee, to the river Kishon, Sisera, the captain of Jabin’ s army, with his chariots and his multi­tude, and I will deliver him into thine hand” (verses 6, 7). Trusting in God, he accepted the call on condition that Deborah would accompany him; and with his ten thousand men he joined in battle the immense host of Sisera at the foot of Mount Tabor. His victory was complete. Harosheth of the Gentiles was taken; Sis­era was murdered; and Jabin was ruined. See Judges 4:1 to Judges 5:31. Samson was the thirteenth Judge of Israel, and lived as a Naz- irite from his birth. The first manifestation of his great prowess was in the slaughter of a young lion which “ he rent, as he would have rent a kid.” After this, he smote the Philistines on several occasions with great slaughter; and finally, he destroyed himself and three thousand of them by overthrowing the temple of their god Dagon. See Judges 13:1 to Judges 16:31. In this last act of his event­ful life, as well as in many other things, we cannot but regard Samson as a very great sinner. And care must, therefore, be taken not to press into the words of the Apostle a meaning which he never intended. It is not his purpose to commend all that was done by even the best and most illustrious of these men of faith. Abraham sinned, and so did Moses, although their example was far more elevated than that of Samson. But when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, he performed some feats, in the exercise of faith, which are without a parallel in human history. Indeed, it is quite obvious that many of the exploits ascribed in Greek mythology to the renowned Hercules are drawn from the inspired mem­oirs of this illustrious descendant of Dan. Jephthae, the son of Gilead by a concubine, was the ninth Judge of Israel. He was distinguished chiefly for his victories over the Ammonites and the Ephraimites. (Judges 11:1 to Judges 12:7.) Like Samson, he was far from being perfect. The extremely rash vow which he made unto the Lord previous to his engagement with the Ammonites, indicates a spirit of daring recklessness, which is far from being commendable. But even in this, he showed his faith in God, and his reliance on the strong arm of Je­hovah for the victory. And the subsequent sacrifice of his only daughter, in compliance with his vow, shows also very clearly that he ascribed his success in the war to the God of Israel. It is his strong confidence in God, and this only, which our author so highly commends here to his discouraged and disheartened He­brew brethren. David, the well known son of Jesse, and second King of Israel, was always distinguished for his trust and confidence in God. This is shown in many of his beautiful lyric odes, as well as in the whole course of his public administration. Speaking of his trials and signal deliverances he says, “ In my distress, I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his tem­ple, and my cry came into his ears. Then the Earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.— He bowed the heavens also, and came down, and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.— He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me; for they were too strong for me.” (.) Samuel was the fifteenth and last Judge of Israel. Even from his childhood he was distinguished for his piety; “ and all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that he was established to be a prophet of the Lord.” (1 Samuel 3:20.) He stands, therefore, very properly in this list of heroes, at the head of the prophets: among whom are to be reckoned such faithful reformers as Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the other inspired writers of the Old Testament. Hebrews 11:33 ---Who through faith subdued kingdoms,— The Apostle does not mean that Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and each of the prophets severally “ subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,” etc.; but only that they did all these things as a class of men distin­guished for their faith in God. Some of them through faith sub­dued kingdoms; some wrought righteousness; some obtained promises; some stopped the mouths of lions; some quenched the violence of fire; some escaped the edge of the sword; some out of weakness were made strong; some waxed valiant in fight; and some put to flight the armies of the aliens. Gideon, for instance, subdued the Midianites (Judges 8); Barak, the Canaanites (Judges 4); Jephthah, the Ammonites (Judges 11) ; and David, the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, Edomites, and Ammonites (2 Samuel 5, 8, 10, etc.). Hebrews 11:33 ---wrought righteousness,— This may denote all works of righ­teousness which are done in obedience to the known will of God; as Peter says, “ In every nation, he that feareth God and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him.” (Acts 10:35.) But it is proba­ble that our author refers her4e more particularly to the public and official acts of rulers in the administration of justice. Thus, for instance, when Samuel challenged all the people of Israel to bear witness against him; if he had in his whole public administration, taken any man’ s ass; or if he had defrauded or oppressed anyone; or if he had received a bribe from any; they all answered with one accord and said, “ Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us; neither hast thou taken aught from any man’ s hand.” (1 Samuel 12:5) So also it is testified of David, that “ he reigned over all Is­rael, and executed judgment and justice to all the people.” (2 Samuel 8:15.) Hebrews 11:33 --obtained promises,— This may mean (1) that they obtained verbal promises or assurances from God, as did Abraham before he left Ur of Chaldea (Chrysostom, Bengel, Bleek, Stuart, Bloom­field) ; or (2) it may mean that they obtained the blessings promised, as did the Israelites under Joshua, when they got possession of Canaan (Delitzsch, Alford, Moll). The latter view is most prob­able, as it harmonizes best with the use of the word rendered ob­tained (epitunkano), both in the Greek classics and in the New Testament. It occurs only in Romans 11:7; Hebrews 6:15; James 4:2; and in our text: in all of which it means the obtaining of the prom­ised blessing. The Apostle does not mean, of course, that they ob­tained “ the promise” of the Messiah’ s coming and reign; but only such subordinate promises as were often made to the Israelites. Isaiah, for instance, saw Jerusalem delivered from the invasion of Sennacherib; Daniel saw the end of the Babylonish captivity; and many others lived to see the erection of the second temple and the restoration of the Levitical services. Hebrews 11:33 ---stopped the mouths of lions,—Several instances illustrative of this clause are mentioned in the Old Testament; as in Judges 14:6; 1 Samuel 17:34; 1 Chronicles 11:22; and Daniel 6:20. Of these, the case of Daniel is the most remarkable. For fidelity to his God, he was cast into the den of lions; but his faith saved him. Hebrews 11:34 ---quenched the violence of fire,—(dunamin) not merely the flame, but the power of fire. This is impressively illustrated by the case of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (Daniel 3.) And the same is, no doubt, true of other cases of persecution, under both the Old and the New Covenant. Rudelbach, for instance, relates of a martyr who was burned to death at Brussels, that when the flame rose up over his head, he cried out that he felt as if they were covering him with roses. His faith quenched the power of the fire, though it did not as in the case of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, wholly arrest its effects. Hebrews 11:34 ---escaped the edge of the sword,—As did David (1 Samuel 18:1 1 Samuel 19:10 1 Samuel 19:12), and Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-16), and Elisha (2 Kings 6:14-23 2 Kings 6:31-33), and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:26). There is probably further reference here, as well as in each of the following clauses of this verse, to the heroic exploits of the Maccabaean period, when Mattathias and his seven sons, like Gideon, Samson, and David, became strong out of weakness, waxed valiant in battle, and put to flight the armies of the aliens. Judas Maccabaeus particularly dis­tinguished himself by putting to flight, with comparatively small forces, the Syrian armies under Apollonius, Seron, Nicanor, Timo- theus, and Lysias; and so finally succeeded in throwing off the Syrian yoke, and re-establishing the worship of the true God in Je­rusalem. That these Maccabaean victories were achieved by faith is obvious from the whole tenor of their history. Of the truth of this, the following words of the aged and venerable Mattathias will serve as an illustration, and at the same time furnish to the reader the keynote of the whole Maccabaean movement. When he was about to die (166 B.C.), worn out as he was with the fatigues of the first campaign, he called his sons together and said to them, “ Now, therefore, my sons, be zealous for the Law, and give your lives for the Covenant of your fathers. Call to mind what acts our fathers did in their time; so shall ye receive great honor and an everlasting name. Was not Abraham found faithful in tempta­tion? and it was imputed to him for righteousness. Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and was made lord of Egypt. Phinehas, our father, in being zealous and fervent, ob­tained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood. Joshua, for ful­filling the word, was made a Judge in Israel. Caleb for bearing wit­ness before the congregation, received the heritage of the land. David, for being merciful, obtained the throne of an everlasting kingdom. Elijah, for being zealous and fervent for the Law, was taken up into heaven. Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, by believ­ing, were saved out of the flame. Daniel, for his innocency, was delivered from the mouth of the lions. And thus consider ye, that throughout all ages, none who put their trust in him [God] shall be overcome.— Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant, and show your­selves men in behalf of the Law: for by it, ye shall obtain glory.” (1Ma 2:50-64.) Hebrews 11:35 ---Women received their dead raised to life again:—There is, no doubt, special reference here to the case of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-24); and to that of the Shunammite (2 Kings 4:18-37). The son of the former was restored to life by Elijah; and the son of the latter by Elisha. But accord­ing to our author, this was effected in part through the faith of these women. Had it not been for their faith in God, the miracles would not have been wrought. Hebrews 11:35 ---and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance;—The word rendered tortured (etumpanistheson) means properly to stretch and torture upon the tympanum (tumpanon) ; an instru­ment of torture in the shape of a large drum or wheel, on which criminals were stretched in order to be beaten to death with sticks and rods. A case of this kind is recorded in 2Ma 6:19-29. During the persecutions of Antiochus Epiphanes, it was decreed among other things that the Jews should abandon their religion, and conform in all respects to the religious customs of the Syrians. Many apostatized from the faith, and many suffered martyrdom. Among these was one of the Jewish scribes, a man about ninety years of age, called Eliazar. He was put to death on the tym­panum for refusing to eat swine’ s flesh. “ But when he was ready to die with stripes, he groaned and said, It is manifest unto the Lord who hath the holy knowledge, that whereas I might have been delivered from death, I now endure sore pains in my body by being beaten: but in soul I am well content to suffer these things, because I fear him.” Other instances of severe torture by flaying, roasting, etc., are given, in the next chapter. (2 Maccabees 7.) Here we have an account of the martyrdom of a woman and her seven sons, simply because they would not eat swine’ s flesh, and conform to other heathen customs. They all chose death rather than life, on the conditions offered by Antiochus. Hebrews 11:35 ---that they might obtain a better resurrection:—Better than what? To this query several answers have been given. (1) It is alleged by many, that the contrast is between the final resurrection of the just, and the resurrection that is spoken of in the first clause of the verse. The sons of the widow of Zarephath and the Shu­nammite were raised from the dead to return again in a little while to the dust: but these faithful ones were expecting a resurrection to everlasting life (Chrysostom, Bengel, Schultz, Bohme, Bleek, Stuart, Ebrard, Delitzsch, Alford). (2) Others suppose that the contrast is between the final resurrection of the just and the deliv­erance from death which was offered to these faithful men and women, on condition that they would renounce their religion and worship the gods of the heathen. Like Isaac (verse 19), they were, so to speak, dead by the decree of their persecutors: but by apostatizing from the true religion, they might have obtained a de­liverance similar, in some respects, to a resurrection. But in that event, they would have forfeited what they themselves esteemed a far greater boon than any deliverance from mere temporal death (Winer, Tholuck, Lunemann, Scott, Moll). And (3) others again think that the contrast is between the final resurrection of the just and that of the unjust. The former will be a resurrection to ever­lasting life; but the latter will be to everlasting condemnation (CEcumenius, Theophylact). The first hypothesis is supported by the weightiest authorities; but I am, nevertheless, constrained to think that the second view is most in harmony with the context and the special scope of the passage. For be it observed, that it is not our author who makes the comparison and expresses the given preference. Not at all. He merely states approvingly what, on due reflection, was the preference of the persons spoken of. They, it seems, after considering the whole matter, were unwilling to ac­cept the proffered deliverance; because by their doing so, they knew they would forfeit what they themselves regarded as of infi­nitely more value than anything which their persecutors were able to offer. This is impressively illustrated by the account which we have given of the martyrdom above referred to. When the second son, for instance, was about to expire, he said to Antiochus, “ Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life; but the King of the world will raise us up, who have died for his laws, unto everlasting life.” In like manner the fourth son, addressing his last words to the king, said, “ It is good being put to death by men to look for hope from God to be raised up again by him. As for thee, thou shalt have no resurrection to life.” (2Ma 7:9 2Ma 7:14.) It seems clear, therefore, that the martyrs themselves made an estimate of what was offered to them by God, on the one hand, and of what was offered to them by their persecutors, on the other; and that it is simply their preference for the former in comparison wilh the latter which our author here designs to express. These faithful men and women chose death rather than life under the circumstances. Hebrews 11:36 ---And others had trial of cruel mockings, etc.— A few in­stances of these sportive cruelties and scourgings, and also of bonds and imprisonments, are mentioned in the Old Testament. Mention is made, for example, of the mocking of Samson by the Philistines (Judges 16:25) ; of the imprisonment of Micaiah by Ahab (1 Kings 22:27) ; of Hanani’ s imprisonment by Asa (2 Chronicles 16:10) ; and of the mocking, beating, bonds, and imprison­ment of Jeremiah by Pashur and others (Jeremiah 20:2 Jeremiah 20:7 Jeremiah 32:2-3). But our author probably refers here more particularly to the perse­cutions and sufferings of the Jews at a later period: many in­stances of which occurred during the reign of the Persians, Greeks, Egyptians, and Syrians. Take, for example, the following inci­dents from the history of the martyrdoms previously mentioned: “ It came to pass also that seven brethren and their mother were taken and compelled by the king [Antiochus Epiphanes] against the law to taste swine’ s flesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips.” And when the first of the seven was mangled and tortured to death by the fiendish officers of Antiochus, they brought the second to make him a mocking-stock. And when they had pulled off the skin of his head with his hair, they asked him, “ Wilt thou eat [swine’ s flesh] before thou be punished through every member of thy body ? But he answered in his own language and said, No. Wherefore he also received the next torment in order, as the former did.— After him, the third was made a mock­ing-stock, etc.” (2Ma 7:1 2Ma 7:7-8 2Ma 7:10.) These and other like statements made in the first and second books of Maccabees, are, no doubt, in the main correct. These writings are not inspired, as are the canonical books of the Old and New Testament; but they are as reliable as any other uninspired works of like antiquity. Hebrews 11:37 ---They were stoned,— This was a common mode of capital punishment among the Jews, and hence it is quite probable that many of the ancient martyrs suffered death in this way. See Matthew 11:12 Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34. Thus, for example, Zechariah the son of Jehoiada, was put to death by Joash, king of Judah (2 Chronicles 24:20-22), and thus also it is reported that Jeremiah was put to death by the Jews, at Daphne, in Egypt. Hebrews 11:37 ---they were sawn asunder,— So, according to the Talmud, was Isaiah put to death by Manasseh, king of Judah. The account that is given by the Jews of this barbarious act is most likely correct; it was so regarded by Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Origen, and other Christian Fathers. Josephus, speaking of Manasseh, says, “ He barbarously slew all the righteous men that were among the He­brews, nor would he spare the prophets, for he every day slew some of them, till Jerusalem was overflown with blood.” (Ant. 10,3, 1.) Hebrews 11:37 ---they were tempted,— This clause has given much trouble to the critics. “ It is difficult,” says Ebrard, “ to see what this jejune and general expression can have to do in this connection, and as sure as some word must have stood in this place, so sure it is that this (epeirasthesan) cannot have been the word.” So, also, Alford: “ It is certainly surprising,” he says, “ to meet with so mild a word in the midst of torments and ways of dreadful death.” And hence it is conjectured (1) that this word (epeirasthesan) is an interpo­lation, and that it should be omitted as in the P. Syriac version. (2) It is alleged that it has been inadvertently substituted for some other word indicating death by fire (as epurastheson), or some other mode of torture. But the word in our text is well sup­ported by external evidence, and after all it is not so inconsistent with the context as many of the critics seem to imagine. For as Prof. Stuart remarks, “ Not only life, but wealth and honor were frequently proffered in the midst of torture most agonizing to the human frame, in order to tempt the martyrs to forsake their reli­gion. Such a temptation as this is by no means to be reckoned among the lighter trials of good men.” The temptations of Christ, both in the wilderness and Gethsemane (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 22:40-46) seem to have given him very intense sufferings. Hebrews 11:37 ---were slain with the sword:— The prophet Urijah was brought out of Egypt to king Jehoiakim “ who slew him with the sword" (Jeremiah 26:23), and in the reign of Ahab, king of Israel, putting to death with the sword seems to have been a common mode of pun­ishment. Thus Elijah, in one of his complaints to God says, “ The children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword, and they seek my life to take it away." (1 Kings 19:10.) Hebrews 11:37 ---they wandered about in sheepskins, etc.— Driven away from their homes, like Elijah the Tishbite (1 Kings 17:3-9 1 Kings 19:3-14), like him they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being “ destitute, afflicted, tormented." It was the custom of the proph­ets to wear rough, hairy garments (Zechariah 13:4) ; and so in 2 Kings 1:8, Elijah is described as “ a hairy man," most likely from the shaggy appearance of his dress, for in the Septuagint (1 Kings 19:13 1 Kings 19:19; 2 Kings 2:8 2 Kings 2:13-14) his mantle is called a rnelote; which means (1) a sheepskin, and (2) a garment made of any rough woolly skin. Elijah may therefore be regarded as a fit type of this class of men, who from the time that they entered on their public ministry were subject to perpetual want, oppression, and persecution. Hebrews 11:38 ---Of whom the world was not worthy:— This seems to be a sort of proverbial expression, and it is evidently thrown in here parenthetically to denote (1) the eminent holiness of these good men; and (2) the great wickedness of most of their contemporar­ies. Their mode of life showed very plainly that though in the world they were not of it. Hebrews 11:38 ---they wandered in deserts, etc.— The reference here seems to be general, and includes no doubt those who for conscience’ s sake suffered from the heathen, as well as from their own countrymen. Indeed, this closing remark is peculiarly applicable to the Macca- baean period, when the mountains and caves of Judea were filled with pious sufferers. For then the Syrians under Antiochus “ drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succor." (1Ma 1:53.) And when Apollonious entered Jerusalem with an army of twenty-two thousand, and commenced butchering the inhabitants on the Sabbath Day, “ Judas Maccabaeus with nine others, or thereabout, withdrew himself into the wilderness, and lived in the mountains after the manner of beasts, with his company, who fed on herbs continually, lest they should be partakers of the pollution.” (2Ma 5:27.) Commentary on Hebrews 11:32-38 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_11:32 --time will fail me if I tell of GideonHere the author names a number of people drawn from the exploits, deliverances, and heroic endurance of faithful men and women. Gideon stands chronologically after Barak. Gideon was the son of Joash of the tribe of Manasseh, and was the fifth judge of Israel. Two things perhaps make him worthy of being named here. a. His fight against Baal. b. He used only 300 men out of an army of 32,000 men. Judges 6:11 to Judges 8:32.Hebrews 11:32 --BarakHe was a leader of Israel of the tribe of Naphtali. The Israelites were oppressed by Jabin, king of Canaan, and Sisera, the captain of the host. The enemy had 900 chariots, and for twenty years oppressed Israel. Judges 4:23. Deborah, the prophetess, called Barak and gave him a plan for victory. Hebrews 4:6-7. With Deborah and 10,000 men he led Israel to a complete victory, Judges 4:1 to Judges 5:31. Hebrews 11:32 --SamsonSamson, in the scripture, appears after Jephthah. Zwemer in his book, Sons of Adam, says that his career is put into the record anonymously, for who but Samson did these things in Hebrews 11:33-34? a. Moses was the “ brain,” learned in the wisdom of Egypt; Samson was a man of brawn, up to all the tricks and sports of a giant. b. Moses’ life is a long epic; Samson’ s, a brief tragedy. c. Moses was the man of God; Samson, the man of the people. The above offers the contrast between Moses and Samson. These feats of muscular power are of course the chief things about him. Hebrews 11:32 --JephthahHe was the son of Gilead by a concubine, and. became the ninth judge of Israel, His victories over the Ammonites and the Ephraimites, Judges 11:1 to Judges 12:7, with faith in God, ranks him a name among the faithful. He made a hasty foolish vow, and the finest victory was marred by the cruel death of his own daughter. a. In all the faithful ones, we find imperfection, yet they attained much by faith. b. Perhaps we should see that faults should not break us down or dishearten us. We must go on in the race of our calling. Hebrews 11:32 --DavidCalvin says: “ Under David’ s name he included all the pious kings.” He was the second king of Israel, and is known for his faith in God. a. This is established by the Psalms that express it. Cf. Psalms 18:6-17. b. It is shown in his many victories for the Lord, one of which was his slaying of Goliath.Hebrews 11:32 --Samuel and the prophetsSamuel is placed after David, most likely in order to connect him with the prophets, says Milligan. The prophets are to be greatly admired, for they had to preach in such wicked and wayward days. a. Their patience was sorely tried, but their faithful messages are recorded for the ages. b. They are lessons in faith and faithfulness for us today. Hebrews 11:33 --who through faith subdued kingdomsSome of them did some of the things that are named here. a. David is probably chief here, but definitely Joshua’ s work should be noted as he led in the conquest. b. Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah are others who could be named. This work is similiar to Hebrews 11:34—“ turned to flight armies of aliens.”Hebrews 11:33 --wrought righteousnessThis work was the main concern of the prophets who cried out against sin and for the establishment of justice. The work of Elijah and Elisha stands out. King Josiah’ s work, 2 Kings 22:1 to 2 Kings 23:30, is an outstanding work among the kings. Compare David, 2 Samuel 8:15. Samuel’ s work as a judge is outstanding in the field of righteousness. See 1 Samuel 12:4. Hebrews 11:33 --obtained promisesThe one great promise of the Messiah they did not obtain, but some promises were fulfilled in their lives. a. Joshua and Caleb obtained the promised land after 40 years. Joshua 14:6-14. b. Isaiah saw Jerusalem delivered from the invasion of Sennacherib. c. Daniel saw the end of the Babylonian captivity. d. Nehemiah lived to see the wall of Jerusalem rebuilt. e. Abraham received the promised son. f. David was promised the kingdom, and received it. Some feel that it only means verbal promises, but this is far less meaningful. Hebrews 11:33 --stopped the months of lionsSeveral people accomplished this. a. Daniel is the greatest example. Daniel 6:22 : “— saying, My God hath shut the lion’ s mouth.” b. David had victory over the lion and the bear. 1 Samuel 17:34. c. Samson, Judges 14:6, on the road to Timnah. d. David’ s mighty man Benaiah: 1 Chronicles 11:22, “— slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.” The examples are given to show the importance and power of faith. Hebrews 11:34 --quenched the power of fireThis indicates that the flames were not stopped, but their power and violence were taken away. a. The great example is that of the three Hebrews recorded in Daniel 3. 1. The fiery furnace was likely the new type of place of sacrifices designed by Nebuchadnezzar. 2. He desired a place where the work of priests could be observed, according to the archeologists. b. No other persons are suggested from the Bible, but of course many martyrs experienced the flames. Rudelback tells of a martyr at Brussels who said that the flames felt like roses as they covered him. Hebrews 11:34 --escaped the edge of the swordMany are such instances as this one. a. David escaped the sword many times, from the hand of King Saul, as well as Goliath. Cf. 1 Samuel 18:11; 1 Samuel 19:10-12. b. Elijah did, 1 Kings 19:1-6. c. Elisha is included. 2 Kings 6:14-23; 2 Kings 6:31-33. d. Jeremiah, Jeremiah 36:26. Compare Jeremiah 39. Milligan likes to include the Maccabean movement, which is a thrilling history. Hebrews 11:34 --from weakness were made strongThis power may be seen in several ways. a. Sarah had power to conceive. Hebrews 11:11. b. Gideon trembled when he was called. c. Jeremiah said he was like a child. He couldn’ t speak, but he was made to speak. d. Isaiah said, “ Woe is me.” Remember how the enemies talked about Nehemiah’ s effort to rebuild the walls, saying, “ Feeble Jews.” Hebrews 11:34 --waved mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliensThe history of God’ s people is a mighty war epic. a. Gideon with 300 men conquered the hosts of Midian. b. Abraham with 318 men rescued Lot. c. Joshua had many victories. 1. Defeated Amalek. Exodus 17. 2. Defeated the Amorites in a long day. Joshua 10:12-13. “ Aliens” probably refers to all who opposed the government of Israel. Hebrews 11:35 --women received their dead by a resurrectionThe widow of Zarephath, 1 Kings 17:21. Elijah dwelt there, and Elijah raised up her dead son. 2 Kings 4:34. The Shumanite woman’ s son raised by Elisha. Hebrews 11:35 --and others were torturedThis also may be translated, “ beaten to death.” Torture is not always done by heathens, but has been done in the name of God. Hebrews 11:35 --not accepting their deliverance“ Deliverance” may be also translated “ redemption.” This may refer to a mother and her seven sons mentioned in 2Ma 7:1. (In the Apocrypha)a. They would not submit to eating swine’ s flesh and other heathen customs. b. Few more heroic stories appear than that of the Maccabeans. Elizar, a Jewish scribe, was also killed. a. He died on the typamum, a large wheel on which they were stretched in order to beat them to death with clubs. b. Such cruelty could not persuade him to be delivered. Polycarp— would be an example but not included here, since his death came after Hebrews was written. Hebrews 11:35 --that they might obtain a better resurrectionTorture seemed a small thing when they were seeking a resurrection that God could give, When men have a faith, hope, and a love for God, man cannot touch it. a. Riches, popularity, etc., can be taken, but not our hope. b. Faith gives strength to endure and the spirit to rejoice in it. Hebrews 11:36 --others had trials of mockingsInstances of mocking are recorded in the Old Testament. a. Philistines mocked Samson. Judges 16:25. b. Ahab imprisoned Micaiah. 1 Kings 22:27. c. Jeremiah was cruelly treated and mocked by Pashar and others, Jeremiah 22:2-7; Jeremiah 33:2-3. d. Isaac was mocked by Ishmael. e. Elisha was mocked by the children. Mocking is severe in that it makes one angry and causes him to lose self-control. Hebrews 11:36 --scourgings, yea moreover of bonds and imprisonmentsScourging in the synagogue was common. Several instances of imprisonments are mentioned. a. Joseph was cast into prison. b. Jeremiah was lowered into a dungeon of mire. Jeremiah 37:16; Jeremiah 38:6. “ Bonds” refers to being bound in fetters and shackles. This was a common experience for the apostles. Hebrews 11:37 --they were stonedAn example is Zechariah. a. He was the son of Jehoiada. b. Joash, king of Judah, had him stoned. 2 Chronicles 24:20-22. Stephen, the first New Testament martyr, experienced this. Hebrews 11:37 --they were sawn asunderThe Talmud says that this happened to Isaiah by the order of Manasseh, king of Judah. An Apocryphal book, The Ascension of Isaiah, (Hebrews 5:11) gives this tradition about Isaiah. Hebrews 11:37 --they were temptedThis probably refers to the offers of life, wealth, honor, etc., that the faithful received in exchange for their faith. Temptations like Jesus faced are no doubt meant. Hebrews 11:37 --they were slain with the sworda. Elijah made this charge in a complaint to God. 1 Kings 19:10. b. Jehoiakim slew the prophet Uriah. Jeremiah 26:23. c. Ahab’ s reign was characterized by slaughter. d. Herod slew James with the sword. Acts 12.Hebrews 11:37 --they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins being destitute, afflicted, ill treatedThis was a type of garment worn by the prophets. a. See Elisha and Elijah, 2 Kings 2:8-13; 1 Kings 17:3-9; 1 Kings 19:3-14. b. Elijah is called “ a hairy man” in 2 Kings 1:8, most likely because of his garb. False prophets wore these clothes in order to deceive. Zechariah 13:4. Hebrews 11:38 --of whom the world was not worthySuch cruel men as persecuted these prophets and martyrs did not deserve such good examples of faithful men. You do not hear men like Paul, a saint, ever saying that he was too good for the world. Hebrews 11:38 --wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes of the earthThese places were places of refuge for persecuted men and women. God’ s great outdoors is a safer place for man than in the presence of the unbeliever.Study Questions2316. Why is Gideon listed in the roll of faithful ones? 2317. What was Gideon’ s responsibility? 2318. Was it customary for a judge of Israel to be also a warrior? 2319. How does Barak fit into the listing of Hebrews? When did he live? 2320. What single event may have earned him this place? 2321. What woman helped him? What was her duty? 2322. How did Samson earn his place? 2323. Could he be the one the author had in mind for a portion of Heb 11:33? 2324. Compare Moses and Samson in length of service. 2325. Tell of the work of Jephthah. 2326. What race or tribe troubled Israel in his day? 2327. Was he without criticism? 2328. Was his background good? 2329. Were any kings named among the faithful? 2330. Why was David singled out? 2331. Is there any single accomplishment that would gain him recognition in Hebrews? 2332. Were his victories numerous ones? 2333. Have these men been named in chronological order? 2334. Who was first, Samuel or David? 2335. What was Samuel? 2336. What Was so discouraging about a prophet’ s work? 2337. Name some men who might be included in the expression, “ subdued kingdoms.” 2338. What class of men is most likely included? 2339. Were any kingdoms subdued by prophetic preaching? 2340. Who among the Hebrews that subdued many kingdoms is not mentioned? 2341. Could Joshua be considered a man of faith? 2342. What group wrought righteousness? 2343. Were the prophets the only ones? 2344. Name some outstanding prophets. 2345. Name some outstanding kings. 2346. What judge was successful in reforms? 2347. What promises were obtained by Joshua, Isaiah, Daniel, Nehemiah, Abraham, David, etc.? 2348. What great promise did they miss? 2349. Name some who stopped the mouths of lions. 2350. How does Benaiah resemble David? 2351. Were flames quenched, or was it their power that was quenched? 2352. These men could not be considered God’ s firemen, could they? 2353. Who may be referred to here? Were there many? 2354. Could the author have in mind any New Testament martyrs? 2355. Name some who escaped the sword. 2356. Did David escape many times? 2357. What prophets were in danger of the sword? 2358. What is meant by “ made strong” ? 2359. Was it always physical strength? 2360. Have great men of God felt weak on occasion? 2361. Did Nehemiah, rebuilding walls, look feeble? 2362. Could Samson be included in this? 2363. Discuss the idea, “ waxed mighty in war.” 2364. Did they always depend upon a mighty army? 2365. How many did various warriors use? 2366. Tell of one great battle where the time element was involved. 2367 What is meant by “ aliens” ? 2368. What Old Testament women received their dead alive? 2369. Did Jesus raise the dead for any women? 2370. Could the resurrection of dead saints that accompanied Jesus’ death be included? 2371. What methods of torture have been used? 2372. Name some instances. 2373. Has cruelty been used only by heathen? 2374. What is meant by, “ not accepting their deliverance” ? 2375. Which is easier, to die in battle or to suffer for righteousness? 2376. What period of history do the commentators think may have been included here? 2377. Could Moses be included? 2378. Could the three Hebrew children be included? 2379. What was the deliverance they could have accepted? 2380. Why was it rejected? 2381. How did faith help? 2382. Name some mockers and some mocked ones. 2383. Was it always heathenism against God’ s men? 2384. Was it ever brother mocking brother? 2385. How is mocking a hard trial? 2386. What is “ scourging” ? 2387. What are “ bonds” ? 2388. Name some Old Testament imprisonments. 2389. Was imprisonment a common experience for the apostles? 2390. Do we have an example of one being stoned? 2391. Was it a common practice? 2392. Who was subject to stoning? 2393. Do we know of anyone being sawn asunder? 2394. How do we know Isaiah suffered this kind of death? 2395. What all may be included in the word “ tempted” ? 2396. Name some men who experienced these. 2397. Name some who were slain with the sword. 2398. Who was Jehoiakim? 2399. Who was Uriah? 2400. Is dying a common way to escape duty? 2401. Who may have gone about in sheepskins, etc.? 2402. Was this a characteristic garb? 2403. Did others ever wear them? Cf. Zechariah 13:4. 2404. What is meant by, “ of whom the world was not worthy” ? Hebrews 11:39-40 LIGHT AND UNDER THE NEW Heb_11:39-40 Hebrews 11:39 ---And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,— That is, all the persons referred to in this chapter, whether named or unnamed, from Abel onward. All these, though they did not live to see fulfilled the promise relating to the personal coming of the Messiah, were nevertheless through their faith in God en­abled to do and to suffer what has obtained for them a good report; a reputation for noble daring and patient endurance, which gives them a place in the first rank of moral heroes. The Apostle does not mean to say that they were all justified and saved by their faith in God and in the promise of a coming Redeemer. Not at all. His object is simply to illustrate the marvelous power and efficacy of faith in the word of God, whether that word relates to the build­ing of an ark, the crossing of the sea, the compassing of a city with rams’ horns, or anything else. These men all believed in God as the rewarder of them that diligently seek him; and through this faith they wrought many wonderful works, for which they have ob­tained a world-wide reputation. But with many of them God was not well pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:5); and others were overthrown elsewhere on account of their impiety. Many of them, however, like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, persevered to the end in well doing; and so after they had patiently endured the toils and sufferings of this life, they obtained the promise of the heavenly rest. See note on Hebrews 6:15. Hebrews 11:39 ---received not the promise:— They received many promises. Abraham, for instance, received the promise of a son by Sarah; the Twelve Tribes received the promise of the earthly inheritance; and Gideon, Barak, Samson, David, and Daniel, received many other promises during their earthly pilgrimage. But none of them lived to see the fulfillment of “ the promise” relating to the personal com­ing and reign of the Messiah. Hebrews 11:40 ---God having provided some better thing for us,— The “ bet­ter thing” here spoken of is evidently the new and better covenant which was established on new and better promises, including all the superior blessings and privileges of the Gospel dispensation. This, the patriarchs saw afar off; for “ Abraham,” says Christ, “ re­joiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56). But none of them saw it, as we now see it, and as the Hebrews in the time of Paul saw it; for “ I tell you,” says Christ, addressing his disciples, “ that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” (Luke 10:24.) The Gospel economy could not be fully inaugurated until after the incarnation, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and coronation of the Lord Jesus; and hence it was seen by the an­cients, but “ as through a glass darkly.” For says Paul, quoting from the “ evangelical Isaiah,” “ Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” But he adds, “ God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10.) And hence even the least in the kingdom of heaven is said to be greater than John the Baptist, in this respect, that he now lives in the actual enjoy­ment of what John and the ancients perceived only by faith. (Matthew 11:11.) “ For the Spirit was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:39)). Nor did even the Apostles yet understand that Jesus must suffer, and rise from the dead, in order that by the grace of God he might become unto us “ wisdom, and justification, and sanctification, and redemption.” See Matthew 16:21-22; Luke 18:33-34; John 20:9. Hebrews 11:40 ---That they without us should not be made perfect.— Without us in what respect? And perfect in what respect? These queries have been answered very differently by the commentators. It is alleged (1) that the Apostle refers here to the final consummation, when the spirits of all the saints, Patriarchal, Jewish and Chris­tian, will, in their glorified bodies, enter together upon the full frui­tion of the eternal inheritance (Macknight, Moll). But against this interpretation it may be urged (a) that it does not well har­monize with the context. The object of the Apostle is manifestly to excite and arouse his Hebrew brethren to the exercise of more patience and greater diligence in their Christian course, by remind­ing them that their privileges and opportunities were greatly supe­rior to those of the ancients. Nay more, the perfection of the an­cients depended essentially on those very blessings which the He­brew Christians were then enjoying through the incarnation, sacri­fice, atonement and mediation of the Lord Jesus. It is therefore difficult to see what bearing an appeal to the final consummation could have on the Apostle’ s argument, (b) It seems to be incon­sistent with what is said in 12:23. Here, it is plainly taught that the spirits of all those faithful ones, who, like Abraham, had perse­vered in well-doing to the end of life, were even then perfect when Paul wrote this epistle. (2) Many able expositors maintain that previous to the death of Christ, the spirits of these ancient worthies were still in a state of condemnation, under the dominion of Death: and that their being made perfect consisted in their being delivered at that time by Christ himself from the power of Death, and so admitted to a participation of the joys, honors, and privi­leges of the heavenly Jerusalem. “ Not without us,” says Riger, “ could they be made perfect; and with us, they have already been perfected. Christ went to them to open for them the gates of Death’ s kingdom, and thence to lead them forth with himself. And now henceforth, the souls of all who die in Christ go at once to him, and enter Heaven, there to await re-union with the body at his second coming.” Such is also the view of Ebrard, Delitzsch, Alford, and many others. Alford says, “ The result with regard to them is, that their spirits, from the time when Christ descended into Hades and ascended up into Heaven, enjoy heavenly blessed­ness, and are waiting with all who have followed their glorified High Priest within the vail, for the resurrection of their bodies, the regeneration, the renovation of all things.” That no sinner was ever made perfect without the blood of Christ, is of course admitted. See notes on 9: 15. But that “ the spirits of the ancient saints were all shut up in the kingdom of Death, until after the resurrection of Christ,” is a hypothesis which but illy accords with many passages of Scripture. Everywhere, the Bible represents Abraham and his spiritual seed as being “ justi­fied by faith” ; which implies of course that they were henceforth treated by God as just and righteous persons. And in Romans 3:25-26, we are told that God in the fullness of time, set forth Jesus Christ as a propitiatory sacrifice for a demonstration of his justice in passing by the sins of these faithful ones, and treating them as if they had never sinned. And accordingly we read in 6: 15, that after Abraham had patiently endured the toils and afflictions of his weary pilgrimage, “ he obtained the promise.” For even while here he was constantly looking forward to the heavenly city (verses 10-16). That the happiness of these faithful ones may have been increased by the work of Christ and the full develop­ments of the Gospel is, I think, quite probable. (Revelation 5:8-10.) But if Elijah and Enoch were taken directly to the heavenly coun­try (2 Kings 2:1 2 Kings 2:11), it seems most likely, that all the saints of the Patriarchal and Jewish ages, were also, immediately after death, transported to Heaven, or at least to a place of high spiritual enjoyment. The Popish notion that Christ, after his death, went down into Hades to convert anyone, is a mere figment of the imag­ination. When Dives died, he went to his own place, and so also did Lazarus. And in his parable concerning them, Christ teaches very plainly that any subsequent change in their allotment is mor­ally impossible. (Luke 16:19-31.) “ If the tree fall toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.” (Ecdes. 11: 3.) The fact is, that when Christ died, his spirit went, not into Hades, but into Paradise (Luke 23:43); and Paradise, as Paul tells us, is identical with the third Heaven (2 Corinthians 12:1-4). Christ does not say as in our Common Version, “ Thou wilt not leave my soul in Hell [Hades], but, Thou wilt not leave my soul to Hades (eis hadeu); that is, thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades.” Compare Matthew 16:18; Revelation 20:14, etc. The hypothesis of Ebrard, Delitzsch, and Alford, in regard to the intermediate state of the Old Testament saints, is therefore not correct. And even if it were, it could have no place in the solution of the question which we have under consideration. For it is manifestly of the relative privileges of the present state, and not of those of the intermediate or future state, that our author speaks. The ancients while here knew but little, and enjoyed but little of the economy of God’ s grace. They depended for salvation on what we now see and understand. But nevertheless they persevered in well-doing even to the end. And hence it is but reasonable that we should be at least equally faithful, under like trials and afflic­tions ; seeing that we are now in possession of that “ better thing,” to which they had all to look forward for salvation. The phrase “ without us” may therefore be taken as equivalent to without the religion which through Christ we now actually enjoy. For Christ himself is the essential bond of union which binds together the saints of all ages. Those that are united to him are also united to one another. And as the ancients were not, and could not, be perfected without the cleansing efficacy of his blood, it may be truthfully said, that they were not perfected “ without us” and the “ better thing” which we by the grace of God now actually enjoy. From this section, we may learn, with many other valuable les¬sons, the following: 1. We see in the first place the great value and importance of faith. This is shown (1) by the unusual amount of space which our author devotes to the discussion of the subject; and (2) by the great influence which faith has on the lives and fortunes of those who possess it. Reaching, as it does, far beyond the narrow limits of time and sense, it enables the soul to appropriate to itself, in a good degree, the riches, honors, glories, and blessings of the in¬visible world; and so qualifies it for the great trials, achievements, and conflicts of life. It makes a man feel confident that God is with him and for him; and that nothing can therefore successfully resist or oppose him, in his works of faith and service of love. He knows that so long as he remains faithful all things must work together for his good. And hence it is that the men of faith have always been the greatest of moral heroes. We search in vain, among the world’ s most renowned heroes, for such men as Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel, Paul, and other kindred spirits, “ who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens.’’ “ Though dead they speak in reason’ s ear,And in example live:Their faith, and hope, and mighty deeds,Still fresh instruction give." 2. We learn also from this very instructive and encouraging section what is the nature of faith, and also on what it rests as its only true and proper foundation. Where there is no revelation from God, there can be no faith. Without this, there may be en¬thusiasm and fanaticism, but no faith; for faith always rests ul¬timately on the word of God, and on nothing else. (Romans 10:17.) The evidence, too, must be such as to produce conviction in the understanding that such and such is the will of God; and that he has thus and so commanded or promised. This is manifest from all the examples that are given in this section. But more than this is manifest. It is equally clear from these same examples, that the faith which is here commended is not a mere conviction of the understanding. It begins with the understanding of course; but it does not stop with it. Through the intellect, it pervades also the heart; and through the heart, it moves and influences the will; and through the will, it controls the life of its possessor, bringing the whole man under subjection to the will of God. The true believer may, like Saul of Tarsus, have to inquire of the Lord what he would have him do; but having obtained an answer from God, he deems this sufficient. He no longer con¬fers with flesh and blood; but like Abel, he brings and offers as a sacrifice just what God has himself prescribed; like Noah, he builds such an ark as God has directed for the salvation of himself and his house; like Abraham, he offers if necessary his own son, or even his own life, in obedience to God's will; and like Moses, he makes all things according to the pattern that was showed to him in the mount. Faith then is a living, active, all-pervading, and fruit-bearing principal, which, by uniting us to God through Christ, makes us partakers of the di¬vine nature, and enables us to “ escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.” It is the appetite of the soul which brings us to the bread and water of life; and so enables us to eat and drink and live forever. 3. It seems evident from the examples and illustrations given in this chapter, as well as from many other parts of the Holy Bible, that the faith of many of the ancients was quite equal to that of the more highly favored moderns. In point of knowl¬edge, we have as a matter of course greatly the advantage of both the Jews and Patriarchs. Christ has come: and by his resurrection, he has brought life and immortality to light. The mystery of redemption is now so fully revealed to us in the Gospel, that even the least in the kingdom of heaven knows more of the economy of God’ s grace through Christ, than did even Abraham or John the Baptist. (Matthew 11:11.) But it is very evident that we cannot boast so much of the superiority of our faith. In this respect, those of the ancients who had a revelation from God, will compare favorably with the most enlightened Christians of the nineteenth century. We look in vain among the living for brighter and more illus¬trious examples of faith than those of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and even the Mac- cabaean heroes; many of whom suffered even unto death rather than violate what many would now regard as one of the very least of God’ s commandments. Why is this ? Without attempting to give an exhaustive reply to this question, which would carry us far beyond the proper scope of these reflections, we may I think safely conclude that it is owing largely to the influence of human traditions on the one hand, and of human philosophy on the other. By the former many have been led to trust more in the Man of sin than in the Lord of life and glory; and by the latter, many others have been induced to lean entirely too much on their own understanding, and so to walk by sight rather than by faith. This strange proclivity of human na¬ture is as old as the fall of man. It was first manifested in the eat¬ing of the forbidden fruit. When the woman saw, or thought she saw, “ that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.” (Genesis 3:6.) This one melancholy illustration of the unspeakable folly of neglecting the plain teachings of God’ s word, and relying on anything else as the guide of life, we might reasonably hope would suffice as an example of warning and admonition to all subsequent generations. But not so. Soon after this, we see manifested in Cain the same rationalistic spirit which, through hs mother Eve, ‘‘ brought death into our world and all our woe.” He too thought he saw something better and more becoming than the sacrifice which God himself had prescribed and appointed. And instead of bringing a bleeding lamb as an offering to God, he brings no doubt a very handsome present of the fruits of the ground; ridiculing perhaps at the same time what he evidently regarded as a weakness on the part of his brother, who it seems was simple enough not to lean on his own understanding, but to bring just such an offering as God himself had commanded. So too the faith of Noah was no doubt a subject of ridicule among the proud, self-righteous, self-reliant, would-be philosophers of his day: while, at the same time, many of the more ignorant and superstitious would rely with more confidence on the silly tales of false priests and false prophets than on the inspired oracles of the living God. And just so it has ever been, in some measure, in all ages and in all nations. Tradition and philosophy have both served to undermine the authority of God’ s word, and so to weaken the faith of myriads. During ‘‘ the dark ages,” tradition had the ascendency. The Man of sin then sat in the temple of God, and issued his de¬crees to superstitious thousands who received them as the oracles of Jehovah. But with the reformation of the sixteenth century, the spirit of Rationalism again revived. And it gives us pleasure to know and confess that it has done much to free the human soul from the bondage and tyranny of the many forms of superstition which were then prevalent; for all of which we of course feel devoutly thankful. But the trouble is, that Rationalism, as well as Tradition, has transcended all the bounds of decency and propriety. Like the Man of sin, it claims for itself all the honors and preroga¬tives of the Deity. In its unbounded pride and arrogance, it deals with the inspired oracles of God, just as it deals with the absurd delusions and dogmas of the Mother of harlots. It is true, for instance, that the Bible says, “ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” But what of that? Since Rationalism has discovered that “ nothing can be made out of nothing,” it must go! The word of God must be made to harmonize with the oracles of this new Divinity. And so it is, that the Bible is now divested of much of its power and authority in the popular consciousness: and its miracles are treated by many as the mere myths of ancient fable. It is evident therefore that the great want of the present age, is a return to the simple faith and practice of father Abraham and the primitive Christians. Let Traditions and Rationalism be each con¬fined to its own proper sphere, and let men everywhere bow to the authority of God's inspired word, and very soon the Church will appear without a spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. (Ephesians 5:27.) Commentary on Hebrews 11:39-40 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_11:39 --these all having had witness borne to them through their faith received not the promiseIf these had the light of grace and were faithful, how much more should we be. We have the full sunlight of God’ s grace upon us. If a spark led them to seek the promise, the full light should enable us to attain. Hebrews 11:39 --the promiseWhat is it? There is in the future a promise to be fulfilled, in the future to us and to the ancient saints. The better thing, Heb. 10:40, Cf. Hebrews 9:15, the atonement. The ancients died without obtaining either. a. We may experience both. b. This may express the idea that they are not yet in possession of the inheritance promised them. c. Then all saints, whether before or after the coming of Christ, will at the same time come into the inheritance.Hebrews 11:40 --God, having provided some better thing concerning usThis must refer to the atonement through Christ, Newell expresses it as “ our heavenly calling.” Hebrews 11:40 --that apart from usWhat God has planned for all mankind, He will do for all mankind at the same time. When it is done, whatever it is, I have faith that it will be done right. Hebrews 11:40 --they should not be made perfect. This is done through Christ. Hebrews 12:23 : “ We are come to the spirits of just men made perfect.” a. This perfecting looks forward to that salvation consummated at the coming of Christ. Hebrews 9:28 : “ To them that wait for Him unto salvation.” b. It includes the redemption of the body. Romans 13:11. Newell: Enoch has already been made perfect. Hebrews 12:23 refers to him: “ Ye are come unto the spirits of just men made perfect.” Spirits are made perfect, but bodies are not. Someday, however, we will have a glorious new body. 1 Corinthians 15. Study Questions2405. What is the significance of Heb 11:39? 2406. What witness was borne? 2407. What promise is referred to? 2408. Can we infer by these verses that they have not yet gained eternal life— that they are still in the tombs? 2409. What “ better thing” is referred to in Hebrews 11:40? 2410. Is God going to bless all, the faithful of the past, and us at the same time? 2411. What is meant by perfect? Cf. Hebrews 12:23. 2412. Was Enoch made perfect. Will we be coming to him and others? 2413. What form will we have when we are perfected? Cf. 1 Corinthians 15. Hebrews 12:1-3 AND TO THE HEBREW TO IN THEIR BEGUN COURSE; (1) FROM THE EXAMPLE AND OF THE MANY ONES WHO HAD GONE BEFORE THEM; AND (2) FROM THE EXAMPLE OF CHRISTHeb_12:1-3 Heb 12:1 ---Wherefore, seeing we also, etc.—In the last section, the Apostle brought forward for the encouragement of his brethren, the example of many noble and faithful ones who, under the severest trials, had run with patient endurance the race that was set be­fore them. And now returning to the line of exhortation com­menced at 10: 19, but broken off at the close of the same chapter (10: 39), he calls on his brethren in Christ to imitate the example of those noble witnesses of the faith. Having, he says; such a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every superfluous weight, and the sin which so easily besets us, let us also run with patient endurance the race which is set before us. In this verse there is evident allusion to the games of the ancient Greeks; or rather perhaps to those which Herod the Great had in­troduced into Palestine in imitation of the Grecian games. See Jo­sephus Ant. 15: 8; 15 : 9, 6; 19: 7, 5; Bell. 1, 21, 8. These games consisted in such exercises as leaping, boxing, wrestling, throwing the quoit, foot-races, horse-races, chariot races, etc. The exercises were performed in the arena of a vast amphitheatre, around which, immense crowds of spectators, often amounting to from twenty- five to one hundred thousand, were arranged on seats, rising high one above another. Corresponding with these assembled multitudes of anxious spectators, is the “ cloud of witnesses’’ by whom the He­brew Christians are said to be surrounded while running their race for the crown of life. These crowned victors are here repre­sented as a cloud on account of their immense numbers (Ezekiel 38:9 Ezekiel 38:16) as well perhaps as on account of their elevated position. But why are they called witnesses (martures) ? Several an­swers have been given to this question. (1) Some, as Liinemann, supposes that they are so called simply from the fact, that in the preceding chapter they all appear as “ witnesses of faith.” They have by their example borne honorable testimony with respect to the nature, power, value, and sure rewards of faith. (2) Some, as Bleek and Tholuck, take the word witnesses in the sense of specta­tors (theatai). They think that these ancient worthies are called witnesses simply because they are represented here as spectators of the Christian conflict. But (3) the majority of commentators combine these two meanings. They maintain that these faithful ones are called witnesses (a) on account of the testimony which they have ever borne as to the power and efficacy of faith and of God’ s fidelity; and (b) on account of their being spectators of our conduct in the arduous but honorable race which lies before us. “ Averse as we are in general,” says Delitzsch, “ to depart from the simple sense of the text of Scripture, for the sake of making out a multitude of meanings, so that ‘ the wood at last can hardly be seen for the trees,’ we feel that in the present case the double meaning unmistakably obtrudes itself. Those who were witnesses of faith in the previous chapter, are turned by the word surrounding (peri- keimenon) into witnesses of us in this: or rather the two applica­tions of the word martures (witnesses) are in the writer’ s thought and expression, inextricably combined.” I agree with Delitzsch, Alford, Moll, and others, that the Apostle does represent these glo­rified saints, not only as witnesses of the faith, but also as specta­tors of our conduct. But I think that in representing them as spectators, gathered over and around us, he wishes to indicate that these same champions of the faith will be witnesses for or against us, according to the manner in which we deport ourselves in the great conflict of life. See Matthew 12:41-42. The original word (martus) never means merely a spectator (theates) ; it may, how­ever, as in the case of the Apostle, denote one who sees and hears with the view of bearing witness. But in what sense are these witnesses of the faith and of our de­meanor, spectators also of the Christian conflict? Is it in a literal or in a metaphorical sense? On this question the commentators are again divided. Alford says, “ The words must be taken as dis­tinctively implying community between the church triumphant and the church below; that they who have entered into the heavenly rest are conscious of what passes among ourselves. Any interpre­tation short of this leaves the exhortation tame and without point. If they are merely quasi-witnesses, merely witnesses in a metaphor, the motive, so far as this clause supplies one, is gone.” The fact, as here alleged by Alford, that the spirits of the just made perfect are real witnesses of our conduct, is most likely correct. This is certainly the most natural inference from our text, and it seems to be supported by several parallel passages. See 1 Corinthians 13:12; Hebrews 13:23; Revelation 6:1 Revelation 6:3 Revelation 6:5 Revelation 6:7, etc. Still, I cannot agree with this able, and in the main, judicious critic, that the metaphorical interpretation supported by Macknight and others, is wholly point­less. It seems to me that even if the aforesaid ancient worthies were wholly ignorant of our course and manner of life, the Apostle might nevertheless by a bold rhetorical figure justly represent them as quasi-witnesses of our conduct, in order to stimulate us to imitate their noble example. See 1 Kings 22:19-23; and Job 1:6­. I have not sufficient evidence, however, that any such figure is used in this case, and I therefore incline with Alford to the literal interpretation. Hebrews 12:1 ---let us lay aside every weight,—In this clause the Apostle makes allusion particularly to those who run foot-races in the am­phitheatre. These contestants laid aside everything that might in any way serve to impede their progress. The original word (on- kos) means a weight, a burden, a swelling, an encumbrance, and it is evidently used here to denote whatever has a tendency to in­terrupt or retard our progress in the way of holiness; such as “ the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life.” All such hindrances the Apostle exhorts his brethren to lay aside, so that like the contestants in the Grecian games, they might be able to run with patient endurance the race that was set before them. Hebrews 12:1 ---and the sin which doth so easily beset us,—That is, as the context plainly indicates, the sin of unbelief. This is the sin against which the Apostle warns his readers most particularly throughout the whole Epistle; and it is, moreover, the sin from which all other sins in a measure proceed, and by means of which they are ever more or less cherished and supported. When the Comforter is come, says Christ, he will convict the world “ of sin, because they believe not on me.” (John 16:9.) To put off the sin of unbelief is therefore in fact equivalent to putting off the old man with all his deceitful lusts, and putting on “ the new man who, after God, is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22 Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:9.) The qualifying epithet euperistatos does not occur elsewhere, either in the New Testament or in the Greek classics; but it is evident from the context as well as from the etymology of the word, that it means, as in our English ver­sion, easily besetting or surrounding. The temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, all serve to draw away our minds and hearts from God, and to make us trust more in the crea­ture than in the Creator. And hence the constant tendency of unbelief to encircle us, and so to paralyze our spiritual energies as to make us faint by the way. That this is alarmingly true is abun­dantly evident from the history of God’ s ancient people and the church of Christ, as well as from our own daily experience and ob­servation. The Apostle still draws his imagery from the race course, and seems to refer here to the custom of the contestants in laying aside even their inner garments, so that they might the more readily run with endurance the race that was set before them. So also the writer of our Epistle exhorts us to lay aside, in like man­ner, every superfluous weight, and especially the sin of unbelief, which, like a close-fitting garment, is ever liable to environ our whole persons, and so to paralyze our spiritual energies. Hebrews 12:1 ---let us run with patience the race that is set before us,— The word rendered patience (hupomone) means here, endurance or perseverance. The object of the Apostle is not so much to exhort his brethren to bear the troubles and toils of life with patience, as it is to encourage them to persevere through all trials and difficulties even to the end. Since it is true he means to say in substance that so many illustrious patriarchs, prophets, kings, and martyrs, have preceded us in the way of holiness; and by perseverance in well­doing to the end of life have at length obtained the promised re­ward ; therefore let us also, after their example, laying aside every superfluous weight, and especially the sin of unbelief run with pa­tient endurance the Christian race, until, like our illustrious ances­tors, we too reach the goal of victory and receive the crown of life. Hebrews 12:2 ---Looking unto Jesus, etc.— The Apostle, in this verse, pre­sents to his Hebrew brethren a second motive and ground of en­couragement to persevere even to the end in their begun course. He exhorts them to run their race, not only as if in the presence of their illustrious ancestors, but while doing so he would have them also look off to Jesus the Leader and Perfecter of the faith; so that they might all be encouraged by his greatness and stimulated by his example. The word rendered author (archegos) means prop­erly one who leads, or acts as principal in any given enterprise. It occurs in the New Testament only in Acts 3:15 Acts 5:31; Hebrews 2:10, and in our text. In the first and also in the second instance, it is rendered prince; in the third, captain; and in our text, author. The word rendered finisher (teleiotes) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament; but as its etymology indicates, it means a com­pleter, perfecter, finisher; one who brings any scheme or enterprise to its full and perfect consummation. “ Our” should be omitted and the inserted before the word faith, which is used here, as in many other parts of Scripture, to denote the Christian religion in its great­est fullness. See Acts 6:7 Acts 13:8; Galatians 1:23 Galatians 3:23; and Jude 1:3. The object of the Apostle in introducing this clause is therefore manifestly twofold: (1) to encourage us by keeping constantly be­fore our minds the fact that Jesus is himself the Leader and Per­fecter of the faith, regarded as God’ s plan of justification, sanctifi­cation, and redemption; and (2) to fill us with his mind and tem­per, by keeping constantly before us his example as the very best possible illustration of the nature, power and efficacy of faith. For such was his trust in God and in the word of his grace, that he willingly endured the greatest sufferings and reproaches “ for the joy that was set before him” ; the joy of presently sitting down with the Father on his throne, and saving a world by means of his own death and mediation. Hebrews 12:2 ---endured the cross, despising the shame,— It is difficult for anyone living in this age and country, to properly paraphrase this ex­pression. We know indeed that the pains and sufferings of cruci­fixion must have been very great; but of the shame that was at­tached to it when Christ died for our sins, we can have no ade­quate conception. For as Mr. Barnes well remarks, “ When we now think of the cross, it is not of the multitude of slaves, and thieves, and robbers, and rebels who have died on it, but of the one great victim, whose death has ennobled even this instrument of tor­ture, and encircled it with a halo of glory. We have been accus­tomed to read of it as an imperial standard in war in the days of Constantine, and as the banner under which armies have marched to conquest. It is intermingled with the sweetest poetry; it is a sa­cred thing in the most magnificent cathedrals; it adorns the altar, and is even an object of adoration; it is in the most elegant engrav­ings; it is worn by beauty and piety as an ornament near the heart; it is associated with all that is pure in love, great in self-sac­rifice, and holy in religion.” Before we can therefore feel and ap­preciate the full force of the Apostle’ s remark, we must remove from the cross “ the halo of glory” which has so long encircled it, and we must place ourselves in such an attitude that we can see, and hear, and feel, as did the contemporaries of our blessed Lord: we must look upon it as an instrument of torture designed for the pun­ishment and disgrace of only the lowest and vilest criminals. “ There is,” says the same pious author, “ a degree of dishonor which is at­tached to the guillotine, but the ignominy of a death on the cross was greater than that: there is a disgrace attached to the block, but the ignominy of the cross was greater than that; there is a much deeper infamy attached to the gallows, but the ignominy of the cross was greater than that.” And yet such was Christ’ s zeal for the glory of God, and such was his regard for the recompense of the reward that was before him, that he willingly submitted to all the sufferings and reproaches through which he had to pass on his way to the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. See notes on Hebrews 1:3 and Hebrews 8:1. Hebrews 12:3 ---For consider him that endured such contradiction, etc.—“ There is,” says Bishop Sanderson, “ scarce any other provocation to the performance of duty so prevailing with men as the example of such as have performed the same before them with glory and success.” Recognizing this well-attested fact, the Apostle would have his brethren, not only look off to Jesus as the Leader and Perfecter of the faith, but he would have them also carefully con­sider him as having meekly, patiently, perseveringly, and triumph­antly borne “ such contradiction of sinners against himself.” The word rendered contradiction (antilogia) means literally opposition by means of words and arguments, and it is so interpreted by some in this instance. But most expositors, as Chrysostom, CEcumenius, Theophylact, Delitzsch, and Alford, justly maintain that under this expression the Apostle includes all the opposition and persecution which Christ endured here from sinners, even to his agony on the cross. For the contrary word often results in the contrary action; and hence it is that antilogia in its second intention means opposi­tion of any kind. In John 19:12, for instance, the cognate verb (antilegeo) means not merely to contradict Caesar, but also to rebel against him. It is therefore to the suffering, bleeding, and dying Savior that Paul here especially calls the attention of his brethren. Hebrews 12:3 ---lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.— The Apostle has still in view the foot-races of the amphitheatre, and from them he continues to draw his metaphors. As the knees of the contestants in the ancient arena were apt to grow weary, so also it is with those who run in the Christian race. They, too, are apt to grow weary and faint in their minds. But as in the Greek stadium, a forward look to one who had won the prize, and who was then ready to crown other victors at the end of their race, was apt to inspire the athlete with fresh courage and energy, so also it is in our Christian race. When the soul is bowed down under the manifold trials and afflic­tions of this life nothing so much revives it as looking off to Jesus, and carefully considering him who endured such contradiction of sinner against himself. This, it seems, was one of Paul’ s chief means of gaining strength and support in all his trials and afflic­tions. He looked off constantly to Jesus, and became so inspired with his pious and heroic example, that he was even anxious to fill up in his own personal experience that which was “ behind of the afflictions of Christ.” (Colossians 1:24.) Commentary on Hebrews 12:1-3 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_12:1 --Therefore let us also, seeingThis is done with our spiritual sight. We have just gone through God’ s memory album to behold the monuments to the saints of God. Hebrews 12:1 --we are compassed aboutWhatever way we are turned in trials or tribulations, there before us are people who had to suffer like experiences or more. As Israel was under a cloud on the way to Canaan, so are we surrounded by the breath of all time. Hebrews 12:1 --with so great a cloud of witnesses“ Cloud” is a classical metaphor used for a multitude. a. Homer speaks of “ a cloud of footmen, a cloud of birds, and a cloud of horsemen.” b. Tivy speaks of “ a cloud of footmen.” “ Witnesses” refers to those of Chapter Eleven. a. It does not mean that this crowd is watching us. 1. Our feeble efforts surely would cause them too much anxiety. 2. A witness is used as a bit of evidence for us, but not necessarily a present observer of us. b. We are surrounded by these great examples of faith. In the midst of such a company how can we shrink back? Some feel that a grandstand of present people is meant, but I think the word “ great” refers back to Chapter Eleven. Hebrews 12:1 --lay aside every weight and sinThe figure here is that of a race, which requires light equipment. a. The “ weight” would be burdens which delay or impede our progress. b. An Olympic competitor strips himself of everything but essential equipment in order to run his best. c. The weight carrier will be soon passed by the one who knows enough to lay aside weight and sin. We hear people say, “ What is the harm or sin in doing this or that?” a. Is it a weight, a sin, or a wing? b. “ Does it help or hinder?” is a good question. Hebrews 12:1 --which doth so easily beset usSome sins are besetting sins. a. A Negro man once called this “ upsetting” sin. b. Sin so easily sets in our lives. Newell believes unbelief is referred to here, but this is not proved, Newell: Sin is as natural to the flesh as it is for animals to draw breath, and the moment you take your eye off Christ you have the certainty of the sin besetting you. The sin will be different with individuals. Each one must lay aside his own peculiar weakness and sins, and run the race. Hebrews 12:1 --let us run with patience“ Patience” is also translated “ stedfastness.” Look at the examples of it. a. Moses chose ill treatment with God’ s people rather than sin. b. David proved true in great danger as Saul sought his life. c. Paul says, 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 : “ I therefore so run as not uncertainly.” Philippians 3:12-14; Acts 20:24; 2 Timothy 4:7-8. First we had the preparation for the race; now the running. a. A race has three stages: preparation, patience and prize. b. The figure is a race that requires endurance, for it pictures the Christian’ s life. Sin will slow us down in the Christian race. Hebrews 12:1 --that is set before usThe course is set for us; we have to run under every condition that befalls us. a. The runner does not prepare the course; he runs. b. The runner prepares only himself, not the course. We are not to complain about our race, but rejoice in the privilege to run because of the cloud of witnesses, the reward and the company who run with us. Hebrews 12:2 --looking unto JesusThis is the Goal. a. Keep your eye on Jesus as you run. b. Many an athlete has lost a race by losing sight of the goal. He is our Pacemaker. This gives us our strength, our second wind. a. With eyes on Christ we see the perfect Example and Energy for the Way. b. Thayer suggests “ looking unto” in the Greek means “ to fix the eyes on something.” Hebrews 12:2 --the Author“ The leader” is a second translation. a. Thayer: One who takes the lead. b. In a great cloud of faithful people Christ is the Leader. Here is the great Chief Witness.Hebrews 12:2 --Perfecter of our faithChrist is not only the beginning of our race but the Finisher likewise. This word, “ perfecter,” also rendered “ finisher” occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. a. It means a completer, perfecter, or finisher. b. It carries the idea of one who brings any plan to its full and perfect consummation. Hebrews 12:2 --Who for the joy that was set before HimJoy in spite of suffering. a. Isaiah 53 pictures Him as a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, yet He was joyful to bring salvation to the world. b. Philippians 3 pictures Christ’ s glad willingness to show the love of God to the world. A bitter, cruel experience was endured by Him so that He might bring joy into the world. McKnight says it was not a joy which He was in possession of, but one to be received. Hebrews 12:2 --endured the crossJesus’ race required some endurance likewise. His race course was set for Him and He faced it. a. Angels could have rescued Him. Matthew 26:53. b. His disciples tried to change His course. Luke 9:51. Hebrews 12:2 --despising shameHe endured the awfulness of the cross, and the shame of sin. He did not rejoice in it, but despised it. This verse lends credence to a later phrase interpreted, “ endured such contradiction.” a. Joy was in it, but shame was there, too. b. It is impossible for us to understand how Christ was joyful in the saving of those who were His enemies. c. While we were sinners Christ died for us. Hebrews 12:2 --and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of GodHe ran His course and this was His privilege, to be seated at the side of God. If we run our course, some day we will have the privilege to be where He is John 14:1-4. Hebrews 12:3 --for consider HimYou have considered the sacrifice of the heroes of the faithful to obtain an inheritance. That is good. Now consider Jesus who endured for you. a. How can we turn away from Him in despair? b. How can we turn again unto sin? Let us study Christ, His attitude in every trial, for He had all the trials. Hebrews 12:3 --that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners“ Gainsaying” is also translated “ contradiction.” The word in Greek is antilogia, “ opposition.” Observe His opposition. a. John 1:11; Came to His own, but they did not receive Him. b. Chief priest, scribes, John 12:42-46. c. Roman law put Him to death. To consider Him is to endure, The interpretation, “ endured such contradiction,” is sometimes allowed to show that Christ had contradictions, such as “ joy” and “ despising shame.” a. “ Of sinners” indicates that men contradicted and opposed Him. b. He was opposed every way He turned. Hebrews 12:3 --against HimselfWhat did they say against Him? a. Beelzebub was His power. Matthew 10:25; Matthew 12:24. b. He is Joseph’ s Son. Luke 4:22. c. He is a deceiver. Matthew 27:63. All this may be forgiven. Matthew 12:32. Some authorities allow it to be read “ themselves” rather than “ himself.” Hebrews 12:3 --that ye wax not weary, fainting in your soulsMany are the exhortations to stedfastness: a. Romans 8:17 : “ If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified with Him.” b. Galatians 6:9 : “ Be not weary in well doing.” c. Revelation 2:3 : “ Thou— hast not grown weary.” d. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 : “ Be not weary.” In times of distress just keep looking to the Lord, remembering His afflictions. Study Questions2414. Describe the nature of the 12th chapter. 2415. After the heroes of the faith are exalted in Chapter Eleven, what Person is exalted here? 2416. What conclusion is drawn to open the chapter? 2417. How does the Christian see? 2418. What are we to see in this chapter and in this verse? 2419. What is meant by, “ compassed about” ? 2420. Could we suffer anything not suffered already by someone in God’ s album? 2421. Enlarge on the idea of the “ cloud.” 2422. Has God used clouds in history? 2423. Discuss the word “ witness.” What is the word in the original? Does it mean that they are in the spirit world all about us watching us? Could it refer to people around us who watch us? Does the word “ great” help to clarify who they are? Would the patriarchs be pleased to watch us? Could we use the word “ example” in place of witness? 2424. What is the Christian to do with weight and sin? 2425. What is the difference between weight and sin? 2426. Do people become encumbered with good things that destroy their effectiveness, such as lodges, clubs, sports, etc.? 2427. Can good actually be evil in some instances? 2428. Define the idea of “ beset us.” 2429. Do we have our own “ besetting sins” ? 2430. Do athletes have problems that are peculiar to them in training that we might apply here? 2431. What figure of athletics is used here? 2432. What is implied by “ running” ? 2433. What is an alternate translation of “ patience” ? 2434. Is the race a common figure in the Word of God? 2435. Will sin give us wings or weight? 2436. Are there stages of a race that can be lessons for us in the Christian life? 2437. What does “ set before us” imply? 2438. Do runners prescribe the characteristics of the track? 2439. What does the runner prepare? 2440. Have we had great company in the race of life? 2441. How important is sight in a race? 2442. What is the Christian to look to? 2443. What is our danger if our eye is not on Christ? 2444. What are the figures used of Christ in this verse? 2445. What does author mean by Perfecter? Does he mean perfection? 2446. Can we say that He is the Alpha and Omega of the race? 2447. Who is the Chief Witness? 2448. How can He serve us in these capacities? 2449. Did Jesus enjoy the race? 2450. Compare Philippians 2:5-11 with this idea. 2451. In life did He have joy or sorrow? 2452. When is there joy involved in a race? 2453. Aren’ t the greatest joys being chosen to race, and the victory? 2454. Was the endurance of the cross joy? 2455. Wherein did He have joy? 2456. Was His course set for him? 2457. Did anyone try to get Him to look aside? Why? 2458. Does His endurance challenge you? 2459. How could he be “ joyful,” yet “ enduring” and “ despising” ? 2460. What is meant by the expression, “ despising shame” ? 2461. Are these phrases examples of a great work that we may not like to do, but the joy of victory that makes up for it? 2462. What was at the end of the course for Christ? 2463. In the roll of faithful, who does the author want us to give special consideration to? 2464. Can we turn away from Him when we consider His love, sacrifice, concern and reward? 2465. What is the difference between the endurance of Christ and that of the heroes of the faith? 2466. What phase of Christ’ s life is to be considered? 2467. Can we ever face any trials that Jesus didn’ t face? 2468. What do you understand “ gainsaying” to mean? 2469. From what source did His opposition come? 2470. Were there other sources of opposition to His purpose by persons who thought that they were helpful? 2471. What groups of men opposed Him who should have been followers? 2472. What did they say of Him? 2473. A consideration of Jesus should do what for us? 2474. Name some other verses that speak of weariness. 2475. Is there any promise of reward to those who wax weary? Hebrews 12:4-11 TO ENDURE THEIR , (1) IN VIEW OF THEIR ; AND (2) IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE ALL THE OF GOD, FOR THEIR OWN Hebrews 12:4-11 Hebrews 12:4 ---Ye have not yet resisted unto blood,— There seems to be a change of metaphor here, as in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, from the agonistic race to the more severe contest of boxing. “ In these games, the boxers were accustomed to arm themselves for the fight with the caestus. This at first consisted of strong leathern thongs wound around the hands and extending only to the wrist, to give greater solidity to the fist. Afterward, these were made to extend to the elbow, and then to the shoulder, and finally they sowed pieces of lead or iron in them, that they might strike a heavier and more de­structive blow. The consequence was that those who were en­gaged in the fight were often covered with blood and that resist­ance unto blood showed a determination, courage, and purpose not to yield” (A. Barnes). The contest of the Hebrews had not as yet assumed this severe form. They had not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Their Christian profession had not yet cost them their lives. Stephen, James, and many others had re­sisted unto blood; but it is only of the living members of the Jeru­salem Church that our author here speaks. The persons addressed in this Epistle had not yet been called on to suffer what Christ and many others had endured for the sake of the truth. And hence as their afflictions were yet comparatively light, they were the more inexcusable for their timidity and cowardice. Hebrews 12:4 ---striving against sin.— Sin is here personified; and is supposed by many to be equivalent to sinners, the abstract being used merely for the concrete. But this is to sacrifice much both of the meaning and energy of the expression. It is not only of sin in others, but also of sin in ourselves that our author speaks. He himself found it necessary to strive against the depravity of his own nature, as well as against the enemies of the truth, in battling for the crown of life. (1 Corinthians 9:27.) And so also does everyone else, who like him would strive successfully in the arena of life. Hebrews 12:5 ---And ye have forgotten the exhortation, etc.— Commenta­tors are much divided on the question, whether this clause should be read affirmatively or interrogatively. See note on 3: 16. The for­mer view is taken by all the ancient expositors, and also by many of the moderns; as, for instance, Bengel, Kuinoel, Tholuck, Ebrard, and Alford; and the latter is maintained by Calvin, Beza, Braun, Bohme, Lachmann, Delitzsch, Stuart, Bleek, Lunemann, Mac- knight, and others; chiefly on the ground that the declarative mode has an air of too great severity and harshness. But this expression is no more harsh and severe than some others that occur in the Epistle; see, for instance, Hebrews 5:11-12. It is not to be supposed, how­ever, that in either of these cases, the charge is preferred against all the members of the Church. See note on Hebrews 5:12. Many of them may have remained faithful, and may have been striving earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. But that some of them had become very negligent in the study of God’ s word, and the discharge of their other Christian duties, is quite evident from what follows, as well as from other parts of the Epis­tle. “ You have quite forgotten,” says the Apostle, “ the exhorta­tion which discourses with you as with children.” And in conse­quences of this neglect, he further intimates that the hands of some of them were hanging down; that their knees had become feeble; and that they were, in fact, in great danger of apostatizing from the faith. Hebrews 12:5 ---My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord,— The Apostle quotes here from Proverbs 3:11-12, the Hebrew of which may be literally rendered as follows: My son, despise not the cor­rection of Jehovah, and do not murmur at his reproof: for whom Jehovah loves he reproves, as a father a son in whom he delights. Our author quotes freely, but accurately, from the original. His object is to still further encourage his brethren, by showing from the Old Testament Scriptures, that the light afflictions which they were then enduring, were really evidences, not of God’ s anger, but of his love. They served to indicate that God had still a tender regard for them, and that he was dealing with them as with chil­dren. The word rendered chastening (paideia) means such correction and discipline as are necessary in the education of chil­dren, and such as the Lord himself uses for the spiritual improve­ment of his people. This chastening of the Lord, the Apostle ex­horts his brethren not to despise or treat as a light matter; and on the other hand, not to be too much discouraged or dejected by it. Hebrews 12:6 ---For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,— In this verse we have given the reason why we should not, on the one hand, treat lightly the chastening of the Lord; nor on the other be too greatly dejected by it. The simple fact that this chastening is from God, makes it a very grave and momentous matter; and at the same time it gives us the assurance that the chastening is not the punishment of revenge but the discipline of love. “ For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he re- ceiveth.” Not that he does this arbitrarily or unnecessarily: for God does not willingly grieve nor afflict any of the children of men. (Lamentations 3:33; Hosea 11:8.) But such is the common depravity and waywardness of our nature, that we all need this discipline; and God, therefore, as our ever-kind and gracious Educator metes out to us day by day such trials and afflictions as will best serve to humble and purify our hearts, and so to work out for us “ a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17.) No child of God need, therefore, expect to enter heaven without, on his way thither, passing through the furnace of afflictions. “ We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22.) Hebrews 12:7 ---If ye endure chastening:— That is, if it is a fact that you are suffering chastisement, this of itself is evidence that God is dealing with you as his children: for what son is there whom his earthly father does not chastise? How then can you expect, as the chil­dren of God, to escape his correction? Such is manifestly the meaning of the reading given in the Textus Receptus and our Eng­lish Version: a reading which is supported by Reiche, Bleek, Li nemann, Stuart, Bloomfield, and Tischendorf in his latest editions; on the ground that it is best supported by internal evidence, and especially that it is required by the antithesis that is given in the seventh and eighth verses. The force of this will appear from the following paraphrase of these two verses as given by Kuinoel, and followed by Bloomfield and others: “ If you have to conflict with trials and tribulations, you may thence infer that you are beloved of God, and that he takes care of you: but if you are exercised with no afflictions, you have reason to fear that God neglects you, as men neglect illegitimate children, of whose education and morals they take no care, leaving them wholly without chastisement.” This makes good sense, and harmonizes well with the context and design of the writer. But it must be confessed that the external evidence preponderates vastly in favor of substituting eis (into, for) for ei (if). See critical note. But to make sense of this read­ing has somewhat perplexed the critics. T. S. Green renders the phrase as in the amended text: “ At chastening, he enduring (eis paideian hupomenete); as with sons God is dealing with you; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? The Vul­gate renders it thus: “ With a view to chastening, endure pa­tiently.” And Alford, following Chrysostom, Delitzsch, and oth­ers, translates it as follows: “ It is for chastisement that ye are en­during : as with sons God is dealing with you: for what son is there whom a father chasteneth-not ?” The paraphrase of Ghrys- ostom is to the point, and seems to indicate clearly the scope of the passage. “ It is for chastisement ye are enduring: not for punish­ment, not for torment, not for any evil purpose.” This rendering of the amended text differs but little in sense from the reading of the Textus Receptus, and is most likely correct. Hebrews 12:8 ---But if ye be without chastisement, etc.—If ye be without that discipline of which all the children of God have ever been partakers, it would follow that ye are really not his children: but that ye are bastards (nothoi), an illegitimate offspring, whose edu­cation is commonly neglected, much to their own injury and dis­grace. Instead, therefore, of murmuring and complaining at the chastening of the Lord, you should rather feel encouraged by it, knowing that it is evidence of your sonship, and of God’ s love for you as his adopted children. Hebrews 12:9 ---Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, etc.—Or thus: Then again, the fathers of our flesh we once had as chastis­ers, and we reverenced them; shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits, and live? See Deuteronomy 21:18-21, touching the penalty of the law for disobedience to parents. The only matter that requires explanation in this verse, is the use of the words jlesh and spirit. In what sense are our earthly fathers said to be the fathers of our flesh? and in what sense is God said to be the Father of spirits? In reply to this query, we have given the following hypotheses: (1) It is said that we receive our bodies from our parents by natural generation; but that our spirits are the direct gift of God, formed by his own immediate creative energy (Primasius, Calvin, Beza, Bengel, Wetstein, De- litzsch). This hypothesis requires us to use both these words, flesh and spirit, in too limited a sense. The Apostle does not say that God is the Father of “ our” spirits merely, but “ of spirits” in general. And there is nothing in either the text or the context which limits the word “ flesh” simply to our bodies. This term is commonly used in a much wider sense in the Holy Scriptures. See references. (2) That God is the author and originator of our spir­itual life, as our parents are of our natural life. “ Flesh,” says Ebrard, “ denotes here as always the natural life produced by crea­ture powers, in opposition to the life which is produced by the sav­ing gracious act of God in regeneration. By natural generation we become carnal or fleshly men; but it is God who, by his Holy Spirit, causes our souls (psuchai) to be developed into sanctified spirits (pneumata). Such is also the interpretation of Cramer, Grotius, Bleek, De Wette, Lunemann, and others. But here again both the words are used in a sense which is not warranted by their usual acceptation in the Scriptures. (3) Others again, as Morns, Kuinoel, and Bohme, think that the word father, as used in this connection, means simply “ an upholder” or “ cherisher.” God is called the Father of spirits, say they, “ because he takes care of our spirits and provides for our spiritual wants, as our earthly parents provide for our physical wants.” This is, of course, true, as far as it goes; but like the other hypotheses it falls far short of being an adequate explanation of the passage. The words flesh and spirits must be understood and interpreted in harmony with the context and the special object of the writer, which is manifestly to give another reason why the Hebrew breth­ren should bear with patient endurance whatever trials and afflic­tions God might send on them: a reason which he draws from a comparison of God and his chastisements with our earthly parents and their chastisements. God, he argues, is infinitely perfect; and his chastisements are all like himself in this respect, that they are wise, and just, and good. But our earthly parents are like ourselves, frail, weak, and sinful; often erring in their attempts to educate us as well as in everything else. We, however, bore their imperfect chastisements with patience and reverence; much more then should we now bear with grateful resignation the wise and gracious chas­tisements of him who never errs, but who always corrects us for our own good, with the view of making us partakers of his holi­ness. This is manifestly the purpose of the author in the use of this passage; and hence it seems that he uses the words flesh and spirits, in this connection, after the manner of the Hebrews, chiefly as qualifying epithets. That in the use of the word “ father” he in­tends to convey the idea of origin and also of guardianship is, I think, quite obvious. But like produces like. “ Adam begat a son in his own likeness” (Genesis 5:3); and Christ says to the Jews, “ If ye were the children of Abraham ye would do the works of Abra­ham” (John 8:39), clearly recognizing the relation of resemblance between the parent and the child, between the producer and the thing produced. Now as this principle was well understood by the Hebrews, it was perfectly natural that the Apostle should use these words, flesh and spirit, according to the well known Hebrew idiom, as genitives of quality, to express with energy and brevity the at­tributes of our earthly parents on the one hand, and of God on the other. For throughout the Bible, the word flesh is often used sym­bolically to denote what is depraved, weak, or sinful; and so also the word spirit is often used in contrast with it, to denote what is pure, holy, and perfect. “ That which is born of the flesh,” says Christ, “ is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6.) See also Romans 8:4-9; Galatians 5:16-25 Galatians 6:8, etc. The word flesh, then, in this connection is designed to indicate mainly that our earthly fathers are like ourselves, carnal, frail, sinful mor­tals ; and like ourselves they are therefore ever liable to err in their discipline. But the word spirits, as here applied to God, denotes that he has none of the weaknesses and infirmities of the flesh (see note on Hebrews 1:7) ; but that being himself, not only spirit (John 4:24), but also the Father of spirits, he cannot like our earthly fathers err in his chastisements. They are all the gifts and offspring of his love, designed to make us wiser and better, so that we may l>ecome partakers of his holiness. If I am right in this explanation, it follows that our text fur­nishes no grounds whatever for the doctrine of creationism, which many attempt to draw from it. It is not the purpose of our author to make known to us in this connection the origin of either the body or the spirit of man. God is as really the Creator of the one as he is of the other. At first they were both formed miraculously; but for aught that appears in our text, they may now be equally the product of natural generation, under the all-pervading, per­meating, and gracious providence of Him in “ whom we live, and move, and have our being.” (Acts 17:28.) Hebrews 12:10 ---For they verily for a few days, etc.— What does the author mean by the phrase, “ for a few days” (pros oligas hemeras) ? Does he mean the time during which our fathers, according to the flesh, exercised their authority over us; that is, during our minor­ity ? Or does he mean that their discipline had reference chiefly to the few days of our present earthly life; while the chastisements of God have supreme reference to our eternal welfare? The former, say Luther, Grotius, Bleek, Macknight, Stuart, Delitzsch, and Al­ford ; the latter, say Calvin, Calmet, Bengel, Tholuck, and Ebrard. The construction is elliptical; and it is therefore difficult to deter­mine with absolute certainty what are the exact points of the an­tithesis which our author intends to express. But to my mind the former view seems much more natural, and also more in harmony with the scope of the passage than the latter. Our earthly parents corrected us (1) for a little while, and then left us to our own err­ing judgment. But not so with God; he never leaves us; never forsakes us; but always watches over us, and when necessary cor­rects us. (2) Our fathers often erred during even the few days that we were subject to them; they corrected us according to what then seemed good in their own eyes. But God never errs: he al­ways corrects us for our own good, with the view of making us partakers of his holiness. We have then given in this paragraph three leading reasons why we should, with patient resignation, humbly submit to the Divine chastisements: (1) they all proceed from the love and benevolence of God: “ Whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.” (2) They come from one who is himself infi­nitely perfect, and who is in no respect subject to the weaknesses and imperfections of our carnal nature. (3) They are all intended for our highest good, and serve to make us partakers of the Divine nature, by helping us to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:4.) This thought our author now pro­ceeds to develop more fully in the following verse. Hebrews 12:11 ---Now no chastening for the present, etc.—“ This,” says Ebrard, “ is a precious verse, of which the only proper commentary is our own personal experience.” Now all chastisement for the present seemeth to be a matter not of joy but of grief. This much the Apostle here concedes as a simple and acknowledged fact. All chastisement, both human and Divine, gives us present pain. This is its object; and without pain there can indeed be no chastisement. And hence it is for the time being, a matter not of joy but of grief. So we all feel and think. Hebrews 12:11 ---nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness—Though it is at first bitter to the taste, it nev­ertheless afterward becomes a tree of life which yields constantly “ the peaceable fruit of righteousness.” That is, it produces righ­teousness as its fruit; and this fruit gives peace and consolation to the once grieved and troubled soul. “ It is,” says Tholuck, “ fruit of righteousness to be enjoyed in peace after the conflict is over.” unto them which are exercised thereby.— Not to all; but only to those who are well exercised by it. The training of the ancient palaestra was of no service to such athletes as, deeming it a life of toil and drudgery, refused to submit to the rules and regulations of the contest. But to the victors in the games, the crown of olive pine, laurel, or parsley, was a boon of very great value. And just so it is in the school of Christ. To those who are of a perverse and rebellious spirit, the discipline of the Master is but “ a savor of death unto death.” Instead of softening and sanctifying the hearts of such persons, it only serves to make them more obstinate and rebellious. But to those who see in it the kind and gracious hand of God, it never fails to bring peace, joy, and consolation. So the purest and best of men have always testified. David says, “ Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now I keep thy word.” And again he says in the same connection, “ It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes.” (Psalms 119:67 Psalms 119:71.) To the same effect is also the testimony of Paul in several of his other Epistles. Writing to the Romans he says, “ We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5.) And in his second Epistle to the Corinthians he says, “ Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17.) This is all in har­mony with our own blessed experience in the Divine life. We never feel that we have suffered too much or too severely from the hand of God. Commentary on Hebrews 12:4-11 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_12:4 --Ye have not yet resisted unto bloodThis means they have not fought the limit. a. Paul could say that he had. 1. Acts 16:33 : The jailor washed Paul’ s stripes. 2. 2 Corinthians 6:5. 3. 2 Corinthians 11:23. 4. 2 Corinthians 11:24. b. Jesus could say that He had. 1. Isaiah 53 : “ With His stripes we are healed.” 2. The cross meant shedding blood for Him, although He did not resist the cross, but sin. 3. Christ’ s resistance was against those who would have changed His course. How simple are our hardships today in comparison to theirs. Hebrews 12:4 --unto bloodAn ancient figure of speech concerning boxers may be alluded to here. a. Leather thongs containing pieces of metal were fastened to arms, etc. b. Fighters were often very bloody after a battle. Many modern preachers are afraid of blood. a. They are afraid to preach against sin because it might make them unpopular. b. Some are afraid of loss of salary or loss of position. Churches do not want “ bloody” preachers. a. They want him to be loved and respected by all the denominational brethren. b. It is time to “ resist unto blood.” Hebrews 12:4 --striving against sinWe are to hate evil, Psalms 97:10. Sin, says Vincent, is personified here. Fighting evil brought blood upon Jesus. Striving against sin brought blood to Stephen and James, but not to those who would read Hebrews. Hebrews 12:5 --and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sonsThe word for “ sons” is “ adult sons,” not infants. a. Infants cannot reason. b. Paternal reasoning is here called “ exhortation.” It is a joy to see infants grow up and enter into the parental councils. a. Too much of our trouble in churches is a result of spiritual infancy rather than mature thinking on the part of Christians. b. God desires to reason with us as sons old enough to be reasonable. Some question whether this statement is an affirmation or a question. a. The American Standard Version expresses affirmation. b. Hebrews 12:12 rather suggests that some had forgotten, so this may be understood as an affirmation. Hebrews 12:5 --My son A quote from Proverbs 3:11-12, It is a free quotation but an accurate one. a. It is to show a tender relationship that God has for us even though we are chastened. b. If God calls us a son, we ought to bear anything that comes our way. Hebrews 12:5 --regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord Love and responsibility prompt chastening. a. Revelation 3:19 : “ As many as I love I reprove and chasten.” 1. We do not ordinarily discipline other people’ s children. 2. We are most concerned with those we love most. b. Ephesians 6:4 teaches responsibility. Chastening has wonderful value for us. a. A “ thorn” kept Paul humble. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. b. Trials work patience. James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3. c. Enduring of temptation brings a crown of life. James 1:12. d. It yields peaceable fruit. Hebrews 12:11. e. It brings eternal glory. 2 Corinthians 4:17. Hebrews 12:5 --nor faint when thou art reproved of HimWe are not to cower like an abused dog. Reproof is for improvement. a. 2 Timothy 3:16 “ Every scripture is profitable— for correction.” b. Romans 5:3 : “ We also rejoice in our tribulations.” c. 2 Corinthians 4:17 : “ For our light affliction which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory.” Is all affliction of God? a. It does not come directly. James 1:12-13 says God tempts no one. b. Paul’ s “ thorn” was spoken of as a messenger of Satan. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. c. God allows the devil to tempt us and try us, as he did Job. Hebrews 12:6 --for whom the Lord loveth He chastenethDoes He not chasteneth the ungodly too? a. There is a difference in punishment, for theirs will be eternal. b. The sun shines on the just and the unjust, so the wicked receive chastening. How does He chasten the loved ones? a. Peter answers, trial. 1 Peter 1:6; 1 Peter 4:6. b. Paul found a thorn in the flesh. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. c. Through enduring temptation, says James. James 1:12. d. Through suffering, says Peter. 1 Peter 5:10. God can turn it to good if we love Him. Romans 8:28. God will not allow us to be tempted above what we are able to endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13. Let us not be like Cain who said it was greater than he could bear. Genesis 4:13. Hebrews 12:6 --and scourgeth every son whom He receivethNo child of God should expect to enter heaven without passing through the furnace of affliction. Paul said, “ With much tribulation,” we enter the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22. God’ s afflictions are paternal in nature only when we submit to Him. a. For the ungodly, it is fate or chance. b. For the Christian, it is a lesson to be learned from God. Hebrews 12:7 --it is for chastening that ye endureAlso translated “ endure unto chastening,” “ if ye endure chastening.” Alford says, “ It is not for punishment, not for any evil purpose; you are under the attention and affection of the Father.” Hebrews 12:7 --God dealeth with you as with sons for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not?He reasons from the common practice of men, that it is not right that God’ s children should be exempt. Proper discipline leads to proper conduct. Hebrews 12:8 --but if ye are without chastening whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards and not sonsThis rather makes one tremble, who has such an easy time in life compared to those in Chapter Eleven. a. Which of us has suffered? b. How easy we Christian people live in these United States! c. We begin to wonder whether we might be illegitimate offspring. Feel encouraged by chastening, for it is evidence of your true sonship. Hebrews 12:9 --furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live?We gave them reverence if we were trained properly. a. Parents who allow their children to abuse them do the child an injustice. b. No reverence exists if the child pouts and grouches, Observe how insistent God is on respect of children for parents. Ephesians 6:1-2 : “ Obey your parents in the Lord.” a. It is a commandment, “ which is the first commandment with promise.” b. Failure brought severe judgment. Hebrews 6:3. c. Compare the law of Moses. Deuteronomy 21:20. The Father of spirits deserves reverence, and upon it we will deserve to live. a. “ Father of spirits” is also translated “ Father of our Spirit.” b. The spirit comes from God and goes back to Him at death. See Ecclesiastes 12:7. c. Parental obedience was essential to life under the old covenant, and Heavenly Father reverence is essential to life now. Hebrews 12:10 --for they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to themHere temporary parental chastening is contrasted with loving discipline of God. At best, it is earthly chastening for a brief span of our life. Hebrews 12:10 --but He for our profitChastening does good. It is for our profit, not God’ s. Observe the many exhortations to endure chastening. Romans 5:3; Romans 12:12; 2 Corinthians 7:4; 1 Peter 4:13; 1 Peter 4:19. Hebrews 12:10 --that we may be partakers of His holinessGod expects holiness, and this is the way He gets it. a. 1 Peter 3:13-17 : “ Be ye holy.” b. Revelation 22:11 : “ He that is holy, let him be made holy still.” True Christians are holy. a. 1 Peter 2:9 : “ Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood.” b. Hebrews 12:23 : “ Ye are come to the spirits of just men made perfect.” c. Hebrews 3:1 : “ Wherefore, holy brethren.” Hebrews 12:11 --all chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievousAt the time it is severe, but it brings a person to be obedient. We are like children. We shun the rod even when we need it, and know we deserve it. Hebrews 12:11 --yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruitA person who is selfish is spoiled, cantankerous, and far from being peaceable. Let us not be hard-hearted, but enter into the discipline with surrender and joy. This is the proper spirit for us to have. Hebrews 12:11 --unto them that have been exercised therebyThey were to be “ trained” by it, is the Greek meaning. Examples of it working in men’ s lives: a. Paul— thorn in the flesh. b. David—2 Samuel 12:1-23; 2 Samuel 16:9-14. c. Job—Job 42:7-8. We should enter into chastening with surrender and joy. Hebrews 12:11 --even the fruit of righteousnessGal_5:22. The fruit of the spirit is meant here. If we are disciplined right by our attitude, we will produce right.Study Questions2476. Who has resisted unto blood? 2477. How many of us suffer for Christ? 2478. Have we fought a bloody battle? 2479. Did Paul resist unto blood? How many times? 2480. Was it prophesied that Jesus would? 2481. “ Unto blood” may refer to what ancient custom? 2482. What may the blood refer to? Is it literal or figurative? 2483. Are preachers afraid of blood today? 2484. Describe the bloody gladiators. 2485. Do churches want a “ bloody” preacher or one popular with the denominations? 2486. What will make the striving preacher “ bloody” ? 2487. Where will we find sin personified as our opponent? 2488. Is all sin to be found in the world? 2489. Is the word “ sons” inclusive of children in its idea? 2490. Can infants reason with the logic of this book? 2491. Is there some special exhortation forgotten by them? Where is it found? 2492. Who is doing the exhortation which is a reasoning one? 2493. If God calls us sons, what ought we to do? 2494. What degree of attention should we give to chastening? 2495. Does the Lord chasten us? Cf. Revelation 3:19. 2496. Who does a father chasten, his or the neighbors’ children? 2497. What two things felt by a father in his heart cause him to be willing to chasten? 2498. Is there value in being chastened? What did Paul hear from God? What do trials work? What will endurance bring, according to James 1:12? What does it yield? Hebrews 12:11. What is its eternal reward? Cf. 2 Corinthians 4:17. 2499. Should we cower before God like an abused animal? 2500. What is reproof for if not for improvement? 2501. Is the preacher to reprove? 2502. Is all affliction of God? Cf. James 1:12-13. 2503. Was Paul’ s thorn from God? Cf. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. 2504. Who afflicted Job? 2505. What is the difference between the chastening of the wicked and righteous? 2506. If God doesn’ t send it, how can it be said that He chastens us? 2507. Who in the early history of man complained of his chastening? 2508. Whom does God chasten? 2509. What is the difference in attitude of the chastened wicked ones, and righteous people? 2510. What does God do to those whom He loves? 2511. Does He chasten the evil ones too? 2512. What is the difference? 2513. Can God use evil for good purposes? Cf. Romans 8:28. 2514. Should we expect to gain heaven without some chastening? 2515. Give a different translation of Heb 12:7. 2516. Are we to endure chastening, or is it for chastening that we endure? 2517. In what relationship does God deal with us in Hebrews 12:7? 2518. If earthly fathers need to discipline children, should we expect it from our divine Father? 2519. What is evidence of our true sonship? 2520. If you have had it easy, what questions might you ask? 2521. Who is meant by, “ We” ? 2522. What is meant, “ father of our flesh” ? 2523. Who is the Father of our spirits? 2524. Does God teach respect for earthly parents? 2525. How much emphasis does He give? 2526. What was a parent to do to a child that would not respond? 2527. Could much juvenile delinquency be ended if we practiced the teachings of the Old Testament? 2528. Is there a plan that is better? 2529. What conclusion is drawn after his discussion of reverence to earthly parents? 2530. What is his point in the time discussed? 2531. Who thinks discipline is good, the child or the parent? 2532. Can we act more mature than children? 2533. Is there to be something gained from chastening? 2534. What is to be developed in us by chastening? 2535. For what ought the Christian to suffer? Cf. 1 Peter 4:13; 1 Peter 4:19. 2536. What is holiness? 2537. Were the Hebrews holy? Cf. Hebrews 3:1. 2538. How can holiness be obtained by chastening? 2539. Do people shun the rod, according to Hebrews 12:11? 2540. Is there danger in seeking discipline? 2541. How do people take chastening at the moment? 2542. Tell how heathens bring pain upon themselves? 2543. Did heathens chasten themselves at Mount Carmel? 2544. What does good discipline yield? 2545. Are spoiled people peaceable? 2546. Why is good spoken of as “ fruit” while evil is spoken of as “ works” ? 2547. What is meant by “ exercised thereby” ? Hebrews 12:12-17 THE HEBREW ARE TO ROUSE TO MORE AND IN THEIR COURSE Hebrews 12:12-17 Hebrews 12:12 ---Wherefore lift up the hands, etc.—That is, since it is true that afflictions are the chastisements of the Lord, designed for your own greatest good, you should from this take courage and bring to their right position the relaxed hands and the paralyzed knees of the inner man. These words are cited from Isaiah 35:3, and may denote weariness arising from any cause whatever. Most expositors agree that there is an allusion here to the ancient palaestra. But as Isaiah in the prophecy quoted has reference (1) to the Jews on their return from Babylon to Jerusalem, and (2) to Christians on their way to the heavenly Jerusalem, it is more prob­able that Paul, in quoting and applying the words of the Prophet, draws his imagery simply from the case of weary travelers. His meaning is, however, in either case the same. He calls on the strong to strengthen and encourage the weak; and on the weak to take fresh courage and run their race with patient perseverance, in view of the fact that God is with them, caring for them, and sanctifying even their greatest afflictions to their good. Hebrews 12:13 ---And make straight paths for your feet,— The writer has still before him the image of a company of persons marching on­ward to the heavenly Jerusalem. Some of them are lame, weak, and much disheartened by reason of the many obstacles in the way. And in order if possible to save such, the Apostle admonishes his stronger and more courageous brethren to make the paths of all straight and smooth, so that even the lame might be encouraged by the direct­ness and evenness of the way, to persevere in it to the end. The same sentiment is forcibly presented in the fourteenth chapter of Romans; and it is also frequently and variously illustrated in the last great division of the prophecies of Isaiah (chapters 40-66). In this section the prophet has reference, as in the thirty-fifth chapter, (1) to the return of the Jews from Babylon to Jerusalem, under Zerubbabel; and (2) to the more sublime march of the re­deemed, under Christ, from the captivity of sin and Satan to the free enjoyments of the heavenly Jerusalem. 0 In this march, both Paul and Isaiah insist that there should be no meanderings in the ways of sin; and that no obstacles should be left as stumbling- blocks in the way of the weak; but that the course of all should be straightforward in the King’ s highway of holiness. The voices of many harbingers should still be heard proclaiming before the King’ s army, “ Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3.) See also. Such proclamations are strengthen­ing and encouraging to all; and might serve to help even the weak and dejected to persevere in their onward march to the everlasting Zion. Hebrews 12:14 ---Follow peace with all men,— There is no noun expressed in the orignal corresponding with the word “ men” ; and it may there­fore be a question whether we should supply the word “ men,” as in our English Version, or the word “ brethren ” as is done by Michaelis, Storr, Tholuck, Bleek, Ebrard, Delitzsch, Alford, and others. “ Individual believers,” says Delitzsch, “ are exhorted to cherish peaceful relations with all the members of the community, even with the lame, sick, and weak. The improvement of such is to be aimed at, not by carnal contention, harsh acts of judgment, and un­charitable avoidance of their society; nor yet by merely setting them a good example in the purity and decision of our own con­duct, while coldly waiting for the first advance on their side to­wards mutual explanation or agreement; but by pursuing peace on our own part; that is, by earnest active endeavors after a good un­derstanding, and pursuing or hunting after peace as a noble prey or object of search.” This is all good and excellent as far as it goes. But I see no sufficient reason for limiting this course of action simply to “ the brethren.” The peace and prosperity of the Church may depend largely on the demeanor of its members toward those that are without, as well as toward one another. And I therefore think with Cecumenius, Theophylact, Bohme, Liinemann, Mac- knight, Clarke, and others, that the reference is to “ all men,” whether believers or unbelievers. The Apostle well knew that the Hebrew brethren, by living harmlessly and giving no unnecessary offense to either Jews or Gentiles, might greatly promote the peace and prosperity of the Church: and hence he exhorts them, as he does the Roman brethren, to live peaceably with all men as far as possible: that is, as far as the law of Christ will permit. He would have us imitate Christ in this respect, as well as in everything else. Hebrews 12:14 ---and holiness,— The original word (hagiastnos) is a verbal noun, and denotes the putting on of the Divine holiness (hagiotes), or the becoming partakers of it, as indicated in the tenth verse. Our depraved nature is prone to resist the injurious; and in times of war and persecution, men are apt to follow after strife and con­tention. But the advice of the Apostle is quite different. Pursue peace, he says, and earnestly follow after a pure and holy life. Hebrews 12:14 ---without which no man shall see the Lord:— That is, without which holiness or sanctity of life, no one shall be admitted into God’ s presence so as to enjoy his favor and fellowship. (Matthew 5:6) “ For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteous­ness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” and what sympathy and concord can there be between an infinitely holy God and an impure human spirit? Like loves its like in Heaven, Earth, and Hell. And hence the earnest exhortation of God to all who would enjoy his fellowship: “ Become ye holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16.) Hebrews 12:15 ---Looking diligently— (epispopountes) observing carefully. This is an exhortation, not merely to the overseers (episkopoi) of the Hebrew Church, but also to all its other members. The Apos­tle calls on every one of them to carefully examine his own heart and life, while he at the same time exercises a prudent and judi­cious oversight over his brethren. Hebrews 12:15 ---lest any man fail of the grace of God;—“ The image,” says Chrysostom, “ is taken from a company of travelers, one of whom lags behind, and so never reaches the end of the long and laborious journey.” Those who do so, fail of course to secure the promised reward: for they only who endure to the end shall be saved. Stuart very happily expresses the idea of the Apostle, in its proper connection, as follows: “ See well to it, that no one fail of obtaining that Divine favor which is the result of holiness.” Hebrews 12:15 ---lest any root of bitterness, etc.— We have here given another example of Hebrew parallelism. In the preceding clause, the Apostle admonishes his brethren to take heed and watch carefully, lest any one by lagging behind on the King’ s highway of holiness, should fail to reach the portals of the celestial city; and so fall short of the grace of God. But in this second member of the par­allelism, he goes a step further, and cautions his brethren to see well to it, that no one, like Achan (Joshua 7:25-26), by his evil example trouble and defile the whole Church. Our author seems to have reference here to Deuteronomy 29:16-21, where Moses admon­ishes his brethren to beware of the sin of idolatry; “ Lest,” he says, “ there should be among you man, or woman, or tribe, whose heart turneth away from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of those nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; and it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in the heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst.” Paul’ s root of bitterness, then, is one which, as Moses says, “ beareth gall and wormwood.” The metaphor is used here to denote anyone who is himself bitterly opposed to the faith of the Gospel, and who labors to turn others from its simplicity and purity. Such a man not unfrequently trou­bles and defiles a whole congregation by his evil example and false principles. In 1Ma 1:10, Antiochus Epiphanes is called a sin­ful root (risa hamartolos) because from him iniquity sprung up all over the land, as a luxuriant crop of vegetables. Hebrews 12:16 ---Lest there be any fornicator, etc.—This is but an amplifi­cation of the admonitory lesson given in the preceding verse. See to it, says the Apostle, that no one by falling behind from any cause whatever, come short of the grace of God; and particularly, that no one apostatize from the faith, and so corrupt others by his bad example and false principles; and furthermore, that no one be so given up to the lusts of the flesh and to the neglect of spiritual things, that like the licentious and profane Esau, he will barter away his birthright as a child of God for a mere mess of pottage. The word fornicator (pornos) is to be taken in its literal sense, as denoting one who is given up to sensual lusts and pleasures; and the word profane (bebelos) means one who is regardless of God and of his religion. Both words are descriptive of one and the same person, viewed from different standpoints: for the abandoned fornicator is always a profane person; and the man who throws off all the restraints of religion, is sure to indulge in all manner of car­nal excesses. Esau was no doubt both a fornicator and a profane person. This view is most in harmony with the plain and obvious meaning of the text, as well as with the traditions of the Jews. Hebrews 12:16 ---who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.— The account of this is given in Genesis 25:27-34, to which the reader is referred for a plain statement of the facts. Such was the abandoned and profligate state of Esau’ s mind, that for one meal he sold his rights of primogeniture (ta prototokia heautou). These may be best un­derstood by a comparison of the fortunes of Jacob and Esau with their descendants. They evidently involve the rights and privi­leges of the Abrahamic covenants with respect to both the posses­sion of Canaan and the birth of the Messiah. Hebrews 12:17 ---For ye know how that afterward, etc.— Esau, as we have seen, sold his rights of primogeniture to his brother Jacob for a mess of pottage; and afterward, when he wished to obtain the blessing, which was really a part of what he had sold, he was re­jected by both his father and his God (Genesis 27:31-41): for the blessing of Isaac was in this case the blessing of God. Hebrews 12:17 ---for he found no place of repentance,— What is the meaning of this? Does the Apostle mean repentance on the part of Esau, or on the part of his father Isaac? The former, say Luther, Calvin, Grotius, Bengel, DeWette, Hofmann, Delitzsch, Alford, and all the ancient Greek expositors: the latter, say Beza, Tholuck, Ebrard, Liinemann, Stuart, Macknight, and most of the other modern ex­positors. In either case the main lesson taught is about the same. For whatever construction be put on the several words of this sen­tence, it must be obvious that the object of the Apostle is to re­mind his readers, that the mistake of Esau, once committed, was committed forever: that no possible change of his mind could in any way effect a change in the mind and purposes of God. We might, therefore, without doing violence to the scope of the argument, refer the word repentance (tnetanoia) to either Esau himself or to Isaac as God’ s representative. But with the ancient exposi­tors, I prefer the reference to Isaac, (1) because this is required by the literal meaning of the word repentance, which properly de­notes a change of mind produced by sorrow for sin; and (2) be­cause the phrase “ place of repentance,” means properly a place where the repentance of the sinner is made available. Whenever a sinner believes and repents, he is brought within the sphere of God’ s forgiving mercy. God can now, for Christ’ s sake, pardon and justify him, because he has come within the sphere of true and gen­uine repentance. But to this place of repentance on the part of the sinner, and of mercy on the part of God, the apostate has no access (see notes on Hebrews 6:4-6) ; and neither had Esau, so far as respects his forfeited birthrights. That he may have afterward repented of his sins, and so obtained forgiveness, is I think possible; but not so with regard to his despised birthrights. These had by one foolish and irreligious act, been irrecoverably lost. This, the Hebrews well understood; and hence the Apostle holds up this case as an example of warning to them, while he cautions them to beware lest they too by their negligence and folly should forfeit their birth­rights as the children of God, and so place themselves beyond the divinely prescribed limits of repentance. Hebrews 12:17 ---though he sought it carefully with tears.— Sought what? Many able expositors, as Chrysostom, Grotius, Luther, Ebrard, and Alford, refer the pronoun it (auten) to repentance as its ante­cedent: but it is better with Calvin, Bengel, Bleek, Hofmann, Macknight, Delitzsch, and others, to make blessing (eu log tan) the antecedent. Esau had his heart set on receiving the blessing; and it was this that he sought so earnestly with tears. The whole sen­tence may therefore be construed and arranged according to our English idiom, as follows: For ye know that even when afterward he wished to inherit the blessing, though he sought it earnestly with tears, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance. Or the order of the original may be preserved as in the English Version, by simply enclosing the words, “ for he found no place of repentance” in a parenthesis. Commentary on Hebrews 12:12-17 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_12:12 --wherefore, lift up the hands that hang down and the palsied kneesA quotation from Isaiah 35:3. a. Here is the figure of weary travelers. b. Perhaps one is worn with sickness, fatigue. c. Weakness is pictured. In the light of the good things concerning chastening, weak knees and powerless hands should be made strong. a. The happiest people are sometimes invalids. b. The most miserable are sometimes millionaires with money, health and prestige. Extend hands of glad service, and walk joyfully in spite of all hardships. Hebrews 12:13 --and make straight paths for your feeta. This sounds like John the Baptist, Matthew 3:3. b. It sounds like Isaiah 40:3. c. Take the straight way, not the rough, crooked way. d. The person who has prepared himself to endure evils goes on in a straight way. Hebrews 12:13 --that they which are lameThe journey “ out of the way” is so much more difficult for those who are strong, Elijah put up this proposition. 1 Kings 18:21. We can picture a group traveling on foot; some are weak and lame. a. The strong and courageous ought to make a smooth, straight journey for the sake of the weak. b. Many a church is defeated by some half-hearted elder who says, “ I don’ t think we can do it.” Hebrews 12:13 --be not turned out of the wayThis may also be translated, “ put out of joint,” or “ lest halting should grow worse.” Becoming feeble for awhile may result in a complete loss. a. We do not go bad all at once, but by degrees. b. When led into a diverse path, many remain entangled. Hebrews 12:13 --but rather be healedWhat is the healing? a. Renewed faith. Appreciation for chastening has healing power in it. b. It is faith such as the old patriarchs had that gives strength, Why be feeble, wayward, and downcast when healing may be had? Hebrews 12:14 --Follow after peace with all menChrist set the example. a. He taught turning the other cheek. Matthew 5:39. b. He refused to let Peter defend him. Matthew 26:52. c. He came as a lamb to the slaughter. Isaiah 53. The word “ follow” is a strong word. a. In Greek it is “ to pursue, as in a chase or battle.” b. It is something to work at, for a warring world will do all it can to keep us from peace. We are exhorted to strive for peace. a. Romans 12:18 : “ As much as in you lieth be at peace.” b. Colossians 3:15 : “ Let the peace of God rule.” c. 1 Thessalonians 5:13 : “ Be at peace.” d. Romans 14:19 : “ Follow after the things which make for peace.” It is a qualification for elders and deacons. a. 1 Timothy 3:3 : “ No brawler.” Hebrews 12:14 --and the sanctificationThis is the experience of all. It does not encourage camp-meetings, emotionalism, where “ second blessings” are sought. a. All in Christ are sanctified. 1 Corinthians 1:2. b. In Hebrews, “ sanctified” means “ separated unto God.” 1. It does not refer to feelings, but to Christ’ s blood. Hebrews 10:10 : “ We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus once for all.” 2. When we become Christians we are then sanctified. Sanctification is obtained by yielding once for all to God. It is not a second filling. The word “ sanctification” is also translated “ holiness.” Hebrews 12:14 --without which no man shall see the LordThere then is no salvation for any except by the blood. The moral man had better come under the blood if he would see God. The denominationalist had better be sure of Christ’ s own Ways, for it is the Way of sanctification. This sanctified being of ours has many responsibilities, and these must be pursued if we would see the Lord. Hebrews 12:15 --looking carefullyFour kinds of troubles should be looked for. a. Those who fall short. b. Bitterness springing up. c. Fornication. d. Profane person. This is not gossip-hunting, but a carefulness on the part of those who watch in behalf of souls. Hebrews 12:15 --lest there be any man that fallethObserve the repeated warnings that show the possibility: 2 Corinthians 6:1; Luke 8:18; Hebrews 3:12; Hebrews 4:1; Hebrews 6:6; Hebrews 10:31. Sometimes the least likely ones fall, so it requires a careful watch. Hebrews 12:15 --short of the grace of Goda. One so great as Paul was afraid of this happening to himself, for he says, 1 Corinthians 9:26 : “ So fight I.” b. Compare 1 Timothy 4:1; Galatians 5:4; Revelation 2:5. c. If we fall short of God’ s grace, then we have missed everything, This the Christian can do.Hebrews 12:15 --lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble youMost every church has a few devilish members who set the tone for bitterness and strife. Calvin feels this alludes to Deuteronomy 29:18. a. Moses warned the people to beware lest any root of germination should bear gall and wormwood among them. b. If we allow a wicked person to grow in the church, it will corrupt and defile many. Hebrews 12:15 --and thereby the many be defiledA few trouble-makers can bring reproach upon all. One bad apple soon causes the bushel of apples to be rotten. Israel allowed a few people to turn to idolatry, and soon ten tribes were carried away with it. Hebrews 12:16 --lest there be any fornicatorThis is an awful sin, for it undermines the home. a. 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 says to put him out of the fellowship. b. Hebrews 13:4 says God will judge him. c. Compare also 1 Corinthians 6:9. This was a warning made by the Jerusalem counsel in Acts 15. Hebrews 12:16 --or profane personThe Greek word is bebelas. It doesn’ t necessarily mean to blaspheme or do violence, evil. a. It refers literally to a threshold that anyone and everyone may trample over. b. It refers to something in which there is no special consciousness. Compare 1 Timothy 1:9; 1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:16. A “ profane” man is one who has not thought of God. Hebrews 12:16 --as Esau who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright Sin can destroy one’ s birthright, Esau found it out. a. Milligan says the tradition of the Jews is that Esau was also a fornicator. b. His profanity is seen in Genesis 25:34 where we read, “ despised his birthright.” Sin is a selling out to the devil. Hebrews 12:17 --for ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing he was rejectedA moment of pleasure may cause us to think that we shall never be disappointed, but we will be. a. In a time of soberness a person comes to desire all that he has lost. b. The prodigal son, when he came to himself, remembered his home and blessings. Esau finally sought his birthright, but then it was too late. Hebrews 12:17 --for he found no place for a change of mind in his fatherThe father could not be wishy-washy because of the weakness of others. Why should a father undo all that was done for a careless son who had no respect for sacredness in a moment of hunger? Does this mean that man can repent to no avail, that God will never change? a. This section is a warning with Esau as an example, and that is as far as it should be pressed. b. We have no way of knowing whether Esau made a genuine repentance, so the illustration cannot be pressed.Hebrews 12:17 --though he sought it diligently with tears.Stupid, ungodly persons, burning with lusts, plunge themselves into sins which bring tears, but often tears are too late. Tears are shed many times, not in repentance for sin, but in sorrow for what is lost. Study Questions 2548. What does “ hands that hang down” refer to? 2549. Where is the original expression found? 2550. What is the figure? 2551. Is this an exhortation to do good to others or an exhortation to self? 2552. Why do hands hang down? Is this not the place for them? 2553. Tell of Moses’ tired hands. 2554. Define “ palsied knees.” 2555. Tell of others who used the same language as Hebrews 12:13. 2556. What does “ straight” mean? 2557. Can you turn aside to evil and still walk straight? 2558. Is this the same word as Matthew 3:3? 2559. Tell who the word “ lame” refers to. 2560. What kind of a picture is to be represented by these figures? 2561. Is there any responsibility beyond self taught in this verse? 2562. What is the alternate translation of “ turned out of the way” ? 2563. What is the danger of feebleness and lameness? 2564. What is the method of healing? 2565. Does chastening help? 2566. Is there any need for being lame when we have healing available? 2567. Would you classify the members of your congregational fellowship as lame or strong? 2568. What is the significance of the word “ follow” ? 2569. Are we exhorted to follow a person in this verse? 2570. Is the world conducive to peace? 2571. Tell how Christ followed after peace. 2572. Can the Christian always be at peace? 2573. Was Jesus always at peace? 2574. What other verses of the Bible have a similar exhortation as Hebrews 12:14? Cf. Romans 12:18; Romans 14:19. 2575. Is this virtue important in the life of an elder? Cf. 1 Timothy 3:3. 2576. What does “ sanctification” mean in the Bible? 2577. What does it mean to the denominationalist? 2578. Is it a matter of feeling or a matter of fact? 2579. Are we sanctified after we are Christians by growth? 2580. Can spiritual growth enable us to be more sanctified? 2581. What does Hebrews 10:10 say sanctifies? 2582. Is sanctification a second blessing, or a state of the Christian? 2583. How important is sanctification to eternal life? 2584. Can “ the good moral man” expect salvation without sanctification? 2585. If blood sanctifies, can we expect salvation without it? 2586. What is meant by “ looking carefully” ? Hebrews 12:152587. What four things are we to look for? 2588. Does this encourage looking, like a gossip-hunter does? 2589. Is this an exhortation to an individual person or to the elders of the flock? 2590. Does this verse indicate that a person may fall? 2591. Why should we look carefully? 2592. Compare other verses on the subject of falling. 2593. According to this verse, can we fall from grace? 2594. Was Paul ever afraid it might happen to him? Cf. 1 Timothy 1:9; 1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:16. 2595. What is “ the grace of God” ? 2596. Does verse sixteen or verse seventeen tell us what would destroy God’ s grace toward us? 2597. What is the figure of speech used in Hebrews 12:15? 2598. Could this be an allusion to Deuteronomy 29:18? 2599. Is a bitter person dangerous to the flock? 2600. What could be back of bitterness? Could it be disappointment jealousy? 2601. How extensive may the influence of the “ root of bitterness” be? 2602. How extensively could the root do damage? 2603. Give illustrations in Israel’ s history. 2604. How are we to treat the fornicator in the church, according to 1 Corinthians 5:9-13? 2605. What will God do with him? Cf. Hebrews 13:4. 2606. What is meant by a “ profane person” ? Is it one who swears? 2607. What person is illustrative of profanity? How? Cf. Genesis 25:34. 2608. What is the significance of the expression, “ profane person” in application to us? 2609. Compare 1 Timothy 1:9; 1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:16. 2610. How could Esau be an example of a profane person? 2611. Whom would we sell out in order to be profane? 2612. Is a person who curses unthoughtful of God? 2613. How permanent was Esau’ s profanity? 2614. Is there danger in bad mistakes as seen in the life of Esau? 2615. Can a moment of pleasure ruin our life? 2616. Name persons of the Bible whose life was ruined or blighted by selling out to the devil. 2617. Is repentance ever too late? 2618. Was Esau’ s father hard-hearted? 2619. Can God be “ wishy-washy” because people are? 2620. Is law good when it does not have good enforcement? 2621. Does this verse mean that God cannot always be touched by our repentance? 2622. How true was Esau’ s repentance? 2623. Are tears always a sign of repentance?2624. What mountain is referred to in Hebrews 12:18? 2625. Does the Christian have a sacred mountain? 2626. What did Jesus say about worship at a mountain? Cf. John 4:21. 2627. Why did the mount of Moses burn with fire? Cf. Deuteronomy 4:11; Deuteronomy 5:4-5. 2628. What was the name of the mountain? 2629. Could the mountain be touched— was there any danger? Cf. Exodus 19:12-13. 2630. What is meant by “ blackness and darkness” ? 2631. How does darkness compare with our “ mountain” ? 2632. What is meant by the word “ tempest” ? 2633. Is there any tempest described? What could it refer to? 2634. Was there a musical instrument at Mount Sinai? 2635. Does this imply that a musical instrument is not to be included in the church? 2636. Why is it mentioned? See Exodus 19:16; Exodus 20:18. 2637. What is the trumpet referred to in Hebrews 12:19? 2638. Tell of the various uses of the trumpet in the Bible. 2639. What is referred to in the Voice of words? Cf. Hebrews 12:26 and Deuteronomy 5:22. 2640. What was Israel’ s reaction to the words heard first from the mount? 2641. Why did the Hebrews request the Voice to be silenced? 2642. Will men ever feel that way again? 2643. Does the Gospel strike terror to some? 2644. How did the scene at Sinai impress the Hebrews? 2645. What factors were frightening? 2646. Why were animals forbidden to be near the mountain? 2647. Should we be careless about the Lord’ s house today? 2648. Why was the mountain “ out of bounds” for man and beast? 2649. Where did Moses make the statement found in Hebrews 12:21? 2650. What explanations are made? 2651. Could Moses have spoken with others recorded in Exodus 19:16-17? 2652. In the giving of the law, what was Moses’ first reaction? 2653. What did Moses speak in Exodus 19:19? 2654. How did the author of Hebrews get this information? 2655. Could John 16:13 be an answer? Hebrews 12:18-29 FURTHER AGAINST , AND EX­ TO GREATER ZEAL AND IN THE DIVINE LIFE,Hebrews 12:18-29 Hebrews 12:18 ---For ye are not come, etc.—“ For” connects this verse with what precedes. Ye should, says the writer, look to it diligently that no one fall short of the grace of God; that no root of bitter­ness spring up to trouble you, and so to defile the many, and that there be among you no such licentious and profane person as Esau: for your privileges and responsibilities under the New Cov­enant are greatly superior to those of your fathers under the Old Covenant. For ye have not come near to the mountain that is tan­gible [material, and so capable of being touched], and that burned with fire; and to blackness, and darkness, and tempest, etc. The word mountain (orei) is not expressed in our best manuscripts, but it is manifestly understood. Some expositors take the words mountain, fire, blackness, dark­ness, and tempest, as indicating so many separate and distinct ob­jects of approach. Thus, “ Ye have not come near to a tangible mountain, and to a kindled fire, and to blackness, and to darkness, and to a tempest,” etc. The construction is ambiguous, but the rendering of our English Version is more in harmony with the parallel passage given in Deuteronomy 4:11, to which our author here evi­dently refers. See also Deuteronomy 5:23 Deuteronomy 9:15. In all these parallel passages, “ flaming fire” is taken as an attribute of the mountain, and not as a separate object. Hebrews 12:19 ---And the sound of a trumpet,— The several clauses of this verse are best illustrated by the following brief extracts from the original narrative as given in Exodus: “ And it came to pass on the third day [that is, say the Jews, on the sixth day of the month Sivan, just fifty days after the Exodus] in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trum­pet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.” (Exodus 19:16-19.) After giving some further instructions to the people through Moses, God him­self spoke to them from the top of Sinai, saying, “ I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, and out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” etc. Thus, in an audible voice, he delivered to them all the words of the Decalogue; and in the meantime, “ all the people saw the thunder­ings and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. And when the people saw it, they removed and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not the Lord speak with us, lest we die.” (Exodus 20:18-19.) Thus they “ entreated that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.” Hebrews 12:20 ---For they could not endure that which was commanded, —Our author now assigns parenthetically the reason why the an­cient Hebrews felt so much terror and alarm, as they stood at the foot of Sinai, in the immediate presence of God, and heard from his own lips, in awful solemnity, the words of the Decalogue. “ They could not bear that which was commanded, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned.” The original decree as given in Exodus 19:12-13, is as follows: “ And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to your­selves, that ye go not into the mount, or touch the border of it; whosoever toucheth the mount shall surely be put to death: there shall not a hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it be a beast or a man, it shall not live.” The Apostle quotes freely from the Hebrews, giving in this, as in many other instances, the substance but not the exact words of the origi­nal. The phrase “ thrust through with a dart” is manifestly an in­terpolation from the Septuagint, introduced into our text by some post-apostolic writer. See critical note. Hebrews 12:21 ---And so terrible was the sight, etc.— No such saying of Moses, as that given in our text, is found in the Pentateuch. And hence the question has been often asked and considered, “ Whence did our author obtain these words?” Some think that he obtained them from Jewish tradition, while others suppose that this is a mere inference of Paul, drawn from the appalling circumstances of the case. But how very absurd and unsatisfactory are all such hy­potheses! The only proper answer to such questions is to be found in the promise which Christ gave to the Apostles touching all such matters: “ Howbeit,” says he, “ when the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13.) See also John 14:26, and 1 Corinthians 2:10-13. The Holy Spirit, then, was Paul’ s infallible guide in writing every word and sentence of this Epistle. From it, and not from Jewish tradition or logical infer­ence, he learned whatever facts and principles were necessary for our edification, as well as for the edification and encouragement of his own persecuted and disheartened Hebrew brethren. The occasion of this utterance was probably that to which Moses himself refers in Exodus 19:19 : “ Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.” When Moses went up into the mount, and “ drew near to the thick darkness” out of which issued the thunders, and lightnings, and the great fire which burned to the midst of heaven, it seems that his courage failed, and he spoke tremblingly. But when God answered him encouragingly, his fears were allayed. The whole scene, however, was awful in the extreme, and served to strike terror into the hearts of all Israel. “ Their drawing nigh,” as Delitzsch well observes, “ was at the same time a shrinking back, a remaining at a distance. The mount of Divine revelation was to them unapproachable; the Divine voice was full of terror; and yet it was only the visible and tangible forms of nature through which God then manifested, and behind which he hid himself. The true and inward communion with God had not yet been revealed. It was necessary that the law should first bring men to a painful con­sciousness of the hindrances opposed to such communion by sin, and their longing excited and intensified that such hindrances might be taken away. Under the New Covenant, we have no longer a tangible mountain, as the place of Divine revelation, and that made only from a distance; but heaven itself, a divine and su­persensual world, is now thrown open, and we are permitted our­selves to approach there the very throne of God; it is thrown open for us by the Mediator of the New Covenant, and made approach­able by us through his atoning blood.” All this the Apostle now proceeds to explain and illustrate by a series of the most sublime and interesting specifications. Hebrews 12:22 ---But ye are come unto Mount Sion— The exact topography of Mount Sion, or rather Mount Zion (Sion) is still a matter of inquiry. The name seems to have been at first limited to the mount in the southwestern part of the city of Jerusalem, but it was afterward made to embrace Mount Moriah; and in some instances, it seems to have included the site of the entire city, just as it is sometimes used by metonymy for the city itself. See, for example, 1Ma 4:37 1Ma 4:60 1Ma 5:54 1Ma 6:48 1Ma 6:62 1Ma 7:33. Being then the seat of both the royal and sacerdotal authority, it was properly called the ‘‘ holy hill of Zion” (Psalms 2:6), and the chosen habitation of Jehovah (Psalms 132:13). And hence it seems to be used in our text as a type of heaven itself, the mount of God, the site of the heavenly Jerusalem. To this intangible and glorious mountain, Christians have now come by virtue of their citizenship in the kingdom of heaven: “ for our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20.) Hebrews 12:22 ---and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, — That is, the city where God dwells; the city of which he is the Architect and Builder, and which is here called symbolically “ the heavenly Jerusalem.” During the most prosperous period of the Old Economy, under the reign of David and Solomon, Jerusalem was the metropolis of the whole kingdom of Israel. Thither the tribes of God went up to offer their sacrifices and to pay their vows. (Psalms 122.) There stood the typical throne of David, and there also was the Shekinah, the symbol of God’ s presence in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle and Temple. And hence it came to pass that this city was made typical of the metropolis of the kingdom of the Messiah, the heavenly Jerusalem, “ the city which hath the foundations,” whose site is the heavenly Mount Zion, which abideth forever. See references. To this celestial city, the antitype of the city of David, all now come who put on Christ and become citizens of his kingdom. The Apostle does not of course mean to say that those of us who are still in the flesh have yet actually entered these celestial mansions, but as all for­eigners who become citizens of these United States may, wherever located, be said to have come to their metropolis; so, also, though in a much higher sense, may all who are translated from the king­dom of darkness into “ the kingdom of God’ s dear Son,” be said to have come to Mount Zion, and to the heavenly Jerusalem. Hebrews 12:22 ---and to an innumerable company, etc.—The critics are much divided with regard to the proper construction and punctuation of this and the two following clauses. The words of the original are plain enough, and may be fairly rendered without any marks of punctuation as follows: And to myriads of angels a festive assembly and to the church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven. But how is this to be punctuated? The following methods have been proposed: (1) And to myriads, a festive assembly of angels; and to the church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven (Gries- bach, Knapp, Bohme, Kuinoel, Moll); (2) And to myriads of an­gels, a festive assembly; and to the church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven ((Ecumenius, Theophylact) ; (3) And to myr­iads of angels; to the festive assembly and church of the first-bom who are enrolled in heaven (Elzevir, Beza, Liinemann, Hofmann, English Version) ; (4) And to myriads, a festive assembly of an­gels and the church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven (Bengel, Lachmann, Ebrard, Deltizsch, Alford). I have thus plainly indicated the several modes of punctuation, so that the thoughtful reader may see and judge for himself. More than this is, I think, unnecessary. A discussion of their relative merits would be tedious and uninteresting to most readers. It seems to me, however, that the choice lies between the first and the fourth, and that of these, the first is the most simple and natural. For it is manifestly the intention of the writer to introduce each of the lead­ing members of this majestic sentence by means of the conjunction “ and” (kai), and to add such as are only explanatory without the use of any connecting particle. Keeping this in view as one of our distinctive landmarks, the whole sentence may, I think, be fairly rendered as follows: But ye have come near to Mount Zion; and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem; and to myr­iads, a festive assembly of angels; and to the church of the first­born who are enrolled in heaven; and to God the Judge of all; and to the spirits of just ones made perfect; and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant; and to the blood of sprinkling which speaks better [more encouragingly] than Abel. The word myriads is often applied to the hosts of angels (Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalms 68:17; Daniel 7:10; Jude 1:14; Revelation 5:11), but as this is not its exclusive use in the Scriptures, it was necessary to add the explanatory phrase, “ a festive assembly of angels” The word rendered gen­eral assembly (paneguris) means properly an assembly of all the people, met to celebrate a public festival. Here, it denotes the joy­ful and multitudinous assembly of angels around the throne of God, who there forever celebrate his praises (Revelation 5:11; Revelation 7:11 -i2). Hebrews 12:23 ---and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven,—This has reference to the church of Christ on earth, all the members of which are, on account of their high honors and privileges, called “ the first-born,” just as Christ is himself called “ the First-born of every creature.” (Colossians 1:15.) “ Of his own will,” says James, “ begat he us [all Christians] with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18.) These first-born of God are also still further honored by having their names all registered in heaven, as citizens of the New Jerusa­lem. See Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3. “ There is,” says A. Clarke, “ allusion here to the custom of enrolling or writing on tables the names of all the citizens of a particular city; and all those, thus registered, were considered as having a right to live there, and to enjoy all its privileges. All genuine believers are denizens of heaven: that is their country, and there they have their rights.” and to God the Judge of all,— God himself in his own proper person judges no one (John 5:22); but he judges all by Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31) ; and hence he is properly called “ the Judge of all.” “ The Judge of all the earth will do right.” (Genesis 18:25.) Hebrews 12:23 ---and to the spirits of just men made perfect,— That is, to the spirits of all the redeemed, from Abel downward to the present time. These just ones have finished their course and reached the goal of their destiny and, “ therefore, they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his Temple; and he that sit- teth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more; neither thirst any more; neither shall the Sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne feeds them, and leads them unto fountains of water of life; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:15-17.) Hebrews 12:24 ---And to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant,—The Israelites at Sinai drew near to Moses, as the Mediator of the Old Covenant; but Christians now draw near to Christ, as the Media­tor of the New Covenant. See note on 8:6. He it is “ who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30), and through whom “ we have ac­cess into this grace wherein we now stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:2.) Hebrews 12:24 ---and to the blood of sprinkling,— This is the same as the blood of Jesus, by means of which the New Covenant was ratified (Hebrews 10:14 -­18), and through which the hearts of all Christians have been sprinkled from an evil consciousness. (Hebrews 9:14 Hebrews 10:22.) There is an allusion here to the ratification of the Old Covenant by the sprin­kling of blood (Exodus 24:8), and also to the sprinkling of the blood of atonement (Leviticus 16:14-15). Hebrews 12:24 ---that speaketh better things than that of Abel:— Or rather, Which speaks better than Abel speaks (kreitton lalounti para ton Abel). See critical note. Here again the critics are divided. The common opinion is that the blood of Christ calls for mercy; whereas the blood of Abel calls for vengeance (Calvin, Ebrard, Stuart, Scott, Bloomfield, Delitzsch, Alford). But as Adam Clarke says, “ This interpretation reflects little credit on the understanding of the Apostle. To say that the blood of Christ speaketh better things than that of Abel, is saying little indeed. It might speak very little good to any soul of man, and yet speak better things than that of Abel, which speaks no good to any human creature, and only called for vengeance on him that shed it.” The meaning of the passage then fairly construed is obviously this: Abel speaks well, but the blood of Christ speaks better. “ By faith,” says our author, “ Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God tes­tifying of his gifts; and by it [his faith] he being dead yet speak­eth.” (Hebrews 11:4.) What then does he say? What did he say to the an­cient Patriarchs, and what does he still say even to Christians? Evidently this and only this: that mercy has in some way been provided for every true believer; that God will in some mysterious way pardon, justify, and save all who believe and obey him. This he said by his faith and obedience in offering to God the required sacrifice. But he could say no more: for as yet the way, the truth, the resurrection, and the life, had not been made manifest (John 11:25 John 14:6). The Word had not yet become flesh; and Jesus had not yet died for our sins according to the Scriptures. And, consequently, it was not yet understood how God could be just in justifying the believer. (Romans 3:25-26.) But now all this is made manifest through the shedding and application of Christ’ s blood. And hence it is that God has reserved “ some better thing (kreit­ton) for us” (Hebrews 11:40); which thing is now fully revealed through the blood of sprinkling, which cleanses from all sin. Such then is the contrast between the former and the latter dis­pensations ; between the terrors of the Old Covenant and the more encouraging privileges of the New. But as it is a principle of the Divine government that “ wherever much is given, there also much is always required,” it follows, as our author now proceeds to show, that the superior privileges of the Hebrew Christians served very greatly to increase their obligations; and that there was, in fact, no possible way for them to escape the righteous vengeance of God, if they neglected the great salvation that was so freely offered to them in the Gospel. See notes on Hebrews 2:1-3. Hebrews 12:25 ---See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.— The warning given in this verse is very plain, as well as very solemn and em­phatic. But who is he that speaketh? Certainly not Christ, as Mediator of the New Covenant (Chrysostom, CEcumenius, Ebrard, Stuart, Clarke, Bloomfield), but God himself in Christ, as in Hebrews 1:1 (Grotius, Bleek, Scott, Delitzsch, Alford, Moll). God an­ciently spoke from Sinai through Moses and the administration of angels, but now he speaks to us from Heaven through his own Son. It was the voice of Jehovah that once shook Sinai from its summit to its deepest foundations; and it is his voice which, accord­ing to Haggai (Haggai 2:6-7), will once more shake both the Earth and the Heavens. The context will manifestly allow of no other inter­pretation. The same Almighty Sovereign who in the twenty-ninth verse is represented as “ a consuming fire,” is the speaker in both instances. The greater obligations of Christians do not, therefore, arise from the fact that they are now addressed by a speaker of greater dignity and authority; but simply from the fact that God himself now speaks to us through different media and under differ­ent circumstances. This is made plain by the reasoning of the Apostle in the beginning of the second chapter. “ We ought,” he says, “ to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should be drifted away from them. For if the word spoken [by God] through angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience [of that word] received a just recompense of reward, how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation” which God has, in these last days, revealed to us in and through his own dear Son ? Hebrews 12:26 ---Whose voice then shook the earth:— That is, when he spoke to the Israelites from Mount Sinai. (Exodus 19:18.) To this in connection with the other stupendous miracles of the Exodus, the Psalmist beautifully and encouragingly refers in Psalms 114:1-4. “ When Israel,” he says, “ went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language; Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion. The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back. The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.” Hebrews 12:26 ---but now he hath said, Yet once more, etc.— The reference here is to the prophecy of Hag 2:6-7, relating primarily to the building of the second Temple by Zerubbabel; the historical cir­cumstances of which may be briefly stated as follows: The Temple of Solomon had been destroyed by the Chaldeans about 588 B.C. (2 Kings 25:1-17.) And in the year 536 B.C., Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, issued a decree, permitting all Jews, who were will­ing, to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. (Ezra 1:1­11.) More than forty-two thousand of them gratefully accepted the privilege, and set out immediately under Zerubbabel the governor, and Joshua the High Priest. (Ezra 2:46; Nehemiah 7:66.) They first, after their return, set up the altar of burnt-offerings and of­fered the required sacrifices (Ezra 3:1-6); and on the second month of the second year the foundation of the Temple was laid with shoutings of joy and gladness on the part of the multi­tude. (Ezra 3:8-11.) But some of the old men who had seen the first Temple in all its glory, when they saw the great inferiority of the second, wept with a loud voice. (Ezra 3:12.) This, of course, greatly discouraged the hearts of the people: and besides, the Sa­maritans and other hostile tribes, by their violent opposition and misrepresentations, so weakened the hands of the Jews that but lit­tle more was done during the short remnant of the reign of Cyrus and the reign of his successor, Ahasuerus or Cambyses. And in the reign of Artaxerxes (Smerdis the Usurper), the work was, by his decree, wholly suspended. (Ezra 4:24.) But in the second year of the reign of Darius Hystaspes (519 B.C.), God stirred up the minds of the people, by the prophecies of Haggai and Zecha- riah, to begin again the work of rebuilding the Temple. The first message of Haggai was delivered by Zerubbabel and Joshua on the first day of the sixth month of the second year of Darius, in which he severely reproves the people for neglecting the Temple. (Haggai 1:1-11.) His appeal was successful: for on the twentieth day of the same month, the work of rebuilding was commenced. But in order to comfort and encourage the hearts of those who were mourning over the manifest inferiority of this second Temple, Hag­gai was sent to them again on the twentieth day of the month fol­lowing, and directed to say to them that God was with them to give them success in their labors; and to assure them that the glory of the second Temple would even surpass the glory of that which was builded by Solomon. “ For thus saith the Lord of host, yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the Earth, and the sea, and the dry land: and I will shake all nations; and the Desire of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former, saith the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Haggai 2:6-9.) On this passage it may be well to remark (1) that the second Temple derived its chief glory from the presence of him who, as the Savior of the world, is here called “ the Desire of all nations.” In all other respects the temple of Zerubbabel even with the addi­tions that were made to it by Herod the Great, was quite inferior to that of Solomon. For in it, as the Jews themselves confess, the chief glory of Solomon’ s Temple was wholly wanting. It had no Ark of the Covenant, no Mercy-seat, and no Shekinah. No sym­bol of God’ s presence was there manifested, until the Word became flesh and dwelt among his people. I know it is often said that “ the desire of all nations” can have no reference to the Messiah; be­cause, says the objector, “ the word desires is in the plural num­ber.” But this is not the case in the Hebrew. In the Septuagint, the corresponding word is in the plural; the choice things (ta ek- lekta) of all the nations shall come: but in the Hebrew the word is singular; the desire of all the nations shall come. True, indeed, the verb come is in the third person plural, masculine, showing that the noun, though in the feminine singular, really conveys the idea of a masculine plural; indicating most likely the royal majesty of Christ and the superabounding fullness of the blessings of his mediatorial reign. He is called the Desire of all nations (a) be­cause he alone is capable of satisfying their desires; and (b) be­cause for some time before the coming of Christ there was a very general expectation among the civilized nations that the Golden Age would soon be restored through the righteous administration of some great one who was about to be born in Judea, and who would give to the Jews the dominion of the world. To this Tac­itus refers as follows: “ There was,” he says, “ in the minds of many a conviction that it was contained in the ancient writings of the Priests, that at that very time it would come to pass that the east would acquire strength, and that those who had gone forth from Judea would become the masters of affairs.” (Hist. 5: 13.) Suetonius also testifies to the same effect: “ Throughout the whole east,” he says, “ an old and firmly fixed opinion became prevalent that it was included in the decrees of fate, that those who had gone forth from Judea should at that time become the masters of affairs.” (In Vesp. 100: 4.) (2) It is obvious that the shaking of the heav­ens and the earth was to commence soon with the coming of the Messiah and the inauguration of the new era under him. For says God by the Prophet, “ It is yet but a little while, when I will shake once for all (hapax) the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all the nations; and the Desire of all the nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory.” The shaking of the world is therefore chronologically connected with the coming of the Messiah; but the Prophet does not say explicitly how long this shaking of all things will continue. This is more clearly indicated by the Apostle in what follows. Hebrews 12:27 ---And this word, Yet once more, etc.— The Apostle now ex­plains what is meant by the phrase, Yet once more (eti hapax). It denotes, he says, “ the removal of the things shaken, as of things which have been made, so that the things which are not sh?k^n may remain.” That is, since there is to be but one more shaking of all things, it is implied in this phrase, “ Yet once more” that the shaking will continue until all things perishable shall be removed; so that nothing will remain but what is eternal and immutable. It will continue therefore until Judaism and all false systems of re­ligion and philosophy are taken out of the way; until the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ (Revelation 11:15); and until the heavens and the earth which are now shall be transformed into new heavens and a new earth, wherein nothing but righteousness will forever dwell. For Christ came not merely to remove the shadows of the Old Economy, and to introduce the sublime realities of the New; but he came also to destroy the works of Satan (2: 14), and to establish a kingdom which will endure forever (2 Peter 1:11). And consequently he must reign and shake the world until his mission shall be fully accomplished. (1 Corinthians 15:24-25.) Hebrews 12:27 ---as of things that are made:—That is, made by art or man’ s device, and are therefore perishable. For “ all flesh is grass, and all its glory as the flower of grass: the grass withereth, and the flower falleth away; but the word of the Lord endureth forever.” (1 Peter 1:24-25.) Hebrews 12:27 ---that those things which can not be shaken may remain.—These are all such as have their foundation in the nature and truth of God; having particular reference, however, to the kingdom of Christ. Judaism with all its splendid ritual was, like a work of art, made for a temporary purpose; and, like all things else of the same class, it was destined to pass away when its end was accomplished. But the kingdom of Christ is wholly different. Its object is not temporal but eternal. It was set up during the shaking of thrones and kingdoms, and it will continue when the heavens shall have passed away as a scroll. (1 Corinthians 15:24; 2 Peter 1:11.) And hence it follows that the kingdom of Christ can never, like Judaism, give place to anything better (Daniel 2:44); for “ this,” says Peter, “ is the true grace of God wherein ye stand” (1 Peter 5:12). God has nothing better to offer to any man than salvation through Christ. The man, therefore, who rejects Christ and his kingdom seals of necessity his own eternal condemnation. Hebrews 12:28 ---Wherefore we receiving a kingdom, etc.—Since it is true that we Christians have received a kingdom which cannot, like the Jewish Theocracy and false systems of religion and philosophy, be shaken and removed, let us hold fast our confession: let us by pa­tiently and perseveringly submitting to the will of God in all things, obtain from him such measures of grace as will enable us to serve him with “ godly fear and dread." Hebrews 12:29 ---For our God is a consuming fire.—This is a quotation from Deuteronomy 4:24. It is cited here as furnishing an additional reason why we should serve God with “ godly fear and dread." To the faithful in Christ Jesus, God is life, and light, and love: but to the willfully disobedient he has always been “ a consuming fire." See references. Nothing, therefore, remains for the apostate and the finally impenitent but “ a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries." 1. It is pleasant to think of the many faithful witnesses for the truth, who having finished their course now stand to encourage us in our conflicts with the world, the flesh, and the devil, (verse 1). These by their own heroic example have clearly demonstrated that the way of duty, though strait and narrow, may nevertheless be trodden by all, as the way that leads to certain victory. This should encourage us to “ lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us," so that we too may run with patient endurance “ the race that is set before us." 2. But our main ground of encouragement is to be found in the example of Jesus, the Leader and Perfecter of the faith, “ who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross," and through it triumphed over all his and our enemies (verses 2, 3). So full of instruction indeed is his whole life that it of itself serves us as a general directory, and gives us comfort and consola¬tion under all the circumstances of our earthly conflict. When tempted, for instance, it will always assist us to say with Jesus, “ It is written,” “ It is written,” “ It is written” ; and when solely perse¬cuted for righteousness’ sake, the best we can do is to say in the spirit and temper of our great Exemplar, “ Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” 3. It is a good thing to be afflicted, (1) because it serves to mortify the flesh with its affections and its lusts; (2) because it serves to keep us humble and mindful of our mortality; and (3) because it serves to purify our hearts, and so to make us partakers of God’ s holiness (verses 4-11). Thus it is that our light afflic¬tions which are but for a moment, serve in the providence of God to work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. To those who have their portion in this life, and whose daily concern is about what they shall eat, and, what they shall drink, and wherewithal they shall be clothed, I know all this ap¬pears very absurd. But not so to the true child of God who looks upon the present as but a preparation for the eternal world that is beyond. To him everything appears in the light of a blessing which serves to purify his heart, and so to prepare him for the high and holy destiny that is set before him. Let us then with Paul ever glory in tribulation, “ knowing that tribulation worketh pa¬tience ; and patience, experience; and experience, hope” ; and that all things in fact “ work together for good to them that love God.” 4. Many for whom Christ died go to perdition through our inexcusable neglect (verses 12-17). This is true not only of many who are still in the world, and who if properly cared for might be converted and brought into the fold of Christ; but it is also equally true of many weak and sickly ones in the Church, whose hands are hanging down, whose knees have become feeble, and who are even now ready to perish for want of the proper aid, sympathy, and support of their brethren. This ought not so to be. And it would not be so did we but realize as we should our relations to each other, and our obligations to the one living and supreme head. But when, alas! will this lesson be duly learned by the professed fol¬lowers of the Lord Jesus? “ Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meek¬ness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’ s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2.) 5. The object of God in providing and revealing to us the whole economy of redemption, is to make us holy as he himself is holy (verse 14). Without this all else will be in vain: our confession will avail us nothing, nor will our baptism, nor our alms, nor our prayers. For “ without holiness no man shall see the Lord” ; and unless we see him, and have fellowship with him, Heaven itself will be no Heaven to us. In that event the hell within us would in fact only be made deeper and deeper by the infinite contrast of the Heaven without us. How earnestly then we should all strive after holiness of heart and purity of life; and how earnestly we should beseech God day by day to search our hearts and lead us “ in the way everlasting.” 6. The vail that now conceals God from the eyes of sinful mor¬tals is “ a vail woven by the hand of Mercy” (verses 18-21). If the children of Israel could not bear to look on even the natural phenomena through which God manifested himself on mount Sinai, what must have been the consequence if the vail had been wholly removed, and the full-orbed glory of Jehovah’ s power, and maj¬esty, and holiness, had been allowed to burst forth in all its infi¬nite splendor and fullness on the astonished eyes and trembling hearts of the multitude! Such a sight would have been too much for poor sinful mortals. (Exodus 33:20.) And hence we can never be sufficiently thankful, that even under the more benign influences of the New Covenant, God deals with us through the medium of a Mediator. We are not yet prepared for any higher and fuller manifestations of his glory than what we now see in the face of Jesus. But thanks be to God, that the time is coming when we shall see his face and when his name shall be on our foreheads. (Revelation 22:4.) Then we shall see as we are seen, and know even as also we are known. (1 Corinthians 13:12.) 7. How very near and dear are our relations to God, to Christ, to holy angels, and to the spirits of the redeemed (verses 22-24). We are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints made perfect. For in covenant we have already come to mount Zion; and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusa-lem ; and to a countless host of angels composing as it were a joy¬ful and festive assembly around the throne of God; and to the Church of the first-born whose names are registered in Heaven; and to God the judge of all; and to the spirits of the just made perfect; and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant; and to the blood of sprinkling which speaks more encouragingly than even Abel speaks by his faith and obedience. Who, then, would ever think of turning back to the weak and beggarly elements of this world? Who would renounce this holy society and these high and holy relations for the society and fellowship of Satan and his an¬gels ? May God save us all from such folly and madness. 8. Paul was not an advocate of either the Popish dogmas about purgatory, or of the doctrine of soul-sleeping (verse 23). With him it was a fundamental article of faith that “ to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8); and to be present with the Lord is to be “ made perfect.” And hence he him¬self preferred to depart and to be with Christ. (Philippians 1:23.) 9. Rejection of the highest grace is always followed by the se¬verest punishment (verse 25). And consequently our destiny will be even more intolerable than that of the disobedient Israelites, if we neglect the overtures of mercy that are now offered to us in the Gospel. 10. The Gospel is God’ s last manifestation of mercy for the re¬covery of lost sinners (verse 28). When Christ comes the second time, it will not be to convert the world, but to judge it. It will be to raise the dead saints (1 Thessalonians 4:16) ; to change the living (1 Thessalonians 4:17) ; to renovate the world by fire (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; 2 Peter 3:7-13) ; to raise the wicked out of the molten mass (John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15) ; and then to reward every man according to his works (Matthew 16:27 Matthew 25:31-41; Romans 2:5-16; 2 Timothy 4:1). It will not be to set up a new kingdom on earth, but simply to bring to an end his mediatorial reign, and then will he deliver up the Kingdom to the Father. (1 Corinthians 15:24-25.) “ Wherefore [since] we have received a kingdom which can not be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with rever¬ence and godly fear.” Commentary on Hebrews 12:18-29 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_12:18 --For ye are not come unto a mount that might be touchedWe have no sacred mount or place, as did the Jews. John 4:21. Adventist, you can’ t come to Mount Sinai and expect salvation, The mountain was not to be touched, although being a mount it might be touched. Exodus 19:12-13. Hebrews 12:18 --and that burned with fireThis was the way God taught them reverence, Cf. Deuteronomy 4:11 and Deuteronomy 5:4-5. This was magnificent, but not to be compared with our mount. Hebrews 12:18 --and unto blackness and darknessWe have the revelation of light. The “ blackness” probably refers to a dark or thick cloud. Cf. Exodus 19:16. Hebrews 12:18 --and tempestWe have the one who stills the tempest. “ Tempest” is not mentioned in Exodus or Deuteronomy, but it includes evidently the thunders and lightnings. Hebrews 12:19 --and the sound of a trumpetDoes this mean there is no musical instrument in the church or heaven? a. No, he is including the trumpet as part of the frightening experience. See Exodus 19:16; Exodus 20:18. b. Observe the use of musical instruments. 1. Joel 2 was quoted on Pentecost. 2. Joe 2:1 : “ Blow the trumpet.” 3. Joe 2:15 : “ Blow the trumpet.” a) We may assume a musical instrument was used on the birthday of the church. b) Psalms 49:4, “ will open my— on the harp,” suggests the use of instruments in relationship to the Gospel. Hebrews 12:19 --and the Voice of wordsThe whole group heard the voice. Deuteronomy 5:22. Hebrews 12:26 says this Voice shook the earth. Hebrews 12:19 --which Voice they heard and entreated that no word more should be spoken unto themThe giving of the law excited terror; the Gospel brings peace. In Exodus 20:19 the people requested that Moses speak to them in place of the Voice. Hebrews 12:20 --for they could not endure that which was enjoinedExodus 19 speaks of the serious bounds put on the people. The frightening trumpet, voice, quaking, and all was more than they could stand without a mediator. Hebrews 12:20 --if even a beast touch the mountain it shall be stonedThis was enjoined in Exodus 19:12-13. Absolute reverence was demanded, even to the animals being required to be away. Hebrews 12:21 --and so fearful was the appearance that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quakeIs this statement of Moses found here only? a. Some suggest that Paul received it from Jewish tradition. b. Some say the author inferred it. c. Some suppose Exodus 19:16-17 is referred to where Moses stood with all the people. In Exodus 19:19 we read, “ Moses spoke.” a. What he spoke is not recorded. b. If Paul were inspired, he could have written what Moses said that day. c. Jesus promised the disciples guidance into all truth. See John 16:13.Hebrews 12:22 --But ye are come into Mount Zion“ Ye are come unto Mount Zion” is in contrast to Mount Sinai. a. They had a mount that they had to avoid. b. We have a mount that we can approach. c. McKnight: “ But ye shall come,” making it future. “ Mount Zion.” a. Mount Zion stands for grace, and not a literal mountain. b. Mount Zion is a part of the hill of Jerusalem, and being the seat of both the royal and sacerdotal authority it was properly called the “ holy hill of Zion.” Psalms 2:6. c. No Gentile ever came before Mount Zion, except as he came as a Jewish proselyte or to plunder or to destroy.Hebrews 12:22 --and unto the city of the living God the heavenly JerusalemZion is spoken of as being the habitation of God. Psalms 132:13, This is the celestial city that Abraham looked for. Hebrews 11:10. This city is described in Revelation 21, 22. I understand it to be the Jerusalem above as Paul taught in Galatians 4:26. We are come unto it, but our bodies not yet redeemed. We have not seen the new city except by faith. Hebrews 12:22 --and to innumerable hosts of angelsThe throne of God seems to have great numbers of angels present. See Revelation 5:11; the number was thousands of thousands. It is to such a place of praise that we shall some day come; not to praise the angels, but the object of the angels’ praise. Hebrews 12:23 --to the general assemblyMilligan says: “ Here it denotes the joyful and multitudinous assembly of angels around the throne of God, who there forever celebrate His praises.” See Revelation 5:11; Revelation 7:11-12. a. This makes it a festive assembly of angels. b. This rules out that our assembly on earth is meant. If all thus far is future, then let us assume that the general assembly will someday be held, when Christ gathers His faithful from the ends of the earth. Hebrews 12:23 --church of the FirstbornWe, of course, have come to the church already, being members of it; but is this what he meant? a. McKnight says this refers only to those pious Israelites of all ages who by faith deserve to be called God’ s firstborn. b. Milligan says it refers to the church on earth. 1. He quotes James 1:18 to show we are first fruits. 2. All its members are honored with this title, he says. c. Calvin says it refers to the patriarchs and renowned saints of the earthly church. d. Newell says Israel is the firstborn of earth, but the church is the first fruits of heaven. I prefer to allow the church to mean the “ called out” that will someday be called into the great assembly. This is church future, not church present. Christ wears the title “ Firstborn,” Romans 8:29, and the church is His. Hebrews 12:23 --who are enrolled in heavenGod does the writing, for we can’ t climb or fly to the book to do the writing. It is a source of joy to have the privilege of having our name there. Luke 10:20 and Philippians 4:3. Some prefer to have their names in social registers, so-called churches, lodges, etc., than on the church of the firstborn. Hebrews 12:23 --and to God the Judge of allWho does judge? This is a big subject. a. God will judge the sinners. 1. Hebrews 13:4 : God will judge adulterers. 2. Romans 2:16 : God will judge the secrets of men. b. The saints will likewise do some judging. 1. 1 Corinthians 6:2 : will judge the world. 2. 1 Corinthians 6:3 : will judge the angels. 3. Compare Revelation 20:4. The problem of judgment is God’ s. It will be just how He planned it. a. We have come to Him already, and He no longer is our Judge but our. Saviour. b. In a sense He is our Judge, so let this inspire fear on our part to do His will. Hebrews 12:23 --and to the spirit of just men made perfectThis refers to our heavenly position, Are there any “ spirits made perfect” there now? a. What God does with a spirit after death is His business, and I am confident that it is fair and just, But I do not know. b. I agree with 1 John 3:2 : “ It is not yet manifested.” 1. John says, “ What we shall be.” 2. I add my own ignorance, “ When it shall be.” Hebrews 12:24 --and to Jesus the Mediator of a new covenant What covenant is this? a. Newell says this is not the better covenant of Chapter Eight, but the new covenant with Israel which lies in the future with Israel. b. Here Newell is in error. 1. The characteristics of the covenant are the same; they must be the same. 2. Jesus only spoke of one covenant, on the night of His betrayal, and He calls it a new covenant. Luke 22:19-20. 3. In Hebrews 13:20 the covenant is spoken of as an eternal covenant, and surely he means the same covenant as in Chapter Eight. 4. In Hebrews 8:7 he speaks of the old being replaced by the second, but does not mention a third covenant. The covenant is the one by which the blood of Jesus will save all men, and to Whom He acts as Mediator. Hebrews 12:24 --and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of AbelAbel’ s sacrifice speaks, according to Hebrews 11:4. a. Abel’ s sacrifice by faith spoke, saying that it pays to be obedient. In a sense, it is a warning. b. Abel’ s sacrifice is not meant here, but his blood. What does Abel’ s blood speak? a. Genesis 4:10-11 says, “ Brother’ s blood crieth.” b. The blood of Abel called for judgment. What does this blood speak that is greater? a. Newell says it speaks of judgment past forever and of eternal peace. b. The popular idea is that the blood of Abel speaks a call for mercy. c. Milligan: “ Abel’ s blood speaks well, but Christ’ s speaks better.” d. If the following verses are considered, we might say this blood speaks a greater warning—“ refuse not.” Hebrews 12:25. No one questions that the blood is that of Christ. a. Christ’ s blood speaks better because it avails pardon for sin. b. His blood cries out, “ The atonement is made.” Hebrews 12:25 --See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh Who speaks? a. Evidently God, but there is an allusion to the shaking at Sinai. b. Christ spoke not threats that He carried out as this verse suggests, Of course Christ is the Word of God, but only in this sense can this verse apply to Him.Hebrews 12:25 --for if they escaped not when they refused Him that warned them on earthWhat occasion is referred to? a. Noah surely is a possibility. b. Moses’ warning is a better one, since it fits the context better. Does this imply that now there is a warning direct from God without the messenger, man? a. No. Neglect for so great a salvation demands heavier judgment. Hebrews 2:3. b. No speaker of greater dignity speaks, but a greater message is delivered. Hebrews 12:25 --much more shall not we escapeWe should not expect to go free, just because Christ taught that God is a Father. We sin against a greater demonstration of love, and we should expect a greater demonstration of wrath if we trample upon Christ.Hebrews 12:25 --who turn away from Him that wameth from heavenObserve that “ warneth” is in italics. Actually it reads “ that is from heaven.” a. This clarifies the point perhaps. He is simply locating the Voice. b. Of course Moses’ message was from heaven, but it was more directly from a mountain that shook and trembled. This atoning message is from heaven, and it must not be rejected. Mark 16:16. Hebrews 12:26 --Whose Voice then shook the earthThis refers to Mount Sinai, described in Exodus 19:18. The Psalmist described it, Psalms 114:4 : “ the mountains skipped like rams.” Hebrews 12:26 --but now He hath promised, saying. Haggai 2:6 is the quotation though not literal, says Calvin. Milligan says it was spoken primarily to the building of the second temple by Zerubbabel and is therefore chronologically connected with the coming of the Messiah. Hebrews 12:26 --yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only but also the heavensThough God shook the earth when He published the law, yet now He speaks more gloriously, for He shakes both earth and heaven. Has this been fulfilled? a. Calvin: “ The voice of the gospel not only thunders through the earth, but also penetrates above the heavens.” b. The earth quaked at Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, so this could have been fulfilled. “ The heavens,” says McKnight, refers to the Jewish state and worship. a. He says here it pictures an alteration which was to be made in the political and religious state of the world. b. If “ heavens” is literal, no explanation can be given unless it refers to the event of darkness that accompanied the shaking of the earth at the cross. There is a possibility that this refers to the end of time. Hebrews 12:27 --and this word, Yet once moreNewell says this is the divine interpretation of the above verse, and three things are seen: a. Heaven and earth are to be done away. b. The reason is that their end is accomplished. c. Things unshaken will remain. McKnight feels that Haggai 2 proves that earthly kingdoms, the Levitical system, etc., are meant. a. He feels that “ yet once” means that the gospel will remain to the end of the world, as the only form of religion acceptable to God. b. This means then that shaking will continue until God’ s will prevails. Milligan agrees to this and refers to 2 Peter 1:11 and 1 Corinthians 15:24-25. The words of the prophet are these, “ Yet a little while.” Hebrews 12:27 --signifieth the removing of those things that are shakenThe destruction of Jerusalem almost destroyed Judaism, but God is still shaking it, for Jews will not give up their faith, The kingdoms of the world are yet to surrender to Jesus, but they will. Revelation 11:15. If earth means idolatry, and heaven the Jewish economy, as McKnight suggests, much shaking needs to be done, Newell insists that “ heavens” are included here, for sin began in heaven, and it too must be shaken. Hebrews 12:27 --as of things that have been madeSome suggest that this means things made with hands of man. McKnight and Milligan agree. Some suggest the creation. Hebrews 12:27 --that those things which are not shaken may remainThe kingdom of heaven was set up during the time when kingdoms and thrones were being shaken. a. It will endure when the heavens shall have passed away as a scroll. Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:24 and 2 Peter 1:11. b. This kingdom will not give way as did the old law. Daniel 2:44. Man has done everything that he can to shake the church, but it cannot be done. 1. He tried persecution, burning Bibles, creating division, false doctrines, modernism, and worldliness and yet the church grows. 2. The church will remain, for the gospel is to shake this world. Hebrews 12:28 --wherefore receiving a kingdom that cannot be shakenHow wonderful it is to be a part of something eternal, victorious and with a destiny. Things created are subject to decay, to destruction, but not the church; for not even the gates of Hades can prevail against it. Hebrews 12:28 --let us have graceGrace has been given to us, in that salvation has been provided. Calvin says this expression is strained. It reads as an exhortation. It should read, “ we have grace.” I prefer to let it be an exhortation. a. We will have more grace as we offer up service. b. The Christian is to work at grace, not just rejoice in it. Pulpit Commentary says it means, “ Let us show thankfulness.” Hebrews 12:28 --whereby we may offer service well pleasing to God“ Well pleasing” is familiar. We read that without faith we cannot please God. Hebrews 11:6. “ Service” is the watchword for those in the kingdom. a. We were won to win, told to tell, saved to serve. b. James makes it plain that faith without works is dead.Hebrews 12:28 --with reverence and aweReverence is also translated, “ godly fear,” We are to serve with promptness and delight, yet it must be united with humility and due reverence. If “ let us have grace” means to give thanks, then with thankfulness, reverence, and fear we serve. “ Awe” is also translated “ dread.” Hebrews 12:29 --for our God is a consuming fireThis verse is from Deuteronomy 4:24. Here the Israelites were warned of forgetting the covenant. The Lord’ s nature is not changed; He is a consuming fire as He declared at Sinai. If we scorn this present dispensation of grace, the day of judgment will be to us a day of terror. Study Questions2656. Contrast the Christian’ s mountain with Moses’ mountain. 2657. Is our mountain figurative or literal? 2658. What is the name of our mountain? 2659. What was the location of Mount Zion? 2660. What did it represent? 2661. What else does the Christian have a right to approach? 2662. Compare other verses that speak of Zion. Cf. Psalms 132:13; Hebrews 11:10; Revelation 21, 22; Galatians 4:26. 2663. Is this verse to be interpreted as past tense, present, or future? 2664. How do we see the city? Like Abraham? Hebrews 11:10. 2665. When does the heavenly Jerusalem take place, according to Revelation? 2666. If this is present, how may we explain that we are in the midst of angels? 2667. How numerous are God’ s angels? Revelation 5:11. 2668. Does it say “into Mount Zion” or “unto” ? 2669. How many are 12 legions of angels? 2670. Is this general assembly that of angels or men? 2671. Is it an earthly assembly? 2672. What is the description of the church here? 2673. What is meant by “ Firstborn” ? 2674. Is this the church on earth? 2675. If all of the other expressions refer to future experiences, can we assume that the church on earth is referred to here? 2676. Does Christ wear the title “ Firstborn” ? Romans 8:29. 2677. Who all will be in His church? 2678. Who enrolls men in heaven? 2679. Compare Luke 10:20 and Philippians 4:3. 2680. If God writes our name, what can we do to cause God to write it there? 2681. Do men seem to prefer other registers? 2682. If God is Judge, do we come to Him? 2683. Will the Christian come to Him? 2684. Do we come to Him to be judged? Do we come to Him as Judge or Savior? 2685. Will Christians do any judging? 2686. Compare 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; Revelation 20:4. 2687. What is meant by “ spirits” ? 2688. Could this refer to our heavenly position or to our state now as Christians? 2689. If we have already come to Mount Zion, the new Jerusalem, how may we explain, “ and to the spirits of just men made perfect,” in Hebrews 12:23 when we know none are perfect? 2690. If none are perfect on earth now, can we interpret this whole message as present action? 2691. Is this covenant the one of which we are a part? 2692. How many new covenants are there? Is there one for Jews and one for Gentiles? 2693. Is the one in Chapter Eight the same here and in Hebrews 13:20? 2694. How many covenants did Jesus teach? Cf. Luke 22:19-20. 2695. What is the purpose of the covenant? To save from sin or to get Jews back to Jerusalem? 2696. What did Abel’ s blood sacrifice speak? 2697. What adjectives are used to describe the covenant? 2698. What is meant by, “ we are come to the blood of sprinkling” ? 2699. Whose blood is sprinkled? 2700. Why is the word “ sprinkled” used? 2701. Could it be figurative that Christ is our Passover? 2702. Is Abel’ s blood, or Abel’ s sacrifice, referred to here? 2703. If his sacrifice is meant, what does it speak? 2704. From where did Abel’ s blood speak? 2705. Could it be that Abel speaks, and not his blood or sacrifice? 2706. Which could do a better job of speaking, Abel’ s blood or Abel’ s sacrifice?2707. Who is speaking in the reference of Heb 12:25? 2708. Does this verse refer to one specific person’ s warning, or several warnings of men through one God? 2709. Name some warnings that went unheeded. 2710. Does this verse refer to one of them? 2711. Does this verse teach that God gave a warning that did not come through man as other warnings did? 2712. Why should we have less chance of escaping? 2713. Do we sin against a greater speaker? 2714. Do we sin against a greater demonstration of love? 2715. Is the word “ warn” in the original? 2716. How does it actually read? 2717. Was Moses’ message from heaven or from a mountain? 2718. Who warns from heaven and what warning is meant? 2719. Does the verse refer to Moses’ warning in comparison to Christ’ s warning? 2720. Is the place the point of emphasis, or the person? 2721. Does Hebrews 12:26 help to answer whether it is Christ or God referred to in Hebrews 12:25? 2722. Whose voice shook the earth? 2723. How does Psalms 114:4 describe it? 2724. Where is the saying referred to here? 2725. What is the difference in the second shaking? 2726. Could it have been fulfilled when Christ was on the cross? 2727. How was heaven shaken at Christ’ s crucifixion? 2728. What does heavens refer to— that God will shake? 2729. Could this refer to the end of time? Why? 2730. Are “ shaking” and “ trembling” synonymous in ideas? 2731. Could it be a shaking of political and religious conditions? 2732. If the shaking is being done by the Gospel, what has been shaken? 2733. What is meant by “ heavens” ? 2734. Explain what is meant by “ yet once more” . 2735. What did God permit that was greatly responsible for breaking up organized Judaism? 2736. Could Hebrews 12:27 be an interpretation of Heb 12:26? 2737. How long will God shake heaven and earth? 2738. What bearing does 1 Peter 1:11 and 1 Corinthians 15:24-25 have? 2739. What is signified? 2740. Will the kingdoms of the world ever be annihilated? 2741. What made things are referred to here? 2742. Are they of God’ s making or man’ s? 2743. Has the church been shaken? 2744. Can it be shaken down? 2745. What has man done to the church? 2746. What remains in the earth that cannot be shaken? 2747. Is there room for pessimism in Hebrews 12:28? 2748. Does this suggest that evil will win and that the church will be impotent? 2749. What is meant by “ let us have grace” ? 2750. Is this an exhortation? 2751. Is there any way for grace to be increased? 2752. How can we offer service to God? 2753. What is a prerequisite to pleasing God? 2754. Will God always be pleased with things done in Christ’ s name? 2755. Is there any spur to labor when you realize God’ s grace and victory are to be had? 2756. What should be our attitude as we serve God? 2757. Define “ reverence.” 2758. Define “ awe.” 2759. Were the Pharisees of Jesus’ day failing here? 2760. What is our attitude in service to please God? 2761. Where is the expression “ consuming fire” found in the Old Testament? 2762. How did the author prove that we should be in awe? 2763. Will it be demonstrated again? 2764. If we are not in awe, how will we appear some day? Hebrews 13:1-7 TO AND IN THE OF SUNDRY AND SOCIAL DUTIES Hebrews 13:1-7 Hebrews 13:1 ---Let brotherly love continue.— In the Greek classics, the word Philadelphia means the natural love which brothers and sis­ters have for one another; but in the New Testament it means the love which all Christians should cherish for each other as mem­bers of the one family of God in Christ. See Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 1:7. This cardinal Christian virtue is one of the first fruits of that “ faith which worketh by love:” and accordingly from the beginning it served to distinguish Christians from all others as the peculiar people of God. For we are told that immediately after the setting up of the Kingdom, “ all that believed were together and had all things common.” See Acts 2:44-47. After this, when tribulations and persecutions began to abound, “ because of the word,” the love of many waxed cold. But it is evident from this Epistle (Hebrews 6:10 Hebrews 10:32), as well as from Acts of Apostles (Acts 12:5 Acts 12:12 Acts 15:22 Acts 15:25), that the Christians of Palestine continued to cherish for one another, a feeling of frater­nal affection. And hence our author simply says to them, “ Let brotherly love continue.” Hebrews 13:2 ---Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:— The duty of kind­ness to strangers was enjoined by the Law of Moses. “ The stran­ger (proselutos) that dwelleth with you,” said God to the He­brews, “ shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.’ ' (Leviticus 19:34.) Our author therefore assumes here, that his breth­ren understood their duty in this respect; and he simply admon­ishes them not to neglect it. The word (philoxenia) occurs only here and in Romans 12:13; in both of which places it is supposed by Delitzsch, Alford, and others, to denote a mere exercise of broth­erly love. But I see no sufficient reason for so limiting it. It seems rather to denote all exercise of that love which we owe to all men. (2 Peter 1:7.) For this virtue, as well as for brotherly love, the primitive Christians were very remarkable. Even Julian the apos­tate, in his forty-ninth Epistle, assigns “ kindness to strangers” as one of the means by which their religion was so rapidly propa­gated. Hebrews 13:2 ---For thereby some have entertained angels unawares.— There is reference here no doubt to Abraham and Lot (Genesis 18:2-10 Genesis 19:1-3) ; and perhaps also to some other cases not recorded in the Holy Scriptures. The idea of the Apostle is this; that the free and liberal exercise of this social virtue may be of very great service to ourselves as well as to others. Our guests may often be messen­gers sent to us from God, for our own special benefit, as were the angels who saved Lot and his family from the ruin of Sodom. At all events, they give us an opportunity of showing to the world our love for Christ, and our respect for his laws and ordinances. I know it may be said, that the establishment of so many hotels and the various other improvements of modern civilization, have some­what lessened our obligations to receive and entertain strangers. This is no doubt true to some extent. But it should not be forgot­ten that our mission is to do good to all men as we have opportu­nity (Galatians 6:10) : and it is written for our encouragement that “ Whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones [who believe in Jesus] a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disci­ple, shall in nowise lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42.) Hebrews 13:3 ---Remember them that are in bonds,— The reference here is no doubt chiefly to those who were in bonds on account of their reli­gion ; but the injunction may, and probably does, include prisoners of all classes. All such need our sympathy and our aid as far as it can be given. And as Christ himself came to preach glad tidings to the meek, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound (Isaiah 60:1), so also we, as his disciples and co-workers, are re­quired to sympathize with the prisoners, as if we ourselves were bound with them; remembering that so long as we are in the body we too are subject to like calamities. The reader will observe that in these brief sententious admoni­tions, we have all the force, ardor, and characteristic haste of the great Apostle of the Gentiles. Most of what precedes is written with the care, dignity, and stateliness, which belong properly to a regular treatise on the sublime themes of redemption. But in this chapter we have some of Paul’ s most characteristic lifelike sketches. Hebrews 13:4 ---Marriage is honorable in all,— Or rather, Let marriage be honorable in all; and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. This verse, like the one preceding and also the one following, is hortatory, and should be rendered imper­atively. It is so construed by Ebrard, Stuart, T. S. Green, Alford, Moll, and most other modern expositors. Polygamy and concubin­age had long been more or less tolerated among the Jews; and all manner of uncleanness had been practiced among the Gentiles, often with the approval of their legislators and their most distin­guished philosophers. And hence the necessity of this injunction: Let your marriage be held honorable in all respects, and let your marriage bed be undefiled: for (gar) fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Or as rendered by T. S. Green: “ Let marriage be highly prized in all, and its bed be undefiled; but (de) whoremon­gers and adulterers will God judge.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10.) It is still a question with expositors, whether the phrase “ in all” (en pasi) means in all persons or in all things. The former view is supported by Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, Beza, Stuart, and most other Protestant commentators; and the latter, by CEcumenius, Bleek, Delitzsch, Alford, and most of the Roman Catholic com­mentators. This is preferable (1) because it is the more general, and, in fact comprehends the former: for if marriage is honorable in all respects, then most assuredly it is also honorable among all classes of men. (2) The latter is most in harmony with Greek usage. Greek writers generally use the preposition en in reference to things (1 Timothy 3:11; 2 Timothy 4:5; Titus 2:9-10; Hebrews 13:18) and para in reference to persons (Matthew 19:26; Acts 26:8; Romans 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:6; James 1:27). Hebrews 13:5 ---Let your conversation be without covetousness;— The word rendered conversation (tropos) means properly a turning; and hence it is often used metaphorically to denote either a turn of mind or a habit of life. Here it seems to include both. Let the disposition of your minds and your habits of life be without cov­etousness. That is, let the whole tenor of your conduct clearly indi­cate that your hearts are not set on acquiring the riches of this world. For “ they that will be rich,” says the same Apostle, “ fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in perdition. For the love of money is the [a] root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10.) Hebrews 13:5 ---and be content with such things as ye have:— This does not forbid all lawful endeavors to improve our own condition and that of others. Such an injunction would be wholly inconsistent with what is plainly taught in many other passages of Scriptures. See, for example, Romans 12:11; Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:11. But the meaning of the Apostle is simply this, that such should be our trust and confidence in God, that we would be satisfied with our condi­tion, be it what it may; knowing that if we are only faithful God will cause all things to work together for our good. Be diligent in business; do all that you can lawfully and consistently to improve your own condition and to promote the happiness of others; and then with calmness and resignation leave all the consequences to God. Hebrews 13:5 ---for he hath said I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.—This is given as the reason why Christians should all be satisfied with their lot in life, and why they should be content with such things as they have. God has said to every one of his children, “ I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Words almost identical with these are found in Deuteronomy 31:6; and they are afterward re­peated with some modification in Joshua 1:5; 1 Chronicles 28:20, etc. The original promise given by God to the Israelites through Moses is full of comfort and consolation; and it seems therefore to have become a sort of proverbial expression among the later Hebrews: for in Philo (Conf. Ling. Section 32) we have the identical words of our author as given in the Textus Receptus (me se ano oude ou me se eukataleipo) : “ an oracle,” says Philo, “ of the all-merciful God, full of gentleness, which shadows forth good hopes to those who love instruction.” It is probable, therefore, that our author quotes here a Bible sentiment, proverbial among the Hebrew's, with­out perhaps having direct reference to any one passage of Scrip­ture. Be this as it may, the sentiment abounds in both the Old and the New Testament: in the sayings of Christ and his Apostles as well as in the writings of the ancient prophets. “ Take no thought for your life,” says Christ, “ what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they ?” And again he says, “ Why take ye thought for raiment ? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you that even Solo­mon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field which to-day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Matthew 6:25-30.) What an infinite contrast we have given here between the conso­lations of God’ s word and such as are offered to us by even the wisest of the heathen philosophers. In order to reconcile us to our present condition, some of them tell us “ that our discontent only hurts ourselves, without being able to make any alteration in our circumstances; others, that whatever evil befalls us is derived to us by a fatal necessity, to which the gods themselves are subject; while others very gravely tell the man who is miserable that it is necessary he should be so, to keep up the harmony of the universe, and that the schemes of providence would be troubled and per­verted were he otherwise. These and the like considerations rather silence than satisfy a man. They may show him that his discontent is unreasonable, but they are by no means sufficient to relieve it. They rather give despair than consolation. In a word, a man might reply to one of these comforters, as Augustus did to his friend who advised him not to grieve for the death of a person whom he loved, because his grief could not bring him back again. “ It is for that very reason,” said the emperor, “ that I grieve” (Spectator, No. 574). How utterly empty, then, are all such phil­osophical speculations compared with the precious promise of our text: “ I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” The original form of expression is made as emphatic as possible. Hebrews 13:6 ---So that we may boldly say,— Or rather, So that we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. This is a quotation from Psalms 118:6. It forms a part of the great Hallel or collection of hymns which the Hebrews were wont to sing at the close of the feast of Tabernacles. And hence the manifest propriety of using the indicative form of expression; We say [i.e., we are wont to say] with confidence, The Lord is my helper, etc. The Hebrew may be literally ren­dered according to the Masoretic pointing, as follows: Jehovah is for me; I will not be afraid; what will man do to me ? Some crit­ics, as Griesbach and Alford, following the Hebrew, place a mark of interrogation at the close of the verse. Thus, “ The Lord is my helper; and I will not be afraid. What shall man do unto me?” But others allege with reason that the use of the conjunction and (chai omitted in some manuscripts), before the second clause, shows an intentional departure from the Hebrew construction; and they therefore prefer the declarative form of our English Version as being more suitable to the proverbial sentiment of our text. In both cases, however, the meaning is substantially the same. For “ if God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” So that we may confidently say with David, “ Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Hebrews 13:7 ---Remember them which have the rule over you,— Or more literally, Remember your leaders (hegoumenon) who spoke (ela- lesan) to you the word of God; carefully considering the issue (ekbasin) of their manner of life; imitate their faith. The refer­ence is to such men as Stephen, James the brother of John, and other faithful preachers of the Gospel who had formerly pro­claimed to the Hebrews the good word of God, and whose whole course of life, resulting as it did in a happy and triumphant death, was worthy of their admiration and imitation. “ After the author had thus held up the past as a mirror to the present, and had called to remembrance the gaps which death had made in the church of the Hebrews, what could be more appro­priate,” says Delitzsch, “ than to raise his thoughts to the immuta­ble Lord, exalted high above all change ?” This he does in the fol­lowing paragraph. Commentary on Hebrews 13:1-7 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_13:1 --Let love of the brethren continueThis sounds as though brotherly love characterized them. a. This is true. See Hebrews 6:10-11. b. They must have been strong on the “ social gospel” and weak in other ways. 1. In Hebrews 5:11 they were dull of hearing, were in need of teaching. 2. The many exhortations to lay hold, press on, etc., are indications of a special need. This virtue characterized the early Hebrew church. See Acts 2:44-47; Acts 12:5-12; Acts 15:22; Acts 15:25. Hebrews 13:2 --forget not to show love unto strangersWhat does “ love” mean if strangers are to receive it? a. This was a command for Jews in the Old Testament. Leviticus 19:34. 1. The Hebrews would therefore understand what was meant. 2. This just reminds them to not neglect it. b. It probably meant the exercise of love which all owe to all men. 2 Peter 1:7. There is no honor to us if we love only those that love us. See Matthew 5:43-46. a. The church will grow when strangers, visitors, now Christians, are warmed with the friendly helpfulness of Christians. b. The world needs love, for there is so much of bitterness and strife in the world.Hebrews 13:2 --for thereby some have entertained angels unawaresInstances of it are found in the visit to Abraham and Lot. a. Calvin and Milligan agree to this. b. See Genesis 18:2-10; Genesis 19:1-3. Our guests may often be messengers sent to us from God for our special benefit. Hebrews 13:3 --remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them that are ill-treated, as being yourselves also in the bodyThe people had been in bonds themselves at one time. See Hebrews 10:32-34. a. These people at that time had remembered one another. Hebrews 10:34. b. The possibility of them forgetting others in bonds must have been a possibility now that their days were easier. c. Perhaps these people were the strangers, for to their own countrymen they had been so helpful in the past. Ill treatment was often displayed in that day. a. Romans were known for their cruelty to their children and to their slaves. 1. All slaves were slain if the master were slain by a slave. 2. A story is reported of a master who killed a slave so that a guest could see the spectacle of a dying man. 3. Another Roman fed his fish with the mutilated body of a slave. b. The early church received severe persecutions. 1. The Jews were cruel, as seen by Stephen’ s treatment. 2. The Romans were severe, as seen by Nero and others. “ As being yourselves also in the body,” suggests identifying one’ s self with them as the Golden Rule suggests. Luke 6:31. Hebrews 13:4 --Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.“ Let marriage be had in honor among all” suggests that is a state that should be revered. a. God instituted marriage by providing Eve for Adam. b. The conduct of married people to each other is suggested often in the New Testament. 1. Ephesians 5:22-28 : Subjection of the wife is in order. 2. 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 : A clean marriage state. 3. 1 Peter 3:1-7 : The wife is to be honored. c. Celibacy is advocated by some as though marriage is not honorable. 1. If it is to be honored by all, it is honorable for all. 2. Fornication is a disregard for marriage, and adultery is a defilement of marriage. God will judge those guilty of defiling the honorable marriage relationship with fornication and adultery. a. It was a sin that brought capital punishment in the Old Testament. See Leviticus 20:10. b. The New Testament indicates that people guilty of this will be in hell. 1 Corinthians 6:9; Revelation 2:22. Hebrews 13:5 --Be ye free from the love of moneyIt is “ a root of all kinds of evil” when it is loved, 1 Timothy 6:10. a. It causes people to lie, steal, cheat, commit murder. b. It causes people to hope for the death of those leaving money to them as an inheritance. c. It corrupted the temple in Jerusalem. John 2:14; Matthew 21:12. d. It kept the rich young ruler from Jesus. This section has an alternate translation. a. “ Let your conversation be without covetousness.” b. Let your mind be free. The passage in all translations teaches us to avoid a covetous life. a. Men with money are sometimes possessed of it. b. Money only seems to bring contentment. Hebrews 13:5 --content with such things as ye havePaul gave us an example of this in his own life. a. In Philippians 4:12 he said he knew how to be abased. b. Paul gave up everything for Christ. It is not a destruction of ambition or legal endeavor as seen by other passages. See Romans 12:11 : “ In diligence not slothful,” Also Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:11. We are not to be like animals reaching across a fence for grass no greener than we deserve. Hebrews 13:5 --for Himself hath said, I will in no wise fail theeDeu_31:6 is probably the source of this quotation. a. Similar expressions are found in Joshua 1:5; 1 Chronicles 28:20. b. This, says Milligan, became a proverbial saying among the Hebrews because of its consolation. This is a sentiment expressed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 6:25-30. Hebrews 13:5 --neither will I in any wise forsake theeThis was conditional, however, for those who would not forsake God. a. Israel found God forsaking them in the day of provocation. b. We have no right to expect God to reward us for unfaithfulness. Jesus promised to be with us even unto the end of the world if we preach the Gospel. Matthew 28:18-20. Hebrews 13:6 --so that with good courage we say, The Lord is my Helper We may speak confidently that the Lord is our Helper. a. The word “ we” appears often in this book. b. We do not need to understand that Paul had an assistant author. c. Anyone who has faith can make the statement. “ The Lord is my helper” is an expression of faith. Psalms 118:6 is quoted, but observe that in the original Psalm it is translated, “ The Lord is on my side.” a. Milligan says this was one of the collection of hymns that was sung at the close of the feast of tabernacles. b. Paul expressed the same thought: “ If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31. Hebrews 13:6 --I will not fear: what shall man do unto me?This verse does not suggest that man will never do man bodily harm. a. David knew differently. b. Paul knew differently; so did these brethren, for they had been afflicted. The idea is, “ What can man do that God cannot undo?” a. Man can bring pain, but God will give us a body that knows no pain. b. Man can kill, but God can make alive. Hebrews 13:7 --remember them that had the rule over youThis very likely refers to such men as Stephen, James, the brother of John, and other faithful preachers. a. These men had preached the gospel to the Hebrews. b. Actually, it means “ those leading you.” Newell suggests that the Greek word means “ to go before,” which suggests it was their work, not an office. a. There were no bosses in the early church, such as Popes, etc. b. These men were leaders because of work. Hebrews 13:7 --men that spake unto you the Word of GodPaul once was spoken of as the chief speaker, Acts 14:12, and the same Greek word appears here. There were others who spoke. Acts 14:12 The elders also were responsible to speak. 1 Timothy 5:17; Acts 20:28-31. Hebrews 13:7 --and considering the issue of their lifeIn Greek, “ the manner of their life.” a. Blessed is a people who have a leader whose good life is worthy of consideration. b. These leaders had been unmoved in their hours of trial. c. Their lives were like Abraham of old— lived in faith. Something was to be learned from their leaders. Hebrews 13:7 --imitate their faithFaith— can it be imitated? a. It is all that should be imitated. b. Imitate faith, not mannerisms. c. Imitate their method with God. d. Imitate their reliance, confidence in God. In all other respects we must imitate God. Ephesians 5:1 : Imitation of God as beloved children. Study Questions2765. Characterize the 13th chapter. 2766. What may we assume characterized the Hebrew brethren by Hebrews 13:1? 2767. Does Hebrews 6:10-11 verify this? 2768. Did they major on the “ social gospel” and fall short in other respects? Cf. Hebrews 5:11. 2769. What verses in Acts show that the Hebrews loved one another? 2770. What did the Jerusalem church require of Paul at the Jerusalem Conference? 2771. What is meant by “ show love unto strangers” ? Is it possible? 2772. Were the Hebrews consistent in their love? 2773. Who would “ strangers” be? 2774. How would the Jews know who was meant? Cf. Leviticus 19:34. 2775. Compare 2 Peter 1:7, as it includes “ all men.” 2776. Is there any honor in loving those who love us? Cf. Matthew 5:43-46. 2777. Explain “ have entertained angels unawares.” 2778. Who could be included in the word “ some” ? 2779. Compare Genesis 18:2-10; Genesis 19:1-3. 2780. Who could be referred to as being “ in bonds” ? 2781. Had the Hebrews ever been in bonds? 2782. What is meant by, “ as bound with them” ? 2783. What would such identification do? 2784. Was cruelty, ill treatment, common in that day? 2785. What does the author teach concerning marriage? 2786. How do we know marriage is to be revered? 2787. What is meant by the word “ honor” ? 2788. Give other verses of scripture that speak of married conduct. Cf. Ephesians 5:22-27; 1 Corinthians 7:1-5. 2789. Does celibacy teach that marriage is honorable for all? 2790. Were the apostles married? 2791. What is meant by, “ God will judge” ? 2792. How serious a sin was adultery in the Old Testament? 2793. What is the difference between fornication and adultery? 2794. Is it serious today? 1 Corinthians 6:9; Revelation 2:22. 2795. How could Jesus allow remarriage in the case of adultery? 2796. If adulterers are not killed under our law, is it less serious with God now? 2797. Why are we exhorted to be free of the “ love of money” ? 2798. Show instances of corrupted people in the New Testament. 2799. What does love of money cause today? 2800. If it causes murder, jealousy, envy, thefts, kidnapping, etc., is it not a very dangerous sin? 2801. How is this verse translated by some? 2802. Is the meaning the same? 2803. Does contentment destroy ambition? 2804. What is our attitude to be toward our possessions or lack of them? 2805. Compare Paul in this regard. Philippians 4:12. 2806. Is this verse against ambition? Cf. Romans 12:11; Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:11. 2807. Where is this verse quoted? 2808. Did Jesus express this sentiment? 2809. What consolation does he give for those in need? 2810. Did God place any condition on it? 2811. Did He ever forsake the Hebrews? 2812. Did Jesus promise to be with us? Cf. Matthew 28:18-20. 2813. Does Hebrews 13:6 suggest a double authorship? 2814. How is the Lord our Helper? 2815. What may be the source of the expression, “ The Lord is on my side” ? 2816. Does this verse suggest that God will not allow man to suffer ill treatment? 2817. Can God undo everything that man does to the body? 2818. What is implied by “ remember” ? 2819. Who had the rule over them? 2820. Who are the rulers referred to in Hebrews 13:7? 2821. What seemed to constitute the rule? 2822. Were they leaders, or bosses? 2823. Who might they have seen? 2824. Who spoke the word in the early church? 2825. Besides remembering, what were they to consider? 2826. Define “ issue of their life.” 2827. What does he recommend to imitate? 2828. How can you imitate faith? Hebrews 13:8-16 TO IN AND ; AND TO AVOID BEING CARRIED AWAY FROM THE FAITH OF THE GOSPELHeb_13:8-16 Hebrews 13:8 ---Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to-day, and forever.—This expression is not in apposition with the phrase, “ the end of their conversation," as our translators seem to have thought, but a proposition on a wholly distinct and separate subject. The object of the Apostle is to lead and encourage his brethren not to be car­ried away from “ the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints," by various and strange doctrines; but to be firm and reso­lute in their Christian profession. And as the basis of his exhorta­tion and argument, he reminds them that Jesus Christ, the Leader and Perfecter of the faith, is himself the same yesterday, today, and forever, without even the shadow of change. (James 1: 17.) And as is the Leader, so also he insists should be his followers. Hebrews 13:9 ---Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.—The corrected reading of the critical note is more in harmony with the context, and is doubtless correct: “ Be not carried away by var­ious and strange doctrines." The admonition is general, and may refer to any doctrines, whether of Jewish or Gentile origin, that are inconsistent with the Doctrine of Christ, though the sequel shows that the former are particularly intended. The metaphor seems to be taken from a ship that is carried out of its course by means of violent winds. Hebrews 13:9 ---For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace;— That is, by means of the gracious truths and influences of the Gospel. This is good for us; and it is also good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; for being thus “ rooted and grounded in love, we are no longer liable to be tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14) ; but having a hope strong and steadfast “ reaching even into that within the vail,” we can with it, as an anchor of the soul, calmly smile on all the ills and misfortunes of life, knowing that we have in heaven for ourselves a better and enduring posses­sion. This confirmation of the heart, then, by the grace of God, gives us stability of character, fixedness of purpose, consolation in our misfortunes, and makes us like Christ, kind, gentle, and benev­olent to all. Hebrews 13:9 ---not with meats,—What meats? Those offered in sacrifice, and of which the worshipers were allowed to partake, say Bleek, Lune- mann, Macknight, Scott, Clarke, and some others: those which were distinguished as clean and unclean merely as articles of food, say Calvin, Tholuck, Delitzsch, Alford, and most other commenta­tors. But why make any such distinction as the above? For my own part I see no propriety in doing so. That certain portions of certain sacrifices were allowed to be eaten by certain persons, is plain from such passages as Leviticus 6:26-30 Leviticus 7:11-15, etc. These rules were still rigidly observed and enforced by the Jewish Rab­bis; and there was therefore danger that the judaizing party among the Hebrew Christians would succeed in blending these “ divers and strange doctrines” with the plain and simple rules of the Christian religion. And it is equally obvious that, on the other hand, the same judaizing party were then busily engaged in sowing the seeds of discord among the churches, with regard to clean and unclean meats. (Romans 14.) It was therefore necessary that the Apostle should, as far as possible, correct all such mistakes about meats and drinks, and other carnal ordinances which had been im­posed on the people till the time of reformation; but which never did and never could make anyone perfect, so far as respects his moral consciousness. And consequently those who walked in them were not profited by them. See notes on Hebrews 9:9-10. Against all such doctrines, therefore, in reference to meats and drinks, Paul here earnestly cautions the Hebrew brethren. For as he says to the Romans, “ The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17.) Hebrews 13:10 ---We have an altar, etc.— Two queries naturally arise with regard to this verse. First, what is meant by the word altar? and second, what connection has this verse with what precedes and with what follows ?In reply to the first, it is alleged (1) that the word altar in this connection represents no definite object whatever; but that the Apostle uses it merely for the sake of the imagery, so as to give consistency to th*e figurative expressions which he here employs (Michaelis, Tholuck) ; (2) that it means Christ himself (Suicer, Wolf); (3) that it means the Lord’ s Table (Bohme, Ebrard); (4) that it denotes the heavenly place on which Christ now offers the virtue of his own blood to the Father for us (Bretschneider) ; (5) that it means the cross on which Christ was crucified (Delitzsch, Alford) ; and (6) that it signifies the Divine nature of Christ on which his human nature is supposed to have been offered, and by means of which it was sanctified and made available. To me it seems evident that the altar is here used by metonymy for Christ himself, who was sacrificed for us; so that to partake of this altar is simply to partake of the sacrifice of Christ. So Paul reasons in reference to the sacrifices of the Old Economy. “ Behold Israel,” he says, “ after the flesh: are not they who eat of the sacrifices partak­ers of the altar?” (1 Corinthians 10:18.) And again he says, “ Do ye not know that they who minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they who wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?” (1 Corinthians 9:13.) To eat of the altar is therefore manifestly to eat of the sacrifice which is offered on the altar. And that the sac­rifice in this case was the sacrifice of Christ, is evident from the context, as well as from many parellel passages. See, for example, John 6:53-55. Of this sacrifice, they have no right to eat who serve the Tabernacle. For they who would partake of it must do so in faith (John 6:47 John 20:31; Acts 16:31) ; but those Jews who served the Tabernacle, did not of course believe in Jesus as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world; and con­sequently they had no right to partake of his sacrifice. This, then, will enable us to understand readily the proper import of the second query, touching the connection of this verse with what precedes and follows. The Jews boasted of their exclu­sive right to partake of their own consecrated sacrifices. This doubtless made a strong and deep impression on the minds of some of the weaker brethren; and they were in this way in danger of being misled by the false teachings of the judaizing party. But as an offset to all their vain speculations about meats and drinks, and carnal ordinances, Paul here reminds his brethren, that we Christians have also our exclusive rights and privileges; that we too have a sacrifice of which to partake as well as the Jews; a sac­rifice of infinite value, and which is quite sufficient to satisfy the desires of all who lawfully partake of it. From this, however, the unbelieving Jews were all debarred according to their own ritual, as our author now proceeds to show. Hebrews 13:11 ---For the bodies of those beasts, etc.— The point made by the Apostle is simply this; the Jews were not allowed to eat the flesh of any sin-offering whose blood was carried into the Sanctu­ary by the High Priest. The flesh of all such victims had to be car­ried without the camp, and there consumed by fire. “ No sin-offer­ing,” says Moses, “ whereof any of the blood is brought into the Tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the Holy Place, shall be eaten; it shall be burnt in the fire.” (Leviticus 6:30.) According to this law, then, as the Apostle now goes on to show, the Jews, as Jews, were all prohibited from partaking of the sacri­fice of Christ. Hebrews 13:12 ---Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people, etc.— To suffer without the gate was the same as to suffer without the camp; for Jerusalem was then the metropolis and camp of Is­rael. And as the blood of Jesus was taken by himself into the heavenly Sanctuary to make an atonement for the people, so also, according to the law of the sin-offering, it was necessary that he should bear our sins on his own body without the camp. All therefore who would partake of the benefits of his sacrifice, must do so without the gate. They must forsake the camp of Israel, leaving Judaism behind them, and take upon them the reproach of Jesus, if they would be made partakers of the benefits of his death. Hebrews 13:13 ---Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp,— Since it is true, that Jesus himself voluntarily suffered for our sake, without the gate of Jerusalem, all the pain, shame, and reproach of the cross; and since it is furthermore true that his sacrifice is really the only one that can meet and satisfy the wants and desires of our souls, let us therefore courageously follow him without the pale of Jerusalem, which is but as it were a temporary camp that will soon be broken up; and let us manfully bear the reproach of Christ whatever it may be. This he now proceeds to show will result in much gain and but little loss to us. Hebrews 13:14 ---For here we have no continuing city,—It is vain to seek refuge in Jerusalem which, according to prophecy, will soon be­come a heap of ruins (Matthew 24) ; and in no other city on Earth, can we find a secure and permanent habitation. But if we leave Je­rusalem with all its errors and corruptions, and follow Christ with­out the gate, we will thereby secure for ourselves a place in the heavenly Jerusalem, the city which hath the foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God. See notes on 11: 10, 16. “ If then ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye.” (1 Peter 4:14.) Hebrews 13:15 ---By him therefore let us offer, etc.—Instead of falling back to Judaism, and offering sacrifices required by the Law, let us rather through (dia) Jesus, as the great High Priest of our confes­sion, offer to God continually the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiv­ing. For as Peter says to the strangers scattered throughout Pon- tus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, we are all “ living stones, built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer upspiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5.) The sacrifice of praise in our text has reference partic­ularly to the voluntary peace and thank offerings of the Law. (Leviticus 7:11-25.) To these allusion is also frequently made in the Psalms of David. In Psalms 50:14, for example, Jehovah says to Israel, “ Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the Most High.” And in the twenty-third verse of the same beautiful ode, he says, “ Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me; and to him that or- dereth his conversation aright, I will show the salvation of God.” Hebrews 13:16 ---But to do good, etc.— It is not enough to praise God with our lips; we should also honor him with our substance, by doing good to all men as he gives us opportunity. We should, as far as in us lies, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, instruct the ignorant, and assist in converting the world to Christ. There seems to be a proneness in our selfish nature to neglect these practical duties, and hence the exhortation not to forget them. Imitate Christ who went about doing good. (Acts 10:38.) Hebrews 13:16 ---for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.—Such sacrifices are pleasing to God (1) because they are in harmony with his own nature and administration. He opens his hand liberally, and sup­plies the wants of every living thing. (Psalms 145:16.) (2) Be­cause they indicate in us a state of mind and heart, that is well pleasing in his sight; provided they proceed from proper motives. And hence on the day of judgment, our characters will be tested by this law of benevolence. (Matthew 25:34-35.) And (3) because they are of benefit to others. A very great change would soon be wrought in society, if all Christians would but act faithfully as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Commentary on Hebrews 13:8-16 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_13:8 --Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yea and forever Jesus Christ is the same, for there is no need for him to change. a. He is the same in His love and His saving power. b. The Christ that sits at God’ s right hand is as immutable as the Father Who promised Abraham. Yesterday He came from the Father to do the will of God and finished it, Today He serves as Priest before God on man’ s behalf. a. He has not changed in His attitude toward sin. b. He hates evil and loves man as always. c. Some try to define the time element, when today began, but this is beside the point. “ Yea and forever” refers to the ages. a. This is for the eternity to come. b. Change with us is constant, but our Lord is wonderfully perfect. c. Perfection cannot change for the better. Hebrews 13:9 --Be not carried away by divers and strange teachingsThe Christian has Christ Who is unchanging truth; therefore, He should avoid all other teachings. a. Those who have latter day revelations always conflict with other latter day teachers as well as with the scripture. b. God’ s revealed Word is able to furnish us completely, so what more can a strange teaching do? See 2 Timothy 3:15-17. If we are anchored in Christ we will not be carried like a ship into a sea of false doctrine, with waves of error. Paul warns about winds of doctrines. Ephesians 4:14. Hebrews 13:9 --for it is good that the heart be established by graceThe heart of man by the grace of God may be established. a. This is in contrast to the worldly ones who are drifting, shifting, to one pleasure, doctrine, etc. b. Strange doctrines, foreign to the truth, will never establish one. This verse suggests the anchoring of the soul, as seen in Chapter Six. Hebrews 13:9 --not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.This refers to the meats used in sacrifices, which no longer is a method for atonement. a. Christ was the perfect Sacrifice, made once and for all, so no other sacrifice is needed. b. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, says Paul in Romans 14:17. Only one sacrifice profits the sinner, and that is Christ’ s. Hebrews 13:10 --We have an altarWhat is our altar? Several opinions are listed here. a. Some say that this is a general statement, and no particular thing is meant. It is only imagery. b. Christ is the altar, some say. c. Others suggest the Lord’ s table. d. Some say the heavenly place where Christ offers the virtue of His own blood. e. The cross on which Christ was crucified is suggested. f. It signifies the divine nature of Christ on which the human nature is supposed to have been offered. g. One suggests it refers to the one in the old tabernacle. Christ is in no place called an altar, neither is the cross. a. The altar was the place where the victim was placed, so what could be referred to but the cross? b. It is the cross where blood was shed for the remission of our sins. c. Very likely he does not refer to the Christian at all. The author is referring to an Old Testament altar, for the next expression has no meaning otherwise. Hebrews 13:10 --whereof they have no right to eat that which serve the tabernacle.If the altar was the Lord’ s table, this would be a good proof for closed communion. This is an allusion to the Old Testament custom. a. Those who served the tabernacle could eat of the sacrifices. b. The exception was on the Day of Atonement. The bodies which gave the blood carried into the Holy of holies were burned without the camp. See Leviticus 6:26; Leviticus 6:30; Leviticus 4:7; Leviticus 4:18; Leviticus 4:21; Leviticus 16:15; Leviticus 16:27-28. These animals were not eaten for meat as were others. Hebrews 13:11 --For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned without the camp.Other animals were consumed for food. See 1 Corinthians 9:13; 1 Corinthians 10:18. The great sacrifice on the Day of Atonement was burned outside the camp. Leviticus 16:27. Hebrews 13:12 --Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered without the gateJesus was not offered in the temple at Jerusalem, but outside the city wall. a. His blood was taken into the heavenly sanctuary, so He fits the type completely except for the burning. b. The burning had nothing to do with the atonement, for it is the blood that atones. Those who retain the old sacrifice in preference to this of Christ lose the sanctification in Christ’ s blood. Hebrews 13:13 --Let us therefore go forth unto HimGoing is our responsibility; the sacrifice awaits. We must leave the tabernacle to follow Jesus Christ. a. If no atonement is in the blood of bulls and goats, why stay in the shadow of the tabernacle? b. Out on the hill of Calvary is the place for the sinner to go. Hebrews 13:13 --without the camp.The types of Hebrews are those of the tabernacle, and this alludes to the sacrifice without the camp. Newell says “ it refers to all those religious developments by whatever name called. It reveals where Christ is and His followers are, as to this world and its religions.” Christ went out of the city of Jerusalem to be sacrificed. This is nearer the truth than Newell’ s idea. Hebrews 13:13 --bearing His reproachThe Christian is not promised an easy time, but reproach should be expected. a. It is prophesied, 2 Timothy 3:12, by Paul. b. Jesus said it would come to His disciples. John 16:2. The first Christian martyr suffered for the reproach of Christ outside the city. Hebrews 13:14 --for we have not here an abiding cityIf we stay in Jerusalem, it will be dissolved like all the world. 2 Peter 3:8-13; Matthew 24, We must turn our eyes from our cities, for they are only temporary. Something Paul had in mind, the destruction of Jerusalem, which came about nine years afterward. Hebrews 13:14 --but we seek after the city which is to comeRevelation speaks of that city. Revelation 21. Peter speaks of it in 2 Peter 3:8-13. The author has previously spoken of it in Hebrews 11:10; Hebrews 11:16. Hebrews 13:15 --Through Him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continuallyInstead of frequent sacrifices like the Jew, let us offer our sacrifice through Jesus Christ. a. We need no order of priests who blasphemously undertake to do that work for men which Christ has done. b. This sacrifice is praise to God, not a begging for a forgiveness. Peter comments on the Christian’ s sacrifice, 1 Peter 2:5. “ Continually” is a good word. The kingdom of Christ has no sacred days or season, no special sanctuaries, for God is approached always through Christ. “ Sacrifice of praise” most men feel alludes to the Levitical term for thank-offering. See Leviticus 7:12; Leviticus 7:15. Hebrews 13:15 --that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to His name Whose name? a. We praise God continually, so a confession is surely in order. b. Many verses suggest confessing Christ, so likely His name is meant here. Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10. In a world pressing on to judgment, glorying in men, let us rejoice, praise God, for who would want to neglect so great a salvation? Hebrews 13:16 --But to do good and to communicate forget notDoing good, helping others, will come naturally with a life of continual praise. See Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:6; Hebrews 6:10; Psalms 50:23. Jesus set the proper example before us, for he went about doing good. Acts 10:38. This is an essential factor in salvation. Matthew 25:34-46. Hebrews 13:16 --for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. There are three reasons why it is pleasing: a. God works in harmony with God’ s nature. b. It indicates a good state of mind. c. It is beneficial to others. If we wish to sacrifice to God, we must pray to God and serve our fellow man. Study Questions2829. How can Jesus be considered the same always? 2830. Has He changed in character? 2831. Has His work changed? 2832. What are the three time elements named? 2833. Why is the author declaring this great truth? 2834. Were the changing Hebrews being challenged to follow the unchanging Christ? 2835. If perfection were changed, what would be its condition? 2836. If Christ is Truth, what results when people follow other teachers? 2837. What is meant by “ carried away” ? 2838. What is meant by “ divers” ? 2839. Why do people go to strange doctrines? 2840. Are such warnings few in the Word of God? 2841. What will keep a person from drifting into strange doctrines? 2842. What is meant by “ established” ? 2843. In what should we be established? 2844. How can grace do it? 2845. What is it that is to be established? 2846. Could the establishing idea be similar to the anchoring referred to in Chapter Six? 2847. What does the author say that cannot establish us? 2848. What is meant by meats? 2849. If Christ’ s sacrifice is sufficient, is there further need for sacrifices? 2850. What is meant by “ occupied themselves” ? 2851. Who may be referred to by the expression, “ occupied themselves” ? 2852. State some explanations for the expression, “ we have an altar.” 2853. What is our altar? Who is meant by “ our” ? 2854. Could he be pointing out the weakness of the Jewish altar – rather than suggesting a Christian altar? 2855. Give weaknesses of each. 2856. Who could eat what? 2857. What tabernacle is referred to? 2858. Could the priests eat the sacrifices? 2859. When could they not eat? 2860. Could he be saying, “ They who serve earthly tabernacles have no right to the Christian’ s altar” ? 2861. What was done with animals sacrificed on the Day of Atonement that differed from sacrifices on other days? 2862. What is meant by, “ without the camp” ? 2863. Do we have any clue for this request? 2864. Is our sacrifice eaten? 2865. Show the similarities between the Old Testament sin offering and our sin offering. 2866. What is meant by, “ suffered without the gate” ? 2867. Where was Jesus offered? 2868. Where was His blood taken? 2869. Give scriptures that teach that His blood was considered to be taken into heaven. 2870. Does the burning of the Old Testament type serve as a type of Christ? 2871. Did the burning have anything to do with the sacrifice? 2872. Where does he exhort the Christians to go? 2873. Can we have the merit if we do not go? 2874. Do we go to the tabernacle or to the hill of Calvary? 2875. What camp is referred to? 2876. Explain “ bearing His reproach.” 2877. Can we ever bear reproaches? 2878. Did Jesus prophesy reproaches for His followers? 2879. What city is referred to? 2880. Do you think he refers specifically to the city of Jerusalem? 2881. Was he prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem? 2882. Is he speaking of Jews here as in Hebrews 13:7 when he says we have an altar? 2883. What will happen to any city of the world according to II Peter? 2884. How soon was Jerusalem destroyed after this text? 2885. Identify the city to come. What do we know about it? 2886. Who is meant by the expression “ by Him” ? 2887. How can we offer up sacrifices? 2888. Do we need an earthly priest? 2889. What kind of a sacrifice are we to offer? 2890. Is this to be periodic? 2891. Is this room for complaint in this sacrifice? 2892. For what should we praise God? 2893. Could it allude to the Levitical thank offering? Leviticus 7:12; Leviticus 7:152894. What is to be the fruit of our lives? 2895. Whose Name is to be confessed? 2896. What part does confession have in the praise? 2897. Should we consider confession of faith as a step of salvation never to be taken again? 2898. Will we have time to glory in men if we are praising God as we should? 2899. Who is our great example in doing good? 2900. Will this be natural for us if we are Christ-like? 2901. Compare other verses, such as Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:6; Hebrews 6:10. 2902. Is it essential to salvation? See Matthew 25:34-46. 2903. What do you understand by “ communicate” ? 2904. What does he conclude about this kind of service? 2905. Has he stated that service is twofold— one to God and one to others? Hebrews 13:17-19 OUR DUTIES TO THE AND OTHER PUBLIC OF THE CHURCH Hebrews 13:17-19 Hebrews 13:17 ---Obey them that have the rule over you,—(tois hegoumenois hutnon) your leaders. These were the Elders or Overseers of the Church, to whom were committed (1) the duty of instructing the members; and (2) the duty of watching over and governing them. So we learn from many passages in the New Testament. In the twentieth chapter of Acts, for instance, Paul says to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus, “ Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit hath made you Overseers, to feed the Church of God (tou kuriou, the Lord) which he hath pur­chased with his own blood. For I know that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember that by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:28-31.) So also in his first Epistle to Timothy, the same Apostle says, “ Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in word and doctrine.” (1 Timothy 5:17.) Compare also 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; James 5:14-15; 1 Peter 5:1-4. Hebrews 13:17 ---and submit yourselves:— That is, submit to them so far as they teach and rule according to the Oracles of God. The obliga­tions of the Church and of her officers, are mutually binding. If it is the duty of the Elders to teach, it is also manifestly the duty of the other members of the Church to receive their lawful instruc­tions ; and if it is the duty of the former to rule, it is equally the duty of the latter to submit to all their acts of discipline which are not in violation of the law of Christ. Hebrews 13:17 ---for they watch for your souls,—This is a charge of fearful re­sponsibility. “ They watch for your souls as they that must give account!” “ When I say to the wicked,” says God in his instructions to Ezekiel, “ thou shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness and commit iniq­uity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him [by allowing him to be severely tried, as was Abraham, Genesis 22:1-19], he shall die; because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sins, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, he shall surely live; also thou hast delivered thy soul.” (Ezekiel 3:18-21.) Not un­like this is the solemn charge which Christ has given to every shepherd of his flock. (Acts 20:28.) And hence the solemn admo­nition which is here given to all the members: Obey your leaders, and submit yourselves to their instruction and government; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account of their stewardship. It is no trifling matter, then, to watch over the flock of Christ, which he has purchased with his own blood. How few Pastors are doing this as they should; and how few of the members of the flock have yet learned what it is to submit practi­cally to their instruction and government. Hebrews 13:17 ---that they may do it with joy, and not with grief:— Those who under God “ turn many to righteousness,” and who succeed in leading them to the end in the way of holiness, will of course ren­der their final account with joy; but those who, though faithful themselves, have the misfortune to see many of their flock perish by the way, will do this with grief. And hence John says, “ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4) ; and hence alsb Paul earnestly exhorts his Thessalonian brethren to be faithful even to the end. “ For what,” he says, “ is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and our joy.” (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20.) Hebrews 13:17 ---for that is unprofitable for you.— That is, that your Pastors and Teachers should have to render their final account concerning you with grief. This would be even a greater misfortune to you than to them. As, therefore, your griefs in that event would be mutual, see to it that on the contrary your joys may be mutual. Hebrews 13:18 ---Pray for us:— It is not enough that you obey your rulers, and submit to those who are directly over you in the Lord; you should also remember us the Apostles and Evangelists who have gone out from you to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. Hebrews 13:18 ---for we trust we have a good conscience,— Our admonitions to you, and our opposition to Judaism, proceed from no selfish or sin­ister motives: but simply from a desire to discharge conscien­tiously the duties which God has imposed on us with regard to both Jews and Gentiles; wishing in all things to act honestly in the sight of God. Hence we claim an interest in your prayers. Hebrews 13:19 ---But I beseech you, etc.— From this, in connection with the preceding verse, it is evident (1) that the writer of this Epistle was known to the persons addressed; (2) that he had been for­merly with them, not necessarily as one of their Pastors, but in some respects as a co-worker; (3) that he was anxious to see them again, but was then prevented from doing so by some hindrances unknown to us; and (4) that he felt well assured that through the prayers of the Hebrew brethren in his behalf, these hindrances would be removed, and that he would be restored to them the sooner. This, then, is a beautiful commentary on the efficacy of prayer; and it should encourage us to pray always for the success and welfare of all those who are laboring to convert the world to Christ, and to educate the converts for Heaven. For “ this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything accord­ing to his will he heareth us.” (1 John 5:14.) “ Ask [then] and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Matthew 7:7.) Commentary on Hebrews 13:17-19 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_13:17 --Obey them that have the rule over youBeyond any question, this is spiritual rule, for “ watch over souls” suggests this. a. Rulers no doubt refers to rulers in the church for it is unlikely that Christian magistrates existed in government. b. Good elders, no doubt, are meant, for elders are to rule. Acts 20:28-31; 1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; James 5:14-15; 1 Peter 5:1-4. Hebrews 13:7 indicates former rulers had passed on, and now present rulers are to be obeyed. If elders are qualified, the members will be glad to obey. Hebrews 13:17 --and submit to themSubmission rather than resistance, rebellion, and strife is enjoined. a. A church can’ t go forward with elders going in one direction and the membership trying to go another. b. Of course not every elder is qualified to rule. Many problems arise when churches carelessly elect unqualified leaders and then refuse to follow, or follow carelessly. Hebrews 13:17 --for they watch in behalf of your soulsThis pictures the ideal ruler. Paul told the Ephesian elders what to expect of false teachers who would seek to destroy the flock. Acts 20:29. The care of souls is a sacred trust. Hebrews 13:17 --as they shall give account This makes it serious. a. James 3:1 : “ Be not many of you teachers” is a serious warning. b. Ezekiel 3:18-21 suggests the watchman must give account. Hebrews 13:17 --that they may do this with joyIt is a joy to be a leader of a devoted church. a. See 3 John 1:4. John expressed it, “ There is no greater joy.” b. Paul urges the Thessalonians to be faithful, for they were his joy. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20. There should be no joy in our heart if we stand in the way of joy in the heart of a righteous elder. Hebrews 13:17 --and not with griefGrief, sorrow, heartache should not be brought on by Christian people into the lives of men who have the care of souls. If the Jerusalem church had different sentiments about the efficacy of the Levitical sacrifices, no doubt much grief was had or would be experienced. Hebrews 13:17 --for this were unprofitable for youThis rather suggests that evil would come upon troublemakers. a. Note that strife, contention, etc., are named among the fruits of the flesh, Galatians 5:17-21. b. Division is condemned in 1 Corinthians 1:10. It would no doubt be more unfortunate for the trouble-maker than the troubled one. No reward from God is in store for the troubler. Hebrews 13:18 --Pray for us: for weWho is “ us” ? a. Many apostles and evangelists were known by the Hebrews, and they should pray for them. b. With four commentaries before me, no one suggests who might be included, except Milligan who suggests the above. A request for prayer is common with Paul. Ephesians 6:18-19; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Romans 15:30; 2 Corinthians 1:11; Philemon 1:22. Hebrews 13:18 --are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all good thingsThe integrity of his own conscience is used to move them to feel an interest in him. “ Persuaded,” Calvin feels, suggests modesty. The author’ s desire to live righteously in all things called for their help. Hebrews 13:19 --And I exhort you the more exceedingly to do thisThis is an urgent request by one who knew they knew his needs. The faith the man had in prayer here shows that he felt God was able to act providentially on behalf of man. Hebrews 13:19 --that I may be restored to you the soonerThis suggests that troubles, persecution, or perhaps imprisonment detained him. Timothy’ s difficulty, Hebrews 13:23, may be the factor that kept the author from being in their midst. Was Paul ever a part of the Hebrew brethren? a. This verse suggesting “ restoration” challenges Pauline authorship for me. b. Paul generally is associated with Antioch and Gentiles.Study Questions2906. What rulers are referred to in this verse? How do you know? 2907. If elders are of the right kind, should we not expect to obey them? 2908. Whose fault is it if rulers do not watch after souls? 2909. What verses teach us that elders are to rule? 2910. What would be the opposite of “ submit” ? 2911. Why should we submit to them? 2912. Would unqualified men watch over souls? 2913. Should elders take their work lightly? Cf. Ezekiel 3:18-21. 2914. Is there joy for the faithful shepherd? 2915. How did John feel about it? 3 John 1:4. 2916. Did Paul have joy in his concern? 2917. Is much of the grief in a church brought on by believers who are not wholly consecrated? 2918. Are trouble-makers in the church condemned by scripture? 2919. Are there trouble-makers who do right? Is the Christian to keep silent under all circumstances? 2920. “ Pray for us” refers to whom? 2921. How does this knock the authorship anonymous theory? 2922. Is it possible to live honorably in all evil things? 2923. How may we live righteously or honorably? 2924. How does the restoration of the author affect Pauline authorship? 2925. Was Paul ever a part of the fellowship of the Hebrew brethren? Hebrews 13:20-21 AN EARNEST AND IN BEHALF OF THE Heb_13:20-21 Heb 13:20 ---Now the God of peace,— God is here called “ the God of peace,” because all peace comes from him through Jesus Christ, who is himself “ The Prince of peace.” (Isaiah 9:6.) The propriety of so designating “ the Father of mercies” will be manifest when it is remembered that at the time of writing this Epistle, the Churches of Judea were threatened with many dangers, both from within and from without. Hebrews 13:20 ---that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,— The res­urrection of Christ is often ascribed to God the Father in the Holy Scriptures. See references. By raising him from the dead, God acknowledged him as his only-begotten Son (Romans 1:4), and thus publicly demonstrated to the world that he was the promised Messiah of whom all the ancient Prophets had spoken (Acts 3:24). “ This is the only passage,” says Delitzsch, “ in which*the au­thor mentions the resurrection. [He means, of course, the res­urrection of Christ: see Hebrews 11:35. Everywhere else he lifts his eyes from the depths of our Lord’ s humiliation, passing over all that is intermediate, to the highest point of his exaltation. The connection here suggests to him once at least to make mention of that which lay between Golgotha and the throne of God, between the altar of the cross and the heavenly Sanctuary, the resurrection of him who died as a sin-offering for us.” Hebrews 13:20 ---that great Shepherd of the sheep,— The Apostle had before spoken of the under shepherds of the flock (Hebrews 13:17) and had en­joined obedience to them in all their lawful endeavors to edify the Church. Most appropriately, therefore, does he here call Christ himself the “ great Shepherd of the sheep.” To him both the under shepherds and the flock are alike responsible, purchased as they have been by his own blood. “ I am the good Shepherd,” says Christ; “ the good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11.) Every word in this benedictory prayer is well chosen, and serves to impress on our hearts more and more deeply the sen­timents that have been inculcated. Hebrews 13:20 ---through the blood of the everlasting covenant,—(en hat- mati) in the blood, or by virtue of the blood of the everlasting cov­enant. The New Covenant is here called “ the everlasting Cove­nant" in contrast with the Old Covenant which was then abrogated (see notes on Hebrews 8:13) ; and the blood of this Covenant is the blood of Christ by means of which the Covenant was itself ratified. (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:23.) But what is the meaning and bear­ing of this clause ? Does it stand connected with what precedes, or with what follows? Did God bring Christ from the dead and con­stitute him the great Shepherd of the sheep, by virtue of this blood? Or is it simply the wish and prayer of the Apostle that God would perfect the Hebrews by virtue of this blood ? The lat­ter view is taken by A. Clarke and a few others; but Delitzsch, Alford, and most other commentators justly support the former. Many of them, indeed, very unwarrantably limit the meaning of this phrase; some to the word great, implying that Christ’ s great­ness as a Shepherd was owing to the shedding of his blood (Ebrard) ; and some to the words “the great shepherd of the sheep,” meaning that he was made a Shepherd of the sheep by vir­tue of the shedding of his blood (Liinemann, Moll). But all such restrictions are unnatural and arbitrary. The meaning of the pas­sage fairly construed is manifestly and simply this; that by virtue of the blood of Christ, God raised him from the dead, and consti­tuted him the great Shepherd of the sheep. The resurrection of Christ was the first in that series of triumphs which will result in the overthrow of Satan and the destruction of his works; all of which will be effected “ by virtue of the blood of the everlasting covenant." For what but the efficacy of this blood could remove even from our blessed Savior that load of assumed guilt and re­sponsibility, which ruptured his great heart, and crushed him down even into the dark chambers of death ? See note on Hebrews 5:7. Manifestly it was the flowing of that blood from the heart of our Redeemer, which enabled God, as the righteous Sovereign of the universe, to raise Christ from the dead, and through him to offer salvation to all penitent believers. In this view of the matter only, can we comprehend the meaning of Jesus when he says, “ I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened till it be ac­complished.” (Luke 12:50.) Hebrews 13:21 ---Make you perfect in every good work—The word ren­dered make perfect (katartizo) means properly to make quite ready, to put in order, to make complete. Here, it means so to adjust, strengthen, and rectify the powers of the soul, as to thor­oughly fit and prepare it for God’ s service. The Apostle saw among the Hebrew brethren lamentable evidence of mental, moral, social, and religious derangement. And he, therefore, earnestly prays that the God of all peace and order, who brought Jesus back from the dead, and so eminently qualified him for his work, would also through him fit and prepare them for doing his whole will, working in them by his Spirit, and by his truth “ both to will and to do of his own good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13.) Hebrews 13:21 ---to whom be glory forever and ever.— This relative clause is by many expositors, as Calvin, Bleek, and Tholuck, referred to Jesus Christ; but others, as Bengel, Delitzsch, and Alford, more properly refer it to God the Father. Doctrinally, it may refer ei­ther to God (Romans 16:27), or to Christ (2 Peter 3:18); but grammatically, it refers properly to God, whose agency fills the whole sentence, and whose glory is, therefore, uppermost in the mind of the Apostle. Commentary on Hebrews 13:20-21 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_13:20 --Now the God of peaceIsa_9:6 speaks of Christ as “ Prince of Peace.” All peace comes from God through Jesus Christ. This expression comes only from Paul. See Philippians 4:9; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Romans 16:20; Romans 15:33; 2 Corinthians 13:11 : 1 Thessalonians 5:23. Hebrews 13:20 --Who brought again from the deadThis is true of God, even though Jesus said He would raise Himself up. John 10:18. The resurrection of Jesus was a bodily resurrection, for no proof can be given of any other kind. See Romans 6:4; Acts 13:30. Hebrews 13:20 --the great shepherd of the sheepWe have a great shepherd. Are we great sheep? This title is given for two reasons. a. Ezekiel 34:23 prophesies him as such. b. Jesus claimed this title. John 10:11. Other shepherds who lay down their life for their sheep cannot be brought back alive to the sheep. Hebrews 13:20 --with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord JesusThe word “ with” here is a problem. a. It is translated “ by,” “ in,” and “ through.” b. Calvin prefers “ in,” saying, “ Christ so arose from the dead that his death was not yet abolished, but that it retains its efficacy forever, as though he had said, ‘ God raised up His Own Son,’ but in such a way that the blood He shed once for all in His death is efficacious after His resurrection . . .” Commentators question whether this phrase goes with what appears before or after. The Lord is the great Shepherd by shedding His blood and yet being alive now to act. Hebrews 13:21 --make you perfect in every good thingThis is a benedictive prayer. God seeks to make us perfect in good things, and Christ is a perfect example. If we follow the great Shepherd, we will be led to perfection. Hebrews 13:21 --to do His willPerfection cannot be attained in any other will. No work is acceptable unless it is in harmony with the will of God. Hebrews 13:21 --working in us“ Us is also translated “ you.” Ephesians 3:20 shows God able to work surprises in us. God has no hands but our hands to do His work today, and through us He can accomplish His will. Hebrews 13:21 --that which is well pleasing in His sightPhp_2:13 is a good commentary here on God’ s part. Romans 12:2 suggests our part. Hebrews 13:21 --through Jesus ChristTwo senses are possible here; a. Working through Jesus Christ. b. Well-pleasing through Jesus Christ. Nothing is acceptable unto God except that it be through Christ. Hebrews 13:21 --to Whom be the glory for ever and ever, Amen.There is no room for bragging in the church, for all power is of God. Grammatically, says Milligan, glory goes to God here; but doctrinally, it may refer to both God and Christ, as seen by Romans 16:27 and 2 Peter 3:18. Study Questions2926. What is “ exhortation” ? 2927. Who is the Great Shepherd of Heb 13:20? 2928. Name some verses that identify God as a God of peace. 2929. Is the sacrifice of Christ an attempt of God to bring peace to men? 2930. Is Jesus ever spoken of as a “ shepherd” ? 2931. Whose blood is spoken of in Hebrews 13:20? 2932. What is meant by, “ eternal covenant” ? 2933. Does Paul expect perfection on the part of the Hebrews? 2934. Do we have an example of perfection? 2935. Through what person is perfection accomplished? 2936. Is perfection possible if we disregard Christ’ s commands? 2937. How does God work in us? 2938. What is required to live pleasing in His sight? 2939. Who is to receive glory in this verse? Hebrews 13:22-25 CLOSING REMARKSHeb_13:22-25 Hebrews 13:22 ---And I beseech you, brethren, suffer, etc.— The word ren­dered suffer (anechesthe) means to bear patiently with, to receive with feelings of kindness and forbearance; and “ the word of ex­hortation” is evidently the whole Epistle. By some, this is re­stricted to the thirteenth chapter (Beza) ; by others, to the last great division of the Epistle, embracing all from 10: 18 to the close (Grotius); and by others, to the many exhortations which are in­terspersed throughout the Epistle (Kuinoel). But most commen­tators, as Delitzsch, Alford, and Moll, more properly apply it to the entire Epistle; the whole of which being eminently hortatory is by the author delicately called a word of exhortation. In this, as in many other instances, we see the very delicate, gentle, and mas­terly touches of Paul’ s pen; who being himself the Apostle of the Gentiles, and somewhat estranged from his Hebrew brethren, deals with these as gently as the nature of the case will permit. Hebrews 13:22 ---for I have written a letter unto you in few words.— That is, in few words considering the importance and magnitude of the subjects discussed. He might have said much more on these mo­mentous themes; but owing, perhaps, to the known prejudices of his brethren, he preferred making his communication as brief as possible: and this he assigns as a reason why they should receive and consider it kindly. Hebrews 13:23 ---Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty;— The Greek word for know (ginoskete) may be rendered either in­dicatively or imperatively: “ You know that our brother Timothy has been set free; in company with whom, should he come speed­ily, I will see you” (T. S. Green) ; or “ Know that our brother Timotheus is dismissed; with whom, if he come soon, I will see you” (Alford). Most commentators, however, justly as I think, pre­fer the latter. The word rendered “ set at liberty” (apolelumenon) may signify either that Timothy was dismissed from prison, or that he had been sent away on some special errand. The latter view is supported by Euthalius, Mill, and Lardner on the following grounds: (1) “ Because it appears from Phil. 2: 19-24, that Paul about this time purposed to send Timothy into Macedonia, with an order to return and bring him an account of the affairs of the brethren in that country; (2) because in none of Paul’ s Epistles written during his confinement in Rome, does he give the least in­timation of Timothy’ s having been imprisoned, although he was with Paul the greater part of the time, as appears from Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:1; and Philemon L.” In sentences so very brief and dis­connected, as are these closing remarks, it is sometimes impossible to avoid ambiguity: but it is a significant fact that the great major­ity of commentators from Chrysostom to Alford have preferred the former rendering of this passage. The historical circumstances of Timothy’ s imprisonment and release are, however, wholly un­known to us. “ This twenty-third verse,” as Delitzsch observes, “ exactly har­monizes with the idea that Paul was the author of the Epistle: for no one stood in closer relation to Timothy than Paul; and this re­lation became more and more intimate towards the close of the Apostle’ s life.” Hebrews 13:24 ---Salute all them that have the rule over you.— That is, your Pastors and Teachers. See note on verse 17. As if he had said, Present to them my kindest regards and best wishes. Christianity enjoins on us all the proper courtesies and amenities of life. It is, indeed, itself the very soul and marrow of all genu­ine politeness; and no one, therefore, who has been thoroughly converted to God, can any longer be a man of rough and boorish behavior. Hebrews 13:24 ---and all the saints.— That is, all within the limits of your ac­quaintance who are consecrated to Christ. See Acts 9:13-14 Acts 26:10; Romans 1:7-8, etc. Hebrews 13:24 ---They of Italy salute you.— From this expression, some have hastily inferred that when our author wrote this Epistle he could not have been in Italy; but that he must have been in some other place surrounded by Italians who had, perhaps been banished from Rome, like Aquila and Priscilla. (Acts 18:2.) But this inference is wholly unwarranted. “ They of Italy” (hoi apo tes Italias) were simply Italians, just as “ Jews of Thessalonica” (hoi apo tes Thes- salonikes Joudadoi) were natives or residents of that city. Whether they were then actually in Italy or out of it cannot be determined from the form of the expression. But as Delitzsch observes, “ If the author was then in Italy, and at the same time was not a native of Italy, he could not have selected any more appropriate designa­tion for the Italian Christians properly so-called.” Hebrews 13:25 ---Grace be with you all. Amen.— This is Paul’ s characteris­tic conclusion. See Romans 16:24; 1 Corinthians 16:23; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 6:18; Ephesians 6:24; Philippians 4:23; Colossians 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:18; 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 4:22; Titus 3:15; Philemon 1:25. The word grace (karis) means favor: but with the article before it, as in this instance (he karis) it commonly means in the New Testament the special and peculiar favor of God to his chil­dren ; that favor which supplies all that is good, and frees from all that is evil. No conclusion could therefore be more appropriate than is this beautiful and comprehensive benediction. The subscription, “ Written to the Hebrews front Italy to Timo­thy,” is postapostolic, and is manifestly incorrect for the following reasons: (1) it is inconsistent with what is said of Timothy in 13: 23. If Timothy was then absent from the place of writing, then how could he either write the letter or bear it to the Hebrews? (2) The forms of the subscription, like those of the title, vary very much both in the ancient versions and in the manuscripts. In D, M, L, M, there is no subscription whatever; in c, 17, it is sim­ply “ To the Hebrezvs;” in A, it is “ Written to the Hebrews from Rome;” and in the Syriac, Coptic, K, D, followed by the Textus Receptus, it is as above given in our English Version.1. Christianity is a practical system: a system which looks first to the life of the individual and then to the life of society (Hebrews 13:1-7). True, indeed, it has its theory, as every system of doctrine must have, but the tendency of every element of this Divine scheme of philanthropy is to practically elevate, purify, and ennoble human nature. Having first washed away the sins of the believer, and filled his soul with the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit, it now requires and enables him to love his brethren; to be kind and hospitable to strangers; to sympathize with all who are in afflic¬tion ; to avoid all uncleanness and covetousness; and to place his whole trust and confidence in God, feeling perfectly sure that all things will work together for good to those who do so. In this respect it is without a parallel in all the religious and philosophical systems of earth and time. No other scheme of religion has, like it, been found adequate to expel the evil demons of the human soul, and to make men willing and even anxious to glorify God by doing good to all men as they have opportunity.2. It must not be forgotten, however, that the power of the Christian Religion consists primarily in the nature and character of its doctrine (Hebrews 13:8-16). It reveals to us Jehovah as a God of infinite justice, who will not allow even the slightest departure from his law to pass with impunity, but who is withal so full of love and compassion that he gave his own dear Son for the re¬demption of our race. It reveals to us this Son as being in the very image of his Father, and yet as laying aside his robes of glory, assuming our nature, voluntarily tasting death for every man, sending his good Spirit to convict sinners, comfort saints, and help their infirmities. These are the gracious media through which God operates on the human soul so as to destroy its selfishness, and elevate its aspirations from the things of earth to the things of heaven. How important it is, then, that we maintain the faith of the Gospel as it was once for all delivered to the saints. Here, there should be no halting and no vacillating. In matters of opinion we may and we should bear and forbear with one another, as God in his infinite mercy bears with us. (Romans 14.) But faith is of a wholly different category. It admits of no compromise. Rob the Gospel, for instance, of the Divinity of Christ, or of the Scriptural doctrine of his atonement, and you at once rob it of its power to purify and govern the human soul. It is well then that “ the heart be established with grace and not with meats.”3. Let us beware of trusting too much in outward forms and ordinances (Hebrews 13:10-12). Men have always been prone to do this. Many of the Jews never looked beyond the type to the glo¬rious realities of the antitype. They lived and died in vainly trying to satisfy their souls with the mere shadows of God’ s grace; and consequently they never enjoyed even a foretaste of “ the heavenly gift.” And just so it is still with many who profess to be followers of Christ. They glory in the so-called “ sacraments” of the Chris¬tian religion, and talk much about “ baptismal regeneration,” “ the real presence,” and many other hallucinations that are equally vain and chimerical. Hut though intent upon ordinances, they have never even tasted of the bread and water of life. The ordinances of God are of course not to be despised or neglected. They are all divinely appointed means to the attainment of a divinely appointed end. They are the media through which God jxnirs into our hearts the rich treasures of his grace, which alone can satisfy the soul. The Lord’ s Supper, for example, is most admirably adapted to bring the soul into communion with Christ; but unless it really does so, and in this way makes us partakers of the bread of life, what does it profit? Baptism has also its advantages. It is well calculated to give us a realizing sense of our changed state and relations. But unless by introducing us "into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” it brings us into contact with that blood which cleanses from all sin, it profits us nothing. “ For as the body without the spirit is dead,” so the ordi¬nances of the Christian religion without its essence are dead also.4. Christians have been constituted a kingdom of priests to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God, and to serve as his ministers of mercy in doing good to all men (Hebrews 13:15-16). In this respect, as well as in everything else, we should as far as possible imitate Christ our Exemplar. We cannot, of course, like him, make an atonement for sin; but like him we can offer to God continually a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, and like him we can assist in doing good— in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, instructing the ignorant, and preaching the Gospel to the poor, many of whom are even now perishing in the region and shadow of death. Why, then, are we not all more diligent in the work of our high and holy calling? Why allow selfishness, or the spirit of party, or anything else, to interfere with our mission of love? Christ did not do so. From his baptism to his cross he never wavered. The combined hosts of earth and hell did not and could not, in any instance, turn him aside, even for a moment, from the sublime object of his mis¬sion. And now that he sits on the throne of the universe, he is still the same, "yesterday, today, and forever” ; always intent on the re¬demption of those for whom he died. O, that we all had the spirit and temper of Jesus; then, indeed, the world itself would soon be¬come a temple of his praise.5. How very near, dear, and interesting are the relations which the Pastors and other members of every Christian congregation sustain to each other (Hebrews 13:17). The former are held responsible for the souls of the latter; while the latter are held responsible for their demeanor towards the former. But where, alas, are these mutual obligations now practically acknowledged as they should be by either party? How few Pastors now go, like Paul, from house to house, and night and day with tears warn the people against the snares of the world, the flesh, and the devil? And on the other hand how few members of any congregation now submit, as they should, to the lawful authority of their Pastors and Teachers? The fact is, that the law of Christ is now too much ignored and set aside by all parties; and as a consequence, there is an alarming want of submission to rightful authority, in the church and in the family, as well as in the state. Let all be taught to reverence God’ s word and to bow to his authority; let parents so teach their chil¬dren in the nursery; let Preachers, Editors, and Teachers of all grades and classes so instruct the rising generation; and soon the happy consequences of this change will be felt in every department of society. Parents will then be made to rejoice in seeing that their children are walking in the ways of wisdom; and Pastors of churches will be comforted in the assurance that the members of their respective charges are being nourished amid the green pas¬tures and beside the still waters.6. Why do men pray so little? Do they really believe Christ when he says, “ Everyone that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened?” I fear they do not. If they did, there would surely not be so many prayerless individuals, prayerless families, and I may say comparatively prayerless churches. Did we all feel as Paul felt when he asked for the prayers of his brethren, that he might be restored to them the sooner (Hebrews 13:19), it does seem to me that every meeting house in the land would become in a much higher sense than it is “ a house of prayer.”7. How pleasant and full of comfort is the assurance that God is with us to help us in all our lawful endeavors to serve him (Hebrews 13:20-21) ; that we in fact live in him, move in him, and have our being in him; and that while we are called on to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling God himself also at the same time works in us both to will and to do of his own good plea¬sure. “ Let us then not grow weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9.) And now, dear reader, may “ the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing to his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”Commentary on Hebrews 13:22-25 by Donald E. BoatmanHeb_13:22 --but I exhort youExhortation is not doctrine. They now have had doctrine; their need is to act. This book is doctrinal, but it is exhortation, for it holds up the greatness of God and His plan of salvation. Hebrews 13:22 --brethren, bear with the word of exhortationMen are inclined to be slothful, so they should bear with stimulation. This great book of exhortation should keep them from shrinking back, from depending upon anything but Christ for salvation. “ Bear,” translated “ suffer,” means to receive with feeling of kindness and forbearance. Hebrews 13:22 --for 1 have written unto you in few wordsThis book is quite lengthy, but for the scope of subject matter it is short. The length is about 10,000 words, but how brief in comparison with the “ ten thousand things of the law.” Hosea 8:12. Hebrews 13:23 --Know ye that our brother Timothy hath been set at liberty“ Know ye” or “ ye know” is a problem of language here. a. Calvin prefers the latter, feeling that Paul was informing them of Timothy’ s liberty. b. Evidently he was not where the author was. “ Set at liberty” may suggest freedom from prison or sent away on an errand, says Milligan. a. In Philippians 2:19-24 we see Paul sending him on an errand. b. Timothy was never pictured in prison by Paul’ s writings. Hebrews 13:23 --with whom if he come shortly I will see youThis verse definitely encourages the theory of Pauline authorship, although Paul’ s freedom discourages it unless he had been set free, Calvin says if this Timothy was the renowned champion of Paul it is very probable that either Luke or Clement was the author of the epistle. H. Salutation. Hebrews 13:24. Hebrews 13:24 --Salute all them that have the rule over you and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.What is “ salute” ? a. Just as though he had said, “ Give my kindest regards.” b. Christianity rejoins common and. proper courtesies. Were they to salute the rulers, or was Paul (the author) saluting them? a. They were to salute their leaders for Paul. b. Why didn’ t Paul salute them directly if this be the case? c. Calvin thinks he has singled out the rulers as a mark of honor to conciliate them. All of Italy suggests that the author was there, and those who hold to Pauline authorship say that this proves it. a. Observe, the footnote says, “ the brethren of Italy.” b. Some hold that he was elsewhere and meant the brethren from Italy.Study Questions2940. How often does the author use the word “ exhort” in Hebrews? 2941. Explain Hebrews 13:22 when he says he has written in “ few words” ? 2942. What does his reference to Timothy do to the theory of authorship by Paul? 2943. Does it imply that Timothy’ s release may affect his own release? 2944. What is meant by the word “ salute” in Hebrews 13:24? 2945. Why didn’ t Paul salute the rulers? 2946. Does Hebrews 13:24 indicate where the author was? 2947. What does Paul mean by, “ Grace be with you” ? 2948. How can grace be with us?