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Hebrews Chapter
Three
Hebrews 3
Thus the Lord is set before us as the Apostle and High
Priest of believers from among the Jews, the true people. I say,"from
among the Jews," not that He is not our Priest, but that here the sacred
writer places himself among the believing Jews, saying "our;" and,
instead of speaking of himself as and apostle, he points out Jesus as the
Apostle; which He was in Person among the Jews. In principle, it is true of all
believers. That which He has said is the Lord's word, and He is able to succour
us when we are tempted. We are His house.
For we have here a third character of Christ. He is a "Son over
his house." Moses was faithful in all the house of God as a servant, in
testimony to the things that were afterwards to be proclaimed. But Christ is
over God's house; but it is not as a servant but as a Son. He has built the
house, He is God.
Moses identified himself with the house, faithful therein
in all things. But Christ is more excellent; even as he who builds the house is
more excellent than the house. He who builds all things is God. And this is
what Christ did.For in fact the house (that is, the tabernacle in the
wilderness) was a figure of the universe; and Christ passed through the
heavens, as the high priest passed into the sanctuary. All was cleansed with
blood, even as God will reconcile all thins by Christ in the heavens and on the
earth. In a certain sense this universe is the house of God. He deigns to
inhabit it. Christ created it all. But there is a house which is more properly
His own. We are His house, taking it for granted that we persevere to the end.
The Hebrew Christians were in danger-being attracted by
their former habits, and by a law and ceremonies which God Himself had
established-of forsaking a Christianity, in which Christ was not visible, for
things that were visible and palpable. The Christ of Christians, far from being
a crown of glory to the people, was only an object of faith, so that, if faith
failed, He was deprived of all importance to them. A religion that made itself
seen (the "old wine") naturally attracted those that had been
accustomed to it.
But in fact Christ was much more excellent than Moses, as
he who has built the house had more honour than the house, Now this house was
the figure of all things, and He who had built them was God. The passage gives
us this view of Christ and of the house, and also says, that we are this house.
And Christ is not the servant here; He is the Son over God's house.
We must always remember that which has been already remarked, namely,
that in this epistle we have no the assembly as the body of Christ in union
with Himself; nor even the Father either, except as a comparison in chapter 12.
It is God, a heavenly Christ (who is the Son of God), and a people, the Messiah
being a heavenly Mediator between the people and God. Therefore the proper
privileges of the assembly are not found in this epistle-they flow from our
union with Christ; and here Christ is a Person apart who is between us and God,
on high while we are here.
There are still a few remarks which we may add here in
order to throw light on this point, and to assist the reader in understanding
the first two chapters, as well as the principle of the instructions throughout
the epistle.
In chapter 1, Christ accomplishes by Himself as a part of
His divine glory the purification of sins, and seats Himself at the right hand
of God. This work, observe, is done by Himself. We have nothing to do with it,
save to believe in and enjoy it. It is a divine work which this divine Person
has accomplished by Himself; so that it has all the absolute perfection, all
the force, of a work done by Him, without any mixture of our weakness, of our
efforts, or of our experiences. He performed it by Himself, and it is
accomplished. Thereupon He takes His seat. he is not placed there-He seats
Himself upon the throne on high.
In chapter 2 we see another point which characterises the
epistle-the present state of the glorified Man. He is crowned with glory and
honour; but it is with a view to an order of things which is not yet
accomplished. It is the Person of the Man Christ which is presented, not the
assembly in union with Him, even when He is beheld as glorified in the heavens,
This glory is viewed as a partial accomplishment of that which belongs to Him,
according to the counsels of God, as the Son of man. hereafter this glory will
be complete in all its parts by the subjugation of all things.
The present glory therefore of Christ makes us look
forward to an order of things yet future, which will be full rest, full
blessing. In a word, bedsides the perfection of His work, the epistle sets
before us the sequel of that which belongs to Christ in Person, the Son of man,
not the perfection of the assembly in Him. And this embraces the present time,
the character of which, to the believer, depends on Christ's being now
glorified in heaven while waiting for a future state, in which all things will
be subjected to Him.
In this chapter 2 we see also that He is crowned. He is
not seen sitting there as in His original right, though He had that glory
before the world was, but, having been made a little less than the angels, God
crowns Him. We also plainly see that although the believing Hebrews are
especially in view, and even all Christians are classed under the title of
Abraham's seed on the earth, yet that Christ is viewed nevertheless as the Son
of man, and not as the Son of David; and the question is put, "What is
man?" The answer (the precious answer for us) is, Christ glorified, once
dead on account of man's condition. In Him we see the mind of God with regard
to man.
The fact that Christians themselves are viewed as the
seed of Abraham plainly shews the way in which they are considered as forming
part of the chain of the heirs of promise on earth (as in Rom 11), and not as
the assembly united to Christ as His body in heaven.
The work is perfect; it is the work of God. He has by
Himself made purification of sins. The full result of the counsels of God with
regard to the Son of man is not yet come. Thus the earthly part can be brought
in, as a thing foreseen, as well as the heavenly part, although the persons to
whom the epistle is addressed had part in the heavenly glory-participated in
the heavenly calling-in connection with the present position of the Son of man.
The remnant of the Jews, as we have said, are considered
as continuing the chain of the people blessed on earth, whatever heavenly
privileges they may also possess or whatever their especial state may be in
connection with the Messiah's exaltation to heaven. We have been grafted into
the good olive-tree, so that we share all the advantages here spoken of. Our
highest position, and the privileges belonging to it, are not here in view.
Accordingly, as writing to Hebrews and as one among them, he addresses them,
that is to say, Christians and believing Israelites. This is the force of the
word "us" in the epistle; we must bear it in mind, and that the
Hebrew believers always form the word "us" of which the writer is also
a part.
No one ought to harden his heart; but this word is
especially addressed to Israel, and that until the day when Christ shall
appear. In speaking of it, the author returns to the word that had formerly
been addressed to Israel; not now in order to warn them of the danger they
would incur by neglecting it. but of the consequences of departing from that
which they had acknowledged to be true. Israel, when delivered out of Egypt,
had provoked God in the wilderness (it was indeed the case also of Christians
in this world), because they were not at once, and without difficulty, in
Canaan.Those to whom he wrote were in danger of forsaking the living God in the
same way; that is, the danger was there before their eyes. They should rather
exhort each other, while it was still called to-day, in order that they might
not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.This word "to-day" is the
expression of the patient activity of God's grace towards Israel even unto the
end. The people were unbelieving; they have hardened their hearts; they have
done so, and will alas! do so to the end, until judgment come in the Person of
the Messiah-Jehovah, whom they have despise. But until then God loves to
reiterate, "Today, if ye will hear my voice." It may be that only a
few will hearken; it may be that the nation is judicially hardened, in order to
admit the Gentiles; but the word "today" still resounds for every one
among them who has ears to hear, until the Lord shall appear in judgment. It is
addressed to the people according to the long-suffering of God. For the remnant
who had believed it was an especial warning not to walk in the ways of the
hardened people who had refused to hearken-not to turn back to them, forsaking
their own confidence in the word which had called them, as Israel did in the
wilderness.
As long as the "today" of the call of grace
should continue, they were to exhort one another, lest unbelief should glide
into their hearts through the subtlety of sin. It is thus that the living God
is forsaken. We speak thus practically, not with reference to the faithfulness
of God, who certainly will not allow any of His own to perish, but with regard
to practical danger, and to that which would draw us away-as to our
responsibility-from God, and for ever, if God did not intervene, acting in the
life which He has given us, and which never perishes.
Sin separates us from God in our thoughts; we have no
longer the same sense either of His love, His power, or His interest in us.
Confidence is lost, Hope, and the value of unseen things, diminish; while the
value of things that are seen proportionately increases. The conscience is bad;
one is not at ease with God. The path is hard and difficult; the will
strengthens itself against Him. We no longer live by faith; visible things come
in between us and God and take possession of the heart. Where there is life,
God warns by His Spirit (as in this epistle), He chastises and restores. Where
it was only an outward influence, a faith devoid of life, and the conscience
not reached, it is abandoned.
It is the warning against so doing that arrests the
living. The dead-they whose consciences are not engaged, who do not say,
"To whom shall we go? thou has the words of eternal life"-despise the
warning and perish. This was the case with Israel in the wilderness, and God
sware unto them that they should not enter into His rest. (Num 14:21-23) And
why? They had given up their confidence in Him. Their unbelief-when the beauty
and excellence of the land had been reported to them-deprived them of the
promised rest.
The position of the believers to whom this epistle is
addressed was the same as this, although in connection with better promises.
The beauty and excellence of the heavenly Canaan had been proclaimed to them.
The had, by the Spirit, seen and tasted its fruits; they were in the
wilderness; they had to persevere to maintain their confidence unto the end.
Observe her-for Satan and our own conscience when it has
not been set free, often make use of this epistle-that doubting Christians are
not here contemplated, or persons who have not yet gained entire confidence in
God: to those who are in this condition its exhortations and warnings have no
application. These exhortations are to preserve the Christian in a confidence
which he has, and to preserve, not to tranquillise fears and doubts. This use
of the epistle to sanction such doubts is but a device of the enemy. Only I
would add here that, although the full knowledge of grace (which in such a case
the soul has assuredly not yet attained) is the only thing that can deliver and
set it free from its fears, yet it is very important in this case practically
to maintain a good conscience, in order not to furnish the enemy with a special
means of attack.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Hebrews》
Hebrews 3
Chapter Contents
The superior worth and dignity of Christ above Moses is
shown. (1-6) The Hebrews are warned of the sin and danger of unbelief. (7-13)
And of necessity of faith in Christ, and of stedfastly following him. (14-19)
Commentary on Hebrews 3:1-6
(Read Hebrews 3:1-6)
Christ is to be considered as the Apostle of our
profession, the Messenger sent by God to men, the great Revealer of that faith
which we profess to hold, and of that hope which we profess to have. As Christ,
the Messiah, anointed for the office both of Apostle and High Priest. As Jesus,
our Saviour, our Healer, the great Physician of souls. Consider him thus.
Consider what he is in himself, what he is to us, and what he will be to us
hereafter and for ever. Close and serious thoughts of Christ bring us to know
more of him. The Jews had a high opinion of the faithfulness of Moses, yet his
faithfulness was but a type of Christ's. Christ was the Master of this house,
of his church, his people, as well as their Maker. Moses was a faithful
servant; Christ, as the eternal Son of God, is rightful Owner and Sovereign
Ruler of the Church. There must not only be setting out well in the ways of
Christ, but stedfastness and perseverance therein to the end. Every meditation
on his person and his salvation, will suggest more wisdom, new motives to love,
confidence, and obedience.
Commentary on Hebrews 3:7-13
(Read Hebrews 3:7-13)
Days of temptation are often days of provocation. But to
provoke God, when he is letting us see that we entirely depend and live upon
him, is a provocation indeed. The hardening of the heart is the spring of all
other sins. The sins of others, especially of our relations, should be warnings
to us. All sin, especially sin committed by God's professing, privileged
people, not only provokes God, but it grieves him. God is loth to destroy any
in, or for their sin; he waits long to be gracious to them. But sin, long
persisted in, will make God's wrath discover itself in destroying the
impenitent; there is no resting under the wrath of God. "Take heed:"
all who would get safe to heaven must look about them; if once we allow
ourselves to distrust God, we may soon desert him. Let those that think they
stand, take heed lest they fall. Since to-morrow is not ours, we must make the
best improvement of this day. And there are none, even the strongest of the
flock, who do not need help of other Christians. Neither are there any so low
and despised, but the care of their standing in the faith, and of their safety,
belongs to all. Sin has so many ways and colours, that we need more eyes than
ours own. Sin appears fair, but is vile; it appears pleasant, but is destructive;
it promises much, but performs nothing. The deceitfulness of sin hardens the
soul; one sin allowed makes way for another; and every act of sin confirms the
habit. Let every one beware of sin.
Commentary on Hebrews 3:14-19
(Read Hebrews 3:14-19)
The saints' privilege is, they are made partakers of
Christ, that is, of the Spirit, the nature, graces, righteousness, and life of
Christ; they are interested in all Christ is, in all he has done, or will do.
The same spirit with which Christians set out in the ways of God, they should
maintain unto the end. Perseverance in faith is the best evidence of the
sincerity of our faith. Hearing the word often is a means of salvation, yet, if
not hearkened to, it will expose more to the Divine wrath. The happiness of
being partakers of Christ and his complete salvation, and the fear of God's
wrath and eternal misery, should stir us up to persevere in the life of
obedient faith. Let us beware of trusting to outward privileges or professions,
and pray to be numbered with the true believers who enter heaven, when all
others fail because of unbelief. As our obedience follows according to the
power of our faith, so our sins and want of care are according to the
prevailing of unbelief in us.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Hebrews》
Hebrews 3
Verse 1
[1]
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the
Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
The heavenly calling — God calls from heaven, and to heaven, by the gospel.
Consider the Apostle — The messenger of God, who pleads the cause of God with us.
And High Priest —
Who pleads our cause with God. Both are contained in the one word Mediator. He
compares Christ, as an Apostle, with Moses; as a Priest, with Aaron. Both these
offices, which Moses and Aaron severally bore, he bears together, and far more
eminently.
Of our profession —
The religion we profess.
Verse 2
[2] Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in
all his house.
His house —
The church of Israel, then the peculiar family of God. Numbers 12:7.
Verse 3
[3] For
this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath
builded the house hath more honour than the house.
He that hath builded it hath more glory than
the house — Than the family itself, or any member of
it.
Verse 4
[4] For
every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
Now Christ, he that built not only this
house, but all things, is God - And so infinitely greater than Moses or any
creature.
Verse 5
[5] And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a
testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
And Moses verily —
Another proof of the pre-eminence of Christ above Moses.
Was faithful in all his house, as a servant,
for a testimony of the things which were afterwards to be spoken — That is, which was a full confirmation of the things which he afterward
spake concerning Christ.
Verse 6
[6] But
Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the
confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
But Christ was faithful as a Son; whose house
we are, while we hold fast, and shall be unto the end, if we hold fast our
confidence in God, and glorying in his promises; our faith and hope.
Verse 7
[7]
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Wherefore —
Seeing he is faithful, be not ye unfaithful. Psalms 95:7, etc.
Verse 8
[8]
Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the
wilderness:
As in the provocation — When Israel provoked me by their strife and murmurings.
In the day of temptation — When at the same time they tempted me, by distrusting my power and
goodness. Exodus 17:7.
Verse 9
[9] When
your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Where your fathers —
That hard-hearted and stiff-necked generation. So little cause had their
descendants to glory in them.
Tempted me —
Whether I could and would help them.
Proved me —
Put my patience to the proof, even while they saw my glorious works both of
judgment and mercy, and that for forty years.
Verse 10
[10]
Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in
their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Wherefore — To
speak after the manner of men.
I was grieved —
Displeased, offended with that generation, and said, They always err in their
hearts - They are led astray by their stubborn will and vile affections.
And —
For this reason, because wickedness has blinded their understanding.
They have not known my ways — By which I would have led them like a flock.
Into my rest — In
the promised land.
Verse 12
[12] Take
heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in
departing from the living God.
Take heed, lest there be in any of you — As there was in them.
An evil heart of unbelief — Unbelief is the parent of all evil, and the very essence of unbelief
lies in departing from God, as the living God - The fountain of all our life,
holiness, happiness.
Verse 13
[13] But
exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
But, to prevent it, exhort one another, while
it is called To-day - This to-day will not last for ever. The day of life will
end soon, and perhaps the day of grace yet sooner.
Verse 14
[14] For
we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence
stedfast unto the end;
For we are made partakers of Christ — And we shall still partake of him and all his benefits, if we hold fast
our faith unto the end. If - But not else; and a supposition made by the Holy
Ghost is equal to the, strongest assertion. Both the sentiment and the manner
of expression are the same as Hebrews 3:6.
Verse 16
[16] For
some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt
by Moses.
Were they not all that came out of Egypt — An awful consideration! The whole elect people of God (a very few excepted)
provoked God presently after their great deliverance, continued to grieve his
Spirit for forty years, and perished in their sin!
Verse 19
[19] So
we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
So we see they could not enter in — Though afterward they desired it.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Hebrews》
Chapter 3. Faithful Servant
As Long As It
Is Called "Today"
Encourage One Another Daily
I. Worthy of
Greater Honor than Moses
II. Warning
against Heart-hardener
III. Never
Enter Rest
── Chih-Hsin
Chang《An Outline of
The New Testament》
The Supremacy Of Jesus Over Moses (3:1-6)
INTRODUCTION
1. We have seen that the writer to the Hebrews sought to encourage faithfulness to Jesus by illustrating His superiority... a. Over prophets - He 1:1-3 b. Over angels - He 1:4-2:18 -- Both of which were very important to the Jewish people 2. Highly revered also by the Hebrews was Moses... a. The author of the first five books of the Old Testament b. The deliverer, who led them out of Egyptian bondage and to the promised land c. The Law-giver, through whom God revealed so much of the Jewish religion 3. If the writer was to be successful in encouraging his brethren to remain faithful to Jesus... a. He would have to compare Jesus with Moses b. He would have to illustrate "The Supremacy Of Jesus Over Moses" -- This he does, especially in He 3:1-6, which serves as the text of our study [In the first verse, we note the...] I. THE CALL TO CONSIDER JESUS (1)
A. TO WHOM THIS CALL IS GIVEN... 1. The readers are described as: a. "holy brethren" 1) I.e., brethren who are sanctified, set apart for a holy purpose 2) Cf. what was written in He 2:10-11 3) It is to the brethren of Christ that these things are being written! b. "partakers of the heavenly calling" 1) They had come to share in the call from heaven 2) This "calling" was the call of the gospel a) For that is how God calls us - 2 Th 2:13-14 b) It is a call to glory - 2 Th 2:14; 1 Th 2:12 2. Clearly the original recipients were Christians! a. Some commentators try to reason that they were not, because of the warnings found throughout this epistle b. But it is evident they were, which is why we need to give earnest heed to the warnings! B. TO CONSIDER JESUS AS APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST... 1. How is Jesus an "apostle"? a. The word means "one sent" b. Just as Moses was sent by God, so was Jesus, as foretold by Moses and the prophets that followed! - Ac 3:22-26; cf. Jn 7:16 2. How is Jesus a "high priest"? a. That is one of the important themes of this epistle 1) Introduced in He 2:17 2) Expounded upon in detail later in He 4:14-7:28 b. He has made "propitiation" (an appeasing sacrifice) for our sins, through offering Himself on the cross - He 7:26-27 c. He continues to intercede on our behalf - He 7:24-25 -- Thus Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest "of our confession" (i.e., whom we confess as Christians) [As we now note the actual comparison of Jesus with Moses, we are toldthat...] II. JESUS IS GREATER IN HIS PERSON (2-4)
A. THE ISSUE IS NOT ONE OF FAITHFULNESS... 1. Jesus was faithful to the One who appointed Him - cf. Jn 17:4 2. Moses likewise was faithful - cf. He 11:24-29; Num 12:6-8 B. JESUS IS GREATER BECAUSE HE IS THE BUILDER (CREATOR)... 1. Jesus is worthy of more glory, just as one who builds a house has more honor than the house itself a. Jesus is the builder b. Moses is part of the house itself -- Implying that what Moses did was in service to the work of the Son! 2. Once again the author declares the deity of the Son as the Creator of all things - cf. He 1:2c ,10; 3:4 [The comparison continues as we note that...] III. JESUS IS GREATER IN HIS MINISTRY (5-6)
A. MOSES WAS A FAITHFUL "SERVANT"... 1. We have already seen that issue is not one of faithfulness - Num 12:6-8 2. Moses' task was to testify of things to come, which he did faithfully - e.g., Deu 18:15-19; cf. Lk 24:44 B. JESUS IS A FAITHFUL "SON"... 1. Moses was simply a servant IN the house, Jesus is the Son OVER the house 2. Not only did Jesus do the work He was sent to do (Jn 17:4), but He was given authority over all the things of God - cf. Mt 28:18; Jn 3:35; Ep 1:22 CONCLUSION
1. How is Jesus superior to Moses? a. Not in faithfulness, but in person and service b. Moses was a servant in the house of God; Jesus is the builder of the house, and serves as the Son over the house! -- Indeed, Moses points us forward to Jesus (cf. Deu 18:15-19); for one to forsake Jesus in an attempt to go back to Moses alone is to frustrate the desire of Moses himself! 2. Speaking of the house of God, of which Jesus is the builder and over which He presides... a. The writer to the Hebrews affirms that "we" are the house of Christ 1) Speaking of the church, which is the house of God - 1 Tim 3:15 2) In Christ, we are now "members of the household of God", and together with the faithful saints of old (including Moses) we are now "fellow-citizens" in the commonwealth of Israel - cf. Ep 2:11-22 b. Yet our status as the "house" is conditional! 1) "whose house we are IF we hold fast...." - He 3:6 2) We must hold fast "the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end."
Therefore the need for steadfastness, and the reason this epistle is filled with exhortations to that end! Indeed, the next exhortation begins in verse 7, which we shall examine in our next lesson ("AWarning From The Wilderness").
Is your faith wavering? Then heed the words of this epistle and... "consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession,Christ Jesus".
As you contemplate His person and His ministry, it should help you holdfast to your confession of faith!
A Warning From The Wilderness (3:7-19)
INTRODUCTION
1. In the previous study, we considered "The Supremacy Of Jesus Over Moses"...
a. Jesus was superior, not in faithfulness, but in His person and service b. Moses was a servant in the house of God c. Jesus, however, is the builder of the house, and serves as the Son over the house! 2. In He 3:6, the writer to the Hebrews affirms that "we" are the house of Christ... a. Referring to the church, which is the house of God - 1 Tim 3:15 b. For in Christ, we are now "members of the household of God", and together with the faithful saints of old (including Moses) we are now "fellow-citizens" in the commonwealth of Israel 11-22
3. Yet our status as the "house" is conditional! a. "whose house we are IF we hold fast...." - He 3:6 b. We must hold fast "the confidence and the rejoicing of the hopefirm to the end."
4. The need for steadfastness explains the exhortations in this epistle... a. We saw the first exhortation in He 2:1-4, regarding the danger of drifting b. Now we come to the second exhortation, regarding the danger of departing from the living God - He 3:7-19 [To warn against the danger of departing, the writer appeals to...]