1.
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Verse 1
The writer now proceeds to compare Christ, as the executive head of the new dispensation, with Moses, as that of the old. An apostle is one sent to execute a commission. Christ was commissioned to carry into effect the gospel plan of salvation, as Moses was to establish and maintain the Jewish system of faith and service. Jesus is called the High Priest of the new dispensation, inasmuch as he offered its great sacrifice for sin, in giving up his own life a ransom for men.
2.
Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
Verse 2
His house; his charge; the community imbodied under the system of institutions committed to his administration. It is called metaphorically a house, in the same manner as the Christian church is often spoken of as a building.
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.
Verse 3
This man; Christ.
4.
For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
Verse 4
The language of this statement seems sufficiently clear, but its connection with the apostle's train of argument is considered very difficult to be explained.
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;
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.
Verse 6
Whose house are we; that is, we, the community of believers under the gospel.--Confidence; faith.
7.
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Verse 7
This passage (Hebrews 3:7-11) is quoted from Hebrews 3:7-11; Psalms 95:7-11.
8.
Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9.
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10.
Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11.
So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
Verse 11
In my wrath; in my displeasure.--Into my rest; into the promised land of rest and plenty.
12.
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13.
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14.
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Verse 14
Made partakers of Christ; united to him, (John 17:21-23,) and made sharers in the joys of his future kingdom. (Colossians 3:4; Revelation 3:21.) --The The beginning of our confidence; the strong faith which we first embraced the gospel.
15.
While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Verse 15
The meaning is, Since ye hear the same warning which was addressed to the children of Israel, do not, like them, harden your hearts against it.
16.
For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
Verse 16
Did provoke; that is, instead of regarding the warning, they disobeyed God, and provoked his displeasure. It is probable that the two clauses of this verse, like those of the verses which follow, were intended as interrogative, thus: Who was it that, when they heard, did provoke? was it not all that came out of Egypt by Moses? Thus understood, the verse harmonizes in construction with what follows, and the whole presents the example of the defection and punishment of the Israelites as a very solemn warning.
17.
But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18.
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19.
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.