Bible Commentaries

HEBREWS CHAPTER 3

Hebrews 3:1-6 Christ is showed to be more worthy than Moses.

Hebrews 3:7-19 We must be careful therefore not to follow the example of

the obstinate and unbelieving Israelites in the wilderness.

Several uses the Holy Ghost makes, from the beginning of this chapter to the end of chapter four, {Hebrews 3:1-4:16} of the gospel doctrine of God the Son incarnate, set by the Father in office, to deal for sinners towards God as their great Prophet. The counsel he giveth is comprehended in; {Hebrews 3:1-6} and as directing these Hebrews to their duty, so further explaining and confirming his office to them, by comparing of him with Moses, and setting him as above angels, so above him; and to be so valued, esteemed, and preferred by these Hebrews: seeing this great gospel Prophet was for a little while made lower than the angels in his humanity, and it was infinitely beneficial to us upon the account of what he suffered in it in our stead, and purchased by it for our good; therefore should those who are partakers of it, being related in the flesh to him as Hebrews, descending with them from Abraham, consider, but much more as Christians, believing and adopted in him to be God’s children, and sanctified by his Spirit, 1 Peter 1:1-5 2 Peter 1:1.

Partakers of the heavenly calling; and made thus a Christian fraternity by the heavenly calling of them out of the world by the gospel; when by his Spirit he enlightened their minds, and renewed their wills, and made them obedient to it, so as for the temper of their souls they are made holy, and for their condition happy; the work of God’s power and mercy eminently appearing in it: God therein preventing man, so as he influenceth him to hear him from heaven, walk worthy of heaven, and at last to rest in heaven for ever.

Consider; katanohsate imports not a bare single act of the mind, to think on, or understand, but a repeated one, to think again and again, expressed by that periphrasis of laying it to heart, pressing on their spirits the due effort of faith and obedience arising out of this observation, Isaiah 52:15.

The Apostle; God’s Messenger, his own Son sent from heaven to be incarnate, with authority to execute in his human nature his prophetical, as all his offices, and with authority to send forth his apostles to do their part, John 20:21; which is no more than is intimated in that title, the Messenger of the covenant, Isaiah 42:19 Malachi 3:1; that was, to propose it to and confirm it with them. This was he by whom Moses desired God’s message might be sent to them, Exodus 4:13; and whom he foretold should bring it, Deuteronomy 18:15 Acts 3:22,23.

And High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus: the Son is the great gospel High Priest, to deal in all matters with God for them, Hebrews 2:17. The offices divided among other persons in the Old Testament church were all united in his person, he doth transcend them all, being a High Priest peculiar to the called and sanctified ones of God, of which all preceding were faint resemblances and types; he, the most excellent Minister of the Christian faith and religion professed by them, being anointed unto all these offices in the flesh by the Father with the Holy Ghost, Hebrews 1:2; and being Jesus a Saviour, our Emmanuel, God on our side, saving his people from their sins, and re-uniting them to God, Matthew 1:21,23 John 17:21-23.

The Spirit enforceth the duty counselled on them from the fidelity of that grand gospel Minister in his offices; exemplified in a parallel with Moses, whom he did exceed.

Who was faithful to him that appointed him; he did most exactly perform all he was intrusted with, according to the intention and end of his commission. He did most faithfully reveal God, John 1:18, and his whole saving will, to whom God sent him, John 3:31-34 5:34 John 8:28,38; as his great Prophet, Acts 3:22. He as faithfully discharged the office of his priesthood in sacrificing himself to atone God for sinners, and as faithfully intercedes for all with him unto this day, and will do so for ever, with all truth and fidelity discharging his trust, Hebrews 7:24-28 9:11,12,14,24,26. He was faithful in fulfilling all his types, and in changing and finishing all the ceremonial constitutions, and filling them up with gospel ones, according to God’s will revealed to him about it. He was true to his Father, who appointed and constituted him to these offices, and solemnly invested him in them; poihsanti here not signifying the making of a creature, but the making of an officer, the person existing before; he puts him into this special charge and office by anointing him for it, Acts 2:36.

As also Moses was faithful in all his house: Moses was the Jewish mediator, and brought them the law moral, judicial, and ceremonial from God; as he was highly esteemed by them, so God testifieth of his fidelity. Christ was not only like to him in fidelity, but, as to both the truth and degree of it, exceeding him. Moses kept to his pattern shown him in the mount, and Christ fulfilled entirely his Father’s will, John 5:30 6:38, and is preferred to him. Moses was so in the whole church of Israel, set out by this metaphor of a house; but Christ ill all God’s house and family both in heaven and in earth; not the least thing that concerned the family, but Christ fulfilled; not the meanest person in it, but he careth for and saveth.

For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses: the Spirit proves to the Hebrews, that the gospel Prophet was not only like to, but more excellent than, their greatest prophet, and who had familiarity with God beyond others, as God testifieth, Numbers 12:6-8. This he proves by an undeniable supposition, that God is better than man; such is Christ; which he demonstrates by a work of God, his making the church and all things. If he made the church, then he is better than the whole church, and worthy of more honour than Moses, who is but a member of it. For this, man is not in the original, this gospel Prophet, who was God as well as man, the apostle and High Priest of Christians, was esteemed and accounted by God the Father, the best judge of worth, and who appointed him to his offices: he treated him more honourably than Moses, as he deserved it, having real excellency and worth in himself. He was God’s Son, Moses his servant. He lay in God’s bosom, saw his face, was his fellow, Zechariah 13:7 John 1:14,18; Moses only heard his voice, and saw his back parts, Exodus 33:19,20,23 34:5-7. Moses’s face only shined, but Christ’s person was entirely glorious, Exodus 34:29,30 2 Corinthians 3:7: compare Matthew 17:2-6 2 Peter 1:17.

Inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house; he is the cause, principal, efficient, and architect of this building, not a stone is laid in it without him. By this metaphor of house to which it relateth, is meant God’s spiritual building and temple, 1 Corinthians 3:10,16,17; styled God’s household or family, Ephesians 2:19-22: in sum, God’s church, built by and on Christ, of which Moses was but one living stone or member, 1 Peter 2:4-8. Therefore this builder ought to be esteemed and honoured above the church, or Moses, a member of it.

The excellency of this builder is evinced by his nature and preference beyond his building, as any man is beyond his.

For every house is builded by some man; for every earthly artificial building, a material house built for habitation, though it may metaphorically and analogically be understood of a commonwealth, or political one, which is contrived, framed, and raised by some man; yet an effect cannot produce itself, nor a house raise itself; both must have a cause, both the house wherein Moses was faithful, and Christ’s house.

But he that built all things is God; but he who built his church in all ages, whether the Israelitish or Christian, and all things about it of which we speak, and all things else, Matthew 16:18 John 1:1,3 Col 1:20; he is God essentially; and Christ, doing God’s work and building all things, is not by name only, but by nature, God. The whole world is his workmanship, but the church is the most rare, curious, and excellent piece of it. Christ is not part of the house, as Moses is, but the builder of it; he is the Creator and builder both of the church and him, and so infinitely above him.

The gospel Minister doth not only excel Moses as much as a builder doth his work, but as a son doth a servant, proved in this and Hebrews 3:6.

And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant; your great legal prophet, in whom many of you Hebrews trust, John 5:45, did truly and fully reveal and do what God charged him, in ministering his will to his church, Exodus 40:16-33; he did not diminish from, nor add the least to, God’s charge, yerapwn, Numbers 12:7. As a minister, Moses was as faithful as any God had; not a slave or a drudge, but a free, willing, ingenuous servant, most entirely and obsequiously addicting himself in that honourable place and office of great trust, to which God called him; a stewardly servant, a prophet and a prince, inspecting and ordering all according to God’s will; in all Christ’s house and family, his church, he is but a servant.

For a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after: his faithfulness was evident in his bearing true witness to the church, of all God made known to him, that they might not be uncertain of the truth; even all that truth, which was more fully and clearly to be spoken by the prophets after him, and by Christ and his apostles; but which the Spirit shall speak to them further concerning Christ and his church in this Epistle, John 5:46. In which is insinuated, that Christ was the truth himself witnessed to by Moses, who was a witness of an inferior degree, though in his work faithful, and conformed unto Christ.

But Christ as a son over his own house; the anointed gospel Prophet by God the Father, Hebrews 1:9, who was eminently faithful and true to his trust, who is Heir and Lord of all, and therefore by the law of nature and nations is above the best servant, Galatians 4:1. Who is the Head and Lord over his own church, which he purchased by his own blood, Acts 20:28, and built for himself. Moses was in it but a servant, fulfilling his Master’s will and pleasure, and ordering all in it agreeable to it.

Whose house are we; the Hebrews’ personal privilege, as well as the Prophet’s excellency, persuading and obliging them to know by consideration what is represented to them, and to influence their hearts to a perseverance under his teaching and government in their Christian course, because they are parts of his house, and members of his church; a particular house, and body, and church to him, and members of the catholic one. A temple, wherein God doth inhabit and dwell by his Spirit, 1 Corinthians 3:16,17: compare Ephesians 2:21 3:17 1 Timothy 3:15. A house he will glorify and perfect with his own presence, and which he will fill with transcendently more glory than he did the literal temple, Exodus 40:34,35 2 Chronicles 7:1,2 Isa 6:1,5: compare Haggai 2:6. But how completely shall it be filled with his glory in heaven! Philippians 3:21. How should such a glorious state influence them to a sincere perseverance in his religion!

If we hold fast the confidence; a tenacious holding, as with both hands, with our utmost strength, against all insinuations and temptations of all adversaries whatsoever, which would either entice or force them from it. parrhsian thv elpidov, is an ingenuous, bold, and confident profession of our hope before all the world, without doubting, wavering, or fearful shaking about what is the true object of it, let the persecutions or sufferings for it be what they will.

And the rejoicing of the hope: hope here is a firm expectation of salvation in eternal glory by Jesus Christ. It necessarily includes in it faith, for we cannot hope for that we do not believe; and faith representing to the soul from the gospel, Christ purchasing, and the Father in him covenanting and promising to give it to us, if we truly believe in and sincerely obey him, so as we may on the surest and best grounds look out for it, and expect it, Hebrews 3:14 6:11 Acts 26:6,7: compare Colossians 1:5,23 Tit 2:13 1 Peter 1:3. This hope keeps up the soul in a joyous and glorious condition under all threatening evil; it makes Christians glory in tribulation, Romans 5:2,3 12:12; rejoicing in want of sensible good, 2 Corinthians 6:10; compare 1 Peter 5:10.

Firm unto the end; both this confidence and glorying of hope must be retained firm to the end. Persevere they must in the exercise of them with stability and constancy, till they reach the salvation of their souls, Colossians 1:23 1 Peter 1:5-10; which Christians are not to trust to their own power to compass, but on the continued assistance of God in the use of those means that he hath appointed thereunto, who will never be wanting to such who do so rely on him, and constantly seek it from him, 1 Corinthians 1:8,9.

The Spirit enforceth his counsel for those Hebrews’ improvement of his doctrine about the gospel Prophet, by alleging a sad example of their fathers refusing to hear and obey him, from Hebrews 3:7-11. The allegation might be best placed in parenthesis, and the introductive illative particle:

Wherefore, may refer to Hebrews 3:12: Take heed, brethren.

As the Holy Ghost saith; as the Spirit, the Holy One, that third relation in the Trinity, whose essence is holiness, is the author of what the psalmist doth write, and is here quoted by him, Psalms 95:7-11. So that the example registered is true and infallible, and should suitably affect them, reading it.

To-day if ye will hear his voice; every present time, wherein the great Builder and Lord of God’s church speaketh to them; God would not have a hearer of his Prophet to procrastinate a day, but to be exercising all those internal acts, which this word of sense hear doth comprehend, such as reacheth the heart as well as the ear; if you will attend, intend, believe, love, and obey; a hearing better than all external sacrifices, 1 Samuel 15:22. The angel of the covenant speaking his mind and will to them by Moses and the prophets, which was for the matter of it faith in God’s covenant, made with them in and through Christ, Psalms 95:7: compare Exodus 23:20-23.

Harden not your hearts: to help in the former duty the Spirit subjoins this negative counsel. That is styled hard, which will not yield to any impression: make not your heart a stone, so as not to understand, believe, or obey God’s voice to it, Deuteronomy 15:17 1 Samuel 6:6; for God requires them to be fleshy tables, to write his will on, 2 Corinthians 3:3. The hardening of this part is the hardening of the whole person, and when hardened by themselves, is provoking God’s judicial hardening of them to their destruction.

As in the provocation; en tw parapikrasmw, in the bitter contention, comprehending in it both work, season, and place; called Meribah, Numbers 20:13,14; names of places and persons by words of the same signification, though not of the same sound.

In the day of temptation in the wilderness; in the day of Massah, when Israel in the wilderness did murmur, and strive against, and vexed God, (after he had divided the sea for them), for their want of water, Exodus 17:2,7 Deu 6:16 33:8; that bitter contest of unbelief after the sight of so many miracles, when they cried out: Is the Lord among us? Psalms 95:8. It may also refer to the whole forty years’ time of their murmuring and tempting him in the wilderness.

When your fathers tempted me; in the time and place forementioned, the fathers from whom you derive your being and corruption, yet glory in them and their traditions, whose state is aggravated from your line of successive rebellion, Acts 7:51-53. They have imbittered my Spirit by their unbelief; for upon the want of water, they questioned his power, wisdom, truth, and providence, to the denial of all, and sometimes multiplied it, Numbers 16:1-50, &c.

Proved me; a discontented quarrel with, and scrutiny of, Christ the Redeemer, that if he would not serve their lust, they would deny him, and apostatize from him, and return to Egypt; notwithstanding their having sufficient proof of him, yet they would contend with him, 1 Corinthians 10:9.

And saw my works forty years; all the Redeemer’s miracles, which he wrought for them in Egypt and the wilderness, they saw them plainly and presently on their tempting him; miracles of mercy and of punishments, by fire, by the earth opening, by fiery serpents, by the sword, by consuming six hundred thousand of them: all which were evidences sufficient to convince any of the wickedness of mistrusting him, Deuteronomy 29:2-4. This hardening of their hearts yet continued forty years, till all but two of them, Joshua and Caleb, were consumed; God by their sin was so grieved with them after such experience of his power for so long a time: see Exodus 32:10 Numbers 14:22.

Wherefore I was grieved with that generation; because they thus tempted and proved him by hardening their hearts in unbelief forty years, God the Redeemer, Isaiah 63:16 1 Corinthians 10:9,

was grieved; which is attributed to him improperly, who is not subject to passions; but as men grown impatient with grievous and oppressive burdens, so he expresseth his dislike, disdain of them, and, resolution to bear no longer, as Amos 2:13. They split on him, as a ship on a sharp point of a rock, so as God hath loss, offence, and trouble by it; and all of them did so carry it to him, the whole age of them but Caleb and Joshua, Psalms 95:10.

And said, They do alway err in their heart; they follow deceit and lying in their doctrine and worship with all their heart, so that it is diffused through their persons, and that seat of truth is made a depth of error, to the stupifying of their hearts even to very madness; and this was their state all their time.

And they have not known my ways; notwithstanding God’s works were among them, and his word, yet they would not know his mind, so as to approve, love, and walk in God’s ways; his law, doctrine, revealed truth, and commands were all cast behind their back, Ezekiel 23:35.

So I sware in my wrath: such were their provocations and temptations of their Redeemer, that he determined their punishment; the certainty of which he fixed by an irreversible oath, which is the highest confirmation of vengeance when it cometh from wrath; as of his promise, when it issueth from grace, Numbers 14:27-36 Psalms 95:11: compare Hebrews 6:17,18. And the spring of it here is wrath, enraged by their murmurings and unbelief.

They shall not enter into my rest: the punishment is expressed in an expostulatory form, which is vehemently asserting the negative of the question; They shall never enter into my rest. If they enter in, then I am neither true nor God. The rest literal was the land of Canaan, Deuteronomy 12:9; in the truth of that type, heaven. It is the Redeemer who speaks this, whose rest is by way of efficiency, purchase, and donation; he gives entrance into it, and shuts out of it, Matthew 7:21-23. This is a shutting them out of all peace, into eternal sorrow, anguish, distress, and trouble, and every other evil contrary unto this rest.

Here the Spirit applieth the former dreadful example of sin and judgment to the Hebrews, to forewarn them how they sinned as these did, lest they partake of the like vengeance; and so enters his caution against unbelief.

Take heed, brethren: Blepete signifies not an act of sight, but of the mind, circumspection, watchfulness, and heed, taking exactest caution of the evil forbidden, Hebrews 12:15,25 1 Corinthians 8:9.

Brethren they were to Paul in the flesh, and more so as true believers in Christ; he cautions them particularly, one by one, lest any root of bitterness should be amongst them, Hebrews 12:15.

Lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief: the heart is the first, and proper, and chief subject, wherein all sin riseth, and from thence issueth into words and works, Matthew 15:18,19; compare James 1:14,15. This comprehendeth the mind, will, and affections, the whole inward man: and this heart in every man is naturally and habitually evil, continually forging and framing of it, Genesis 6:5; compare Jeremiah 17:9. Almighty grace only can change this heart; yet it works by counsel, and makes the soul willing to use the means appointed to effect it.

Unbelief, though but in itself, is but a denial to assent to or rely on the will of God revealed to it, yet is the spring and fountain of all other sin, the teeming womb from whence all issueth, as uncleanness, idolatry, unrighteousness, superstition, &c. It was the hardening sin of their forefathers, they would not believe, and then did murmur and rebel. It is the root of apostacy; men breaking their covenant with God in Christ, do then desert him. Against this perfidious, impious, perverted temper doth he caution them to watch, that neither for measure, nor season they ever do admit or allow it; that there be not at all in the least degree, or at any time, such a base, malignant quality in their hearts, Romans 11:20,21.

In departing from the living God; turning away, standing off, and separating the heart; it implies in it a real, total, final defection; actual and formal apostacy from him whom they had owned and received; and is actual rebellion against their lawful Sovereign, by turning either Jews or heathens, and renouncing the Christian religion and its Author; who is the living God, not only formally, as opposed to dead idols, but efficiently the Author and Fountain of all sorts of life, but especially of spiritual and eternal life, John 5:19-21,25,26: which living God is our Lord Jesus Christ, Hebrews 3:7, whose voice they were to hear, who was tempted by their unbelief in the wilderness, 1 Corinthians 10:9, who gave the law to them at Sinai, Hebrews 12:26. So that to apostatize from him and his religion, is to apostatize from God, and to renounce eternal life, and to subject themselves to eternal punishments, which he ever liveth to inflict on them. Unless they took heed to avoid this unbelief, it was impossible for them to persevere in Christianity, when threatened with persecutions, and the loss of peace, liberty, safety, estates, honours, relations, and life itself for it.

Ver. 13,14 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day: the means to avoid the former evil is, to exhort; which, as a private duty, is an earnest, frequent calling on, stirring up, or persuading, encouraging to perseverance in the Christian religion, and to put away all heart evil, especially unbelief, which traineth to apostacy; to which are subservient God’s precepts, promises, threatenings suitably applied by them. And this is not only privately, but especially publicly, by the regular ministration of the word and ordinances to the whole society of Christians, as they are personally obliged to it, being members one of another, 1 Corinthians 12:25,27. And this they are to do instantly, for no man is sure what may be on the morrow, he being but a days-man, living, and supplied, as working by the day: Sufficient to the day is the duty as well as the evil in it, Matthew 6:11,34. Whilst then the day of grace and repentance lasts, in which God calls and entreats, and will hear and help, the opportune time of exhorting, the very instant wherein God expecteth it, Hebrews 3:7 Psalms 95:7. And every one, as thus to look to another, must begin with himself, lest any miscarry; charity, especially as to this, should begin in every Christian at home.

Lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin; lest themselves or others refuse the gospel tendered, or reject and apostatize from it after professing it, so as to become not only obstinate, but rebellious, by unbelief, and an habitual hardened heart; so as the sinful, natural habit of our soul, James 1:12,15, so horribly vile in itself, that were it not masked nature would abhor it, might be drawn forth by the false colours, as the devil blinds sin with, to delude the understanding, and to catch and insnare the malignant will, that it swallows it more and more, to the hardening of the heart; that Divine promises, threatenings, nor admonitions, can make any impression; it being unmoved under the application of all these, disregards the Christian faith, and hath its issue in a total apostacy, Jeremiah 17:9 Ephesians 4:22 1 Timothy 1:19.

See Poole on "Hebrews 3:13"

This is another circumstance of the example of the Jews applied to them: That since now Christ is speaking to you, as he did to your forefathers then; the same voice concerning you both, so as, not to-morrow, or when you will, but To-day, if you will believe what God speaketh to you by him, and hath recorded in his word concerning his being the Messiah, and render not yourselves deaf to God’s voice, or obdurate through unbelief, as your forefathers did, when their unbelief and hardness of heart imbittered God’s Spirit against them, because acting in it against their solemn vows and engagements to him, so as to apostatize from him.

For some, when they had heard, did provoke: this is a rational enforcement of the former duty pressed; it being as possible for them to provoke Christ as others, they should look to it, and not harden their hearts; for the greater some, the most of the congregation of Israel, imbittered God’s Spirit by their unbelief and hardness of heart; though Christ spake to them from heaven, as never was before done, and daily by Moses they were hearing counsels by which they might live, yet provoked they him, and would not believe.

Howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses: this rightly interprets the psalmist, and sets a better example of their fathers for them to follow. Let Caleb and Joshua, believers, and obedient to God, be your patterns to imitate. He aggravates the disobedience of the one, and the obedience of the other. They all had equally a clear exemption and deliverance from the place of bondage, and that by Moses, by whom God wrought such miracles as might command faith from any; yet these some, by murmuring and striving with the Redeemer, provoked him: how great is their sin! How suitable and pleasing the obedience of the others to him!

By these questions the Spirit makes a more lively representation of these unbelieving provokers of God, that his reason may have the more force with them. Do ye observe with whom God was grieved? The form puts them on more exact notice for their caution: God suffers not by passion, but these redeemed out of Egypt carried it contrary to him, and crossed his will, that which usually grieveth us. Concerning the word, see Hebrews 3:10. It is used by the Septuagint, Deuteronomy 7:26, to express that detestation and abhorrence which Israel was to show against idols, that they should be a grief to their soul not to be endured: idols are called grievances. He was displeased and grieved with their covenant breaking with him forty years together. These sinners, by their unbelief, murmuring, idolatry, rebellion against his officers and ordinances, and their other lusts, so imbittered his Spirit, that he by various judgments destroyed them, and turned them into the grave and hell together, 1 Corinthians 10:5-11. Moses and others of God’s own cannot be numbered among these sinners, for their sins were pardoned and persons accepted; and though they came short of the literal, had a much more abundant entrance administered to them into the heavenly Canaan.

To prevent these Hebrews falling, the Spirit repeats the direful oath of God to apostates in the wilderness; the form of which was opened, Hebrews 3:11: compare Numbers 14:30. The matter sworn was, that they should be so far from possessing, that they should not so much as enter into the land of promise, Canaan, which was God’s property, as the whole earth is; he promised it to them, could only dispossess their enemies, did give it in possession to their seed, and made it a type of heaven, and of his rest there; he swore this in his severe vindictive justice, so as his sentence was irreversible; which oath stands good against all total and final apostates from him, who have thereby forfeited any title to God’s eternal rest.

Them that believed not; those who were unbelieving under all God’s miracles of mercies and judgments, which they saw, and so became obstinately disobedient to God’s commands, and broke his covenant, Hebrews 8:9 Jeremiah 31:32, and apostatized from him, and so perished in their gainsaying.

The execution of the matter sworn was felt by these Hebrews, which should make them and all that read it to dread both their sin and punishment, which the gospel would as justly inflict on them, if unbelievers. It is to be seen in God’s written record of it, and the experienced downfal of such, that God’s oath had shut the door as to their entrance there, and his judgments consumed them in the wilderness, because of their denial of resting on God’s word, and the impious practices that issued from it, in their rejecting promises, rebelling against precepts, and murmuring against providence. God is no respecter of persons; if we sin so against his Son and gospel, how much sorer punishment will overtake us! Hebrews 10:27,29.