1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
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.
4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
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.
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
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.)
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;
15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
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.
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2 Who was G5607 faithful G4103 to him that appointed G4160 him, G846 as G5613 also G2532 Moses G3475 was faithful in G1722 all G3650 his G846 house. G3624
3 For G1063 this G3778 man was counted worthy G515 of more G4119 glory G1391 than G3844 Moses, G3475 inasmuch as G2596 G3745 he who hath builded G2680 the house G3624 hath more G4119 honour G5092 than G2192 the house. G846
4 For G1063 every G3956 house G3624 is builded G2680 by G5259 some G5100 man; but G1161 he that built G2680 all things G3956 is God. G2316
5 And G2532 Moses G3475 verily G3303 was faithful G4103 in G1722 all G3650 his G846 house, G3624 as G5613 a servant, G2324 for G1519 a testimony G3142 of those things which were to be spoken after; G2980
6 But G1161 Christ G5547 as G5613 a son G5207 over G1909 his own G846 house; G3624 whose G3739 house G3624 are G2070 we, G2249 if G1437 G4007 we hold fast G2722 the confidence G3954 and G2532 the rejoicing G2745 of the hope G1680 firm G949 unto G3360 the end. G5056
7 Wherefore G1352 (as G2531 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 saith, G3004 To day G4594 if G1437 ye will hear G191 his G846 voice, G5456
8 Harden G4645 not G3361 your G5216 hearts, G2588 as G5613 in G1722 the provocation, G3894 in G2596 the day G2250 of temptation G3986 in G1722 the wilderness: G2048
9 When G3757 your G5216 fathers G3962 tempted G3985 me, G3165 proved G1381 me, G3165 and G2532 saw G1492 my G3450 works G2041 forty G5062 years. G2094
10 Wherefore G1352 I was grieved G4360 with that G1565 generation, G1074 and G2532 said, G2036 They do G4105 alway G104 err G4105 in their heart; G2588 and G1161 they G846 have G1097 not G3756 known G1097 my G3450 ways. G3598
11 So G5613 I sware G3660 in G1722 my G3450 wrath, G3709 They shall G1525 not G1487 enter G1525 into G1519 my G3450 rest.) G2663
12 Take heed, G991 brethren, G80 lest G3379 there be G2071 in G1722 any G5100 of you G5216 an evil G4190 heart G2588 of unbelief, G570 in G1722 departing G868 from G575 the living G2198 God. G2316
13 But G235 exhort G3870 one another G1438 daily, G2596 G1538 G2250 while G891 G3739 it is called G2564 To day; G4594 lest G3363 any G5100 of G1537 you G5216 be hardened G4645 through the deceitfulness G539 of sin. G266
14 For G1063 we are made G1096 partakers G3353 of Christ, G5547 if G1437 G4007 we hold G2722 the beginning G746 of our confidence G5287 stedfast G949 unto G3360 the end; G5056
15 While G1722 it is said, G3004 To day G4594 if G1437 ye will hear G191 his G846 voice, G5456 harden G4645 not G3361 your G5216 hearts, G2588 as G5613 in G1722 the provocation. G3894
16 For G1063 some, G5100 when they had heard, G191 did provoke: G3893 howbeit G235 not G3756 all G3956 that came G1831 out of G1537 Egypt G125 by G1223 Moses. G3475
17 But G1161 with whom G5101 was he grieved G4360 forty G5062 years? G2094 was it not G3780 with them that had sinned, G264 whose G3739 carcases G2966 fell G4098 in G1722 the wilderness? G2048
18 And G1161 to whom G5101 sware he G3660 that they should G1525 not G3361 enter G1525 into G1519 his G846 rest, G2663 but G1508 to them that believed not? G544
19 So G2532 we see G991 that G3754 they could G1410 not G3756 enter in G1525 because G1223 of unbelief. G570
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, `even' Jesus;
2 who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.
3 For he hath been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by so much as he that built the house hath more honor than the house.
4 For every house is builded by some one; but he that built all things is God.
5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken;
6 but Christ as a son, over his house; whose house are we, if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end.
7 Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit saith, To-day if ye shall hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, Like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness,
9 Where your fathers tried `me' by proving `me,' And saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was displeased with this generation, And said, They do always err in their heart: But they did not know my ways;
11 As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.
12 Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God:
13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin:
14 for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end:
15 while it is said, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16 For who, when they heard, did provoke? nay, did not all they that came out of Egypt by Moses?
17 And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient?
19 And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the apostle and chief priest of our profession, Christ Jesus,
2 being stedfast to Him who did appoint him, as also Moses in all his house,
3 for of more glory than Moses hath this one been counted worthy, inasmuch as more honour than the house hath he who doth build it,
4 for every house is builded by some one, and He who the all things did build `is' God,
5 and Moses indeed `was' stedfast in all his house, as an attendant, for a testimony of those things that were to be spoken,
6 and Christ, as a Son over his house, whose house are we, if the boldness and the rejoicing of the hope unto the end we hold fast.
7 Wherefore, (as the Holy Spirit saith, `To-day, if His voice ye may hear --
8 ye may not harden your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of the temptation in the wilderness,
9 in which tempt Me did your fathers, they did prove Me, and saw My works forty years;
10 wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, Always do they go astray in heart, and these have not known My ways;
11 so I sware in My anger, If they shall enter into My rest -- !')
12 See, brethren, lest there shall be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in the falling away from the living God,
13 but exhort ye one another every day, while the To-day is called, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of the sin,
14 for partakers we have become of the Christ, if the beginning of the confidence unto the end we may hold fast,
15 in its being said, `To-day, if His voice ye may hear, ye may not harden your hearts, as in the provocation,'
16 for certain having heard did provoke, but not all who did come out of Egypt through Moses;
17 but with whom was He grieved forty years? was it not with those who did sin, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?
18 and to whom did He swear that they shall not enter into His rest, except to those who did not believe? --
19 and we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of [the] heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus,
2 who is faithful to him that has constituted him, as Moses also in all his house.
3 For *he* has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, by how much he that has built it has more honour than the house.
4 For every house is built by some one; but he who has built all things [is] God.
5 And Moses indeed [was] faithful in all his house, as a ministering servant, for a testimony of the things to be spoken after;
6 but Christ, as Son over his house, whose house are *we*, if indeed we hold fast the boldness and the boast of hope firm to the end.
7 Wherefore, even as says the Holy Spirit, To-day if ye will hear his voice,
8 harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness;
9 where your fathers tempted [me], by proving [me], and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was wroth with this generation, and said, They always err in heart; and *they* have not known my ways;
11 so I swore in my wrath, If they shall enter into my rest.
12 See, brethren, lest there be in any one of you a wicked heart of unbelief, in turning away from [the] living God.
13 But encourage yourselves each day, as long as it is called To-day, that none of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are become companions of the Christ if indeed we hold the beginning of the assurance firm to the end;
15 in that it is said, To-day if ye will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation;
16 (for who was it, who, having heard, provoked? but [was it] not all who came out of Egypt by Moses?
17 And with whom was he wroth forty years? [Was it] not with those who had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to those who had not hearkened to the word?
19 And we see that they could not enter in on account of unbelief;)
1 Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus;
2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.
3 For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who built the house has more honor than the house.
4 For every house is built by someone; but he who built all things is God.
5 Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken,
6 but Christ is faithful as a Son over his house; whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end.
7 Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you will hear his voice,
8 Don't harden your hearts, as in the provocation, Like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness,
9 Where your fathers tested me by proving me, And saw my works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was displeased with that generation, And said, 'They always err in their heart, But they didn't know my ways;'
11 As I swore in my wrath, 'They will not enter into my rest.'"
12 Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God;
13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called "today;" lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm to the end:
15 while it is said, "Today if you will hear his voice, Don't harden your hearts, as in the rebellion."
16 For who, when they heard, rebelled? No, didn't all those who came out of Egypt by Moses?
17 With whom was he displeased forty years? Wasn't it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
18 To whom did he swear that they wouldn't enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient?
19 We see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.
1 For this reason, holy brothers, marked out to have a part in heaven, give thought to Jesus the representative and high priest of our faith;
2 Who kept faith with God who gave him his place, even as Moses did in all his house.
3 And it was right for this man to have more honour than Moses, even as the builder of a house has more honour than the house.
4 For every house has a builder; but the builder of all things is God.
5 And Moses certainly kept faith as a servant, in all his house, and as a witness of those things which were to be said later;
6 But Christ as a son, over his house; whose house are we, if we keep our hearts fixed in the glad and certain hope till the end.
7 And so, as the Holy Spirit says, Today if you let his voice come to your ears,
8 Be not hard of heart, as when you made me angry, on the day of testing in the waste land,
9 When your fathers put me to the test, and saw my works for forty years.
10 So that I was angry with this generation, and I said, Their hearts are in error at all times, and they have no knowledge of my ways;
11 And being angry I made an oath, saying, They may not come into my rest.
12 My brothers, take care that there is not by chance in any one of you an evil heart without belief, turning away from the living God:
13 But give comfort to one another every day as long as it is still Today; so that no one among you may be made hard by the deceit of sin:
14 For if we keep the substance of the faith which we had at the start, even till the end, we have a part with Christ;
15 As it is said, Today if you will let his voice come to your ears, be not hard of heart, as when you made him angry.
16 Who made him angry when his voice came to them? was it not all those who came out of Egypt with Moses?
17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? was it not with those who did evil, who came to their deaths in the waste land?
18 And to whom did he make an oath that they might not come into his rest? was it not to those who went against his orders?
19 So we see that they were not able to go in because they had no belief.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Hebrews 3
Commentary on Hebrews 3 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 3
Heb 3:1-19. The Son of God Greater than Moses, Wherefore Unbelief towards Him Will Incur a Heavier Punishment than Befell Unbelieving Israel in the Wilderness.
As Moses especially was the prophet by whom "God in times past spake to the fathers," being the mediator of the law, Paul deems it necessary now to show that, great as was Moses, the Son of God is greater. Ebrard in Alford remarks, The angel of the covenant came in the name of God before Israel; Moses in the name of Israel before God; whereas the high priest came both in the name of God (bearing the name Jehovah on his forehead) before Israel, and in the name of Israel (bearing the names of the twelve tribes on his breast) before God (Ex 28:9-29, 36, 38). Now Christ is above the angels, according to the first and second chapters because (1) as Son of God He is higher; and (2) because manhood, though originally lower than angels, is in Him exalted above them to the lordship of "the world to come," inasmuch as He is at once Messenger of God to men, and also atoning Priest-Representative of men before God (Heb 2:17, 18). Parallel with this line of argument as to His superiority to angels (Heb 1:4) runs that which here follows as to His superiority to Moses (Heb 3:3): (1) because as Son over the house; He is above the servant in the house (Heb 3:5, 6), just as the angels were shown to be but ministering (serving) spirits (Heb 1:14), whereas He is the Son (Heb 3:7, 8); (2) because the bringing of Israel into the promised rest, which was not finished by Moses, is accomplished by Him (Heb 4:1-11), through His being not merely a leader and lawgiver as Moses, but also a propitiatory High Priest (Heb 4:14; 5:10).
1. Wherefore—Greek, "Whence," that is, seeing we have such a sympathizing Helper you ought to "consider attentively," "contemplate"; fix your eyes and mind on Him with a view to profiting by the contemplation (Heb 12:2). The Greek word is often used by Luke, Paul's companion (Lu 12:24, 27).
brethren—in Christ, the common bond of union.
partakers—"of the Holy Ghost."
heavenly calling—coming to us from heaven, and leading us to heaven whence it comes. Php 3:14, "the high calling"; Greek "the calling above," that is, heavenly.
the Apostle and High Priest of our profession—There is but one Greek article to both nouns, "Him who is at once Apostle and High Priest"—Apostle, as Ambassador (a higher designation than "angel"-messenger) sent by the Father (Joh 20:21), pleading the cause of God with us; High Priest, as pleading our cause with God. Both His Apostleship and High Priesthood are comprehended in the one title, Mediator [Bengel]. Though the title "Apostle" is nowhere else applied to Christ, it is appropriate here in addressing Hebrews, who used the term of the delegates sent by the high priest to collect the temple tribute from Jews resident in foreign countries, even as Christ was Delegate of the Father to this world far off from Him (Mt 21:37). Hence as what applies to Him, applies also to His people, the Twelve are designated His apostles, even as He is the Father's (Joh 20:21). It was desirable to avoid designating Him here "angel," in order to distinguish His nature from that of angels mentioned before, though he is "the Angel of the Covenant." The "legate of the Church" (Sheliach Tsibbur) offered up the prayers in the synagogue in the name of all, and for all. So Jesus, "the Apostle of our profession," is delegated to intercede for the Church before the Father. The words "of our profession," mark that it is not of the legal ritual, but of our Christian faith, that He is the High Priest. Paul compares Him as an Apostle to Moses; as High Priest to Aaron. He alone holds both offices combined, and in a more eminent degree than either, which those two brothers held apart.
profession—"confession," corresponds to God having spoken to us by His Son, sent as Apostle and High Priest. What God proclaims we confess.
2. He first notes the feature of resemblance between Moses and Christ, in order to conciliate the Hebrew Christians whom He addressed, and who still entertained a very high opinion of Moses; he afterwards brings forward Christ's superiority to Moses.
Who was faithful—The Greek implies also that He still is faithful, namely, as our mediating High Priest, faithful to the trust God has assigned Him (Heb 2:17). So Moses in God's house (Nu 12:7).
appointed him—"made Him" High Priest; to be supplied from the preceding context. Greek, "made"; so in Heb 5:5; 1Sa 12:6, Margin; Ac 2:36; so the Greek fathers. Not as Alford, with Ambrose and the Latins, "created Him," that is, as man, in His incarnation. The likeness of Moses to Messiah was foretold by Moses himself (De 18:15). Other prophets only explained Moses, who was in this respect superior to them; but Christ was like Moses, yet superior.
3. For—assigning the reason why they should "consider" attentively "Christ" (Heb 3:1), highly as they regard Moses who resembled Him in faithfulness (Heb 3:2).
was—Greek, "has been."
counted worthy of more glory—by God, when He exalted Him to His own right hand. The Hebrew Christians admitted the fact (Heb 1:13).
builded the house—Greek, "inasmuch as He hath more honor than the house, who prepared it," or "established it" [Alford]. The Greek verb is used purposely instead of "builded," in order to mark that the building meant is not a literal, but a spiritual house: the Church both of the Old Testament and New Testament; and that the building of such a house includes all the preparations of providence and grace needed to furnish it with "living stones" and fitting "servants." Thus, as Christ the Founder and Establisher (in Old Testament as well as the New Testament) is greater than the house so established, including the servants, He is greater also than Moses, who was but a "servant." Moses, as a servant, is a portion of the house, and less than the house; Christ, as the Instrumental Creator of all things, must be God, and so greater than the house of which Moses was but a part. Glory is the result of honor.
4. Someone must be the establisher of every house; Moses was not the establisher of the house, but a portion of it (but He who established all things, and therefore the spiritual house in question, is God). Christ, as being instrumentally the Establisher of all things, must be the Establisher of the house, and so greater than Moses.
5. faithful in all his house—that is in all God's house (Heb 3:4).
servant—not here the Greek for "slave," but "a ministering attendant"; marking the high office of Moses towards God, though inferior to Christ, a kind of steward.
for a testimony of, &c.—in order that he might in his typical institutions give "testimony" to Israel "of the things" of the Gospel "which were to be spoken afterwards" by Christ (Heb 8:5; 9:8, 23; 10:1).
6. But Christ—was and is faithful (Heb 3:2).
as a son over his own house—rather, "over His (God's, Heb 3:4) house"; and therefore, as the inference from His being one with God, over His own house. So Heb 10:21, "having an High Priest over the house of God." Christ enters His Father's house as the Master [OVER it], but Moses as a servant [IN it, Heb 3:2, 5] [Chrysostom]. An ambassador in the absence of the king is very distinguished—in the presence of the king he falls back into the multitude [Bengel].
whose house are we—Paul and his Hebrew readers. One old manuscript, with Vulgate and Lucifer, reads, "which house"; but the weightiest manuscripts support English Version reading.
the rejoicing—rather, "the matter of rejoicing."
of the hope—"of our hope." Since all our good things lie in hopes, we ought so to hold fast our hopes as already to rejoice, as though our hopes were realized [Chrysostom].
firm unto the end—omitted in Lucifer and Ambrose, and in one oldest manuscript, but supported by most oldest manuscripts.
7-11. Exhortation from Ps 95:7-11, not through unbelief to lose participation in the spiritual house. Seeing that we are the house of God if we hold fast our confidence … (Heb 3:6). Jesus is "faithful," be not ye unfaithful (Heb 3:2, 12). The sentence beginning with "wherefore," interrupted by the parenthesis confirming the argument from Ps 95:7-11, is completed at Heb 3:12, "Take heed," &c.
Holy Ghost saith—by the inspired Psalmist; so that the words of the latter are the words of God Himself.
To-day—at length; in David's day, as contrasted with the days of Moses in the wilderness, and the whole time since then, during which they had been rebellious against God's voice; as for instance, in the wilderness (Heb 3:8). The Psalm, each fresh time when used in public worship, by "to-day," will mean the particular day when it was, or is, used.
hear—obediently.
his voice—of grace.
8. Harden not your hearts—This phrase here only is used of man's own act; usually of God's act (Ro 9:18). When man is spoken of as the agent in hardening, the phrase usually is, "harden his neck," or "back" (Ne 9:17).
provocation … temptation—"Massah-meribah," translated in Margin "tentation … chiding," or "strife" (Ex 17:1-7). Both names seem to refer to that one event, the murmuring of the people against the Lord at Rephidim for want of water. The first offense especially ought to be guarded against, and is the most severely reproved, as it is apt to produce many more. Nu 20:1-13 and De 33:8 mention a second similar occasion in the wilderness of Sin, near Kadesh, also called Meribah.
in the day—Greek, "according to the day of."
9. When—rather, "Where," namely, in the wilderness.
your fathers—The authority of the ancients is not conclusive [Bengel].
tempted me, proved me—The oldest manuscripts read, "tempted (Me) in the way of testing," that is, putting (Me) to the proof whether I was able and willing to relieve them, not believing that I am so.
saw my works forty years—They saw, without being led thereby to repentance, My works of power partly in affording miraculous help, partly in executing vengeance, forty years. The "forty years" joined in the Hebrew and Septuagint, and below, Heb 3:17, with "I was grieved," is here joined with "they saw." Both are true; for, during the same forty years that they were tempting God by unbelief, notwithstanding their seeing God's miraculous works, God was being grieved. The lesson intended to be hinted to the Hebrew Christians is, their "to-day" is to last only between the first preaching of the Gospel and Jerusalem's impending overthrow, namely, FORTY YEARS; exactly the number of years of Israel's sojourn in the wilderness, until the full measure of their guilt having been filled up all the rebels were overthrown.
10. grieved—displeased. Compare "walk contrary," Le 26:24, 28.
that generation—"that" implies alienation and estrangement. But the oldest manuscripts read, "this."
said—"grieved," or "displeased," at their first offense. Subsequently when they hardened their heart in unbelief still more, He sware in His wrath (Heb 3:11); an ascending gradation (compare Heb 3:17, 18).
and they have not known—Greek, "But these very persons," &c. They perceived I was displeased with them, yet they, the same persons, did not a whit the more wish to know my ways [Bengel]; compare "but they," Ps 106:43.
not known my ways—not known practically and believingly the ways in which I would have had them go, so as to reach My rest (Ex 18:20).
11. So—literally, "as."
I sware—Bengel remarks the oath of God preceded the forty years.
not—literally, "If they shall enter … (God do so to me and more also)," 2Sa 3:35. The Greek is the same, Mr 8:12.
my rest—Canaan, primarily, their rest after wandering in the wilderness: still, even when in it, they never fully enjoyed rest; whence it followed that the threat extended farther than the exclusion of the unbelieving from the literal land of rest, and that the rest promised to the believing in its full blessedness was, and is, yet future: Ps 25:13; 37:9, 11, 22, 29, and Christ's own beatitude (Mt 5:5) all accord with this, Heb 3:9.
12. Take heed—to be joined with "wherefore," Heb 3:7.
lest there be—Greek (indicative), "lest there shall be"; lest there be, as I fear there is; implying that it is not merely a possible contingency, but that there is ground for thinking it will be so.
in any—"in any one of you." Not merely ought all in general be on their guard, but they ought to be so concerned for the safety of each one member, as not to suffer any one to perish through their negligence [Calvin].
heart—The heart is not to be trusted. Compare Heb 3:10, "They do always err in their heart."
unbelief—faithlessness. Christ is faithful; therefore, saith Paul to the Hebrews, we ought not to be faithless as our fathers were under Moses.
departing—apostatizing. The opposite of "come unto" Him (Heb 4:16). God punishes such apostates in kind. He departs from them—the worst of woes.
the living God—real: the distinctive characteristic of the God of Israel, not like the lifeless gods of the heathen; therefore One whose threats are awful realities. To apostatize from Christ is to apostatize from the living God (Heb 2:3).
13. one another—Greek, "yourselves"; let each exhort himself and his neighbor.
daily—Greek, "on each day," or "day by day."
while it is called To-day—while the "to-day" lasts (the day of grace, Lu 4:21, before the coming of the day of glory and judgment at Christ's coming, Heb 10:25, 37). To-morrow is the day when idle men work, and fools repent. To-morrow is Satan's to-day; he cares not what good resolutions you form, if only you fix them for to-morrow.
lest … of you—The "you" is emphatic, as distinguished from "your fathers" (Heb 3:9). "That from among you no one (so the Greek order is in some of the oldest manuscripts) be hardened" (Heb 3:8).
deceitfulness—causing you to "err in your heart."
sin—unbelief.
14. For, &c.—enforcing the warning, Heb 3:12.
partakers of Christ—(Compare Heb 3:1, 6). So "partakers of the Holy Ghost" (Heb 6:4).
hold—Greek, "hold fast."
the beginning of our confidence—that is, the confidence (literally, substantial, solid confidence) of faith which we have begun (Heb 6:11; 12:2). A Christian so long as he is not made perfect, considers himself as a beginner [Bengel].
unto the end—unto the coming of Christ (Heb 12:2).
15. While it is said—connected with Heb 3:13, "exhort one another … while it is said, To-day": Heb 3:14, "for we are made partakers," &c., being a parenthesis. "It entirely depends on yourselves that the invitation of the ninety-fifth Psalm be not a mere invitation, but also an actual enjoyment." Alford translates, "Since (that is, 'for') it is said," &c., regarding Heb 3:15 as a proof that we must "hold … confidence … unto the end," in order to be "partakers of Christ."
16. For some—rather interrogatively, "For WHO was it that, when they had heard (referring to 'if ye will hear,' Heb 3:15), did provoke (God)?" The "For" implies, Ye need to take heed against unbelief: for, was it not because of unbelief that all our fathers were excluded (Eze 2:3)? "Some," and "not all," would be a faint way of putting his argument, when his object is to show the universality of the evil. Not merely some, but all the Israelites, for the solitary exceptions, Joshua and Caleb, are hardly to be taken into account in so general a statement. So Heb 3:17, 18, are interrogative: (1) the beginning of the provocation, soon after the departure from Egypt, is marked in Heb 3:16; (2) the forty years of it in the wilderness, Heb 3:17; (3) the denial of entrance into the land of rest, Heb 3:18. Compare Note, see on 1Co 10:5, "with the majority of them God was displeased."
howbeit—"Nay (why need I put the question?), was it not all that came out of Egypt?" (Ex 17:1, 2).
by Moses—by the instrumentality of Moses as their leader.
17. But—Translate, "Moreover," as it is not in contrast to Heb 3:16, but carrying out the same thought.
corpses—literally, "limbs," implying that their bodies fell limb from limb.
18. to them that believed not—rather as Greek, "to them that disobeyed." Practical unbelief (De 1:26).
19. they could not enter—though desiring it.