Adam Clarke

But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.

“Last days - The Gospel dispensation, called the last days and the last time, because not to be followed by any other dispensation; or the conclusion of the Jewish Church and state now at their termination.”

So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs.

“So much better than the angels - Another argument in favor of the Divinity of our Lord.”

And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”

“And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten - This is not a correct translation of the Greek, Ὁταν δε παλιν εισαγαγῃ τον πρωτοτοκον εις την οικουμενην· But when he bringeth again, or the second time, the first-born into the habitable world.”

But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.

“Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever - If this be said of the Son of God, i.e. Jesus Christ, then Jesus Christ must be God; and indeed the design of the apostle is to prove this.”

And: “In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

“And, Thou, Lord - This is an address to the Son as the Creator, see Heb 1:2; for this is implied in laying the foundation of the earth. The heavens, which are the work of his hands, point out his infinite wisdom and skill.”

You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed; but You remain the same, and Your years will never end.”

“And they shall be changed - Not destroyed ultimately, or annihilated. They shall be changed and renewed.”

For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment,

“If the word spoken by angels - The law, (according to some), which was delivered by the mediation of angels, God frequently employing these to communicate his will to men. See Act 7:53; and Gal 3:19.”

and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.

“God also bearing them witness - He did not leave the confirmation of these great truths to the testimony of men; he bore his own testimony to them by signs, wonders, various miracles, and distributions of the Holy Ghost, Πνευματος ‘Αγιου μερισμοις.”

But somewhere it is testified in these words: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?

“But one in a certain place - This one is David; and the certain place, Psa 8:4, Psa 8:5, Psa 8:6. But why does the apostle use this indeterminate mode of quotation?”

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

“For it became him - It was suitable to the Divine wisdom, the requisitions of justice, and the economy of grace, to offer Jesus as a sacrifice, in order to bring many sons and daughters to glory.”

He says: “I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing Your praises in the assembly.”

“I will declare thy name - See Psa 22:22. The apostle certainly quotes this psalm as referring to Jesus Christ, and these words as spoken by Christ unto the Father, in reference to his incarnation; as if he had said: “When I shall be incarnated…”

Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that…

“The children are partakers of flesh and blood - Since those children of God, who have fallen and are to be redeemed, are human beings; in order to be qualified to redeem them by suffering and dying in their stead, He himself likewise took part…”

For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham.

“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels - Ου γαρ δηπου αγγελων επιλαμβανεται, αλλα σπερματος Αβρααμ επιλαμβανεται· Moreover, he doth not at all take hold of angels; but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold.”

Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

“For in that he himself hath suffered - The maxim on which this verse is founded is the following: A state of suffering disposes persons to be compassionate, and those who endure most afflictions are they who feel most for others.”

He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.

“Who was faithful to him - In Num 12:7, God gives this testimony to Moses: My servant Moses - is faithful in all my house; and to this testimony the apostle alludes.”

And every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

“For every house is builded by some man - The literal sense is plain enough: “Every structure plainly implies an, architect, and an end for which it was formed.”

But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.

“But Christ as a Son over his own house - Moses was faithful as a servant In the house; Jesus was faithful, as the first-born Son, Over the house of which he is the Heir and Governor.”

do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness,

“Harden not your hearts - Which ye will infallibly do, if ye will not hear his voice. Provocation - Παραπικρασμος· From παρα, signifying intensity, and πικραινω, to make bitter; the exasperation, or bitter provocation.”

Therefore I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known My ways.’

“Wherefore I was grieved - God represents himself as the Father of this great Jewish family, for whose comfort and support he had made every necessary provision, and to whom he had given every proof of tenderness and fatherly affection; and because, they disobeyed him…”

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you - Take warning by those disobedient Israelites; they were brought out of the house of bondage, and had the fullest promise of a land of prosperity and rest.”

We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.

“For we are made partakers of Christ - Having believed in Christ as the promised Messiah, and embraced the whole Christian system, they were consequently made partakers of all its benefits in this life, and entitled to the fulfillment of all its exceeding great and…”

For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?

“For some, when they had heard, did provoke - There is a various reading here, which consists merely in the different placing of an accent, and yet gives the whole passage a different turn: - τινες, from τις, who, if read with the accent on…”

And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed?

“To whom sware he - God never acts by any kind of caprice; whenever he pours out his judgments, there are the most positive reasons to vindicate his conduct. Those whose carcasses fell in the wilderness were they who had sinned.”

For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of…

“For unto us was the Gospel preached - Και γαρ εσμεν ευηγγελισμενοι· For we also have received good tidings as well as they. They had a gracious promise of entering into an earthly rest; we have a gracious promise of entering into a heavenly rest.”

For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”

“For he spake in a certain place - This certain place or somewhere, που, is probably Gen 2:2; and refers to the completion of the work of creation, and the setting apart the seventh day as a day of rest for man, and a type…”