Hebrewschapter 3
19 verses · unknown · AD 60 to 69 · The general letters
Now Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be spoken later.
Introduction
unknown, The general letters, Hebrews Overview.
The writer of this sermon now sets Jesus beside the greatest man in Israel's memory, the one through whom the law was given. His hearers honoured that man above every other, and they were tempted to go back to the worship he had founded. The writer does it gently and then turns the comparison into a warning drawn from a psalm sung in Israel's worship. Listen for the word house and for who builds it, who serves in it and who rules over it. Listen also for the word today, spoken three times. The chapter asks each hearer whether the door is still open.
Context
- Who
- Jewish believers for whom Moses was the highest human figure imaginable
- What
- A comparison of Jesus with Moses, followed by a warning from Psalm 95 about the generation that died in the wilderness.
- Where
- Written to a community of Jewish believers, most likely in or near Rome, whose story ran back through the wilderness to the exodus from Egypt.
- When
- Most likely in the 60s AD, while the temple worship founded on the law of Moses was still carried on in Jerusalem.
- Why
- To show that Jesus deserves more honour than Moses, and to keep believers from the unbelief that turned Israel back in the wilderness.
Historical context
No one in Judaism ranked above Moses. Jewish writers of the period praised him extravagantly, Philo of Alexandria wrote a whole life of him as lawgiver, priest, prophet, and king. Saying anyone was counted worthy of more glory than Moses was, to a Jewish ear, close to unthinkable.
Show the rest of the historical context, 3 more paragraphs
The comparison is careful and gentle: Moses was faithful in God's house as a servant, Christ over the house as a son. A 'house' in that world meant the household, the people, not the building, so the church is the house being talked about.
The warning uses Psalm 95, a psalm sung in Israel's worship, which recalls the generation that came out of Egypt and then refused to go into the land. That generation had seen more miracles than anyone in history and still turned back at the border.
Forty years in the wilderness is the sermon's chosen picture of a slow drift rather than a sudden collapse. Nobody in that generation announced they were quitting; they simply kept not going in.
Significance
The hearers were considering exactly that kind of retreat, not renouncing Christ, just slipping quietly back to safer ground. The sermon puts a name on it: an unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
Show the rest of the significance, 1 more paragraph
The remedy is not private willpower but daily company. Encourage one another every day, while it is still called today, because hearts harden by deceit and a person cannot always feel it happening.
The heads below are this chapter's scenes. The numbered points under each are its verses.
The Builder Outranks the House: Jesus Above Moses
Hebrews 3:1-2
the apostle and high priest: The command to set your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess gathers up chapters 1 and 2. Numbers 12:7 stands behind Moses was faithful in all God’s house.
Hebrews 3:1
“Wherefore - That is, since Christ sustains such a character as has been stated in the previous chapter; since he is so able to succour those who need assistance; since he assumed our nature that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest, his character ought to be attentively considered, and we ought to endeavor fully to understand it. Holy brethren - The name “brethren” is often given to Christians to denote that they are of one family.”
2 more voices on this verseWhat preachers and commentators have said about this verse, in their own words.
Hebrews 3:1
“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.”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
Hebrews 3:1
“And to encourage them the more to pursue this study, he reminds them of their calling; as though he had said, "God favored you with no common grace when He called you into his kingdom; it now remains that you have your eyes fixed on Christ as your leader in the way." For the calling of the godly cannot be otherwise confirmed than by a thorough surrender of themselves to Christ.”
John Calvin · Commentaries (1554)reformed
faithful to the One who appointed Him: The Greek behind He was faithful is a present participle, being faithful, so his faithfulness to the One who appointed Him continues. The comparison just as Moses was faithful recalls Deuteronomy 18:15, where Moses foretold a prophet like himself.
Hebrews 3:2
“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. House not only means the place where a family dwells, but also the family itself.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
2 more voices on this verse
Hebrews 3:2
“Who was faithful to him that appointed him,.... Or "made him"; Christ, as man, was made, but not as God; nor is the apostle speaking of the divine nature of Christ, but of his offices: wherefore this phrase designs the constitution and settlement of him in office; which may take in the eternal appointment of him as Mediator; the open promise of him in time; his mission, unction, and attestation from God; and his manifestation and declaration as such, at his ascension and session at God's right hand, when he was made Lord and Christ.”
Hebrews 3:2
“Who was, or is faithful, etc. This is a commendation of the apostleship of Christ, in order that the faithful may securely acquiesce in him; and he commends it on two grounds, because the Father has set him to be over us as our teacher, and because Christ himself has faithfully performed the office committed to him.”
John Calvin · Commentaries (1554)reformed
Connectionsperson/moses
Hebrews 3:3-4
worthy of greater glory than Moses: Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, as a builder outranks the house he builds. Verse 4 adds that God is the builder of everything. Moses is honored as a faithful part of the house, and Christ stands over it as its builder.
Hebrews 3:3
“For this man - The Lord Jesus. The word “man” is understood, but there can be no doubt that he is referred to. Was counted more worthy - Was more worthy; or is more worthy. The word used here does not refer to anything that had been said of him, or to any estimate which had been made of him. It means simply that he was worthy of more honor than Moses. how he was so, Paul proceeds to show. Of more glory - - δόξης doxē̄s. Honor, dignity, regard.”
2 more voices on this verse
Hebrews 3:3
“Christ is the maker of this house of the church in all ages: Moses was a minister in the house, he was instrumental under Christ in governing and edifying the house, but Christ is the maker of all things; for he is God, and no one less than God could build the church, either lay the foundation or carry on the superstructure.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
Hebrews 3:3
“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.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
God is the builder of everything: John Wesley reads the builder of everything as Christ, and so calls him God, infinitely greater than Moses or any creature. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown render the verb as establishing. The house is the church of both Testaments, furnished by providence and grace.
Hebrews 3:4
“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.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
1 more voice on this verse
Hebrews 3:4
“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. The architect may be employed by him for whose use the house is intended; but the efficient cause of the erection is that which is here to he regarded.” The word house, here, is still taken in a metaphorical sense as above, it signifies family or Church. Now the general meaning of the words, taken in this sense, is: “Every family has an author, and a head or governor.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Hebrews 3:5-6
Moses was faithful as a servant: , therapon, an honored attendant, testifying to what would be spoken later. Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house, and the readers are that house on a condition, if we hold firmly to our confidence.
Hebrews 3:5
“And Moses himself, being a man of God, was indeed given as a god before Pharaoh; but he is not properly termed Lord, nor is called God by the prophets, but is spoken of by the Spirit as "Moses, the faithful minister and servant of God," which also he was.”
Irenaeus · written before 202 · Irenaeus Against Heresies Book 3patristic
2 more voices on this verse
Hebrews 3:5
“Moses was faithful ...as a servant - Not as the head of the dispensation; not as having originated it; but as in the employ and under the direction of its great Founder and Author - the Messiah. As such a servant he deserves all the honor for fidelity which has ever been claimed for him, but it cannot be the honor which is due to him who is at the head of the family or house.”
Hebrews 3:5
“Moses was only a typical governor, for a testimony of all those things relating to the church which would be more clearly, completely, and comfortably revealed in the gospel by the Spirit of Christ; and therefore Christ is worthy of more glory than Moses, and of greater regard and consideration.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
the hope of which we boast: The readers are God's house on one condition, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast. The hope is held openly and with joy, as if it were already fulfilled.
Hebrews 3:6
“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].”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
1 more voice on this verse
Hebrews 3:6
“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. Here, then, is the conclusion of the argument in reference to Christ’s superiority over Moses.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Today, If Ye Shall Hear His Voice
Hebrews 3:7-9
The letter's longest citation, Psalm 95:7 to 11, is given as what the Holy Spirit says, a present address to the readers. The rebellion recalls Meribah in Exodus 17:1 to 7 and Numbers 20. The fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works.
Hebrews 3:7
“Therefore (as the Holy Spirit says) "today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Hebrews 3:7. THE Holy Spirit says, "Today." There is a great talk about yesterday. There are some who will have it that there are none like the days that are past—"the good old times." There are some who glory in what they did years ago. Their work was done yesterday. They have long ago retired from the business of life, but still they are accustomed to indulge in the recollections of what they did in days gone by.”
Charles Spurgeon · written before 1892 · The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3160: “The Call of 'Today'” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition)Particular Baptist
2 more voices on this verse
Hebrews 3:7
“Wherefore - In view of the fact that the Author of the Christian dispensation has a rank far superior to that of Moses. Because Christ has claims on us far greater than those which Moses had, let us hearken to his voice, and dread his displeasure. As the Holy Ghost saith - In Psa 95:7-11. This is full proof that in the estimation of the author of this Epistle the writer of this Psalm was inspired. The Holy Spirit speaks through the word which he has revealed.”
Hebrews 3:7
“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.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Cross references
Hebrews 3:7
- QuotingPsalms 95:7“For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. Today, if you hear His voice,”
'To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts' ('as the Holy Ghost saith')
ConnectionsPsalms 95:7
do not harden your hearts: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown observe that Scripture usually speaks of God hardening a heart, as at Romans 9:18. When man does the hardening, the usual phrase is hardening the neck, as at Nehemiah 9:17. Here the heart is hardened by man's own act.
Hebrews 3:8
“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. “The Israelites provoked God first in the wilderness of Sin, (Pelusium), when they murmured for want of bread, and had the manna given them, Exo 16:4. From the wilderness of Sin they journeyed to Rephidim, where they provoked God a second time for want of water, and insolently saying, Is the Lord God among us or not?”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
2 more voices on this verse
Hebrews 3:8
“What he cautions them against--hardening their hearts, turning the deaf ear to the calls and counsels of Christ: "When he tells you of the evil of sin, the excellency of holiness, the necessity of receiving him by faith as your Saviour, do not shut your ear and heart against such a voice as this." Observe, The hardening of our hearts is the spring of all our other sins.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
Hebrews 3:8
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."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
for forty years saw My works: In Psalm 95 the forty years belong with God's grief, and here they belong with what the fathers saw, for forty years saw My works. Verse 17 joins the forty years to God's anger again, so the letter holds both.
Hebrews 3:9
“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.”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
2 more voices on this verse
Hebrews 3:9
“Proved me - “As if they would have made an experiment how much it was possible for me to bear.” - Doddridge. The meaning is: “they put my patience to a thorough trial.” And saw my works - That is, my miracles, or my interpositions in their behalf. They saw the wonders at the Red Sea, the descent on Mount Sinai, the supply of manna, etc., and yet while seeing those works they rebelled.”
Hebrews 3:9
“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.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Hebrews 3:10-11
God's verdict, Their hearts are always going astray, names a settled habit of unbelief. The oath They shall never enter My rest barred that generation from Canaan. The rest in the psalm is Canaan first, and the letter will widen it beyond the land Joshua conquered.
Hebrews 3:10
“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, and walked ill that way in which they could not but be miserable, therefore he represents himself as grieved and exceedingly displeased with them. They do alway err in their hearts - Their affections are set on earthly things, and they do not acknowledge my ways to be right - holy, just, and good.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
So I swore on oath in My anger: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note the Greek reads if they shall enter, a Hebrew oath that leaves the curse unspoken, as at 2 Samuel 3:35. They trace a rising order. God was first displeased, and he swore after the people hardened their hearts further.
Hebrews 3:11
“So I sware in my wrath - God is often represented in the Scriptures as “swearing” - and usually as swearing by himself, or by his own existence. Of course this in figurative, and denotes a strong affirmation, or a settled and determined purpose. An oath with us implies the strongest affirmation, or the expression of the most settled and determined purpose of mind. The meaning here is, that so refractory and perverse had they showed themselves, that he solemnly resolved that they should never enter into the land of Canaan.”
Exhort One Another Daily Lest a Heart Harden
Hebrews 3:12-13
a wicked heart of unbelief: The psalm is applied directly to the danger of a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. The remedy is shared, exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today. The danger named is being hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:12
“Unbelief is a great sin, it vitiates the heart of man. (2.) An evil heart of unbelief is at the bottom of all our sinful departures from God; it is a leading step to apostasy; if once we allow ourselves to distrust God, we may soon desert him. (3.) Christian brethren have need to be cautioned against apostasy.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
4 more voices on this verse
Hebrews 3:12
“Thinking, then, that they could find a better, they wander and become wretched, and enter upon pathless places. But those which fell into the fire and were burned are those who have departed for ever from the living God.”
Shepherd of Hermas · written before 160 · Shepherd of Hermas, Vision 3patristic
Hebrews 3:12
“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.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Hebrews 3:12
“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. By their disobedience they came short of it, and fell in the wilderness. Ye have been brought from the bondage of sin, and have a most gracious promise of an everlasting inheritance among the saints in light; through unbelief and disobedience they lost their rest, through the same ye may lose yours.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Hebrews 3:12
“THIS message is not addressed to strangers far away, but to "brethren." Paul wrote it to the Hebrews, who were his brethren according to the flesh. It was kind of him to call them by that name. He also writes it to all of us who are Believers in Christ, and we ought to receive his word with all the greater intensity of attention because he writes to us as his brethren.”
Charles Spurgeon · written before 1892 · The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2552: “"Take Heed, Brethren"” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition)Particular Baptist
as long as it is called today: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown render the Greek as yourselves, so each believer exhorts himself as well as his neighbor. John Wesley warns that this today will end. The day of life ends soon, and the day of grace may end sooner.
Hebrews 3:13
“But, to prevent it, exhort one another, while it is called Today - This today will not last forever. The day of life will end soon, and perhaps the day of grace yet sooner.”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
1 more voice on this verse
Hebrews 3:13
“THE children of Israel, in their coming out of Egypt and in their forty years' sojourn in the wilderness, represented the visible Church of the living God—not the secret and elect body of the redeemed—but the professing company of the outward Church. They were very prone to the great sin of unbelief. They believed in God after a fashion while they saw His wonders, but the moment they were brought into straits or difficulties, they at once began to doubt the power of Jehovah and to cast off all reverence for His authority.”
come to share in Christ: We have come to share in Christ, and the Greek word is metochoi, partakers. The share is joined to a condition, if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had, which repeats the condition of verse 6.
Hebrews 3:14
“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 precious promises relative to the glories of the eternal world. The former they actually possessed, the latter they could have only in case of their perseverance; therefore the apostle says, If we hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end, i.e. of our life.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
2 more voices on this verse
Hebrews 3:14
“For we are made partakers of Christ,.... Being loved by him, given to him, and chosen in him before the foundation of the world; and so participate of all spiritual blessings in him; for this respects something past, and may be rendered, "we have been made".”
Hebrews 3:14
“'For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.''Hebrews 3:14. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE for the preacher to say too much about faith, or to extol this grace too highly! It is of vital importance, not at one stage of the Christian's history only, but throughout the whole of his career, from his setting out even till he reaches the goal where faith is turned to sight.”
Hebrews 3:15-16
do not harden your hearts: The Greek can be read as a statement that some rebelled, or as the question the Berean gives, Were they not all those Moses led. Of that generation only Joshua and Caleb entered Canaan, as Numbers 14:29 to 30 records.
Hebrews 3:15
“While it is said today,.... Exhort one another, and hold fast Christ and his Gospel, and faith and confidence therein; what follows is a repetition of the citation in Heb 3:7 in order to make a further improvement of it; which shows, that the words belong to the present times of the Gospel, and contain in them matter of moment, and great concern; and that Scripture instructions and exhortations are of perpetual use.”
1 more voice on this verse
Hebrews 3:15
"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."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read verses 16 to 18 as three questions in sequence. The first marks the provocation that began soon after the exodus, the second its forty years, and the third the entrance refused. John Wesley marvels at how soon the delivered people rebelled.
Hebrews 3:16
“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 the epsilon, τινὲς, is the plural indefinite, and signifies some, as in our translation; if read with the accent on the iota, τίνες, it has an interrogative meaning; and, according to this, the whole clause, τίνες γαρ ακουσαντες παρεπικραναν; But who were those hearers who did bitterly provoke?”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
1 more voice on this verse
Hebrews 3:16
“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)?”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Hebrews 3:17-19
with those who sinned: Numbers 14:29 is echoed in whose bodies fell in the wilderness. Sin, disobedience and unbelief are named together, and the chapter closes on the last, because of their unbelief, apistia, the danger of verse 12.
Hebrews 3:17
“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.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
2 more voices on this verse
Hebrews 3:17
“And to whom did he swear? &c. Whence observe, (1.) God is grieved only with those of his people who sin against him, and continue in sin. (2.) God is grieved and provoked most by sins publicly committed by the generality of a nation; when sin becomes epidemic, it is most provoking.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
Hebrews 3:17
“They died, for they could not enter the promised land. They merely looked over toward the land of promise, but they could not enter it. The Jews beheld the promised land but could not enter it. They died in the desert.… We, their children, under the leadership of Jesus, have come to the Jordan and entered the promised land.”
Jerome · written before 420 · Homilies on the Psalms 10 (Psalm 76)patristic
to those who disobeyed?: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read the Greek as disobedience and call it practical unbelief, citing Deuteronomy 1:26. John Wesley names unbelief the parent of all evil. Its essence is departing from the living God.
Hebrews 3:18
“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. And those who did not enter into his rest were those who believed not. God is represented here as swearing that they should not enter in, in order to show the determinate nature of his purpose, the reason on which it was founded, and the height of the aggravation which occasioned it.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
1 more voice on this verse
Hebrews 3:18
“Above he said: "was it not against those who sinned," but now: "the disobedient." He seems to be alluding to such believers from among the Hebrews, because many of them fell into other transgressions as well, besides faintheartedness and unbelief in the future.”
Theophylact of Ohrid · written before 1107 · Commentary on Hebrewspatristic
because of their unbelief: John Wesley and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown both note that the people later wanted to enter. By then the oath stood against them. The same commentators add that the verb for see here names a deliberate look, the verb used at 2:9 of seeing Jesus.
Hebrews 3:19
“So we see that they could not enter in,.... To God's rest, the land of Canaan, for they died by the plague before the Lord, and their carcasses fell in the wilderness, before they came to it, Num 14:37 and the reason was, because of unbelief; their distrust of God, his power, and his providence; this instance is produced by the apostle, to show the evil nature of unbelief, and the sad effects of it; to deter persons from it, and that they might take heed of encouraging it; and which instance he further improves in the following chapter.”
1 more voice on this verse
Hebrews 3:19
“So we see ... - We see from the direct testimony of the Old Testament that unbelief was the reason why they were excluded from the promised land. Let us learn in view of the reasoning and exhortations here: (1) The evil of unbelief. It excluded that whole generation, consisting of many hundred thousand souls, from the land of promise - the land to which they had looked with ardent hopes, and with warm desires. It will exclude countless millions from heaven.”
How this psalm is built
The form: An earnest exhortation to consider the high priest now made known to them, followed by weighty counsels and cautions, as Henry classes it.
The patterns in this chapter
| Device | What it does | Where to see it |
|---|---|---|
| The servant in the house and the Son over it | Verses 2 to 6 set Moses and Christ side by side in God's house. Both are faithful, but Moses is faithful as a servant in the house and Christ as the Son over it. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown trace the phrase faithful in all God's house to Numbers 12:7, where God Himself praised Moses. Irenaeus notes that the Spirit calls Moses the faithful minister and servant of God.Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, on Hebrews 3:2 and 3:5. | Hebrews 3:2, Hebrews 3:5, Hebrews 3:6 |
| The psalm quoted and then explained | Verses 7 to 11 quote Psalm 95:7 to 11, and verses 12 to 19 explain it line by line. The explanation takes up today in verse 13, hardening in verses 13 and 15, the forty years in verse 17 and the oath about rest in verse 18. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown name the psalm and the place of testing, Massah and Meribah of Exodus 17:1 to 7.Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, on Hebrews 3:7 to 11. | Hebrews 3:7, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 3:15, Hebrews 3:17, Hebrews 3:18 |
| Three questions and their answers | Verses 16, 17 and 18 each ask a question about the wilderness generation and answer it with another question. The answers name them as those Moses led out of Egypt, those who sinned and those who disobeyed. Verse 19 draws the conclusion that unbelief kept them out, the same word that opened the warning at verse 12. Theophylact of Ohrid notes the change from those who sinned to the disobedient.Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews, on Hebrews 3:18. | Hebrews 3:12, Hebrews 3:16, Hebrews 3:17, Hebrews 3:18, Hebrews 3:19 |
Where the chapter stands in the letter
7 more paragraphs on the patterns
Chapter 2 ended by calling Jesus a merciful and faithful high priest, and chapter 3 takes up the word faithful at once. Verses 1 to 6 set Him above Moses as chapter 1 set Him above the angels. Verses 7 to 19 turn to warning, and the warning runs on without a break into chapter 4. Matthew Henry reads the chapter in two parts, an exhortation to consider Christ at verses 1 to 6 and counsels and cautions from verse 7 to the end (Complete Commentary, on Hebrews 3).
Who speaks
The writer speaks in verses 1 to 6 and again from verse 12. The Holy Spirit is named as the speaker of the psalm in verse 7, and God Himself speaks in the psalm's closing lines about His anger and His oath.
The debated reading: holding firmly to the end
Verses 6 and 14 both set a condition, if we hold firmly. Theodoret of Cyrus reads the assurance we had at first as the faith confessed at baptism, which must be kept firm (Interpretation of Hebrews 3, on verse 14). Charles Spurgeon preached verse 14 as a call to steadfastness, holding that faith matters at every stage of the Christian life (Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon 1042). The chapter states the condition and presses the hearers to meet it.
What the chapter hands forward
The oath of verse 11, they shall never enter My rest, becomes the subject of chapter 4. The word today returns at 4:7, where the writer shows that David spoke it long after Joshua.
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Sources for this chapter
The summary
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary.
The context
C. H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, on Psalm 95 and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
The form and classifications
Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, on Hebrews 3, the chapter summary and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews, on Hebrews 3:7, section 170.
The exposition
Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown; John Calvin; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Owen, An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews; John Wesley and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.