PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews
James Barmby [1822-1897] · 397,008 words · 427 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 1
THE PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED BY THE VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DRAN OF OLOUCESTEB; AND BY THE REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A. WITH INTRODUCTIONS BY THE VERY REV. F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S., DEAN OF CANTERBURY. RIG FIT REV. H. COTTERILL, D.D., F.R.S.E. VERY REV. PRINCIPAL J. TULLOCH, D.D. REV. CANON G. RA…
1,172 wordsSECTION 2The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 2
So in all the most ancient manuscripts, and so referred to by Origen, quoted 'IJy Eusebius (' Hist. Eccl.,' vi. 25), and, though the tradition of St. Paul's o.uthorship was undoubtedly a very early one, yet it was not in primitive times, any more than in our own, considered conclusive by those who were competent to jud…
1,068 wordsSECTION 3The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 3
o.s it were, intorpreted [or 'wrote a commentary on,' uxo.\ioypa,f,~uaVTo~] what had been spoken by his master. If, then, any Chnrch receives this Epistle as Paul's, let it be well esteemed, even e.lso on this account [i.e. let it not on this account lose the credit due to it as a witness to the truth J; for not wit…
1,179 wordsSECTION 4The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 4
also. Iremeus might be supposed likely, from his original training in Asia Minor, to have held to the Eastern tradition and opinion; but it does not follow that this would be so after hie connection with the W estem Church in Gaul; and it is observable that in hie extant works (with the exception cf "verbo virtutie s…
1,092 wordsSECTION 5The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 5
qunsi co.uonicis et ecclesiasticis" (Ep. 129, 'Ad Dardanum '). The drift of this is that, notwithstanding the Latin use, the acceptance of the Epistle by the whole East, and its being quoted as canonical by the Greek Fathers, justifies its reception into the canon, ancl that it ought to be so received. He adduces as o.…
1,125 wordsSECTION 6The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 6
ences of this kind may be mado too much of as proof of different author- ship; there are a considerable number of u.1rat >..ryoµ,rva in some of St. Paul's undoubted Epistles, and especially in the Pastorals, which are the Jatest. 'l'he same writer may greatly vary his words and phrases in different works and at differ…
1,127 wordsSECTION 7The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 7
during his last residence there, and who was ruler of the Roman Church immediately or soon after his martyrdom. 8till more if he were the same Clement as is mentioned by St. Paul (Phil. iv. 3). Further, the occurrence in Clement's undoubted Epistle to the Corinthians of both ideas and language taken from the Epistle to…
1,121 wordsSECTION 8The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 8
tative into the texture of their own writings (see Westcott, •On the Canon of the New 1'estament,' pt. i. p. 47). And so Clement uses the language of this Epistle in the same way as he does that of undoubted Epistles of St. Paul and of other New Testament Scripture. It does not hence follow that the canon of the New Te…
1,234 wordsSECTION 9The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 9
theosophy, makes them subservient only to the elucidation of the same essential gospel as is preached. though in various forms of expression, throughout the New Testament canon. How easily that theosophy, when taken up by Christiane, might lead to perversions of the gospel is apparent from the Gnostic heresies that so …
1,086 wordsSECTION 10The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 10
oircumcieion" at Jernealem (Acts xi. 18), was an important event; thence- forth the principle was established that Gentiles were admissible equally with Jews to the privileges of the new covenant; and so no offence was taken at Jerusalem when, especially through the preaching of Paul and Barnabas, large numbers came st…
1,145 wordsSECTION 11The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 11
are suoh as he would be likely to desire earnestly to address to his com- patriots, in whom he took so deep an interest (cf. Rom. x. I, etc.), in the peculiar circumstances of the time. And thus the conclusion, on other grounds also probable, that the Epistle was at any rate written by one who, whether directly instruc…
940 wordsSECTION 12The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 12
PAUL TO THE HEBREWS. EXPOSITION. the same reason) does it denote various CHAPTER I. degrees of prophetic inspiration, but (on Vere. 1-4.-ExoRDIUM, intimo.ting in e. etymologice.l as well as logical grounds) succession or choice e.nd progne.nt phrases, the various po.-tiom of the prepa.~tory reve- the drift of the E…
693 wordsSECTION 13The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 13
nnt t,o sp!'ak in some way to his people Ver. 2.-In theso lnst do.ye. The true between tho times of llfalnehi nnd of Christ, rending being i1r' iux,hou To,11 ,',1upo,v yet both the expression, "to the fathers," .,.o{,.,."'"• not br' lax,h"'"• as in the Textus and the inste.nces of Divine utterances given Receptus, t…
1,055 wordsSECTION 14The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 14
Still, though" the.t do.y" W(IS in tho future, of all things; not, os in the A.V., "h(lth np- the fil'st coming of Christ hnd been ns it pointed." The verb is in the aorist, nnd were, its dnwn, signifyiug its npproe.ch e.nd here the indefinite sense of the aorist propnring believers for meeting it. "The should be prese…
1,057 wordsSECTION 15The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 15
ing 80 much from cnch other in C'.haracter But in itself, as it surrounds "the fnoa" or and stylo. He who appeRred in the world Goel, it is still invisible and unapproachable; as Christ is, i_n the first plll,('0, hero said ( as cf. John i. 18, •• No ml\n he.th seen God at by St. John 1. 3) to have beon the Agent any …
1,080 wordsSECTION 16The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 16
who.t we mean by the eub,tanoe of the the impression left on the wo.x were the Godhead; o.nd hence came misunderstand- xa.pa,c-r¾,p of the seal. Thie misconception ings during the Arian controversy. Bull would mialeo.d (as might e.leo li.1ravya<rµ.a, (' Def. Fid. Nie.,' ii. 9. 11) gives o. co.tcno. if rendered " reflec…
1,085 wordsSECTION 17The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 17
if ab-roii be int.ended, and not am-ou (aud the atonement for" (Greek, lAc.u-1tlu-ll111) is in former is most likely, since the pronoun, Hebrnw i!:l~, which menns properly "to though it be reflective, is not emphatically cover;" i.e. to cover sin from the sight of so), it may with grammatical propriety refer God. An…
1,004 wordsSECTION 18The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 18
not his Divine nature; "God shed his all along taken by the writer, we shall see hlood" (cf. Phil. ii. 9, etc.). On the right no difficulty in the SoN being so.id to have hand of the Majesty on high. The expres- become better than the u.no-c]s u.t the time of sion ie taken from Ps. ex. 1, afterwards his exaltation, as…
1,050 wordsSECTION 19The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 19
eeC'ond eection beµns at eh. iii. 1, the thesis -whether as attend1mte on the Divine being that "the SoN is superior to Moses." llfajesty, or as agents of the fiery phenomena. Through angel./1 and MOllea the Law was on Mount Sinai (naturl\l operations being given: "Ordained through angels in the often o.ttributed to…
1,001 wordsSECTION 20The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 20
cio.ted with God in his mnjeety, a shnrcr of his everlasting throne. Angels are referred to only as ministering spirits or attendant worshippers at the Son's advent. Interposed ezlwrwtion (eh. ii. 1-5). Interposed ezhortation (eh. iii. 7-iv. 1). This being so, beware of not appreciating Thie being so, beware of ha.rd…
910 wordsSECTION 21The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 21
fulfilled punc-t1mlly at once, but have spring- is conceived o.s laughing to scorn their de- mg and gerrninant accomplishment through- vices a,,,a-ainst him whom he himself hnd en- out many ages; though the height or fulness throned on Zion. 'l.'hen the king speal{s, "I of them mny refer to some one age." We will de…
1,061 wordsSECTION 22The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 22
vii.-fx.; xi. 1, 10: Jer. xxiii. 5: xxxiii. 15; 11e1<pi#v: and Rom. i. 4, -rov bpur9frror vlov 0,ov Micah iv.-v.; Zech. vi. 12, etc.). Its 11ppli- lv livv&I'" •.• i~ baa-ro.<1•"'• vEt<p&v: cf. Ach 011tion to Christ in the New 'festo.ment is ii. 30 and Acts xiii. 32, etc., "The premisu distinct and frequent (of. Acts …
1,074 wordsSECTION 23The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 23
cording to the most exquisite literal and the here seems at first sight to be, "Dut whenever mystical n.nd principally intended sense" he [i.e. God] sho.11 again bring [or,• bring (T. JacksC\n·s 'Works,' bk. ix. eh. xxxi. 6, 7, back'] the First born iuto the inhnbited world, Oxford edition, ISH, vol. viii. p. 411).]…
1,051 wordsSECTION 24The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 24
.,.,1.,,.,. .. lt•y-y•~o, 0•oii: W'pOt1IWVflt14'f'fll/TO.II a.~'l'tp ver. 3 the verb is o•,\!! (o ,,.,e,!r in the LXX.), the very words, including tho introductory the primary meaning of which is" to set," Ka.I, which o.re quoted. Hence, the qnotB- "to place,"anct, when followed by two aocu- tione in this Epistle be…
1,039 wordsSECTION 25The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 25
fire " the prediMtes), seems to necessitl\te this psalm to Christ, notwithstanding ita this meRning, which is further probable primary import. Like Pa. ii., it presente. from what we 1.--now of Alexandrian angelo• (in pll.l'ts at least) an ideal picture, euggeeted logy. It may thus well be that, whether or only and …
1,020 wordsSECTION 26The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 26
Solomon" to come. It is true that kings fulfilment in Christ, the Bridegroom of the are elsewhere called" gods" in the plural (as Church, whose 71"apa.v6µcp,o, the redeemed are; in Ps. lxxxii. 6, referred to by our Lord, themselves e.lso being, after their measure, John x. 35); but the solemn addressing of XPtlT'Toi…
1,066 wordsSECTION 27The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 27
is that there is no intention in the Epistle of quoted or alludecl to more frequently than quoting it as addressed to him, the phrase any other psalm with that refereuoe in the "'Ph 'Tov ,,/6v (as has been seen) not of New Testament (Acts ii. 34; vii. 55, 5ti; necessity implying such intention. Accord- Rom. viii. 34…
1,007 wordsSECTION 28The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 28
intern a.I evidence a.gain et its Davidic a.uthor- "the rocl or thy strength out of Zion," a.ncl ehip, though, but for the above testimony to in the picture which follows of the sub- the contrary, it might ha.ve been the com- miii.ion of heathen kingR after warfare and position of n. prophot of David's da.y, or slaught…
945 wordsSECTION 29The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 29
four thousnnd years at the very least since God had begun to speak. 2, Given "in the prophets." A prophet is a forth-speaker--a spokesman-one who speaks for another. 'l'he prophetic formula was, " Thus saith Jehovah." God's prophets were men; he conveyed his message to his people through human minds and hearts. No p…
835 wordsSECTION 30The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 30
4, 5), how much higher are ours (Matt. xiii. 16, 17) I 2. How much heavier, accord- ingly, are our responsibilities (Heb. xii. 25) I What base ingratitude in any one not to listen to the Son of God, and to refuse to shape his life in accordance with the complete and glorious circle of Christian truth I Vers. 2-4.-The …
858 wordsSECTION 31The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 31
sacrifice is chiefly due to the infinite dignity of his person as "the effulgence of God's glory, aud the very image of his substance.'' 3. He is its King. (Ver. 3.) This royalty is the reward of his work of "purification.'' Having made perfect satisfaction for human sin, be ascended on high and sat down upon the thron…
821 wordsSECTION 32The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 32
to the nngels in his official capacity as the God-Man Mediator-as much superior as he had been from the beginning in his essential nature. His mediatorial pre-eminence began clearly to appear nineteen hundred years ago, in connection both with his humiliation and hi~ exaltation. 1. When on earth, Jesus received ange…
778 wordsSECTION 33The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 33
H. WAs MADE GRADUALLY. "At sundry times;" Revised Version, "by divera portions." 'l'he revelation was given piecemeal, by fragments, in and by various persons, and in difterent ages. Very gradual was the revelation of redemptive truth to man. God's fir8t comniunication (Gen. iii. 15) was like the evening star, seren…
863 wordsSECTION 34The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 34
from the revelations already given. Many of the utterances of the Son are as yet only very partially and imperfectly understood even by his most advanced pupils. His words are of inexhaustible significance; and that significance will become increasingly manifest to the prayerful and patient inquirer. CoNOLUBION. Let u…
857 wordsSECTION 35The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 35
III. IN THE DIVINITY OF ms DEING. ",vho bemg the Brightno~s or his glory, ond the express Image of his person;" Revised Version," the effulgence of his glory, and the very I_rnage of his substance." These words suggest: 1. That the Son is of one essence with the Father. Canon Liddon: "That he is one with God as havi…
908 wordsSECTION 36The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 36
One only is given the title tlie Bon of God, even to" the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father," and of whom tho Father speaks as" my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." It is probable that in this name there is a depth of si"• nificance, e. height of dignity, and e. fulness of glory of which at …
876 wordsSECTION 37The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 37
Son of Goel. : (1) Because he existed before all creatures. "He is the :l!'irstborn of e.ll creation " (Col. i. 15); "In the beginning was the Word." (2) Because it was given to him in prophecy. "I will make him my Firstborn," etc. (Ps. lxxxix. 27). (3) Because o'. his mira?ulous conception 1(see Matt. i. 18-26; Luk…
891 wordsSECTION 38The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 38
Vers. 7-9.-The Son and the angels. "And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels," etc. Here are two quotations from the Psalms; the first from Ps. civ. 4, the second from Pa. xiv. 6, 7. Whether the latter Psalm applied primarily to Solomon or any other king of ancient Israel or not, it seems to us quite clear tha…
844 wordsSECTION 39The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 39
infinite affection for righteousness, and the perfect righteousness of his character, "Thou hast loved righteousness, and bated iniquity;" "The righteous Lord loveth righteousness." 3. lt is perpetual because it is perfectly righteous. " 'l'hy throne, 0 God, is for ever and ever." His reign is eternal because it is …
791 wordsSECTION 40The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 40
Sustainer as well as the Creator of the universe. To the thoughtful and devout man this fa?t imparts a deeper, te~derer in_terest and attra~tion to the changes which take place in nature, Onr gracious Saviour and Lord JS also the Superintendent and Sovereign of the universe. 11[, HE m UNCUANGEABLE 'AMIDST THE CHANGES …
772 wordsSECTION 41The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 41
frequently quoted in the New Testament as applying to our Lord. ., And no pslUill more clearly finds its ultimate reference and completion only in Christ." The quotation teaches that: 1. The Son is exalted to the mediatorial throne. "Sit thou on my right hand." "He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."…
835 wordsSECTION 42The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 42
a.nd convey the emancipated spirit to its hea'Venly rest. " Lazarus . . . was carried by the angels into .Abraham's bosom." (3) They are commissioned by God for this service. He appoints to each one his sphere of ministry; and by him they are " sent forth•• to fulfil their commissions. "Oh, th' exceeding grace Of hig…
731 wordsSECTION 43The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 43
find Gc>d; ~ the utmost ear~hly wisdom he is unknown. God is a God of goodness and love; his works declare 1t; then God must reveal himself to man. 1. Scripture declares itself to be God's voice. Christ and the apostles affirm this of the Old 'l'esta- ~l<'nt.: You ca.n_not believe in Christ without accepting the Old…
917 wordsSECTION 44The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 44
God bath spoken. Then find your creed in it, and base your life on it makin<> it in all matters the final and authoritative court of appeal. It must be m~ness i:, oppose personal opinion or expediency to what the Lord says. 3. If God hlls spoken, irreverence and neglect of Sci·ipture are man's loss and shame. "God bath…
902 wordsSECTION 45The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 45
As G-Od, Christ has an inalienable property in the universe, and cannot be "appointed" heir to it ; so, too, he is better than the angels, and cannot be " made" better. He who can be "appointed heir" and " made better" must be a creature, Here, then, is a great mystery ; there must be a sense in which Christ who was…
945 wordsSECTION 46The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 46
"We at his feet shall fall, Join in the everlasting song, And orown him Lord of all." O.N. Vere. 4-14.-The greatness of the angels revealing the greatneu of the Inrd. Our ideas with regard to the angels are mostly vague, or poetic, or formal, never evoking holy thought or inspiring praise, or breathing!on our soul'…
789 wordsSECTION 47The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 47
in:5t~nces in ~ripture of the varied and high missions of judgment and mercy and rmmstry on which they are sent. They serve the King ceaselessly. Our prayer for earth is that the Divine will may be done here as in heaven. Jacob's vision is always being fulfilled, and the ancient" hymn of the Church, "To thee all ang…
903 wordsSECTION 48The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 48
which angelic life affords a glimpse. Christ said that in the resurrection we should be "equ11l to the angels." What may that mean of new powers, dignity, service, holiness, and all immortal I But the tenor of Scripture affirms that we shall surpass the angels. They are servants, we are sons-" joint-heirs with Christ."…
864 wordsSECTION 49The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 49
Once more, the Jewish high priests ministered for their own nation, while other popula, tions in Egypt, Arabia, and Syria had no share in their service; but our Lord is exalted, and sits a priest upon his throne, and a multitude of all nations, and kindrede, and people, and tongues enjoy the benefit and blessing of his…
808 wordsSECTION 50The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 50
Vers. 10-12.-These verses affirm the gwry of Ghrist in his creative power, and in the t//Tlchangeableness of his nature. The quotation from Ps. cii. is cited with fearless confidence as belonging to him "who was God," and was "with God" and without whom "was not anything made that was made." This truth, address~d to Ch…
844 wordsSECTION 51The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 51
stood. A~ they looked back they looked _along a line illuminated by a special and heavenly light. The sacred books, the Scriptures which they have to search, are per- vaded by the recorded speeches and acts of Jehovah; so that if these speeches and acts be cu~ out, all the rest drops into incoherent fragments. Surel…
1,828 wordsSECTION 52The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 52
mass of men and presenting him to our thoughts in the most intimate relation with God. It is meant to be regarded as a relation of the closest correspor.dence in all possible ways. To say that God is the Father and Jesus the Son is not enough• for the son does not always resemble the father; indeed, the deep difference…
873 wordsSECTION 53The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 53
of angels be forgotten-their connection with the destruction of Sodom and of Sen- nacherib's army. These are the visitations mentioned, but how many more there may have been unrecorded I The angelic visitations of the New '£estament must par- ticularly be recollected, because they were fresh to the knowledge of writer …
867 wordsSECTION 54The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 54
II. THE SPECIAL SERVICE OF THE ANGELS. These liturgical spirits o.re sent forth on errands of helpfulness to God's people on earth in their times of emergency. They are sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation-heirs of salvation, but not yet rejoicing in a deliverance from every sort of evil. …
879 wordsSECTION 55The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 55
answering to l-ylv,.-o JJlfJa.ins in the former the gospel in its living power on the souls of verse) unto 118 by them that heard (i.e. men, and its results in the world before our by the apostles and others who knew Christ eyes•. It f.s thus that ?ur faith is strength- in the flesh). Here the writer ranks himself ened…
990 wordsSECTION 56The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 56
aometohere) testifi.ed, saying. The phrase High Priest. What ii man, that thou art does not imply uncertainty &e to the passage mindful of him 1 or the aon of man, that thou cited. It is one used by Philo when exact viaitest him 1 In the psalm this exclama- reference is not necesse.ry. It is equivalent tion comes af…
1,073 wordsSECTION 57The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 57
bearings, he is, in the Person of Christ, over struction of the sentence evidently connects " all things" thus supreme. Therefore in it, not with ~7'..a.TTr,,µ.lvov, but with ~<TT«f>a.vo,- Christ alone docs man attain hie appointed µlvov. It is, "Because or the sufi'erin"' 0 of destiny. We may here observe how, even d…
1,063 wordsSECTION 58The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 58
weakens the force of the evidence of the through whom (3,A with genitive) are all manUBcripts 68 to the original reading. things (i.e. God), in bringing many eona That both were very early ones is evident; unto glory, to make the Captain of their but that X"'pls W68 the original one is salvation perteot through suil…
1,065 wordsSECTION 59The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 59
(with whe.tovcr difference of me.nner nnd was not, like other Messianic psalms, sn>(• degree) they a.re e.esocie.ted together. Be it geated by and founded on the writer's own observed, however, the.tit is not the orir,innl circumstances e.nd experience. Delitzsch relation to God of the " Sanctifier" nnd the says well,"…
1,059 wordsSECTION 60The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 60
xvi ii., where the LXX. reads h ..,..,~ h' 11bT&v &3,11.1f>ol, the &-y111(011l11oi, as Isaiah does the instead of ,rnro,1/o,s l<roµ.cu l,r' 110.-<iJ : so that, if 111~,, the B')'•&C.,.,, all being together lE lv&s. the quotation is from the psalm, it is to.ken If it be objected that the children given to from the hi…
1,033 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.