PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews
James Barmby [1822-1897] · 397,008 words · 427 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 181
possessi,m of vital godliness, only continuance is the test of vitality. All outward Chri~tian ?hRracteristics may be ours, yet the apostate's guilt and doom ma.y be ourr 2. But this "falling away" is in reality the rejection of Christ. "They cruciry to themselves the Son of God afresh;" ,.e. reject him, repeat in e…
882 wordsSECTION 182The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 182
II. THE WRITF;R AFFIRMS THAT nm GROUND OF CnnrsTtAN HOPE IS THE DIFAT,T,I- BILITY OF Gon's Wonn ADOUT CrrnIST. In showing the ground on which hope is possible, the c11se of Abraham is introduced as an illustration. He was a conspic110ns example of hope (Rom. iv. 18; eh. xi. 10), ar,d his hopo is here sai,l to have hcP-…
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V ers. 4-S.-The motives to perseverance supplied by the sin and punishment of aposta,sy. The outlines of the experience of some who have gone back from followincr Christ are very foll and distinct. They include illumination, by which they wer~ translated out of darkness into marvellous light. They had tasted of the …
649 wordsSECTION 184The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 184
unto me." Such conduct showed fo.ith, courage, and kindness, and redounded to tho honour of the Na.ma of God, and glorified him in the presence of the children of men. Mutual love among Christians was noticecl as a peculiarity nnd distinction by Lucian and the Emporor J uliau. "By this she.JI all men know that ye are m…
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retain their force and application to all who are his children by a living faith. "The Word of the Lord endureth for ever, And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached ~mto us." The patriarch was the heir of the world, a trustee for the future generations ~f believers. 'fhe oath is still valid, and the promi…
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Foundations are laid that buildings may be erected on them, story climbing above story, till a~ Inst, roofed nnd furnished, they are ready fo_r habita~ion and use. Very hard work was 1t to get these Hebrews to see how the old d1spensat10n was only the foundation of the new. They did not like to lose sight of familiar i…
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Ven,. 7, 8.-Tear.hing from the good land and the bad. Here is a reminiscence of the parable or the seed in the four kinds of ground. The soil becomes invested with a kind of personality. One thinks, too, of that fig tree which the Lord withered up. And it may not be so entirely fanci fnl, 11s at first it appears to …
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Ver. 12.-Imitaeion of those who inherit the promise~. I. THOSE WHO ARE TO DE IMITATED. "Followers" they are called in our version, but they are followers in that particular respect which is known as imitation. And if we are to imitate, we must have some distinct and sufficient view of those whom we imitatP.. Abraham is…
1,260 wordsSECTION 189The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 189
unsocn, as something which out of the unseen is realized to us. It is as if when a ship is drifting towards e. dangerous shore, a beneficent hand should snd,lenly ;each oul of th_e waves and fling e. rope to be fastened to the ship. Our great confidence, hope, and Joy should be in this, that Jesus, vanished into the un…
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Rom. "· I; whl'rc righteousness and peace typical significance of Melohizedek is now nrc the characteristics of the Mcssiah's further seen in what passed between him kingdom): this significo.nce, however, is and Abraham, in respect to tithe and bless- not. o.fterwards made I\ point of, being merely ing. Alford's infere…
1,011 wordsSECTION 191The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 191
stow11l of blessing no lees th11n by receiving descendant Levi, was yet (l-r,) in the loins of tithe h11ving been thus noticed, the con- oi Abraham; on which point, "Proles e pn- trnet with the Lovitic11l priesthood is con- rentis potestate egressa. in suam venit tute- tinued in the following verses. la.m: eed quoa.d i…
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Mosea epake nothing oonoerning priesthood. for the·weakneBB and. unprofltablencss thoreot (or priests: 1,p,a,v bt>ing a better-suppor;ed (for the Law made nothing perfeot); but r~adiug tha_n _the 'I.'extus Receptus l,p.,- [there is on the other hand] a bringing in uuv,1s). This 1s spokon of as evident (i.e. thereupo…
1,058 wordsSECTION 193The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 193
nblo") is taken by enmo in nn intmnsilive 2. Which priesthood is evidently rlistind sense, ne in nrnrgiu of the A.V., that dot!. lrom the Aarnnic, our Lorri being of not pass to another, cquivnlont to ci.6,&6oxov. tho tribP, not of Levi, but of Ju,lt1.b. 'l'hie, however, is not the proper force of 8. What has been se…
902 wordsSECTION 194The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 194
T~v 3u,ov uou: and Rev. :r:v. 4-xvi. 5 where take "this he did" ns referring only to the It is applied to God as his special stt'.ribute, latter part of tho preceding elo.nse, while 3-r, µ&vos 3uws); Christ was acturilly free iau..-ov "'pou,vl-y,caf answers to the former from evil (IIKcucos) ancl. undefiled (dµfav- par…
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Such omiaaions respecting a 'personage so exalted are contrary to Oriental custom. The points which the Holy Spirit has studiously concealed about Melchizeclek are- his personal parentage, hie priestly pedigree, and the dates of his birth and death. 2. A• a type. (Ver. 3.) 'l'he brief notice of Melchizedek in the Book…
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T~v 3,nov o-ov : and Rev. xv. 4-xvi. 5 where take "this he did" ns referring only to the It is applied t.o God as his special 11ttribute, latter part of the preceding clo.nse, while 3-r, µovos 80-ws); Christ was 11ctunlly free lavTov ,rpor1<v<-y1<as Rnswers to the former from evil (li,ccucos) and undefiled ( 6.µiav· pa…
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Such omissions respecting a 'personage so exalted are contrnry to Oriental custom. The points which the Holy Spirit has studiously concealed about Mclchize,lek arc- his personal parentage, his priestly pedigree, and the dates of bis hirth antl death. 2. A• a type. (Ver. 3.) The brief notice of Melchizedek in the Book o…
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t.he introduction of "a better hope "-tbo hopo of an efficiont priesthood of n dis• pens~tion both spiritual and permanent, and thUB of immediate and perfect accesa to God. H. T1ra SUPEnIORITY OF CnRrsT's PRTBSTHOOD TO Tll1!i LEVITIOAL. (Vers. 20-28.) Jesus is the true Priest of mankind, for whom the nations have b…
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const.ituted him Priest-King, "Ask of me" (Pd. ii. 8), thus expressly authorizin" his intercession, We cannot fathom the mystery of the atonement; but it is enou~h to know that Christ's sacred b\ood WM shed for ou_r salvation bY: Divine appointment and7 we are persuaded that, had 1t n?t posscsse_d m~nt enough for its p…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers.1-3.-Melchizedek a type of Christ. "For this Melchizedek, King of Salem,• etc. The various extraordinary conjectures as to the personality of Melchizedek "we may safely treat as fancifnl and unneeded. The typology connected with Melchizedek does not require that he him.self should …
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Ver. 16.-Tlie constitution· of our great High Priest. "Who is made, not after the law of a. carnal commandment," etc. In this verse there is a triple antithesis; Jaw is antithetical to power, commandment to life, and carnal to indissoluble. This suggests the following observations concerning the priesthood of Jesus Chr…
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but to do that which is good is not. For the good which I would I do not : but the evil '.which I would not, Umt I practise." Can the Law help us in this need? Can it inspire us with strength to do the true and the good? H has no power to convert or strengthen, or sanclify tho soul. It shows us our obligatio::i, but it…
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life .. Dy eternal lifo we <lo not me11n endless existence, for that may become a curse; but hfe-holy, he.rmonious, progressive, blessed, perpetual life. "He that believeth on the Son bath eternal life." "'l'he salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." 2. The perfection of this salvation. "Able to save…
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him. 1. The nature of this approach. It is not merely intellectual-the apprehension of tho truth concerning him. It is a sympathetic and vital approach to him. It i3 coming to him in humble penitence for our sin that we may obtain for"ivcness • in grateful affection to him for his great love towards us ; and in earnest…
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'l\•ith the n1orl\1ly corrnpt and degraded without contracting oven the slightest moral defilement. How sublime is our grc,at High Priest in thr. perfection of his character I Of l\ll the sons of men, of him alone can it be said that he was "holy, harwless, undefiled, separated from sinners." How immeasurably superi…
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not different to Aaron, but better; he was all that Aaron was, but he was more. We may learn from this ancient king-priest in what this "more" con8isted. 1. Christ's priesthood is universal. Aaron's was for a limited circle-the seed of Abraham • btit Melchizedek represented e. priesthood which had a world-wide aspect e…
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\\•ith the morally corrnpt and degraned wit.bout contracting even the slightest moral defilt>rnent. Row sublime is our grc,llt High Priest in thn perfection of his character I Of nil the sons of men, of him alone can it be said that he was " holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners." How immeasttrably super…
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not different to Aaron, but better; be was all that Aaron was, but he was more. We may learn from this ancient king-priest in what this "more" conHisted. 1. (Jhrist•~ priesthood is universal. Aaron's was for s limited circle,-the seed of Abraham ; but Melchizedek represented s priesthood which had a world-wide aspect, …
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immutable" (Dr. Brown). The fact thnt Christ was made priest not without an oath sh?we that hie _priesthood was of supreme importance. 3. The eternal permanence oj Chu _secon~ priesthood proves its superiority to the former. (Vers. 23-26.) The Jewish priests were subject to human frailties and imperrections; their t…
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" Which of you convinceth me of sin?" 2. The perfection of Jesus is seen in his personal consciousness of sinleaBneas. "Who needeth not," etc. Christ offered no sacrifice for himself. Ho always distinguished between himself and sinners. ., If ye [not' we'], being evil;" "I do always those things which," etc.;" I have g…
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Vers. 4-10.-0hrist superior to Melchizedelc. I. THE GREATNESS OF OUR LORD IS FOR!,;SIIADOWED BY MELCHIZEDEK'S RECEIVING TITHES FROM AB!tAI!AM. As the repre- sentative of Jehovah, Abraham paid tithes to this distinguished priest. 'l'herc is here an instance of that corporate principle which appears in the writings of …
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Vers. 15-17.-7'he increasing evidence of the appointment of our Lord to be an unchan_qeable Priest. This is to be found in the Divine oracle proclaimed in. the hundred and tenth psalm. The distinction of Christ's priesthood is seen in the differ- ence which subsists .in bis Divine office from that which was held by meu…
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h_im w?o ie now eet over the house of ~od. Thi? latter type will reappear for further d1ecues1on, and therefore we rest upon this declarat10n of the eternal will which appoint~ tho Redeemer to be the High Priest for the race of mankind. It is the will of God which ie declared in solemn prophecy; and if he speaks, it…
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Vers. 23-25.-The immortal priesthood of Christ enhanced by weighty considerations. The first is that the ancient priesthood passed through many hands, in which fact there were some obvious diiadvantages. Some priests were so neglectful of their office that the prophet had to become a preacher of righteousness. All prea…
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~till 1.tavo a large part to play in the bringing of Jews to Jesus; but it cnn hardly ba pretended that it has the same importance to us.-Y. Ver. 16.-The power of an endlesa life. We have here illustrated- . I._ T~E F_EEDLENESB 0! THAT WnICH DEPENDS UPON_THE !LESH, Here the pBrticular mst1tut1on 111 that of priesthood…
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breauee there ~11s nothing as yet to 11Ct as a substitute. Then the quest.ion may be 11Hked-"Why give a commandment which was we11k aud useless? 'l'ho answer lies in th11t word "foregoing." That which goes before implies something coming aftor. 'l'be Law was weak and useless for certain things, but not, therefore, Wlll…
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EXPOSITION. their ~oncep_tion of !ealities ~yond their CHAPTER VIII. ken. Thus m Pa. xx,x., where tho tbnndcr- etonn is described, the Lonn is conceived in CH. VUI. 1-x. 19. tl,e introductory and conclurlinoo vcrseR,' ne e?t(,rnncd above_ it in his heav:nly temple, THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD OF CnmsT YULll'ILS sitting t…
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eymboliz<'d by the enrt.hl)• tabcrnnclo. And p:rcntness of the predicted priest wne lnndo th<'n, in ,·or.5, th!lt tlwrc is !l henvonlv rcnlitv 0 t.ho 11101\surc of the superior cxccllcnco of of which the eRrthly t!lbernRc!o is hut-~ 1hc coveiuwt of which ho hns become ■hadow, is shown by wh1<t. was sRi,1 of the S1…
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Ver. 7.-Jror if that first covenant had more probable meaning. On the whclo been faultless, then should no plaoe have passage be it observed : I. " Behold, tho beon eought for a oeoond. "For" introduces days co1:71e," liko "in that dny," is a uRual this sontcnce as a reason for what hoe been prophetic phrase for den…
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belie'l"ers. Fmnll ns well ns grent (using. of of a new covenant had cvon thon nnliqunted couree, the means of grace Rn<l edification the other. It thenceforth survived only provided for them in the Church), should under the category of old as opposed to themselves have inward illumination and new; and further mnrke,1…
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are reminded that the Mosaic tabernacle a.nd its ritual were nothin"' more than an adumbration of tho realities of the true tabernacle. They were o;ly a shadowy prophecy of the priestly ministry of the Lord Jesus. The very furniture of the sacred tent had a symbolic meaning; ar d every article was formed after a I )i v…
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tures the imperfection of the "first" covenant, and to describe the " better promises" of the "new" ~nd final covenant, the writer quotes a most striking passage from the Book of Jeremiah (xxxi. 81-34). This oracle was given when the Jews of Judah were on the b1ink of the Babylonish captivity, to comfort their dc,ol…
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is more excellent than that of the J cwish high priests. 1. Becrmse 'it is exercised in a liigl,er Rphere. 'fhey ministered in the material tabernacle and temple, and for a brief Benson once n year were permitted to enter the holy of holies where God manifested hie presence by a symbol; but these were only copies an…
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,er. 10.-Law and love in the new covenant. "For this is the covenant that I will make," etc. The paragraph from which our text is taken is a. quotation from Jer. xxxi. 31--3<l. It is said that the Lord "will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;" but this is spoken, not of Israel …
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Vere. 11, 12.-Knowledge and mNcy in. the new covenant. "And they shall not teach every m,m his neighbour," etc. I. MAN'S KNOWI,ED0E oir Goo UNDER THE NEW COVENANT. "And they shall not teach every man his fellow-citizen, and every man his brother, saying, Know tbe Lord," etc. We have here: 1. The liighest subfect of k…
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Ver. 13.-Der.aying and depai·ting. "Now that which decayeth e.nd wnxoth old," etc. In these words the writer states a general principle of which the old covenan, was an illustration. That covenant was relatively old, because a n6W one had been introduced; it was also absolutely old, and had not "in itself tho streng…
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the human form becomes olcl and waxcth aged and is nigh unto vanishin.,. away. "'l'he days or our ye11rs are threescore years and ten," etc. (Ps. xc. 10). \Vhen tl,n earthly house of our tabernacle is worn out we know that it will soon be dissolved. 'l'he departing vitality tells us that the body itself will Roon vanis…
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Ver. 13.-Deraying and depa,·ting. "Now that which decl\yeth and waxeth old," etc. In these words the writer states a general principle of which the old covenl\n, was an illustration. That covenant was relatively old, because a n6w one 111\d been introduced; it was also absolutely old, and had not "in itself the stre…
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the human form bocomes ol<l and waxcth aged and is nigh unto vanishin"' away. "The days of our years are threescore years and ten," etc. (Ps. xc. 10). \Vhen tl,c, earthly house of our tabernacle is worn out we know that it will soon be dissolved. 'l'he departing vitality tells us that the body itself will Roon vanish a…
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Yers. G-13.-0hrist in heaven, the Medi,a,tor of the new covenant. The argument of eh. vii. has a further object than the mere proving our Lord's superiority to Aaron. Tbe priesthood being altered and centred in him, most important facts beating on the :spiritual position of the Hebrews grow out of it. 'l'he priestho…
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thnt I\ nation shouhl he singled out, and prepared to receive the Messiah and his gospel-a nation t.lirongh which the truth shonlr\ snread world-wide. Hence the covenant with hrnel-a covenant of Law ; wonderful blessings promised on obedience. 'l'his tended to humiliation, was constantly broken and renewed, an,! thus c…
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etanding _of the high priest of olcl, who once a year, with nnxiety and trembling, appeared m the holy of holies and performed the service of sprinkling the blood before the mercy-seat on the Day of Atonement. He prepared, as the Jews say, for this work with considerable 1101icitude, and returned to his own house at…
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Vers. 6-13.-The reasons assirtned for the i11/roduction of th-, new covenant. ThcslJ consist of the suitability of the Lord Jesus to bo en'.!:nged in the a<lministrntion of a higher and nobler covenant than that which was establi~hed with Israel at t-linai. The more excellent ministry and the more excellent covenant go…
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to ~ay to their countrymen, "Know the Lord." It appears from a passage in the Epistle to the Galatians (iv. 8) to mark the transition from idolatry to the worship ot the t-rue God. "Howbeit then, when ye knew not GoJ, ye did sel'\'ice to them which by 1:ature arc no gods." 'l'here may be a designed allusion to the peop…
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which may be ofTered, which ought to be offered, but which can only have value ae they come spontaneously and of free-will. To give them only in response to a Divine commandment would be to alter their character altogether. Their very name indicates this, as being not simply things given, but-6wpa, things given freely.…
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Ver. 13.-The advent of the mw and the doom of the old. I. WE MUST LOOK AT THIii CHARACTER OF THE NEW. Mere novelty by itself counts for nothing. Ma.n's new things are too often brought in, not because they are needed, but frOJ;!l mere restlessness, love of change, and self-glorifica.tion. The right principle of chang…
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Pompey entered the temple, he found there by Delitzsch) ae the sign-board of a shop "vaouam sedem et inanio. arcana." A stone belongs to the shop and not to the street. basement is said by the rabbis to have It is, indeed, so regarded in the Old Testa- occupied the o.rk's pince, called "lapis ment. Bee Exod. xl. 5, "Th…
1,056 wordsSECTION 238The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 238
accompaniments of the Divine glory (of. Isa. over him "all the iniquities of the children vi. and Ezek. i. and x.). of Is1·ael, putting them on the head of the V~r. 6.-Now these things being thus goat," and sent him away to the wilderness, ord1W1ed (A.V.; rather, arranged or oon- whore he was to be let go. (6) Ho ag…
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but ie used for the holy of holies in vers. 24, 88 marking the new covenant (see below, 25, Bnd for its heavenly u.ntitype in ver. 13. vers. 13, 14). This IBst,u.s typified in the earthly eanctuBry, Ver: 10.-Rendered in A.V.," Which fflood is wliBt is intended here) hBth not yet only m (µ&vov l,rl) meats and drinks a…
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without difficulty, be nuderst.ood; and heuce other views of what is meant by "the greater " the good things" mlly still be regarded and more perfect tabernacle." The most 88 such as have already come in Christ. On notable, as being that of Ohrysostom and the the other hand, there is no difficulty in Fathers general…
1,032 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.