PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews
James Barmby [1822-1897] · 397,008 words · 427 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 241
Col. i. 14; 1 Pet. i. 19, "his blood ; " cf. o.leo not much e.uthority in its favour, and is, infra, ver. 14. As to how the e.vo.iling besides, much more likely to have been power of the e.tonement is to be understood, substituted than the other.) What, then, is more will be so.id under the verses tho.t meant by "the e…
1,078 wordsSECTION 242The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 242
God. Man, 11,~ he is now, cRnnot mRke it; (vers. 16-23), and the c11amcter of his but in the "Son of man" he sees it made, sacrifire implies a better covenant tlmn tho nnd thus finds aL last the idea of a true atone- old, even such e. oue e.s J eremiuh fore- ment fulfilled. In the expression, "dead told. Further, th…
1,059 wordsSECTION 243The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 243
his people: and there ie no intimation of Mediator, in that it was throuO'h his inco.mo.- two eeneee being intended in the two cases : tion only thBt the "eternal inheritance" indeed, in the passage before ue, tho so.me willed to us by the Father could be trans- sense seems to be distinctly implied, since the mitted in…
1,070 wordsSECTION 244The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 244
of its DivinA Author. Such is not the most that the account in Exodus ie not e:a:actly obvious a.pplica.tion of the word, nor the one followed. The variations from it are these: 1anctioned by the quotation from Jeremiah, (1) The mention of goate as well as calves or by other referenCP.S to the Divine covenant or bul…
1,104 wordsSECTION 245The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 245
inauguration of the oovenant,-prob(lbly to ut ille. possemus capeeeere" (Bengel). The the dedication of the te.bernacle, enjoined general meaning is obvioue enough. Com- Exod. xl., and dee~.ribed Lev. viii. It is mentators sometimes raise needless diffi- true that no sprinlding of the tabernacle oalties, and may som…
1,034 wordsSECTION 246The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 246
Christ's offering of himself is once for all the n.postolic age, of the end of all thingo needin/:( no repetition, follows from the vie~ being close at hand; and this expectation of it ulready given, viz. that it is a pcr- further RCoounts for the reference to the pet~~l preee1;1tatiou of himself, after fully pa.et …
1,042 wordsSECTION 247The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 247
HOMILETICS. VerB. 1-10.-Arrangementa of the firBt covenant. The Epistle to the Hebrews is the New 'festament LeviticuB. In itself, the book of the Jewish ritual is rather dry reading. " Nothing can well be duller or more dingy than the appearance of a stained- glass cathedral window to one who iB looking on it from th…
1,056 wordsSECTION 248The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 248
Vers. 11-14.-Superiority of the new covenant. The advent of the Messiah has removed the defects suggested by the Mosaic ritual. He has obtained for the true farael those great spiritual blessings which "the first covenant" was powerless to bestow. These verses indicate various elements of superiority. The new covena…
607 wordsSECTION 249The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 249
IV. A MORE THOROUGH OLEANSINO, (Vers. 13, 14.) The writer concedes that the Levities) sin offerings did purify. One purpose of t,heir appointment was that they might effect legal or ceremonial cleansing. "'fhe blood of goats and bulls," which wa11 presented for the collected guilt of Israel once a year, consecrated …
798 wordsSECTION 250The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 250
a covenant is of force where there hath been death; for doth It ever avail while the rRtifying victim liveth ? " (vers. 16, 17). 'l'he Hebrew word for a covenant means prir:n~rily_" n cutting;" the reference being to a common custom among the ancients of d1v1~mg 1?to two the animals slain for the purpose of ratifica…
857 wordsSECTION 251The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 251
viz. the death and the ascension of Christ, which are matters of history; and the second advent, which is still future. 1. Ghrist died as a Sacrifice for sin. (Ver. 28.) His death wae e. stupendous event--being that of a Divine Person. It did not occur e.s the result of disease, or of natural decay. It was not an accid…
1,154 wordsSECTION 252The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 252
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 4, 5.-171e ark ef the covenant, a symbol of redemptive truth. "The ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein . . . were the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy-seat." Jewish solemnities were types of Christian truths and…
586 wordsSECTION 253The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 253
'!'he mercy-eeat covered and concealed the accusing tables. Hence arose the poetical view of forgiveness as a covering of sin. "Blessed is he whose tranw,ression is for"iven, whose sin is covered." 2. In the symbolical atonement which was m~de upon the :iercy- seat. The covering of the tables of testimony was not in…
849 wordsSECTION 254The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 254
11ymbolized, but in the veritable and immediate presence of God. •• A minister of the rmnctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not mau," " Christ entered not into a holy place made with bands, like in pattern to the true , but into ~eaven it~elf, now to appear before the face of God for us." 2.…
1,009 wordsSECTION 255The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 255
II. 'l'HE DrvINE METHODS OF CLEANSING. Our text brings before os two methods, that of the Mosaic economy and that of the Christian, the ceremonial and the spiritual (1) Doth were of Divine origin. (2) Both involved sacrifice as an essential element. But in other respects these methods were widely different. Let us noti…
728 wordsSECTION 256The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 256
~oul. 11 DcAd works" are those which are regarded as meritorious in themselves 1 and apart fron:i the disposition n.nd motive which prompted them. They do not proceed from a heart ~h'l'.'e by faith and love. No living spiritual sentiment breathes through them. And their mfluence on the soul is not inspiring, but dep…
865 wordsSECTION 257The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 257
that we have offended God, the dread of the stroke of his just wrath t.he achincr want of his forgiveness,-these things we have felt. Who shall roll away the burden ~f our jlllilt.? Who will give us peace? etc. Oh, very deep is this need, and wide as the world I III. A DIVINE CONDITION, "Apart from shedding of blood t…
865 wordsSECTION 258The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 258
wicked passions, no phtce could afford him joy. To such a one "heaven itself" would be a place of intolerable misery. Heaven as a state is in the holy soul; but there is also heaven a.a a place in which the holy dwell. We know not where this place is. We kn~w it is not in the visible, stellar heavens; for Christ pas…
998 wordsSECTION 259The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 259
Vera. 27, 28.-The two deaths, and the two appea,ringa ajte'f' death. "And ae it is appointed unto men once to die," etc. The writer is still treating of the completeness of the sacrifice of our Saviour. That sacrifice was offered once for all. Being perfect, it needed no repetition. And now he shows that its repetition…
1,312 wordsSECTION 260The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 260
Vers. 1-5.-Passing reference to the symbolism of the Jewish tabernacle. The third deduction from the fact that Christ, infinitely greater than Aaron, is High Priest at the right hand of God: The abolition of the Jewish types by their fulfilment in the Redeemer. This occupies eh. iL-:x:. 18. Subject-Passing refertnce to…
1,225 wordsSECTION 261The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 261
darkness, but now are_ ye light in the Lord;" that is ~he candlestick. "I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye," etc.; that 1s the shewbread, II. THE CHRISTIAN LESSONS IN THE SYMBOLISM, 1. That the Church is the dwellinr place of God. The symbolism is abolished; what is left? The Christian Church the …
869 wordsSECTION 262The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 262
II, WITH THIS IDEA OF THE MEANING OJI THE BACRIFICEB, GLANCE AT THEM SEPARATELY, When a complete round of sacrificial offerings was required, they were generally ma.de in a specified order: sin, or trespass, or occasionally both ; burnt; meat; peace, We may divide these into three groups. 1. Sin and trespass offerings …
871 wordsSECTION 263The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 263
Jehovah was re-established and affirmed. The other offerings of the year were dependent on this, representing the various spiritual privileges of those who are at peace with the Most High. On that day, not only was atonement made for the people, but also for the priesthood, and the altar on which the other sacrifice…
897 wordsSECTION 264The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 264
Ill. TnJll ACCOMPLISHMENT BY THE PERFECT REALITY OF WHAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TIIE IMPEilFECT TYPE. (Vere. 13, 14.) (The word "serve" refers to relizious ministration, worship.) Mark the contrast: Let tho silver trumpets heralrl in the.Day of Atonement, let its inspired solemnities be all ful6lled; and, thou"'h the nation…
876 wordsSECTION 265The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 265
joy and felicity or heaven. 6. Then follows the acceptablene!s of prayer, which I~ denoted by the golden oenser; 11.nd the odours represent the prayers of the se.ints. Prayers e.re pleasant to God from the sense of onr need, 11.nd therefore humility or soul; our (11.ith in his interest in us, 11.nd our desire to glorif…
783 wordsSECTION 266The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 266
II. THE EXALTED SPHERE OF HIS MINISTRY. The old tabernacle was made with bands. The genius of Aholiab and Bezaleel, the work of carpenter, spinner, and '\'ee.ver, were applied to make the holy tent. It was a narrow and prrishable fabric. Our Lord is now in heaven, which is not made with hands and by the assistance of m…
878 wordsSECTION 267The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 267
Vers. 15-22.-" The Mediator of the net0 testament." The ideas oontained In thie section are-- I. THE TWOFOLD EFFECT OF THE DEATH OF OUR Lono. The free surrender of his life was the means of removing, in the case of believers, the burden of those sins which t.he Mosaic Law conld not take away. 'l'he sins committed u…
801 wordsSECTION 268The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 268
anyhow. There was ae mnch symbolism in the order and relation of these objects ae in the objects themselves. All worship and holy service had to be accordina to Divine regulati6ns. And as aU was 1totTµ11t'b, in the visible, symbolic, temporary ea~ctuary, so all must also be ,corrµ,d, in the sanctuary, the true taber…
985 wordsSECTION 269The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 269
Ver. 12.-Tht eternal redemption. One cannot but be struck with the occurrence three times within four verses of the word "eternal." There is the eternal redemption, the eternal Spirit, the eternal inheritance. The change from the old covenant to the new was also an escape from the temporary to the abiding. In the ol…
1,021 wordsSECTION 270The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 270
Ver. 15.-The eternal inheritance. I. CONSIDER THE TEMPORAL INHERITANCE. The land of Canaan, which was connected with the old covenant. This land could only be called an inheritance in a typical sense, for the satisfactions which Israel was taught to expect did not come in reality. For as the blood of bulls and goats co…
526 wordsSECTION 271The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 271
allusion to an ancient, oheriebed custom of making a covenant over a slain animal. In the light of this custom prob&bly we must explain Gen. xv. 'fhere Abram is repre- sented &8 dividing a heifer, a goat, and a ram, and when darkness came a smoking farnaoe llI!d a burning lamp passed between the pieces. Then follows…
895 wordsSECTION 272The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 272
EXPOSITION. pressed in itself the ~dea, not of the putting CHAPTER X. away (a.8',,-_11u1s, eh. ix. 26) or oblivi<m (eh. x. l'.) of sm, but a recalling to mind of it~ Vera. 1-19.-CoNOLUDING SUMMARY OJI' continual presence. In the following verse THIii ARGUMENT WITII RESPEOT TO CHRIST'S the reason of thie is found in…
994 wordsSECTION 273The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 273
knowledged to be, in their own nature, ceding word, ;i,e,:>..71tro.r, to the following word, valueless. That the psalmist did not re&lly ,.,T,a., and that the TI of COTIA was then oontemplate the fulfilment of this ideal in ohanged into the M of C.OMA, so as to mo.ke himself is evident from the penitential con- sens…
1,060 wordsSECTION 274The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 274
original Hebrew text, ft fa still snob u to plishment of sanctification In the 110nRe leave the general argument intact. mteuded, the perfect participle was used ; Vere. 8-10.-Saying above that Saoriftoes here the subjectB of the same eanctiflcatil)n and offerings and whole burnt oft'erings and are denoted, the accomp…
950 wordsSECTION 275The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 275
being then demanded. But now, the argu- for the intended counterpart to the high ment being oompleted, the previo11B exhor- priest's passing through the veil must have tations a.re taken up again, and enforced in been after the completed sacrifice. It is consequently fuller and deeper tones. The rather that, at the …
1,000 wordsSECTION 276The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 276
the Inward conecioueneB.!I of debo.rring sin together, as does the verb 1..-,uvv&-y"', both removed through the blood of Christ; the in the LXX. and the New Testo.ment (er. "full o.ssuro.nce of fo.ith " in the completed Matt. xxiii, 37 ; xxiv. 31 ; Mark :<iii. 27; atonement, and the "true bee.rt," being i. 33: Luke …
1,026 wordsSECTION 277The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 277
both have the same real mee.ning, which is (see note on oh. ix. 27), and is immediately further confirmod by comparing them to- e11ggeste~ he'! by -r,)v .;,,.tpa.v of ver. 25. gether. The purport of both is the hope- Tbefire in which that day ie to bo reve!Lled leesness of a state of aposte.sy from the faith is a pr…
1,056 wordsSECTION 278The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 278
terrible oe well oe o gracious si,le of the rightly apprehended) is round at Inst a true revclntion of the God of Israel, and es- satisfaction of this spiritual need. But, peoinlly (as intimated by the second quota- ~an's co~c?rrence being still reqnirerl, the tion) that his own people may be the objects idea. of D1vme…
1,022 wordsSECTION 279The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 279
expressed by the common cry " Chrietia.nos also 2 Oor. v. 10; Eph. vi. 8; Ool. iii. 25" ad leones I " The phrase, ...~v 011.-... s .lv«- and I Pet. i. 9) means the actual reception o\ trrp•,Poµlv...v (tm.nela.ted "them tha.t were what is denoted, equivalent to sibi acqut l!O ul!ed "), might be more correctly ren- re…
1,052 wordsSECTION 280The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 280
that ie lifted up la not upright in him [or, µ.ov after either Bl1<u1os or 1r(cr-r,r,,s (as the • behold, his soul ie lifted up, it ie not same text is cited by St. Paul, Rom. i. 17 upright in him']: but the Just shall live by and Gal. iii. 11). There is, however, good hie fo.ith." The drift of this Divine answer, au…
884 wordsSECTION 281The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 281
out theRe verees two pRSsages e.re cited from the Old Testament, to illustrate the contrRBt between the !age.I offerings e.nd the e.tonement of the Lord ,Jesus. The infinite merit of his sacrifice is conspicuous, whatever the aspect in which it is viewed. 1. _Christ's sa.ti~facti?n has shown that obediencs is the t~ue…
900 wordsSECTION 282The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 282
"Christ is my only Hend, My alone only Heart and Breast, My only Music, striking me ev'n dead: 'fhat to the old man I may rest, And be in him new drest." (George Herbert.) II. TIIE DUTIES wmCH BEST UPON THOSE PRIVILEGES. (Vera. 22-25.) These are three in number, each being introduced with the words," Let us." The…
697 wordsSECTION 283The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 283
opportunities of intercourse with them as the meetings of the Church afford. One great purpose of our "assembling of ourselves t-0gether" is to provide occasions for Christian conference and mutual exhortation. It wa.s peculiarly necessary just now that the Hebrew believers should incite one another" unto love and good…
847 wordsSECTION 284The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 284
the matter to the judgment and conscience of bis readers. To reject the "'ospel is a more heinous crime than to set at nought the Law. To tread underloot the eternal Son of Goel involves more aggravated guilt than to turn away from Moses, who was a merely human messenger. So, if the sentence of death for rejecting th…
1,171 wordsSECTION 285The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 285
III. .b APPEAL '1'0 CmmrruB PB.INCIPLE. (Vers. 38, 39.) The apostle, In con- cluding with an expression of confidence in his readers, continues to borrow the words of Habakkuk (ii. 4-). He thus reminds them that under every dispensation faith has been the instrument of salvation. This great saying, "The just shall l…
433 wordsSECTION 286The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 286
the offerers, or take away their sins. Another aepect of this imperfection is brought into view In our text. These sacrifices are spoken of as unacceptable to God. "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not; . . . sacrifices and offerin"s and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sins thou wouldest not, neither harls…
1,103 wordsSECTION 287The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 287
Vers. 12, 13.-The sacrifice and sovereignty of (Jh,·ist. "But this Man, after he had 0ffert-d one sacrifice," etc. I. THE SACRIFICE OFFERED BY CHRIST. 1. Self-sacrifice. The Jewish priests offered goats, lamb~, etc. But Jesus Christ" gave himself." The whole of his life upon earth was a sacrifice. The sufferings of…
763 wordsSECTION 288The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 288
Ver.18.-0ompleteforgiveness through the perfect Sacrifice. "Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." Our text authorizes three observation8. I. THAT THE SAVIOUR'S SACRIFICE FOR SIN WAB PERFECT. This is implied in the text, It is stated more than once in the preceding argument. To prove it w…
739 wordsSECTION 289The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 289
sanctuary, the 'l'ery heart of God." And we me.y do this without the intervention of any human prieRthood, or the presentation of any materie.l sRcrifice. Hereafter we may enter into his presence in person. Already our Lord is there. And he prayed for his disciples, "Father, I will that where I am, they also may be …
899 wordsSECTION 290The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 290
Epistle to the Hebrews had, who to the questions, 'Is Jesus the Messiah? Is he the Bo1;1 of God.?' replied i':1 the nffirm~tive indeed with ~ead and mouth, but yet were not satisfied with the sacrifice of Christ, but thought 1t necessary still to lean on the crutches of the Levitical sacrifices, and on these crutches w…
886 wordsSECTION 291The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 291
se.nctunry, the very hea.rt of God." And we may do this without the intervention of any hnrne.n priesthood, or the presente.tion of any materie.l sRcrifice. Hereafter we may enter into his presence in person. Already our Lord is there. And he prayed for his disciples, " Father, I will that where I am, they also may …
907 wordsSECTION 292The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 292
Epistle to the Hebrews had, who to the questions, 'Is Jesus the Messiah? Is he the Son of God?' replied in the affirmative indeed with head and mouth, but yet were not satisfied with the sacrifice of Christ, but thought it necessary still to Jean on the crutches of the Levitical sacrifices, and on these crutches would…
881 wordsSECTION 293The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 293
Many are the promises which God hAS made to his people. Promises to the penitent, the tempted, the afflicted, the mourner, the weak, the perplexed, etc. Now, all these promises are perfectly reliable. Of this we have many guarantees; e.g. : 1. Hi$ if'lji,nite intelligence. "When be promises anything, he sees everything…
991 wordsSECTION 294The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 294
Ver. 25.- Warning against the neglect of social worship. "Not forsakincr the assembling of ourselves to)!ether, as the custom of ~ome is; but exhorting one another." 'l'his exhortation is not a positive command, but arises out of the nature of things, and the need of man as a spiritual being. Social worship does not be…
970 wordsSECTION 295The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 295
Vers. 26-29.-The darkest sin and the most dreadful doom. "For if we Bin wil- fully after that we have received," etc. These solemn words set before us- I. A BIN OF THE GREATEST ENORMITY. To obtain a correct view of the dark sin which is here depicted, let us notice : 1. The spiritual experience which preceded the s…
650 wordsSECTION 296The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 296
o.posto.sy." It is not o. case of ordinary religious backsliding or declension from Christ ; f~r then ther~ would b~ some hope ?r repentance and encouragement to repent (Jer. 111.14 ;_Hos.xiv. 4) .. I~ 1s_a co.se of w1l~ul, deltberat~, contemptuous, persistent rejectiou of Chnst o.nd of Christianity, after having known…
880 wordsSECTION 297The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 297
angry with me, but bis power is limited, and he dies, and then he ·can injure me no lnnger; but it is a fearful thing to fall into the avenging hands of him whose power is unlimited and whose existence is endless-the bands of the almighty and ever-living God. Contrast these twofallings into the hands of God. I. THE…
774 wordsSECTION 298The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 298
For ye had compassion on them that were in bonds." In a truly ChriRtirm spirit they sympathized with others w_ho we~e in tribulation ; they wept w!th those who wept; they me.de common cause with their persecuted brethren. 2. Their sufferi:nq.9 were nf great .severit!f, They "en~ur_ed a. gre~t conflict of sufferings.…
855 wordsSECTION 299The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 299
inheritance" (eh. ix. 15), "the better and enduring substance" (ver. 34). It is the promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ. The life is characterized by (1) purity• (2) pro- gress; (3) blessedness; ( 4) perpetuity. "A perpetuity of bliss is bliss." 'l'i1is life is promised to every believer in our Lord and Saviour.…
796 wordsSECTION 300The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 300
regard the text as the statement of a general truth of the Christian life, as St. Paul use9 lt in Rom. i. 17; Gal. iii. 11. Thus viewe<l, H presents to our notice- I. THE 0HARA0TER BPECIFIED. This is marked by two lea<lin" features. I. Righteousness. "The just," or righteous. 'fhe righteousness of the Chri~tiim is (1)…
876 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.