The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 111

<Jhrist is to fail of the rest to which he leads. "For to whom aware be," etc. Rejection from Christ is the one deadly sin. "This is the condemnation; " "He that believeth not is," etc. ; "And this is the condemnation, that light," etc. How much more so in the case of the apostate I "I saw," said Bunyan, "that from the very gate of heaven there was a path down to hell." III. 'l'HE PREVENTION OF APOSTASY FROM CHRIST. There is only one means-cleave to Christ. Apostasy springs from unbelief; its antidote is faith. How can a persistent faith bo maintained? 1. Faith depends greatly on the condition of the heart. "They do err in their heart;" the passage is full of that. Men do not, for the most part, lean Christ because of conscious hostility to him, or a desire to depart; it is rather because the lust of other things entering in blinds them to his beauty, and insensibly draws them from his service. 2. Faith must be shielded from outside influenr.u which tend to weaken it. "Take heed." There are enemies to faith outside as well as in- pleasures, companionships, literature. 3. Faith must be supplied with its natural food. "Exhort one another," etc. That is, present the truth. 'rhe food of faith is truth, and in order to produce or maintain faith we must present truth to tho mind. Let Scripture be unstudied, and faith will die.-C. N. Vers. 1-6.-77ie superiority of Ohrist. I. HEnE WE HAVE THE PRE-EMINENCE OF CHRIST OVER THE JEWISH LAWGIVER ASSERTED. Having proved that our Lord was by nature and by his work infinitely above the angels, and that his assuming our flesh qualified him to be the great High Priest, it was desirable to show that he was immeasur- ably greater than Moses, who was the human mediator in establishment of the covenant and Law. 'fhe apostle knew the lustre with which the name and ministry of Moses wero always surrounded in the minds of the people of Israel, and therefore with admirablo wisdom he proceeds to claim for Jesus Christ his rightful ascendancy and special glory. Jewish believers are addressed as" holy brethren" and partakers or the heavenly calling, which differed from the calling which invited the tribes to march and take possession of Canaan. It is heaveuly because it comes to them from heaven and calls them to heaven, and is heard continually by the spiritual ear of those who are advancing to the "rest which remaineth for the people of God.'' Moses had a glory which wns that oi fidelity to the thoughts and ideas of Jehovah, who said to him, "See that thou make nil things accordin~ to the pattern showed to thee in the mount." When the tabernacle was finished God looked upon the work and blessed it, because it faithfully realized his design. He was faithful in receiving communications from God and delivering them to the people, and in publishing the laws respecting sacrifices, ceremonies, and social lire. He uttered predictions respecting the future course of Israel and the character and ministry of the Lord Jesus, and could say, as Paul said, "That which I have received of the Lord have I delivered unto you." He was faithful to the interests of the :eeople, and in a time of danger from the righteous anger of Jehovah was williug to die tor them (Exod. x.xxii. 32). He was a servant in the house, and ministered under him who was its Architect anJ. Builder. Our Lord rises infinitely above Moses, becaus~ he is a Son, and by his dignity and nature is far above all angels, all patriarchs, and prophets, and even Moses himself, who spake to God "face to face." This is confirmed by the events of the Transfiguration, for when Moses and Elijah were with him in glory the voice was heard, "This is my beloved Son. hear him." The apostle invites us to consider the sublime edifice of the Church, which is the work of God, who created all things, in which Jesus Christ bas a special and glorious ministry as tha Sou of the Father. He is faithful as Moses was in the range of his Divine communications, and said, " Whatsoever I speak thereforo, even as the Father said to me, so I speak" (John xii. 50). He came to do the Father's will in his mighty and sacrificial sorrows, and drank the bitter Cup that we might drink the cup of blessing. He prom!sed ,to see bis disciples again, and to pour out the Spirit upon them. St. Peter stood with Joy on the day of P1,ntecost, and affirmed, "He hath shed forth that which ye now see anJ. hear." The existence of his Church proves his faithfulness; for the gates of hell have not prevailed against it ; and "blessed are all they that trust in him." ll. THE NEED AND ADVANTAGE OF REVERENT CONBIDEBATI0N OF HIS GLORY, To "consider" signifies to withdraw from the excitement and turbulence of human life to look etcadily at tho Son of God, and resemble, in some degree, tho astronomer who enters  102 THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. [orr. m. 1-19.