The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 114

Ver. 1.-TVhat (Jhrist is to us. I. CONSIDER THE PEOPLE HERE ADDRESSED, AND THE SPEAKER IN RELATION TO THEM. A.mid t.he endless, fruitless discussion as to the author• ship of this Epistle, so much at least it is not unreasonable to conclude, that the author was a Hel:.rew Christian, not a Gentile one. The Hebrews were now divided into what might be called Christian Hebrews and non-Christian Hebrews-Hebrews of the gospel and Hebrews of the Law-and in addresging the Christian Hebrews the writer implies certain profound distinctions. He calls them : 1. Brethren. This not a mere word of courtesy. It acknowledged the relation between writer and readers; it indicated the writer's interest; he bad a certain claim to be listened to. And, to put this brotherhood beyond doubt, there is the subsequent "our." 'l'hen there is the brotherhood of the readers to one another, and their brotherhood to the Son of God. 2. Holy; or perhaps better taken as a snbstantive-saints; men with the stamp of consecration on them. The Jewish nation was a holy nation, holy by nature; and now these believers, with the Holy Spirit's work going on in them, were twice holy. 3. Partakers of a heavenly calling. (This expression noticed more particularly in a separate homily.) 4. Those who have made an acknowledgment, a profession, with respect to Christ. II. CONSIDER THE IMPLIED PARALLEL WITH T.!IE EXPERIENCES OF THE HEBREW NATION. All Hebrews were brethren in this sense, that they had descended from one father, Abraham. They were holy by the consecration of Jehovab's historical dealings with them. God had not dealt so with any other nation. They were partakers of a heavenly calling. It was a voice of God, not some self-dictated impulse, which sent out Abraham and directed and bounded the track of his posterity. And, most important of all, the Hebrew nation made their acknowledgment of apostle and high priest. The apostle was Moses, and of the high priest Aaron may be taken as representative. Though while living Moses had been only too often the object of hatred, jealousy, rebellion, he harl. now come to be vehemently acknowledged. It could not be too much proclaimed by the Hebrews of the Law that be was the sent of God. IIL CONSIDER THE A.POSTLE AND HroH PRIEST OF OUR PROFESSION. The Hebrews of the gospel bad only one Person to consider, where the Hebrews of the Law had two. The matter is one for consideration--close and penetrating application of the mind. Consideration as opposed to negligence, as opposed to superficiality; sufficient examina- tion as opposed to insufficient. 'l'o obey the exhortation meant to bend the mind to all the subsequent arguments and illustrations of the Epistle. The writer was going to exhibit the results of his own consideration. And though the interest and responsibility of this con&ideration is special to Jews, yet it is well for all Gentiles to consider how thoroughly Jesus is a sent Person. Moses was clearly a sent person; there is nothing w show that in himself he was a man of extraordinary gifts. By so much as the nature of Jesus is richer and purer than that of Moses, we need to be on our guard against for- getting that he is a sent Person. We must acknowledge him as such; the supreme Sent One, out of the infinite, the eternal, the unseen.-Y. Ver. 6.- Wnat we are to C!irist. To ue Christ is related as Apostle and High Priest (,·er. 1). To Christ we are related as the house where he holds the unique position of Son, Heir, Director. I. VvE ABE MORE TO CHRIST THAN EVER RIB BRETHREN COULD BE TO MOSES. Moses had great authority, honourable position, but he was never as a son over his own house, Moses at best was the steward, and even he had checks which reminded him that he was but the first among servants, not an all-controlling lord. And yet he was a ma.n to be honoured. Mark this in the Epistle, that its writer, in exalting Christ, exalted Moses also; whereas the enemies of Christ only exalted Moses, that by the same move- CH, Ill, 1-10.) THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 105