The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 142

mttted that we look to the sunset and think of rest from t0?,1, But let us also tak8 pride in the work we have to do, thinking that some day, by the Spirit of God working in us, the workmanship will be complete. God will have his particular sabbatism in us; and we, complete in Christ, shall get our sabbatism with God.-Y. Ver. 12.-0haracteriatics of the Word of God. What is the connection with the oontext? le it not this, that the Word of God, living and abiding for ever (1 Pet. i. 23), stands in its constant living relation to every generation of men? So far as we are essentially in the position of that generation which came out of Egypt, so far as we have Di vine promises before us the conditions of which we may neglect, so far are we the objects of the same Word of God. Essentially the same Divine visita- tion, judicial visitation, comes on all who fail to show that trust which is their duty. The same things must happen to all who will not believe what is true and trust what is trustworthy. And yet what is here said of the Word of God only takes a threaten- ing aspect if we choose to have it so. The Word of God has a double function. H may penetrate, physician-like, to heal, to purify, to illuminate the depths and dark- nesses of our being, or it may penetrate to furnish the irresistible evidence for our condemnation. It is sufficient, then, that we !ook at the characteristics of God's Word in themselves. What they may become in action it is for us to decide. I. THE WoBD OF Gon 18 LIVING. Every word concerning truth and duty, every word of promise, comfort, revelation of the unseen, is like a living being sent out into the world, going to and fro in the earth, so that none of us knows when, with all its fulness of life, it may take hold of us. " Moses," says Stephen in his great discourse, "received the lively oracles ("-o"f/a (w.,.,.a) to give to us." It is well that we should bear in mind how the written Scriptures, though an invaluable help, are not an abso- lute necessity. Apart from the living Spirit of God which fills them with life, they would be, perhaps, the least comprehensible, the most perplexing, of antique writings. Nor must we be forgetful of that Divine Logos spoken of at the beginning of John's Gospel. In that Logos was life-life which was the light of men. The Word of God finding its highest expression, the expression of what would otherwise be ineffuble in a manifested human life; human, yet Divine ; Divine, yet human. II. THE WoBD OF GoD 18 POWERFUL. Powerful, but powerful in a peculiar way. Energetic, shall we say? Leaven-leavening the whole lump, undermining cherished principles of worldly wisdom, falsehoods, prejudices, superstitions, and putting in their place the Christian-the true and the rational. Note the expression of Paul in 2 Cor. iv. 12, where he speaks of life energizing in us. III. 'l'HE WoBD 011' Gon IB PENETRATING. This would seem to be the characteristic most to be borne in mind, considering how language is multiplied and varied to declaro it. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Some plain word of God with the Spirit's force behind it is a sword, shnrper than any two-edged sword; and yet, unlike the carnal weapon, it is not for killing, nor for mischief. Here is the pcuetrnting power which reveals all secrets, opens out all mysteries. It hacks its way in and i,., till it is face to face with the real man. Every man has, as it were, a holy of holies with respect to others. They cannot get behind the veil. But God is never anywhere else in relation to us. His ways are past finding out by us. But all our ways in every winding are known to him. And all this deep, infallible searching is for our good.-Y. Ver.14.-0ur great High Priest passed into the heavens. I. THI!: OOMPABIBON nt:PLIED. Ch. ix. helps us here. There the writer speaks of two tabernacles-the first ontsido the veil, the second within. Into the second the high priest went alone once a year. There, away from the sight of the people, before the ark of the covenant containing the tables of our Law, he transacted solemn business with God on behalf of his fellow- Israelites. And not only so, this high priest was acknowledged by the wholo people. They believed, or professed to believe, that he was a necessary medium of communica- tion between God and them. And so he WaR for the tin:ie, and long continued so. Tho bulk of the Hebrew people at the time this Epistle was written bud a profound regard, though also a superstitious and servile one, for the person of the high priest. Thero might be in the regard very little of ir.'.e\ligence, and very doubtful advautagc; but ~tiil,  13i THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. [ell. 1v. 1-16.