M we hear their heavenly greetings, and realize the fellowship with us which they claim, 2. The example of Jesus, the Leader and Perfecter of faith. (Vers. 2, .'3.) While gratefully conscious of the presence of the men of faith, we are to <1aze fixedly only upon Jesus, The writer refers to the Saviour here in his human nature as the Pattern Man, and as our supreme Exemplar. His portrait is the grandest in th; whole exhibition of the heroes of faith; indeed, none of those in eh. xi. can for a moment compare with it. This noblest picture is arranged in two divisions; we see Christ on the one side in bis humiliation, and on the other in bis exaltation. And the inscription set over it reads thus: "Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith." He is the Author, i.e. Captain, Prince, Head, or Leader, of all the men of faith. He exhibited, durin" his own earthly life, an absolutely perfect example of.trust in God. By faith be waii:d at Nazareth, with bis high destiny stirring in bis heart, during thirty years. By faith he assumed the burden of the world's sin. By faith he conquered Sat.an in the wilderness. By faith he performed the labours of bis three years' active ministry. By faith he endured the agonies of Gethsemane, and the" gainsaying" (ver. 3) of Gabbatha, and the soul-darkness of Golgotha. Jesus did not" shrink back unto perdition," notwith- standing bis unparalleled temptations. So he is also the "Perfecter of faith;" for in him faith has bad its perfect work. No other man will ever appear in our world equal to him as a specimen of faith. Therefore he is our great Model. The early Hebrew Christians were to "consider him." That very "cross" at which they stumbled, be "endured." If they were being treated by "sinners" (ver. 3) as renegades from the religion of Israel, much more had he been. Their sufferings and temptations were not nearly so dreadful as his. Seeing, then, that the Man Christ Jesus, for the sake of the eternal reward in store for him, persevered to the end in running his appointed race, why should any of his followers allow themselves to "wax. weary, fainting in their souls"? It was his endurance of the cross that gave him bis place "at the right band of the throne of God;" and all who follow him as their Leader in the race of faith shall eventually sit with him upon his throne. CONCLUSION. l. Life or death depends upon whether or not we run the Cbristi:m race. 2. Christ will give us strength to run well, if we ask him. 3. He will crown us at the end, bestowing himself upon us as the Prize.
Vcrs. 4-11.-0hastisement. In this passage the writer reminds tl1e Hebrews that although doubtless they had sustained severe trials on account cf their devotedness to Christ, none of them had yet been required to seal their faith with their blood (ver. 4). Other children of God bad suffered much more than they (eh. xi. 35-38), and had remained faithful. For them to apostatize would, therefore, be very heinous sin. Rather they must learn to view their afflictions as the corrections of God's fatherly love. Consider- !. THE FAOT OF 0HASTISEMENT. 1. Our aifiictions are really such. Sometimes, in forgetfulness of God, the believer may regard his sorrows simply as calamities- untoward events which have no particular spiritual meaning. .A.t other times he may receive them merely as trials of his faith, or as sent to strengthen his Christi:m graces. But this passage reminds us that we greatly err if we do not find in our troubles the element of chastisement. It is true that Jesus Christ has born'l the essential penalty of his people's sins; but, though he has don\1 so, he has not removed any lesser punish- ment which we may require in order to the correcting: of our faults. God" forgives" us, but he "takes vengeance of our inventions" (Ps. xcix. 8). 2. Chastisement is inevitable. The Lord "scourgeth every son" (ver. 6). "All bavo been made par- takers" of it-all the Old Testament saints, and all believers in Christian times. The unchastened man is a bastard. 3. 0/iastisement is various in kind and in degree. There are, e.g., disease of body, distress of mind, the loss of property, injury of character, the profligacy of children, the faithlessness of friends, persecution for righteousness' sake. 4. Chastisement is severe. He " scourgeth " (ver. 6). The Lord's rod draws blood. It checkers the believer's life with wales (Isa. i. 5, 6). The Christian "bears brancled on his body the marks of Jesus" (Gal. vi. •Hi). II. GoD'B PURPOSE IN CHASTISEMENT. It is a gracious purpose. Divine penalties fall upon the believer as a necessary discipline, The love 8S well as the righ teousncss of God prompts to these retributions, Chastisement is sent: 1. 'l'o correct our f.rnlts. 366 THE EPISTLE 'l'O THE HEBREWS. [011. xu.1-29,