The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 386

Ycrs. 1G,_li.-E.m11; or, the s=·i/ice of the spiritttalfor the sensuous. "Lest there he any formcator, or profane person," etc. There is much about this man, Esau, which is_nobl~ and attractive. "Esan, the shaggy, red-haired huntsman, the man of the field, w~th his arrows, his quiver, and his bow, coming in weary from the chase, caught as with the levity and eagerness of a child by the sight of the lentil eoup-' Feed me, I pray thee, with the red, red pottage '-yet so full of generous impulse, so affectionate towards his aged father, eo forgiving towards his brother, so open-hearted, so chivalrous, who bas not at times felt bis heart warm toward the poor rejected Esau, and been tempted to join with him as he cries • with a great and exceeding bitter cry,' • Hast thou but on~ blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, 0 my father I'" (Dr. A. P. Stanley). let he is solemnly held up in our text as a bea.con against certain sins which might lead to apostasy from the Christian faith and life. In his conduct as mentioned in the text we notice two things. I. A SACRIFICE OF SACRED RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES FOB SENSUOUS BATISFAOTION, "Esau for one mess of meat sold his own birthriii;ht" (cf. Gen. xxv. 29-34). Peculiar rights and privileges were inherited by the firstborn son. (1) He received a. double portion of the paternal property, which probably signifies twice as much as any other ,;on received (Deut. xxi. 17). (2) The priestly office pertained to him, previous to the i;election of the tribe of Levi to fulfil that office for the nation (Nnmb. viii. 17-19). (3) He enjoyed a rank and authority in the family over those who were younger i;iruilar to that exercised by the father (Gen. xxvii. 29; xlix. 3). (4) And in the case before us, the honour of being in the patriarchal line, and of transmitting the promises made to Abraham. These rights of primogeniture Esau sold for one meal of red pottage ; and in the sale we have: 1. A sacrifice of a great and lifelong good for th6 satisfaction of present n.eed and desire. Esau was tired, faint for want of food; there was the appetizing pottage; and there was the mean and subtle brother who craved the birthright, and saw his opportunity for gaining his end by disgraceful means, and who proposed tha.t the birthright should be given to him for the mess of pottage, and who, deeming othen; as unprincipled as himself, would. have the bargain ratified by an oath ; and Esau yielded, and sacrificed the long future for the brief present. He allowed his strong impulse to overpower his reason and judgment. 2. .A sar:rifice of spiritual privileges for sensuous satisfactions. 'l'he cravings of his senses, his hunger and desire for the pottage, mastered the convictions of his soul. Carnal appetite conquered the claims of Esau's higher interests. 3. A sacrifice made up()'TI, th6 solicitation of his mean and crafty 'brotMr. Most discreditable was the action of Ja.cob in this transaction. If a darker guilt attaches to the tempter to evil than to him ""ho, being tempted, yields, then Ja.cob's sin was greater than Esau's. Well does Dean Stanley inquire," Who does not feel at times his indignation swell against the younger brother? ' Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he hath supplanted me these two times? ' He entraps his brother, he deceives his father, he makes a bargain even in his prayer; in his dealings with La.ban, in his meeting with Esau, he still calculates and contrives; he distrusts his neighbours, he regards with prudential indifference the insult to his daughter and the cruelty of his sons; he hesitates to receive the assurance of Joseph's good will; he repels, even iu his lesser traits, the free confidence that we cannot withhold from the patriarchs of the elder generation." Thus tempted by hunger, by appetite, by opportu- ui t y, and by his astute and scheming brother, " Esau for one mess of meat sold his own birthright." "Thus Esau despised his birthright." To what a. large extent do men still sin after the fashion of Esa.u's transgression! In our country there are multitudes who a.re bartering their spiritual interests for secular prosperity-renouncing godliness for worldly gain. What countless numbers are risking the salvation of their souls for the gratification of their senses! sacrificing their well-being iu the endless future for their pieasure in the brief present! II. A SACRIFICE WHICH INVOLVED IRREPARABLE LOBB. "For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected," etc. We have l,ere: 1. Earnest desire for tl,e forfeited blessing. "He would have inherited the Llesi;ing." Esau was neither so wicked nor so worldly as to COlltellrn the blessing either cm. xn. 1-29.J THE EPISTLE 'l'O THE mrnREWS.