THE DEMANDS OF FAITH (Hebrews 12:1) Our present verse is a call to constancy in the Christian profession; it is an exhortation unto steadfastness in the Christian life; it is a pressing appeal for making personal holiness our supreme business and quest. In substance our text is parallel with such v... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OBJECT OF FAITH (Hebrews 12:2) The verse which is now to engage our attention continues and completes the important exhortation found in the one which was before us in the last article. The two verses are so closely related that only the requirements of space obliged us to separate them. The la... [ Continue Reading ]
A CALL TO STEADFASTNESS (Hebrews 12:3, Hebrews 12:4) At first sight it is not easy to trace the thread which unites the passage that was last before us and the verses which are now to engage our attention: there appears to be no direct connection between the opening verses of Hebrews 12 and those w... [ Continue Reading ]
DIVINE CHASTISEMENT (Hebrews 12:5) The grand truth of Divine Chastisement is inexpressibly blessed, and one which we can neglect only to our great loss. It is of deep importance, for when Scripturally apprehended it preserves from some serious errors by which Satan has succeeded (as "an angel of li... [ Continue Reading ]
DIVINE CHASTISEMENT (Hebrews 12:6) The problem of suffering is a very real one in this world, and to not a few of our readers a personal and acute one. While some of us are freely supplied with comforts, others are constantly exercised over procuring the bare necessities of life. While some of us h... [ Continue Reading ]
DIVINE CHASTISEMENT (Hebrews 12:7, Hebrews 12:8) The all-important matter in connection with Divine chastenings, so far as the Christian is concerned, is the spirit in which he receives them. Whether or not we "profit" from them, turns entirely on the exercises of our minds and hearts under them. T... [ Continue Reading ]
DIVINE CHASTISEMENT (Hebrews 12:9) The apostle Paul did not, like so many of our moderns, hurry through a subject and dismiss an unpleasant theme with a brief sentence or two. No, he could say truthfully, "I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you." His chief concern was not to please, but t... [ Continue Reading ]
DIVINE CHASTISEMENT (Hebrews 12:10) Would any Christian in his right mind dare to pray, Let me not be afflicted, no matter what good it should do me? And if he were unwilling and afraid to pray thus, why should he murmur when it so falls out? Alas, what a wide breach there is, usually, between our... [ Continue Reading ]
DIVINE CHASTISEMENT (Hebrews 12:11) One reason, perhaps, why so little is written to-day upon Divine chastisement, and why it so rarely forms the theme of the pulpit, is because it suits not the false temper and sentiments of this superficial age. The great majority of the preachers are men-pleaser... [ Continue Reading ]
A CALL TO STEADFASTNESS (Hebrews 12:12, Hebrews 12:13) The didactic (teaching) portions of Scripture are very much more than abstract statements of truth: they are designed not only for the instructing of the mind, but also for the influencing of the heart. This is far too little recognized in our... [ Continue Reading ]
A CALL TO DILIGENCE (Hebrews 12:14) The connection between the verses which were before us on the last occasion and that which is now to engage our attention is not apparent at the first glance. There the apostle made a practical application to his readers of the important considerations he had bee... [ Continue Reading ]
A CALL TO EXAMINATION (Hebrews 12:15) We had first thought of giving a brief exposition of this verse at the close of the preceding article. But we felt this would scarcely satisfy some of our more critical readers. Nor is it our custom to dodge difficulties, and this presents a real difficulty un... [ Continue Reading ]
A WARNING AGAINST APOSTASY (Hebrews 12:16, Hebrews 12:17) The verses which we are now to consider are among the most solemn to be found in the Word of God. They present a most pointed warning against apostasy. They bring before us what is to all tender consciences a terror-provoking subject, namely... [ Continue Reading ]
THE INFERIORITY OF JUDAISM (Hebrews 12:18, Hebrews 12:19) As there are certain parts of a country which offer less attraction than others unto tourists and sight-seers, so there are some portions of Scripture which are of less interest to most readers and writers. As there are some scenes in Nature... [ Continue Reading ]
THE INFERIORITY OF JUDAISM (Hebrews 12:20, Hebrews 12:21) The Divine law was, for the substance of it, originally written in the hearts of mankind by God Himself, when their federal head and father was created in His own image and likeness. But through the fall it was considerably marred, as to its... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRISTIANITY (Hebrews 12:22-24) "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly; the Church of the firstborn, which are written in Heaven; and to God the Judge of all,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRISTIANITY (Hebrews 12:22-24) "But ye are come unto" etc. (verse 22). These words do not, in fact cannot, mean, that in some mystical sense believers are "in spirit" projected into the future, to something which will only be actualized in the future. The Greek verb has a specif... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CALL TO HEAR (Hebrews 12:25, Hebrews 12:26) "See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh: for if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from Heaven" (verse 25). In these words we find the Holy Spirit moving the ap... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PASSING OF JUDAISM (Hebrews 12:26, Hebrews 12:27) It is exceedingly difficult, if not quite impossible, for us to form any adequate conception of the serious obstacles presented to the mind of a pious Jew, when any one sought to persuade him that Judaism had been set aside by God and that he mu... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ESTABLISHING OF CHRISTIANITY (Hebrews 12:27) The Divine incarnation was not some sudden, isolated, and unexpected event. The advent of our blessed Lord, and with it the dawn of Christianity, marked a climax and consummation. The world was prepared through long processes for the coming of the On... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST (Hebrews 12:28) We hope that we made clear in the preceding articles the general idea contained in the citation from the O.T. which the apostle made in Hebrews 12:26, namely, that under the proclamation of the Gospel there would be a more radical and far-reaching effect produc... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FINAL WARNING (Hebrews 12:28, Hebrews 12:29) "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire." A brief analysis of these verses reveals the following weighty points. Fi... [ Continue Reading ]