But Christ as a Son over his own house, &c.— Over the church; in which, as Heir or Lord of all things, he has not only a trust and office, but also a property. See Hebrews 3:4. Instead of the confidence, some read, our freedom of profession; and others, the liberty, that is, of access to God. See ch. Hebrews 4:16 ch. Hebrews 10:19; Hebrews 10:35. In all which places the word παρρησιαν, says Sykes, should be rendered liberty. The Jews were all absolutely prohibited from entering into theholy of holies,which represented the throne of God (the high-priest onlyexcepted; andhe having this restraint laid upon him, that he could enter it but once a year). But now the true holy of holies was opened to all, through Christ, and all Christians might have free access to the throne of God, in the highest sense in which we are capable of approaching it here below. And this freedom, without any restraint, was the παρρησια, the liberty which they might use without any fear of death or harm for entering within the veil. In this place then of this Epistle the word παρρησια is the liberty of access to the throne of God;—an advantage which no Christian is to give up. It is an access to the Lord and Master of the house; not by any others, as mediators in the family, but by and through the Son alone. The rejoicing of the hope, means the open avowal of the hope which we have of a future reward. This is the thing openly to be professed, and steadily to be adhered to, even to the end. See ch. Hebrews 10:23; Hebrews 10:26; Hebrews 10:31.

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