BEING LEFT] God's promise of rest cannot fail. Israel having failed to enter into it, the promise remains unfulfilled, and therefore it is open for us to enter in, if we keep the faith. SHOULD SEEM] either a milder form of expression, or, as the words may be rendered, 'should be found to have come s... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST. The OT. itself testifies to His supremacy as God's Son over its own chief personages: (a) first the angels, through whom the Jews believed that creation had been effected and the Law given (Hebrews 1:4 to Hebrews 2:18). He is also superior (_b_) to Moses, the founder of the... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS CHRIST, GIVER OR THE PROMISED REST, AND HIGH PRIEST TO BEING MEN TO GOD 1-13. Israel through unbelief failed to enter into the promised rest. The rest, therefore, remains open and a promise of entrance is made to us. Let us not make the same mistake and fail to enter in because of unbelief. F... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOSPEL] RV 'Good tidings,' i.e. a promise of the rest of God. NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH] RV adopts AVmg. 'because they were not united by faith with them that heard,' which is the rendering of a well-attested various reading. This makes a distinction between 'those who heard' (i.e. believed and... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER SO LONG A TIME] i.e. the time between Moses and David. In David's time the rest continued open, and therefore it is concluded that it is open still.... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS] RV, rightly, 'Joshua.' The Gk. for both names is the same. If the entry into Canaan under Joshua bad been the fulfilment of the divine promise of rest, there would have been no mention centuries later in the Psalm of a rest still remaining; hence, 'there remaineth a rest for the people of God... [ Continue Reading ]
A REST] RV' a sabbath rest.' The rest that remaineth is also of a different character from the rest of Canaan. It is God's rest, a holy and eternal satisfaction.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS REST] i.e. God's rest: 12. QUICK, AND POWERFUL] RV 'living, and active.' It does not die when uttered, but continues vital and operative, and, like a sharp sword, penetrates to the inmost recesses of the heart and life. A DISCERNER] RV 'quick to discern,' lit. 'critical,' i.e. able to judge. 14... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEING THEN] The connexion is with Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 3:1. INTO THE HEAVENS] RV 'through the heavens.' In Jewish theology there were several heavens: cp. 2 Corinthians 12:2. Jesus has passed through all the outer courts into the Holy of Holies: cp. Hebrews 9:24. He occupies the highest place in h... [ Continue Reading ]
However highly Christ is exalted He sympathises with us, having experienced the trials and temptations of humanity. This combination in Him of suffering and sinlessness is the ground of our confidence in Him: cp. Hebrews 7:26. _Yet_ WITHOUT SIN] i.e. His trials and temptations never resulted in sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
COME BOLDLY] RV 'draw near.' This privilege of access is one of many points of superiority in the new dispensation as compared with the old: cp. Hebrews 10:19; Hebrews 12:18; Ephesians 2:13; Ephesians 2:18.... [ Continue Reading ]