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1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; |
The Apostle and Hight Priest – "The Apostle Paul calls our attention in this [spiritual - site Editor] direction saying, "Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus." (Heb. 3:1.) But how few of those who read the Scriptures have ever followed the Apostle's suggestion? how few have ever considered Jesus from the standpoint suggested, --as the Church's Apostle or special teacher sent of God to specially guide and instruct the Church, and as the church's High Priest to whom the faithful occupy the relationship of under priests? Had more consideration been given by the Lord's people to these matters, a larger number would undoubtedly be much farther advanced than they are today, in the knowledge and love of God. They would have seen that if Christ is a special teacher, a special High Priest of the Church, and the Church his special pupils, brethren and under priests, then there must be, according to the Scriptures, at some future time, a still greater blessing in which both High Priests and under priests will be the agents of God in blessing all the families of the earth." - R3313:6 |
2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. |
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3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. |
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4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. |
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5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; |
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6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. |
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7 Wherefore (as the Holy Spirit saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, |
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8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: |
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9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. |
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10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. |
I – Jehovah God.
Was grieved – Because of their unbelief. Even after seeing all his wonders in their release from the slavery of Egypt.
With that generation – Those living at the time they reached the promised land - because they did not exercise enough faith in God to enter into the land. |
11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) |
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12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. |
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13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. |
Today – In one sense this refers to the Gospel Age, the age of sacrifice. More particularly though it refers to RIGHT NOW! Consider what Paul is saying in this context. He is comparing typical Israel, those who had already come into covenant relationship with God, and their opportunity to come into the land of promise, with us in our covenant relationship with God and our opportunity to enter into rest. If Israel had obeyed immediately, God would have driven out the inhabitants for them, little by little. But since they did not obey but instead listened to the evil report of the 10 spies, when they did come to the promised land, they had to do the battle and drive out the inhabitants themselves (though it was still with God's help.) |
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
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15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. |
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16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. |
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17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? |
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18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? |
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19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. |
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