Hebrews3
King James Version · Public Domain
1Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
2Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
3For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
4For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
5And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
6But 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.
7Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
8Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
15While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
17But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Hebrews 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The superior worth and dignity of Christ above Moses is shown. (1–6). The Hebrews are warned of the sin and danger of unbelief. (7–13). And of necessity of faith in Christ, and of stedfastly following him. (14–19).
vv1-6
Christ is to be considered as the Apostle of our profession, the Messenger sent by God to men, the great Revealer of that faith which we profess to hold, and of that hope which we profess to have. As Christ, the Messiah, anointed for the office both of Apostle and High Priest. As Jesus, our Saviour, our Healer, the great Physician of souls. Consider him thus. Consider what he is in himself, what he is to us, and what he will be to us hereafter and for ever. Close and serious thoughts of Christ bring us to know more of him. The Jews had a high opinion of the faithfulness of Moses, yet his faithfulness was but a type of Christ's. Christ was the Master of this house, of his church, his people, as well as their Maker. Moses was a faithful servant; Christ, as the eternal Son of God, is rightful Owner and Sovereign Ruler of the Church. There must not only be setting out well in the ways of Christ, but stedfastness and perseverance therein to the end. Every meditation on his person and his salvation, will suggest more wisdom, new motives to love, confidence, and obedience.
vv7-13
Days of temptation are often days of provocation. But to provoke God, when he is letting us see that we entirely depend and live upon him, is a provocation indeed. The hardening of the heart is the spring of all other sins. The sins of others, especially of our relations, should be warnings to us. All sin, especially sin committed by God's professing, privileged people, not only provokes God, but it grieves him. God is loth to destroy any in, or for their sin; he waits long to be gracious to them. But sin, long persisted in, will make God's wrath discover itself in destroying the impenitent; there is no resting under the wrath of God. “Take heed:” all who would get safe to heaven must look about them; if once we allow ourselves to distrust God, we may soon desert him. Let those that think they stand, take heed lest they fall. Since to-morrow is not ours, we must make the best improvement of this day. And there are none, even the strongest of the flock, who do not need help of other Christians. Neither are there any so low and despised, but the care of their standing in the faith, and of their safety, belongs to all. Sin has so many ways and colours, that we need more eyes than ours own. Sin appears fair, but is vile; it appears pleasant, but is destructive; it promises much, but performs nothing. The deceitfulness of sin hardens the soul; one sin allowed makes way for another; and every act of sin confirms the habit. Let every one beware of sin.
vv14-19
The saints' privilege is, they are made partakers of Christ, that is, of the Spirit, the nature, graces, righteousness, and life of Christ; they are interested in all Christ is, in all he has done, or will do. The same spirit with which Christians set out in the ways of God, they should maintain unto the end. Perseverance in faith is the best evidence of the sincerity of our faith. Hearing the word often is a means of salvation, yet, if not hearkened to, it will expose more to the Divine wrath. The happiness of being partakers of Christ and his complete salvation, and the fear of God's wrath and eternal misery, should stir us up to persevere in the life of obedient faith. Let us beware of trusting to outward privileges or professions, and pray to be numbered with the true believers who enter heaven, when all others fail because of unbelief. As our obedience follows according to the power of our faith, so our sins and want of care are according to the prevailing of unbelief in us.
Key Words
ὅθεν (hóthen): from which place or source or cause (adverb or conjunction)
ἅγιος (hágios): sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated)
ἀδελφός (adelphós): a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like G1 (Α))
μέτοχος (métochos): participant, i.e. (as noun) a sharer; by implication, an associate
ἐπουράνιος (epouránios): above the sky
κλῆσις (klēsis): an invitation (figuratively)
κατανοέω (katanoéō): to observe fully
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
ἀπόστολος (apóstolos): a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers)
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Cross References
Hebrews 3Direct Old Testament quotation regarding Israel's hardening in the wilderness and the promise of rest.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The foundational Old Testament praise of Moses' faithfulness in all God's house.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Moses' prophecy that God would raise up a Prophet like unto him.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Prophesies the Branch who shall build the temple of the Lord and bear the glory.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasts the law given through the servant Moses with grace and truth through Jesus Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The author's own exposition of the term 'Today' from Psalm 95 in the next chapter.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical account of Israel tempting God ten times and seeing His miracles in the wilderness.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul's parallel warning using the wilderness generation as examples of unbelief and falling.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Christ as the sent one (Apostle) from the Father, delegating His own apostles.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Introduces Christ as the faithful and merciful High Priest, setting up this chapter's comparison.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Defines the 'house of God' as the church of the living God, supporting verse 6.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Believers built up as spiritual stones into a house, with Christ as Chief Corner Stone.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Exhorts believers to labor to enter that rest, lest they fall by the same unbelief.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the command to exhort and stir up one another daily to prevent hardening.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The fulfillment of God's oath that the wilderness generation would die in the desert.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Explains that the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole