Hebrews Chapter 3

apostle having discoursed, in the preceding chapters, concerning the dignity of Christ’s person, and his wondrous grace in the assumption of human nature, and suffering in the room and stead of his people, exhorts the Hebrews in this to a serious consideration of him, attention to him, and faith in him, and constancy in it; the arguments he uses to engage them to these things are taken from the grace and benefit they themselves were partakers of through him, from the office in which he was, and his faithfulness to his Father in the discharge of it (vv. 1,2). which is illustrated in the case of Moses, who was faithful in the house of God, and whom Christ excelled, and therefore was worthy of more honour; partly, because he is the builder of the house; and partly because he is a Son in it, when Moses was only a servant; which house is Christ’s own, and consists of true and steadfast believers in him (vv. 2,3,4,5,6). wherefore the exhortation to regard him is renewed, enforced, and expressed in the words of the Holy Ghost (vv. 7,8,9,10,11). which are taken out of Psalm 95:7-11, and applied to the present case.

Hence the apostle cautions against unbelief, as being a great evil in itself, and bad in its consequence, causing persons to depart from the living God (v. 12), in order to prevent which he advises to a daily exhortation of each other to their duty, that so they might not be hardened in sin through the deceitfulness of it (v. 13), and rather it became them to be concerned, to hold fast their faith in Christ to the end, since this is the grand evidence of being a partaker of him (v. 14). And the exhortation in the above passage of Scripture is recited (v. 15), to shew, that though not all persons spoken of, yet some did provoke the Lord by their unbelief, and unbecoming carriage (v. 16), wherefore, by the example of punishment being inflicted on such, of which instances are given in the forefathers of these people, such as their carcasses falling in the wilderness, and their not entering into the land of Canaan, which they could not, because God swore they should not, being grieved and provoked by them, and because of their unbelief, they are dissuaded from the same evils, lest they should be punished in like manner (vv. 17, 18, 19).

III. The Superiority of Christ over Moses	3:1--4:13
A. Christ Is Superior to Moses in His Work	3:1-4
B. Christ Is Superior to Moses in His Person	3:5-6
C. Second Warning: Danger of Unbelief	3:7--4:13
1. Danger of Hardening the Heart	3:7-19

INTRODUCTION: Hebrews 3:1-6

We have seen that the “writer” to the Hebrews sought to encourage faithfulness to Jesus by illustrating His Superiority; (1) Over the prophets [Heb. 1:1-3] and (2) over the angels [Heb. 1:4-2:18]; both of which were very important to the Jewish people.

Highly revered also by the Hebrews was Moses. He was the author of the first five books of the Old Testament; the deliverer, who led them out of Egyptian bondage and to the promised land; the lawgiver, through whom God revealed so much of the Jewish religion.

If the “writer” was to be successful in encouraging his brethren to remain faithful to Jesus he would (1) have to compare Jesus with Moses and (2) he would have to illustrate “The Supremacy of Jesus Over Moses.” This he does, especially in Hebrews 3:1-6.

1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

· “Wherefore, holy brethren” - The Hebrews are called “brethren” by the apostle because they were in the same spiritual condition...they were all adopted sons of the Father, the brothers of Christ, not by birth or external separation from other nations but through the sanctification of the Holy Spirit...it is to the brethren of Christ that these things are being written.

· “Partakers of the heavenly calling” - “partakers” because of a special call of grace...”heavenly”...because saving grace is only extended from heaven, and it is to heaven that we are called by the Gospel. Yet, the Hebrews were “partakers” with others [they were associated with others]...they had come to share in the call extended from above through the gospel.

Þ 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14— “13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Þ 1 Thessalonians 2:12— “12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

· “Consider the apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus” - Jesus an Apostle; because He was sent with authority from God to preach the Gospel, work miracles, and do the will of God...more particularly to obtain redemption and salvation for His people.

1. The word apostoloV [apostolos; apostle] means one sent with authority. Just as Moses was sent by God, so was Jesus sent, as foretold by Moses and the prophets that followed.

Þ Acts 3:22-26— “22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”

· “High Priest of our profession” - Christ was the Author, sum, and substance of the religion, faith, and Gospel which was professed by the Hebrews...His greatness is seen as being the Son of God and His death for His people.

1. Christ is our High Priest because He has made “propitiation” [an appeasing of God] for our sins, through offering Himself on the cross.

Þ Hebrews 7:26-27— “26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.”

Þ Hebrews 7:24-25— “24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

3. Christ as Mediator was sent by God to be the Savior of sinners; and as High Priest He offered himself a sacrifice and ever lives to make intercession...this should cause the saints to hold fast to their profession.

2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses [was faithful] in all his house.

· “Who was faithful to him that appointed him” - this verse designs the constitution and settlement of Christ’s office; as Mediator, Christ had a trust repose (at rest) in Him as to the persons of all God’s elect, and the fullness of all grace for them...the redemption and salvation of those persons committed to Him...in the distribution of grace to them.

· “As also Moses was faithful in all his house” - this corresponds with the dignity and honor that was repose in Moses...the authority invested with him and the responsibility and care given for his charge of the “house of Israel.”

Þ Numbers 12:7— “7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.”

Therefore, the faithfulness of Christ is not so much understood of the discharge of His trust as the trust itself...Christ was trusted by God the Father as to be our Mediator.

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.

· “For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses” - Moses was counted worthy of glory and honor because of the faithful discharge of his duties...(given by God and Man)...the Jews called Moses the “father in the law, a father in wisdom, and a father in prophecy.”

But Christ is due more honor and glory because He is the greater Savior: Moses was but a temporal savior, where Christ is the “Author” of spiritual and eternal salvation; Christ is a greater prophet because He is the Son of God; He is a greater King being higher than the kings of the earth; He had a greater testimony from God because He was declared His beloved Son, He raised Him from the dead and is set down at the right hand of God...is appointed Judge of all, ministered to and worshipped by angels and is believed on by men who is their salvation.

· “Inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house;” - Christ has the chief concern in the building (Church) which lies in the conversion of souls and in the edification of them...Moses, on the other hand was but part of the house[a servant] but Christ is the builder, foundation and cornerstone.

4 For every house is builded by some [man]; but he that built all things [is] God.

· “For every house is builded by some man;” (Someone)...a house does not build itself...the greatest saints, even apostles and prophets, such as Moses, are built upon Christ; their persons, gifts, and all their success is owed to Christ although they may be esteemed in their own right.

· “But he that built all things is God” - Christ has built all things and therefore, He is God and must be infinitely above Moses. This is to be understood as Christ {remembering the comparison} and not God...Christ is the builder of the Church and all the affairs relating to it, that is:

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;

· “And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant,” - Moses was a servant to the Israelites and to God...Moses was a servant of God’s choosing, sending and approving (his service was both honorable and sincere with all due respect and obedience to God); Yet, the house in which Moses was a servant was not his own...it belonged to God even the Son of God.

1. qerapon [therapon, servant] is a term of dignity and freedom; not of servility.

Þ John 8:35— “35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.”

3. Moses was a temporal servant to God whereas Christ has always enjoyed the dignity of abiding with the Father.

· “For a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after.” - Moses was a servant as a testimony of God’s will to the people of Israel and he bore testimony concerning the Messiah...the things “spoken after” is the testimony that Moses gave which were done by the Messiah (typological).

NOTE: Judaism did not understand then and it does not understand now! Judaism without Christ as well as the O. T. without the N. T., is incomplete. It is a shadow without substance. If the substance is rejected (Christ) the shadow (O. T. Sacrificial System) is worthless.

Þ Hebrews 10:1— “1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”

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.

· “But Christ as a son over his own house;” - Moses was not (Moses was but a servant in God’s house) but Christ is by virtue of being Son and Heir the Lord and Master...Christ is a Son, not by creation or by adoption, or by office, but by nature— He is God, He is Son and this sonship is the foundation of His office and as such, Christ becomes the Heir of all things.

Even though Christ was a servant, as man and Mediator, yet, He was also Son, Lord, and Heir...Moses was none of these. Christ is over the house of God, as King, Priest, and Prophet, He is the first-born Son and heir, and the Master and Governor of the house....therefore, it is “his own house” given to Him by His Father and secured by Him through His death.

· “Whose house are we,” - believers in Christ are built up in a spiritual house over who Christ presides and reigns.

· “If we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” - This is not a condition of the former assertion; nor a falling away from grace but that they that have faith, hope and confidence, shall keep to the end and therefore are of the house of Christ.

This is designed to give a word of exhortation to hold fast the confidence...these words are descriptive of those who are of the house of Christ...those that are of the house of Christ can use freedom of speech and boldness at the throne of grace and have confidence in the love of God and the salvation of Christ.

CONCLUSION: Hebrews 3:1-6

How is Jesus superior to Moses? It is not a matter of faithfulness but rather a matter of person and service. Moses was a servant IN the house of God; Jesus was OVER the house as both its builder and He serves the house by being the Son of the house. Indeed Moses points us forward to Jesus...

Þ Deuteronomy 18:15-19—15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

...for one to forsake Jesus in an attempt to go back to Moses alone is to frustrate the desire of Moses himself!

Speaking of the house of God, of which Jesus is the builder and over which He presides, the “writer” to the Hebrews affirms that “we” are the house of Christ. He is here speaking of the Church, those that reside “in Christ.” In Christ “we are members of the household of God,” and together with the faithful saints of old [including Moses] we are “fellow-citizens” in the commonwealth of Israel.

However, our status as the house is conditional (Heb. 3:6) upon faith, hope and confidence. Therefore, there is need for steadfastness, and the reason this epistle is filled with exhortation to be such until the end. As we contemplate the person of Christ and His ministry, it should help us to hold fast to our profession of faith!

Þ 1 John 2:19— “19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

Þ John 8:31— “31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”

Þ John 6:39— “39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”

INTRODUCTION: Hebrews 3:7-19

In the previous verses we considered “The Supremacy Of Jesus Over Moses.” Jesus was superior, not in faithfulness, but in His person and His service. Whereas Moses was a servant in the house of God, Jesus was the builder of the house and serves as the Son over the house.

Yet, we find that our status within the house is conditional and is based on our steadfastness. This explains the exhortations regarding the dangers of departing from the living God.

· “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith,” - to hear the precepts of Christ is to obey them and this is an acknowledgment of Christ as King of the saints...to hear is not to hear it externally but internally so as to understand it and to distinguish it from the voice of a stranger...it is to believe it and put it into practice. [This is clear proof and testimony that Scripture is of divine origin...when Paul wrote these words the Holy Spirit was speaking.]

· “To day if ye will hear his voice,” - (hear his word) - His essential Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. For those that do not have “ears to hear” they have not been granted the ability. The reception of the Word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, is as necessarily a part of our salvation as was the death of Christ on the cross! Where the gospel is not preached there is no salvation! Where the person of Christ is not proclaimed there is no salvation! [Primitive Baptists would have us believe that the Gospel is not an instrument unto salvation...that regeneration may occur as a direct act of God, separate from, and not contingent on the Gospel. Therefore, a person may be reborn without hearing of Jesus Christ].

8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

· “Harden not your hearts,” - This is a natural hardness of the heart; the heart of man is like a stone, destitute of spiritual life...it is senseless, stupid, impenitent, stubborn, and inflexible by which the only impressions to be made on such a heart is made by the power of God. This the Israelites did many times during their forty years of wandering.

There is an “acquired,” “habitual,” and “voluntary” hardness of the heart...this is such a heart that finds pleasure in sin and the actual commission of sin...with frequency, it becomes customary and as such habitual; so the heart becomes hardened to the point that reproof, sermons, afflictions, and judgments are of little or no affect. There is a hardness that the people of God should guard against which is brought on by a neglect of private and public worship and by the keeping of bad company and the giving in to what may be termed “lesser” sins (all sin is hardening by nature).

· “As in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:” - The Jews provoked God in the wilderness with their unbelief, murmurings, ingratitude and idolatry...they distrusted God’s power and goodness;

Þ Psalm 95:7-11— “7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. 10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: 11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.”

Þ Exodus 17:7— “7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?”

1. “Provocation”—Just as quickly as the Egyptians got over their fear of God, the Israelites got over their trust in God.

· “When your fathers tempted me,” - Here the apostle cites examples from the O. T. to the Jews to show them how their ancestors had followed sinful practices...this he did to dissuade them from doing the same...to deter the same by bringing to their minds both their sin and their punishment and to heighten their regards to the voice of the Gospel of Christ.

· “Proved me,” - This shows the longsuffering of God towards a sinful people.

1. They demanded water as their due and tested the Lord to see if He would provide.

Þ Exodus 17:1-2— “And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?”

· “And saw my works forty years.” - The people while in the wilderness saw God’s works of providence in furnishing them with the necessities of life, in guiding and protecting and in supporting them (miracles and the punishment of their enemies). Yet, they saw and perceived not, but all during the time sinned against the Lord.

Þ Deuteronomy 29:2-8 2 “And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; 3 The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: 4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. 5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot. 6 Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the LORD your God. 7 And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, came out against us unto battle, and we smote them: 8 And we took their land, and gave it for an inheritance unto the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half tribe of Manasseh.”

This resulted in God’s grief and indignation at the people. The “writer” was telling the Hebrew Christians not to harden their hearts to God like their forefathers had done.

1. Yet look at the potential or the utter helplessness that the “writer” might have been experiencing.

Þ Luke 16:31— “31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways.

· “Wherefore I was grieved with that generation,” - (the generation of the wilderness) Yet, the Jews believed that this generation was the most beloved of all the past generations...but God was wearied by them and weary of them...He loathed them and was highly displeased with them; this shows the notice that God takes toward sin and His determination to punish it...the cause of God’s grief and indignation was the people’s unbelief, ingratitude and idolatry.

· “And said, They do alway err in [their] heart;” - all sin is error or deviations from the law of God; all men err in this sense but these people erred in their heart because their sins were done heartily...they erred in their hearts continually...they were stubborn and rebellious.

· “And they have not known my ways.” - they did not take notice of God’s ways of providence towards them; nor did they approve of and delight in his ways of worship and duty or in his commands.

· “So I sware in my wrath,” - this indicates the certainty of the thing spoken of by God...He swore that they would be punished because of their unbelief...God shows forth his displeasure regarding the actions of the people.

· “They shall not enter into my rest.)” - they would not be allowed to enter the land of Canaan (God’s rest)...this was a type of heaven...the rest from toil and labor...but this most prized of all generations was not allowed to enter therein. The generation that finds itself in the wilderness of God shall find no rest because of their sins and provocations.

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

· “Take heed, brethren,” - This exhortation is founded upon the state and case just given, their ancestors...this was a warning or a caution to the present Hebrews.

· “Lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief,” - the Hebrews are exhorted not to find themselves with such an evil heart of unbelief . . . this was the first sin man found himself guilty of...we are warned not to aggravate God with an evil heart...we are to avoid it at all costs.

· “In departing from the living God.” - that is from Christ who is the Son of His own house, and whose voice is to be heard...for He is the living God, He is life himself and is the fountain and author of life; natural, spiritual and eternal.

Once again, this is mentioned so that Christ may be exalted above Moses, the law, and past generations. We are to ever be on our guard lest we depart from the living God by a state of unbelief. We are to exercise our faith toward Christ for if we do not, we provoke God; the living God through our unbelief.

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

· “But exhort one another daily,” - (comfort one another) we as the saints are to comfort one another through the discussion of those things that are of or about God...the divine things...by instructing one another concerning the doctrines of the gospel...by putting on the mind of Christ. We should exhort one another through prayer, attendance to the word, in regard to our lifestyle, and adherence to our profession.

· “While it is called To day;” - while this time continues...that is, the economy of grace...or while this life that is within us continues. We will not be removed from the aforementioned exhortations until we die or until the Day of the Lord.

· “Lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” - actual sin which is transgression of the law...every sin results in the hardening of the nature and if it is often committed it becomes habitual and it calluses the heart to the point that it becomes evil and corrupt. It then is the heart that deceives us in the promises of pleasure through sin...by frequently repeating sin we grow hardened in it.

14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;

· “For we are made partakers of Christ,” - We have been chosen in Him before the foundation of the earth and as such participate in all spiritual blessings in Him...this phrase is expressive of the union we enjoy in Christ...Christ has taken his people into oneness with him by an act of love on his part. He has therefore, become our head, our surety, our representative, which is the ground and foundation of all the blessings of grace being imparted to the chosen.

· “If we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;” - by confidence is meant faith...it is through faith that we have a comfortable subsistence or substance or abiding in Christ. The “beginning” is Christ himself, the Author and Finisher of our faith...it is Christ that distributes grace which is accomplished through our union and communion with Him by the Gospel.

15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

· Exhort one another, and hold fast Christ and His Gospel, and have faith and confidence therein...what follows is a repetition of verses 7 and 8 in order to make a further improvement of it; this shows that the words belong to the present times of the Gospel, and contain in them a great concern that Scripture’s instructions and exhortations are of perpetual use.

16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

· “For some, when they had heard,” - The Gospel was heard by those that were in the wilderness...it was preached to the Israelites.

· “Did provoke:” - even though they had heard the Gospel preached to them they did provoke God by their idolatry, ingratitude, and unbelief; therefore, the aggravation of their sin was that they had heard the Gospel...this shows that the Gospel may be heard with no advantage.

· “Howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.” - that is, they did not all provoke God...Moses was the instrument or servant used of God.

17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

· “But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned,” - these sinned as a body of men...they joined together in the commission of sin...so, with but a few exceptions, the entire nation sinned against God for forty years.

· “Whose carcases fell in the wilderness?” - they did not enter God’s rest or the land of Canaan...their deaths in the wilderness was a manner of punishment due to the rejection of the Gospel as a nation.

18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

· Notwithstanding the signs and wonders He showed them they would not be persuaded by Moses, Joshua and Caleb...they did not wish to submit to the will of God and believe in Him...they were disobedient, stubborn, and rebellious. Unbelief was their source of sin and cause of judgment...they greatly provoked God.

Þ Psalm 95:11— “11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest.”

· They were not allowed to enter into God’s rest...a type of heaven...the land of Canaan. For they died in the wilderness (Numbers 14:37, 45) and the reason was unbelief; their distrust of God, his power and his providence.

Þ Numbers 14:37, 45— “37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died in the plague before the Lord…45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.”

In the case of the Israelites, who was it that rebelled? All those who came out of Egypt (save Joshua and Caleb). Though led by Moses, they still rebelled. So let us learn from this witness. Not all that claim to be a part of the Church today are such. Many still reside in the wilderness due to their rebellion and they shall die in the wilderness as a result of their lack of faith. Faith is the key; it is the gift of God. Without this gift many are bound to a life of wilderness experiences regardless of their self-proclaim temporal state.

Þ Matthew 7:21-23— “21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

When the apostle Paul related some of the same experiences of Israel in the wilderness he wrote” “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon who the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). It is for our own admonition that we have such warnings as that found in this text. For the deceitfulness of sin is just as strong today and the hardening of one’s heart is still the end result. For departing from God is just as possible today! As a result of the many counterfeit professions and the false Christianity the potential of falling short of promised rest is just as much a reality as it proved to be for the Israelites in the wilderness.

Commentary on Hebrews, by John Gill

INTRODUCTION: Hebrews 3:1-6

CONCLUSION: Hebrews 3:1-6

INTRODUCTION: Hebrews 3:7-19