It was by them that god spoke of himself in the old times. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them. The hebrews believe that the law from god came by angels. A bible study in easyenglish 2800 word vocabulary on the book of hebrews. Easyenglish is a system of simple english designed by wycliffe associates uk. The two ideas of rest combined, give the perfect view of the heavenly sabbath. The commentary section includes running commentary on the bible text with reference to several modern versions, especially the new international version, the new revised standard. Find top church sermons, illustrations, and powerpoints for preaching on hebrews 4. However, the content of the book, including the frequent references to the hebrew scriptures, makes it clear that he was writing to jewish christians who were sorely tempted to leave the christian church and revert. Hebrews 4 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. He will see whether our sin was one of weakness, whether we went down fighting with all our being, or whether we just casually gave in to a selfcentered impulse and deliberately proceeded along the course of sin james 1. Study hebrews using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. Adversity in the life of the christian is really divine discipline, and such discipline is proof of our sonship, and of gods love and care for us hebrews 12.
Understanding this spiritual nature of the bible, the writer to the hebrews could confidently write this. Hebrews 4 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. The son is characterized by a sevenfold description verses 14, which is then buttressed by citations from old testament texts verses 514. What does it mean that jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith hebrews 12. The bible isnt a collection of merely old stories and myths. Depending on our motivation, gods ability to see into our heart can be either good or bad. The aim of life, according to this chapter of the book of hebrews, is to enter gods. The writer frequently describes god as the living god 3. What does it mean to run the race set before us hebrews 12. This is the frontburner issue for the book of hebrews. The writer feels the force of the word which he four times applies to god, hebrews 3. His focus throughout this book has been entirely on the triune god as he is known in jesus, our great high priest. The book of hebrews is quite challenging, claims commentary author donald guthrie, since there are many open questions about authorship, historical setting and audience.
Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must. The writer lists several characteristics of that word. The addressees must not only have been very familiar with the ot. In this passage, christians are instructed to maintain a christhonoring lifestyle, even in the face of persecution hebrews 12. Chip by chip over a period of time, an artist uses hammer and chisel to shape a conception from a raw slab of rock until the finished figure is revealed.
However, the content of the book, including the frequent references to the hebrew scriptures, makes it clear that he was writing to jewish. The rest promised to the hebrews was a type of that promised to christians, hebrews 4. The apostle, having in the foregoing chapter set forth the sin and punishment of the ancient jews, proceeds in this, i. However, the content of the book, including the frequent references to the hebrew scriptures, makes it clear that he was writing to jewish christians who were sorely tempted to leave the christian church and revert to jewish. The word of god is the christians source of spiritual growth.
The word of god is living and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword. Who are the cloud of witnesses mentioned in hebrews 12. Finally, we must now be diligent lest we give way to unbelief. Hebrews 4 therefore, while the promise of entering his rest.
Into this rest we should earnestly labor to enter, hebrews 4. Abraham went on to have 12 great grandsons which grew to be the 12 tribes of the nation israel. He pointed out that believers arent exempt from trouble. To declare that our privileges by christ under the gospel exceed the privileges of the jewish church under moses, as a reason why we should make a right improvement of them. Hebrews 4 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. And make sure that there isnt any immoral or irreverent person like esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal. And yet thats the image with which this lectionary reading from hebrews beginswith a disturbing image, not of a speedball, but of the word of god that slices us open for inspection. Verse 4 for he hath said somewhere of the seventh day on this wise, and god rested on the seventh day from all his works. Hebrews 4, new international version niv the bible app. Chip by chip over a period of time, an artist uses hammer and chisel to shape a conception from a raw slab of rock until the finished figure is reveal. We can learn a great deal about why patience is so vital by comparing the process we are going through to an artist sculpting a work from a piece of marble. It is greatly debated among commentators whether this is to be understood of christ, the eternal word, or of the gospel. However, they also make sense on their own, and verse 12 is widely quoted by itself. Discipline is the ongoing work of the church hebrews 12.
For the word of god is living and active and sharper than any twoedged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. What is the authors conclusion about how we can apply all the information in the previous passage. In representing the word, or gospel, as a person who shall judge the world at the. Hebrews is a name for the israelites and for the descendants of abraham compare genesis 14. Hebrews 12 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the. They must take care not to reject jesus, who now addressed them from heaven, and who was shortly to be their judge. More than most new testament books, hebrews requires detailed explanations of the background allusions within it, which reference the priesthood of christ being directly linked. The reason why they were not brought into the rest promised to them, hebrews 4. Oct 11, 2009 and yet thats the image with which this lectionary reading from hebrews beginswith a disturbing image, not of a speedball, but of the word of god that slices us open for inspection. In fact, some christians are surrounded by troubletrouble to the right, trouble to the left, trouble in front, and trouble behind. After due and diligent labour, sweet and satisfying rest shall follow. Therefore, since a promise remains of entering his rest, let us fear lest any of you.
The point that christ is superior to moses made in hebrews 3. David guzik commentary on hebrews 4, where the author talks about how the believer. Book of hebrews matthew henrys bible commentary concise. For the word of god as if he had said, take heed of unbelief, for the word of god will try and condemn you if you be guilty of it. The author identified neither himself nor the people to whom he was writing. Melchizedek the priest was not a descendent of abraham.
The book of hebrews begins with the declaration that while god has spoken in various ways through the old testament prophets, he has now spoken fully and finally in his son hebrews 1. The epistle to the hebrews, or letter to the hebrews, or in the greek manuscripts, simply to the hebrews. However, doubt on pauline authorship in the roman church is reported by eusebius. And yet the epistle cannot have received its name for the fact only that there are so many references to the ot in it. Selfdiscipline is necessary to finish the race hebrews 12. Encouragement, derived from the character of the high priest of the new testament, as brought into relief, hebrews 4. Sharper than any doubleedged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.
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