The point that christ is superior to moses made in hebrews 3. Hebrews 4 therefore, while the promise of entering his rest. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must. What is the authors conclusion about how we can apply all the information in the previous passage. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. The word of god is the christians source of spiritual growth. Commentary on the book of hebrews by matthew henry new.
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. 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. Understanding this spiritual nature of the bible, the writer to the hebrews could confidently write this. David guzik commentary on hebrews 4, where the author talks about how the believer. Study hebrews using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. It was by them that god spoke of himself in the old times. One of those tribes was levi and they were the priests in that nation, just as melchizedek was a priest in the days of abraham. 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. The addressees must not only have been very familiar with the ot. What does it mean to run the race set before us hebrews 12. The author identified neither himself nor the people to whom he was writing.
Into this rest we should earnestly labor to enter, 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 to jewish. And then the author of hebrews backs us up with a statement of theological comfort. Abraham went on to have 12 great grandsons which grew to be the 12 tribes of the nation israel. Verses 12 in their context form a postscript to the argument of 3. Hebrews 4 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The epistle to the hebrews, or letter to the hebrews, or in the greek manuscripts, simply to the hebrews. 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. The son is characterized by a sevenfold description verses 14, which is then buttressed by citations from old testament texts verses 514.
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. Hebrews is a name for the israelites and for the descendants of abraham compare genesis 14. Sharper than any doubleedged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. Who are the cloud of witnesses mentioned in hebrews 12. However, they also make sense on their own, and verse 12 is widely quoted by itself. Melchizedek the priest was not a descendent of abraham. Depending on our motivation, gods ability to see into our heart can be either good or bad. The bible isnt a collection of merely old stories and myths.
The word of god is living and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword. In this passage, christians are instructed to maintain a christhonoring lifestyle, even in the face of persecution hebrews 12. However, doubt on pauline authorship in the roman church is reported by eusebius. The rest promised to the hebrews was a type of that promised to christians, hebrews 4. 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. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them.
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. After due and diligent labour, sweet and satisfying rest shall follow. Book of hebrews matthew henrys bible commentary concise. Discipline is the ongoing work of the church hebrews 12. The book of hebrews is quite challenging, claims commentary author donald guthrie, since there are many open questions about authorship, historical setting and audience. 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. The reason why they were not brought into the rest promised to them, hebrews 4. Hebrews 4 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. The apostle, having in the foregoing chapter set forth the sin and punishment of the ancient jews, proceeds in this, i. The two ideas of rest combined, give the perfect view of the heavenly sabbath. A bible study in easyenglish 2800 word vocabulary on the book of hebrews. What does it mean that jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith hebrews 12. Hebrews 12 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. They must take care not to reject jesus, who now addressed them from heaven, and who was shortly to be their judge.
However, the content of the book, including the frequent references to the hebrew scriptures, makes it clear that he was writing to jewish. 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. In fact, some christians are surrounded by troubletrouble to the right, trouble to the left, trouble in front, and trouble behind. Easyenglish is a system of simple english designed by wycliffe associates uk. My wife and i were stopped at a railroad crossing to allow a train to pass. Encouragement, derived from the character of the high priest of the new testament, as brought into relief, 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.
The hebrews believe that the law from god came by angels. It is greatly debated among commentators whether this is to be understood of christ, the eternal word, or of the gospel. 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. 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. 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. Selfdiscipline is necessary to finish the race hebrews 12. 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. And yet the epistle cannot have received its name for the fact only that there are so many references to the ot in it. In representing the word, or gospel, as a person who shall judge the world at the. Here are ten daily reminders to steady your soul and infuse meaning into every step. Find top church sermons, illustrations, and powerpoints for preaching on hebrews 4. The privileges of christians, compared with those of the jews, by which the superior excellence of christianity is shown, hebrews 12. This is the frontburner issue for the book of hebrews. Therefore, since a promise remains of entering his rest, let us fear lest any of you. The writer feels the force of the word which he four times applies to god, hebrews 3. Hebrews 4, new international version niv the bible app. When jesus came into this world, he became for a little time lower than the angels. His focus throughout this book has been entirely on the triune god as he is known in jesus, our great high priest. 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. He pointed out that believers arent exempt from trouble.
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