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1 Wherfore holy brethrē, partakers of the heauenly calling, consider the Apostle and high Priest of our profession Christ Iesus,
2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithfull in all his house.
3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory then Moses, in as much as he who hath builded the house, hath more honour then the house.
4 For euery house is builded by some man, but hee that built all things is God.
5 And Moses verely was faithfull in all his house as a seruant, for a testimonie of those things which were to be spoken after.
6 But Christ as a Sonne ouer his owne house, whose house are wee, if we hold fast the confidence, and the reioycing of the hope firme vnto the end.
7 Wherfore as the holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will heare his voyce,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the prouocation, in the day of temptation in the wildernesse:
9 When your fathers tempted me, prooued me, and saw my works fourty yeeres.
10 Wherefore I was grieued with that generation, and sayd, They doe alway erre in their hearts, and they haue not knowen my wayes.
11 So I sware in my wrath: they shall not enter into my rest.
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an euill heart of vnbeleefe, in departing from the liuing God.
13 But exhort one another dayly, while it is called To day, least any of you be hardned through the deceitfulnesse of sinne.
14 For wee are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast vnto the end.
15 Whilest it is sayd, To day if yee will heare his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the prouocation.
16 For some when they had heard, did prouoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
17 But with whom was he grieued fourty yeeres? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wildernesse?
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that beleeued not?
19 So we see that they could not enter in, because of vnbeleefe.
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)1-6 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.
7-13 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.
14-19 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.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.