The apostle cites the example of the people of Israel in the wilderness who had the opportunity to enter into the promised land and enjoy the blessings God had promised but who hardened their hearts,v.8Waiting for response for Hebrews 3:8 erred in their hearts,v.10Waiting for response for Hebrews 3:10 and had an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.v.12Waiting for response for Hebrews 3:12 Therefore God declared: “They shall not enter into my rest”.v.11Waiting for response for Hebrews 3:11 The apostle exhorts the disciples not to be like that generation who perished because they did not believe. Now is our day of opportunity to believe and obey,v.7Waiting for response for Hebrews 3:7 therefore the apostle urges: “Exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end”.vs.13-14Waiting for response for Hebrews 3:13-14 Not all the people provoked God in the wilderness v.16Waiting for response for Hebrews 3:16 and two men, Caleb and Joshua, were preserved by God to enter the promised land with the next generation of Israel. We are exhorted to be like them so that when Jesus re-establishes the kingdom of God in the Holy Land we shall be preserved to live and reign with him there.
Verses 1-6
Waiting for response for Hebrews 3:1-6Jesus, in heaven, is God’s High Priest v.1Waiting for response for Hebrews 3:1 with a higher status than any priest or Levite under the Law of Moses. He is, in particular, higher than Moses in whom the Jews trusted. God’s testimony concerning Moses was that “he was faithful in all God’s house”. v.2;Waiting for response for Hebrews 3:2 Numbers 12:7Waiting for response for Numbers 12:7 Moses was faithful to God, but he was only a servant in God’s house v.5Waiting for response for Hebrews 3:5 whereas Jesus is God’s Son so that God’s house is his house.v.6Waiting for response for Hebrews 3:6 God’s promise to David was that his seed would build God a house 2 Samuel 7:13Waiting for response for 2 Samuel 7:13 and Jesus will certainly build a temple for God, as Solomon did, but he is also a builder of a house of God comprised of people. As disciples of Christ, we can be members of this household: “Whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end”.v.6Waiting for response for Hebrews 3:6 The provision of God in the scriptures is that anyone can believe the gospel, be baptised, and obey Christ’s commandments, to be counted the children of God and members of his house. It is vital, however, for such people to remain steadfast in the faith.