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.8Hebrews 3:8XWaiting for response erred in their hearts,v.10Hebrews 3:10XWaiting for response and had an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.v.12Hebrews 3:12XWaiting for response Therefore God declared: “They shall not enter into my rest”.v.11Hebrews 3:11XWaiting for response 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.7Hebrews 3:7XWaiting for response 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.13-14Hebrews 3:13-14XWaiting for response Not all the people provoked God in the wilderness v.16Hebrews 3:16XWaiting for response 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
Hebrews 3:1-6XWaiting for responseJesus, in heaven, is God’s High Priest v.1Hebrews 3:1XWaiting for response 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;Hebrews 3:2XWaiting for response Numbers 12:7Numbers 12:7XWaiting for response Moses was faithful to God, but he was only a servant in God’s house v.5Hebrews 3:5XWaiting for response whereas Jesus is God’s Son so that God’s house is his house.v.6Hebrews 3:6XWaiting for response God’s promise to David was that his seed would build God a house 2 Samuel 7:132 Samuel 7:13XWaiting for response 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.6Hebrews 3:6XWaiting for response 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.