"Wherefore, holy
brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High
Priest of our confession, even Jesus" Heb. 3:1
Again we have an appeal based upon
what has already been written. Having dealt with the humiliation of the Son,
and shown that it had not detracted from His superiority to the angels, but
rather enhanced it, in that such 'humiliation' was in order to the doing of His
saving, priestly work the writer urged his readers to consider Him: We may link
this appeal with the previous. one. The sure way in which to "give
earnest heed" to the message of the Son, and to be saved from "drifting,”
is to CONSIDER HIM. That consideration is to be of Him in two ways, as Apostle
and High Priest. Along these lines we are led in what follows. Jesus is "the
Apostle ... of our confession." That marks the DIVINE AUTHORITY
OF HIS MESSAGE. He is the Sent One of God. His preeminence in this matter is
shown by comparing Hun with Moses and Joshua. Moses was faithful as a servant
in the house, but Jesus as a Son over the house. Moses led the people out, but
could not lead them in. Jesus leads out of bondage and into the promised
possessions. Joshua led the people in, but could not give them rest. Jesus
gives rest. Jesus is also "the High Priest of our confession,"
and that is very fully developed. The whole emphasis of this verse is upon the
necessity for considering Him. The idea is that of CAREFUL CONTEMPLATION, ATTENTIVE
THINKING. How sadly we often fail here. The
holy exercise demands time, method, diligence, and wherever it is practiced we
are saved from drifting.
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