Hebrews 3:1
Jesus Greater Than Moses
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What does Hebrews 3:1 mean?
Wherefore, holy brethren
The apostle calls the Hebrews "brethren", not because they were
of the same natural stock and lineage, but because they were in
the same spiritual relation; they all had the same Father,
belonged to the same family, were the adopted sons of God, the
brethren of Christ, of one another, and of the apostle; and they
were "holy", not by birth, nor by their external separation from
other nations, but through sanctification of the Spirit; and they
were so by profession, and in the opinion of the apostle:
partakers of the heavenly calling;
by which is meant not any business, or employment of life; nor a
call to any office in church or state; nor a mere external call
by the ministry of the word; but an internal special call of
grace, to the enjoyment of the blessings of grace here, and to
glory hereafter; and which is not according, to works, but
according to the grace of God, and is by powerful, efficacious,
and irresistible grace: and this is said to be "heavenly",
because the grace by which the saints are called is from heaven,
and it is to heaven they are called; and the means of their
calling, the Gospel, is from heaven; and this epistle epithet is
used to show the excellency of their calling, and to distinguish
it from all others: and this the Hebrews are said to be
"partakers of"; which shows, that God had not utterly cast off
that people, and yet that they were not the only persons that
enjoyed the grace of the effectual calling, they were but
partners with others; and that the saints are alike sharers in
this blessing, they are called in one hope of their calling; and
it denotes the truth and reality of it: the duty they are
exhorted to is,
to consider the apostle and high priest of our profession,
Christ
Jesus;
the Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions,
read, only "Jesus"; who is called "the apostle", because he was
sent of God to preach the Gospel, work miracles, and do the will
of God, particularly to obtain redemption and salvation for his
people, which mission does not suppose any inequality of persons,
or change of place, or any compulsion or disrespect to Christ,
but love to men; and is to be understood of him as in office as
Mediator, and shows his authority, and that he was no impostor.
The high priest among the Jews was, on the day of atonement,
considered as (xylv) , "an
apostle", or "messenger" F19; for so the elders of the sanhedrim
address him on that day, saying,
``Lord high priest, we are the messengers of the sanhedrim, and thou art (wnyxwlv) , "our apostle", or "messenger", and the messenger of the sanhedrim.''And it follows here, and "the high priest of our profession"; which may be understood either objectively, whom they professed, both by words or deeds; for a profession of him should be public, visible, and sincere; or efficiently, he being the author, sum, and substance of the religion, faith, and Gospel which was professed by them: and he is to be "considered" in the greatness and dignity of his person, as the Son of God; and in his wondrous grace and love in assuming human nature, and dying for his people; and in the relations he stands in to them as a Father, husband, brother, friend; and in his several offices, as Mediator, and particularly as sent of God, to be the Saviour of sinners; and as the high priest, who has offered himself a sacrifice, and ever lives to make intercession; and all this to encourage the saints to hold fast their profession of him.
F19 Misn. Yoma, c. 1. sect. 5.
