But Christ as a Son over his own house
As Moses was not, though the Jews say that he was (tybd hyram) F1 and
(tybh leb) {b}, "lord and
master of the house"; yea, and (tyb Nb) , "the Son of the house" F3; but
this he was not: Christ is the Son and heir, the Lord and master;
he is a Son, not by creation, or by adoption, or by office, but
by nature: hence it appears that he is God, and is equal with
God; and this his sonship is the foundation of his office, and he
becomes the heir of all things: and when he is said to be "as a
Son", it does not intend mere resemblance; but is expressive of
his right to heirship and government, and of the esteem and
reverence he had in his house, and of his fidelity as a Son
there; and though he was a servant, as man and Mediator, and had
a great piece of service to perform, and which he has performed
with diligence and faithfulness, yet he was also a Son, Lord and
heir, as Moses was not; and he is over the house of God, as King,
priest, and prophet in it, and as the firstborn, Son and heir,
and as the master and governor of it; and which is called his
own, because given him by the Father, purchased by himself, and
which he has built, and in which he dwells:
whose house are we;
believers in Christ, whether Jews or Gentiles; who, as lively
stones, are built up a spiritual house, in whom Christ dwells by
faith, and over whom he presides and reigns:
if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the
hope firm
unto the end.
These words are not to be understood as a condition of the former
assertion; nor is a final falling away from grace to be inferred
from hence, for the supposition proves not such an inference, but
the contrary; namely, that they that have true faith, hope, and
confidence, shall keep them to the end; and therefore are the
house of Christ: besides, the doctrine of apostasy is quite
repugnant to the apostle's argument; according to which, Christ
might have no house, and can have none till men have persevered:
but the apostle's design is to give a word of exhortation to
himself and others, to hold fast the confidence; and so the words
are rather descriptive of the persons, who are the house of
Christ; such who have a good hope, through grace, wrought in
them, and can rejoice in hope of the glory of God; and can use
freedom of speech and boldness at the throne of grace; and have
an holy confidence of interest in the love of God, and salvation
by Christ, and go on in the exercise of these graces to the end
of their days.