When it says that Abraham looked for the city, it means a blessed and ordered scene of glory on high, which eclipsed the Holy Land before his eyes. Compare alsoEphesians 2:1-22; Ephesians 2:1-22. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, laying aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking off unto Jesus the captain and completer of faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.". The God with whom we have to do is an invisible God: he is so to our senses, to the eye of the body; and this shows the folly of those who pretend to make images of God, whom no man hath seen, nor can see. The Romans will do the last sad offices. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full (Genesis 15:13-16). Tertullian said of the Christian: "He knows that on earth he has a pilgrimage but that his dignity is in heaven." The reasons will be given in a moment. Believers may and ought to have respect to this recompense of reward; they should acquaint themselves with it, approve of it, and live in the daily and delightful expectation of it. He may infer that there must be; but he never can say that there is. One day he said to his brother: "Remove thy foot; thou standest on my property; the plain is mine." A simple word of scripture settles a thousand questions. It was on Mount Moriah where the cross was placed upon which Jesus died. [3.] So they had the proper attitude towards the world, proper perspective of life. 1 now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. They wished to destroy Moses there and then. Probably brought some of his produce that he had cultivated, whereas Abel, being a husbandman, brought a lamb unto God as a sacrifice. You can always turn back. Through faith they believed to the point of not accepting deliverance. For there is nothing in this world commensurate to the love of God in being the God of his people; and, if God neither could nor would give his people anything better than this world affords, he would be ashamed to be called their God. Twice Moses forsook Egypt: [1.] At any time it is an unhappy thing to be a stranger in a strange land, but in ancient days to this natural unhappiness there was added the bitterness of humiliation. And for this cause he is mediator of the new covenant, that by means of death, for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance." With Zion then the apostle justly begins. He has set His mind upon making us, patterns of His holiness. Joseph too, nearing death, expressed confidence that God would in the future deliver the Israelites from Egypt. No argument could be more distinct or conclusive. God on his part rewarded them, but rejected those who showed no faith (4-7; cf. We'll get out of here. It is quite evident, on the contrary, that this is not only not the truth which all recognize when stated, but altogether inconsistent with the Bible, with all books, and with all experience. The scripture says, "So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance" (Joshua 24:28). The Christian answer is that the future is not uncertain because it belongs to God; and it is enough that God has commanded and that God has promised. "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?" "Do you really think," asked the judge, "that the like of you will go to God and his glory?" Noah planted a teak tree and in twenty years it grew to such a size that out of it he was able to build the entire ark. (7.) It is I likely that the Hebrew believers were somewhat unruly. In Jesus' name. Testing Abraham. Suffering is to be chosen rather than sin, there being more evil in the least sin than there can be in the greatest suffering. When Abraham heard the promise he fell upon his face and laughed ( Genesis 17:17). If He is to be often offered, He must also often suffer. ( 1 Corinthians 15:55 ) Jesus has removed the sting of death by taking away our sin. Observe. But after the night was passed, the moon sank and the sun rose again and Abraham said: "Truly these heavenly bodies are no gods, for they obey law; I will worship him who imposed the law upon them. But whether the one or the other, all was by faith. The Lord will make even Babylon fall before the faith of his people, and when he has some great thing to do for them, he raises up great and strong faith in them. The earth was watered by a mist that came out of the ground every evening. "Well, if you don't know where you are going, how you going to know when you get there?" These are the things of which the writer to the Hebrews is thinking; and these are things which we do well to remember. will deliver to us and when. As we read of these people of great faith, we see that they made their mark in history because of their faith. And as he starts towell, before he gets into it, he starts with just the creation of the world itself. It is believing in God that is the most important, not my works; they follow. If he takes to himself the title of their God, he will fully answer it, and act up to it; and he has prepared that for them in heaven which will fully answer this character and relation, so that it shall never be said, to the reproach and dishonour of God, that he has adopted a people to be his own children and then taken no care to make a suitable provision for them. (2.) Need help streaming? The earth was so wicked that God decided that there remained nothing to do but destroy it. They embraced them. All right, "Take now thy son, thine only son." Xenos ( G3581) can even mean a refugee. You have the immediate advantage and the eternal advantage to choose. Accordingly advantage is taken of an unquestionable meaning of the word for this added illustration, which is based on the death of Christ, "Where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator." That is the very purpose of our existence, to bring pleasure to God. Made mention of the departing of the children of Israel - Margin, remembered. The meaning is, that he called this to their mind; he spake of it. He necessarily completes all as the pattern for the Christian. I pray that I'll never be an embarrassment to God. Josephs instructions to his sons proved he trusted God and was convinced God would keep His word about their return to Canaan. This Christian hope is such that it dictates all a man's conduct. It seemed as if everything went against them. Time and again in the early Church it happened. In this place we are told that he obtained by his faith some special advantages; as, (1.) He showed thereby his dependence upon God, and testified his condition here as a pilgrim with his staff, and his weariness of the world, and willingness to be at rest. God often gives his people living comforts in dying moments; and when he does it is their duty, as they can, to communicate them to those about them, for the glory of God, for the honour of religion, and for the good of their brethren and friends. "Be mindful of those in bonds, as bound with them; and of those which suffer adversity." You that go after the tabernacle (as he persists in calling it, even though now the temple) have no title to our altar, with its exhaustless supplies. Greek athletes trained naked and some of the Jewish priests even went so far as to seek to obliterate the mark of circumcision from their bodies so that they might become completely hellenized. Faith--the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. There is no necessity for considering anything else, but that the Spirit of God, forecasting the future, was pleased to conceal the line of Melchisedec's parentage, or descendants if any, of their birth or death. He has displayed Christ as Son of God (1) and Son of Man (2), warned of the dangers inherent in unbelief (3-4), and explored the power of Christ's priesthood (5-10). It is extraordinary how Rahab became imprinted on the memory of Israel. (2. He draws attention to the well-known rites of the atonement day; at any rate, if not of that day exclusively, wherever there was a beast the body of which was burnt without the camp, and the blood carried within the veil. He acted in this matter with some reluctance. [4.] Those whose names are mentioned, and the particular exercise and actings of whose faith are specified. It ( ) means "testament" as well as "covenant." Hence throughout this epistle the utmost stress is laid on His being exalted in heaven Yet there was no excuse for a difficulty on this score. To us Christ is all. This is one of the first instances that is upon record of fallen men going in to worship God; and it was a wonder of mercy that all intercourse between God and man was not cut off by the fall. Second, there is this strange and eerie thought that Cain had discovered a new sin. That the word ( ) in this connection means "testator" appears to me beyond just question. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. And Abraham said, "Son, the Lord will provide Himself a sacrifice" ( Genesis 22:7-8 ). "To Gaza." The moon arose in the east and the stars came out. This true faith makes sin bitter to the soul, even while it receives the pardon and atonement. Observe. Where is the mountain that could stand out so well against Sinai? In a wicked and corrupt generation Enoch walked with God and so when the end came to him, there was no shock or interruption. Yet, I do not doubt His existence, because of the evidence that is all around. VII. I. How great a temptation Moses was under. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned." As those who would follow the faithful steps of Abraham would die and would come into this compartment of hell, Abraham would say, "Don't worry, God's faithful. God said, "Let the waters above the firmament be divided from the waters beneath the firmament." The fruits and rewards of her faith. Well, the word provide, the base word of provide is vision, provision. For this, knowing His grace in the work of Christ for them, they do not look; on the contrary, they rest in the assurance of the perfection with which their sins are effaced by the precious blood of Christ. He had to go out into the unknown; yet he went. His third request was to be permitted to see into Paradise so that he might see what the blessed enjoyed. [3.] little thinking that he was to be the lamb; but Abraham knew it, and yet he went on with the great design. (2.) It was God's commandment that once a day for six days and in silence the people should march round it, led by seven priests marching in front of the ark and bearing trumpets of rams' horn. They all believed that there would be made the provision for their sins by God. See on 1 Timothy 6:14. It is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." But far from this, it is the simple fact Of the gospel. God usually warns sinners before he strikes; and, where his warnings are slighted, the blow will fall the heavier. Hence the apostle applies the type distinctly now, as far as the "order" of the priesthood goes. Like Abraham he has to go out not knowing where he is going. He. It remained for a brief season; but even then it soon began to show rents down. The gracious Lord gives and designs that we should take His own place both in heaven and here. The Bible said that God said, "Let there be light." 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. When Oliver Cromwell was arranging for the education of his son Richard, he said: "I would have him learn a little history." For he was waiting for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. He began by being the child of faith. Interesting! (iii) There came the day when Moses, because of his intervention on behalf of his people, had to withdraw from Egypt to Midian ( Exodus 2:14-22). (2.) For let me say this as a parting word, and I say it advisedly, because of circumstances that might well be before our hearts, no deliverance, however enjoyed, no place of death to law, world, or sin, no privilege of union with Christ, will enable a soul to dispense with the truths contained in this epistle to the Hebrews. James ( James 2:25) quotes her as a great example of the good works which demonstrate faith. The phrase about quenching the violence of fire goes straight back to the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in Daniel 3:19-28. Nowhere does the apostle give the smallest occasion for such a thought. Search Results in Other Versions. The allusion in the last clause to the eternal inheritance (for everything is eternal in the Hebrews, standing in decided contrast with Jewish things which were but for a season) leads the Holy Spirit to take up the other meaning of the same word, which was and is rightly enough translated covenant. Hereby they declared plainly that they sought another country (. It became God that Christ should go down to the uttermost; it became us that He should be exalted to the highest. It was not the act of a child, that prefers counters to gold, but it proceeded from mature deliberation. It is told that before a great battle Napoleon would stand in his tent alone; he would send for his commanders to come to him, one by one; when they came in, he would say no word but would look them in the eye and shake them by the hand; and they would go out prepared to die for the general whom they loved. It is that which infinitely exceeds the deliverance out of Egypt, or any ceremonial atonement ever wrought by a high priest for Israel. because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins." 2. So he knelt down and adored the moon. [2.] Now He came to set the prisoner free and to open the doors to those were captive, so that when Jesus rose, Matthew's gospel tells us in the twenty-seventh chapter, the graves of many of the saints were opened and were seen walking around the streets of Jerusalem after His resurrection.Paul tells us that when He ascended He led the captives from their captivity. He alludes, in the beginning of our chapter, to the historical facts of Genesis. It is said (. Thank You, Lord for the unchanging promises upon which our souls are anchored this evening through Jesus Christ. But where in the scripture, the Old Testament, does it speak of the resurrection after three days? People came in to buy idols. Moses in his day and generation shared in the sufferings of Christ, choosing the loyalty that led to suffering rather than the ease which led to earthly glory. God's message might look foolishness at the moment; but Noah believed it and staked everything on it. The actings of her faith. But the apostle lets them know that if they understood their true blessing, this was the very part of it that was inseparably bound up with their present nearness to God, as set forth typically by the central and most important rite of the Jewish system. NL. Now accordingly, by virtue of His death which rent the veil, God and man stand face to face. The severest and final trial of Abraham's faith was giving up the son, in whom all the promises were infolded, to receive him back on a resurrection ground in figure. That God will not suffer the injuries done to his people to remain unpunished, nor their sufferings unrewarded. If we have lived with Christ, we may die in the certainty that we go to be for ever with our Lord. He now supports this statement with illustrations from the Old Testament. Their abject ruin placed them just in the circumstances that suited the God of all grace. Which of these two most commends itself as the unforced meaning of the passage it is for the reader to judge. In my judgment it is correct to translate it both ways, never arbitrarily, but according to context. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." It is perfectly true that, if we think of Christ, He was here below absolutely without sin; but He who was without sin in His person, and all His life, had everything to do with sin on the cross, when God made Him to be sin for us. Here, it is plain, we have the chief lineaments of revealed truth. Death merely took him into God's nearer presence. 3. And of what did Christianity speak? He satisfies us with the perfectness with which Christ has washed us from our sins in His blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father. does not express eternity (which would be , or some such form of words) but "for continuance." IX. It is sometimes necessary for the Christian to take the way to which the voice of God is calling him without knowing what the consequences will be. They didn't die and enter into the kingdom of God, but they died and went with Abraham, being comforted by the man of faith that God would indeed keep His promise and be faithful to His word. "Take now thy son, thine only son," God said. (2.) First, in God's counsels it was always before Him to have One more than man though a man to deal with this greatest of all transactions. He prayed for them, that they might both be blessed of God. no mention of family or ancestors, "having neither beginning of days, nor end of life" neither is recorded in scripture; "but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a priest continually. We begin with His love, and shall end in it without end. What a surprise to the Hebrew believers to find such truths as these so strikingly shown out in type even in the Jewish system! such is his condescension, such is his love to them; therefore let them never be ashamed of being called his people, nor of any of those that are truly so, how much soever despised in the world. [4.] (1.) If I can only just come to the realization that all things are working together for good to those who love God and that God has a purpose, and when I can see God then I can endure. She was a harlot, and lived in a way of sin; she was not only a keeper of a public house, but a common woman of the town, and yet she believed that the greatness of sin, if truly repented of, shall be no bar to the pardoning mercy of God. ", Then he commends the saints to God. in ordering his bones to be exported, he had no regard to himself, as though his grave in the land of canaan would be sweeter or better than in egypt; but his only object was to sharpen the desire of his own nation, that they might more earnestly aspire after redemption; he wished also to strengthen their faith, so that they might confidently All was by faith laughed ( Genesis 22:7-8 ) Egypt, or any ceremonial ever. He never can say that there remained nothing to do but destroy it, he starts towell, he. Right, `` so Joshua Let the waters beneath the firmament be from... And was convinced God would in the circumstances that suited the God of all grace he had go! 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