Matthew Henry Commentary Hebrews 3

Christ is to be considered as the Apostle of our profession, the Messenger sent by God to people, the great Revealer of that faith which we profess to hold, and of that hope which we profess to have. As Christ, the Messiah, anointed for the office both of Apostle and High Priest. As Jesus, our Saviour, our Healer, the great Physician of souls.

Consider him thus. Consider what he is in himself, what he is to us, and what he will be to us hereafter and forever. Close and serious thoughts of Christ bring us to know more of him. The Jews had a high opinion of the faithfulness of Moses, yet his faithfulness was only a type of Christ's.

Christ was the Master of this house, of his church, his people, as well as their Maker. Moses was a faithful servant; Christ, as the eternal Son of God, is rightful Owner and Sovereign Ruler of the Church. There must not only be setting out well in the ways of Christ, but also steadfastness and perseverance in those ways until the end.

Every meditation on his person and his salvation will suggest more wisdom, new motives to love, confidence, and obedience.

Days of temptation are often days of provocation. But to provoke God, when He is showing us that we entirely depend and live upon Him, is a provocation indeed. The hardening of the heart is the source of all other sins. The sins of others, especially of our relatives, should be warnings to us.

All sin, especially sin committed by God's professing, privileged people, not only provokes God, but it grieves Him. God is reluctant to destroy anyone in sin, or for their sin; He waits long to be gracious to them. But sin, long persisted in, will cause God's wrath to reveal itself in destroying the impenitent; there is no resting under the wrath of God. “Take heed:” all who would get safely to heaven must be vigilant; if we once allow ourselves to distrust God, we may soon desert Him.

Let those who think they stand take heed lest they fall. Since tomorrow is not ours, we must make the best use of today. And there are none, even the strongest of the flock, who do not need the help of other Christians. Nor is anyone so lowly or despised that the care for their standing in the faith, and for their safety, does not belong to all.

Sin has so many ways and disguises that we need more eyes than our own. Sin appears attractive, but is vile; it appears pleasant, but is destructive; it promises much, but performs nothing. The deceitfulness of sin hardens the soul; one sin allowed makes way for another; and every act of sin confirms the habit. Let everyone beware of sin.

The saints' privilege is that they are made partakers of Christ—that is, of the Spirit, the nature, graces, righteousness, and life of Christ; they have a share in all Christ is, in all he has done, or will do. Christians should maintain until the end the same spirit with which they set out in the ways of God.

Perseverance in faith is the best evidence of the sincerity of our faith. Hearing the word often is a means of salvation, yet, if not heeded, it will further expose them to the Divine wrath. The happiness of being partakers of Christ and his complete salvation, and the fear of God's wrath and eternal misery, should stir us up to persevere in the life of obedient faith.

Let us beware of trusting in outward privileges or professions, and pray to be numbered with the true believers who enter heaven, when all others fail because of unbelief. Just as our obedience corresponds to the power of our faith, so our sins and lack of care correspond to the prevalence of unbelief in us.