The Pulpit Commentary on Hebrews 3:1

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Heavenly things.

There are four heavenly things spoken of in this Epistle which it may be well here to connect together.

I. THE HEAVENLY CALLING. Elsewhere the upward calling. A voice out of the pure, the abiding, the unchangeable. A voice of love, pity, invitation, authority, such as could not sound from anywhere in this distracted, defiled world.

II. THE HEAVENLY GIFT. The δώρεα—the free donation of God; the gift bestowed for men to taste and live by; the bread of eternal life. Remember what James says, that "every perfect gift is from above" (Hebrews 1:1-14 :17).

III. THE HEAVENLY COUNTRY. The fatherland; the πατρίς of the Christian. The voice from heaven calls us there. The heavenly gift is for our provision by the way; the manna of our desert life (Hebrews 11:16).

IV. THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM Where all the glory of the heavenly fatherland is concentrated. The treasures of a land are represented in its capital city. Jerusalem gave a site for the temple, a palace for the king (Hebrews 12:22).—Y.

More for Hebrews 3:1

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

commentaryMatthew Henry on Hebrews 3:1-6Christ is to be considered as the Apostle of our profession, the Messenger sent by God to men, the great Revealer of that faith which we profess to hold, and of that hope which we profess to have. As Christ, the Messiah…Matthew Henry commentaryAttention Due to Christ. (a. d. 62.)ATTENTION DUE TO CHRIST. (A. D. 62.) In these verses we have the application of the doctrine laid down in the close of the last chapter concerning the priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ. And observe, I. In how fervent…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Hebrews 3:1The sublimest contemplation. "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling," etc. I. THE CHARACTERIZATION OF CHRISTIANS. 1. They are fraternal in relation. "Brethren." These Hebrew Christians were brethren…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Hebrews 3:1Consider Jesus. The exhortation of this verse marks the transition from the first section of the treatise to those which follow. Its reference is both retrospective and prospective. Indeed, the whole Epistle says in eff…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Hebrews 3:1What Christ is to us. I. CONSIDER THE PEOPLE HERE ADDRESSED, AND THE SPEAKER IN RELATION TO THEM. Amid the endless, fruitless discussion as to the authorship of this Epistle, so much at least it is not unreasonable to c…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Hebrews 3:1-6The superiority of Christ. I. HERE WE HAVE THE PRE-EMINENCE OF CHRIST OVER THE JEWISH LAWGIVER ASSERTED. Having proved that our Lord was by nature and by his work infinitely above the angels, and that his assuming our f…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Hebrews 3:1-19EXPOSITION THE SON SUPERIOR TO MOSES. Here begins the second section of the argument of the first four chapters (see summary given under Hebrews 1:5). But though a new branch of the argument begins, it is linked, after…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Hebrews 3:1Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus ( χριστὸν before ἰησοῦν is ill supported, and to be rejected from the text). Reference to what…Joseph S. Exell and contributors