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2: But the word which they heard did not profit them - So far from
it, that it increased their damnation. It is then only when
it is mixed with faith, that it exerts its saving power.
3: For we only that have believed enter into the rest
- The proposition is, There remains a rest for us. This is proved,(Heb 4:3-11), thus: That psalm mentions a rest:
yet it does not mean,
- God's rest from creating; for this was long before the
time of Moses. Therefore in his time another rest was
expected, of which they who then heard fell short Nor is it,
- The rest which Israel obtained through Joshua;
for the Psalmist wrote after him. Therefore it is,
- The eternal rest in heaven.
As he said - Clearly showing that there is a farther rest than
that which followed the finishing of the creation.
Though the works were finished - Before: whence it is plain,
God did not speak of resting from them.
4: For, long after he had rested from his works, he speaks again.(Ge 2:2).
5: In this psalm, of a rest yet to come.
7: After so long a time - It was above four hundred
years from the time of Moses and Joshua to David. As it was
said before - St. Paul here refers to the text he had just cited.
8: The rest - All the rest which God had promised.
9: Therefore - Since he still speaks of another day,
there must remain a farther, even an eternal, rest for
the people of God.
10: For they do not yet so rest. Therefore a fuller rest
remains for them.
11: Lest any one should fall - Into perdition.
12: For the word of God - Preached,(Heb 4:2), and armed with threatenings, (Heb 4:3).
Is living and powerful - Attended with the power of the living God,
and conveying either life or death to the hearers. Sharper than
any two - edged sword - Penetrating the heart more than this does
the body. Piercing - Quite through, and laying open. The soul and
spirit, joints and marrow - The inmost recesses of the mind, which
the apostle beautifully and strongly expresses by this heap of
figurative words. And is a discerner - Not only of the thoughts,
but also of the intentions.
13: In his sight - It is God whose word is thus "powerful:"
it is God in whose sight every creature is manifest; and of
this his word, working on the conscience, gives the fullest
conviction. But all things are naked and opened - Plainly
alluding to the sacrifices under the law which were first flayed,
and then (as the Greek word literally means) cleft asunder through
the neck and backbone; so that everything both without and within
was exposed to open view.
14: Having therefore a great high priest - Great indeed,
being the eternal Son of God, that is passed through the heavens
- As the Jewish high priest passed through the veil into the holy of
holies, carrying with him the blood of the sacrifices, on the yearly
day of atonement; so our great high priest went once for all through
the visible heavens, with the virtue of his own blood, into the
immediate presence God.
15: He sympathizes with us even in our innocent
infirmities, wants, weaknesses, miseries, dangers. Yet without
sin - And, therefore, is indisputably able to preserve us from it
in all our temptations.
16: Let us therefore come boldly - Without any doubt or fear.
Unto the throne of God, our reconciled Father, even his throne
of grace - Grace erected it, and reigns there, and dispenses all
blessings in a way of mere, unmerited favour.
