Here the writer of the Epistle addresses them as "holy brethren." This is not an appellation of some only; it is true of all true Christians however little they may enter into it by faith. They were partakers of a "heavenly calling." It is not the same as the calling of the church which is so fully brought out in Ephesians, and where we have the body of Christ united to the Head in heaven. Here, in Hebrews, it is in contrast with an earthly blessing in the land of Canaan. But those to whom he writes are viewed as pilgrims going on to the rest of God, and needing to persevere to the end. We are, then, to consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. As the Apostle, He is the Sent One, who came out from heaven into this world in order to make God known. He came from God in order that He might Himself bring the knowledge of God to us. And as High Priest He has gone back to God, and ever carries on His people's cause in the presence of God. What a precious sustainment of faith as we pass through this world with all its trials and tests from day to day!
Moses was faithful as a servant in God's house: but Christ is a Son over His house. It was He who built the house; and He is God, as we have already seen so fully proved in chapter 1. Now we (Christians) compose God's house or dwelling-place on earth. Here there is the "if"—"if we hold fast the confidence..." Many simple Christians are troubled by these "ifs," but we should remember that when Scripture speaks of our place in Christ above, there is no "if"; all is absolute security: when, on the other hand, we are viewed as pilgrims going on to the rest of God, and responsible to persevere to the end, then the "ifs" come in. It is quite true that God is faithful and will surely keep His own; but the warnings and exhortations of Scripture are needed so that we should hold fast that which we have got right through to the end. Besides we should bear in mind that this Epistle contemplates all those amongst the Hebrews who acknowledged the Christian "confession," and possibly some of them may not have been genuine believers.
In introducing the quotation from Psalm 95:7-117For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 8Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. 10Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: 11Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. (Psalm 95:7‑11), we find the words, "As the Holy Ghost saith." We should weigh well these words, because they show, just what is so much questioned now, namely, that these Old Testament scriptures were inspired by the Holy Ghost. We find frequently that the sacred writers in the New Testament ascribe the writings in the Old to a divine source. This quotation proves that Israel did not enter into God's rest—and why?—because of unbelief. The wilderness journey gives a sad record of constant murmuring and tempting God. How often the same is true of the Lord's people now!—the result of lack of faith in God on the one hand, and the hardening effect of sin, when allowed, on the other. But the "today" of God's patience is still running its course, and it will go on till the Lord comes. Let us, then, with an earnest and undivided heart press on after Him who has marked out the path before us!