John Bengel Commentary - Hebrews 3:12 - 3:12

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John Bengel Commentary - Hebrews 3:12 - 3:12


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Heb 3:12. Βλέπετε) This word depends on διὸ, wherefore, Heb 3:7 : the Apodosis here to Heb 3:7 [where see the note] not incorrectly also brings in the word brethren; 1Th 3:7. The same word is found at ch. Heb 12:25. We must not trust to the heart; Jer 17:9.-μή ποτε-ἀπιστίας, lest-of unbelief) Observe the connection. Christ is πιστὸς, faithful, Heb 3:2; therefore we ought to be πιστοὶ, faithful to Him, not unfaithful (unbelievers), as our fathers were in regard to Moses; Heb 3:18-19, ch. Heb 4:2-3, Heb 6:12. In like manner Paul places in opposition the faithfulness of God and the faithlessness of men, Rom 3:2-3; 2Ti 2:13.-ἔσται, lest there should be) Care must also be extended to the future on account of the greatness of the danger. He uses the fut. indic. in preference to the pres. subj.-πονηρὰ, evil) An ἄπιστος, unbelieving people; רע an evil nation and unhappy; comp. κακοὒς κακῶς, Mat 21:41.-ἐν τῷ ἀποστῆναι, in departing) The antithesis is προσερχώμεθα, let us come unto, ch. Heb 4:16, and ὑποστασεώς, substance [i.e. solid confidence], presently at Heb 3:14; comp. Jer 6:8, μὴ ἀποστῇ ὴ ψυχή μου ἀπὸ σοῦ, let not my soul depart from thee. This whole passage of the apostle agrees with Jer 17:5-6 : ΕΠΙΚΑΤΑΡΑΤΟΣ ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ὅς τὴν ΕΛΠΙΔΑ ἔχει ἐπʼ ἄνθρωπον-καὶ ΑΠΟ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ ΑΠΟΣΤΗ ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ-οὐκ ὄψεται ὄταν ἔλθῃ τὰ ΑΓΑΘΑ. CURSED is the man who TRUSTETH in man, and whose heart DEPARTETH from the LORD: he shall not see when GOOD cometh.-ἀπὸ Θεοῦ ζῶντος, from the living God) The life of GOD most powerfully and effectually animates our faith. The living God is also praised, ch. Heb 9:14, Heb 10:31, Heb 12:22. He who revolts from Christ, revolts from GOD; ch. Heb 3:12-19. Chiasmus.

13. Ἑαυτοὺς, yourselves) Let every one exhort himself and another; so far ought you to be from instigating and provoking one another [to unbelief].-ἡμέραν, σήμερον, daily, to-day) Conjugates; ch. Heb 4:7.-ἄχρις οὗ, whilst) as long as. This to-day will not continue for ever.-τὸ) the relative.-καλεῖται, is called) while that psalm is heard and read.-ἵνα μὴ σκληρυνθῇ τις, that no one be hardened) This is repeated from Heb 3:8.-ἀπάτῃ, through the deceitfulness) This corresponds to πλανῶνται, they err, Heb 3:10.-τῆς ἁμαρτίας, of sin) ἀπιστία, ἁμαρτία, unbelief and sin, which are much the same thing, Joh 16:9; Neh 6:13 : where ἀπιστία and ἁμαρτία are mentioned together, they differ as species and genus; and unbelief, as the principal species of sin, has in its nature something more sad and destructive. But if sin be put by itself, the genus ἁμαρτία is contracted into this particular species, namely, unbelief: as ἁμαρτία is properly, when the main aim is missed, which is a result produced in the greatest degree through unbelief, ἀπιστίαν, in consequence of the grace of God having been neglected.16