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The apostle having set forth the transcendant dignity of Christ's person and office, and shown that he was a more excellent priest than Aaron, a more excellent king than Melchizedek, hereupon he infers, that such as despise the gospel, the doctrine of this blessed Jesus, are far mare inexcusable than those that were the transgressors of the law of Moses.
If the word spoken by angels were steadfast; that is if the law given by the ministry of angels was firm and inviolable, and all the transgressors of it were justly and severely punished; how can we escape perishing, if we neglect the gospel, which makes a discovery of that great salvation which was purchased by Christ for lost sinners?
The apostle's argument is drawn (a minoriad majus) from the less to the greater. Thus, if Almighty God was so severe against the violation of a far meaner institution, to wit the law given by the ministry and dispensation of angels; how can we escape that neglect to hear and obey the gospel, which makes a tender, yea, the only tender of salvation to a lost world?
Note here, 1. The great care which God Almighty takes to make lost sinners happy, namely by offering them a great salvation.
Note, 2. The great care which every one of us ought to take in order to our own happiness and salvation, and that is, not to neglect it.
Note, 3. The great guilt which they contract, and the inevitable punishment God will inflict on such as do neglect this great salvation, How shall they escape?
Learn hence, 1. That there is salvation; great in its author, Christ Jesus; great in the price paid for it, the blood of Jesus; great in regard of the evils it saves us from, sin, Satan, the curse of the law, death and hell; great in respect of the gracious privileges it interests believers in.
Learn, 2. That notwithstanding this salvation is so great, yet there are some that neglect it.
Learn, 3. That it is impossible for such neglecters to escape.
Quest. 1. What shall they not escape?
Ans. The curse of the law, the wrath of God, the sentence of Christ denounced and the sentence of Christ inflicted.
Quest. 2. Why shall they not escape?
Ans. Because such persons sin against the remedy, the only remedy, which the wisdom of God hath found out for man's recovery; nad accordingly the mouth of God hath spoken it, the hand of God hath written it, and the oath of God hath confirmed it, that such sunners shall not escape: such as sin against the remedy, must perish without the remedy.