Hebrews 3:7 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Having demonstrated the pre-eminence of Christ above Moses in their respective ministries, the apostle, according to his design and usual method, now proceeds to the application of the truth he had evinced, in an exhortation to stability and constancy in faith and obedience. And this he does in a way that adds double force to his exhortation, in that he both reminds them of, and urges upon them the words, testimonies, and examples recorded in the Old Testament, to which they professed a special deference and subjection; and also in that the nature of the example, which he insists upon, is such as supplies him with a new argument for his purpose. Now this is taken from God's conduct toward them, who were disobedient under the ministry of Moses, which he further explains, Hebrews 3:15-19. For if God dealt in severity with them who were unbelieving and disobedient, with respect to him who was but a servant in the house, they might easily learn from this what his displeasure would be toward those who should behave so with respect to the Son, who is Lord over the whole house, and whose property all the members of it are. Wherefore This word shows that what follows is an inference from what precedes; as the Holy Ghost saith The expression is emphatical, το πνευμα το αγιον, that Spirit, that Holy Spirit, so called by way of eminence; who in an especial manner spake in and by the penmen of the sacred Scriptures, 2 Peter 1:21. The words here quoted are taken from Psalms 95:7, which the apostle tells us (Heb 4:7) was written by David. Hence we learn that David wrote his Psalms by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, as our Lord likewise testifies, Matthew 22:43. “The judgments of God executed on sinners in ages past, being designed for the reproof and instruction of those who come after, the Holy Ghost, by David, very properly founded his exhortation to the people of that age upon the sin and punishment of their fathers in the wilderness. And the apostle, for the same reason, fitly applied the words, which the Holy Ghost spake to the people by David, to the Hebrews in his day, to prevent them from hardening their hearts when they heard God's voice speaking to them in the gospel of his Son.” To-day Now, at the present time, while the season of grace lasts, and you are favoured with the means thereof; if ye will hear his voice If ye ever intend, or will consent to do it; harden not your hearts By inattention, by thoughtlessness, by unbelief, and disobedience. Observe, reader, God speaks by his works, particularly those of creation, providence, and grace, and in and by his word; and to hear him, implies that we hearken to, understand, believe, and obey him; and instead of rejecting his counsel, that we suffer it to enter into our hearts, so as to influence our spirits and conduct; as in the provocation Παραπικρασμω, bitter provocation; that is, as the Israelites hardened their hearts when they provoked me by their strife and murmurings. See Exodus 16:4; Exodus 17:2-9; Exodus 32:10; Numbers 10:33; Numbers 11:3; Numbers 11:33; Numbers 11:35; Numbers 12:16; Numbers 13:25-32; Numbers 14:4-22; Deuteronomy 1:6-7; Deuteronomy 1:19-22; Deuteronomy 1:34-35; Deuteronomy 2:14; Deuteronomy 9:7; Deuteronomy 32:51; 1 Corinthians 10:4. In short, their whole story manifests a continued scene of provocation. When Or where, rather, as the Syriac and Vulgate read the words; for the word when would imply that, at the time of the bitter provocation chiefly referred to, the Israelites had seen God's works forty years, contrary to the history, which shows that that provocation happened in the beginning of the third year from the going out of Egypt: whereas to read where instead of when, agreeably to the matter of fact, represents God as saying by David, that the Israelites tempted him in the wilderness during forty years, notwithstanding all that time they had seen his miracles. The tempting God, here spoken of, consisted in their calling in question his presence with them, their distrusting his power to help and save them, or his faithfulness to his promises; or their despising ordinary means of help and deliverance, and desiring extraordinary. See note on Psalms 95:8-9; Matthew 4:7; and proved me Put my patience to the proof, even while they saw my glorious works both of judgment and mercy; or had proof by experience of my power, providence, goodness, and faithfulness, and that for forty years.