‏ John 1:17

17. For, &c.--The Law elicits the consciousness of sin and the need of redemption; it only typifies the reality. The Gospel, on the contrary, actually communicates reality and power from above (compare Ro 6:14). Hence Paul terms the Old Testament "shadow," while he calls the New Testament "substance" (Col 2:17) [Olshausen].

‏ Hebrews 3:5-6

5. faithful in all his house--that is in all God's house (He 3:4).

servant--not here the Greek for "slave," but "a ministering attendant"; marking the high office of Moses towards God, though inferior to Christ, a kind of steward.

for a testimony of, &c.--in order that he might in his typical institutions give "testimony" to Israel "of the things" of the Gospel "which were to be spoken afterwards" by Christ (He 8:5; 9:8, 23; 10:1).

6. But Christ--was and is faithful (He 3:2).

as a son over his own house--rather, "over His (God's, He 3:4) house"; and therefore, as the inference from His being one with God, over His own house. So He 10:21, "having an High Priest over the house of God." Christ enters His Father's house as the Master [OVER it], but Moses as a servant [IN it, He 3:2, 5] [Chrysostom]. An ambassador in the absence of the king is very distinguished--in the presence of the king he falls back into the multitude [Bengel].

whose house are we--Paul and his Hebrew readers. One old manuscript, with Vulgate and Lucifer, reads, "which house"; but the weightiest manuscripts support English Version reading.

the rejoicing--rather, "the matter of rejoicing."

of the hope--"of our hope." Since all our good things lie in hopes, we ought so to hold fast our hopes as already to rejoice, as though our hopes were realized [Chrysostom].

firm unto the end--omitted in Lucifer and Ambrose, and in one oldest manuscript, but supported by most oldest manuscripts.

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