C | 10: 26-31. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy,

how much more . . . . .

C | 12: 25. They escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth,

much more . . . . .

Here we return to the teaching of chapter 2:  In that passage the comparison is

between the words spoken by angels and the words spoken by the Lord, and the question

is put: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" In the other passage

the angels are omitted, and the comparison is made between the seriousness of refusing

him who spoke on earth, namely, Moses, the servant, and of refusing the Son Who has

since spoken from heaven.

The epistle opens with the fact that God has spoken, and that He has spoken in two

ways; once through His servants, and now in His Son. The Hebrews were in danger of

minimizing the sin of refusing to hear what the Lord had said. The epistle as it continues

leads away from the ministry of angels, the mediatorship of Moses, the captaincy of

Joshua, the priesthood of Aaron, and the blood of bulls and goats, and focuses all its light

upon the Lord Jesus, Who sums up and outshines them all. He has now spoken from

heaven. He is there at the right hand of God. There He ever liveth. There He sits

"henceforth expecting".

There are "much mores" of mercy, but Heb. 10: 26-31 and 12: 25 contain "much

mores" of warning and judgment.

The concluding passage, Heb. 12: 25 - 13: 25, awaits us. This we hope to consider

in our next paper, and our survey of this wonderful epistle then comes to a conclusion.

The epistle now draws to its conclusion. Much that these Hebrews had prized and

valued as permanent had been shattered and was passing away.  This element is

introduced in the opening chapter. Speaking of the creation, the works of the Lord's

hands, it says: "They shall perish; but Thou remainest" (Heb. 1: 10, 11). This finds its

echo in Heb. 12: 27: "The removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are

made, that those things that are not shaken may remain".

All through the epistle there is the exchange of the passing for the permanent. The

law concerning the Aaronic priesthood is disannulled and gives place to Christ, the Priest

after the power of an endless life (Heb. 7: 16-18). The Tabernacle made with hands

gives place to the true Tabernacle not made with hands, which the Lord pitched and not

man (Heb. 8: 1, 2; 9: 24). The old Covenant is not found faultless, and is ready to