Quotes & Notes
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John Wesley's Notes:
Let us therefore come boldly-Without any doubt or fear.
Unto the throne of God, our reconciled Father, even his throne of
grace-Grace erected it, and reigns there, and dispenses all blessings in
a way of mere, unmerited favour
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
* come. Heb 10:19-23; 13:6; Ro 8:15-17; Eph 2:18; 3:12
* the throne. Heb 9:5; Ex 25:17-22; Le 16:2; 1Ch 28:11
* obtain. Isa 27:11; 55:6,7; Mt 7:7-11; 2Co 12:8-10; Php 4:6,7; 1Pe 2:10
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Adam Clarke's Commentary:
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace] The allusion to
the high priest, and his office on the day of atonement, is here kept
up. The approach mentioned here is to the trpk kapporeth, ilasthrion,
the propitiatory or mercy-seat. This was the covering of the ark of the
testimony or covenant, at each end of which was a cherub, and between
them the shechinah, or symbol of the Divine Majesty, which appeared to,
and conversed with, the high priest. Here the apostle shows the great
superiority of the privileges of the new testament above those of the
old; for there the high priest only, and he with fear and trembling, was
permitted to approach; and that not without the blood of the victim; and
if in any thing he transgressed, he might expect to be struck with
death. The throne of grace in heaven answers to this propitiatory, but
to this ALL may approach who feel their need of salvation; and they may
approach meta parrhsiav, with freedom, confidence, liberty of speech, in
opposition to the fear and trembling of the Jewish high priest. Here,
nothing is to be feared, provided the heart be right with God, truly
sincere, and trusting alone in the sacrificial blood.
That we may obtain mercy] 'ina labwmen eleon. That we may take
mercy-that we may receive the pardon of all our sins; there is mercy for
the taking. As Jesus Christ tasted death for every man, so every man may
go to that propitiatory, and take the mercy that is suited to his degree
of guilt.
And find grace] Mercy refers to the pardon of sin, and being brought
into the favour of God. Grace is that by which the soul is supported
after it has received this mercy, and by which it is purified from all
unrighteousness, and upheld in all trials and difficulties, and enabled
to prove faithful unto death.
To help in time of need.] eiv eukairon bohyeian. For a seasonable
support; that is, support when necessary, and as necessary, and in due
proportion to the necessity. The word bonyeia is properly rendered
assistance, help, or support; but it is an assistance in consequence of
the earnest cry of the person in distress, for the word signifies to run
at the cry, yein eiv bohn, or epi bohn yein. So, even at the throne of
grace, or great propitiatory, no help can be expected where there is no
cry, and where there is no cry there is no felt necessity; for he that
feels he is perishing will cry aloud for help, and to such a cry the
compassionate High Priest will run; and the time of need is the time in
which God will show mercy; nor will he ever delay it when it is
necessary. We are not to cry to-day to be helped to-morrow, or at some
indefinite time, or at the hour of death. We are to call for mercy and
grace when we need them; and we are to expect to receive them when we
call. This is a part of our liberty or boldness; we come up to the
throne, and we call aloud for mercy, and God hears and dispenses the
blessing we need.
That this exhortation of the apostle may not be lost on us, let us
consider:-
1. That there is a throne of grace, i.e. a propitiatory, the place where
God and man are to meet.
2. That this propitiatory or mercy-seat is sprinkled with the atoning
blood of that Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.
3. That we must come up, prosercwmeya, to this throne; and this implies
faith in the efficacy of the sacrifice.
4. That we must call aloud on God for his mercy, if we expect him to run
to our assistance.
5. That we must feel our spiritual necessities, in order to our calling
with fervency and earnestness.
6. That calling thus we shall infallibly get what we want; for in Christ
Jesus, as a sacrificial offering, God is ever well pleased; and he is
also well pleased with all who take refuge in the atonement which he has
made.
7. That thus coming, feeling, and calling, we may have the utmost
confidence; for we have boldness, liberty of access, freedom of speech;
may plead with our Maker without fear; and expect all that heaven has to
bestow; because Jesus, who died, sitteth upon the throne! Hallelujah!
the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
8. All these are reasons why we should persevere.
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Family Bible Notes:
The throne of grace; God on his gracious throne dispensing mercy
to sinners. In God is help for men; and it is their duty to come unto
him in the name of Christ, that for his sake they may receive it.
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People's New Testament Commentary:
Let us therefore come boldly. Because our high priest can be
touched by our infirmities.
The throne of grace. The Jewish high priest interceded before the
mercy-seat. We may come boldly to the mercy-seat, knowing that our
loving Elder Brother is our high priest in the heavens. Hence we may
always have confidence when we ask for "grace to help in time of need."
The practical lesson of the chapter is that the True Rest promised
remains. It was not the Sabbath day, nor was it Canaan. It is the
heavenly rest of which these are types. Unbelieving disobedience
excluded the Israelites from the typical rest of Canaan. So, too, it
will exclude those who have started to enter into the heavenly rest if
they refuse to hear Christ through unbelief. The believing Joshua and
Caleb entered into Canaan. So, too, the true and faithful believers who
follow Christ will enter into the rest above.
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Robertson's Word Pictures:
Let us therefore draw near (proserchômetha oun). Present active
middle volitive subjunctive of proserchomai. "Let us keep on coming to"
our high priest, this sympathizing and great high priest. Instead of
deserting him, let us make daily use of him. This verb in Hebrews means
reverent approach for worship (Heb 7:25; 10:1,22; 11:6). Unto the throne
of grace (tôi thronôi tês charitos). This old word (thronos) we have
taken into English, the seat of kings and of God and so of Christ (Heb
1:3,8), but marked by grace because Jesus is there (Mt 19:28). Hence we
should come "with boldness" (meta parrêsias). Telling Jesus the whole
story of our shortcomings. That we may receive mercy (hina labômen eleos).
Purpose clause with hina and second aorist active subjunctive of lambanô.
And find grace (kai charin heurômen). Second aorist active subjunctive
of heuriskô. We are sure to gain both of these aims because Jesus is our
high priest on the throne. To help us in time of need (eis eukairon
boêtheian). Boêtheia is old word (from boêtheô, Heb 2:18 which see), in
N.T. only here and Ac 27:17. Eukairos is an old word also (eu, well,
kairos, opportunity), only here in N.T. "For well-timed help," "for help
in the nick of time," before too late.
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Albert Barnes' Commentary:
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace. "The throne
of grace!" What a beautiful expression! A throne is the seat of a
sovereign; a throne of grace is designed to represent a sovereign seated
to dispense mercy and pardon. The illustration or comparison here may
have been derived from the temple service. In that service God is
represented as seated in the most holy place on the mercy-seat. The high
priest approaches that seat or throne of the Divine Majesty with the
blood of the atonement, to make intercession for the people, and to
plead for pardon. See Barnes for Heb 9:7, See Barnes for Heb 9:8. That
scene was emblematic of heaven. God is seated on a throne of mercy. The
great High Priest of the Christian calling, having shed his own blood to
make expiation, is represented as approaching God, and pleading for the
pardon of men. To a God willing to show mercy he comes with the merits
of a sacrifice sufficient for all, and pleads for their salvation. We
may, therefore, come with boldness, and look for pardon. We come not
depending on our own merits, but we come where a sufficient sacrifice
has been offered for human guilt, and where we are assured that God is
merciful. We may, therefore, come without hesitancy, or trembling, and
ask for all the mercy that we need.
That we may obtain mercy. This is what we want first. We need pardon--as
the first thing when we come to God. We are guilty and
self-condemned--and our first cry should be for mercy-- mercy. A man who
comes to God, not feeling his need of mercy, must fail of obtaining the
Divine favour; and he will be best prepared to obtain that favour who
has the deepest sense of his need of forgiveness.
And find grace. Favour--strength, help, counsel, direction, support, for
the various duties and trials of life. This is what we next need--we all
need--we always need. Even when pardoned, we need grace to keep us from
sin, to aid us in duty, to preserve us in the day of temptation. And
feeling our need of this, we may come and ask of God all that we want
for this purpose. Such is the assurance given us; and to this bold
approach to the throne of grace all are freely invited. In view of it,
let us:
(1) rejoice that there is a throne of grace. What a World would this be
if God sat on a throne of justice only, and if no mercy were ever to be
shown to men! Who is there who would not be overwhelmed with despair?
But it is not so. He is on A THRONE OF GRACE. By day and by night; from
year to year; from generation to generation, he is on such a throne. In
every land he may be approached, and in as many different languages as
men speak may they plead for mercy. In all times of our trial and
temptation we may be assured that he is seated on that throne, and,
wherever we are, we may approach him with acceptance.
(2) We need the privilege of coming before such a throne. We are sinful,
and need mercy; we are feeble, and need grace to help us. There is not a
day of Our lives in which we do not need pardon; not an hour in which we
do not need grace.
(3) How obvious are the propriety and necessity of prayer! Every man is
a sinner, and should pray for pardon; every man is weak, feeble,
dependent, and should pray for grace. Not till a man can prove that he
has never done any sin should he maintain that he has no need of pardon;
not till he can show that he is able alone to meet the storms and
temptations of life should he feel that he has no need to ask for grace.
Yet who can feel this? And how strange it is that all men do not pray!
(4) It is easy to be forgiven. All that needs to be done is to plead the
merits of our great High Priest, and God is ready to pardon. Who would
not be glad to be able to pay a debt in a manner so easy? Yet how few
there are who are willing to pay the debt to justice thus!
(5.) It is easy to obtain all the grace that we need. We have only to
ask for it--and it is done. How easy then to meet temptation, if we
would! How strange that any should rely on their own strength, when they
may lean on the arm of God!
(6.) If men are not pardoned, and if they fall into sin and ruin, they
alone are to blame. There Is A THRONE OF GRACE. It is always accessible.
There is A GOD. He is always ready to pardon. There Is A REDEEMER. He is
the great High Priest of men. He is always interceding, His merits may
always be pleaded as the ground of our salvation. Why then, oh why,
should any remain unforgiven, and perish? On them alone the blame must
lie. In their own bosoms is the reason why they are not saved.
{e} "boldly" Eph 3:12; Heb 10:19-22
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Jamieson-Faussett Brown:
come--rather as Greek, "approach," "draw near."
boldly--Greek, "with confidence," or "freedom of speech" (Eph 6:19).
the throne of grace--God's throne is become to us a throne of grace
through the mediation of our High Priest at God's right hand (Heb 8:1;
12:2). Pleading our High Priest Jesus' meritorious death, we shall
always find God on a throne of grace. Contrast Job's complaint (Job
23:3-8) and Elihu's " IF," &c. (Job 33:23-28).
obtain--rather, "receive."
mercy--"Compassion," by its derivation (literally, fellow feeling from
community of suffering), corresponds to the character of our High Priest
"touched with the feeling of our infirmities" (Heb 4:15).
find grace--corresponding to "throne of grace." Mercy especially refers
to the remission and removal of sins; grace, to the saving bestowal of
spiritual gifts [ESTIUS]. Compare "Come unto Me ... and I will give you
rest (the rest received on first believing). Take My yoke on you ... and
ye shall find rest (the continuing rest and peace found in daily
submitting to Christ's easy yoke; the former answers to "receive mercy"
here; the latter, to "find grace," Mt 11:28,29).
in time of need--Greek, "seasonably." Before we are overwhelmed by the
temptation; when we most need it, in temptations and persecutions; such
as is suitable to the time, persons, and end designed (Ps 104:27). A
supply of grace is in store for believers against all exigencies; but
they are only supplied with it according as the need arises. Compare "in
due time," Ro 5:6. Not, as ALFORD explains, "help in time," that is,
to-day, while it is yet open to us; the accepted time (2Co 6:2).
help--Compare Heb 2:18, "He is able to succor them that are tempted."
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1599 Geneva Bible Notes:
(No commentary on this verse).
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Spurgeon Devotional Commentary:
(No commentary on this verse).
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William Burkitt's Notes:
These words are an inference drawn from the apostle's foregoing
discourse, "Seeing we have such an High Priest as is before described,
let us come with boldness, with freedom and liberty to the throne of
grace, &c."
Note here, 1. There is a throne of grace which believers may come unto;
God has a throne of justice, and a throne of grace: If he look upon man
according to the law of works, he must needs sit upon the throne of
justice as a severe Lord, and strict Judge, to condemn us; but being
propitiated and atoned by the blood of Christ, his throne is a throne of
grace and mercy, from which he represents himself to us as a God in
Christ, as a God of forgivenes, as a God in covenent, and as a God that
will have communion with us.
Note, 2. That believers may come boldly, and with confidence to this
throne of grace; they have liberty to do it, they have authority to do
it, and may have confidence and assurance of audience in the doing of
it.
Note, 3. That all help succour, and spiritual assistance in every time
of need, is found with God, and proceeds from mere mercy and grace in
God, That we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Note, 4. That the way to obtain mercy, and find grace to help in every
time of need is by a due application of our souls for it to the throne
of grace; Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may find
help in time of need.
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Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
(No commentary on this verse).
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