You will notice that it begins with a therefore,' and that therefore' sums up all that has gone before in the epistle; and it is further expanded by a for' which follows. And what are the reasons thus suggested? I have no time to enlarge on them, and I do not know that they need it.
They are three, and the first of them is the dignity of the speaker. The writer has just been demonstrating the superiority of the Son by whom God hath, in these last times, spoken unto us,' over all former ministers and messengers of His Word, and over all angels before His throne. And he says, because such august lips have spoken, Let us give earnest heed to the things which we have heard.' For if the words spoken by angels' demanded attention, how much more the word spoken in these last times unto us by the Son,' whom He hath appointed heir of all things.' That is reason number one.
Reason number two is the steadfastness of the truth. I have been working perhaps till it is threadbare the metaphor underlying my text; I come back to it for a moment more. What is the good of a strong cable, which is my faith, unless it is wrapped round a strong post? Why should I give heed to a truth, unless it is an irrefragable and undeniable and important truth? And so says this writer, it is worth your while to give your whole attention to these truths, and to grapple yourselves to them with hooks of steel, for they stand fast. The word spoken by angels was steadfast, but the word of the gospel was at the first spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed by them that heard it. He fixed the post; they hammered it in; there it stands. You may hold on to it, and if your tackle does not give, nothing will sweep you away.
And reason number three is, what we lose if we let our moorings there slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received its just recompense of reward, how shall we escape if we neglect …'--not reject; not fight against, simply neglect'--so great salvation,' and so let ourselves be drifted away from the things which we have heard?
