1._Let brotherly love, etc. _Probably he gave this command respecting brotherly love, because a secret hatred arising from the haughtiness of the Jews was threatening to rend the Churches. But still this precept is generally very needful, for nothing flows away so easily as love; when everyone think... [ Continue Reading ]
2._Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, etc. _This office of humanity has also nearly ceased to be properly observed among men; for the ancient hospitality, celebrated in histories, is unknown to us, and Inns now supply the place of accommodations for strangers. But he speaks not so much of the... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Remember them that are in bonds, _or, _Be mindful of the bound, etc. _There is nothing that can give us a more genuine feeling of compassion than to put ourselves in the place of those who are in distress; hence he says, that we ought to think of those in bonds as though we were bound with them.... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Marriage is honourable in all, etc. _Some think this an exhortation to the married to conduct themselves modestly and in a becoming manner, that the husband should live with his wife temperately and chastely, and not defile the conjugal bed by unbeseeming wantonness. Thus a verb is to be understo... [ Continue Reading ]
5._Let your conversation be without covetousness, etc. _While he seeks to correct covetousness, he rightly and wisely bids us at the same time to be content with our present things; for it is the true contempt of money, or at least a true greatness of mind in the right and moderate use of it, when w... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Remember, etc. _What follows refers not so much to morals as to doctrine. He first sets before the Jews the example of those by whom they had been taught; and he seems especially to speak of those who had sealed the doctrine delivered by them by their own blood; for he points out something memora... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Jesus Christ the same, etc. _The only way by which we can persevere in the right faith is to hold to the foundation, and not in the smallest degree to depart from it; for he who holds not to Christ knows nothing but mere vanity, though he may comprehend heaven and earth; for in Christ are include... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Diverse doctrines, etc. _He concludes that we ought not to fluctuate, since the truth of Christ, in which we ought to stand firm, remains fixed and unchangeable. And doubtless, variety of opinions, every kind of superstition, all monstrous errors, in a word, all corruptions in religion, arise fro... [ Continue Reading ]
10._We have an altar, etc. _This is a beautiful adaptation of an old rite under the Law, to the present state of the Church. There was a kind of sacrifice appointed, mentioned in the sixteenth chapter of Leviticus, no part of which returned to the priests and Levites. This, as he now shows by a suit... [ Continue Reading ]
13._Let us go forth, therefore, etc. _That the preceding allegory or mystical similitude might not be frigid and lifeless, he connects with it an important duty required of all Christians. And this mode of teaching is what Paul also usually adopts, that he might show to the faithful what things God... [ Continue Reading ]
14._For here we have no continuing city, etc. _He extends still further the going forth which he had mentioned, even that as strangers and wanderers in this world we should consider that we have no fixed residence but in heaven. Whenever, therefore, we are driven from place to place, or whenever any... [ Continue Reading ]
15._By him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God, etc. _He returns to that particular doctrine to which he had referred, respecting the abrogation of the ancient ceremonies; and he anticipates an objection that might have been made; for as the sacrifices were attached as appendages... [ Continue Reading ]
16._But to do good, etc. _Here he points out even another way of offering a due and regular sacrifice, for all the acts and duties of love are so many sacrifices; and he thereby intimates that they were foolish and absurd in their wishes who thought that something was wanting except they offered bea... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Obey them, etc. _I doubt not but that he speaks of pastors and other rulers of the Church, for there were then no Christian magistrates; and what follows, _for they watch for your souls, _properly belongs to spiritual government. He commands first obedience and then honor to be rendered to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
18._For we trust, etc. _After having commended himself to their prayers, in order to excite them to pray, he declares that he had a _good conscience. _Though indeed our prayers ought to embrace the whole world, as love does, from which they flow; it is yet right and meet that we should be peculiarly... [ Continue Reading ]
19._But I beseech you, etc. _He now adds another argument, — that the prayers they would make for him, would be profitable to them all as well as to himself individually, as though he had said, “I do not so much consult my own benefit as the benefit of you all; for to be restored to you would be the... [ Continue Reading ]
20._Now the God of peace, etc. _To render mutual what he desired them to do, he ends his Epistle with prayer; and he asks of God to _confirm, _or to fit, or to perfect them in _every good work; _for such is the meaning of καταρτίσαι. We hence conclude, that we are by no means fit to do good until we... [ Continue Reading ]
21._To do his will, etc. _He now gives a definition of good works by laying down God’s _will _as the rule; for he thus intimates, that no works are to be deemed good, but such as are agreeable to the will of God, as Paul also teaches us in Romans 12:2, and in many other places. Let us then remember,... [ Continue Reading ]
22._And I beseech you, etc. _Some understand this as though he was soliciting them to hear him; but I take another view; for he mentions, as I think, that he had written in a _few words, _or briefly, in order that he might not appear as though he wished to lessen in any degree the ordinary practice... [ Continue Reading ]
23._Know ye that our brother, etc. _Since the termination of the Greek verb γινώσκετε, will admit of either renderings, we may read, “Ye know,” or, “Know ye;” but I prefer the latter reading, though I do not reject the other. (293) The probability is, that he was informing the Jews on the other side... [ Continue Reading ]
24._Salute, etc. _As he writes his Epistle generally to the Hebrews, it is strange that he bids some, separate from the rest, to be saluted; but he sends this salutation, as I think, more particularly to the rulers, as a mark of honor, that he might conciliate them, and gently lead them to assent to... [ Continue Reading ]