In the former part of this chapter, the apostle proves the impotency and imperfection of the Levitical sacrifices by sundry arguments; namely, first from the nature of them, they were but shadows; from the plurality of them, they were many; from the repetition of them, they were often; and from the... [ Continue Reading ]
The intendment of our apostle in these words, is to prove that the sacrifices of the law could not expiate sin, nor make reconciliation with God, wich the sacrifice of Christ alone was ordained and appointed to. Here observe, 1. The subject-matter spoken of, The blood of bulls and goats: They were... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having showed the weakness and insufficiency of the Levitical sacrifices in the former verses, he comes now to declare the efficacy and sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice, and of his blessed undertaking, to do, fulfil, perform, and suffer all things required by the will and wisdom, by the... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle still proceeds upon his former argument, namely, to assign. farther difference between Christ and the Levitical priests. 1. The Levitical priesthood consisted of. plurality of persons; the priests were many; by reason of death they had many successors; but the evangelical priesthood con... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle had asserted the perfection of Christ's sacrifice in the former verses, he proves it in these by the testimony of the Holy Ghost, recorded, Jeremiah 31:31, where after he had promised. new covenant instead of the old, and had said, THIS IS THE COVENANT. WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THESE DA... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle having thus finished the doctrinal part of his discourse, and informed their judgment of the excellency of the evangelical service above the Levitical sacrifices, he comes now, in several weighty and important duties, which appeared to be incumbent upon them; as namely to "draw near to G... [ Continue Reading ]
The second duty which the apostle exhorts the Hebrews here unto, is perseverance in the Christian faith and hope, in order to the actual enjoyment of the great reward. Where observe, 1. The duty itself TO HOLD FAST THE PROFESSION OF OUR FAITH: not blindly, without due examination; but, having exami... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here the duty exhorted to, To CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER, that is, to watch over one another. This consideraton respects the gifts, the graces, the temptations, the dangers of one another, and is the foundation of all those mutual duties of warning, exhorting, and admonishing one another: Duties,... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That in the apostle's time there were Christian assemblies, in which Christians did meet together to worship and serve God, and edify and comfort one another; and, in times of peace and liberty, they had convenient places erected, and separated for that end and use. The light of nat... [ Continue Reading ]
In these verses the apostle gives. vehement enforcement of his preceding exhortation, to an unfainting perseverance in the profession of Christianity, and this is drawn from the dreadful consequences of apostasy. We have here the nature of the sin expressed, the impossibility of deliverance from the... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle here confirms what he had before spoken, of the sad and certain destruction of apostates; and compares it with the punishment inflicted on the breakers of Moses' law. If those, under the testimony of two or three witnesses, of that apostasy died without mercy; how much sorer plunishment... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle had declared in the verses before, the certain judgment of apostates: Here he declare the Judge, the Lord; and the judgment, VENGEANCE; VENGEANCE IS MINE SAITH THE LORD: Where, by vengeance, is meant vindictive justice in punishing sinners. The apostle's arguments seems to lie thus: "If... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle, In these words, winds up his whole argument against the wilful despisers of the gospel, taken from the aggravation of that sin, with the severity of the punishment that would certainly befall them that are guilty of it. Note here, 1. The description given of God, he is the LIVING GOD;... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle here proceeds to. new argument to persuade Christians to perseverance drawn from the consideration of their former sufferings for christianity: "Since ye were illuminated, that is, baptized into the Christian faith, ye endured courageously afflictions,. fight of afflictions, yea,. great... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our apostle particularly mentions the sufferings which the primitive saints underwent for the sake of Christianity, and reduces them to three heads, shame, pain, loss: They suffered in their names, by being disgraced; in their persons, by being scourged; in their estates, by the spoiling of the... [ Continue Reading ]
The first words of this verse, YE HAD COMPASSION ON ME IN MY BONDS, prove St. Paul to be the author of this epistle; for who else could there be, whose bonds for the gospel were so known, and so famous among the believing Jews? His bonds were first at Jerusalem, afterwards at Rome, the two capital... [ Continue Reading ]
As if he had said, "Seeing you have endured so much, never shrink back from. bold and courageous profession of Christ and his holy religion, which will be crowned with. great recompence of reward." Observe, 1. The exhortation, CAST NOT AWAY YOUR CONFIDENCE and courage in the free profession of Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
YE HAVE NEED OF PATIENCE: But had they it not already, when they endured such. great fight of afflictions? Yes, assuredly; the meaning hereof is this: "Ye have need of the continued exercise of patience;" implying, that without the constant exercise of patience, none can pass through tribulation to... [ Continue Reading ]
These words, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH, are taken out of the prophet Habakuk, and are three times made use of by St. Paul, in his epistles, Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11, and in this place. By the just man, understand. justified man; by the life which he lives, understand. life of sanctification an... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. twofold opposite state, namely them that DRAW BACK, and them THAT BELIEVE, that is, persevere in believing; WE ARE NOT OF THEM THAT DRAW BACK. Intimating, 1. That in the visible church there ever have been, are, and will be,. number of hypocrites, who, for fear of suffering in. tim... [ Continue Reading ]