As if our apostle had said, "Seeing we who are now called forth to suffer, have before us so many instances of the faithful, who like. cloud of witnesses have gone before us, and by the help of their faith conquered all impediments that lay in the way of their salvation, let us take encouragement fr... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle subjoins another reason why the Hebrews should be reconciled to. suffering condition; because what they had already suffered was but. fleabite, compared with what Christ and the fore-mentioned cloud of witnesses suffered; he and they resisted unto blood, which you never yet did: YE... [ Continue Reading ]
As if he had said, "By growing weary and faint in your minds, you will plainly show and evidently declare, that you have forgotten that exhortation which God gives, Proverbs.." The want of. diligent consideration and due remembrance of God's promises, recorded in scripture for our encouragement unto... [ Continue Reading ]
A reason is given in these words, why we should not faint under divine chastisements, because God chasteneth every one whom he loves. Here note, That love is antecedent unto chastening, and that chastening is consequential unto love. Note, 2. That divine love and fatherly chastenings are inseparab... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe, 1. He does not say, if ye be chastised, but IF YE ENDURE CHASTISEMENTS, GOD DEALETH WITH YOU AS WITH SONS; if ye endure them with faith and patience, with submission and perseverance, so as not to faint under them. Learn hence, That. patient endurance of chastisements is of great price in... [ Continue Reading ]
These words are. fresh argument to persuade christians to. patient enduring of divine chastisements; the argument is drawn from the less to the greater, thus: "If our earthly parents chastened us only for. few days, and after their own pleasure, and yet we were subject to them, how much more ought w... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle in these words seems to obviate an objection against. compliance with his exhortation to bear divine chastenings with silence and submission; and this is taken from the trouble and sorrow wherewith chastisement is accompanied; this he takes for granted is so, but takes off all the weight... [ Continue Reading ]
As if our apostle had said, "Seeing so glorious fruits spring from sanctified afflictions be not dejected in mind, nor suffer fear to seize upon you, which weakens the hands, and enfeebles the knees, and causes them to smite one against the another; but be resolute for God, make straight paths in th... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having now finished his exhortation unto patient perseverance in the profession of the gospel under all sufferings and afflictions, he now proceeds to. prescription of practical duties incumbent upon Christians at all times in the daily course of their conversation, two of which are cont... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having declared what our duty is with respect to ourselves, in the the foregoing verses, here acquaints us, how much it is our duty to take care of, and watch over others, to do what in us lies, that none may fall short of the grace of God, that is, fall from the grace of God, and the pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle proceeds in these verses to warn them against such sins as would occasion their apostasy and falling from the grace of God, and they are fornication and profaneness; together, because they usually go together; fornicators, such especially as are habitually so, do always grow profane, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle's design being to bring over the Hebrews fully from Judaism to Christianity, he enters here upon. description of both states, shewing the excellency of the one above the other. He describes first the legal state of the church under the Old Testament, and the manner of their forefathers e... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having given an account, in the foregoing verses, of the state of the Jewish church under the law, comes now to declare that most excellent state whereinto believers are called in and by the gospel. The privileges here summed up partly respect the church militant, and and partly the chur... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having, in the foregoing verses, given. summary account of the two states of the law and gospel with the incomparable excellency of the latter above the former, he gives them and exhortation and cautionary direction to take heed that they did not turn. deaf ear to so excellent. person as... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "The voice of God, at the promulging of the law on mount Sinai, shook the earth; but he promised after this to shake all nations, and that Christ, the expected Messias, the desire of all nations, should come, which is now fulfilled." QUESTION. But what means our apostle... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That the apostle calls the dispensation of the gospel, A KINGDOM THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN, in opposition to the law, which was an imperfect and alterable dispensation; the gospel-revelation after this, nor of any change of that religion which was brought from heaven by the Son of God,... [ Continue Reading ]