_AN EXHORTATION TO CONSTANT FAITH, PATIENCE, AND GODLINESS. A COMMENDATION OF THE NEW COVENANT ABOVE THE OLD._ _Anno Domini 63._ BY aboldand beautiful rhetorical figure, the apostle, in the beginning of this chapter, represents the patriarchs, judges, kings, prophets, and righteous men, whose fai... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, SEEING— The word _also_ in our translation of this verse should by all means be expunged. The connection is this: _"Seeing,_ therefore, that we Christians are, as it were, surrounded with this great number of believers, as the spectators and witnesses of our conduct, who at the same time... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOKING UNTO JESUS— As an example of patience under sufferings, which ought to be imitated by his disciples; as one gloriously recompensed in his human nature for the sufferings that hesustained in it; and as one who will give to his faithful people the same happy repose after their sufferings; He h... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSIDER HIM— The original word αναλογισασθε is very emphatical: it is a metaphor taken from arithmetical and geometrical propositions; so that it signifies the great accuracy and exactness, with which they should consider the Author and Finisher of their faith, and especially the analogy between hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_HEBREWS 12:4_.— The apostle having encouraged the Hebrews by the examples of others who had patiently suffered for truth and holiness, especially that of Christ, now adds, that they were not yet called out to suffer to the death, and they ought to look on their sufferings as chastisements of a fath... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVETH, &C.— There seems to be a beautiful gradation in these words: to _receive,_ here signifies to have a particular regard for. Comp. Isaiah 42:1 in the LXX. and see Proverbs 3:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ARE YE BASTARDS, AND NOT SONS— The meaning is, "No care is taken of you; no concern is shewn about your welfare.... [ Continue Reading ]
FURTHERMORE, WE HAVE HAD FATHERS, &C.— The awful, yet tender insinuation at the end of the verse, of the terrible consequences of rebellion against the Father of Spirits, (in which there is an allusion to the capital punishments to be inflicted on a disobedient child, (Deuteronomy 21:18.) is very re... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A FEW DAYS— _For a short time;_ during our childhood. _They kept us under discipline, as they thought most proper._ The phrase _for a few days,_ may be applied both to our earthly parents, and our Heavenly Father; and it contains a beautiful and comfortable intimation, that this whole life, when... [ Continue Reading ]
IT YIELDETH THE PEACEABLE FRUIT, &C.— "Though at first all chastening is in itself matter of grief, and not of joy, yet afterwards it produces quiet of mind, and such inward peace, in the progress of holiness and goodness, as abundantly compensates the grief at first felt by those who are _exercised... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, LIFT UP THE HANDS, &C.— It is certain that these are likewise Agonistic phrases: Dr. Heylin renders the verse, _Invigorate then your hands which are remiss, and your knees which are feeble._ "It is a proverbial phrase, says he, importing the renewed force with which a man is animated, whe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MAKE STRAIGHT PATHS, &C.— Dr. Heylin paraphrases the verse thus: _Make even paths for your feet, that the lame ancle may not be sprained, but on the contrary recover strength;_ that is, says he, "Order your course of life so, as to avoid the occasions of sin; those especially, wherein you are mo... [ Continue Reading ]
_HEBREWS 12:14_.— The sacred writer now proceeds to exhort the Hebrew Christians to the exerciseofuniversalpeacewith believing Gentiles, as well as with the believing Jews, and to the practice of holiness, that so they might not fail of that glorious reward which was purchased and provided for them... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOKING DILIGENTLY, &C.— "I have been earnestly exhorting you to cultivate holiness in your own hearts and lives; and I must farther press it upon you, that you endeavour to maintain a friendly and brotherly inspection over each other. Look to it, therefore, with the greatest attention and care, for... [ Continue Reading ]
LEST THERE BE ANY FORNICATOR— We must not imagine that the apostle here mentions Esau as an example of the crime of fornication; for nothing appears in the history to shew that Esau was more guilty of this sin than any one else, who in those days had many wives; though polygamy is utterly inconsiste... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE KNOW— _And you know that afterwards, when he was desirous to inherit the benediction, he was judged unworthy of it; nor could he find any way to change the mind of_ Isaac, _although he sought it earnestly, and with tears._ Heylin.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE ARE NOT COME, &C.— What here follows is assigned as a reason to confirm the preceding advice; namely, that they should _follow peace with all men,_ and continue in the grace of God, Hebrews 12:14. The motive hereto is briefly this: "Because you are not come to Sinai, but to Sion. You must mai... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO TERRIBLE WAS THE SIGHT, &C.— "The appearance was so dreadful that Moses himself,who was happy in such unparalleled degrees of the divine favour, and accustomed to converse with God in so intimate a manner, when urged by the people to act as their mediator in this awful transaction, said, thou... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE ARE COME UNTO MOUNT SION, &C.— There seems to be throughout this whole period a reference to the manifestation which God made of himself upon mount Sion, as being milder than that upon mount Sinai, and the heavenly society with which Christians are incorporated, is considered as resembling th... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY— The word Πανηγυρις properly signifies a stated convention upon some joyful and festive occasion; particularly it is applied to the concourse at the Olympic games: in which view it expresses a very elegant and lively opposition to the case of the Israelites; who were struck w... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE BLOOD OF SPRINKLING,— We who have joined ourselves to Christ, have engaged ourselves to adhere to the blood of Christ, offered by him, either as our High-priest in heaven, or as ratifying the covenant of which he is the Mediator—Blood, which though shed by wicked hands, yet has a quite differ... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE THAT YE REFUSE NOT HIM THAT SPEAKETH.— That is, Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant. Dr. Sykes paraphrases the verse well, thus: "Look to it, therefore, and see that you do not, as your fathers did, refuse to attend to him who hath now spoken to you [by this gracious dispensation]; for if ev... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE VOICE THEN SHOOK THE EARTH:— It is generally granted by the spiritual commentators, that the person who spoke _on earth,_ and he who spake _from heaven,_ is the same great _Messenger of the covenant;_ in which view the argument of the apostle is taken from the different manner of speaking: his... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS WORD, YET ONCE MORE, &C.— "And it is evident that _this expression, Yet once more,_ or, For the _last_ time, not only _signifies the removal_ and change _of the things_ there said to be _shaken,_—(that is, of the ordinances of Moses,) _as of things which were made and constituted_ only for... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, WE RECEIVING A KINGDOM, &C.— _"As therefore we have received such an unshaken kingdom,_ which shall never be removed to make way for any different establishment, and which gives to the faithful the assurance of a reign in eternal glory; _Let us_ see to it; that we _have grace, whereby we... [ Continue Reading ]