_DIVERS ADMONITIONS, AS TO CHARITY, TO HONEST LIFE, TO AVOID COVETOUSNESS, TO REGARD GOD'S PREACHERS, TO TAKE HEED OF STRANGE DOCTRINES, TO CONFESS CHRIST, TO GIVE ALMS, TO OBEY GOVERNORS, AND TO PRAY FOR THE APOSTLE. THE CONCLUSION._ _Anno Domini 63._ THIS chapter begins with an exhortation to t... [ Continue Reading ]
LET BROTHERLY LOVE CONTINUE.— By this exhortation the apostle plainly implies, that they did already love their Christian brethren; accordingly, he commended them before, (ch. Hebrews 6:10.) for their ministering to the saints: consistently with this, he exhorted them (ch. Hebrews 12:14.) to _follow... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT FORGETFUL, &C.— The apostle seems to refer to the reception given to angels by Abraham and Lot. See Genesis 18:19 :... [ Continue Reading ]
MARRIAGE IS HONOURABLE IN ALL,— _Let marriage be held in esteem by all:_ thus many critics would render this clause; as the context, in their judgment, shews that the passage is exhortatory. The connection, however, of the latter clause introduced by the particle _but,_ is thought by others to vindi... [ Continue Reading ]
BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE:— The reason here given why there should be no discontent at the various cross accidents of life is, _for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee;_ which was an assurance given to Joshua. See Deuteronomy 31:8. Joshua 1:5. The apostle had just be... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER THEM WHICH HAVE THE RULE,— _Who have had the rule._ Bishop Lloyd thinks that this may refer to _James the apostle,_ and to James commonly called the first bishop of Jerusalem, both of whom had been put to death there before this epistle was written. Dr. Heylin renders this and the next vers... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT CARRIED ABOUT, &C.— _Be not seduced or led away._ Heylin. The connection of this verse is thus: "Remember the faithful pastors you have had, the end and object of that faith which they have taught,—the eternal and immutable power of Jesus Christ; and, in this view, see to it that you be not l... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE BODIES OF THOSE BEASTS, &C.— The connection of these words with the foregoing seems to be this: The thing to be proved, ver.10 is, that the Jewish priests have no right by the law to partake of the Christian altar. The reason of which is, because the sacrifice offered upon the Christian alta... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US GO FORTH THEREFORE— This practical conclusion is drawn from the words immediately preceding the apostle's argument, and may be thus expressed: "Since, as I said, Jesus suffered without the gate of Jerusalem as a propitiatory sacrifice to atone for the sins of all mankind, and to consecrate th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HERE WE HAVE NO CONTINUING CITY,— When the apostle said, _Let us go forth unto him without the camp,_ he speaks as if we were in our wilderness state, travelling toward the place of our rest. In the wilderness the _Jews_ were obliged to dwell in tents, and had no fixed place of abode; _we_ who b... [ Continue Reading ]
BY HIM THEREFORE, &C.— "Since Jesus therefore hath suffered that he might redeem us with his blood, let us apply ourselves to God the Father, throughhim as the Mediator, and continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God through his mediation,—not the Jewish sacrifices of the fruits of the earth,... [ Continue Reading ]
OBEY THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU,— _Obey your spiritual guides, and submit to them; that as they are vigilant over your souls, for which they are accountable, they may discharge their office with alacrity, and not with despondence, which would be to your prejudice._ When a minister, zealous for... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE TRUST WE HAVE A GOOD CONSCIENCE,— _For we are confident that we have a good conscience, determined in all things to behave honourably._ It is reasonable to think that the apostle particularly meant, that he took care to act up to the rules of the apostolical office which he had received, labo... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I BESEECH YOU THE RATHER TO DO THIS— that is, _to pray for me:_ From what the apostle says in these two verses, it is evident that the Hebrews knew who was the author of this Epistle; and that his design in not setting his name, could not be to conceal himself from them: what his design herein w... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE GOD OF PEACE, &C.— The Gentile world is commonly described as at enmity with God and his kingdom; as alienated from him, and in a state of rebellion against him; and God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, and by Christ offering to them the terms of reconciliation. Hence he is... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE YOU PERFECT— May the God of peace _suit you to;_ (καταρτισαι,) _make you ready to do every good work._ Hence it comes to signify to _join perfectly,_ to _finish,_ to _complete,_ to bring to perfection any thing: "God in his good providence so ordering and disposing things, and by his grace so a... [ Continue Reading ]
SUFFER THE WORD OF EXHORTATION— _Take in good part the exhortation I here send, which is but a brief one._ The apostle seems to have concluded his epistle in the preceding verse, and to add these words by way of postscript. He begs them to accept what he had written with kindness, on account of the... [ Continue Reading ]