Hebrews 13 - Introduction

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 the Hebrews to exercise love to the brethren, hospitality to strangers, and compassion to the imprisoned and afflicted: charity likewise is recommended, together with disinterestedness, and a careful imitation of their teachers, whose trial was ended, and who had shewn great fortitude in suffering for their faith, Hebrews 13:1.

Next, the Hebrews were desired to beware of being tossed about with those discordant doctrines, disagreeing with each other, and the great standard of truth in the divine revelation; especially those pernicious doctrines concerning the efficacy of the Levitical sacrifices to procure the pardon of sin, which the Judaizing teachers inculcated with great earnestness. Their giving heed to these errors the apostle was anxious to prevent, because, if they trusted to the Levitical atonements for pardon, they would lose the benefit of the sacrifice of Christ. This, the apostle told them, their own law taught them figuratively, by forbidding the priests and people to eat of those sacrifices, whose blood was carried into the holy places to make atonement. And being unwilling to quit the subject, he added, that because the carcases of the sin-offerings were ordered to be burnt without the camp as things unclean, Hebrews 13:11.—so Jesus,who sanctified the people with his own blood, suffered as a malefactor or unclean person without the gates of Jerusalem, Hebrews 13:12.—These particulars the apostle mentioned, to shew that all the Levitical sin-offerings were types of Christ, whoseexample in suffering ignominy and punishment for men, he desired the Hebrews to imitate from gratitude, by willingly suffering reproach and persecution for his sake, Hebrews 13:13.—And this they might do the more easily, as they knew they had no continuing city here, but were seeking one in the life to come, Hebrews 13:14.—In the mean time, he exhorted them to worship God, not in the Jewish but in the Christian manner, by offering, through Christ, the sacrifice of praise to God continually, Hebrews 13:15.—and to be zealous in doing good works, because worship and praise accompanied with such works as proceed from the operation of divine grace, are sacrifices far more pleasing to God, than the sacrifices of beasts, Hebrews 13:16.

Again, because the Hebrews, through the prejudices of their education, were in danger of not hearkening to their teachers when they inculcated the true doctrines of the gospel, he ordered them to be obedient to their spiritual guides, and to esteem them highly as persons who watched for their souls, Hebrews 13:17.—and requested them to pray for him, because he assured them, that he had maintained a good conscience in all things he had written to them, Hebrews 13:18.—Then he gave them his apostolical benediction in a most elegant form, Hebrews 13:20.—and besought them to take in good part the instruction contained in this letter, which he acknowledged was a short one, considering the variety and importance of the subjects that he had handled in it, Hebrews 13:22.

Having thus finished his exhortations, the apostle informed the Hebrews that he had sent away Timothy on some important business; but promised, if he returned in time, to bring him with him when he visited them, Hebrews 13:23.—In the mean while, he desired them to present his salutation to all the rulers of their church; meaning, I suppose, the apostles and elders at Jerusalem; also in his name to salute all the brethren and saints; and sent them the salutation of the brethren in Italy, Hebrews 13:24.—Then he concluded, with giving them his apostolical benediction in a more short form, Hebrews 13:25.