XII. In this chapter the writer takes up again the exhortation of Hebrews 10:19, pointing to the example of Jesus, encouraging those who are in trial, warning against sin, and especially the sin of rejecting Him who speaks to us from heaven.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE SEEING WE ALSO ARE COMPASSED ABOUT. — Rather, _Therefore let us also_ — _since we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses_ — _having put away all encumbrance and the sin_... _run with patient endurance the race that is set before us, looking,_ &c. (In so difficult a verse as... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOKING UNTO JESUS. — As in Hebrews 2:9, the description precedes the mention of the name, “Looking unto the Author and Perfecter of (our) faith, Jesus.” The first word is very similar to that of Hebrews 11:26; the runner looks away from all other objects and fixes his gaze on One. Jesus is not dire... [ Continue Reading ]
The figure of the race is still continued, “For unless ye thus look unto Jesus ye will grow weary.” CONSIDER. — Literally, _compare;_ place your sufferings by the side of His. HIM THAT ENDURED SUCH CONTRADICTION. — Rather, _Him that hath endured such gainsaying from sinners against themselves._ The... [ Continue Reading ]
YE HAVE NOT YET RESISTED UNTO BLOOD. — Still the general figure is retained, but for the footrace is substituted the contest of the pugilists. In Hebrews 12:1 sin was the hindrance which must be put aside; here it is the antagonist who must be subdued. It is interesting to note exactly the same tran... [ Continue Reading ]
In this cowardly avoidance of trouble and persecution they have been shrinking from that chastening which every son receives from the Lord. WHICH SPEAKETH UNTO YOU. — Better, _which holds converse_ (or, _reasoneth_)_ with you as with sons._ The words which follow are taken from Proverbs 3:11, and a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SCOURGETH. — As the words stand in our Hebrew text, the meaning is “even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” A very slight change in one word, however, will yield the sense in which the clause was understood by the Greek translators, and which is here retained. For the purpose of this qu... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE ENDURE CHASTENING. — The whole weight of ancient evidence is in favour of a change in the first Greek word. Two translations are then possible: (1) “It is for chastening that ye endure:” the troubles that come upon you are for discipline — are not sent in anger, but in fatherly love. (2) “Endu... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREOF ALL ARE PARTAKERS. — Better, _whereof all_ (God’s children) _have been made partakers._ Were it possible that they have never known this fatherly “chastening,” it must be that they are not sons whom a father acknowledges, and for whose training he has care.... [ Continue Reading ]
FURTHERMORE WE HAVE HAD FATHERS. — Rather, _Furthermore we had the fathers of our flesh as chasteners_ (_i.e.,_ to chasten us). The thought of the former verses has been, “He chastens as a lather.” From likeness we here pass to contrast. The contrast drawn is between our natural parents and “the Fat... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THEIR OWN PLEASURE. — Rather, _as seemed good unto them._ The contrast is continued here between human liability to mistake and the perfect knowledge of our heavenly Father, who seeks our profit, and cannot err in the means which He employs. There is a general resemblance between this verse an... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW NO CHASTENING... — Better (the reading being slightly changed), _All chastening seemeth for the present time to be not joyous, but grievous._ The language, so far, would seem to be perfectly general, relating to all chastening, whether human or divine. The following clause may seem to confine ou... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE. — As in Hebrews 10:24, the writer passes from the thought of personal risk and duty, to speak (in Hebrews 12:12) of that which is binding on all members of a community. “Wherefore” — since the trouble which has brought discouragement should rather call forth thankfulness — “strengthen (li... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MAKE STRAIGHT PATHS. — Quoted with some slight changes from the Greek translation of Proverbs 4:26, “ponder” (or, more probably, _make even_)_ “_the path of thy feet.” BE TURNED OUT OF THE WAY. — The difficulty in these words is concealed to some extent when they are separated from the following... [ Continue Reading ]
FOLLOW PEACE. — More clearly (as our word “follow” is somewhat ambiguous), _follow after peace._ There is a manifest allusion to Psalms 34:14 (quoted also in 1 Peter 3:11). This charge is general (Romans 12:18), and must not be limited to peace with fellow Christians (Romans 14:19). The two admoniti... [ Continue Reading ]
LEST ANY MAN FAIL. — Rather, _whether any one be falling back from the grace of God._ The defection of one member of the community brings loss and danger to the whole body. The last words of Hebrews 10:26 will show what is implied in this “falling back from the grace of God.” ANY ROOT OF BITTERNESS.... [ Continue Reading ]
LEST THERE BE. — Better (as in the last verse), _whether there be._ Though Jewish tradition (see, for example, the Targum of Palestine on Genesis 25:29) affirms that Esau was a man of impure life, it is not probable that he is so represented in this verse. Here he is mentioned as a type of “the prof... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE KNOW HOW THAT AFTERWARD... — The meaning of the verse will be seen more clearly if one clause be placed in a parenthesis: “For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing he was rejected (for he found no place of repentance), though he sought it earnestly with tears.”... [ Continue Reading ]
(18-29) The exhortation to faithfulness is most impressively enforced by means of a comparison between the earlier revelation and that which is given in Christ. THE MOUNT THAT MIGHT BE TOUCHED. — It appears certain that the word “mount” has no place in the true Greek text. Had this word been in the... [ Continue Reading ]
See Exodus 19:19 (“the voice of the trumpet”), Deuteronomy 4:12 (“the voice of the words”). INTREATED. — “If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die” (Deuteronomy 5:25; Exodus 20:19). Though God drew near to Israel, to reveal Himself, so terrible was His voice to them, so... [ Continue Reading ]
There is no sufficient reason for enclosing this verse and the next in a parenthesis. AND IF SO MUCH AS. — Better, _If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned_ (Exodus 19:12). The next clause, “or thrust through with a dart,” is absent from our best authorities; and has accidentally fou... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO TERRIBLE WAS THE SIGHT THAT.... — Better, _And_ (_so fearful was the appearance_)_ Moses said, I exceedingly fear and tremble._ Deuteronomy 9:19, as it stands in the Greek translation, contains these words in part (“I exceedingly fear”); there, however, they belong to a later time, when Moses... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO MOUNT SION. — Literally (and in these difficult verses it is unusually important to follow the literal rendering of the Greek), _Ye are come unto Zion_ (_the_)_ mountain and city of a Living God, a heavenly Jerusalem._ The thought of a celestial city which should be the exact counterpart of the... [ Continue Reading ]
(22-24) “What it was to which Israel in the time of the Old Covenant drew nigh, we have now heard. Their drawing nigh was at the same time a standing afar off; the mount of the revelation might not be approached by them; the voice of God was too terrible to be borne; and yet it was only tangible mat... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TO GOD THE JUDGE OF ALL. — The order of the Greek seems to require the rendering, _and to a Judge_ (_who is_)_ God of all._ Up to this point our thought has rested on the heavenly world and those who from the time of their creation have been its inhabitants. Men who have passed through this eart... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TO JESUS THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT. — Rather, _a new covenant._ There is another change in the Greek which it is not easy to-express. In all other places in which we read of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:8; Hebrews 8:13; Hebrews 9:15; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6) a wo... [ Continue Reading ]
REFUSE NOT. — In Hebrews 12:19 we have read that the Israelites entreated that they might no more hear the voice of God (literally, _deprecated_ the speaking of more words). Twice in this verse the same word is used in the sense of declining to listen, with clear reference to the earlier verse. HIM... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOOK THE EARTH. — Exodus 19:18; Judges 5:4. The terrors of Sinai were, moreover, a type of a more terrible revelation of judgment, when not only shall the earth tremble, but the earth and the heaven shall be moved, and all that is transitory and mutable shall pass away. The words of Haggai 2:6 are... [ Continue Reading ]
This word, “Yet once more,” is equivalent to _once more only;_ and the words “once more only will I move the heaven and the earth” must of necessity point to the final change, which issues in the removal of all that can pass away. WHICH CANNOT BE SHAKEN. — Literally, _which are not shaken._ The grea... [ Continue Reading ]
RECEIVING A KINGDOM. — These words clearly contain a reference to Daniel 7:18, “The saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom.” Nor can it well be doubted that the closing verses of Haggai 2 are also before the writer’s mind; after Hebrews 12:21, which repeats the words of Hebrews 12:6, quot... [ Continue Reading ]
A quotation from Deuteronomy 4:24. There these words follow a solemn warning against idolatry. This passage then belongs to the same class as Hebrews 10:27; Hebrews 10:30. (See the Notes.)... [ Continue Reading ]