XIII. This concluding chapter is chiefly occupied with special exhortations relating to Christian conduct: with these, however, are intermingled some important and characteristic references to the leading themes of the Epistle.... [ Continue Reading ]
BROTHERLY LOVE. — Better, _The love of the brethren._ (See Romans 12:10, and Note; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22.) The love which they had shown to the Christian brotherhood is commended in Hebrews 6:10 (Hebrews 10:33); and yet there was some ground for fear that such affection might not “contin... [ Continue Reading ]
TO ENTERTAIN STRANGERS. — Hospitality to Christian brethren at a distance from their homes is especially intended (1 Peter 4:9): this was one manifestation of the “love of the brethren” (Hebrews 13:1). The prominence assigned to this duty in the exhortations of the Epistles of the New Testament was... [ Continue Reading ]
AS BOUND WITH THEM. — Either (1) “As if ye yourselves were in bonds” (see Hebrews 10:33; 1 Corinthians 12:26) — by true fellow-feeling make yourselves sharers in their lot; or, (2) “mindful that ye too are in bonds” — like them ye are Christ’s prisoners, and their bonds are but one of the tokens of... [ Continue Reading ]
MARRIAGE IS HONOURABLE IN ALL. — Rather, _Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge._ The precept is directed against impurity (Hebrews 12:16), and also against the false asceticism of men “forbidding to marry” (1 Timothy 4:... [ Continue Reading ]
In these two verses (Hebrews 13:4) we have the same connection of thought as in Hebrews 12:16; Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:3. “Impurity and covetousness may be said to divide between them nearly the whole domain of human selfishness and vice” (Lightfoot on Colossians 3:5). CONVERSATION. — Literally... [ Continue Reading ]
WE MAY BOLDLY SAY. — Rather, _so that we say with courage._ The words of the quotation (Psalms 118:6) should be arranged thus: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: what shall man do unto me?”... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HAVE THE RULE. — Rather, _which were your leaders_ (Hebrews 13:17; Hebrews 13:24; Acts 15:22), _who spake unto you the word of God._ These spiritual guides had been removed from them by death. WHOSE FAITH FOLLOW. — Better, _and, contemplating: the end_ (or, _issue_)_ of their life, imitate the... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS CHRIST THE SAME... — Rather, _Jesus Christ is yesterday and to-day the same; yea, also for ever._ Their earlier guides have passed away (Hebrews 13:7); their Lord and Saviour abides the same for ever. He who is the subject of all Christian teaching is the same, therefore (Hebrews 13:9) “be not... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT CARRIED ABOUT. — The better reading of the Greek gives a meaning somewhat different, _Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings._ The ordinary reading may have come in from Ephesians 4:14. The “teachings” by which they were in danger of being led astray were various, and were all fo... [ Continue Reading ]
“We need not such profitless teaching; we already have sustenance which is ‘meat indeed,’ by which the heart is established.” According to the Law, the priests (they. who “serve the Tabernacle,” see Hebrews 8:5) received for themselves a greater or smaller portion of the animals offered as peace-off... [ Continue Reading ]
The sin-offering was burned _without the camp._ Jesus who in all other points fulfilled the law of atonement fulfilled it in this point also, in that He suffered “without the gate” (Matthew 27:32; John 19:20). The two expressions answer to one another, each denoting that which lay beyond the sacred... [ Continue Reading ]
The suffering “without the gate” was a symbol of His rejection by the Jews. All who would be His must share the reproach which came upon Him, who was cast out by His people and crucified (Hebrews 11:26): they also must go forth “without the camp,” forsaking the company of His foes. Each one must for... [ Continue Reading ]
In this verse there seems to be a union of two thoughts: (1) We are free to go forth from the city so long held sacred, for our hopes are bound up with no abiding earthly sanctuary. (2) We may not shrink from the reproach of Christ because it will sever us from kindred and friends; for by the very p... [ Continue Reading ]
BY HIM. — Better, _through Him._ Through His sacrifice, which has made atonement, we are hallowed (Hebrews 13:12), and fitted for our priestly service (1 Peter 2:5). LET US OFFER THE SACRIFICE. — Rather, _let us offer up a sacrifice of praise continually unto God, that is, fruit of lips making confe... [ Continue Reading ]
And yet another offering may we bring: with thankfulness to Him must be joined acts of well doing to men; these, too, being presented as sacrifices to God. TO COMMUNICATE — _i.e.,_ freely to impart to others. (See Romans 12:13; Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 9:13; 1 Timothy 6:18.)... [ Continue Reading ]
The present section of the chapter begins (Hebrews 13:7) and ends (Hebrews 13:17) with a reference to the rulers of the Church: Remember your former leaders, and imitate their faith; obey them that lead you now. SUBMIT YOURSELVES. — Better, _yield_ (_to them_). Besides fulfilling their injunctions,... [ Continue Reading ]
The following verses — containing personal notices relating to the writer himself and his readers (Hebrews 13:18; Hebrews 13:22), a prayer on their behalf (Hebrews 13:20), a doxology (Hebrews 13:21), and brief salutations (Hebrews 13:24) — present many points of resemblance to the concluding section... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I BESEECH YOU. — Rather, _And I exhort you the more_ (literally, _the more abundantly_)_ to do this._ All that we can certainly infer from this verse (see _Introduction_) is that the writer had formerly been associated with those whom he now addresses, and that he is at present hindered from ret... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE GOD OF PEACE. — See Romans 15:33; Romans 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 3:16. In almost all these places there is something in the context suggestive of strife or turmoil to be brought to rest by “the God of peace.” Hence we may well believ... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE YOU PERFECT. — To “make perfect” is the translation of two different words in this Epistle. In the one, which is of frequent occurrence (Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 10:1; Hebrews 12:23, _et al._)_,_ “perfect” stands contrasted with that which is immature, which has not attained its end and aim. The o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I BESEECH YOU. — Rather, _Bui I exhort you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation; for indeed it is in few words that I have written unto you._ How fitly the whole Epistle may be spoken of as an “exhortation” is obvious. (See Note on Hebrews 5:11.) And if we take into account the subjects... [ Continue Reading ]
It is clear that the Hebrew Christians knew of the imprisonment of Timothy, but had not heard the news of his release. In 2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; Philemon 1:1, Timothy is spoken of as “the brother;” in 1 Thessalonians 3:2, and here, as “our brother” (for the word “our” printed in italics... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU. — Better, _that are your leaders:_ see Hebrews 13:7; Hebrews 13:17. THEY OF ITALY SALUTE YOU. — These much discussed words are consistent with either of two hypotheses: — (1) That the writer is in Italy, and salutes “the Hebrews” in the name of the Christians of Italy:... [ Continue Reading ]
GRACE BE WITH YOU ALL. — This brief closing benediction is also found in Titus 3:15, and, with the omission of “all,” in Colossians 4:18; 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 4:22. [As in the other Epistles the subscription is destitute of authority, not being found (in the form given above) in any MS. of the... [ Continue Reading ]