BROTHERLY LOVE (Hebrews 13:1) Most of the commentators regard the final chapter of Hebrews as an appendix or postscript, containing sundry exhortations which have no direct relation to the body of the epistle. Personally, we regard it as a serious mistake, due to lack of perspicuity, to ignore the... [ Continue Reading ]
BROTHERLY LOVE (Hebrews 13:1-3) Brotherly love is that spiritual benevolence and affectionate solicitude which Christians have one toward another, desiring and seeking their highest interests. The varied characteristics of it are beautifully delineated in 1 Corinthians 13. In the opening verse of H... [ Continue Reading ]
MARRIAGE (Hebrews 13:4) From a prescription of duties towards others, the apostle next proceeds to give directions unto those which concern ourselves, wherein our own persons and walking are concerned. He does this in a prohibition of the two most radical and comprehensive lusts of corrupt nature,... [ Continue Reading ]
COVETOUSNESS (Hebrews 13:5) In this chapter of Hebrews the apostle makes a practical application of the theme of the epistle. Having set forth at length the amazing grace of God toward His believing people by the provision He has made for them in the Mediator and Surety of the covenant, having show... [ Continue Reading ]
CONTENTMENT (Hebrews 13:5, Hebrews 13:6) Discontent, though few appear to realize it, is sinful, a grievous offense against the Most High. It is an impugning of His wisdom, a denial of His goodness, a rising up of my will against His. To murmur at our lot is to take issue with God’s sovereignty, qu... [ Continue Reading ]
MOTIVES TO FIDELITY (Hebrews 13:7, Hebrews 13:8) In seeking to ascertain the meaning and scope of the verses which now require our consideration due notice must be taken of their setting, and that, in turn, weighed in the light of the epistle as a whole. In the immediate context the apostle dehorts... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEART ESTABLISHED (Hebrews 13:8, Hebrews 13:9) "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever" (verse 8). Sir Rob. Anderson and others regarded this as a declaration of the Savior’s Godhead, arguing that "The Same" is a Divine title taken from Psalms 102:27, etc. But why, it may be a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHRISTIAN’S ALTAR (Hebrews 13:10) There is a saying that "a man usually finds what he is looking for," and there is a sense in which that principle holds good of not a little consulting of the Scriptures. Various kinds of people approach the Scriptures with the object of finding something in th... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRIST OUR SIN OFFERING (Hebrews 13:11, Hebrews 13:12) In the verses at which we have now arrived the apostle once more sets before us the O.T. shadow and the N.T. substance, which emphasizes the importance and necessity of diligently comparing one portion of the Scriptures with another, and partic... [ Continue Reading ]
OUTSIDE THE CAMP (Hebrews 13:12, Hebrews 13:13) Were it not so pathetic and tragic, it would be most amusing if we could obtain and read a complete record of the manner in which our text has been employed by various individuals and groups during the last four hundred years—to go no farther back. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
OUTSIDE THE CAMP (Hebrews 13:13, Hebrews 13:14) In the preceding article we endeavored to make clear to the reader exactly what was "the camp" from which the apostle exhorted the Hebrews to go forth. The more accurately a term be defined, the less likelihood of its being wrongly employed. It was at... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHRISTIAN’S SACRIFICES (Hebrews 13:15, Hebrews 13:16) The verses which are now to engage our attention are closely related with those which immediately precede, as is intimated by the "therefore." The links of connection may be set forth thus. First, "We have an Altar" (verse 10); what use are... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHRISTIAN’S SACRIFICES (Hebrews 13:15, Hebrews 13:16) From the eighth verse onwards (of Hebrews 13) the apostle is engaged in setting forth those spiritual duties of worship of which God Himself is the Object. Therein a series of contrasts are drawn between what obtained under the old covenant... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRISTIAN RULERS (Hebrews 13:17) "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you" (verse 17). It is quite clear from the balance of the ve... [ Continue Reading ]
A GOOD CONSCIENCE (Hebrews 13:18, Hebrews 13:19) Hebrews 13:18; Hebrews 13:19 is closely connected with the verse which immediately precedes. In our present portion the apostle mentions another duty which believers owe to those who minister unto them in spiritual things, and this is that they shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAYING FOR MINISTERS (Hebrews 13:18, Hebrews 13:19) "Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner." As was pointed out in the opening paragraph of the previous article,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE APOSTLE’S PRAYER (Hebrews 13:20, Hebrews 13:21) "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing... [ Continue Reading ]
THE APOSTLE’S PRAYER (Hebrews 13:20, Hebrews 13:21) "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant; make you perfect in every good work to do His will: working in you that which is well pleasing... [ Continue Reading ]
DIVINE EXHORTATIONS (Hebrews 13:22) Before taking up our present verse let us offer some further remarks upon the last portions of 5:21, which, through lack of space, we had to omit from the preceding article. The central thing which we sought to make clear in the previous paper was, that, while th... [ Continue Reading ]
SPIRITUAL FREEDOM (Hebrews 13:23) Before turning to our present verse we must complete our observations on the one which occupied our attention in the last article, for the practical importance and value of it cannot be over-estimated or over-emphasized. "Suffer the Word of Exhortation." In its loc... [ Continue Reading ]
CONCLUSION (Hebrews 13:24, Hebrews 13:25) Everything down here comes, sooner or later, to its end. Terrible prospect for the wicked, for there awaits them naught but the blackness of darkness forever. Blessed outlook for the righteous, for then they are done with sin and suffering forever, and only... [ Continue Reading ]