Analysis Of The Chapter The closing chapter Hebrews 13 of this Epistle is made up almost entirely of exhortations to the performance of various practical duties. The exhortations relate to the following points: brotherly love, Hebrews 13:1; hospitality, Hebrews 13:2; sympathy with those in bonds, He... [ Continue Reading ]
LET BROTHERLY LOVE CONTINUE - Implying that it now existed among them. The apostle had no occasion to reprove them for the want of it, as he had in regard to some to whom he wrote, but he aims merely to impress on them the importance of this virtue, and to caution them against the danger of allowing... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT FORGETFUL TO ENTERTAIN STRANGERS - On the duty of hospitality, see a full explanation in the notes on Romans 12:13. FOR THEREBY SOME HAVE ENTERTAINED ANGELS UNAWARES - Without knowing that they were angels. As Abraham (Genesis 18:2 ff), and Lot did; Genesis 19. The motive here urged for doing... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER THEM THAT ARE IN BONDS - All who are “bound;” whether prisoners of war; captives in dungeons; those detained in custody for trial; those who are imprisoned for righteousness’ sake, or those held in slavery. The word used here will include all instances where “bonds, shackles, chains were ev... [ Continue Reading ]
MARRIAGE IS HONORABLE IN ALL - The object here is to state that “honor” is to be shown to the marriage relation. It is not to be undervalued by the pretence of the superior purity of a state of celibacy, as if marriage were improper for any class of people or any condition of life; and it should not... [ Continue Reading ]
LET YOUR CONVERSATION - Your “conduct” - for so the word “conversation” is used in the Scriptures; notes, Philippians 1:27. BE WITHOUT COVETOUSNESS - Ephesians 5:3 note; Colossians 3:5 note. AND BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE - see the Philippians 4:11 notes; Matthew 6:25 notes. The particu... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT WE MAY BOLDLY SAY - Without any hesitation or doubt, In all times of perplexity and threatening want; in all times when we scarcely know whence the supplies for our necessities are to come, we may put our trust in God, and be assured that he will not leave us to suffer. In the facts which oc... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER THEM WHICH HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU - Margin, “are the guides.” The word used here means properly “leaders, guides, directors.” It is often applied to military commanders. Here it means teachers - appointed to lead or guide them to eternal life. It does not refer to them so much as rulers or... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS CHRIST THE SAME YESTERDAY ... - As this stands in our common translation, it conveys an idea which is not in the original. It would seem to mean that Jesus Christ, the unchangeable Saviour, was the end or aim of the conduct of those referred to, or that they lived to imitate and glorify him. B... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT CARRIED ABOUT WITH DIVERS AND STRANGE DOCTRINES - That is, they should have settled and fixed points of belief, and not yield to every new opinion which was started. The apostle does not exhort them to adhere to an opinion merely because they had before held it, or because it was an old opini... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE AN ALTAR - We who are Christians. The Jews had an altar on which their sacrifices were offered which was regarded as sacred, and of the benefit of which no others might partake. The design of the apostle is to show that the same thing substantially, so far as “privilege” and “sanctifying inf... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE BODIES OF THOSE BEASTS ... - The word rendered here “for” - γὰρ gar - would be here more properly rendered “moreover.” Stuart. The apostle is not urging a reason for what he had said in the previous verse, but is suggesting a new consideration to excite those whom he addressed to fidelity a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, JESUS ALSO, THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY THE PEOPLE WITH HIS OWN BLOOD - That there might be a conformity between his death for sin and the sacrifices which typified it. It is implied here that it was voluntary on the part of Jesus that he suffered out of the city; that is, it was so ordered by... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US GO FORTH THEREFORE UNTO HIM WITHOUT THE CAMP - As if we were going forth with him when he was led away to be crucified. He was put to death as a malefactor. He was the object of contempt and scorn. He was held up to derision, and was taunted and reviled on his way to the place of death, and e... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HERE WE HAVE NO CONTINUING CITY ... - We do not regard this as our final home, or our fixed abode, and we should be willing to bear reproaches during the little time that we are to remain here; compare notes, Hebrews 11:10, Hebrews 11:13. If, therefore, in consequence of our professed attachment... [ Continue Reading ]
BY HIM, THEREFORE - The Jews approached God by the blood of the sacrifice and by the ministry of their high priest. The exhortation of the apostle here is founded on the general course of argument in the Epistle “In view of all the considerations presented respecting the Christian High Priest - his... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT TO DO GOOD, AND TO COMMUNICATE, FORGET NOT - To communicate or impart to others; that is, to share with them what we have. The Greek word means having in common with others. The meaning is, that they were to show liberality to those who were in want, and were to take special pains not to forget... [ Continue Reading ]
OBEY THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU - Margin, guide; see notes on Hebrews 13:7. The reference here is to their religious teachers, and not to civil rulers. They were to show them proper respect, and to submit to their authority in the church, so far as it was administered in accordance with the pr... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAY FOR US - This is a request which the apostle often makes in his own behalf, and in behalf of his fellow laborers in the gospel; see 1 Thessalonians 5:25. notes, Ephesians 6:18. FOR WE TRUST WE HAVE A GOOD CONSCIENCE ... - see the notes on Acts 24:16. The apostle here appeals to the uprightness... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I MAY BE RESTORED TO YOU THE SOONER - It is here clearly implied that the writer was deterred from visiting them by some adverse circumstances over which he had no control. This might be either by imprisonment, or sickness, or the want of a convenient opportunity of reaching them. The probabili... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE GOD OF PEACE - God who is the Author, or the source of peace; notes, 1 Thessalonians 5:23. The word “peace” in the New Testament is used to denote every kind of blessing or happiness. It is opposed to all that would disturb or trouble the mind, and may refer, therefore, to reconciliation wit... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE YOU PERFECT - The apostle here does not affirm that they were then perfect, or that they would be in this life. The word used here - καταρτιζω katartizō - means to make fully ready; to put in full order; to make complete. The meaning here is, that Paul prayed that God would fully endow them wi... [ Continue Reading ]
SUFFER THE WORD OF EXHORTATION - Referring to the arguments and counsels in this whole Epistle, which is in fact a practical exhortation to perseverance in adhering to the Christian religion amidst all the temptations which existed to apostasy. FOR I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER UNTO YOU IN FEW WORDS - Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW YE THAT OUR BROTHER TIMOTHY IS SET AT LIBERTY - Or, is sent away. So it is rendered by Prof. Stuart and others. On the meaning of this, and its importance in determining who was the author of the Epistle, see the Introduction section 3, (5) 4, and Prof. Stuart’s _Introduction_, section 19. This... [ Continue Reading ]
SALUTE ALL THEM - see the notes on Romans 16:3 ff. It was customary for the apostle Paul to close his epistles with an affectionate salutation. THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU - notes, Hebrews 13:7, Hebrews 13:17. None are mentioned by name, as is usual in the Epistles of Paul. The cause of this omissi... [ Continue Reading ]
GRACE BE WITH YOU ALL - notes, Romans 16:20, Romans 16:24. The subscription at the close of the Epistle “written to the Hebrews from Italy by Timothy,” like the other subscriptions, is of no authority; see notes at the end of 1 Cor. It is demonstrably erroneous here, for it is expressly said by the... [ Continue Reading ]