INTRODUCTION TO HEBREWS 6 In this chapter the apostle exhorts the believing Hebrews not to rest in the rudiments of the Christian religion they had learned; and much less to lay them again in the foundation after the Jewish manner, of which he instances in six particulars; but to seek after a perfe... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE LEAVING THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST,.... The Gospel is the doctrine of Christ, and is so called, because Christ, as God, is the author of it; as Mediator, he received it from his Father; as man, he was the preacher of it; and he is also the sum and substance of it: the princip... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS,.... Some read this divisively, "baptism and doctrine", as the Ethiopic version; as if the one respected the ordinance of baptism, and the other the ministry of the word; but it is best to read them conjunctively: and by which most understand the Gospel ordinance of water... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS WILL WE DO, IF GOD PERMIT. That is, leave the rites and ceremonies of the law, which were the rudiments, or first principles of the Gospel, and go on to a more perfect knowledge of Gospel truths; and, not lay again as the foundation of the ministry, or insist upon them as if they were the m... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO WERE ONCE ENLIGHTENED,.... The Syriac and Ethiopic versions render it, "baptized"; and the word is thought to be so used in Hebrews 10:32. And indeed baptism was called very early "illumination" by the ancients, as by Justin Martyr i, and Clemens Alexandrinus k, be... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAVE TASTED THE GOOD WORD OF GOD,.... Not the Lord Jesus Christ, the essential Word of God, who seems to be intended before by the heavenly gift; but rather, either the Scriptures of truth in general, which are the word of God, endited by him, and contain his mind and will; which he makes use of... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THEY SHALL FALL AWAY,.... This is not supposed of true believers, as appears from Hebrews 6:9 nor is it to be supposed of them that they may fall totally and finally; they may indeed fall, not only into afflictions and temptations, but into sin; and from a lively and comfortable exercise of grace... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE EARTH WHICH DRINKETH IN THE RAIN THAT COMETH OFT UPON IT,.... Here the apostle illustrates what he had before been speaking of, by a simile taken from the earth, to which men in general answer, who are of the earth; earthy and unregenerate men and carnal professors are of earthly minds; they... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THAT WHICH BEARETH THORNS AND BRIERS,.... To which wicked men answer; who are unfruitful and unprofitable, and are hurtful, pricking and grieving, by their wicked lives and conversations, by their bitter and reproachful words, and by their violent and cruel persecutions; and particularly carnal... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT, BELOVED, WE ARE PERSUADED BETTER THINGS OF YOU,.... The apostle addresses the believing Hebrews, as "beloved"; being beloved by the Lord, not as the descendants of Abraham, but as the elect of God, and so as loved with an everlasting love; and which might be known to themselves, by its being sh... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD IS NOT UNRIGHTEOUS,.... He is just and true, righteous in all his ways and works; there is no unrighteousness nor unfaithfulness in him; and this the apostle makes a reason of his strong persuasion of better things concerning the believing Hebrews; because he was well satisfied of the good w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE DESIRE THAT EVERYONE OF YOU DO SHOW THE SAME DILIGENCE,.... In the constant exercise of the graces of faith and love, and in ministering to the necessities of the saints: there is a spiritual labour, diligence, and industry to be used by the saints; and former diligence is a motive to future;... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE BE NOT SLOTHFUL,.... With respect to hearing the word, and attendance on every ordinance; with respect to the use of means for the increase of knowledge, faith, and hope; and with respect to ministering to the saints; but on the contrary, should take every opportunity of improvement and doin... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHEN GOD MADE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM,.... The apostle proposes Abraham as a pattern, because he was the father of these Hebrews, and of all believers; and because they were interested in the promise made to him, and had a right to the same blessing with him; and because he was remarkable for his fai... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING, SURELY BLESSING I WILL BLESS THEE,.... Which is expressive of the certainty of the blessings; the reality and substantiality of them; the abundance of them, and the continuance of the same: and of this nature are all spiritual blessings; as to be chosen of God; to have God to be a covenant G... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO, AFTER HE HAD PATIENTLY ENDURED,.... He waited long for a son, from whom the Messiah was to spring, after he had had the promise of one; and he endured many afflictions with patience, in his journeys from place to place, throughout his life to the end: HE OBTAINED THE PROMISE; he was greatly... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MEN VERILY SWEAR BY THE GREATER,.... These words contain a reason why God swore by himself, and why his promises, having an oath annexed to them, ought to be believed. Men when they swear, they swear by the greater; not by themselves, as God does, because there is one greater than they; not by a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREIN GOD, WILLING,.... Or "wherefore", as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions render it; that is, whereas an oath is used among men to confirm anything that might be doubted; therefore God, in condescension to the weakness of men, made use of one; being very desirous and determined, MORE ABUNDANTLY... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT BY TWO IMMUTABLE THINGS,.... God's counsel and oath, which never change and alter, and from which he never varies: IN WHICH IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE; fail or deceive, nor, indeed, in anything else, besides his counsels, promises, and oath, see Titus 1:2 WE MIGHT HAVE A STRONG CONSOLAT... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH [HOPE] WE HAVE AS AN ANCHOR OF THE SOUL,.... This world is as a sea; the church in it, and so every believer, is as a ship; the port that is bound unto is heaven; Christ is the pilot, and hope is the anchor: an anchor is cast on a bottom, out of sight; and when the ship is in a calm, or in dan... [ Continue Reading ]
WHITHER THE FORERUNNER IS FOR US ENTERED, EVEN JESUS,.... Christ was a runner; he had a race to run, which lay in going about to heal diseases, in preaching the Gospel, in obeying the law, and in suffering death for his people; which race was run by him with great swiftness, strength, and courage, w... [ Continue Reading ]