Hebrews 13:24

Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. ALL. The Scriptures are for all young and old; not merely for ministers. Compare the different classes addressed - "wives," ; "little children," ; "all," ; . He says "all;" for the Hebrews were not all in one place, though the Jerusalem Hebrews are chiefly addressed. THEY OF ITALY - not merely the brethren at Rome, but of other places in Italy....

24._Salute, etc. _As he writes his Epistle generally to the Hebrews, it is strange that he bids some, separate from the rest, to be saluted; but he sends this salutation, as I think, more particularly to the rulers, as a mark of honor, that he might conciliate them, and gently lead them to assent to his doctrine. And he adds, — _And all the saints. _He either means the faithful from among the Gentiles, and refers to them that both Jews and Gentiles might learn to cultivate unity among themselves; or his object was to intimate, that they who first received the Epistle, were to communicate it to others. END OF THE COMMENTARIES ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS...

22-25 So bad are men, and even believers, through the remainders of their corruption, that when the most important, comfortable doctrine is delivered to them for their own good, and that with the most convincing evidence, there is need of earnest entreaty and exhortation that they would bear it, and not fall out with it, neglect it, or reject it. It is good to have the law of holy love and kindness written in the hearts of Christians, one towards another. Religion teaches men true civility and good breeding. It is not ill-tempered or uncourteous. Let the favour of God be toward you, and his grace continually working in you, and with you, bringing forth the fruits of holiness, as the first-fruits of glory....

Verse 24. _SALUTE ALL THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU_] _Salute_ _all your leaders or guides_, τους ἡγουμενους ὑμων. See Clarke on Heb 13:7 and _"_Hebrews 13:17_"_. _AND ALL THE SAINTS._] All the _Christians_; for this is the general meaning of the term in most parts of St. Paul's writings. But a _Christian_ was then a _saint_, i.e. by profession a holy person; and most of the primitive Christians were actually such. But in process of time the term was applied to all that bore the Christian name; as _elect, holy people, sanctified_, c., were to the nation of the Jews, when both their piety and morality were at a very low ebb. _THEY OF ITALY SALUTE YOU._] Therefore it is most likely that the writer of this epistle was then in some part of Italy

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 omission is unknown. “And all the saints.” The common name given to Christians in the Scriptures; see the notes on Romans 1:7. THEY OF ITALY SALUTE YOU - The saints or Christians in Italy. Showing that the writer of the Epistle was then in Ita

CONCLUDING EXHORTATIONS EXPOSITION As in St. Paul's Epistles, practical directions as to conduct conclude the treatise, such as the readers may be supposed to have especially needed. They are urged to evince and confirm the faith which was the subject of Hebrews 11:1, and to maintain their communion with the world invisible spoken of in Hebrews 12:1, by attending especially to those daily duties which they might be in danger of forgetting. By perseverance in a life consistent with profession faith is not only evidenced, but also kept from faltering. In the course of these hortations (Hebrews 12:10), being suggested by one of them, there is introduced a ye

SALUTE ALL THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU,.... The pastors and officers of the church of the Hebrews, the same with those in Hebrews 13:7 and all the saints; the several members of the church, who were set apart to holiness by God; whose sins were expiated by Christ; to whom Christ was made sanctification; and who were internally sanctified by the Spirit of God, and lived holy lives and conversations; to these the apostle wished all prosperity, inward and outward, spiritual and temporal; and he uses the word "all" in both clauses; and, including every officer and member, expresses his universal love to them, whether high or low, rich or poor, greater or lesser believers: THEY OF ITALY SALUTE YOU; that is, the brethren, as the Vulgate Latin version reads; the Italian brethren; such as were at Puteoli, and other places, in that country; see...

Hebrews 13:1. _Let brotherly love continue._ It is supposed to be there already; let it continue, not only love of a common kind, such as we are to have to all men, but that special «brotherly love» which Christians bear to one another as members of one family. «Let brotherly love continue.» Hebrews 13:2. _Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares._ Abraham did so, and Lot did so; they thought they were entertaining ordinary strangers, and they washed their feet; and prepared their food but it turned out that they had entertained angels. Some people will never entertain angels unawares, for they never entertain anybody. May we be given to hospitality, for that should be part of the character of saints....

CHAPTER 13 _ 1. The practical walk (Hebrews 13:1)_ 2. The call to separation (Hebrews 13:7) 3. Conclusions (Hebrews 13:17) Hebrews 13:1 No comment is needed on the simple exhortations with which this concluding chapter of this Epistle begins. Brotherly love stands in the foreground. Hospitality and loving kindness to prisoners and those who suffer adversity is especially enjoined. The great high priest in glory sympathizes with such a condition of His saints and we too are to be sympathizers as well as intercessors with Him. The life is to be clean and undefiled. Walking in faith there should be

A postscript. The readers are asked to give patient attention to the foregoing epistle, which is described as a word of exhortation,-' thus clearly indicating its practical aim. Their patience is all the more necessary as the argument is in few words_ i.e._ highly condensed, and difficult at times to follow. They are informed of Timothy's release from prison, and of the writer's intention to visit them in his company. Greetings are sent from the Italian Christians. This is the only definite clue which is afforded us of the destination of the epistle, and unfortunately it can lead in two directions. The writer may be sojourning with an Italian church, whose members offer their greetings to brethren elsewhere; or he may be addressing an Italian church, whose exiled members join with him in his salutations (_cf._ Exp. Jan. 1917). A second and briefer doxology brings the epistle to a close....