Hebrews 6:18

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: IMPOSSIBLE ... TO LIE - `ever to lie' [ pseusasthai (G5574): the Greek aorist] (Alford). His not being able to deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13) is a proof, not of weakness, but of strength incomparable. CONSOLATION - under doubts and fears; so 'encouragement.' FLED FOR REFUGE - as from a shipwreck; or, as one fleeing to one of the six cities of refuge. Kedesh - i:e., holy = qadowsh (H6918), implies the holiness of Jesus, our refuge. Shechem - i:e., shoulder, the government i...

18._That by two immutable things, etc. _What God says as well as what he swears is immutable. (Psalms 12:6; Numbers 23:19.) It may be with men far otherwise; for their vanity is such that there cannot be much firmness in their word. But the word of God is in various ways extolled; it is pure and without any dross, like gold seven times purified. Even Balaam, though an enemy, was yet constrained to bring this testimony, “God is not like the sons of men that he should lie, neither like men that he should repent: has he then said, and shall he not do it? Has he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19.) The word of God, then, is a sure truth, and in itself authoritative, ( αὐτόπιστος self­worthy of trust.) B

11-20 The hope here meant, is a sure looking for good things promised, through those promises, with love, desire, and valuing of them. Hope has its degrees, as faith also. The promise of blessedness God has made to believers, is from God's eternal purpose, settled between the eternal Father, Son, and Spirit. These promises of God may safely be depended upon; for here we have two things which cannot change, the counsel and the oath of God, in which it is not possible for God to lie; it would be contrary to his nature as well as to his will. And as He cannot lie; the destruction of the unbeliever, and the salvation of the believer, are alike certain. Here observe, those to whom God has given full security of happiness, have a title to the promises by inheritance. The consolations of God are strong enough to support his people under their heaviest trials. Here is a refuge for all sinners w...

Verse 18. _THAT BY TWO IMMUTABLE THINGS_] The _promise_ and _oath_ of God: the _promise_ pledged his faithfulness and justice; the _oath_, all the infinite perfections of his Godhead, for he sware by himself. There is a good saying in _Beracoth_ on Exodus 32:13, fol. 32: _Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom_ _thou swarest by thine own self_. "What is the meaning of _by thine_ _own self_? Rab. Eleazar answered, Thus said Moses to the holy blessed God, Lord of all the world. If thou hadst sworn to them by the heavens and the earth, then I should have said, As the heavens and the earth shall pass away, so may thy oath pass away. But now thou hast sworn unto them by thy great name, which liveth, and which endureth for ever, and for ever and ever; therefore thy oath shall endure for ever, and for ever and ever....

THAT BY TWO IMMUTABLE THINGS - What the “two immutable things” here referred to are, has been made a matter of question among commentators. Most expositors, as Doddridge, Whitby, Rosenmuller, Koppe, and Calvin, suppose that the reference is to the promise and the oath of God, each of which would be a firm ground of the assurance of salvation, and in each of which it would be impossible for God to lie. Prof. Stuart supposes that the reference is to “two oaths” - the oath made to Abraham, and that by which the Messiah was made High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek; Psalms 110:4; Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 5:10. He supposes that thus the salvation of believers would be amply secured, by the prom

EXPOSITION HEBREWS 6:1, HEBREWS 6:2 WHEREFORE (since it is so incumbent on us to advance out of the state of milk-fed infants), LEAVING THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, LET US PRESS ON UNTO PERFECTION (τελειότητα_, _continuing the image of maturity). The proper translation of τὸν τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγον is doubtful, the question being whether τῆς αρχῆς_ _is to be connected with λόγον as an adjective genitive (so taken, as above, in the A.V; cf. Hebrews 5:12, στοιχεῖα τῆς ἀρχῆς)_, _or with τοῦ Χριστοῦ_, the word of the beginning of Christ, _meaning discourse concerning

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 CONSOLATION; the saints often stand in need of consolation, by reason of sin, Satan, and the world; and it is the will of God that they should be comforted; and he would have them have STRONG CONSOLATION; that which is solid and an abundance of it; and this much depends on the immutability of God's counsel and oath: WHO HAVE FLED FOR REFUGE; either in allusion to mariners, as some think; who make all the haste they can to their port and haven, and are glad when they arrive there, and there cast anchor; of which mention is made in the ne

In the previous chapter, Paul was writing to some who ought to have been teachers, but who needed still to be taught the first principles of the gospel; they were such babes in grace that they needed the milk of the Word, the very simplest elements of gospel truth, and not the strong meat of solid doctrine. The apostle, however, desires that the Hebrew believers should understand the sublimer doctrines of the gospel, and so be like men of full age who can eat strong meat. In this chapter he exhorts them to seek to attain to this standard. Hebrews 6:1. _Therefore leaving the principles_ The rudiments, the elementary truths, Hebrews 6:1. _Of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;_ Let us go from the school to the university, let us have done with

CHAPTER 6 _ 1. Return to Judaism the crucifixion of the Son of God afresh (Hebrews 6:1)_ 2. Persuaded of better things: Comfort and hope (Hebrews 6:9) Hebrews 6:1 A solemn warning follows, addressed to these Hebrews who were halting and in danger of turning back to Judaism, and doing so would crucify the Son of God afresh. “Therefore leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us go on to full growth; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God, of a teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” It is of much importance to see that these things are not “the principles of the doctrine of Christ” (as the

The mention of God's promise suggests the thought that it is absolutely sure, so that we may hold to it without misgiving. When God made His promise to Abraham He sealed it by an oath. Just as in human affairs men are bound to a decision when they have passed their oath, and so called on some higher power to witness (Hebrews 6:16), so God swore by _Himself,_ since He was Himself the supreme power. His gracious will was thus confirmed by the twofold bond of His oath and His promise (Hebrews 6:17 f.). The hope He holds out to us is our only refuge, and it is a refuge which cannot possibly fail us. It is like an anchor to which the soul can trust itself without reserve amidst all perils and changes; for it is fastened to that which is within the veil_ i.e._ it connects our earthly life with the world of etern