Follow peace. — More clearly (as our word “follow” is somewhat ambiguous), follow after peace. There is a manifest allusion to Salmo 34:14 (quoted also in 1 Pedro 3:11). This charge is general (Romanos 12:18), and must not be limited to peace with fellow Christians (Romanos 14:19).

The two admonitions of this verse were admirably suited to a period of persecution. Let all make peace their aim, yet not so as to sacrifice purity. (Comp. Santiago 3:17.)

And holiness. — Better, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord. In Hebreos 9:28 we have the promise that “Christ... shall be seen” by them that wait for Him: hence it might be supposed (especially as in the next verse we read of “the grace of God”) that “the Lord” is here, as in Hebreos 2:3, a designation of our Saviour.

As, however, this Epistle especially brings Him before us as the Sanctifier (Hebreos 2:11; Hebreos 13:12), who leads us into the presence of God (Hebreos 10:19), we must rather look on these words as akin to Mateo 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Apocalipsis 22:4).

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