(1) He comes to the second table of the law, the sum of which
is charity, especially toward strangers and such as are
afflicted.
13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; [and]
them which suffer adversity, as a being yourselves also
in the body.
(a) Be so touched, as if their misery were yours.
13:42 Marriage [is] honourable in all, and the bed undefiled:
but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
(2) He commends chaste matrimony in all sorts of men, and
threatens utter destruction from God against whoremongers
and adulterers.
13:53 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and
be] content with such things as ye have: for b he hath
said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
(3) Covetousness is condemned, against which is set a
contented mind with that which the Lord has given.
(b) Even the Lord himself.
13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I
will not fear what c man shall do unto me.
(c) He contrasts man with God.
13:74 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have
spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow,
considering the end of [their] conversation.
(4) We have to set before us the examples of valiant captains,
whom we ought diligently to follow.
13:85 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for
ever.
(5) He repeats the sum of the doctrine, that is, the only
ground of all precepts of conduct, and that is this: That
we ought to quiet and content ourselves in Christ only: for
there has never been any man saved without the knowledge of
him, neither is there today, nor shall there be ever.
13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.
6 For [it is] a good thing that the heart be established
with grace; not with d meats, which have not profited
them that have been e occupied therein.
(6) He speaks to those who mixed an external worship and
especially the difference of meats with the gospel which he
clearly condemns as repugnant to the benefit of Christ.
(d) By this one form which concerns the difference of clean
and unclean meat, we have to understand all the
ceremonial worship.
(e) Who observed the difference of them superstitiously.
13:107 We have an f altar, whereof they have no right to
eat which g serve the tabernacle.
(7) He refutes their error by an apt and fit comparison. They
who in times past served the Tabernacle, did not eat of the
sacrifices whose blood was brought for sin into the holy
place by the high priest. Moreover these sacrifices
represented Christ our offering. Therefore they cannot be
partakers of him if they serve the tabernacle, that is,
stand in the service of the law: but let us not be ashamed
to follow him out of Jerusalem, from which he was cast out
and suffered for in this also Christ, who is the truth,
answers that type in that he suffered outside the gate.
(f) By the altar, he means the offerings.
(g) Of which they cannot be partakers, who stubbornly
retain the rites of the law.
13:138 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp,
bearing his reproach.
(8) He goes on further in this comparison, and shows that this
also signified to us, that the godly followers of Christ
must go out of the world bearing his cross.
13:159 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise
to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips
giving thanks to his name.
(9) Now that those physical sacrifices are taken away, he
teaches us that the true sacrifices of confession remain,
which consist partly in giving thanks, and partly in
liberality, with which sacrifices indeed God is now
delighted.
13:1710 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit
yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that
must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not
with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.
(10) We must obey the warnings and admonitions of our ministers
and elders, who watch for the salvation of the souls that
are committed to them.
13:1811 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience,
in all things willing to live honestly.
(11) The last part of this epistle, in which he commends his
ministry to the Hebrews, and wishes them steadfastness and
increase of graces from the Lord: and excuses himself in
that he has used but few words to comfort them having
spent the epistle in disputing: and salutes certain
brethren in a familiar and friendly manner.
13:21 Make you h perfect in every good work to do his will,
i working in you that which is wellpleasing in his
sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever
and ever. Amen.
(h) Make you fit or suitable.
(i) From this comes that saying of the fathers, that God
crowns his work in us.
