View Hebrews 13 in the note window.
1: Brotherly love is explained in the following verses.
2: Some - Abraham and Lot. Have entertained
angels unawares - So may an unknown guest, even now,
be of more worth than he appears, and may have angels
attending him, though unseen.(Ge 18:2,19:1).
3: Remember - In your prayers, and by your help.
Them that are in bonds, as being bound with them -
Seeing ye are members one of another. And them that
suffer, as being yourselves in the body - And consequently
liable to the same.
4: Marriage is honourable in, or for all sorts of
men, clergy as well as laity: though the Romanists teach
otherwise. And the bed undefiled - Consistent with the highest
purity; though many spiritual writers, so called, say it is only
licensed whoredom. But whoremongers and adulterers God will
judge - Though they frequently escape the sentence of men.
5: He - God. Hath said - To all believers, in saying it
to Jacob, Joshua, and Solomon.(Ge 28:15,Jos 1:5,1Ch 28:20).
6: (Ps 118:6).
7: Remember them - Who are now with God, considering
the happy end of their conversation on earth.
8: Men may die; but Jesus Christ, yea, and his
gospel, is the same from everlasting to everlasting.
9: Be not carried about with various doctrines
- Which differ from that one faith in our one unchangeable Lord.
Strange - To the ears and hearts of all that abide in him.
For it is good - It is both honourable before God and pleasant
and profitable That the heart be stablished with grace
- Springing from faith in Christ. Not with meats - Jewish
ceremonies, which indeed can never stablish the heart.
10: On the former part of this verse, the fifteenth
and sixteenth depend; on the latter, the intermediate
verses. We have an altar - The cross of Christ. Whereof
they have no right to eat - To partake of the benefits which
we receive therefrom. Who serve the tabernacle - Who
adhere to the Mosaic law.
11: For - According to their own law, the sin - offerings
were wholly consumed, and no Jew ever ate thereof. But Christ
was a sin - offering. Therefore they cannot feed upon him, as we
do, who are freed from the Mosaic law.
12: Wherefore Jesus also - Exactly answering those typical sin -
offerings. Suffered without the gate - Of Jerusalem, which answered to
the old camp of Israel. That he might sanctify - Reconcile and consecrate
to God. The people - Who believe in him. By his own blood - Not those
shadowy sacrifices, which are now of no farther use.
13: Let us then go forth without the camp - Out of
the Jewish dispensation. Bearing his reproach - All
manner of shame, obloquy, and contempt for his sake.
14: For we have here - On earth No continuing
city - All things here are but for a moment; and Jerusalem
itself was just then on the point of being destroyed.
15: The sacrifice - The altar is mentioned,(Heb 13:10); now the sacrifices:
- Praise;
- Beneficence;
with both of which God is well pleased.
17: Obey them that have the rule over you - The
word implies also, that lead or guide you; namely, in truth
and holiness. And submit yourselves - Give up (not your
conscience or judgment, but) your own will, in all things
purely indifferent. For they watch over your souls - With
all zeal and diligence, they guard and caution you against
all danger. As they that must give account - To the great
Shepherd, for every part of their behaviour toward you.
How vigilant then ought every pastor to be! How careful
of every soul committed to his charge! That they may
do this - Watch over you. With joy and not with groans
- He is not a good shepherd, who does not either rejoice over
them, or groan for them. The groans of other creatures are
heard: how much more shall these come up in the ears of God !
Whoever answers this character of a Christian pastor may
undoubtedly demand this obedience.
20: The everlasting covenant - The Christian
covenant, which is not temporary, like the Jewish, but
designed to remain for ever. By the application of that
blood, by which this covenant was established, may he
make you, in every respect, inwardly and outwardly holy!
22: Suffer the word of exhortation - Addressed to you
in this letter, which, though longer than my usual letters,
is yet contained in few words, considering the copiousness
of the subject.
23: If he come - To me.
25: - Grace be with you all - St. Paul's usual benediction.
God apply it to our hearts!
