Chapter 13:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Philemon James
Hebrews 13
Concise Complete
Exhortations to various duties, and to be content with
what Providence allots. (1-6) To respect the instructions of faithful pastors,
with cautions against being carried away by strange doctrines. (7-15) Further
exhortations to duties, that relate to God, to our neighbour, and to those set
over us in the Lord. (16-21) This epistle to be seriously considered. (22-25)
Verses 1-6 The
design of Christ in giving himself for us, is, that he may purchase to himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works; and true religion is the strongest bond
of friendship. Here are earnest exhortations to several Christian duties,
especially contentment. The sin opposed to this grace and duty is covetousness,
an over-eager desire for the wealth of this world, with envy of those who have
more than ourselves. Having treasures in heaven, we may be content with mean
things here. Those who cannot be so, would not be content though God raised
their condition. Adam was in paradise, yet not contented; some angels in heaven
were not contented; but the apostle Paul, though abased and empty, had learned
in every state, in any state, to be content. Christians have reason to be
contented with their present lot. This promise contains the sum and substance of
all the promises; "I will never, no, never leave thee, no, never forsake thee."
In the original there are no less than five negatives put together, to confirm
the promise: the true believer shall have the gracious presence of God with him,
in life, at death, and for ever. Men can do nothing against God, and God can
make all that men do against his people, to turn to their good.
Verses 7-15 The
instructions and examples of ministers, who honourably and comfortably closed
their testimony, should be particularly remembered by survivors. And though
their ministers were some dead, others dying, yet the great Head and High Priest
of the church, the Bishop of their souls, ever lives, and is ever the same.
Christ is the same in the Old Testament day. as in the gospel day, and will be
so to his people for ever, equally merciful, powerful, and all-sufficient. Still
he fills the hungry, encourages the trembling, and welcomes repenting sinners:
still he rejects the proud and self-righteous, abhors mere profession, and
teaches all whom he saves, to love righteousness, and to hate iniquity.
Believers should seek to have their hearts established in simple dependence on
free grace, by the Holy Spirit, which would comfort their hearts, and render
them proof against delusion. Christ is both our Altar and our Sacrifice; he
sanctifies the gift. The Lord's supper is the feast of the gospel passover.
Having showed that keeping to the Levitical law would, according to its own
rules, keep men from the Christian altar, the apostle adds, Let us go forth
therefore unto him without the camp; go forth from the ceremonial law, from sin,
from the world, and from ourselves. Living by faith in Christ, set apart to God
through his blood, let us willingly separate from this evil world. Sin, sinners,
nor death, will not suffer us to continue long here; therefore let us go forth
now by faith and seek in Christ the rest and peace which this world cannot
afford us. Let us bring our sacrifices to this altar, and to this our High
Priest, and offer them up by him. The sacrifice of praise to God, we should
offer always. In this are worship and prayer, as well as thanksgiving.
Verses 16-21 We
must, according to our power, give to the necessities of the souls and bodies of
men: God will accept these offerings with pleasure, and will accept and bless
the offerers through Christ. The apostle then states what is their duty to
living ministers; to obey and submit to them, so far as is agreeable to the mind
and will of God, made known in his word. Christians must not think themselves
too wise, too good, or too great, to learn. The people must search the
Scriptures, and so far as the ministers teach according to that rule, they ought
to receive their instructions as the word of God, which works in those that
believe. It is the interest of hearers, that the account their ministers give of
them may be with joy, and not with grief. Faithful ministers deliver their own
souls, but the ruin of a fruitless and faithless people will be upon their own
heads. The more earnestly the people pray for their ministers, the more benefit
they may expect from their ministry. A good conscience has respect to all God's
commands, and all our duty. Those who have this good conscience, yet need the
prayers of others. When ministers come to a people who pray for them, they come
with greater satisfaction to themselves, and success to the people. We should
seek all our mercies by prayer. God is the God of peace, fully reconciled to
believers; who has made a way for peace and reconciliation between himself and
sinners, and who loves peace on earth, especially in his churches. He is the
Author of spiritual peace in the hearts and consciences of his people. How firm
a covenant is that which has its foundation in the blood of the Son of God! The
perfecting of the saints in every good work, is the great thing desired by them,
and for them; and that they may at length be fitted for the employment and
happiness of heaven. There is no good thing wrought in us, but it is the work of
God. And no good thing is wrought in us by God, but through Christ, for his sake
and by his Spirit.
Verses 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.
Chapter 13:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Philemon James
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
