CHAPTER 13

(A.D. 64)

INSTRUCTION

¹Let brotherly love continue. (This type of love refers to our social actions, one might say, toward our Brothers and Sisters in the Lord.)

²Be not forgetful to entertain strangers (hospitality): for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares (definitely would have a tendency to provide a positive incentive).

³Remember them who are in bonds (refers to Christians who were even then beginning to be imprisoned for their Faith), as bound with them (become one with them, not forgetting to pray for them); and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the Body. (Refers to the Body of Christ, and that if one suffers, in a sense all suffer.)

⁴Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled (lawful sex between a husband and wife holds no defilement): but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. (This proclaims all sexual conduct outside of marriage to be absolutely defiled.)

⁵Let your conversation (lifestyle)be without covetousness (in a sense, covetousness is idolatry [Col. 3:5]); and be content with such things as you have (Christ-dependent): for He has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. (The Greek actually says, He Himself has said, meaning the Lord Jesus Himself has Personally made this Promise [Josh. 1:5; I Chron. 28:20].)

⁶So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper (there is no higher authority and power [Ps. 118:6]), and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Man can do no more to me than the Lord permits.)

MINISTERS

⁷Remember them which have the rule over you (should have been translated, Remember them which are your leaders), who have spoken unto you the Word of God (refers to preaching and teaching): whose faith follow (providing its Faith that ever makes the Cross its Object), considering the end of their conversation (lifestyle; proper Faith will always produce a proper lifestyle).

JESUS CHRIST

⁸Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. (He will never change, and this covers the entire range of time.)

⁹Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. (This refers to anything that changes the Object of Faith from the Cross to something else.) For it is a good thing that the heart be established with Grace (actually means this is the only way the heart can rightly be established); not with meats (is meant to refer to all types of religious ceremonies), which have not profited them who have been occupied therein. (This proclaims everything other than simple Faith in Christ and His Finished Work as having no value.)

ALTARS

¹⁰We have an Altar (is used in this sense by Paul to describe all Christ has done at the Cross on behalf of lost humanity), whereof they have no right to eat which serve the Tabernacle. (This bluntly and plainly says that one cannot serve Christ and the Levitical Order at the same time. As well, one cannot function in Law and Grace at the same time!)

¹¹For the bodies of those beasts (refers to the animal Sacrifices of various kinds), whose blood is brought into the Sanctuary by the High Priest for sin (refers to this particular man bringing the blood of these Sacrificed animals into the Holy of Holies on the Great Day of Atonement, and applying it to the Mercy Seat and the Horns of the Altar of Incense), are burned without the camp. (The carcass of the animal was burned outside the camp, thus symbolizing Gods Wrath against sin.)

¹²Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His Own Blood (presents the price that was paid so that man might be Sanctified, i.e., set free from sin), suffered without the gate. (The Sin-Offering was burned without the camp. Jesus, Who in all other points fulfilled the Law of Atonement, fulfilled it in this point also [Mat. 27:32; Jn. 19:20].)

¹³Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp (presents Christ as the only bearer of Salvation), bearing His reproach (refers to sharing in the rejection He has undergone).

¹⁴For here have we no continuing city (portrays earthly Jerusalem as having finished its course, at least at that particular time and as it referred to the Law,), but we seek one to come. (The hopes of mankind are now bound up with no abiding earthly Sanctuary, but rather we seek after the Heavenly Jerusalem.)

¹⁵By Him therefore let us offer the Sacrifice of Praise to God continually (we must understand that we are able to praise God and He is able to accept our praises due to the Cross, hence Praise being linked to Sacrifice; as well, the word continually proclaims the fact that this will never change, meaning the Cross will ever abide as the foundation of all things pertaining to God), that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name. (His Name is Jesus, which means Saviour, and speaks of His Sacrificial Offering of Himself on the Cross.)

¹⁶But to do good and to communicate forget not (Paul is saying here that our obligations to the Lord are not exhausted with Praise; good deeds must also be included): for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased. (Such action and attitude symbolizes the Cross.)

¹⁷Obey them who have the rule over you (has reference to Pastors; however, the emphasis is not on the Pastor, but rather on the Gospel he Preaches), and submit yourselves (refers to submitting to the True Gospel that is being Preached by True Pastors): for they watch for your souls (refers to Preachers who truly have the spiritual welfare of the people at heart), as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief (every Preacher will give account to God for His Ministry): for that is unprofitable for you. (If people will not heed the true Gospel being Preached, the Gospel will be of no profit to these particular individuals, whomever they might be, no matter how profitable it is to others. This brings grief to the True Preacher.)

PRAYER

¹⁸Pray for us (presents a common request by Paul [Rom. 15:30; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:3; I Thess. 5:25; II Thess. 3:1]): for we trust we have a good conscience (concerns all things; however, I personally think the Apostle is speaking here of the way he has handled the Law of Moses regarding this Epistle to the Hebrews), in all things willing to live honestly. (This refers to his daily living for the Lord.)

¹⁹But I beseech you the rather to do this (refers back to His request that they pray for him), that I may be restored to you the sooner. (This lends credence to the thought that Paul may have been in prison when this Epistle to the Hebrews was written.)

BENEDICTION

²⁰Now the God of Peace (proclaims that Peace has been made between God and fallen man, and done so through what Jesus did on the Cross on mans behalf), that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus (presents the only mention of the Resurrection of Christ in this Epistle to the Hebrews), that Great Shepherd of the sheep (presents the One Who died for us, and Whom God raised from the dead), through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant (points to the Cross and proclaims the fact that this Covenant, being perfect, is Eternal),

²¹Make you perfect in every good work to do His Will (refers to that which the Holy Spirit has been sent to do, and Who will do such through Christ), working in you that which is well- pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (proclaims the fact that men can do what is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ); to Whom be Glory forever and ever. Amen. (This is because of what He did at the Cross.)

²²And I beseech you, Brethren, suffer the word of exhortation (this refers to the arguments and counsels in this entire Epistle): for I have written a Letter unto you in few words. (Considering the subject matter, the Letter is short.)

²³Know ye that our Brother Timothy is set at liberty (presents another strong proof that Paul wrote this Epistle); with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. (This phrase gives no clue whatsoever if this actually happened.)

²⁴Salute (greet) all them who have the rule over you (more than likely refers to their Pastors and other Saints in that particular Church or Churches), and all the Saints. They of Italy salute you. (This proves this Epistle was written from Italy, and more than likely Rome. As well, the manner of this Benediction is Pauls style. Also, whoever wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews had to know two things extensively so, and I speak of the Law of Moses and the Cross of Christ. Only Paul fit this description.)

²⁵Grace be with you all. Amen.