Suffer the word of exhortation— Take in good part the exhortation I here send, which is but a brief one. The apostle seems to have concluded his epistle in the preceding verse, and to add these words by way of postscript. He begs them to accept what he had written with kindness, on account of the importance of the subject, and the conciseness of the manner; informs them, with some degree of exultation, of Timothy's being set at liberty; proposes to come with him to see them; sends his salutations to all of them; and wishesthem an increase of grace, in a manner like that observable in St. Paul'sformer epistles, and which is an authenticating proof, among innumerable others, that this epistle likewise came from him. We may also infer the same from the appellation of our brother, given to Timothy in the next verse; which is peculiar to St. Paul. See Colossians 1:1. 2 Corinthians 1:1. 1 Thessalonians 3:2.Philemon 1:1. He is often spoken of in other places as a fellow-labourer with St. Paul, but taken notice of by no other of the apostles: whence it is obvious to conclude, that as St. Paul mentions him in every one of his epistles except those to the Galatians and to Titus; the mentioning him in this epistle to the Hebrews is a good concurring circumstance, that St. Paul was the true author of it.
Inferences.—While, from a view of the epistle before us, we consider as entirely abrogated the many ceremonies and expensive sacrifices of the Mosaic law; let it be an additional encouragement to every Christian, to abound more and more in those of brotherly love, unfeigned benevolence, and real charity; rejoicing that the God of our lives, who gives us all we are, and all we enjoy, will condescend to regard our humble oblations. And let our brethren in Christ be remembered with that distinguishing affection which suits the relation in which we stand to them: and in whatever bonds of affliction they may be bound, let us endeavour to make their fetters sit lighter upon them, by every thing which our compassionate assistance can do for that purpose; considering ourselves as in the body.
That we may be thus ready to all such kind offices, be it our care to subdue the love of money in our hearts, which is the root of all evil. May we learn, (and oh! that divine grace may effectually teach us,) to moderate our desires; to be contented with what Providence allots us, whether more or less; and to trust in God as to the supply of our future wants. Well may we not only trust, but even boast in him, when we consider in how endearing a manner he hath declared, and with such reiterated promises, that if we continue to trust in him, he will never leave us; that he will not, yea, he will not forsake us. Surely, the language of the most cheerful and courageous faith well corresponds to that of so gracious and soul-reviving a promise. Let faith then put a reality into it, or rather glory in it; especially as Jesus Christ, in whom this, and all the promises, are confirmed to his faithful people, is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.
And let this thought support us, under those breaches which may be made on the church by death. Christ ever lives to guard and protect it, and to maintain those great truths, which in every age have been the joy and confidence of his people. Be our attachment to him therefore preserved inviolable, and the purity of our souls unspotted; nor let us ever fear to share in His reproach; but chearfully go, as it were, out of the camp to him, who suffered crucifixion for us without the gates of the city. Were we called to endure martyrdom for his sake, he would only lead us out of a mean and precarious tabernacle; for we have here no continuing city: but then, he will conduct us, if we are found faithful to him, to a city so durable, that its foundations are elsewhere represented by rocks of solid gems; so glorious, that its pavements are described as of gold, and its gates of pearl. May our faith be daily beholding it as near, and may we feel every day more of its attractive influence, to render us superior to all that earth can promise, and to all which it can threaten, while we are passing thither. Under his guardianship, let us daily be offering the sacrifice of praise,—the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name; as well knowing that while we are on our journey to the new Jerusalem, no mountain can be so steep and rugged, no valley so deep and gloomy, as not to admit of the songs of Sion.
Let those, whom God in his providence hath called to preside over the souls of others, remember to watch over them with a becoming diligence, considering that an impartial account will shortly be required;—considering, that if they do not properly conduct themselves in this important office, the blood of those who perish by their neglect, must be required at their hands; and let the people committed to their care, be concerned that the faithful servants of Christ may discharge their office with joy, and not with grief; that they may not from time to time be sent with groanings and with tears to the presence of their great Master, to lament the obstinacy, perverseness, and rebellion of those, over whom God hath made them watchmen and shepherds. The grief indeed would now sensibly affect the minister; yet, on the whole, as he would be to God a sweet savour in Christ, in them that perish, as well as in them that believe, the greatest detriment would fall on those who have made such ungrateful returns to the divine goodness, and to their fidelity.
That all other duties may be more regularly and properly discharged, let private Christians pray earnestly for their ministers; for those especially who make it apparent that they desire to maintain always a good conscience; and that, whatever sacrifices they may be called to make to it, they are determined in all things to live reputably and honourably; so that the ministry may not be blamed, but rather the Christian profession in general adorned and dignified. And God grant that none but persons of such a character may be introduced into the ministry, or supported and countenanced in it!
Let pastors and people be often looking to Him, who is the great Shepherd of the sheep, and who has bought us all with the blood of the everlasting covenant. Ever may the thoughts of that blood engage us to regard him with all due veneration and love: ever may we be looking to him, who, through this blessed Saviour, appears as the God of peace, for every blessing we respectively need; that, being faithful unto death, we may eternally reap all the blessings of that everlasting covenant!
We all need his gracious influence to implant in us the first principles of the divine life; and we need these principles to make us perfect to do his will, and to work in us those things which may render us more completely pleasing in his sight. Let therefore a humble dependance on his grace be daily maintained and zealously expressed; considering of what infinite importance it is to be acceptable in the sight of God, and to approve ourselves at all times to him.
To this blessed and important end, may grace be with us all,—and continue with us, from the first entrance on the Christian life, through the whole course of it, till finally it present us blameless in the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
* A List of the Writers referred to, or quoted, in the Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews:—Albert, Avery, Lord Barrington, Barrow, Bates, Bengelius, Beza, Blackwall, Bos, Bishop Burnett, Calamy, Calmet, Castalio, Chrysostom, Craddock, Diodati, Doddridge, Dunlope, Elsner, Estius, Bishop Fell, Bishop Gibson, Green, Grotius, Hallett, Hammond, Harris, Heylin, Hesychius, Bishop Hoadley, Bishop Hopkins, Jackson, Kennicott, Lardner, Leigh, L'Enfant, Limborch, Locke, Mangey, Markland, Justin Martyr, Mede, Michaelis, Millar, Mills, Owen, Parkhurst, Bishop Pearson, Peirce, Peters, Pyle, Raphelius, Saurin, Schmidius, Scott, Shaw, Bishop Sherlock, Bishop Smalridge, Spencer, Suicer, Sykes, Taylor, Tertullian, Archbishop Tillotson, Vitringa, Bishop Warburton, Watts, Wetstein, Whitby, Bishop Wilkins, and Wolfius.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, Having warned them against apostacy, and set before them the excellency of the gospel dispensation, the apostle concludes with exhorting them to the practice of those duties which must adorn their holy profession.
1. To mutual and fervent love. Let brotherly love continue, cultivate this blessed temper, and abide and abound in the exercise of it towards each other.
2. To hospitality. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; those who travelled to preach the gospel; or by persecution were driven from their native homes; or whose distressed circumstances pleaded for this kind relief; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares, as Abraham and Lot.
3. To Christian sympathy with the afflicted. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them, and tenderly feeling for their miseries; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body, and liable to the same sufferings, and fellow-members in the same mystical body of Christ.
4. To chastity. Marriage is honourable in all, when entered into according to the divine prescription; and the bed undefiled by any forbidden and impure embraces: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge, and execute upon them condign punishment, if they repent not of the evil of their ways.
5. To contentment. Let your conversation be without covetousness, free from the immoderate pursuit of worldly wealth, inordinate care about it, idolatrous delight in, and reluctance to part with it; and be content with such things as ye have, satisfied in the portion which God's providence hath allotted you, and envying none their superior affluence: for he, who is able to supply all your wants, whilst in the way of duty and honest industry you depend upon him, hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee; for what was spoken particularly to Joshua, shall be fulfilled to all the faithful, respecting all their concerns, temporal and spiritual, who shall be under the divine blessing, guidance, and protection. So that we may boldly say, with the Psalmist, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me; greater is he that is for us, than all that are against us; and the devices of wicked men, or wicked devils, he can over-rule, and even make them work together for our good.
6. To imitate their deceased pastors, and to obey their living guides.
[1.] To imitate the good examples of their departed spiritual teachers. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God in time past, and have now finished their testimony: whose faith follow, hold fast the doctrines which they preached, and copy after the holy lives that they led, considering the end of their conversation, how singly they aimed at the glory of God in life, and what a happy exit they made at death; and well may we desire that our last end may be like theirs. And though the best of ministers are dying men, the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls ever lives to feed his faithful flock; even Jesus Christ, the glorious object of our faith and hope, the same, unchangeable in his nature, yesterday, in all past ages, and to-day, and for ever, and the everlasting portion of his faithful saints, as your true spiritual guides have taught you. Be not therefore carried about with divers and strange doctrines, different from that unadulterated gospel which they preached to you: for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, and fixed in its dependence on the almighty power of God in Jesus Christ, as the foundation of all hope, and peace, and holiness, in time and eternity; and not seduced by Judaizing teachers with any pretences that the Mosaic ritual is still in force, and that a difference of meats and drinks, and such like things, is necessary to be observed in order to acceptance with God; all which are now abrogated, and have not profited them that have been occupied therein; even when they were in force, they were unable to purge the conscience, and make him who did the service perfect; and much less can they now profit, when they are abolished. We need none of the Levitical sacrifices to feast upon; we have one infinitely better; an altar and sacrifice, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle; for no part of the sin-offering under the law was to be eaten; but the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary, on the great day of atonement, by the high priest for the sin of the people, are burned without the camp. Wherefore, Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people, his spiritual Israel, with his own blood, suffered without the gate, before he went up to heaven, the true sanctuary, there to plead the atonement which he had made. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach; turning our backs upon the temple and all its ritual services, founding no expectations upon them, but cleaving in faith and love to Christ alone, content to be treated with insult, reproach, or cruelty for his sake, boldly carrying our cross to Calvary after him, and ready, if need be, to die for his sake. For here we have no continuing city; this polluted world is not our rest, nor do we desire to take up our rest here below; but we seek one to come, a city that hath abiding foundations, whose maker and builder is God, where saints and angels, and Jesus himself dwelleth. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, since all sacrifices of atonement are at an end, and praise and blessing for redeeming love are the services now required at our hands; that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name, an oblation well pleasing and acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Not that we must rest merely in words, but our works also must testify our grateful acknowledgments of the divine mercy; therefore to do good, and to communicate of your substance to the needy, especially to those of the household of faith, according to your ability, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased, and for the Saviour's sake will bless the offerer.
[2.] They are enjoined, as to follow the examples of their departed pastors, so to obey their living guides. Obey them that have the rule over you, your spiritual teachers, who instruct you in the word of God; and submit yourselves meekly to their reproofs and admonitions: for they watch for your souls, to guard you from deceivers, to warn you from approaching dangers, to feed you in the pastures of ordinances, and to help you on your heavenly way; and this they do with all holy jealousy, zeal, and diligence, knowing the solemn reckoning which they must one day make, as they that must give an account: that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that would be not only grievous to them, but is most unprofitable for you, whose condemnation would be highly aggravated by all their fruitless labours bestowed upon you. Note; (1.) Ministers can never too often or too deeply consider the awful account which they must one day give before their eternal Judge. (2.) When we have delivered our souls, then it becomes our people's care to see that their profiting appears: if they trifle with our message, their blood lies upon their own heads.
2nd, The apostle,
1. Recommends himself to their prayers. Pray for us, that we may be wise, vigilant, zealous, successful; and this will be your own benefit; for the more our people pray for us, the more profiting will they receive from us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly, to discharge our awful trust with fidelity, and so to behave as to confute the calumnies of our enemies, approving ourselves to God, and enjoying the testimony of a good conscience. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner; and that you may again reap the fruit of my labours among you. Note; (1.) Every faithful minister, however maligned by wicked men, has the testimony of God and a good conscience, and that is his rejoicing. (2.) Mercies are doubly sweet, which come in answer to prayer.
2. He in return offers up his own prayers on their behalf. Now the God of peace, our reconciled God, that hath spoken peace to our consciences, and hath brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, in token of his perfect satisfaction in his undertaking, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, shed to procure our peace and pardon, and all the blessings of grace and glory for his faithful people, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, enabling you to go from strength to strength, till you arrive at the perfection of knowledge, holiness, and blessedness, in glory everlasting, working in you, by his own almighty grace, that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, by whom alone every spiritual gift descends upon us; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen! to whom all the praise is to be ascribed. Note; God must have all the glory of our salvation from the beginning to the end; for we are nothing, and he is all in all.
3. He exhorts them very affectionately to attend to what he had said, and informs them of Timothy's release. And I beseech you, brethren dearly beloved, suffer the word of exhortation: take in good part what I have said, and receive the comfort which it is intended to communicate to you; for I have written a letter unto you in few words, when the subject would have admitted of great enlargement. Know ye, that our brother Timothy is set at liberty from his bonds for Christ; with whom, if he come to me shortly, I will see you.
4. He concludes with his affectionate salutations. Salute all then that have the rule over you, your faithful ministers, and all the saints in Christ Jesus. They of Italy salute you, wishing you the best of blessings. Grace be with you all. Amen! May the everlasting love of God in Christ, with all its transcendently blessed effects, be with you in time, and continue to influence and guide you, till you arrive at his kingdom of glory in eternity!