Hebrews 13

Hebrews 13:2

TO entertaine strangers] the Italian, of Hospitality; that is to say, the readinesse and free will, in entertaining of strangers Thereby] the meaning is, in this act of charity, we ought not to respect the outward appearance of persons, for oftentimes the worth lieth hidden: as Christ himselfe is included in his members, Matth. 10. 40. & 25. 35. And besides, God honoureth and rewardeth this vertue, sometimes sending such persons, as are instruments of salvation and blessing to those that entertaine them; as the Angels were to Abraham, and toLot, see 1 Kings 17. 9, 17. & 2 King. 4. 8. 16. 35.

Hebrews 13:3

In the body] that is to say, members of the body of the Church, which is the great foundation of Christian compassion, Romans 12:15. 1 Corinthians 12:26. Or as being yet in this bodily life, wherefore the same chances may befall you also.

Hebrews 13:4

In all] in all manner of persons, of what quality soever they be Undefiled] that is to say, lawfull, and holy, not defiled with unchastenesse, fornication, and adultery.

Hebrews 13:5

For he] namely, God.

Hebrews 13:7

The end] as they who having persevered in it to the end, have died happily in the Lord, with evident proofes of his grace and favour.

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ] this may depend from the former verse in this sence. Since Christs grace and power is alwaies the same, without any change or diminution, it shall produce the same effects in you as in them. Or it may have a relation to the following verse in this sence. Seeing that Christ who is the onely object of faith, never changeth his nature, nor quality, in his Person, Doctrine, Office, &c. our faith in him must likewise be firme, and invariable.

Hebrews 13:9

Strange] as those Jewish doctrines were, of which he speakes afterwards Is a good thing] mans true salvation consists, not in observing the difference of meats, after the Mosaick manner: but in that the conscience should by faith repose all the confidence of its salvation in the grace of God.

Hebrews 13:10

We have] that is to say, the Christian Church hath sacred goods and meats (figured by those of the Sacrifices, which were appointed for the Priests) to which none are admitted, and of which none are partakers, but spirituall Christian Priests, & not the Jewish ones. For as these anciently did not eate of the flesh of those sacrifices, of which they carried the blood into the holy place, and into the most holy place in the day of cleansing, but burned them out of the Campe, or out of the City: So Christs blood being to be carried, that is to say, presented in Heaven; e suffered death without the earthly Jerusalem, and excludes from the fruition thereof all the Jewes who did cleave unto the Law, and to the righteousnesse thereof. Now all this is spoken by an allusion and a similitude, and not in a proper sence.

Hebrews 13:12

That he might sanctifie] that is to say, that he might purge them from their sinnes, by the presenting of his blood before God in Heaven, figured by the Sanctuary Suffered] which is correspondent to the burning of the flesh of the aforesaid Sacrifices without the Camp Without the Gate]namely, without the gate of Jerusalem.

Hebrews 13:13

Let us go forth] let us voluntarily separate our selves from the carnall Jewes, and let us with patience suffer our selves to be driven out of their communion, seeing they have rejected Christ, and driven him out of their City to put him to death: and let us looke for him in Heaven, where he is Bearing] voluntarily partaking of the ignominious persecution which he hath suffered by the Jewes: as the Christian Hebrews were likewise afflicted by their owne Nation, 1 Thessalonians 2:14. Hebrews 10:33. His reproach] see Hebrews 11:26.

Hebrews 13:14

For here are we] because that this earthly Ierusalem, and this carnall Jewish Nation, is not our City, Countrey, nor true place of freedome, but the heavenly one.

Hebrews 13:15

Let us offer] as anciently after the day of cleansings, the people might offer their Sacrifices for the whole yeere, with assurance that they should be acceptable to God: So now Christ hath performed the great and everlasting cleansing, let us offer to God the Sacrifices of praise and wel-doing, by Christ our high Priest, who doth present them, and make them acceptable to him by his intercession Of praise] that is to say, of continuall celebration, and thankesgiving figured by the Sacrifices of praise under the Law The fruit] in Hosea it is, the calves, for the words of fruit; and calves are of great affinity in the Hebrew. But it should seem the Apostle hath followed the Greeke translation which hath it, fruits; to shew that these were no longer expiatory Sacrifices, which required the spilling of blood. But Sacrifices of thankesgiving, which might be of the fruits of the earth Giving thanks] the Italian, confessing; that is to say, celebrating, and magnifying.

Hebrews 13:17

That have the rule] namely, the pastors of the ChurchNot with griefe] the Italian, sighing; that is to say, with griefe for your disobedience.

Hebrews 13:18

For we] for you ought not to abhorre our imprisonment, as that of a malefactor or guilty man, but hold it as a persecution of a true and faithfull pastor In all things] or among all men.

Hebrews 13:19

Restored to you] being freed from mine imprisonment, See Philem. 22.

Hebrews 13:20

That brought againe] the meaning is, that Christ is risen again by vertue of his death, by which he hath fulfilled his obedience, whereby he hath obtained the reward of life. Or, that he is the great shepheard by his blood, having by it redeemed, saved, and gotten his sheep, which he likewise feedeth unto everlasting life, by the perpetuall application of his death.

Hebrews 13:21

Through Iesus] that is to say, working in you by his Spirit.

Hebrews 13:22

Of exhortation] namely, the reprehensions, admonitions, and corrections inserted amongst the doctrine of this epistle For I have] if there seem to you to be any harshnesse in it, impute it to the brevity of an Epistle, which will not allow a man to use such infinuations, and mitigations, as a rhetoricall discourse wil do. see 1 Peter 5:12.

Hebrews 13:23

Know ye] seeing he writes this Epistle by Timothy himself, the meaning is. Ye shal know by himselfe that he is delivered (namely, out of prison where he was with me) and how If he come] namely, if he returns from the voyage which he undertakes by mine appointment, to come to you I will see you] I hope, according to all likelihood that I shall see you, see Philippians 1:25.