Hebrews 13

1. The Apostle exhorts them to brotherly love. 2. To hospitality. 3. To remembrance of those that are in prison. 4. Declares that marriage is honourable among all. 5. Warns them of covetousness, and exhorts them to contentment. 7. And propounds to them the example of their Guides. 9. Warns them also of strange doctrine, and in particular of difference of meats. 10. For that end sets before their eyes a type in the propitiatory sacrifices, of which no man might eat. 15. Exhorts them to sacrifices of thankfulness, especially to confession of the name of God, and liberality. 17. And to obedience unto their guides. 19. Exhorts them to pray unto God for him, for his release. 20. And prayeth God to perfect them in all good works. 21. Concludes the Epistle with a new exhortation. 23. And promiseth that he will speedily see them again with Timothy, and sets down certain salutations from one side to the other.

1. Let brotherly love continue. [That is, persevere, even as ye have well begun therein. See chapter 6. 10.]

2. Forget not hospitality, [Namely, towards strangers and banished Christians, who were oftentimes constrained to forsake their country, and knew not where to turn in. See also, Romans 12:13. 1 Pet. 4. 9. which virtue is especially commended to Pastors, 1 Tim. 3. 2. Titus 1:8.] for hereby some have unawares entertained Angels. [namely, even as Abraham, Genesis 18:1. and Lot, Genesis 19:1.]

3. Remember the prisoners, as if ye also were prisoners: (and) those that are ill-intreated, as if you yourselves also were (ill-entreated) in the body. [Namely, so ill handled, or ill at ease as those. Or, as who yourselves also are in the body, i.e. in this corporal life, which is subject to many afflictions. Others understand it of the body of Christ, i.e. of his Church, in this sense, is who are also in the body, i.e. members of the same body. See 1 Cor. 12. ver. 25, 26.]

4. Marriage (is) honourable among all [Gr. In all, i.e. in all things, or among all persons. For both ways it may be taken: in all things, namely, which the married estate according to God’s institution brings with it and requires. Or among all persons, Namely, of what State and calling soever they be ; so they do this lawfully and in the Lord, Leviticus 18:1 Cor. 7. 39. Others translate it, let marriage be honourable, so that the Apostle should here give the married a rule, according to which they ought to carry themselves. But the particle but which followeth suffers not this interpretation. The Apostle therefore here opposeth this exhortation to the abuse of many men, who ran into fornication, or by divorce into adultery, to avoid the burdens and inconveniences of marriages and also against some false teachers who in the times of the apostles and also afterwards rejected the married estate as dishonorable and defiled of whom the apostle adminisheth Timothy 4.3]and the bed undefiled but whoremongers and adulterers God shall judge.

5. Let your walking [or your manners that is your conversations and dealing among men] be with covetousness and be satisfied with that which is present [namely that the Lord affords you by your labor and in your calling without seeking after greater riches by unlawful ways or too great distraction see Matthew 6:31, &c 1Timothy 6.6] for he [namely God to Joshua Josh.1.5 and therefore in his person to all believers]hath said I will not leave thee neither will I forsake thee .

6. So that we dare boldly say [namely with David by faith Psalms 118:6] the Lord is the helper to me and I can not fear what man can do to me.

7. Remember your guides [or leaders as verse 17 he speaketh especially of the apostles and other faithful teachers who had sealed their doctrine with their blood without regarding any worldly recompense but looked only to the eternal and heavenly as the following words show he would therefore always that they should remember their guides ,doctrine ,steadfastness in faith and patience in suffering but not that they should give them any religious honor]who have spoken to you the word of God and imitate the faith beholding the issue of their conversation.

8. Jesus Christ is yesterday and today the same and forever [that is as he was their helper in all trouble and even as they put their trust in him even as their doctrine held Jesus Christ only for the firm foundation of salvation even so he was always the same and shall so abide forever as being oneself same God and oneself same mediator as well in the old an din the new testament see 1 Corinthians 3:11 Ephesians 2:20 Revelation 1.8and 22.13]

9. Be not carried about [that is therefore be not for it is a conclusion drawn from the exhortation of the two foregoing verses]with divers and strange doctrines for it is good that the heart be strengthened by grace [that is by the thing itself which was signified by the ceremonies of the old testament both by the ceremonial shadows whereof he rehearseth one sort namely the difference of meats and comprehending the rest under it see the like signification of the word grace John 1:17 Acts 15:10,11] not by meats by which they got no profits [namely for the soul and considered in themselves for the kingdom of heaven is neither drink or meat but righteousness and peace and joy for the holy ghost Romans 14:17] who walked therein.

10. We have an altar [whereby is understood no altar of stone or outward altar for then the apostle must have said that we have or must have many altars namely in all temples or corners of the temple but he speaketh of a spiritual altar namely Christ Jesus himself who through the eternal spirit offered up himself unblameable Hebrews 9:14 therefore as Christ’s flesh is the sacrifice even as the altar used to sanctify the offering according to the testimony of Christ Matthew 23:19 And Christ is also called our altar because on him we must offer up our prayers and thanksgiving unto God see Revelations 6.9 and 8.3] of which they have no power to eat [that is they have no power to have spiritual communion as Paul declares 1Corinthians 10.16]who save the Tabernacle [that is who will still have the communion in the ceremonies of the old testament to seek the part of their salvation therein see Galatians 5:2]

11. For what beasts blood or sin [that is for an offering for sin]is carried into the sanctuary [that is in the holy of holies on the day of atonement which was the tenth day of the seventh month Leviticus 23:27] by the high priest the bodies of the same [namely slain beasts]were burnt[namely by Gods command whereof see Leviticus 16:7] without the camp [namely of the Israelites in the wilderness from whence the apostle as a type concludes that the believers who have communion in the blood of Christ and his merit must have their communion in external worship with that carnal Israel or Jerusalem now after that our high priest hath accomplished his sacrifice without it and eternal into the true holy of holies with his blood]

12. Therefore Jesus also [that is the second conclusion of the apostle from the fore going type of the burning of the bodies of the beasts without the camp namely that Christ without the guests of the city of Jerusalem in which all he ceremonies of the old testament were exercised must suffer the fire of Gods wrath to reconcile us unto God]hat he might sanctify the people [namely the spiritual Israel and the children of promise which the angel calls the people of Christ Matthew 1,21 and Christ his sheep John 10:15,16 and those that the father hath given him John 17:9 &c.] by his own blood suffered without the gate.

13. Let us therefore go forth [namely by a true faith without binding ourselves anymore to any other ceremonies]unto him [namely only] without the camp [namely in which all the ceremonies of Israelites the priest were administered and used]hearing his reproach [this is adjoined for two reasons first because without the camp as also afterwards without the city of Jerusalem was the place where male factors as from thence forth unworthy of the society of men used to be brought forth to be put to death as may be seen Leviticus 24:14 Joshua 7:24 Acts 7:58 moreover also because the Jews encountered it a great reproach to have no communion in the ceremonies of the law see Acts 10 verse 14 ,15,28 Galatians 2:12,13 Paul therefore exhorts them that notwithstanding all reproach and persecution of the Jews and also of the world for this cause they shall betake themselves unto Christ alone and his sacrifice and continue steadfastly therein .]

14. For we have here continuing city [that is no firm city which hath firm foundations or were make it our work to continue long and to seek our happiness]but we seek that to come[that is which hath firm foundation and is eternal to heaven see below chapter 11.10 ,16]

15. Let us therefore by him [namely Jesus Christ that is relying by faith upon him and his merit and intercession see 1 Peter 2.5and 1John 2.1]always offer up to god a sacrifice of praise that is the fruit of the lips [that is not as the Israelites of the firstlings of the fruits of the earth but the fruits of our lips which Hosea chapter 14.3 calls the calves of the lips that is thanksgiving for the benefits procured]which confess his name[that is thank and praise as Matthew11.25 Romans 14:11]

16. And forget not liberality and communicativeness for in such sacrifices [namely of thankfulness of Christ alone in the sacrifice of our reconciliation with God as the apostle hath divers time testified see before Hebrews 29.25,26,27,28 and 10.14,18] God taketh pleasure [namely in Christ Jesus as is exprest hereafter verse 21 as therefore the obedience of a child although it merits not the of his father and of a subject to his magistrate nevertheless is acceptable also our bounty is well pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ although we can not merit for it before him see Luke 17:10 Romans 11:35]

17. Be obedient [namely in all things that they command you out of Gods word according to Gods word as is exprest Ezekiel 3:2 otherwise Christ commands his disciples also shall take heed of the leaven that is evil doctrine of the Pharisees Matthew 16:6,12] to your guides [that is pastors and teachers as before verse 7 whereby is exprestly not the dignity of the office of the teachers but also their duty as also in the following words that they watch for their souls see Ezekiel 3:18] and be subject to them for they watch for your souls as who shall give account [namely if anyone perish by their negligence or ill example see Ezekiel 3.28 1Timothy 4.16]that they may do that with joy and not fighting [namely for the unthankfulnes or he stiffneckedness of the people]for that is not profitable for you.

18. Pray for us, for we trust that we have a good conscience [Namely in all our doing and teaching :especially as concerning the of the ceremonies ,of which he had spoken a little before ,and unto which the Jews could hardly give way .See the like,Act.23.1. 1Corinthians4.4.2 ,2Corinthians 1.12] as who in all things [or amongst all as verse 4] would walk honestly [that is uprightly according to Gods will and command as is declared 2Corithians 1.12]

19. And I entreat you the more to do this that I may the sooner be restored unto you[as the apostle not only here but also elsewhere testifieth this his hope that he shall be delivered out of his hands see Philippians 2:24 Philemon verse 22]

20. Now the God of peace [with this prayer the apostle according to his custome concludes the epistle and calls God a God of peace as also Romans 15:33 and 16.20 2 Corinthians 13:11 in respect of he gospel of peace whereby peace with God and men is published unto us as actually imparted see Luke 2:14 Romans 5:1 Ephesians 2:14 ,15] who hath brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep [namely Jesus Christ as it is followeth whom the apostle so calleth not only because he redeemed his sheep in a special manner but also because he is a pastor of all pastors See John 10:11 &c 1Peter 5.4] by the blood [that is by which the new and consequently also enduring testament is confirmed Hebrews 9:12 and these words in the blood or by the blood may be joined either to the words great shepherd of the sheep so that he is therefore great and good shepherd because he hath to ever reconciled his sheep by his blood or else to the words hath brought again from the dead because he having confirmed the everlasting testament by his blood according to the prediction of his prophets could no longer be detained as Peter testifies Acts 2:24&c]of the everlasting testament [that is which is never changed as he first was changed and consequently is of an ever enduring virtue]namely our Lord Jesus Christ :

21. He perfect you [or prepare you make ye fit in all good works that is finish in

22. But I beseech ye brethren hear the word of this exhortation which occur in the epistle especially chapter 6 and 10 ]for I have written unto ye briefly [that is said not in respect of other epistles but in respect of the abundance and difficulties of the matter which the apostle here briefly handles .]

23. know ye that our brother Timothy is released [from hence it seems that Timothy had been imprisoned somewhere in Asia as some also concludes from 1Timothy 6.12 although Luke makes no mention therefore in the Acts of the apostle seeing he goes no further in his histories then unto the imprisonment of Paul in Rome]with whom if he come speedily I will see ye [from hence some conclude that Paul was now free from his imprisonment when he wrote this epistle as this is also gathered by many from 2Timothy 4.17 ,18 and many ancient teachers write that after his first enlargement at Rome he made one journey more into Syria and other places but these words may also be understood of good hope which he then had of his enlargement whereof is spoken before in the verse 9.]

24. Salute all your guides [that is pastors teachers as heretofore verse 7.17] and all saints [that is believing Christians as may be seen everywhere in the titles of Paul’s epistle]they that are of Italy [that is not only of Rome but they that oftentimes visited him out of all Italy see Acts 28:30,31]salute ye .

25. Grace [namely of Jesus Christ as the apostle adds in other of his epistle] be with ye all Amen.