were sawn asunder, they were pierced with stakes, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins and in goat-skins, destitute, afflicted, cruelly treat38 ed, (of whom the world was not worthy,) wandering in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the 39 earth. And all these, though they obtained a good wit40 ness through faith, yet received not the promise: God having provided a better thing for us, that they might not be made perfect without us*. CH. XII. Wherefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin which easily entangleth us, and let us run with 2 patience the race which is set before us, looking to Jesus the leader on to faith and its perfecter; who, for the joy which was set before him, endured the cross, and despised its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the 3 throne of God. For consider him that endured such opposition of sinners to himself, lest ye be wearied, and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted to blood, contending against 5 sin and ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh to you as to sons, (6 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked by him: 6 for whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, and scourgeth 7 every son whom he receiveth." If ye endure chastise ment, God dealeth with you as with sons for what son 8 is he whom his father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, of which all others are partakers, then 9 ye are spurious, and not lawful sonst. Have we then had fathers of our flesh, who corrected us, and we gave them reverence and shall not we much rather be in sub10 jection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they indeed chastened us during a few days, as it seemed fit to them: *that these promises might not be performed before our days. Wakefield but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of his 11 holiness. Now no chastisement seemeth for the present to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been* exercised by it. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and 13 strengthen the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame be not turned out of the way, 14 but rather be healed. Follow peace with all men ; and the holinesst, without which no man shall see the 15 Lord: looking diligently lest any man fall short of the favour of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up 16 trouble you, and by it many be defiled; lest there be any fornicator, or any profane person, as Esau, who for one 17 meal sold his birthright. For ye know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place for change of mind in Isaac, 18 though he earnestly sought it with tears. For ye are not come near to the mount which might be touched, and which burned with fire, nor to blackness, and darkness, 19 and tempest, and to the blast of the trumpet, and to the sound of words¶; which sound those that heard, entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20 (for they could not bear what was commanded; "If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned**;" 21 and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I ex22 ceedingly fear and tremble:") but ye are come neartt to mount Sion ‡‡, and to the city of the living God, † and holiness, N. lest there be any, N. * that are, N. "To Sinai, the earthly material mountain; in opposition to the heavenly.one mentioned ver. 22." Newcome. God's words. N. ***" or thrust through with a dart," R. T. + The writer describes a state present, notfuture; the state of believers under the gospel, as opposed to Israelites under the law, not the state of the virtuous in heaven. It is foretold by the prophets, that the law of the Messiah shall proceed from Mount Sion. Isaiah ii. 2, 3; xxviii. 16. The writer is not representing the happy state of the virtuous in heaven, but the superior privileges of the Christian dispensation, as con the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of messengers 23 from God t, to the general assembly and congregation of the first-born that are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to righteous men that are 24 made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, which speaketh a better thing** than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not God who speaketh ††. For if those escaped not who refused him when he uttered oracles on earth, much less shall we escape, if we reject him trasted with that of Moses. "We that are the peculiar people of God," says Dr. Sykes (in his note upon the text), “are not brought to a dreadful mountain, where we could not hear the word spoken for storm, and tempest, and thunder, and fire, as it was at Sinai: but we receive our law from Sion, which we may ascend ourselves without the terror which Moses felt." * The Christian church, figuratively represented by the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem. + A myriad is ten thousand: it is used proverbially for an indefinitely large number. The Primate's version is, " to very great numbers of angels," which is commonly interpreted of celestial spirits. But as the writer is evidently describing the Christian church and dispensation, as contrasted with the Mosaic, the connexion requires that the word angels should be understood, as in chap. i., of prophets and messengers from God. And the writer may well be supposed to allude to the abundant effusion of the holy spirit in the apostolic age; by which multitudes were divinely qualified, as messengers from God, to teach and to confirm the doctrine of the gospel. "Not where others are to officiate for you, as the Levites for the first-born, but where all are numbered as the people of God; and where you may all sacrifice yourselves." Sykes. "Among the citizens of heaven. The image of a city, ver. 22, is continued." Newcome. The spirits of righteous men, Gr. and N. but the spirits of men are men themselves. See 1 Cor. i. 11. Gal iv. 18. 2 Tim. iv. 22; and it seemed better to omit the word in the translation, because it leads the English reader to suppose that the writer is discoursing of disembodied spirits, when he evidently means men living in the world. Righteous or just men, are men who are brought into a justified state by believing in Jesus as the Messiah: and they are said to be perfect because they are consecrated by a sacrifice, which needs no repetition. Ch. x. 1. The law could not make the comers thereto perfect, but, ver. 14, by one offering Christ has for ever perfected them that are sanctified. * better things. R. T. See that ye refuse not him who speaketh." Gr. and N. That God is the speaker intended is evident from the quotation from Hag. ii. 6, 7. See Peirce in loc. God spoke on earth, when he delivered the law upon Mount Sinai: he now speaks from heaven, by the gifts of the holy spirit. 1 Pet. i. 12. See Lindsey's Seq. p. 356, 26 speaking from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, "Yet once more I 27 shake not only the earth, but also the heaven." Now this expression, "Yet once more," signifieth the removing of the things shaken, as of things which are made, 28 that the things which are not shaken may remain. Wherefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us hold fast favourt, by which we may serve God 29 acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For even our God is a consuming fire. 2 : CH. XIII. Let brotherly kindness continue. Be not forgetful of hospitality for by this some have unknowingly en3 tertained angels]]. Remember those that are in bonds, as if bound with them; and those that are cruelly treated, 4 as being yourselves also in the body. Marriage is honourable¶ among all, and the bed undefiled††: but for5 nicators and adulterers God will judge. Let your manner of life be without covetousness. Be content with such things as ye have: for God himself hath said, “ I 6 will never leave thee, nor utterly forsake thee." So that we may boldly say, "The Lord is mine helper, and 7 I will not fear what man can do unto me." Remember those who preside over you, who¶¶ spake to you the word of God whose faith follow, considering the end of their behaviour ttt. 8 : Jesus Christ ‡‡‡ is the same yesterday, and to-day, and * The shaking of heaven and earth denotes convulsions in the political and moral world; and, as the writer explains it, the abolition of the Jewish dispensation, to make way for the everlasting kingdom of the Messiah. See Acts ii. 19, 20. "I she not the earth only, but heaven also." N. The gospel with its benefits, Newcome. Or, let us give thanks, etc. I "See Gen. xviii. xix. So, among you, hospitality may be attended with unexpected pleasure and reward." Newcome. ¶ Or, Let marriage be honourable, etc. Wakefield. 1 Or, conduct, N. m. tt the bed is, etc. N. nor forsake thee. N. See Wakefield, Or, your rulers, or leaders, or guides, who, N. m. +++ The issue of their course of life. Wakefield. $1 "The evangelical doctrine, as delivered by Christ and his apostles," Newcome. 9 for ever*. Be not carried aside † by various and strange doctrines: for it is a good thing that the heart be strengthened by the gracious gospel, not by meats, which have not profited those that have attended to 10 them. We have an altar of which they have no right to 11 eat who serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts the blood of which shed for sin is brought into the sanctuary by the high-priest, are burned without the Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people by his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 (Let us therefore go out unto him without the camp, 14 bearing his reproach tt: for here have we no 15 tinuing city, but we seek one to come.) By him there 12 camp. fore let us offer up the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips which render thanks 16 to his name‡‡. But to do good, and to distribute, forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey those who preside over you||||, and submit yourselves for they watch for your benefit¶¶, as those who must give account: that they may do it with joy, and not 18 with grief: for this would be unprofitable to you. Pray for us for we trust that we have a good conscience, dè19 siring to behave ourselves well in all things. But I more especially beseech you to do this, that I may be shortly restored to you. 20 Now the God of peace, who brought back ††† from the dead our Lord Jesus, who is the great shepherd of the * Or, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and to-day, will also be the same for ever. + carried about, R. T. Gr. favour, N. m. Gr. in which those that have walked have not been profited. N. m. ¶ whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high-priest for sin, N. + bearing the cross, his reproach: N. # the fruit of lips which confess his name. Wakefield. Or, your leaders, or guides, N. m. ¶¶ Gr. “ in behalf of your souls,” which is equivalent to in your behalf." Newcome. + Or, who raised. S. 41. N. m. |