Bible Commentaries
Hebrews 13

Verses 1-12

22 There is a studied contrast here between the scene presented to the physical eye at Mount Sinai and the prospect of faith in connection with the new covenant. Mount Sinai itself is suggestive of another mountain which is the ultimate home of Israel in the new earth. The

Lord is present, as He was in the wilderness, but here He is the Light, rather than the Lightning. Instead of being warned away for fear of death, the saints dwell near Him and enjoy the fruits of the tree of life and the draught of the river of life (Rev.21, 22). The law was given by the mandate of messengers ( Act_7:53 ). Now they are ministering spirits commissioned for service because of those who are about to be enjoying the allotment of salvation ( Heb_1:14 ). The universal convocation here referred to is probably that which is convoked at the opening of the day of the Lord when the representatives of the whole creation are summoned together before the judgments which usher in the kingdom are visited on the earth (Rev.4, 5).

23 The ecclesia of the firstborn recalls the passover, when the firstborn in Egypt were saved by the blood ( Exo_12:15 ). As a consequence Jehovah claimed all the firstborn for Himself ( Exo_13:2 ; Exo_34:19 ). Later the Lord took the Levites in exchange for the firstborn ( Num_3:12-13 ). Thus those ransomed by blood were the "ecclesia of the firstborn" in the wilderness. These Jehovah claimed for His own and these He brought near to Him in the Levites. So that the "church of the firstborn" comprises those under the shelter of the blood before the kingdom is set up. In the wilderness they were numbered on earth ( Num_3:42 ), here they are registered in heaven. God as Judge is especially appropriate to those who were waiting for Him to arise and judge His own people and the whole earth, as a preparation for the establishment of the kingdom. Not so do we know God.

24 Under the law the spirits of the just never reached perfection, for its rites brought nothing to a finality. Perfection comes only through the Antitype of the ritual of the law.

24 Moses was the mediator of the old covenant, but now One Who is more than Moses inaugurates a fresh covenant which cannot fail as the former, because it is founded on God's faithfulness alone.

25 The judgments which will usher in the kingdom will be far more terrible and widespread than those at Mount Sinai. Under the sixth seal, the great cataclysm includes the sun, moon, and stars ( Rev_6:12-13 ) .

7 The leaders were not official rulers, but men who were guides in ministry of the word and exemplary conduct.

8 It should be remembered that "the Same" is a pronoun, and has reference to His personality, not to His administrations or assumptions. The same One pours out grace upon us and indignation on the nations in the Lord's day. The same One Who was weary at Sychar's well is now all-powerful. He Who was once lowly is now exalted, Who healed hundreds when on earth, refused to remove Paul's thorn in the flesh, Who hung on Calvary's cross and lay lifeless in the tomb is now alive and has ascended to God's right hand. His person, service, and dispensations change to accord with God's purpose, but He Himself remains the Same.

9 It is evident that the strange teachings here referred to do not tend toward grace but physical gratification.

9 Foods and drinks, which were a part of the ritual of the first tabernacle, ( Heb_9:9-10 ) cannot confirm the heart in grace. In connection with Christ's sacrifice there is no sacrificial meal. The carcass of the sin offering was not eaten either by priests or people, but was burned.

11 The camp can refer to nothing else than the established ritual of Judaism. The great Sin Offering suffered outside the city of Jerusalem. So it behooved His followers to forsake the city and the system of religion which cast Him out, and follow Him outside of it all. Jerusalem was not the permanent abode of God's saints. It was to be utterly destroyed. This was done not long after this epistle was written. The eye of faith looked forward to the heavenly Jerusalem on the earth.

Verses 13-25

13 This is the climax of the epistle. The choice is between faith and apostasy. The reference is to the ritual of the golden calf (Ex.33). It would have been apostasy to go outside the camp had there not been apostasy in the camp. Israel had again ceased to be "the congregation of the Lord", and they must either take sides with Messiah who suffered outside the gate or apostatize. An apostate recognizes truth and refuses to obey it.

20 The God of peace-what an anchor for the turbulent souls of the Hebrews in the tumult of the times in which they lived! Josephus could write a whole book on the subject of the Jewish War which kept Palestine in continual turmoil up to the destruction of Jerusalem under Titus. How fitting to close the epistle with this title! In the coming kingdom Christ will be King of Salem (peace, welfare) as well as King of righteousness. In perfect keeping with this is the pastoral picture of the great Shepherd. As the good Shepherd He gave His soul for the sheep. Now, as the great Shepherd, in resurrection, He still cares for and protects His own. Beautiful as this picture is; it finds its place on earth, and may be applied only to Israel, the nation of His choice. The church is not a sheepfold. Israel is not "one fold", as in A. V., but "one flock" ( Joh_10:16 ). Within the fold sheep do not need the Shepherd's care, but when they are led out to pasture he guides and defends them. These Hebrews were far from the fold.