Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace [or gratitude,] whereby we serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.
1. In another place he says the same, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal 2 Corinthians 4:18; and from this makes an exhortation with regard to the evils which we endure in this present life; and here he does this, and says, let us continue steadfast; let us have thankfulness, i.e., let us give thanks unto God. For not only we ought not to be discouraged at present things, but even to show the greatest gratitude to Him, for those to come.
Whereby we serve God acceptably, that is to say, 'for thus is it possible to serve God acceptably,' by giving him thanks in all things. Do all things (he says) without murmurings and disputings. Philippians 2:14 For whatever work a man does with murmuring, he cuts away and loses his reward; as the Israelites— how great a penalty they paid for their murmurings. Wherefore he says, Neither murmur ye. 1 Corinthians 10:10 It is not therefore possible to serve Him acceptably without a sense of gratitude to Him for all things, both for our trials, and the alleviations of them. That is, let us utter nothing hasty, nothing disrespectful, but let us humble ourselves that we may be reverential. For this is with reverence and godly fear.
Hebrews 13:1-2
Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful of hospitality, for hereby some have entertained angels unawares. See how he enjoins them to preserve what they had: he does not add other things. He did not say, Be loving as brethren, but, Let brotherly love continue. And again, he did not say, Be hospitable, as if they were not, but, Be not forgetful of hospitality, for this was likely to happen owing to their afflictions.
Therefore (he says) some have entertained angels unawares. Do you see how great was the honor, how great the gain!
What is unawares? They entertained them without knowing it. Therefore the reward also was great, because he entertained them, not knowing that they were Angels. For if he had known it, it would have been nothing wonderful. Some say that he here alludes to Lot also.
Hebrews 13:3-6
2. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them, them which suffer adversity as being yourselves also in the body. Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled; but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Let your conversation be without covetousness: being content with such things as you have.
See how large is his discourse concerning chastity. Follow peace, he said, and holiness; Lest there be any fornicator or profane person Hebrews 12:14; and again, Fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 12:16 In every case, the prohibition is with a penalty. Follow peace with all men, he says, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: But fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
And having first set down Marriage is honorable in all men, and the bed undefiled, he shows that he rightly added what follows. For if marriage has been conceded, justly is the fornicator punished, justly does the adulterer suffer vengeance.
Here he strips for the heretics. He did not say again, Let no one be a fornicator; but having said it once for all, he then went on as with a general exhortation, and not as directing himself against them.
Let your conversation be without covetousness, he says. He did not say, Possess nothing, but, Let your conversation be without covetousness: that is, let it show forth the philosophical character of your mind. [And it will show it, if we do not seek superfluities, if we keep only to what is necessary.] For he says above also, And ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods. Hebrews 10:34 He gives these exhortations, that they might not be covetous.
Being content (he says) with such things as you have. Then here also the consolation; Hebrews 13:5 For He (he says) has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you; Hebrews 13:6 so that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Again consolation in their trials.
Hebrews 13:7
3. Remember them which have the rule over you. This he was laboring to say above: therefore Follow peace with all men. Hebrews 12:14 He gave this exhortation also to the Thessalonians, to hold them in honor exceedingly. 1 Thessalonians 5:13
Remember (he says) them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. What kind of following is this? Truly the best: for he says, beholding their life, follow their faith. For from a pure life [comes] faith.
Or else by faith, he means steadfastness. How so? Because they believe in the things to come. For they would not have shown forth a pure life, if they had questioned about the things to come, if they had doubted. So that here also he is applying a remedy to the same [evil].
Hebrews 13:8-9
Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and for ever. Be not carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established with grace, not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
In these words, Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and for ever, yesterday means all the time that is past: today, the present: for ever, the endless which is to come. That is to say: You have heard of an High Priest, but not an High Priest who fails. He is always the same. As though there were some who said, 'He is not, another will come,' he says this, that He who was yesterday and today, is the same also for ever. For even now the Jews say, that another will come; and having deprived themselves of Him that is will fall into the hands of Antichrist.
Be not carried about with various and strange doctrines. Not with strange doctrines only, but neither with various ones.
For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. Here he gently hints at those who introduce the observance of meats. For by Faith all things are pure. There is need then of Faith, not of meats.
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