Exposition of Hebrews 6-10, Exegesis of chapter 10 · Exegesis of verses 32, 33, 34
VERSE 32, 33, 34.
But call to remembrance the former days, in which after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions:
Partly whilest ye were made a gazing-stock, both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly whilest ye became companions of them that were so used.
For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoyling of your goods, knowing in your selves, that ye have in Heaven a better, and an enduring Substance.
THE words in their Coherence intimated in the Adversative foreign, but, have respect unto the Exhortation laid down v. 25. All the Verses interposed contain a dehortation from the evil which they are warned of. Hence the Apostle returns unto his former Exhortation unto the duties recommended unto them, and perseverance therein, against all the difficulties which they might meet withal, wherewith others were turned into destruction. And the present argument which he makes use of unto this purpose is this now mentioned. And there are in the words,
1. A Direction unto a means useful unto the end of his Exhortation, call to mind the former dayes.
2. A description of those days which he would have them to call to mind: (1.) From the Season of them, and their state therein, after they were enlightned. (2.) From what they suffered in them, A great fight of afflictions, which are enumerated in sundry instances, v. 33. (3.) From what they did in them, v. 34. with respect unto themselves and others. (4.) From the ground and reason whereon they were carried chearfully through what they suffered and did, knowing in your selves.
1. There is the Prescription of the Means of this Duty, foreign, which we have well rendred, call to mind. It is not a bare remembrance he intends, foreign.for it is impossible men should absolutely forget such a season. Men are apt enough to remember the times of their sufferings, especially such as are here mentioned, accompanied with all sorts of injurious treatments from men. But the Apostle would have them so call to mind, as to consider withal what supportment they had under their sufferings, what satisfaction in them, what deliverance from them, that they might not despond upon the approach of the like evils and trials on the same account. If we remember our sufferings only as unto what is evil and afflictive in them, what we lose, what we endure and undergoe; such a remembrance will weaken and dispirit us, as unto our future trials. Hereon many cast about to deliver themselves for the future by undue means and sinful compliances, in a desertion of their profession, the thing the Apostle was jealous of concerning these Hebrews. But if withal we call to mind what was the case for which we suffered, the honour that is in such sufferings out-ballancing all the contempt and reproaches of the world, the presence of God enjoyed in them, and the reward proposed unto us; the calling them to mind will greatly strengthen us against future trials; provided we retain the same love unto, and valuation of the things for which we suffered, as we had in those former days. And these various events we find exemplified every day. Some who have endured trials, and came off from them, do grow immediately more wary as they suppose, and more cold really as unto the causes of their sufferings. The remembrance of what was afflictive in their trials, fills them with fear of the like exercise again. Hence they grow timerous and cautious as to all duties of Religion, and the Worship of God, which may expose them unto new sufferings; and then some of them by degrees fall absolutely off from attendance unto them; as it was with some of these Hebrews. Such as these call to mind only that which is evil and afflictive in their sufferings; and taking the measure thereof in the counsel or representation made of it by flesh and blood, it proves unto their dammage, and oft-times unto their eternal ruine. Others who call to mind with their sufferings, the causes of them, and the presence of God with them therein, are encouraged, emboldened and strengthned unto Duty with zeal and constancy.
A wise management of former Experiences is a great Direction and Encouragement Observ.unto future Obedience.
2. As to the Object of this Duty, the Apostle so expresseth it, call to mind foreign.the former days. It is uncertain what times or Seasons the Apostle doth peculiarly intend. Besides those continual hazards they were in from their Adversaries, and the occasional sufferings that they were exposed unto; they seem to have had some special seasons of persecution before the writing of this Epistle. The first was in the stoning of Stephen, when great Persecution rose against all the Church, and extended it self unto all the Churches of Christ in that Nation, wherein our holy Apostle himself was highly concerned, Acts 8. 1. Chap. 9. 1. ch. 22. 19. ch. 26. 10, 11. And the other was on the occasion of this Apostle himself; for upon his last coming to Jerusalem, after his great successes in preaching the Gospel among the Gentiles, the whole Body of the people was fill'd with rage and madness against him and all the other Disciples. It is no doubt, although express mention be not made of it, but that at that time the Rage and Cruelty of the Priests and the multitude, did put forth themselves unto a general Persecution of the Church. And this season he seems to reflect upon in particular, because he mentions his own bonds at that time, and their compassion with him. However, certain it is, that all the Churches of Judea had suffered those things here mentioned from their Countrey-men, as the Apostle himself declares, 1 Thess. 2. 14. At this present time they seemed to have had some outward peace. The occasion whereof were the Tumults and Disorders which were then growing in their whole Nation. Their own intestine discords, and the fear of outward Enemies, by which they were shortly utterly destroyed, diverted them from prosecuting their rage for a season against the Church. And it may be some began to grow careless and secure hereon; as we are generally apt to do, supposing that all will be serene when one or another storm is over. These therefore the Apostle doth press unto such a remembrance of former trials as might prepare for those that we are to expect; for as he tells them, they had still need of Patience, v. 36.
2. There is a Description of these former days from their State and Condition in them, the days in which they were inlightned, or rather, in which having foreign.been inlightned. The mention of this their illumination, being in a tense of the time past, manifests that their inlightning did precede those days of their sufferings. But yet the Expression is such as argues a nearer conjunction or concurrence between those two things, their illumination, and these dayes of affliction; the one followed as it were immediately on the other. This inlightning was that work of Gods grace mentioned, 1 Pet. 2. 9. Their translation out of darkness into his marvellous light. They were naturally blind, as were all men, and peculiarly blinded with prejudices against the truth of the Gospel. Therefore when God by his effectual call delivered them out of that State of darkness, by the Renovation of their understandings, and the removal of their prejudices; the light of the knowledge of God shining into their hearts, is this Illumination, the saving Sanctifying Light which they received at their first effectual call, and Conversion to God. This Spiritual change was presently followed with days of affliction, trouble, and persecution. In it self it is, for the most part, accompanied with joy, delight, zeal, and vigorous acting of Faith and Love; 1 Pet. 1. 8. For, (1.) God did usually grant unto Believers some secret Pledge and Sealing of his Spirit which fill'd them with joy and zeal; Eph. 1. 13. (2.) Their own hearts are exceedingly affected with the Excellency, glory, and beauty of the things revealed unto them, of what they now see perfectly, whereunto they were before in darkness, that is, the Love and Grace of Christ Jesus in the Revelation of himself unto them. (3.) All Graces are new and fresh, not yet burdened, clogged, or wearied by temptations, but are active in their several places; Hence frequent mention is made of and commendation given unto the first Love of persons and Churches.
This was the State and condition of those Hebrews, when the days of tryal and affliction came upon them, it was immediately after their first conversion unto God. And 'tis usual with God thus to deal with his people in all ages. He no sooner calls persons to himself, but he leads them into the Wilderness. He no sooner plants them, but he shakes them with storms, that they may be more firmly rooted.
He doth it, (1.) Utterly to take off their expectations from this world, or any thing therein. They shall find that they are so far from bettering their outward Estate in this world by cleaving unto Christ and the Church, as that the whole rage of it would be stirr'd up against them upon that account, and all the things enjoyed in it be exposed unto ruine. This the Lord Christ every where warned his disciples of, affirming that those who are not willing to renounce the world, and to take up the Cross, did not belong unto him. (2.) For the tryal of their faith. 1 Pet. 5. 6, 7. (3.) For the glory and propagation of the Gospel. (4.) For the exercise of all graces. (5.) To breed us up into the military discipline of Christ, as he is the Captain of our Salvation. They who pass through their first trials, are Christs Veterans on new attempts.
I. All men by nature are darkness and in darkness.Observ.
II. Saving illumination is the first fruit of effectual vocation.
III. Spiritual Light in its first Communication puts the soul on the diligent exercise of all Graces.
IV. 'Tis suited unto the wisdom and goodness of God, to suffer persons on their first Conversion to fall into manifold trials and temptations.
This was the State of the Hebrews in those days which the Apostle would have them call to mind. But the words have respect unto what follows immediately, which you endured. The description of this State and condition, namely, foreignthat they were inlightned, is interposed for the ends we have spoken unto. Wherefore the season he would have them call to remembrance, is described by what they suffered therein. This as was observed he expresseth two ways. (1.) In general, (2.) In particular instances. The First in these words, ye endured a great fight of afflictions. (1.) That which he would have them to mind is affliction. (2.) The aggravation of it, it was a great fight of afflictions. (3.) Their deportment under it, in that they endured them.
1. We render this word by Afflictions, although by the particulars mentioned foreign.afterwards, it appeared it was Persecutions from men, that the Apostle only intended. And if we take afflictions in the ordinary sence of the word, for chastisements, corrections and trials from God, it is true, that mens persecutions are also Gods afflictions, with the special end of them in our trials; we are chastned of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. God used them as his furnace, and fining pot for the trial of their faith which is more pretious then gold. And under all persecutions we are to have a special regard unto the immediate hand of God in such afflictive trials. This will keep us humble, and in a constant subjection of our souls unto God, as the Apostle declares, chap. 12. But the word in the Original is foreign, which is properly sufferings. The same word that the Apostle useth to express the sufferings of Christ, Chap. 2. 10. Chap. 5. 8. It's a general name for every thing that is hard and afflictive unto our nature, from what cause or occasion soever it doth arise. Even what wicked men undergo justly for their crimes is what they suffer, as well as what Believers undergo for the truth and profession of the Gospel. Materially they are the same, 1 Pet. 4. 14, 15, 16. It is therefore the general name of all the evils, troubles, hardships, distresses, that may befall men upon the account of their profession of the truth of the Gospel. This is that which we are called unto, which we are not to think strange of. Our Lord Jesus requires of all his disciples, that they take up their Cross, to be in a continual readiness to bear it, and actually so to do as they are called. And there is no kind of suffering but is included in the Cross. He calls us indeed unto his Eternal glory, but we must suffer with him, if we desire to reign also with him.
2. Of these Trials, Afflictions, Persecutions they had foreign. That foreign.labour and contention of Spirit, which they had in their profession, with sin and Sufferings, is expressed by these words; which set forth the greatest, most earnest, vehement actings and endeavours of Spirit that our nature can arise unto. It is expressed by foreign in this place, and by foreign, 2 Tim. 4. 7. foreign. See 2 Tim. 2. 5. 1 Cor. 9. 25. The Allusion is taken from their striving, wrestling, fighting, who contended publickly for a Prize, Victory and Reward, with the Glory and Honour attending it. The custom of the Nations as then observed, is frequently alluded unto in the New Testament. Now there was never any way of life wherein men voluntarily or of their own accord engaged themselves into such hardships, difficulties and dangers, as that, when they contended in their Games and strivings for mastery; Their preparation for it was an universal temperance, as the Apostle declares, 1 Cor. 9. 25. And an abstinence from all Sensual pleasures; wherein they offered no small violence unto their natural Inclinations and Lusts. In the conflicts themselves, in wrestling, and fighting, with the like dangerous exercises in skill and strength, they endured all pains, sometimes death it self. And if they failed or gave over through weariness, they lost the whole reward that lay before them. And with words, which signify all this contest, doth the holy Ghost express the fight or contention which Believers have with sufferings. There is a reward proposed unto all such persons in the promises of the Gospel, infinitely above all the Crowns, Honours and Rewards proposed unto them in the Olympick Games. No man is compelled to enter into the way or course of obtaining it, but they must make it an act of their own wills and choice, but unto the obtaining of it they must undergo a great strife, contention, and dangerous conflict. In order hereunto three things are required. (1.) That they prepare themselves for it, 1. Cor. 9. 25. self-denial, and readiness for the Cross, contempt of the world, and the enjoyments of it, are this preparation; without this we shall never be able to go through with this conflict. (2.) A vigorous acting of all graces in the conflict it self, in opposition unto and destruction of our Spiritual and worldly adversaries; Eph. 6. 10, 11, 12. Heb. 12. 5. He could never prevail nor overcome in the publick contests of old, who did not strive mightily, putting forth his strength and skill, both to preserve himself, and oppose his Enemy. Nor is it possible that we should go successfully through with our conflict, unless we stir up all graces, as faith, hope, trust, unto their most vigorous exercise. (3.) That we endure the hardship, and the evils of the conflict with Patience and Perseverance, which is that the Apostle here specially intends.
This is that which he commends in the Hebrews with respect unto their first trials and sufferings, foreign, you endured, and bare patiently, so as not to faint foreign.or despond, or to turn away from your profession. They came off conquerers, having failed in no point of their conflict. This is that which they were called unto, that which God by his Grace enabled them to, and through which they had that success which the Apostle would have them to call to remembrance, that they might be strengthened and encouraged unto what yet remains of the same kind. This hath been the lot and portion of sincere Professors of the Gospel in most ages. And we are not to think it a strange thing, if it come to be ours in a higher degree than what as yet we have had experience of. How many ways God is glorified in the sufferings of his people, what advantages they receive thereby, the prevailing Testimony that is given thereof unto the truth and honour of the Gospel, are commonly spoken to, and therefore shall not be insisted on.