Exposition of Hebrews 6-10, Exegesis of chapter 10 · Exegesis of verse 34 – Exegesis of verses 35, 36
VERSE 34.
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.
Having distributed the foreign of Believers into two heads: (1) What they underwent some of them, at least in their own persons; and (2.) What befell them with respect unto others, suffering in the same Cause with themselves. In this Verse the Apostle gives an especial instance of each kind, only he inverts the Order, wherein he had before layd them down. For whereas he first mentioned what they suffered in themselves, and then what they accompanied others in; here he insisteth of the latter of them in the first place, they had compassion of him in his bonds; and of the former in the latter place, and took joyfully the spoyling of their goods. But he adds unto both the frame of their minds in what they did and suffered. As unto others, they were their companions in sympathy and compassion, and as unto their own losses, they them took joyfully.
Of the First, the Apostle gives an instance in himself, Ye had compassion of me in my bonds. And this he affirms as a proof and confirmation of what he had spoken before concerning their being made Companions of them that suffered. This is exprest in the introductive particles foreign, for even you had, as for Example sake. I have proved before the Apostle Paul was the Author of this Epistle, and this very passage is sufficient to confirm it. For who else could there be, whose bonds for the Gospel were so known, so famous among the Believers of the Jews as his own. For the other persons, who some would needs fancy to be Writers of this Epistle, as Luke, Barnabas, and Clemens, there's nothing in the Scripture or Ecclesiastical story of any of their Bonds in Judea, whereof it is plain that he here speaketh. But the sufferings of our Apostle in this kind of bonds and imprisonment were peculiar above any other Apostles whatsoever. Hence he stiles himself in particular Philem. 1. the bond-man for Christ, and gloried in his bonds as his peculiar honour, Acts 26. 29. an Ambassador in bonds, Eph. 6. 20. So Phil. 1. 7. and 12. 13, 14, 16. Col. 4. 3. which he desired the Church to remember him in, Col. 4. 18. 2 Tim. 2. 9. Wherefore his bonds being singularly and above all others so known, so famous, so useful, such a subject of the Churches Prayers, and of their Faith, having been begun and long continued among those Hebrews, and being spoken of by him as a matter known unto them all, 'tis unreasonable to suppose that any other is intended.
Of what sort or kind the sufferings of any that God employs in the Ministry of the Gospel shall be, is in his soveraign disposal alone. And in this Apostle unto whom as being the Apostle of the Gentiles, God had designed more work and travelling up and down the world, than unto any of the other, it may be unto them all; yet God was pleased that much of his time should be spent in bonds and imprisonments. But although the principal reason hereof must be left hid in the wisdom and soveraign good pleasure of God; yet we may see that two inestimable Advantages did redound unto the Church thereby. For, (1.) His bonds being first at Jerusalem, and afterwards at Rome, as Acts 23. 11. the two capital Cities and seats of the Jews and Gentiles; and he being called out to plead the Cause of the Gospel openly and publickly, the report of it was carried all the world over, and occasion given unto all sorts of men to inquire what it was, that a man remote from the suspicion of any crime, did suffer such things for. I no way doubt but that multitudes by this means were brought to make inquiry after, and into the Doctrine of the Gospel, which otherwise would have taken no notice of it. See Eph. 1. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. And, (2.) During his confinement under those bonds, the Holy Ghost was pleased to make use of him in writing sundry of those blessed Epistles which have been the Light and Glory of the Gospel in all Ages. Wherefore let every one of us be content and rejoyce in what may soever God shall be pleased to call us to suffer for the truth of the Gospel. For although it may seem outwardly to be of the greatest advantage thereunto, which is the only thing we would desire, that we might enjoy our Liberty; yet God can and will make them subservient unto his own glory, wherein we ought to acquiesce.
Secondly, He expresseth the concernment of these Hebrews in those bonds of his, foreign, they suffered together with him therein. They were not unconcerned in his sufferings, as being satisfied with their own freedom, as foreignis the manner of some. Now compassion consists in these things. (1.) A real condolency, grief, and trouble of mind for the bonds of others, as if we our selves were bound. (2.) Continual Prayers for their relief, supportment, and deliverance; as it was with the Church in the Case of Peter in his bonds, Acts 12. (3.) A ministration unto them, as unto the things that may be outwardly wanting, as many did to Paul, Acts 24. 23. (4.) The owning and avowing of them, as not being ashamed of their chains, bonds, or sufferings, 2 Tim. 1. 16, 17. (5.) A readine to undergo hazards, difficulties and dangers, for them who are called thereunto, Rom. 16. 4. It is not a heartless, fruitless, ineffectual pity that the Apostle intends; but such a frame of mind that hath a real concernment in the sufferings of others, and is operative in these and the like duties towards their good. These things are required in us towards all those who suffer for the Gospel, according as we have oportunity for their exercise. Where this is wanting we can have no solid Evidence of our being one with them in the same mystical Body. The remembrance of this frame, and the discharge of all those duties towards them who have suffered, is of singular use to prepare our minds for, and to confirm our hearts in our own sufferings when they do approach.
2. He minds them of their deportment under their own sufferings, they took joyfully. That which they suffered in was their foreign, their outward substance, and present enjoyments: It is extended unto Houses, Lands, Possessions, foreignwhatever rightfully belongs unto men and is enjoyed by them. But it is especially applied unto things of present use, as the goods of a mans House, his Money, Corn, or Cattel, which are more subject to present rapine and spoil, than other real Possessions, Lands or Inheritances. These are the things of mens present supportment without which ordinarily they cannot live nor subsist. And therefore in persecutions, the enemies of the Gospel do usually fall on these in the first place, as supposing that the loss of them will reduce their owners unto all sorts of extremity, especially when they have no pretence or warranty as yet to destroy their persons. They will take, from them the bread that they should eat, the clothes that they should wear, the beds whereon they should lye, whatever is of use unto them and their families. And this must needs be a sore trial unto men, when not only themselves, but their Relations also, their Wives and Children, some perhaps in their Infant age, are reduced unto all extremities.
The way whereby they were deprived of their goods was foreign, it was by rapine and spoil. What pretence of Law, or constitution of the Rulers foreignthey who did it, had for what they did, I know not; But the way of Execution was with savage rapine and spoil, as the word signifies. They violently tare away from them what they did enjoy; not aiming to take all the spoil meerly unto their own advantage, wherewith yet the minds of some cursed Enemies are influenced, but at the satisfaction of their rage and malice, in the ruine of the Saints of Christ. This it seems had been the state of things with these Hebrews, which was now passed over for that season, but in all probability would quickly again return, as the warning here given them by the Apostle did plainly intimate. And it is the way of the world in such persecutions, after they have vented their rage and malice for a while, and satisfied themselves with their own cruelty, to give over until some new cause, pretence, or new instigation of the Devil sets them a work again.
3. The frame of mind in the Hebrews as unto this part of their suffering is, that they took their losses and spoiles with joy. Nothing doth usually more affect the minds of men than the suddain spoiling of their goods, what they have laboured foreignfor, what they have use for, what they have provided for themselves and their families. We see in ordinary Cases what Wailings and Lamentatious do accompany such occasions. But these Hebrews received and accepted of this rapine of their goods, not only patiently and chearfully; but with a certain peculiar joy. The ground whereof the Apostle declares in the close of this verse, knowing in your selves, that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Some Copies of the Original, and some antient translations, as the vulgar Latin, read the words foreign; And I suppose the difference arose from the foreignOrder of the words in the Text, or the placing of foreign not immediately after foreign, but interposing foreign between them. Hence the words may be rendred as we do, knowing in your selves that you have a better substance, or as they lye in the Original knowing that ye have a better substance in your selves. In this latter way it is evident that there is no place for that addition in Heaven, which is necessary in the former. For it is not proper to say, knowing that you have in your selves in Heaven, though it be most proper to say, knowing in your selves that you have in Heaven. I confess I should absolutely imbrace the latter reading, knowing that you have in your selves, and so leave out that, in Heaven, for evident reasons, did not the authority of the most antient Copies and Translations of the best note require the retaining of it. However, I shall open the words according to both readings.
1. Knowing that we have in our selves. The things which they had lost, were their goods, or their substance, as they are called, Luke 15. 13. Unto these he opposeth the substance, which of what nature it is, he declares in comparison with those other goods. Those other goods were so theirs, as that they were without them, things lyable unto rapine and spoyl, such as they might be, such as they were deprived of; men could and men did take them away. But this substance is in themselves, which none could take away from them, none could spoil them of. Such is the peace and joy that our Lord Jesus Christ gives unto his Church here below, John 16. 22. chap. 14. 27. And if the substance, here intended, be that which was in themselves, in opposition unto those external goods, which they might be, and were deprived of, then it is that subsistence in the soul and unto the experience of Believers, which Faith gives unto the Grace and Love of God in Christ Jesus, with all the consequents of it here and for evermore. This is that which comforts Believers under all their troubles, this fills them with joy unspeakable and full of Glory, even in their Sufferings. This will make them to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods, when they lay it in the Ballance against them. In this sence foreign expresseth an assurance arising from experience, as the word is often used. They knew they had it in themselves, from the Powerful Experience which Faith gave them of it. So the whole of it is intended, and at large explained by the Apostle, Rom. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Faith gives us Justification before God, access unto him, and acceptance with him, and therewithal gives joy and rejoycing unto the Soul; and this it doth in an especial manner under Tribulations and Sufferings, enabling men to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods, for it stirreth up all Graces in such a Condition unto their due Exercise issuing in a blessed experience of the Exellency of the Love of God, and of his Glory in Christ with a firm and stable hope of future Glory. Yea and by these things doth the Holy Ghost shed abroad the Love of God in our Hearts, which will give joy in any Condition. And this Substance hath both the Qualifications here assigned unto it. (1.) It is foreign, better, more excellent, incomparably so, than the outward goods that are subject to rapine and spoil. And it foreign.is (2.) foreign, abiding, that which will not leave them in whom it is, can never be taken from them. My joy shall no man take from you.foreign.
Faith giving an experience of the Excellency of the Love of God in Christ and of the Grace received thereby, with its incomparable preference above all outward Observ.perishing things, will give joy and satisfaction in the loss of them all, upon the account of an interest in these better things.
If we follow the Ordinary reading and retain those words, in heaven, the whole must be somewhat otherwise expounded. For it is not the Grace of faith but hope that is expressed. And, (1.) That expression of knowing in your selves, declares the evidence they had of the grounds whereon they rejoyced in the spoiling of their goods. It was manifest and evident unto themselves. The world looked on them under another notion, they took them, and declar'd them to be persons who deserved all manner of evil in this world, and such as would perish for ever in that which is to come. So they did to Christ himself, when they reproached him with his trust in God when he was on the Cross. In this case the Apostle doth not direct them unto any outward defence of themselves, but only unto the uncontrollable evidence, which they had in themselves, of future glory. And this they had, (1.) From the Promises of Christ: (2.) From the Testimony and witness of the holy Ghost. (3.) From the Experience which they had of the beginnings and first-fruits of this glory in themselves. Faith in and by these means will give an infallible evidence of Heavenly things, secure against all opposition; and in all these things it works by hope, because it respects things that are future.
2. This substance is said to be in Heaven, it is there prepared, there laid up, there to be enjoyed. Wherefore it compriseth the whole of the future foreign.state of blessedness; and 'tis well called Substance, as 'tis also riches, and an inheritance, or a weight of glory; for in comparison of it, all other things temporary have no substance in them.
3. They are said foreign, to have this Substance, not in present possession, but in right, title, and evidence. They know in themselves that they had foreign.an undeniable Title unto it, which none could deprive them of, but that they should certainly enjoy it in the appointed season. Wherefore they are said to have it, (1.) Because it is prepared for them in the will, pleasure and Grace of God. It is your Fathers pleasure to give you the Kingdom. (2.) Because 'tis purchased for them by the blood of Christ; he hath purchased, or obtained eternal redemption. (3.) 'Tis promised unto them in the Gospel. (4.) It is secured for them in the Intercession of Christ. (5.) Granted unto them in the First-fruits. (6.) All this is confirmed unto them by the Oath of God. The First-fruits they had in possession and use, the whole in right and title: And continual application of it was made unto their souls by the hope which will not make ashamed.
4. How this substance is better then outward enjoyments, and abiding, needs not to be explained, they are things in themselves so plain and evident.
This two-fold interpretation of the words is so far coincident and agreeing in the same sence in general, that we may draw our Observations from both or either of them. As,
I. It is the glory of the Gospel, that it will on a just account, from a sense of and interest in it, give satisfaction and joy unto the souls of men in the worst of sufferings Observ.for it.
II. It is our duty to take care that we be not surprized with outward sufferings, when we are in the dark as unto our interest in these things. This may often fall out through our carelesness, negligence, and want of keeping our garments about us in our walk before God: They rejoyced as knowing they had in themselves, which otherwise they could not have done.
III. Internal Evidences of the beginnings of Glory in Grace, a sense of Gods love, and assured pledges of our Adoption, will give insuperable joy unto the minds of men under the greatest outward sufferings.
IV. It is our Interest in this world, as well as with respect unto Eternity, to preserve our Evidences for heaven clear and unstain'd, so that we may know in our selves; which is the ground of this great Duty.
V. There is a substance in spiritual and Eternal things, whereunto Faith gives a subsistence in the souls of believers. See chap. 11. 1.
VI. There is no Rule of proportion between Eternal and temporal things. Hence the enjoyment of the one will give joy in the loss of the other.
VERSE XXXV, XXXVI.
foreign.