The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 402

pe.rts of it e.re found to be fulfilled. In duals on occasions calling for speoie.l the.nka- se.ying, "we hnve e.n e.ltnr," e.nd implying gi'l"iug (Lev. vii. 12). In the psalms it is that we ent of it, the writer he.s surely the used to express generally praise o.nd thanks- Euche.rist in view, though it does not follow giving (~ee Ps. 1. 14, 23; cxvi. 17, euuov .,.,; that 6urr,acr-rfipwv mee.ns definitely the te.ble e,f Butrlav alvfr,"'s, rc,i.l cl,roBos .,.<i Ji/,ltr'Tlf' or. "'hich it is oelebre.ted. He may, as Ta.s •vxds uou, eto.), In virtue of their some explain, he.ve especially in his mind participation in the true and complete Sin the cross on which the se.crifioo was once for Offering, Christians may fulfil this pa.rt of r.ll completed; or be mny have bad no defi- 0 the ancient symbolism, not occo.sionally, but nite local ::ne.ge before him, seoing rather "continually ; " bringing to God, not fruits (as elsewhere in the Epistle) in spiritual of the earth, but the " fruit of the lips" (an :rrolitfos e.nd relations the counterpe.rts of expression found in Hos. xiv. 2, where the the Levitic-nl svmbols. But that the Holy LXX. has Kap,r'/w X"},.'"'" 11~v), i.e. con- Communion is alluded to, even if it were not tinual praise,springing from thankful hearts. appa.rent here. might be concluded from In the Eucharist especially (hence so called) 1 Cor. x. 14-22, where similnr phrases are suoh sacrifice is continually offered, over the used with distinct reference to it. There one atoning Sncrifice which is pleaded and St. Pnul is dissuading from participation in partaken of. But not in communions only, heathen sacrificial feasts, e.s being incon- but ever in their daily lives, such "sacrifice sistent with partaking of the Holy Com- of praise and thanksgiving" is due. But, munion ; and he snys in this connection, BI! the next verse reminds the readers, the " Behold Israel after the flesh : a.re not they "fruit of the lips" is not enough; there is 11, which eat of the sacrifices Uir8lov-rts Ta.s further sacrifice of our own, whereby we 6uirlos) partr.kers of the al tnr ( """'"'vol Tau must show that we are true partakers of 6ucnatrT71plou) ? " It is evident that " par- Christ, and truly thankful. takers of the Lord's table" (ver. 21) are Ver. 16.-Bnt to do good and to communi• regarded ns being thereby partakers of the oate forget not ('T71S Ii~ ,iJ,,.o.tas Kai rcowe&1vl11S Christian o.ltar, of which mention is me.de µ.¾ /,r,J,,.av8ci.v,u8, : where ,J,,.o.tas means in the text before us. It may be observed "doing good to others" (cf. Mark xiv. 7); that the nse here of the word 8ucriatr'T1/p!ov while """'"'"£11S expresses the sense of may be held to justify-and this witbont Christian fellowship evinced by communi- implying any actual repetition of the one cating to others 11, share of what we have; cf. accomplished sacrifice-the application of Rom. xv. 26; 2 Cor. ix. 13): for with auoh the term "o.ltar" to the table on which the saori.B.ces God is well pleased. Eucharist is celebrated, as does 1 Cor. x. 21 Ver. 17.-0bey them that have the rule the term "the Lord's table." Both terms over you (To,s ,j-yo11µ.tvo,s ,;µwv, BI! in ver. 7), were so applied from very early times. The and snbmit yourselves (to them): for they holy t.ables in our churches are altars, in we.tch for your souls, aa they that must give that on them is continually commemorated account, that they may do it with joy, and and pleaded the one sacrifice of the cross, not with grief (literally, groaning); for that and that from them the spiritual food of the is (rather, tcere) unprofitable for you (i.e. body and blood is given to the faithful. their ministry is for your profit; if its result Ver. 13.-Let us go forth therefore unto be their giving in their account with groans, him without the camp, bearing his reproach. its whole purpose will be frustrated). In By a happy turn of thought Christ's having this allusion to the ,l-youµ,vo,, as in vers. 7 suffered without the gate is viewed BI! repre- and 24, there is evidence of the existence of 111enting his exclnsionfrom tlie Jewish Church a regular order of ministry in the Hebrew and polity, outside which we are now to Churches, such as many e.llusions in St. follow him, though we with him be re- Paul's Epistles show to have formed part of proached by the Jews as outca~ts. There the constitution of the Churches to whom may be a tacit reference, such as Bengel those Epistles were addressed (cf. also Acts l'CeB in the word cpr!povns, to our bell.ring our xiv. 23 and xx. 17, 28, etc.). The word cross after him. itself ( ·houµ•vo,) which is here used might, Yer. 14.-For here we have no· abiding indeed, denote any persons who took the city, bnt we seek that which is to come ; i.e. lead in the congregations ; but the urging not Jerusalem, representing- the transitory of the duty of submission to them, in virtue dispensation of the Law; but the "city of of their office of watching for souls for which the living God," which is eternal. they would have to give account, shows Ver. 15.-Throngh him therefore let us plainly that o. special order is here, as else- offer the sacrifice (or, a sacrifice) of praise to where, referred to. Obserrn o.lso below, God continnally, that is, the fruit of lips ver. 24, where "all the saints," i.e. what we oonfessing to his Ne.me. 0utrla aivfr,c.,s is the should call the laity, are mentioned in dis- designation in the ritual of the Law of the tinction from the 1ryouµlvo,. (For simil11r in- vuluntary peace offering, offered by iudivi- junctions, cf. 1 Thess. v. 12 and l Tim. v. 17 i en. xnr. 1-25,1 THE EPIS'l'LE TO THE HEBREWS. 397