The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 407

spiritual guide in pnrticnfar whose influence over his heart and life must continue unaffected by change or time; viz. the pastor under whose ministry he was converted, or whose teaching helped most powerfully to mould his Christian thoue1ht and give direction to his spiritual energies. 2. Consider their con.~islen~ Chri.~tian "t,fe. When a man's career is finished, it can be surveyed as a whole, and its moral worth appraised. So the character of a godly minister comes to be appreciated at its f111J value only when we are in a. position to •• consider the issue of his life." Tbo early spiritual "nides of tho Hebrews had all died in faith; and some of them, it may be (e.g. Stcphe~, Jamee the son of Zobedee, and James the Little), had obtained the crown of martyrdom. And what an evidence still of the truth of Christianity is the blameles~, unselfish, beneficent career, continued through perhaps two generations, of a faithful Christian minister! What a magnificent sunset the clo~e of the life of the pastor w[ir, ran say upon his death-her\, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 'l'im. iv. 7) 1 3. Imitate their holy fidelity. These primitive pastors had been sorely tried; yet they had never swerved from their loyalty to Christ and to his truth. Like the heroes of the old dispensation, whose exploits are recounted in eh. xi., they had "lived by faith." Why, then, should any of the members of tl:e Church, whom they had taught, be guilty of apostasy? Those doctrines of grace which the teachers had held fast were surely worthy of the adherence of the disciples. Let us also continue steadfastly in the pure gospel truth which our departed spiritual guides adorned in their lives, and let us copy their holy and persevering fidelity to the Redeemer. III. A BLESSED ENCOURAGEMENT TO DISCHARGE THIS DUTY. Ver. 8 is to be read as an affirmation: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,'' etc. It expresses the glorious thought of the changelessness of the Redeemer. He is ever the same in his DI vine nature, in his true humanity, in his mediatorial power, in his love and tenderness, in his gospel and its promises. More particularly here he is immutable : 1. .As the theme of the pulpit. The preacher of the gospel dies, but "the Word of God" which he spoke is immortal. That Word has its focus in the person and work of the Saviour. Its central fact is tbe death of Christ. The back bone of evangelical preaching is the scheme of redemption by him. And the singular vitality of the pulpit, as compared with other institutions-as, e.g. schools of philosophy, scientific societies, commercial guilds-is due to this undying theme; undying, because coeval with the deepest needs of men in all time. vVe should, then, remember those who '' spake the Word of God," because the Word which they spoke is indestructible. 2. .As the confidence of the saints. The apostolic missionaries who had first preached to the He brews had made Jesus Christ their own Stay during life, and their" Guide even unto death." It was he who bad succoured them under all their afflictions and persecutions as ministers of the Word. And, although they were now dead, the same Saviour still lived. It was fitted to be a powerful stimulus to the Hebrews to imitate the faithfulness of their ministers, that the immutable Redeemer remains for ever with his people; and that they, too, could link their souls with him, and share in bis immutability. 3. .As the perpetual Pastor of the Church. The uuder-shepherds are taken away, but the chief Shepherd a.bides. Each of them was one of his "gifts for men," lent only for a season. But the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ himself is perennial and inexhaustible. During the "yesterday" of the Jewish dispensation he made his sheep" to lie down in green pastures" (Ps. xxiii. 2). During the "to-day" of the Christian dispensation he presides over his flock by his Spirit," that they may have life, and may have it abundantly" (John x. 10). A.nd, during the blessed "for ever" which shall begin with the second comiug, when all his sheep shall have been gathered from their various folds into the infinite meadows of heaven," the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall bo their Shepherd, and shall guide them unto fountains of waters of life" (Rev. vii. 17). Vers. 9-16.-" Without the camp." These words occur repeatedly in this passage; and, used as a motto, they express appropriately the nerve-thought which pervades it. Indeed, the entire Epistle may be described as an urgent and affectionate exhor- tation to the Hebrews to "go forth unto Jesus without the camp, bearing his reproach." vVe nre required to withdraw from the polity and life of Judaism- I. As REGAIIDS DOCTRINE. (Ver. 9.) 'l'he reference here seems to be to the HEBREWS. ~ D f02 THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. [ 011, XIII, 1-25,