---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"
author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 844 of 927
url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/844/
cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 844. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/844/"
---

# Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

*Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown*

The Victorian standard commentary, critical and practical, from Genesis to Revelation.

## 844. Hebrews · 19 of 27

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/844/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/844/#p-N

[¶0] if we sin--Greek present participle: if we be found sinning, that is, not isolated acts, but a state of sin [Alford]. A violation not only of the law, but of the whole economy of the New Testament ([He 10:28], ).

[¶1] wilfully--presumptuously, Greek "willingly." After receiving "full knowledge (so the Greek, compare [1Ti 2:4]) of the truth," by having been "enlightened," and by having "tasted" a certain measure even of grace of "the Holy Ghost" (the Spirit of truth, [Joh 14:17]; and "the Spirit of grace," [He 10:29]): to fall away (as "sin" here means, [He 3:12], ; compare [He 6:6]) and apostatize ([He 3:12]) to Judaism or infidelity, is not a sin of ignorance, or error ("out of the way," the result) of infirmity, but a deliberate sinning against the Spirit ([He 10:29]; [He 5:2]): such sinning, where a consciousness of Gospel obligations not only was, but is present: a sinning presumptuously and preseveringly against Christ's redemption for us, and the Spirit of grace in us. "He only who stands high can fall low. A lively reference in the soul to what is good is necessary in order to be thoroughly wicked; hence, man can be more reprobate than the beasts, and the apostate angels than apostate man" [Tholuck].

[¶2] remaineth no more sacrifice--For there is but ONE Sacrifice that can atone for sin; they, after having fully known that sacrifice, deliberately reject it.

[¶3] 27. a certain--an extraordinary and indescribable. The indefiniteness, as of something peculiar of its kind, makes the description the more terrible (compare Greek, [Jas 1:18]).

[¶4] looking for--"expectation": a later sense of the Greek. Alford strangely translates, as the Greek usually means elsewhere, "reception." The transition is easy from "giving a reception to" something or someone, to "looking for." Contrast the "expecting" (the very same Greek as here), [He 10:13], which refutes Alford.

[¶5] fiery indignation--literally, "zeal of fire." Fire is personified: glow or ardor of fire, that is, of Him who is "a consuming fire."

[¶6] devour--continually.

[¶7] 28. Compare [He 2:2], ; 12:25.

[¶8] despised--"set at naught" [Alford]: utterly and heinously violated, not merely some minor detail, but the whole law and covenant; for example, by idolatry ([De 17:2-7]). So here apostasy answers to such an utter violation of the old covenant.

[¶9] died--Greek, "dies": the normal punishment of such transgression, then still in force.

[¶10] without mercy--literally, "mercies": removal out of the pale of mitigation, or a respite of his doom.

[¶11] under--on the evidence of.

[¶12] 29. sorer--Greek, "worse," namely, "punishment" (literally, "vengeance") than any mere temporal punishment of the body.

[¶13] suppose ye--an appeal to the Hebrews' reason and conscience.

[¶14] thought worthy--by God at the judgment.

[¶15] trodden under foot the Son of God--by "wilful" apostasy. So he treads under foot God Himself who "glorified His Son as an high priest" ([He 5:5]; ).

[¶16] an unholy thing--literally, "common," as opposed to "sanctified." No better than the blood of a common man, thus involving the consequence that Christ, in claiming to be God, was guilty of blasphemy, and so deserved to die!

[¶17] wherewith he was sanctified--for Christ died even for him. "Sanctified," in the fullest sense, belongs only to the saved elect. But in some sense it belongs also to those who have gone a far way in Christian experience, and yet fall away at last. The higher such a one's past Christian experiences, the deeper his fall.

[¶18] done despite unto--by repelling in fact: as "blasphemy" is despite in words ([Mr 3:29]). "Of the Jews who became Christians and relapsed to Judaism, we find from the history of Uriel Acosta, that they required a blasphemy against Christ. 'They applied to Him epithets used against Molech the adulterous branch,' &c." [Tholuck].

[¶19] the Spirit of grace--the Spirit that confers grace. "He who does not accept the benefit, insults Him who confers it. He hath made thee a son: wilt thou become a slave? He has come to take up His abode with thee; but thou art introducing evil into thyself" [Chrysostom]. "It is the curse of evil eternally to propagate evil: so, for him who profanes the Christ without him, and blasphemes the Christ within him, there is subjectively no renewal of a change of mind ([He 6:6]), and objectively no new sacrifice for sins" ([He 10:26]) [Tholuck].

[¶20] 30. him--God, who enters no empty threats.

[¶21] Vengeance belongeth unto me--Greek, "To Me belongeth vengeance": exactly according with Paul's quotation, [Ro 12:19], of the same text.

[¶22] Lord shall judge his people--in grace, or else anger, according as each deserves: here, "judge," so as to punish the reprobate apostate; there, "judge," so as to interpose in behalf of, and save His people ([De 32:36]).

[¶23] 31. fearful ... to fall into the hands--It is good like David to fall into the hands of God, rather than man, when one does so with filial faith in his father's love, though God chastises him. "It is fearful" to fall into His hands as a reprobate and presumptuous sinner doomed to His just vengeance as Judge ([He 10:27]).

[¶24] living God--therefore able to punish for ever ([Mt 10:28]).

[¶25] 32. As previously he has warned them by the awful end of apostates, so here he stirs them up by the remembrance of their own former faith, patience, and self-sacrificing love. So [Re 2:3], .

[¶26] call to remembrance--habitually: so the present tense means.

[¶27] illuminated--"enlightened": come to "the knowledge of the truth" ([He 10:26]) in connection with baptism (see on [He 6:4]). In spiritual baptism, Christ, who is "the Light," is put on. "On the one hand, we are not to sever the sign and the grace signified where the sacrifice truly answers its designs; on the other, the glass is not to be mistaken for the liquor, nor the sheath for the sword" [Bengel].

[¶28] fight of--that is, consisting of afflictions.

[¶29] 33. The persecutions here referred to seem to have been endured by the Hebrew Christians at their first conversion, not only in Palestine, but also in Rome and elsewhere, the Jews in every city inciting the populace and the Roman authorities against Christians.

[¶30] gazing-stock--as in a theater (so the Greek): often used as the place of punishment in the presence of the assembled multitudes. [Ac 19:29]; [1Co 4:9], "Made a theatrical spectacle to the world."

[¶31] ye became--of your own accord: attesting your Christian sympathy with your suffering brethren.

[¶32] companions of--sharers in affliction with.

[¶33] 34. ye had compassion on me in my bonds--The oldest manuscripts and versions omit "me," and read, "Ye both sympathized with those in bonds (answering to the last clause of [He 10:33]; compare [He 13:3], ; ), and accepted (so the Greek is translated in [He 11:35]) with joy ([Jas 1:2]; joy in tribulations, as exercising faith and other graces, [Ro 5:3]; and the pledge of the coming glory, [Mt 5:12]) the plundering of your (own) goods (answering to the first clause of [He 10:33])."

[¶34] in yourselves--The oldest manuscripts omit "in": translate, "knowing that ye have for (or 'to') yourselves."

[¶35] better--a heavenly ([He 11:16]).

[¶36] enduring--not liable to spoiling.

[¶37] substance--possession: peculiarly our own, if we will not cast away our birthright.

[¶38] 35-37. Consequent exhortation to confidence and endurance, as Christ is soon coming.

[¶39] Cast not away--implying that they now have "confidence," and that it will not withdraw of itself, unless they "cast it away" wilfully (compare [He 3:14]).

[¶40] which--Greek, "the which": inasmuch as being such as.

[¶41] hath--present tense: it is as certain as if you had it in your hand ([He 10:37]). It hath in reversion.

[¶42] recompense of reward--of grace not of debt: a reward of a kind which no mercenary self-seeker would seek: holiness will be its own reward; self-devoting unselfishness for Christ's sake will be its own rich recompense (see on [He 2:2]; [He 11:26]).

[¶43] 39. A Pauline elegant turning-off from denunciatory warnings to charitable hopes of his readers ([Ro 8:12]).

[¶44] saving of the soul--literally, "acquisition (or obtaining) of the soul." The kindred Greek verb is applied to Christ's acquiring the Church as the purchase of His blood ([Ac 20:28]). If we acquire or obtain our soul's salvation, it is through Him who has obtained it for us by His bloodshedding. "The unbelieving man loses his soul: for not being God's, neither is he his own [compare [Mt 16:26], with Lu 9:25]: faith saves the soul by linking it to God" [Delitzsch in Alford].