Hebrews 6:18-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 6:9-20

The apostle, having applied himself to the fears of the Hebrews, in order to excite their diligence and prevent their apostasy, now proceeds to apply himself to their hopes, and candidly declares the good hope he had concerning them, that they would persevere; and proposes to them the great encouragements they had in the way of their duty. I. He freely and openly declares the good hope he had concerning them, that they would endure to the end: But beloved, we are persuaded better things of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 6:13-20

6:13-20 When God made his promise to Abraham, since he was not able to swear by anyone greater, he swore by himself. "Certainly," he said, "I will bless you and I will multiply you." When Abraham had thus exercised patience he received the promise. Men swear by someone who is greater than themselves; and an oath serves for a guarantee beyond all possibility of contradiction. But on this occasion God, in his quite exceptional desire to make clear to the heirs of the promise the unalterable... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 6:18

That by two immutable things ,.... God's counsel and oath, which never change and alter, and from which he never varies: in which it was impossible for God to lie ; fail or deceive, nor, indeed, in anything else, besides his counsels, promises, and oath, see Titus 1:2 we might have a strong consolation ; the saints often stand in need of consolation, by reason of sin, Satan, and the world; and it is the will of God that they should be comforted; and he would have them have ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 6:19

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul ,.... This world is as a sea; the church in it, and so every believer, is as a ship; the port that is bound unto is heaven; Christ is the pilot, and hope is the anchor: an anchor is cast on a bottom, out of sight; and when the ship is in a calm, or in danger of a rock, or near the shore; but is of no service without a cable: and when cast aright, keeps the ship steady: so hope is cast on Christ; whence he is often called hope itself, because he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 6:20

Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus ,.... Christ was a runner; he had a race to run, which lay in going about to heal diseases, in preaching the Gospel, in obeying the law, and in suffering death for his people; which race was run by him with great swiftness, strength, and courage, with patience, cheerfulness, and joy, and is now ended; as appears from the accomplishment of salvation, from his entrance into heaven, and session at the right hand of God; from the glorification... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 6:18

That by two immutable things - The promise and oath of God: the promise pledged his faithfulness and justice; the oath, all the infinite perfections of his Godhead, for he sware by himself. There is a good saying in Beracoth on Exodus 32:13 , fol. 32: Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self. "What is the meaning of by thine own self? Rab. Eleazar answered, Thus said Moses to the holy blessed God, Lord of all the world. If thou hadst sworn... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 6:19

Which hope we have as an anchor - The apostle here changes the allusion; he represents the state of the followers of God in this lower world as resembling that of a vessel striving to perform her voyage through a troublesome, tempestuous, dangerous sea. At last she gets near the port; but the tempest continues, the water is shallow, broken, and dangerous, and she cannot get in: in order to prevent her being driven to sea again she heaves out her sheet anchor, which she has been able to get... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 6:20

Whither the forerunner - The word προδρομος , prodromos , does not merely signify one that goes or runs before another, but also one who shows the way, he who first does a particular thing; also the first fruits. So in the Septuagint, Isaiah 28:4 , προδρομος συκου signifies the first fruits of the fig tree, or the first ripe figs. To this meaning of the word Pliny refers, Hist. Nat., lib. xvi., c. 26: Ficus et praecoces habet, quas Athenis Prodromos ( προδρομος ), vocant .... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 6:18

Verse 18 18.That by two immutable things, etc. What God says as well as what he swears is immutable. (Psalms 12:6; Numbers 23:19.) It may be with men far otherwise; for their vanity is such that there cannot be much firmness in their word. But the word of God is in various ways extolled; it is pure and without any dross, like gold seven times purified. Even Balaam, though an enemy, was yet constrained to bring this testimony, “God is not like the sons of men that he should lie, neither like... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 6:19

Verse 19 19.As an anchor, etc. It is a striking likeness when he compares faith leaning on God’s word to an anchor; for doubtless, as long as we sojourn in this world, we stand not on firm ground, but are tossed here and there as it were in the midst of the sea, and that indeed very turbulent; for Satan is incessantly stirring up innumerable storms, which would immediately upset and sink our vessel, were we not to cast our anchor fast in the deep. For nowhere a haven appears to our eyes, but... read more

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