Hebrews 8
PNTHebrews 8:1
Watch thou in all things. Rather, be thou sober, and on the alert. Do not sleep. Do the work of an evangelist. Preach the gospel and look after the churches. Make full proof of your ministry. Discharge thy ministry fully.
Hebrews 8:2
For I am now ready to be offered. “Poured out as a drink offering” (Revised Version, margin) by having his blood shed. The time of my departure. Death, to Paul, was simply a departure, a leaving the body and this world for a better state. Is at hand. His death had been predetermined by his enemies, and was near.
Hebrews 8:3
I have fought a good fight. The figure is drawn from the Grecian games. Literally, “I have striven a good strife”. I have finished [my] course. Drawn from the games also. The race is run to the end. I have kept the faith. In spite of every opposition and affliction he has remained true.
Hebrews 8:4
Henceforth there is laid up for me. As the successful competitor in the games receives a crown, so the crown awaited him. A crown of righteousness. The crown given for righteousness. The Lord, the righteous judge. He was about to die by the sentence of an unrighteous judge. The higher Judge would reverse the sentence and give him a crown. And not to me only. All can have the same hope. All who serve him, and would love to see him come as their vest friend, shall have the same crown.
Hebrews 8:5
Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me. In view of his speedy departure, in view of Paul’s need of him.
Hebrews 8:6
For Demas hath forsaken me. Demas is named in Colossians 4:14 Philemon 1:24 favorably, but in the time of trial has courage failed. Death seemed to threaten, and as he clung to life, he fled. Crescens. Not named elsewhere. Titus. Well known as one of Paul’s companions. See superscription in 2 Corinthians 13:14. See also Galatians 2:1 Titus 1:4. Dalmatia. The district east of the Adriatic in Illyricum, where we know churches were already planted. It is likely he was there by Paul’s orders. See Titus 3:12.
Hebrews 8:7
Only Luke is with me. Of my traveling companions. The old friend is faithful to the last. For more of Luke, see topic 9154. Take Mark, and bring him with thee. John Mark, so well known. He seems to have been at this date at Ephesus. For more of Mark, see topic 9153.
Hebrews 8:8
Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. He probably carried this letter and was to supply Timothy’s place. Tychicus is named several times (Acts 20:4 Ephesians 6:21,24 Colossians 4:7,18 Titus 3:12).
Hebrews 8:9
The cloke that I left at Troas. If his imprisonment is prolonged he will need it. Carpus. Probably his host at Troas. The books. Manuscripts. Especially the parchments. Papyrus and parchment were both used for books, and he wishes particularly the latter.
Hebrews 8:10
Alexander the coppersmith. An Alexander is named as belonging to Ephesus in Acts 19:33 1 Timothy 1:20. This may have been the same man. We cannot be sure whether the evil was done in Ephesus, or Rome. Did me much evil. By his opposition. The Lord reward him according to his works. The Christian, when wronged, is to turn over to the Lord the recompense for the wrong. See Matthew 16:27.
Hebrews 8:11
Of whom be thou ware also. This seems to indicate that Alexander was at Ephesus still.
Hebrews 8:12
At my first answer. This seems to point to a first hearing of the case, which had then been adjourned, perhaps to wait for witnesses. Then, as now, cases were often postponed, or there were second trials. No man stood with me. None of his brethren dared to appear in his support. It was the last year of the reign of Nero, and times were terrible.
Hebrews 8:13
The Lord stood with me, and strengthened me. He had a better helper than man. He had an assurance that the Lord was with him. That by me . . . all the Gentiles might hear. The Lord strengthened him, so that in his defense he could proclaim to the Gentiles boldly the principles of the gospel. For the manner in which he was wont to defend himself, see in his famous speeches before Felix (Acts 11-21), Festus (Acts 25:8,10,11), and Agrippa (Acts 26:2-30). I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. Probably a proverbial expression indicating deliverance from great danger. Some have thought it meant that he was delivered from being thrown to the lions.