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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Hebrews 13:17 - 13:17
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Heb 13:17. Πείθεσθε, obey) Evince (have) remembrance towards your deceased teachers, Heb 13:7; obedience towards them that are still alive.-ὑπείκετε, submit) This is more than to obey. Obey in those things which they command you to do as salutary: submit, even when they seem to demand a little more. Ἵνα, that, depends on this verb.-αὐτοὶ, they) As they are zealously careful, so, when they wish you to be careful, you ought to submit.-ὡς λόγον ἀποδώσοντες, as they that are to give an account) Truly this consideration both causes a man to be watchful, and to avoid any abuse of authority. The soul of Chrysostom was always struck with these words, as he himself confesses at the beginning of the 6th Book de Sacerdotio, on which passage we have made some observations, p. 490.-μετὰ χαρᾶς, with joy) if they see you respond to their vigilance.-τοῦτο, this) This τοῦτο does not refer to they who are to give an account, but to they watch. Disciples ought to obey and submit to their teachers, so that with joy, etc. It would be not a joyous (μετὰ χαρᾶς) thing for the teachers themselves to give in their account with sorrow [therefore τοῦτο does not refer to the giving in the account]: on the contrary, to watch with sorrow, is not hurtful to the teachers, it is “unprofitable” to the hearers.-καὶ μὴ, and not) He is not a good minister who does not either rejoice or grieve, or do both.-στενάζοντες, with grief) The groans of other creatures are heard; how much more of pastors?-ἀλυσιτελὲς, unprofitable) Sorrow, opposed to joy, from which griefs (groans, implied in στενάζοντες) are derived, greatly weakens the teachers; and their sighs are not profitable, nay, are very injurious to the disciples.