Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

“Quoted from Pr 4:26, Septuagint, "Make straight paths for thy feet." straight--that is, leading by a straight road to joy and grace (Heb 12:1, 2, 15).”

Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

“Translate here "sanctification." His is absolute holiness: our part is to put on His holiness, becoming "holy as He is holy," by sanctification.”

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.

“The only safety is in rooting out such a root of bitterness. many--rather, "the many," that is, the whole congregation. So long as it is hidden under the earth it cannot be remedied, but when it "springs up," it must be dealt with boldly.”

For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.

“I agree with him that the translation, instead of "repentance," "no place for changing HIS FATHER'S mind," is forced; though doubtless this is what was the true aim of the "repentance" which he sought.”

For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm;

“For--The fact that we are not under the law, but under a higher, and that the last dispensation, the Gospel, with its glorious privileges, is the reason why especially the Hebrew Christians should "look diligently," &c.”

in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

“Messiah is pre-eminently "the First-born," or "First-begotten" (Heb 1:6), and all believers become so by adoption.”

in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

“Though still fighting the good fight on earth, still, in respect to your destiny, and present life of faith which substantiates things hoped for, ye are already members of the heavenly citizenship.”

to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

“This comparison between two things of the same kind (namely, Christ's sacrifice, and Abel's sacrifice) is more natural, than between two things different in kind and in results (namely, Christ's sacrifice, and Abel's own blood [ALFORD], which was not a sacrifice at all); compare Heb…”

See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less…

“Hence, in Christ's preaching frequent mention is made of "the kingdom of the heavens" (Greek, Mt 3:2). In the giving of the law God spake on earth (namely, Mount Sinai) by angels (Heb 2:2; compare Heb 1:2).”

At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.”

“The shaking began at the first coming of Messiah; it will be completed at His second coming, prodigies in the world of nature accompanying the overthrow of all kingdoms that oppose Messiah.”

“For our God is a consuming fire.”

“Greek, "For even": "for also"; introducing an additional solemn incentive to diligence. Quoted from De 4:24. our God--in whom we hope, is also to be feared. He is love (1Jo 4:8, 16); yet there is another side of His character;”

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

“To obviate the natural distrust felt of strangers, Paul says, an unknown guest may be better than he looks: he may be unexpectedly found to be as much a messenger of God for good, as the angels (whose name means messenger) are; nay more, if…”

Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

“Remember--so as to imitate: not to invoke in prayer, as Rome teaches. have the rule--rather, "who have had the rule over you": your spiritual leaders. who--Greek, "the which": such persons as. have spoken unto you--"spake" (so the Greek aorist means) during their lifetime.”

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value…

“Christ's body offered once for all for us, is our true spiritual "meat" to "eat" (Heb 13:10), "the stay and the staff of bread" (Isa 3:1), the mean of all "grace."”

We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

“Our meat, which we by faith spiritually eat, is the flesh of Christ, in contrast to the typical ceremonial meats. The two cannot be combined (Ga 5:2).”

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood.

“The fiery ordeal of His suffering on the cross, answers to the burning of the victims; thereby His mere fleshly life was completely destroyed, as their bodies were; the second part of His offering was His carrying His blood into the heavenly holiest before God…”

And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

“But--But the sacrifice of praise with the lips (Heb 13:15) is not enough; there must be also doing good (beneficence) and communicating (that is, imparting a share of your means, Ga 6:6) to the needy. with such--and not mere ritualistic sacrifices.”

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account.

“"Obey" your living rulers; nay, more, not only obey in cases where no sacrifice of self is required, and where you are persuaded they are right (so the Greek, for "obey"), but "submit yourselves" as a matter of dutiful yielding, when your judgment and natural…”

Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

“24:16, 20, 21 (wherein he virtually implies that his reply to Ananias was not sinful impatience; for, indeed, it was a prophecy which he was inspired at the moment to utter, and which was fulfilled soon after).”

And I especially urge you to pray that I may be restored to you soon.

“It is here first in the letter he mentions himself, in a way so unobtrusive, as not to prejudice his Hebrew readers against him, which would have been the result had he commenced this as his other Epistles, with authoritatively announcing his name and apostolic…”

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,

“The transition is natural from their earthly pastors (Heb 13:17), to the Chief Pastor, as in 1Pe 5:1-4. Compare Eze 34:23 and Jesus' own words, Joh 10:2, 11, 14.”

Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.

“1Th 3:2. is set at liberty--from prison. So Aristarchus was imprisoned with Paul. BIRKS translates, "dismissed," "sent away," namely, on a mission to Greece, as Paul promised (Php 2:19).”

Grace be with all of you.

“It is used in Re 22:21, written subsequently, and in CLEMENT OF ROME. Being known to be his badge, it is not used by others in his lifetime. The Greek here is, "The grace (namely, of our Lord Jesus Christ) be with you all." Fausset”