Hebrews 11: 14
CHAPTER 11
If we distinguish these two sorts; ξένοι, "strangers," are such as are always moving, having no abiding place at all,—such as was the state of our Lord Jesus
Christ during his ministry, when he "had not where to lay his head;" παρεπίδημοι, or "pilgrims," are such as take up an abode for a season, without an intermixture with the rights, duties, or privileges of the place wherein they are.
Ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. This they are said to be "on the earth," during their whole continuance here in this world. And an intimation is given of that other state which they looked for, and wherein their interest did lie, namely, heaven.
The sum of the whole is, that they professed themselves called out of the world, separated from the world, as unto interest, design, rest, and reward; having placed their faith, hope, and trust, as unto all these things, in heaven above, and the good things to come.
What it is to be "strangers and pilgrims" in this world; what actings of faith, what frames of spirit ought to be in them that are so; what evils and dangers they shall be assuredly exposed unto; what duties the consideration hereof is a motive unto; what use they may make of the world, and the things of it; what is required to state them in the heavenly polity, whereby, although they are pilgrims, yet they are not vagabonds; would be here too long to explain.
Hebrews 11: 14
From the profession of these patriarchs, that they were "strangers and pilgrims on the earth," the apostle makes an inference from what is contained therein, which doth more expressly declare their faith than the words themselves which they were said to use.
Ver. 14.—For they that say such things, declare plainly that they seek a country.
Οἱ γάρ. "For they that say such things;"—be they who they will that speak such things as these sincerely. Or, these persons, in their circumstances, saying such things as they are recorded in the Scripture to have spoken and publicly avowed.
Ἐμφανίζουσιν. "Declare plainly;" they make it manifest and evident unto all: that is, there is this plain, open meaning and sense in their words. This is that which may easily be known to have been their mind, and what they designed in their words or expressions.
CHAPTER 11
Ἐπιζητοῦσι. And this was, that they did "seek a country," or "a city for themselves," as the Syriac expresseth it; that they "diligently inquired after it," as the word signifies, or sought it with diligence.
There is an entrance in these words on a train of evident consequences, one upon and from another, which he pursues in the next verses. For from their profession he concludes that they "desired a country." And if they did so, it must be either that from whence they came, or some other. That from whence they came it could not be, for the reason he assigns. And if some other, it must be a better than either that from whence they came or where they were; which could be no other but a "heavenly country,"—that is, heaven itself.
And some few things we may observe on this first inference of the apostle; as, — Obs. This is the genuine and proper way of the interpretation of the Scripture, when from the words themselves, considered with relation unto the persons speaking them, and all their circumstances, we declare what is their determinate mind and sense.—Hereunto, on the due apprehension of the literal sense of the words themselves, the studious exercise of reason, in all proper ways of arguing, is required.
Some there are who deny all exposition of the Scripture; which is to say, that it ought not to be understood. Some are feigned to suppose that there is nothing needful hereunto but "spiritual illumination." And some think there is no need of any such thing thereunto, but only the common use of our rational faculties, as in the understanding of other arts and sciences. The vanity of all which imaginations I have at large elsewhere discovered and disproved.
The inference of the apostle from these words of the patriarchs is so evident and uncontrollable, that he affirms themselves to "declare plainly" what he declares to be the sense contained in their words. And indeed, take the words precisely, without a consideration of the mind wherewith they were spoken, the circumstances in which, and the end for which they were spoken, and they do not express any peculiar act or fruit of faith; for the very heathen had an apprehension that this life is but a kind of pilgrimage. So speaks Cicero, "De
Senectute," cap. xxiii.: "Ex vitâ ita discedo tanquam ex hospitio, non tanquam ex domo. Commorandi enim natura diversorium nobis, non habitandi locum dedit." But under their circumstances, there must be another sense in the words.
For they speak them not as the common condition of mankind, but as their peculiar portion in the world, with respect unto the promises of God. And