of praise to God 'By Him', thereby acknowledging His efficacy and the passing

of type and shadow; 'acknowledging' to His name, 'agreeing' with all that had

been revealed as to His better Sacrifice and Priesthood.  At intervals

through the epistle we meet with this word:

'Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider

the Apostle and High Priest of our profession (homologia), Christ

Jesus' (Heb. 3:1).

'Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the

heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession

(homologia)' (Heb. 4:14).

'Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the

blood of Jesus ... Let us hold fast the profession (homologia) of our

faith without wavering' (Heb. 10:19 -23).

'These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having

seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and

confessed (homologeo) that they were strangers and pilgrims on the

earth ... they seek a country ... they desire a better country, that

is, an heavenly' (Heb. 11:13 -16).

It will be seen that the High Priesthood of Christ, and the Heavenly

City are brought together in the confession of Hebrews 13:10 -15.

Before leaving this subject the writer adds one corrective,

'But to do good and communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices

God is well pleased' (Heb. 13:16).

To communicate refers to fellowship among saints and particularly fellowship

in their temporal needs.  The apostle has something to say about this in

Philippians, so let us wait until we can consider what he says there, before

feeling that we have examined Hebrews 13 thoroughly.

At the close of our last section on this subject of service and

sacrifice, we observed that praise to God should be accompanied by fellowship

with the needs of His children, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

As an example of this fellowship and the way in which it is spoken of

in sacrificial terms, we turn to Philippians 4:18.  It is an inspiration in

itself to see the way in which the apostle alternates between the warmest

approval of the Philippians' fellowship with himself and the repudiation of

even the possibility that he was actuated by the slightest measure of self -

Commendation.  'I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last

your care of me hath flourished again' (Phil. 4:10).

Repudiation.  'Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned

in whatsoever state I am, to be independent' (Phil. 4:11 author's

Commendation.  'Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did

communicate with my affliction ... ye sent once and again unto my

necessity' (Phil. 4:14 -16).

Repudiation.  'Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may

abound to your account' (Phil. 4:17).