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The Epistle to the Hebrews.
#37.
The
faith that inherits (6: 11, 12).
pp. 25 - 27
It is one thing to minister to the saints, it is another to continue. This is the feature that
is prominent in the passage before us.
"In that ye have ministered unto the saints, and are ministering" (Heb. 6: 10).
Ministry to the saints involves much more than mere gifts or a pleasant round of
visiting, it comes under the heading of enduring a great fight of afflictions:--
"But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye
endured a great fight of afflictions; partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by
reproaches and afflictions; and partly whilst ye became companions of them that were so
used" (Heb. 10: 32, 33).
Here we see that this ministry unto the saints involves suffering and calls for
endurance. The passage continues to show that such ministry leads to confidence which
hath great recompence of reward:--
"For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might
receive the promise" (Heb. 10: 36).
This is parallel with Heb. 6: 11, 12. They had ministered to the saints, and they were
continuing so to do. They had shown (endeiknumi) love unto the name of the Lord. Now
the apostle says:--
"But we earnestly desire for each one of you to show (endeiknumi) the same diligence
to the full assurance of hope unto the end" (Heb. 6: 11).
They had shown, may they continue to show, for this was closely associated with the
great recompence of reward. We catch an echo of chapter 3: 6 and 14 here:--
"Whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm
unto the end" (Heb. 3: 6).
"We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast
unto the end" (Heb. 3: 14).
These are called "partakers of the heavenly calling" in verse 1 of chapter 3:, and the
failure to enter into the land of promise, which occupies the remainder of chapters 3:
and 4:, is again before us in Heb. 6: 11, 12:--
"That ye be not slothful, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit
the promises."
The mention of the word slothful bids us compare this passage with Heb. 5: 11 where
the same word is translated "dull". This has already appeared in the structure given in