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Selected Verse: Hebrews 6:10 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Heb 6:10 |
King James |
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
not unrighteous--not unfaithful to His own gracious promise. Not that we have any inherent right to claim reward; for (1) a servant has no merit, as he only does that which is his bounden duty; (2) our best performances bear no proportion to what we leave undone; (3) all strength comes from God; but God has promised of His own grace to reward the good works of His people (already accepted through faith in Christ); it is His promise, not our merits, which would make it unrighteous were He not to reward His people's works. God will be no man's debtor.
your work--your whole Christian life of active obedience.
labour of love--The oldest manuscripts omit "labor of," which probably crept in from Th1 1:3. As "love" occurs here, so "hope," Heb 6:11, "faith," Heb 6:12; as in Co1 13:13 : the Pauline triad. By their love he sharpens their hope and faith.
ye have showed--(Compare Heb 10:32-34).
toward his name--Your acts of love to the saints were done for His name's sake. The distressed condition of the Palestinian Christians appears from the collection for them. Though receiving bounty from other churches, and therefore not able to minister much by pecuniary help, yet those somewhat better off could minister to the greatest sufferers in their Church in various other ways (compare Ti2 1:18). Paul, as elsewhere, gives them the utmost credit for their graces, while delicately hinting the need of perseverance, a lack of which had probably somewhat begun to show itself. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
For God is not unrighteous - God will do no wrong. He will not forget or fail to reward the endeavors of his people to promote his glory, and to do good. The meaning here is, that by their kindness in ministering to the wants of the saints, they had given full evidence of true piety. If God should forget that, it would be "unrighteous:
(1) because there was a propriety that it should be remembered; and,
(2) because it is expressly promised that it shall not fail of reward; Mat 10:42.
Your work - Particularly in ministering to the wants of the saints.
Labour of love - Deeds of benevolence when there was no hope of recompense, or when love was the motive in doing it.
Which ye have showed toward his name - Toward him - for the word "name" is often used to denote the person himself. They had showed that they loved God by their kindness to his people; Mat 25:40, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
In that ye have ministered to the saints - You have supplied their wants. This may refer either to the fact that they contributed to supply the wants of the poor members of the church (compare the note on Gal 2:10), or it may refer to some special acts of kindness which they had shown to suffering and persecuted Christians. It is not possible now to know to what particular acts the apostle refers. We may learn.
(1) that to show kindness to Christians, because they are Christians, is an important evidence of piety.
(2) it will in no case be unrewarded. God is not "unjust;" and he will remember an act of kindness shown to his people - even though it be nothing but giving a cup of cold water. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
He is encouraged in this confidence by the fact that they are still as formerly engaged in Christian ministries.
Your work and labor of love (τοῦ ἔργου ὑμῶν καὶ τῆς ἀγάπης)
Omit labor. The A.V. follows T.R. τοῦ κόπου. Rend. your work and the love which ye shewed, etc.
Which ye have shewed toward his name (ἧς ἐνεδείξασθε εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ)
The verb means, strictly, to show something in one's self; or to show one's self in something. similar praise is bestowed in Heb 10:32. They have shown both love and work toward God's name. That does not look like crucifying Christ. God is not unjust, as he would show himself to be if he were forgetful of this. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| For - Ye give plain proof of your faith and love, which the righteous God will surely reward. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
God is not unrighteous - God is only bound to men by his own promise: this promise he is not obliged to make; but, when once made, his righteousness or justice requires him to keep it; therefore, whatever he has promised he will certainly perform. But he has promised to reward every good work and labor of love, and he will surely reward yours; God's promise is God's debt.
Every good work must spring from faith in the name, being, and goodness of God; and every work that is truly good must have love for its motive, as it has God for its end.
The word του κοπου, labor, prefixed to love, is wanting in almost every MS. and version of importance. Griesbach has left it out of the text.
Ministered to the saints - Have contributed to the support and comfort of the poor Christians who were suffering persecution in Judea. As they had thus ministered, and were still ministering, they gave full proof that they had a common cause with the others; and this was one of the things that proved them to be in a state of salvation. |
18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;