Hebrews 13:3 - Exposition

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. The Hebrew readers have been also specially commended for their past sympathy with their imprisoned and despoiled brethren ( Hebrews 10:33 , etc), having been themselves also at the same time persecuted. Whether or not sufferers themselves now, they must not be forgetful of those that are "As bound with them" seems best taken as expressing the sympathy of one member with another (cf. Hebrews 10:33 , Hebrews 10:34 and 1 Corinthians 12:26 , "If one member suffer," etc). "As being yourselves," etc., reminds them that they are still in the flesh, and so not only on this account bound to sympathize, but also liable themselves at any time to the like afflictions. Exhortations to personal purity and to contentedness follow next. Of the need, and prominence in the Epistles, of warnings against impurity see what was said on ἁγιασμόν ( Hebrews 12:14 ). St. Paul is given to couple covetousness 'rod uncleanness together in his warnings, as cognate sins, and alike incompatible with the kingdom of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:10 , 1 Corinthians 5:11 ; 1 Corinthians 6:9 , etc; Ephesians 5:3 , Ephesians 5:5 ; Colossians 3:5 ). Greediness, or inordinate desire ( πλεονεξία ), may be for sensual indulgence or for wealth—the same word is used in both senses; and such πλεονεξία , whatever its object, is fatal to the spiritual life. So here, after a warning against impurity, comes a like one against covetousness.