By the expression "be subject" he indicates such strong obedience that, if necessary, they would serve them by deed.
Heb. 13:17. for they watch over your souls, as those who must give account;
Let the instructors hear that just as the people must obey, so too must the priest tirelessly care for the people, since he will have to give an account for their sins.
Heb. 13:17. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.
If you submit, he says, and please your instructor, then you lighten for him the burden of caring for you, since he rejoices in your obedience. But if you act shamelessly, then although he will still care for your soul in that case, if you do not make amends for your disobedience, he will groan for you before God, which is of no benefit to you. Notice that he does not allow the instructor to defend himself with anything other than groaning. And although this imperceptibly instills in him (the instructor — Ed.) a spirit of meekness, against that incorrigible one who provokes the fearsome avenger God (that is, against that sinner who provokes the wrath of God — Ed.), He (that is, God — Ed.) kindles a terrible fire of punishment. Therefore you, who disobey your instructor, should not despise him because he groans, but rather should fear the fact that he is handing you over to God.
Heb. 13:18. Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience,
Since some slandered the apostle, as though he teaches apostasy from the law, many of the Jews were hostile toward him. Therefore he did not indicate his name at the beginning of the epistle, since they could not even bear to hear of him. So then, defending himself before them, he first of all asks them to pray for him, which we usually ask of friends; then he also reveals his innocence. For among all people, not only among the Gentiles, but also among you, we did nothing with hypocrisy, our conscience is clear and we know that we did not plot evil against you, did nothing wrong to you, did not slander you.
Heb. 13:18. "Because in all things we desire to conduct ourselves honestly."
That is, striving to lead a life carefully and blamelessly. And the very thing that I say, that the law has no power, is not the speech of a foe and adversary. For I rather introduce the fulfillment of the law and show that the "shadow" has received its end. So then, is this apostasy? Am I not your benefactor when I lead you to perfection, completely drawing you away from the shadow and the infantile disposition?
Heb. 13:19. And I especially urge you to do this, so that I may be restored to you the sooner.
To wish them so warmly and with all care to pray that he might return to them sooner — this came from his strong love for them. At the same time, he shows that he relies on his conscience, and therefore appeals to them. He would not have done this if he had felt anything bad in his conscience.
Heb. 13:20. Now the God of peace,
First of all, having asked them for prayers and honored them by this, he then also prays for them himself. Since, he says, God is the God of peace, you should not be agitated against me, and moreover on the basis of mere hearsay alone.
Heb. 13:20. Raised from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep
He instills in them the teaching about the resurrection, making use of the prophecy of Isaiah (Is. 10). And since there are also other shepherds—lesser ones—he said "great." For the prophets are many teachers, but Christ is the one instructor for all.
Heb. 13:20. Blood of the eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus Christ,
That is, He raised Him from the dead after His death and after the shedding of His Blood, so that He gave us a covenant not subject, like the covenant of the law, to annulment, but an eternal one. For thus He raised Him from the dead with the Blood of the eternal covenant. For after the resurrection He granted us His Blood in a covenant. For if He had not risen, His Blood would not have served us as a covenant.
Heb. 13:21. may He perfect you in every good work,
He shows that they had good works and only needed to be perfected in them. This is what he also prays for on their behalf. See that we ourselves must first begin, and then ask for perfection from God.
Heb. 13:21. to the fulfillment of His will,
He who has been perfected in every good deed does the will of God, not he who does good only halfway.
Heb. 13:21. working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. To Him be glory forever and ever! Amen.
Consequently, when we do good, it is God who accomplishes it in us through Jesus Christ, that is, through Him who serves as Mediator and Perfecter. For if He accomplished our salvation in the beginning, what is surprising if He also serves as Mediator in our advancement in virtues and fulfills the Father's will in us, Himself strengthening us and breathing into us the power to perform good deeds? To the word "well-pleasing" he added: "to Him." For we are truly well-pleasing when we prove to be good before God, and not when before men. And David says: "according to the cleanness of my hands before His eyes" (Ps. 17:25); and Isaiah: "remove your evil deeds from before My eyes" (Isa. 1:16).
Heb. 13:22. I beseech you, brethren, receive this word of exhortation;
Do you not see? He offers them what he offered to no one else. He does not say "persuasions," but "exhortations," that is, encouragements, reassurances toward endurance, since he was addressing his words to those who had been subjected to persecution.