Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. Great things are spoken in Scripture of this grace (Romans 5:4; James 1:4, &c.). "The God of patience" is one of the Divine titles, and consolation goes with it. May it not be said that some of the worst evils of life spring out of impatience? I need not speak of its effects and workings in hearts and homes. In high places impatience may ruin a country. Impatience is, I think, one of the vices of our generation; nothing is allowed time to grow, room to develop, or opportunity to mend itself. Patience has two ingredients. The beautiful word for it in the original conveys definition in the very name. Patience is, being interpreted, "submissive waiting." It is often treated as if it were identical with resignation. But there is altogether another element, too, in patience, and that is expectation. Patience is willing to wait; patience does not for a moment think that the past or the present is all, and that now to look back or to bear is just the one possibility and the one duty. On the contrary, "Onward" is its watchword; it submits, but it also waits. Subjection is one part of patience, but expectation is the other. "Submissive waiting " is its name and its definition. More and more as life advances do we understand why patience should be made so much of in Scripture. "Behold, we count them happy which endure" — it is the word before us — "them that have patience." We can all see why the apostle should have preached patience to these Hebrew Christians, to whom the text was first addressed. (Dean Vaughan.) Parallel Verses KJV: For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.WEB: For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise. |
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