7 The
references to “your leaders” here
and at vv. 17, 24 suggest that chapter 13 was appended as a covering letter
accompanying the summary of sermons constituting chapters 1–12 and was
addressed to individuals in the congregation whom the author knew personally.
Perhaps they had heard him give this series of sermons orally and had requested
a written summary from him. The Greek phrasing seems to imply that the leaders
mentioned in this verse had died, perhaps as a result of persecution.
Imitate their trust. It should be easier for the readers to
imitate the trust of leaders they had known and loved than that of their
distant forefathers (10:35–12:4). Compare Sha’ul at 1C 11:1, “Try to imitate
me.” The chief argument for imitating these leaders is the results of their way of life.
8 This
connects with v. 7 at the point where those leaders “spoke God’s message to
you.” You acted on the message then but are forsaking it now. If Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday,
today and forever; if his sacrificial death remains the only true
atonement; if holiness, “without which no one will see the Lord” (12:14) comes
only through him; then why are you slacking off or seeking other paths to God
(see v. 9&N)? Regain your former loyalty to Yeshua, and behave accordingly!
Moreover, Yeshua’s being the same yesterday, today and forever means
that he is still Jewish and will return as a Jew. The Messiah has not been
transformed into a Christian (rather, the word “Christian” refers to people who
are being transformed by him). Yeshua was born a Jew, died a Jew, and was
resurrected a Jew. He is a Jew now, serving in heaven as a Jewish cohen gadol (2:17&N, also Rv
1:13&N). He will return as a Jewish king to occupy the throne of his Jewish
ancestor David. His humanity makes him the savior of all, both Jews and
non-Jews. But he has not himself been made over into a Gentile. (David H. Stern, Jewish New Testament
Commentary: A Companion Volume to the Jewish New Testament [Clarksville,
Tenn.: Jewish New Testament Publications, 1996], Logos Bible Software edition)