Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 6:18

"that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us:" — Hebrews 6:18 (ASV)

God’s swearing the oath gave us “two unchangeable things,” the promise and the oath. Once God had spoken, it was inconceivable that either should alter. It is impossible for God to lie. “So that” introduces the purpose God had in mind. This purpose may be as NIV has it, or we can understand it as “so that... we who have fled may have strong encouragement to lay hold on the hope.” The writer does not specify what we have “fled” from, but the context makes it clear that he is thinking of some aspect of life in a sinful world. So far from clinging to that, he and his readers “take hold of the hope offered.” Once again we see the importance of hope, the very antithesis of the despair that might grip us if we saw no more than a sinful world. But we do see more. We look forward to the consummation of God’s great work of salvation. The word translated “offered” (GK 4618) pictures hope lying before us, spread out like some inviting prospect; and we are encouraged to go in to it.