V. 20.— Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. Here, in drawing to a close, he offers an affectionate prayer for his brethren; and it is expressed in a manner calculated for their instruction and edification. He describes God as the God of peace. [It is an argument for Paul being the author of this Epistle that this title is only to be found in his writings.] He preaches peace to them that are far off, and to them that are nigh. He is the author of peace in all the Churches of the saints, 1 Corinthians 14:33. The same Apostle prays that the Lord of peace may give the brethren peace always, by all means, 2 Thessalonians 3:16. By the blood of His Cross Christ hath not only reconciled His people to God, but made peace between Jews and Gentiles, making of two one new man, so making peace by abolishing the enmity arising from their separation by the peculiar dispensation under which the Jews were placed. The prayer, then, is addressed to the God of peace, who is characterized as having brought from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep. He feeds His flock as a shepherd, Isaiah 40:11, and describes Himself as sustaining this character, John 10:11, and speaks of His sheep consisting both of Jews and Gentiles, verse 16, as given to Him, verse 29. He received a commandment to lay down His life for them, verse 18. Pastors are exhorted to feed the flock, but He is the great Shepherd of the sheep. Through the blood of the everlasting covenant.— Some understand this to signify that Christ is the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant, having purchased the Church with His own blood. But it is rather to be connected with His being brought from the dead through the blood of the everlasting covenant. His being brought from the dead, or His resurrection, was the fruit of the perfection of His sacrifice, by which the sins of His people were cast into the deeps of the sea. He proclaimed with His dying breath that the work of redemption was completed, and the Father set His seal to the declaration when He raised Him from the dead. He is, therefore, said to be brought from the dead through the blood of the everlasting covenant. He had been made sin for His people, but their guilt was fully expiated by His blood. He had received the wages of sin, but, having made an end of sin, death could not retain him under its dominion; hence He was brought from the dead through the blood of the everlasting covenant, by which the covenant was ratified; and through the same blood all His blood-bought sheep shall be brought. The everlasting covenant is opposed to the temporary covenant with Israel, which they broke, and the removal of which made room for the better covenant, which can never wax old, having been in the mind of God from eternity, and shall abide for ever.