Brotherly Love Lived Out

INTRODUCTION

Read Hebrews 13:1

The phrase let brotherly love continue introduces the final chapter of the book of Hebrews, but continues the flow of thought previously delved into by the author.

They have developed the case that Jesus is superior to any and all religious expression previously held to under the Old Covenant

They have acknowledged the tremendous trials that the readership have endured since coming to Christ, including being thrown in prison and having their personal property plundered

As a means of encouragement, the author points them to Old Testament saints who were faithful, despite their own hardships and not receiving the promises of God before they died

Finally, the author points to Jesus Himself as being the ultimate example of enduring hostility for the sake of righteousness, and that the “discipline of the Lord” (i.e. trials and hardships) is conforming us into the image of Christ (cf. Romans 8:29)

We now reach the point of returning to the author’s thoughts prior to chapters 11 and 12. Read Hebrews 10:32-39.

The readers are facing hardships and trials and opposition, but they are told not to throw away their confidence and shrink back. Instead, let brotherly love continue.

This phrase is in the imperative mood and is a command by the author.

The temptation exists to be quiet concerning their faith, but he says, “Don’t!” Everything they are enduring is changing them into the image of Christ. So continue to love and support one another, as you have already been doing.

As we engage with the text in Hebrews 13, let’s observe the six ways in which we are to see Brotherly Love Lived Out.

BROTHERLY LOVE LIVED OUT IN THE AREA OF HOSPITALITY

Read Hebrews 13:2

A stranger, by definition, is someone we do not know personally. It is a panhandler in the median of a street asking for money. It is a mom or dad who seemingly do not have enough money to pay for family groceries.

Consequently, it is easy to be deceived when helping a stranger. A person who asks us for $10 to buy food for their family may spend it on alcohol or drugs. We should use our common sense in deciding how best to help the, but our primary concern should be for helping, not for avoiding being taken advantage of.

If we help in good faith, God will honor our effort.

Love is often taken advantage of, yet, we are still told to love your neighbor as yourself.

Do we have open homes, ready to serve and meet the needs of others? Do we have an open church institution ready to do the same?

The point of the second half of verse 2 is that we can never know how important and far-reaching a simple act of helpfulness may be.

We minister because of need, not because of any consequences we are able to foresee.

Genesis 18:1–2 (ESV)

And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth

Abraham was ready and eager to be hospitable to anyone that came to his home. In this case, it was the LORD Himself and, chapter 19 reveals, two angels with Him.

Could you imagine being in a situation where you were not hospitable to your Creator?

We are told in Scripture that God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:27)

Yet, we are more apt to find reasons why we can’t be hospitable toward others rather than having a ready at all times policy.

“But my house is not clean…” “What are they going to think when they see this mess?”

Who cares? What self-centered people we are.

Your brother/sister is dealing with depression, loss of a loved one, a marriage on the rocks, etc., and all you can think about is how “unpresentable” your house is?

1 Peter 4:9

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

BROTHERLY LOVE LIVED OUT IN THE AREA OF BROTHERLY ASSOCIATION

Read Hebrews 13:3

This verse changes the focus to those imprisoned and abused for their faith (cf. 10:34).

Imprisoned believers could easily be forgotten and neglected.

“Out of sight, out of mind.”

However, having sympathy for others can help sustain our love for them.

It is easier to help others when we ourselves have needed help.

It is easier to appreciate hunger when we have been hungry, loneliness when we have been lonely, and persecution when we have been persecuted.

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

There are people who are part of this church who have not been in this building in years.

Part of it stems from their fear for their health.

Part of it is linked to their need to care for their family.

Part of it is because their health prevents them from doing much of anything.

It is very important that we not forget these individuals…these members of the Body.

Being out of sight does not mean they must be out of our thoughts and prayers.

We can easily pick up a phone, write a letter, or take an hour a week and go visit with them.

They are stuck in their own prison. Let’s not forget them.

We need to proactively carve out time in our busy schedule to disciple and encourage one another.

BROTHERLY LOVE LIVED OUT IN THE AREA OF INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS

Read Hebrews 13:4

The exhortation that marriage should be honored by all is essential because it demonstrates that Christ’s people, where they are visible in the world, ought to be seen as a people who value marriage.

Note, this is not a negative statement. It’s a positive one. Christians should honor marriage, publicly and privately, as the monogamous union of a man and a woman.

And let’s not lose sight of that, it is a man and a woman that God has ordained for the marriage union.

God the Father honored marriage by establishing it in Genesis 2. Jesus honored marriage by performing His first miracle at a wedding in John 2. The Holy Spirit honored marriage by using it to picture the church in the New Testament in Ephesians 5.

Also notice that the Bible teaches that sexual morality—in all of its aspects and manifestations—comes down to one central thing: sex belongs in marriage and nowhere else.

There is no need to elaborate for long on this point. Pornography, prostitution, polyamourus relationships, etc. are all perversions of God’s intended realm and purpose for sex.

Ephesians 5:3

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

BROTHERLY LOVE LIVED OUT IN THE AREA OF FINANCIAL CONTENTMENT

Read Hebrews 13:5-6

Many people have tried to be satisfied by being rich and collecting all the wealth they can, but that is never enough.

JD Rockefeller, one of the richest people to have lived in America, would be worth about $26 billion in today’s money.

When asked once, "How much money is enough money?" He replied, "Just a little bit more."

Jim Carrey, a successful and famous actor, has said…

“I hope everybody could get rich and famous and will have everything they ever dreamed of, so they will know that it's not the answer.”

Ecclesiastes 5:10 ESV

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

The more you get the more you want.

When we focus on material things, our having will never catch up with our wanting.

The appetite for more will consume anyone who gets in its way.

It is not wrong, of course, to earn or to have wealth. Abraham and Job were extremely wealthy.

We must guard our hearts from the love of money.

1 Timothy 6:6-10

BROTHERLY LOVE LIVED OUT IN THE AREA OF FOLLOWING AND OBEYING SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

Read Hebrews 13:7-16

The primary purpose of this passage is for Jews who had heard and professed the gospel not to return to legalism. The New Covenant in Jesus Christ has standards, very high standards, but they do not involve ceremonies, rituals, holy days, and formalities. Jews were used to having religious regulations for everything, and it was hard for them to adjust to freedom in Christ. It was difficult for them to accept the truth Paul expresses in 1 Corinthians 8:8, that food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

All their lives they had been taught and had believed that what you ate and did not eat was extremely important to God. Even how it was prepared and eaten was important.

One of the saddest things in the world is for a Christian to get drawn into false doctrine and be rendered ineffective, to lose his joy, reward, and testimony.

Read Hebrews 13:17

The leaders of the church are called elders or overseers, the titles being interchangeable. These mature men are ordered by the Spirit of God to rule over His church on earth until Christ returns.

It is the right of such men, under God and in meekness and humility, to determine the direction of the church, to preside over it, to teach the word in it, to reprove, rebuke, and exhort.

Just as church leaders are to rule in love and humility, those under their leadership are to submit in love and humility.

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 (ESV)

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

When you do not have Spirit-filled leaders who rule well or submissive people who follow well, you have chaos and disunity in the church and open the doors to all sorts of spiritual problems.

BROTHERLY LOVE LIVED OUT IN THE AREA OF PRAYING FOR OTHERS

Read Hebrews 13:18-19

It appears that the writer of Hebrews was a leader in the church, possibly of those they were writing to, and they ask for prayer support. Every servant of Christ needs the prayers of the believers they are called to work with.

Church leaders are made of the same stuff as those they serve.

They have sins, weaknesses, limitations, blind spots, and needs of all sorts.

Without the prayers of the people, they cannot be the most effective in His work.

Ephesians 6:18–20 (ESV)

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

CONCLUSION

Let’s pray.

Read for a benediction Hebrews 13:20-21