SERMON Hebrews 13 v1 and v2 LOVE OUT LOUD

LOVE OUT LOUD

13     Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

INSIGHT

Be more friendly, kind, loving, generous, welcoming.

1. We are commanded to love our neighbors

2. We are to be assertive with our love. Love is a verb to be heard, felt, seen, or experienced.

3. The angels are connected to our blessings / destiny. It is not because they have the blessing, but because they are a part of the test from God on how we treat one another.

Brotherly love (13:1). Believers are called to “live a life of love” (Eph. 5:2). Christ’s “new commandment” is to “love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). A number of passages describe that lifestyle, and the call to love brothers and sisters in Christ is repeated in every epistle (cf. Rom. 12:9–10; 1 Cor. 13; 2 Cor. 8:24; Gal. 5:13–14; Eph. 5:2, etc.). Here the writer calls Christian love “brotherly,” for all Christians are members of God’s family. If we extend family love to each other, we will experience unity (Phil. 2:2; Col. 2:2) and be compelled to share material and spiritual resources with others (1 John 3:16–18).

Angels unaware (13:2). Some visitors entertained by O.T. saints were angels (cf. Gen. 18:1–5; 19:1–2).

Identify with

1. brotherly love—a distinct special manifestation of “charity” or “love” (2Pe 1:7). The Church of Jerusalem, to which in part this Epistle was addressed, was distinguished by this grace, we know from Acts (compare Heb 6:10; 10:32–34).

continue—Charity will itself continue. See that it continue with you.

7. Two manifestation

ns of “brotherly love,” hospitality and care for those in bonds.

Enjoying Spiritual Fellowship (Heb. 13:1–6)

The basis for this fellowship is brotherly love. As Christians, these Hebrew people no doubt had been rejected by their friends and families. But the deepest kind of fellowship is not based on race or family relationship; it is based on the spiritual life we have in Christ. A church fellowship based on anything other than love for Christ and for one another simply will not last. For other references to “brotherly love” see Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9–10; 1 Peter 1:22; and 2 Peter 1:7.

Where there is true Christian love, there will also be hospitality (Heb. 13:2). This was an important ministry in the early church because persecution drove many believers away from their homes. Also, there were traveling ministers who needed places to stay (3 John 5–8). Many poor saints could not afford to stay in an inn; and since the churches met in homes (Rom. 16:5), it was natural for a visitor to just stay with his host. Pastors are supposed to be lovers of hospitality (Titus 1:8); but all saints should be “given to hospitality” (Rom. 12:13).

Moses (Gen. 18) gives the story of Abraham showing generous hospitality to Jesus Christ and two of His angels. Abraham did not know who they were when he welcomed them; it was only later that he discovered the identities of his illustrious guests. You and I may not entertain angels in a literal sense (though it is possible); but any stranger could turn out to be a messenger of blessing to us. (The word “angel” simply means “messenger.”) Often we have had guests in our home who have turned out to be messengers of God’s blessings.

Love also expresses itself in concern (Heb. 13:3). It was not unusual for Christians to be arrested and imprisoned for their faith. To identify with these prisoners might be dangerous; yet Christ’s love demanded a ministry to them. To minister to a Christian prisoner in the name of Christ is to minister to Christ Himself (Matt. 25:36, 40). In our free country we are not arrested for our religious beliefs; but in other parts of the world, believers suffer for their faith. How we need to pray for them and share with them as the Lord enables us!