Hebrews 13:1-3 | Hold People Closely

We are starting, technically finishing, a new sermon series based on

Hebrews 13.

Hebrews 13 are instructions about how to do “Everyday Life in Light of the Gospel”

These instructions flow out of the gospel.

Jesus is better.

Jesus is better than the prophets (Heb. 1:1–2),

better than the angels (1:5–14),

better than Moses (3:1–19),

better than the priests (4:14–5:10; 7:23–28),

better than Melchizedek (6:19–7:19),

better than all previous sacrifices (9:11–14; 10:19).

Jesus introduces a better covenant with better promises (8:3)

That brings us to our passage this morning.

Hebrews 12:28-13:3 “28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire. 1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”

How are we supposed to live our lives in light of the gospel? By worship God with reverence and awe.

The gospel creates in us a sense of awe and wonder. The gospel propels us forward to a life that seeks to please God. A failure to be motivated by the gospel only creates a sense of “I ought to” rather than a sense of “I get to.”

Chapter 13 is about living everyday life in light of the gospel.

Our relationship with people

Our relationship with sex

Our relationship with money

Our relationship with church leaders

“Hold People closely”

“Hold marriage in honor”

“Hold money loosely”

“Hold leaders in high regard” (pastor Tom?)

Let’s look at how to hold people closely.

Our response to the gospel affects how we treat the people around us. In other words,

MAIN IDEA: Our vertical worship will have a horizontal effect in our relationships

(1) Practice brotherly love

Heb 13:1 “Let brotherly love continue.”

The Greek Word for brotherly love is philadelphia.

The NT uses the word to describe the love that binds together members of the family of God as brothers and sisters (Peter O’Brien)

The author of Hebrews refers to the followers of Jesus as sons and daughters of God (Heb 2:10; 12:5). Therefore, we are members of one big family.

Since the readers are already practicing this type of brotherly love. all they need is a reminder to, “let brotherly love continue”.

Heb 6:10 “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.”

Brotherly love (philadelphia) appears in four other Bible verses.

Rom 12:10 “Love one another with brotherly affection.”

A love that genuinely cares about the other person.

“An emotional bond is implied; something is wrong when believers feel less care for each other than they do for their household dog or cat.” (Robert W. Yarbrough)

1 Thess 4:9-10 “9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,”

Our lives have the potential to increase in capacity to love others to the degree we experience the love of God.

1 Pet 1:22 “22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,”

Brotherly love must be sincere and pure. It cannot be just perfunctory and external (half-hearted) The word earnestly is an athletic term meaning “with every muscle straining.” (Bruce Barton). Therefore, brotherly affection is like a muscle, you need to use it or it lose it (the love of many will grow cold. Matt 24:12)

2 Pet 1:7 “7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”

Brotherly love is a commitment to reflect the self-sacrificial love (agape) of Christ. Perhaps Peter had in mind John 13:34-35 “34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””

One another graphic.

Our vertical worship will have a horizontal effect in our relationships

(1) Practice brotherly love

(2) Practice love for the stranger

Heb 13:2 “2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

The word translated hospitality literally means, “love for the stranger”.

In Greek there is a play on words in vv. 1 & 2

Brother-love (philadelphia) let continue

Stranger-love (philoxenia) do not neglect

Philoxenia - to receive and show hospitality to a stranger, that is, someone who is not regarded as a member of the extended family or a close friend. (Louw-Nida)

Hospitality is about welcoming those outside your circle.

Let’s look at the historical context. The early church was facing opposition and persecution.

Many had gone through the plundering of their property (Heb 10:34).

Perhaps they are the ones that Heb 11:38 refer as the ones seeking shelter in caves.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers because you never know if you’ll end up entertaining angels without recognizing who they are. More likely a reference to Gen 18-19. Abraham welcomes strangers who turn out to be angels. Abraham was greatly blessed with their message.

Love on the stranger because you never know...

Let me show a couple of other verses where hospitality is mentioned.

Romans 12:13 “13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

1 Peter 4:9 “9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

These verses teach me the need to practice hospitality with both action and affection. Hospitality is the joyful reception of the stranger. In other words hospitality is about welcoming the stranger with both our hearts and our hands.

The fact that Peter commands us to show hospitality to one another tells me that we are to show hospitality to everyone we encounter on our path (familiar people and outsiders)

The motivation: The gospel. Jesus loves welcomes the strangers.

Ephesians 2:12-13 “remember that you [gentiles] were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Come Though Fount of Every Blessing

Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; he, to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood.

Our vertical worship will have a horizontal effect in our relationships

Let’s talk about hospitality. (HGTV, Pinterest and Instagram ruined it). Hospitality is more than food. Hospitality is about welcoming those outside your common circle of family and friends.

Greet people (shake hands, tone of voice)

Smiling is a form of hospitality.

Invite someone over who’s never been to your place before for coffee/tea. Start with your neighbor.

STUDENTS: Make new students feel welcome

*Nursing room (Room 101)

Making coffee at church | picking up doughnuts

Visit the Spanish service once a year

Serve in student ministries (nursery-high school). Student ministry is a hospitality ministry.

(1) Practice brotherly love

(2) Practice love for the stranger (those outside your common circle of family and friends)

(3) Practice compassion for the persecuted church

Heb 13:3 “3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”

Two groups: those in prison and those who are mistreated.

Matthew 25:34-40 “34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

Believe it or not, Hebrews 13:3 is just as applicable as it was in the 1st century. There are those who are in prison and being mistreated because of their faith in Jesus.

In modern day terms we call it persecution and discrimination

Open Doors defines Christian persecution as “any hostility experienced as a result of proclaiming the name of Jesus.” That hostility can look different for each of the millions of believers who face persecution every day. Some experience rejection and isolation from their families, friends and communities. Others are denied access to basic needs like water, food and health care. Some face violent abuse, imprisonment and even death.

What to do:

Remember the persecuted church. They are our brothers and sisters. The command to remember is a call to practice compassion and do something.

Care. It’s call empathy. Become aware about the persecuted church. Open Doors reports that in 2022

5,621 Christians were murdered for their faith

360 million Christians around the world suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.

2,110 churches and Christian buildings were attacked last year.

5,259 Christians were abducted last year.

Pray. Pray that they will remain strong and that their joy will increase.

Ask God, how can I help? Brother Dave will be here in November to share about the persecuted church.

Our vertical worship will have a horizontal effect in our relationships

Putting it all together

Generous Living: We will joyfully give of ourselves, even when it's inconvenient. We understand our resources are from God and for His glory.

Close with asking staff to come up.