Hebrews 13:7-25

Last week, Elias preached on Hebrews 13:1-6 and gave us 4 points that we ought to remember. He preached on the importance of how love is an action. Yes, love has emotion but you often see how it is defined by what we do and that brotherly love must continue. A way of showing this love is through hospitality. And hospitality in that day, was dangerous. Not only did you have to give up your space and have faith in God that that person who you are helping wouldn’t rob or harm you, Christians were also being persecuted and if you helped someone, you could die cause of it.

Elias preached on the importance of marriage and how the marriage bed must be undefiled. I’ve been married for 4 years and what a blessing but the world is making it easier and easier to disregard marriage than ever before. We must honor it though as it reflects Christ’s love for the church. He talked about the love of money is wrong and it should not become our idol.

I want to go back to his second point and share you a story. I read this book in high school and although, I wasn’t a huge fan of reading at that age, this book captivated my attention and also motivated me to show the kind of love, this person had and how living out verse 1 and 2. This is a brief overview of what this book entails.

Overview of “The Hiding Place” by Corrie Ten Boom

In the midst of Nazi-occupied Holland, Corrie ten Boom lived out her faith with a boldness that few could imagine. She and her family were ordinary people, watchmakers by trade, but they served an extraordinary God. When Jewish neighbors began to disappear, the Ten Boom family knew they couldn’t stand idly by. Motivated by their faith in Christ and their love for God’s people, they opened their home as a hiding place for Jews and members of the Dutch resistance. Though it was dangerous and illegal, they believed that obedience to God was more important than fear of man.

Their faith was put to the ultimate test when they were betrayed and arrested. Corrie, her sister Betsie, and their elderly father were sent to prison, and later Corrie and Betsie were transferred to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. The suffering there was unimaginable, yet Corrie and Betsie continued to minister to those around them. They smuggled a small Bible into the camp and held secret Bible studies, offering hope and the message of Christ. Even as her own faith wavered at times, Corrie witnessed the unshakable trust her sister Betsie had in God’s promises. Betsie’s words—spoken shortly before her death were “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”

Years after the war, Corrie’s showed her faith yet again. At a speaking event, a man approached her—a former Ravensbrück guard who had inflicted suffering upon her and countless others. He asked for her forgiveness. Through God’s strength and she forgave him.

Remember and Imitate Your Leaders

Hebrews 13:7 ESV

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

I love and am inspired by Her story as it shows us what it means to trust God in the most difficult circumstances, to live out the radical love of God and it started through showing hospitality to the Jew, and the forgiveness of Christ. The book Hiding Place goes into much more detail of how awful the prison camps were, how she was treated, what and who she lost. However, she is a woman of God we must remember and imitate.

This is a reminder of the passage I preached on a few weeks ago on remembering those of old and their faith.

Think of Abraham, a man who left his city and family who worshipped idols because God called Him and he obeyed. He trusted in God and had faith in Him.

Think of Moses, who was hidden and grew up in an Egyptian household but knew whose family he truly was apart of. Rather than being content to be in a household that mistreats his family and enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin and as Hebrews 11:28-29: “By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” Moses through faith, obeyed and led the people of israel out of Egypt

But let’s take it a step further and think of closer examples for these Christians.

Think of Stephen, the first martyr (one who dies for their faith), as he continued to preach the gospel to those around him and would not stop doing it, to the point of death.

Think of Peter, a man who was imperfect and denied Jesus Christ 3 times, led thousands of people to Jesus Christ as he shared the gospel and was empowered. Was imprisoned for his faith, reminded the church in his letters the importance of suffering and trials that refine us, and Peter ended up dying for His faith.

But that does not stop at these names that are famous but those that are Christian leaders there.

Think of Pastors, Elders, Deacons, and Teachers, these Hebrews should remember their leaders and imitate their faith. Often, you may ask, how do I grow closer to God? Well talk to your leaders and see what they do to grow closer to God and imitate them. See how they respond to suffering, see how they turn away from sin, see how they worship God, see the outcome of their faith as Hebrews 13:7 says. They will not live a perfect life but do you see an overall life that is transformed by the gospel? Remember them and Imitate them.

And those that are leaders or feel the call to be one, evaluate your life and be hard on yourself. You must be an example to the flock and this cannot be surface and just an act as we see how much God hates those who “act” like their just and their heart is in the wrong. 1 Peter 5:2-3 Calls us leaders to

1 Peter 5:2–3 ESV

2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Leaders don’t get to just domineer but lead through servitude and when they do tell you to do something, look at their ministry and trust them. There will be more on this later.

Best way to close out this point though, is for all of us, remember Christ.

Hebrews 13:8 ESV

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

At the end of the day, people will fail you and make mistakes, but don’t let that change your view of Jesus. I understand the temptation that can seep in your mind which is why scripture truly calls those that are leaders and are supposed to be role-models of how Jesus would live, are judged stricter and have a higher-accountability. But Jesus never changes and we must place our faith in Him and Him alone. Although we must follow our leaders and imitate their faith, we ultimately need to follow and imitate in the one who never changes, the one who God made flesh and dwelt among us.

Hold on to the True Gospel

So after the first point, the writer of Hebrews says to trust your leaders, remember those who spoke to you the word of God because what they taught to you about Jesus is true. Don’t be swayed by other comforts that may come into your mind or what the surrounding environment is telling you.

Jesus Christ doesn’t change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

This verse also leads in to this next section of what this passage is going into because of what the next verse after it.

Hebrews 13:8–9 ESV

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

This book or many scholars refer to Hebrews as a sermon or homily. Can you imagine that, we just get up and read to you the whole book of Hebrews. Honestly, might be kind of cool. But Hebrews is written to a Jewish Christian audience and that makes sense.

The title of this book, Hebrews. Hebrews, Israelites, and Jews are close synonyms and are often used interchangeably.

Hebrews has approximately 35 direct quotations from the Old Testament, more than many other New Testament books.

We have see how Jesus is greater than the angels and that He is superior to them. Mentioning angels to a group that didn’t know much about them would not have been helpful.

The book of Hebrews talks about Moses, a prominent figure in Jewish History.

Talks about covenants, promises that God has made to His people and how Jesus has fulfilled that covenant and is greater.

The writer mentions of old practices of sacrifices and how that is no longer needed because Jesus’ one sacrifice is for all.

So to circle back to verse 9:

Hebrews 13:9 ESV

9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

What seems to be the case around here is people were making sure to uphold their Jewish Diet as a way of salvation. Or salvation plus Jesus. That is not the true Gospel. The true Gospel is that Jesus Christ has died for your sins and raised 3 days later. The true Gospel is that Jesus is still alive and breathing and is victorious over Satan and Hell. The true Gospel gives you freedom from sin, traditions, and legalism. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him.

You are not saved by a diet, how many pushups you can do, or by just being a good person. You are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Do you have faith in Jesus Christ? If you do, what is the fruit or evidence of it? Because don’t just say you you have faith, but live like you have faith.

Hold on to the true gospel and as verse 9 states do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings.

Transition: Now the next few verses can be a little confusing as I will explain the old testament correlations.

Christ Suffered and Sacrificed, So Should We

The old law would consist of animal sacrifices, what you can and shouldn’t eat, days you should remember, and that can be important but the legalism is not what saves you. This was a temptation for these Jewish Christians as those around them that were Jewish would treat these Jewish Christians as outcasts.

Hebrews 13:10 ESV

10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.

David Guzik states “Their friends and relatives remaining in traditional Judaism labeled these Jewish Christians illegitimate because they did not continue the Levitical system. But the writer to the Hebrews insisted that we have an altar, and it is an altar that those who cling to the Levitical system have no right to.”

He uses the word altar, that this audience is very familiar to and that our altar is different. The Levitical system was an altar that was a specifically designed platform for animal sacrifices and certain rituals. Our altar is the cross, not a legal system. And those that cling onto legalism and not Jesus Christ have no right to be apart of.

Hebrews 13:11 ESV

11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.

Verse 11 talks about the Day of Atonement which we see in Leviticus 16:15-16 and Leviticus 16:27 The Day of Atonement was thought as the most solemn day occuring once a year on the seventh month of Hebrew Calendar. it focused on the atonement of sin and the sacrifice of the entire nation, not just the individual people but overall. It was a day that acted as reset, cleansing the holy place so God’s presence could remain among His people.

Leviticus 16:16 ESV

16 Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.

And then what they would do with all of these animal remains and take outside of the camp.

Leviticus 16:27 ESV

27 And the bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp. Their skin and their flesh and their dung shall be burned up with fire.

By doing so this symbolically removed the sin and its uncleaness from the community representing God’s forgiveness and the removal of sin.

This also showcased the holiness of God. God cannot be with sin.

Now their friends and family that were just Jewish and didn’t believe in Christ, were treating these Jewish Christians as those animals who would be slaughtered and put outside the camp. And Jesus was experienced this.

Hebrews 13:12–14 ESV

12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

The animal remains that were sacrificed for God and taken outside of the camp on this Day of Atonement is a wonderful symbol that points to Jesus Christ because He also suffered outside the gate meaning He was rejected and beaten His own people.

But you also see this institutional Jewish system that “In their terminology” they are treating those that follow grace are “outside the camp” despised and rejected.

And I love what the writer shares, even though His own people rejected Him, we must also do the same. We must also go outside the camp and bear the same sort of reproach that He endured. This is no easy task and yes, people were dying but let us not be afraid of the suffering, persecution, and even death because Jesus Christ is whom we ought to imitate and follow.

Remember, this is not our permanent residence, but heaven is. Focus on the city that is to come.

Yes, this terminology outside the camp means we must be okay with being rejected by the people around us. Hold on to the true Gospel and remind yourself of heaven. A city that is so much greater than your current location.

For our city is to come, and it is so much greater than this life.

So if you are confused, that is okay. What I want you to remember from these verses is that this book is written to Jewish Christians and they had a system that they were tempted to go back to, the author is saying no, you are saved through Christ, not through a diet nor rituals but through the grace of God because Christ has fulfilled the old system. Don’t be be scared of standing out or not fitting in to those around you (those that aren’t christian). If Christ was despised, beaten, rejected, and lived a life of sacrifice, we need to go outside the camp and bear the same reproach He endured. A follower of Jesus will do what Jesus did.

You are not saved by what you do, but if you are saved and have the spirit of God in you, you got work to do. You must obey, don’t just sin on deliberately, don’t worship other masters, don’t hide your faith as these Christians were starting to do. Go and worship the king.

Worship God

What is funny, as the worship pastor, these verses about praising God with our lips will probably be my shortest point. But i love the specific wording that these verses state.

Hebrews 13:15–16 ESV

15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

I have focused a lot as a worship pastor on the emphasis of what it truly means to worship God, because it’s not just with our lips. When you are on the worship team or for those that love music, you might believe that worshipping God is easy. You love to sing and to play and you love music! However, worshipping God is so much more than what you say.

Romans 12:1 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

True worship is presenting your body as a living sacrifice because Christ sacrificed His life for you and now you ought to live a life of doing the same. Good chance for where we are, you probably won’t physically die although that can happen. You will need to sacrifice many things though because God doesn’t want just mere words but a heart that is for God and is obeying Him. Obedience will take sacrifice.

Turning away from pornography and obeying God IS worship. Little do you know how difficult it will be to get it out of your system.

Turning away from laziness and selfishness will feel so burdensome, but working for the glory of God and living a life that is for Him and not for you IS worship.

Sharing the Gospel with your friends and the truth of Jesus will often hurt your status and people will be uncomfortable, you’ll be uncomfortable, but obeying God and being courageous of the Gospel IS worship.

However, with that reminder, the writer of Hebrews says to also worship God with your lips! That this praise to God is a sacrifice. Acknowledge His name. You can do this in song, in prayer, and simply just telling God how awesome He is.

If you don’t know what to say, open up the book of Psalms and King David has a multitude of words to use to acknowledge the greatness of our God.

Acknowledging His name and praising Him with your lips will actually feel satisfying because it is why you were created.

It also will help soften your heart so that you can continue to be a living sacrifice for Him every day. And in this case, the people of Hebrews need to show their hospitality.

Hebrews 13:16 ESV

16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

If Jesus Christ was rejected, beaten, tortured, and sacrificed His life for you, know that we must also live a life of sacrifice. Faith in Christ is not an insurance policy, it is a life of sacrifice and the Holy Spirit, who dwells in those that believe Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior, will convict your heart that we need to be like Christ.

Pray For and Obey Your Leaders

Last year, I preached on a passage that talked a lot about sexual immorality and I heard a few comments saying “I don’t think I’ve ever heard the word sex more in a sermon” It was needed since that is what the passage was talking about but in all honesty, that is an easier topic for me to preach on than these next two verses.

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

There is a reason for why there are leaders and shepherds a church. What we often see and feel is this call to ministry. When I became a Pastor here, there was this call. And I didn’t get a vision from God. I simply felt the conviction and had that awareness to be a Pastor and I knew if I said no, that I would not be satisfied and it would be wrong. I’m blessed that God has lead me here and it is a weighty responsibility that I do not take lightly nor do the other pastors, elders, and deacons.

I want to handle this verse with one of my favorite words and that is balance. And to do this, let’s read 1 Peter 5:2-5

1 Peter 5:2–5 ESV

2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

The Responsibility of the Leader

Let’s focus on the first few verses and this should be the heart of a leader. We have oversight but it’s

Not under compulsion but willing. We don’t lead because of this “feeling forced” or “I have to do this”. This is a privilege and a noble calling and there should be this desire, this willingness to shepherd the church.

Not for gaining any sort of thing but just because of this eagerness to lead God’s people.

We don’t lead through this domineering behavior but through the example we uphold. As we lead you all, we are also doing our best to uphold the same sort of commands scripture tells us all.

Whenever we ask you to turn away from sin, share the gospel, we need to do the same.

The Responsibility of the Congregant

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Often the counsel you receive from leaders are for your walk with Christ. When the leader tells you to do something or not to do something, scripture does say to obey and submit. There are going to be moments where us leaders have prayed and talked and we would like to move forward in a certain direction. This does not mean you can’t ask questions, have a conversation, and double check stuff yourself. But if it aligns with scripture and becomes more preferential, I would see scripture to say submit.

If the responsibility of the leader is done well, I pray and hope that this command won’t be so hard.

The Responsibility of Both

1 Peter 5:5 ESV

5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

The three words all of you, directly correlate to the elder and those under. If all of our hearts are humble and fixated on Christ, we can truly move forward through anything, it’s when our pride comes and really makes a mess of things.

A key way in doing so is prayer.

Hebrews 13:18 ESV

18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.

Prayer is amazing as it aligns our hearts to God’s will and we all should be praying so much more. But i encourage you, pray for us.

The author echoes to on how we need to respond to have a clear conscience and that leaders need to desire to act honorably in all things.

Everything that you have seen and heard from the pastors and preachers as we’ve gone through the book of Hebrews, is not just for you all but for us. We Struggle and Suffer as well and we need this reminder just as much as you. Please pray for us as we pray for you and prayer does a wonderful job at softening our hearts for one another as we all need to be humble and obeying your leaders won’t be as hard, especially when we are truly living as an example.

Closing

I feel the best way to end this series and this sermon is to simply read verses 20 and 21. The last 3 verses relate to some updates and a great way to close out the letter but verses 20 and 21 should be how we end this.

Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.