Hebrews 13:1-6 - In Jesus, We Have a Priestly Ministry of Love

Introduction

The book of Hebrews is a sermon on Psalm 110, and like any good sermon, the author gives application throughout, but also in the conclusion. Here we have the first broad application of love as a part of our priestly worship.

The Epistle to the Hebrews 13:1. A Community of Mutual Love

“the life of brotherly love constitutes an essential aspect of the worship which Christians must render to God; without brotherly love, there is no authentic worship”

Hebrews 12:28 “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,”

Our Public Service (Heb 13:1-3)

Love for our Brothers and Sisters (Heb 13:1)

“Brotherly love” - We are brothers and sisters of one another,

Hebrews 3:6 “but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”

Hebrews 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.”

Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,”

but also of Christ

Hebrews 2:11 “For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,”

Hebrews 2:12 “saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.””

Hebrews 2:17 “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

“Continue” - remain

Hebrews 7:3 “He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.”

Learned this from Jesus

Matthew 25:35–36 “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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’”

Learned this from the Spirit in the Gospel

1 Thessalonians 4:9 “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,”

Love for Strangers (Heb 13:2)

Love manifests itself in showing hospitality to others.

The focus here is primarily traveling Christians who are strangers

The Didache: A Window on the Earliest Christians The Teaching of the Lord Given to the Gentiles by the Twelve Apostles

11.3 Now, turning to apostles and prophets you must treat them according to the rule of the gospel.

11.4 Every apostle who arrives among you is to be welcomed as if he were the Lord.

11.5 But normally he must not stay with you for more than one day, but he may stay a second day if this is necessary. However, if he stays a third day, then he is a false prophet!

11.6 When he leaves you, an apostle must receive nothing except enough food to sustain him until the next night’s lodgings. However, if he asks for money, then he is a false prophet

11.9 Now if a prophet speaking in the Spirit orders a banquet, then that man should not partake in it; if he does eat the meal, then he is a false prophet.

“entertained angels” - allusion to Abraham greeting Yahweh, who promises that Abraham will have a son

Genesis 18:2–15 ESV

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 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

Hospitality is a Christian virtue

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

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

Hospitality is a qualification of church leaders

1 Timothy 3:2 “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,”

Titus 1:8 “but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.”

Love for Those in Special Need (Heb 13:3)

“in prison” and “mistreated” This is a concrete application. We are to identify with and care for those who are suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

Care for Christians who are persecuted for their faith. It is tempting to ignore or forget them because of the shame of associating with them.

Hebrews 10:34 “For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.”

“in the body” - Jesus our example

Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Hebrews 2:14–18 “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

“remember” - God remembered us in our need! And he sent Jesus to be our high priest and king ruling at his right hand. And he sent his Spirit to live in us through the New Covenant!

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Our Private Service (Heb 13:4-6)

Love in our Marriages (Heb 13:4)

“let marriage be held in honor” - highly esteem and hold sacred. More than simply respect. We are to do everything we can to preserve marriage.

the word for honor is used for precious stones. My grandfather gave me a diamond so I could propose to Jennafer.

“let the marriage bed be undefiled”

Sexual immorality (porneia) is the broad term for any sexual sin outside of marriage, and adultery is a part of that category.

Sexual immorality is selfish and unloving.

God invented sex. He calls it good in marriage. Sex belongs in marriage and nowhere else.

“God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous”

A reference to the final judgment

Hebrews 10:29–31 “How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Revelation 22:15 “Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”

Not Loving Money (Heb 13:5)

One of the results of persecution was the loss of their property (Heb 10:34).

Money is not the problem. Love of money is the problem.

Love of money is just as addictive as immoral sex, and we are commanded to keep our lives free of such coveting.

Matthew 6:24 ““No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

A love of money prevents people from showing hospitality and love to others.

Exodus 20:14 ““You shall not commit adultery.” Seventh commandment.

Exodus 20:15 ““You shall not steal.” Eighth commandment.

Exodus 20:17 ““You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”” Tenth commandment.

Think of the generosity of our Father in heaven. He does not hoard. He is not selfish. He is love. He does not refuse the poor. He delights in mercy. He gives to all the common grace of life and breath.

Contentment in God’s Love (Heb 13:5-6)

God’s Love Means He Provides (Heb 13:5)

Hebrews 12:27 “This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.””

Deuteronomy 31:8 “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.””

What a glorious thought. God wants to remove all objections that your fear and unbelief bring up to your heart.

Hebrews: Crossway Classic Commentaries Verses 1–8

“Let people do what they will, let any circumstances arise, I will not at any time, on any occasion, for any reason, leave you, nor forsake you.” Positive blessings are contained in these negative expressions. Never will I leave you assures us of God’s presence: “whatever your state or condition I will never withdraw my presence from you”; never will I forsake you assures us of God’s help, as the apostle emphasizes in the next verse: “I will never allow you to be helpless in any trouble; my help will continue with you.”

God’s Love Means He Protects (Heb 13:6)

Psalm 118:6 “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

The Psalm is written in the midst of persecution, and hopes in the coming Messiah who is the Cornerstone

The Letter to the Hebrews A. True Service to God Involves Serving His People, 13:1–6

Since the listeners of Hebrews have the promise of God’s constant presence, they know that, whatever they experience, he will not abandon them but will supply their every need.

Conclusion

The Epistle to Digonetus was written in the late 100’s by an unknown author. Some have speculated that Diognetus was one of the tutors of the emperor Marcus Aurelius

The Apostolic Fathers in English §5 Christian Practices

5.1 For Christians, neither by country or language or customs, are distinguished from the rest of humanity. 2 For they do not dwell somewhere in their own cities, nor do they use some strange language, nor do they practice a peculiar way of life. 3 This teaching of theirs has not been found by any thought or reflection of inquisitive people, nor do they advocate human doctrine, as some do. 4 But while living in both Greek and barbarian cities, as each have obtained by lot, and while following 1 the local customs both in clothing and in diet and in the rest of life, they demonstrate the wonderful and most certainly 2 strange character of their own citizenship. 3 5 They live in their own countries, but as aliens. 4 They share in everything as citizens and endure everything as foreigners. 5 Every foreign country is ⌊their country⌋, 6 and every country is foreign. 6 They marry 7 like everyone, they bear children, but they do not expose 8 their offspring. 7 They set a common table, but not a common bed. 9 8 They happen to be in the flesh but do not live according to the flesh. 10 9 They spend time 11 upon the earth, but have their citizenship 12 in heaven. 13 10 They obey the appointed laws, and in their own lives they surpass the law. 11 They love all people and by all people are persecuted. 12 They are unknown 14 and they are condemned. They are put to death and they are made alive. 15 13 They are poor and make many rich; 16 they lack everything and they have abundance 17 in everything. 14 They are dishonored 18 and in the dishonor glorified; they are slandered and they are vindicated. 15 They are reviled and they give blessing; 19 they are insulted and they give honor. 16 When doing good, 20 they are punished as evildoers, when punished they rejoice as having received life. 17 They are warred upon by the Jews as foreigners and they are persecuted by the Greeks, and those who hate are not able to state the reason for their enmity

Matthew 6:19–21 ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”