Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Hebrews comes to a close by commanding us to maturity in Christ.

Spiritual maturity is really the aim of all of Scripture:

28 [Christ] we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

(Colossians 1:28, ESV)

As we saw in Hebrews 6:1-2, many of them were trapped in immaturity, and needed to be constantly reminded of the elementary doctrine of Christ, and repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

The text isn’t saying that these doctrines are immature, but that those who constantly need the foundational doctrines established are immature.

They need to begin growing in Christ.

If they don’t, it may well be a sign that they aren’t actually yet saved.

TRANSITION: What does it mean to go on to maturity?

Hebrews 13:10-17 gives us an idea, by calling us to live mature, Christ-centered lives in three specific areas, beginning with the reproaches of the world.

ACCEPT THE WORLD’S REPROACH

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

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.

So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.

Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

(Hebrews 13:10–14, ESV)

Let us go to Jesus outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured.

What does that mean?

Jesus was rejected, hated, mocked, abused, cursed, marginalized, dismissed, lied about, and insulted by the world.

He told His disciples just hours before His arrest,

John 15:18-20

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’

If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.

If they kept My word, they will also keep yours.”

(John 15:18–20, ESV)

The world did everything it could to shame Jesus, but Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.

Everything they cursed and mocked and abused Him for, He came to do in obedience to the Father, to glorify the Father’s name.

So we who are in Christ are not to hide in the world, hoping we aren’t discovered, and only grudgingly acknowledging Jesus if we are.

We are to gladly go to Him outside the camp, outside the gate, where the world has banished Him.

The Lord reminds us of two incredible privileges we have in Him.

First, we have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.

For the most part, only the priests were allowed to eat of certain sacrifices offered in the desert tabernacle or the temple in Jerusalem.

But we have an infinitely greater altar: the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The world mocks what we have in Christ, but so what?

We are rich beyond compare.

And second, while it is true that we have no lasting city on earth, no place to truly call our own, what we do have is the city that is to come.

That is the city that we have seen described in previous chapters, the city that has foundations, whose designed and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10), a better country, a heavenly one, a city prepared for us by God (Hebrews 11:16), the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22).

Maturity accepts the world’s reproach because of the priceless privilege of being joined to Christ.

So to put it bluntly, who cares what the world thinks?

Instead of compromising to avoid conflict – denying Jesus just like Peter did – let’s boldly claim Him as our Lord and Savior.

TRANSITION: As those who don’t care what the world thinks, but are glad to be joined to Christ, then let us do His work in spiritual maturity.

DO JESUS’ WORK

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:15–16, ESV)

What did Jesus come to do?

He came to glorify God, and He came to serve His people.

GLORIFY GOD

Jesus prayed in John 17,

[Father] … I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave Me to do.

(John 17:4, ESV)

The Lord calls us to live for the same purpose.

First Corinthians 10:31 commands, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Our words are part of that glorification.

Having been eternal joined to Jesus Christ, through Him let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, which is the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.

Where does maturity come in?

In that word “continually”.

This is unconditional praise.

It is not based on our present experience, but on His eternal worth.

First Thessalonians 5:18 says give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

The blessings of God so greatly exceed the circumstances of our lives that there is never a moment when praise is out of place.

What about when we face truly hard times, when our circumstances seem to be crushing us?

It is in those moments, most of all, when our praise to God is a sacrifice of praise, not offered because we are pleased, but because He is worthy.

In those moments, when we vocally praise Him, we declare that His glory never fades.

We proclaim for all to hear that our joy is in Him, our hope is in Him, our love is for Him; we declare His goodness, His holiness, His protection, His wisdom, His grace, His mercy.

Speaking of sacrifices, Jesus also came to serve God’s people, and that is our job as well.

SERVE GOD’S PEOPLE

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:16, ESV)

Hebrews 6:10

The Hebrews were not strangers to doing good and sharing with others.

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 6:10, ESV)

But even faithful people can get tired, or distracted, or bored.

The word ‘neglect’ doesn’t means to ignore or overlook, it means to forget, to let something slip your mind.

If our primary motivation for service is how we feel about someone’s need, then when our feelings diminish or change, our service to them will very likely change as well.

But if our primary motivation for service is the glory of God, and someone else’s good, then we are less likely to forget.

In any case, we need to keep reminding ourselves to keep doing good, to keep sharing with those in need.

Second Thessalonians 3:13

As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

(2 Thessalonians 3:13, ESV)

TRANSITION: We’ve seen that maturity means gladly bearing the reproach of Christ, and continuing to do the work of God.

Maturity also means being led and governed by the Lord Jesus.

SUBMIT TO THE LORD

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.

(Hebrews 13:17, ESV)

Hebrews 13:17 is certainly one of the most provocative statements in Scripture.

A lot of people are flat out offended at the mere idea that they should obey and submit to someone else.

Of course, the very nature of sin is rebellion against authority, whether it is God’s authority, governmental authority, parental authority, or any other sort.

Well, the Scripture says what it says without apology, and so we must face it without rebellion: obey your leaders and submit to them.

But we must understand these words in the context of Scripture.

No human leader has any inherent authority at all.

Jesus Christ is the Lord of His church.

He has given us the Bible as our sole source of truth, infallible and inerrant.

And to ensure that we know His Word, He has placed men in the church to serve as pastor-elder-overseers.

The primary job of pastors and elders and overseers is to proclaim and teach the Scriptures to the church.

Second Timothy 4:1-2