Keeping On with Love (2)

Introduction

This morning as we continue our study of the book of Hebrews. As we begin our look at the 13th chapter this morning we are only going to cover the first eight verses. I know your bulletin says we’re going to look at the entire chapter, but there is simply too much good stuff in this passage, so I thought it would be better to slow down so that we can see the good stuff.

As we begin our look at the 13th chapter this morning we are only going to cover the first eight verses. I know your bulletin says we’re going to look at the entire chapter, but there is simply too much good stuff in this passage. I want to take you back to something that Jesus said in a passage that we refer to as “The Upper Room Discourse” in

As we begin this morning, I want to take you back to something that Jesus said in a passage that we refer to as “The Upper Room Discourse” in

John 13:34-35

John 13:34–35 NIV84

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Notice the second part. “By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Followers of Jesus will be recognized by their love! When we come to the first part of Hebrews chapter 13 the author begins to emphasize the importance of love.

As we begin our look at the 13th chapter this morning we are only going to cover the first eight verses. I know your bulletin says we’re going to look at the entire chapter, but there is simply too much good stuff in this passage.

If you have your Bibles, I want to challenge you to turn with me to Hebrews chapter 13 and we’ll begin reading with verse 1. In this passage, the author is going to remind us of eight different people we are to demonstrate our love. So let’s begin with verse 1.

Hebrews 13:1-

Hebrews 13:1–3 NIV84

Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Hebrews 13:1–3 NIV84

Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Love Whom?

Love Fellow Believers

As followers of Jesus we are to love each other as brothers and sisters.

Love Strangers

We are to practice being hospitable. That is another way to translate the phrase entertain strangers. Because those who practice hospitality have actually entertained angels. This was the case with Abraham in .

Love Those in Prison

From the passage, we are to love those who are imprisoned for following Jesus.

Love The Mistreated

Once again, the emphasis of the passage is that they are being mistreated for the faith.

In both of these cases the idea is that we should love them because we may at some point join them.

Hebrews 13:4–6 NIV84

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Hebrews 13:4-6

Love our Spouse

The author reminds people that the marriage vows are sacred to God. And the marriage bed is to be kept pure.

The author reminds us that God will judge the sexually immoral, especially the adulterer.

Love for and trust of God

When you come to verse 5, the author warns us against the love of money. Instead, we are to learn to be content with what we have.

One reason the author warns us against loving money is because those who love trust money often fail to trust God. Those who love money often fail to love God.

The author reminds the reader that God is more dependable. So first he quotes where God says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Several translations translate forsake as abandon. I actually like it a little bit better. The New Living Translation puts it this way, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

Then, the author quotes with confidence from . “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

The key is that we don’t have to trust money to care for us or to make us happy. Instead, we can trust God to

care for us.

Hebrews 13:7–9 NIV84

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.

Love Your Spiritual Leaders

The author says we need to remember those spiritual leaders who shared with you the Word of God. Some scholars suggest the author is referring to those spiritual leaders may have already died. Yet, the same point applies to those who are still around.

The author also says we are to consider the outcome of the faithful life, and then imitate their faith. In the Hebrew, discipleship is accomplished by imitating the actions of the faithful leader, rather than following Jesus.

Love Jesus

Jesus our Messiah never changes. The author reminds us that He is always the same yesterday, today, and forever! Our love for Jesus comes from His dependability.

Conclusion

Love is supposed to be the hallmark of the Christian life. After all this talk about love, the most common question I get asked is, “How do you define love?” Well, Paul does a good job of that in 1 Corinthians. In chapter 13, he tells us what love is and what it isn’t.

1 Corinthians 13:4–13 NIV84

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-

Love happens when we do things for those who are important to us without expecting anything in return.

Love happens when we do things for those who are important to us without expecting anything in return.

As you can see in , love is less of a feeling and more of a choice that we make. We choose to love those around us. In out passage today, the writer of Hebrews demonstrates 8 different people we should actively choose to love.

We should actively choose to love:

Our brothers and sisters in Jesus.

Strangers we meet.

Believers who are suffering in prison for Jesus.

Believers who are mistreated for Jesus.

Our Spouse.

Our God.

Our spiritual leaders.

and Jesus Christ.