A Sacrifice of Praise

Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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Introduction

Have you ever noticed how people want to make the Bible say things that God never said? I am amazed at some of the ideas people share with me about their view of Scriptures.

This week we are continuing our study of the book of Hebrews. Last week, we ended with , which is a verse many people are familiar with.

There we read, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” This is so important for believers to grasp and understand. This fact is the basis for the next part of .

If you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to Hebrews chapter 13, and we’ll begin reading with verse 9.

Hebrews 13:9-

Hebrews 13:9–10 NIV84

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. We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Strange Teaching

Because Jesus is never changing, always the same, the author tells us not to be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.

The Greek word translated “carried away,” has the meaning of “taken away,” “misled,” “driven along,” or “led away.” The phrase “strange teachings” has the meaning of “colored teachings,” “various teachings,” or “diversified teachings.”

So a good rendering of the first part of this verse would be, “Do not be driven along by the various teachings that come along because Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

So how do you avoid getting carried away by the strange teachings? Well that is found in the second part of verse 9.

The author says that it is good

Strength of Grace

The author says it is not good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace! Grace is favor that you don’t deserve. God’s favor. This favor gives us strength.

Our strength comes from God rather than anything in the Old Covenant. The author mentions ceremonial foods. Those who ate the food offered to God for a peace offering had to eat the part they offered (). When they offered a Fellowship Offering, or Thanksgiving Offering their portion had to be eaten on the day it was offered. The meat of a freewill offering could be eaten on either the first or second day.

Under the New Covenant, Jesus is our peace and fellowship offering. So eating the meat of an Old Covenant sacrifice does nothing for us. Unlike the offerings of the Old Covenant, like a peace or fellowship offering; grace cannot be seen outwardly, but rather is experienced inwardly. Grace is between God (the grace giver) and man (the grace receiver).

Our Altar

As a Christian we have a spiritual altar or “special altar” that those who proclaim the “strange teachings” and those who want to rely on the Old Covenant have no right or ability to eat. In other words, they do not participate in the saving work of Jesus.

Jesus did what the Old Covenant could NEVER do. Those who want us to keep the Old Covenant with its rituals have no part in Jesus the Messiah!

Hebrews 13:11–14 NIV84

The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Hebrews 13:11-

Old & New

The author of Hebrews is going to show the similarities of the Old Covenant sacrifices and Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross.

Old Covenant: The high priest would carry the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering and sprinkled on the altar (). But the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp.

New Covenant: Jesus met the requirement for a sin offering because His suffering happened outside the city gate—this was done in order to make the people (us) holy by shedding His own blood. You see, Jesus’ death outside Jerusalem fulfilled the ritual of the Day of Atonement. What amazing love Jesus had for us! He endured the scorn and shame of the Jews who rejected Him—and He died on a cross as a common criminal.

Our Response: The author now calls every follower of Jesus to identify with Him. Let us go to Jesus outside the camp and bear the same disgrace that he bore!

When we read this, we need to keep in mind the author is writing to Jews. The same Jews who crucified Jesus. This is a call to break the emotional and social ties with the Jews and their traditions.

“Go to him outside the camp. . .” meant a total change in the value system the Jews previously identified with. This meant they no could no longer live according to Judaism while living for Jesus.

The Same is True for Us! Even though we are not Jews, we cannot live according to our old way of life while worshipping Jesus—we MUST be different!

QUESTION: Do we bear the disgrace of Jesus? And if we do, what does that look like?

In This World; Longing for Another

In verse 14, the author reminds the reader that Jerusalem, their sacred city, would not endure for ever. So followers of Jesu are looking for the city that is to come. This is a reference to the “New Jerusalem” ()

Hebrews 13:15–16 NIV84

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Hebrews 13:15-

Our Offering

Through Jesus we too are to offer a sacrifice to God. But what kind of sacrifice could we give God?

A Sacrifice of Praise

According to the text, our sacrifice of praise is made up of three things!

Confessing His name with our lips!

Everything that comes out of our mouths is to point people to Jesus and to praise Him so that God receives glory!

Do Good to others!

We are giving a sacrifice of praise when we do good to others. The word translated “others” is the Greek word “koinōnia” which is most often translated “fellowship.” Thus we are to do good to those in the fellowship of believers.

Share with others!

The third way we offer God a sacrifice of praise is when we share with our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Pleasing God

When we continually confess Jesus as Lord, do good, and share with other believers our sacrifices of praise is pleasing to God!

QUESTION: Are you giving God a sacrifice of praise?

Hebrews 13:17–19 NIV84

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.

Follow Your Leader

Hebrews 13:17-

Follow the Leader

The author tells his readers to obey their spiritual leaders. The Greek word translated “obey” has the idea of “following” or “or seek favor of” and “submit to their authority.” The reason we do this is because God requires leaders of His people to give an account to God for His people. says, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”

The author goes on to say, “Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden. . .” The NLT says it this way, “Give them reason to do this with joy and not sorrow. . .”

Being a burden does not give us an advantage.

So God calls his leaders to shepherd His people. God will hold those leaders responsible for their teachings and where those teachings lead the people. Likewise, God’s people are to follow the earthly shepherd so that the shepherd leads with joy and not sorrow. After all, being a pain to the earthly shepherd does not work in the sheep’s favor!

Pray for Your Leaders

Every believer is called on to pray for the author and those working with him. The writer has a clear conscience and really wants to live in an honorable way—live well, praiseworthy, correctly.

The special prayer request is that the author would be able to return to his readers very soon.

Hebrews 13:20-

The Final Benediction

Hebrews 13:20–25 NIV84

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter. I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. Greet all your leaders and all God’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. Grace be with you all.