Hebrews 13:1-9

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Lord, here we go again!

Pray.

Think myself empty.

Read myself full.

Write myself clear.

Pray myself haught.

Be myself.

Forget myself.

Lord, let this message be a beacon for you. Let me be forgotten and invisible. Let them see and know you, only you. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

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The word Gospel means “good news”. It’s pretty important to understand that. The Bible is not a book that tells us what we have to do to earn salvation, it is a book that tells us what God did to earn our salvation. What he did was send Jesus. Jesus did for us what we could never do for ourselves and he paid for what we had done in his body on the cross. God created human beings and intended for them to be ruling creatures. We were supposed to be under God but over everything else. We were supposed to rule over creation under the guidance and authority of God’s Word and to function as conduits for all the blessings of heaven. That’s how it was supposed to be, but unfortunately, the Bible tells the story of how our first parents, Adam and Eve, fell into sin by choosing to rebel against God’s Word in order to become autonomous ruling creatures. Basically, they wanted to be gods unto themselves, deciding good and evil. From that point on, humanity has been on a downward spiral moving further and further away from God and our original design and glory. The heart of the Gospel is the Good News that Jesus has come as God in the flesh and has obeyed God perfectly and has therefore won the right to all the blessings God originally intended to give to men and women. Furthermore, through his sacrificial death on the cross, he has paid the debt that we owed to God for disobeying his commands. There is therefore no need anymore for us to hide from God. In Jesus, we can come home and we can be restored. The climax of the Gospel is the great news that he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven where he now intercedes on our behalf. He gives the Holy Spirit to all his people and he slowly but surely, changes our hearts, reforms our desires and teaches us how to be the children of God we were always intended to be. For now, Jesus remains in heaven, changing the world one person at a time, but one day he will return and judge the world in righteousness. He will remove from this world all sin and all causes of sin and he will restore the cosmos to a state of peace, prosperity and flourishing and all those who have received him as their Lord and Savior will participate in his rule and enjoy his goodness forever.

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PRAY

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If you don’t have your Bible, go grab it real quick. If you already have your Bible, turn to Hebrews 13.

Well, we’re at the end of Hebrews. We’ve been in Hebrews for a while but I have been praying that you have gotten something from it. This week and next week, we’ll be looking at the last chapter, Chapter 13.

Hebrews concludes with directions for Christian living. Love other Christians with special needs. Be morally pure, and keep a right attitude toward money. Offer to God sacrifices of praise. Follow joyfully those who lead your churches. Pray for one another. Listen carefully to the words of Scripture.

Lea, Thomas D. Hebrews, James. Vol. 10. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.

The value of these passages is timeless and the timing is quite astounding.

Tonight, we’re looking at A Right Response to Fellow Christians (vv. 1-9) In this, we’ll look at our response to three different groups as highlighted by the writer of Hebrews:

(1) A right response to believers with specific needs (vv. 1-3)

(2) A right response to the family (vv. 4-6)

(3) A right response in the fellowship of the church (vv. 7-9)

See, as Christians, we are called to Demonstrate actions, attitudes, practices and sacrifices which please God. That’s the main idea that we are going to be looking at tonight. Again, we are called to demonstrate actions, attitudes, practices, and sacrifices which please God.

Hebrews 13:1–9 ESV

1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” 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. 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.

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PRAY

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Here we go. How do you show the love of Christ to other people, your friends? What about to strangers? What about those that have differing opinions than you, we’ll say in the non-essentials of faith?

Are you loving or tolerating? We’re not called to simply tolerate but to love. The greatest commandment that Jesus gave was to what?

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Student response

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We see in the first 9 verses in chapter 13 that:

“Christians are to help the needy, practice purity in family life, and follow the faith of their leaders.”

If you were told by a parent to be nice to your brother/sister, what would that indicate? (you weren’t being nice in the first place)

So the first thing that the writer is reminding his readers is to keep on loving one another. Christian love, brotherly love, “involves showing special regard for the needs of fellow believers without concern for their social or racial position.”

Lea, Thomas D. Hebrews, James. Vol. 10. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.

If we are a part of the body of believers, then we should be working together, loving one another. If you have an organ that isn’t working right, lets say your liver. Do you know what happens when your liver starts dying…your body gets poisoned. If untreated, you will die from it or complications related to it.

Ἡ φιλαδελφία. “Your brotherly affection.” Not only was “brotherly love” a new and hitherto almost undreamed of virtue but it was peculiarly necessary among the members of a bitterly-persecuted sect.

Farrar, F. W. The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews, With Notes and Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1893. Print. Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges.

This was unheard of, primarily due to the persecution that the early church endured at the hands of the Jews. There’s a song that I used to sing when I was a young lad, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.” This song was inspired by John 13:35 and originates in a phrase that non-believers used to describe Christian believers of the early church: “Behold, how they love one another.”

So, we’re called to show this brotherly love in two ways.

(1) Hospitality to those on the move.

Verse 2 says:

In the Middle East at that time, it was far more common for travelers to stay in the house of someone rather than go into an inn. Facilities for travelers were scarcely available and even some of the ones that were available were used in a way that was immoral or dangerous.

In the Middle East, demonstrating hospitality in the home provided an important basis for friendship. The practice of hospitality was a quality required in Christian leaders (1 Tim. 3:2).

Lea, Thomas D. Hebrews, James. Vol. 10. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.

The reference to angels is drawn from Genesis 18-19 when Abraham entertained mysterious strangers who were in reality angels.

The principle here teaches us that it is better to treat needy guests as messengers from God than to risk offending them by an inhospitable act. Messengers from God brought a greater blessing than they received. Whoever entertained a servant of the Lord entertained the Lord himself (Matt. 25:44–45).

Lea, Thomas D. Hebrews, James. Vol. 10. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.

(2) Hospitality to those imprisoned and abused for their faith (Hebrews 10:34). Verse 3 here says:

Hebrews 13:3 ESV

3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.

Those imprisoned believers could easily be forgotten. We don’t see that as an issue, necessarily, here in the US but I know for a fact it still happens around the world. The writers is telling his audience that they need to help and identify those imprisoned and mistreated for their faith and tend to their needs, including taking food, clothes, visiting and offering encouragement. The reminder has an underlying warning that there may come a day that they, and we, may face the same experiences of suffering, thus focus on the sufferers as if we ourselves were also victims.

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Left off here

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A Right Response to the Family (vv. 4-6)

The family is a fickle thing. One thing can go wrong and snowballs into a huge mess. The writer of Hebrews talks about a Christians right response to the family in three ways; Marriage, Money, and Anxiety

Both Jewish and Pagan Marriages in the time of the writer were characterized by immorality and laxity. These marriages were defiled and were at the opposing end of the spectrum when compared to Christian marriages. Purity, contentment, and a trust in God are ingredients needed for developing strong Christian families. So much so, the writer is reminding the readers of two pro-marriage ideas here.

(1) Marriage is to honored by all, even when faced with strong challenges that test its stability. Today, we see that the challenges in marriage and corruption of relationships is still a battle that we face.

(2) Those who are married must maintain moral purity. We’re reminded that God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. While violators of this may be celebrated by some, the warning is not only a temporal one but an eternal one as well.

We also see another threat highlighted by the writer, that of materialism. He’s reminding his audience to renounce the love of money and be content with what you have. The presence of God in all of life encourages this contentment.

Knowing the Lord will not abandon us gives us the stability to enjoy what he gives us (Deut. 31:6, 8). Enjoying his unfailing presence is better than coveting glistening bullions of gold.

Lea, Thomas D. Hebrews, James. Vol. 10. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.

I have to be careful because I like stuff, particularly when there’s a good deal. But knowing that I don’t need that item and actually talking my self out of it is difficult but I’m getting better at it.

Another threat to family life is anxiety. Encouraging words from Psalm 118:6–7 remind us that God’s presence in life banishes anxiety about personal needs. This is the only New Testament verse describing God as a helper. Hebrews 2:18 uses the verbal form of the word to picture Jesus as a source of help for the tempted (cf. Mark 9:22; 2 Cor. 6:2).

The question, What can man do to me? presumes the answer: “Nothing at all!” With God’s presence, no event in life can shake believers from their foundation. Anxiety about life’s needs or challenges has no place in the heart of the believer who has determined to make God his helper.

Lea, Thomas D. Hebrews, James. Vol. 10. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.

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A Right Response in the Fellowship of the Church (vv. 7-9)

Hebrews 13:7-9

It seems harder and harder to trust people the more you’re exposed to and see. However, I also see the “saints” that have gone before me and do my best to glean wisdom from them, whether its personally or by observation.

Here, the writer is reminding the readers to remember and imitate the faith of their spiritual leaders and avoid unchristian doctrines. In this chapter, we’ll see a couple other references to church leaders but here, it appears that these leaders are ones that have completed their service and have passed from this mortal coil.

Steady spiritual reflection on the life of a committed believer can teach us lessons of faith, commitment, and priority. Once we have seen the outcome of their ruling passion for God, we should follow steadfastly in their way.

Lea, Thomas D. Hebrews, James. Vol. 10. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.

While these former leaders have died, Jesus remains unchanged, which enables us to follow the faith of great Christian leaders. Those great leaders faith and lives have shown this time and time again. And it stands true that the readers of Hebrews and believers today have access to the same power and example of the unchanging Christ. Jesus can meet our every need because of his past and present work. His work yesterday was to suffer on the cross, “today” is to serve as our High Priest, which we discussed back in hebrews 4 and 7, and his work “forever” is to return and conclude God’s saving purpose. The Gospel fulfilled.

Lastly, the writer issues a warning in contrast with the constancy of Christ. There are teachings that are different and strange that were being taught. But, God’s grace isn’t some ritual that has to be fulfilled. It’s not a special food that you eat that gains Jesus preference.

Paul wrote that “food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do” (1 Cor. 8:8). Divine grace and not some meaningless rule about food provides the spiritual strength needed for walking along the journey of the Christian life.

Lea, Thomas D. Hebrews, James. Vol. 10. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.

We’ll put the breaks on right here and break into our small groups for a time of prayer and discussion. Next week, we will look at the Christians Right Response to God.

I want to leave you with this. As believers, we are called to look different from the world but, too often, we look just like the world. The sin nature that lives in us, when unchecked, warps our perspective and weakens our resolve. The Gospel is what we cling to and represent. Even in our worst moments, it’s Jesus who saves, not us.

The gospel is the good news that God, the loving Creator, sovereign King, and holy Judge of all, has looked upon men and women wonderfully and uniquely made in His image who have rebelled against Him, are separated from Him, and deserve death before Him, and He has sent His Son, Jesus, God in the flesh, the long-awaited King, to live a perfect and powerful life, to die a sacrificial and substitutionary death, and to rise from the grave in victory over sin, Satan, and death. The gospel is a summons from God for all people in all nations to repent and believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, turning from all idols to declare allegiance to Jesus alone as King and trust in Jesus alone as Lord. All who turn from Jesus will experience everlasting, horrifying suffering in hell, while all who trust in Jesus will experience everlasting, satisfying communion with God in heaven. (Secret Church 2020, David Platt, Radical.net)