A Peculiar People, Zealous of Good Works

Introduction

Hebrews 13:1–3 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.

The Christian life should be marked with faith in salvation and grateful obedience in action.

This is not a call of works righteousness, but a call of works gratefulness.

Titus 2:11–14 ESV

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

This

Let Brotherly Love Continue.

This is focused on our attitudes toward fellow believers in Christ.

φιλαδελφία (philadelphia) — the affection naturally befitting the relationship between siblings; especially as the affection of those who are now siblings in God’s family.

We are to have unity in Christ. Psalm 133:1; Ephesians 4:3, 13; 1 Peter 3:8

We are commanded to love one another. John 13:34, 15:12,17; Romans 13:8, Ephesians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 4:19; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 3:11,23; 4:7,11-12; 2 John 5:5

It is here supposed that the Hebrews had this love one for another. Though, at this time, that nation was miserably divided and distracted among themselves, both about matters of religion and the civil state, yet there was true brotherly love left among those of them who believed on Christ...This brotherly love was in danger of being lost, and that in a time of persecution, when it would be most necessary; it was in danger of being lost by those disputes that were among them concerning the respect they ought still to have to the ceremonies of the Mosaic law. Disputes about religion too often produce a decay of Christian affection; but this must be guarded against, and all proper means used to preserve brotherly love. Christians should always love and live as brethren, and the more they grow in devout affection to God their heavenly Father the more they will grow in love to one another for his sake.

What does this look like? How are we to show brotherly love towards each other.

Here are practical examples from Scripture.

Do not slander. Colossians 3:8

slander n. — abusive words falsely spoken that damage a person’s reputation.

Do not lie to one another. Colossians 3:9

Avoid divisions. Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 1:10, 12:25; Galatians 5:20; Titus 3:10; Jude 19

We are all one in Christ Colossians 3:11

Endure with one another. Colossians 3:13

to bear (endure) v. — to endure something unpleasant or difficult whether on one’s own behalf or on behalf of someone else.

Addressing complaints directly with the intentional desire to forgive them. Matthew 18:15; Colossians 3:13; James 5:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

to admonish v. — to warn or counsel in terms of someone’s behavior.

Hospitality to Strangers

ἐπιλανθάνομαι (epilanthanomai ) — to be negligent in remembering someone or something.

φιλοξενία (philoxenia) — kindness in welcoming guests or strangers.

Why is this important?

We must understand the context.

Inns (hotels, motels, etc.) were described as flea infested, places where guests were held hostage, brothels.

Then consider that many believers were ostracized by family, society and government.

Are you now starting to see the importance of hospitality?

What about entertaining angels? What is this about?

This is alluding to Genesis 18 and Genesis 19. Where Abraham and Lot both entertained (provided hospitality) to strangers who were actually angels.

Is this passage telling me to be hospitable to Christians or to any stranger? The answer is yes.

What does this look like? Well, I am not going to give you an answer. Because there is not a standard answer to what this looks like. I can give you an example of other believers, but how this specifically looks in your life is your decision.

This is a letter from Campus Crusade for Christ missionaries in Germany written in 1990.

Last week the former communist dictator, Erich Honecher was released from the hospital where he had been undergoing treatment for cancer. There is probably no single person in all of East Germany that is more despised and hated than he. He has been stripped of all of his offices and even his own communist party has kicked him out. He was booted out of his villa he was living in; the new government refused to provide him and his wife with accommodation. They stood, in essence, homeless on the street…it was a Christian who stepped in. Pastor Uwe Holmer, who is in charge of a Christian help-center north of Berlin, was asked by Church leaders if he would be willing to take them in. Pastor Holmer and his family decided that it would be wrong to give away a room in the center that would be used for needy people, or an apartment that their staff needed; instead they took the former dictator and his wife into their own home. It must have been a strange scene when the couple arrived. The former absolute ruler of the country, was being sheltered by one of the Christians whom he and his wife had despised and persecuted. In East Germany there is a great deal of hate toward the former regime and especially toward Honecher and his wife, Margot, who had ruled the educational system there for 26 years with an iron hand. She had made sure that very few Christian children were able to go on for higher education. There are ten children in the Holmer and eight of them had applied for further education in the course of the past years; all had been refused a place at college because they were Christians., in spite of the fact that they had good or excellent grades in school. Pastor Holmer was asked why he and his family would open the door to such detestable people…Pastor Holmer spoke very clearly “Our Lord challenged us to follow Him and to take in all who are weary and heavy laden—both in soul and in body”

Am I telling you to do this, not specifically no, The only mandate I can give you is do not neglect hospitality.

What that looks like will be different for each one of us, but do not neglect it.

Remember Those..

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.

Now, for this last verse, I know some of you are thinking, Pastor Robby how are you going to tell me to remember those in prison, when we do not have anyone in prison.

Well, here is my point.

Herman Melville in his book White Jacket, tells about Dr. Cuticle a ship surgeon. Dr. Cuticle is enthusiastic for the possibility of medical cases to treat. To his joy, he is presented a case. He quickly diagnoses appendicitis and recruits other sailors to assist in the surgery. He begins the surgery, with precision he makes his cuts, removing the appendix he proudly points out all the anatomical details to the sailors helping him. Dr. Cuticle was excited to show the intricate details of the inside of the human body. The doctor is so focused on his work, for he is a skilled professional. His performance is impressive, but he is oblivious to the faces of the sailors, who are appalled. Dr. Cuticle finishes his last stitch in the patient, his patient who died early into the surgery. Dr. Cuticle never noticed he died.

Are you so focused in your ministry that you have forgotten to be empathetic?

Do you study the Word and theology that you have overlooked love?

The Christian faith operates in truth, love and empathy. 1 Corinthians 12:25

Kent Hughes in his commentary provides this insight of the early church with a description from The Apology of Aristides

If they hear that any of their number is imprisoned or oppressed for the name of their Messiah, all of them provide for his needs, and if it is possible that he may be delivered, they deliver him. If there is among them a man that is poor or needy , and they have not an abundance of necessaries, they fast for two or three days that they may supply the needy with their necessary food.

I am not mandating this behavior, but I am highlighting the desire. I guess you can say that I am encouraging that you have this desire to so support the imprisoned and oppressed that you almost can imagine yourself as the one in prison or oppressed. This is the point of this verse, our desire to love our brothers and sisters in Christ so deeply that we would want to take their place in prison or oppression.

Our faith must be marked with the desire to care for those who are in prison and/or oppressed. Philippians 4:10

Remember the context is that the ones in prison were there because of the Gospel.

Am I advocating for SBC to start a prison ministry…maybe, if someone is called to lead one.

I am saying that our desires should be so closely tied to brotherly love that our care for each other is known throughout the world.

Our reputation should be for our love of the Savior, for the lost and for each other! Ephesians 1:15; Colossians 1:4; Philemon 5