Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
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INTRODUCTION
When we began our study, we noted that The Epistle To The Hebrews...
Began like an essay...
Progressed like a sermon...
Ended like a letter
With the final chapter, we see the tone of the epistle taking on the characteristics of a personal correspondence
As with many epistles in the New Testament, this letter ends with various exhortations...
The first of which regarding the objects of their love...
Here we find the author practicing what he preaches; seeking to stimulate love and good works…
As Christians, toward whom should we manifest our love?
Certainly toward all men, even our enemies (
But in our text our attention is focused upon manifesting love first...
DISCUSSION
TOWARD BRETHREN
The Importance of Brotherly Love
It is a mark of true discipleship
It is an indication of true spiritual life
The Hebrews had Manifested Brotherly Love
Note the text says their love was to “continue”
They had demonstrated brotherly love in the past...
In their ministry to God and His saints
Even in their service to the author
The Need for Brotherly Love Never Diminishes
Just as Paul wrote...
For the Thessalonians to excel in their love
For the Philippians to abound in their love
Just as Peter wrote that our love should abound
Even now, the author of Hebrews says “Let love of the brethren continue”!
(v. 1)
No matter how much we may have manifested love towards one another as brethren in the past, it is imperative that such love continues!
Equally imperative is the manifestation of love...
TOWARD STRANGERS
This is a Call for “Love” or Hospitality
The Greek word is phi/lox/e/nia
Lit., a love of strangers
It involved receiving a stranger (sojourner) into one’s home as an honored guest and to provide the guest with food, shelter, and protection
In many ancient cultures, hospitality was a solemn duty, for example...
It was regarded as a sacred obligation by the ancient Greeks and Romans, one that was approved by Zeus, the god and protector of strangers
The Egyptians claimed it as a meritorious deed in life
For the Bedouins, it was an expression of righteousness
In the early church, it was an important ministry...
Christians were often displaced by persecution - public inns were scarce, costly, and sometimes dangerous
Traveling evangelists were to be supported through hospitality
Thus hospitality was to manifested by...
Those men who would serve as elders (bishops)
Hospitality was to be manifested by those widows who would be “taken into the number”
And, hospitality was to be manifested by all Christians
A Reason to Practice Hospitality
“For thereby some have entertained angels unawares”
The example of Abraham - Gen 18:1-8
The example of Lot - Gen 19:1-3
The point is not that we should expect angels to literally come our way
Though some we entertain may serve as His “messengers” (“angel” means “messenger”) in a providential sense
The key idea is that “You never know what hospitality might bring” (Lightfoot)
One often receives unexpected benefits from his or her guests
There is always the “blessedness” of giving...
The physical need for hospitality today may not be as great as it was in ancient times, but the spiritual need (e.g., the strengthening of spiritual ties) is just as important.
Therefore we need to “be hospitable to one another without grumbling” (1 Pe 4:9).
The manifestation of our love should also extend...
TOWARD PRISONERS AND THE PERSECUTED
A Call to Remember
Christians were often persecuted and imprisoned for their faith
Prior to his conversion, Paul often led the assault...
Later, he himself was a prisoner...
The Hebrews had already shown their love toward such prisoners...
To remember and visit Christians in prison was an act of devotion to Christ Himself...
Their provisions for the prisoners would be a “sweet-smelling sacrifice”, well-pleasing to God...
They could also remember them in their prayers...
Their loving Remembrance was to be Influenced...
By their sense of fellowship in their brethren’s suffering
“As if bound with them” (v. 3)
The Lord intended such connection between the members of His Body...
By their awareness of their own vulnerability
“as being yourselves also in the body” (v. 3)
They would not be immune to persecution themselves, therefore they should be sensitive to the sufferings of others
CONCLUSION
In providing a “new and living way,” it is true that Jesus made possible a close relationship between man and God...
But the purity we experience through obeying the truth...
Is not just that we may fellowship with God
But so we may also have a fellowship with each other in sincerity and love...
Thus it naturally follows that as we draw near to God, we should also draw near one another; this we can do when we manifest love...
Toward brethren - Heb 13:1
Toward strangers - Heb 13:2
Toward prisoners and the persecuted - Heb 13:3
May we all be diligent to heed the exhortation to “Let brotherly love continue”!
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