Hebrews 13:1-17: Final Exhortations for Communal Life

Introduction

Scripture

Hebrews 13:1–17 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. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Outline

Hebrews 1-2 - Jesus is Greater Than the Angels

Hebrews 1:1-4 - God has Spoken

Hebrews 1:5-14 - The Son is Superior to the Angels

Hebrews 2:1-4 - A Warning

Hebrews 2:5-9 - Lowliness to Crowning Glory

Hebrews 2:10-18 - Jesus has Delivered His Brothers

Hebrews 3:1-4:13 - Jesus is a Greater Rest

Hebrews 3:1-6 - Jesus is Worthy of More Glory Than Moses

Hebrews 3:7-19 - Disobedience After the Exodus

Hebrews 4:1-13 - A Sabbath Rest for God’s People

Hebrews 4:14-7:26 - Jesus is Greater than Melchizedek

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus is the Great High Priest

Hebrews 5:1-10 - Jesus is the High Priest After the Order of Melchizedek

Hebrews 5:11-6:20 - Warning and Exhortation

Hebrews 5:11-14 - Failure to Mature

Hebrews 6:1-8 - Pursue Maturity

Hebrews 6:9-12 - Loving Motivation

Hebrews 6:13-20 - The Promise of God’s Word and God’s Oath

Hebrews 7:1-10 - The Greatness of Melchizedek

Hebrews 7:11-19 - Jesus’ Priesthood is Needed

Hebrews 7:20-28 - Jesus Guarantees a Better Covenant

Hebrews 8:1-10:18 - Jesus is the Greater Covenant

Hebrews 8:1-6 - Jesus Mediates a Better Covenant

Hebrews 8:7-13 - The Promise of the New Covenant

Hebrews 9:1-10 - The Earthly Tabernacle Points to What Would Come

Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ is The Mercy Seat

Hebrews 9:15-22 - Blood is Necessary for Forgiveness

Hebrews 9:23-28 - Christ’s Sacrifice Permanently Removes Sin

Hebrews 10:1-10 - Christ’s Sacrifice Replaces the Law

Hebrews 10:11-18 - Christ's Sacrifice Fully Forgives Sin

Hebrews 10:19-12:29 - Assurance of Faith

Hebrews 10:19-25 - Because of Christ's Sacrifice Let us...

Hebrews 10:26-31 - A Warning Against Apostasy

Hebrews 10:32-39 - A Warm Encouragement

Hebrews 11:1-11:40 - Faith

Hebrews 11:1-7 - Faith Before the Patriarchs

Hebrews 11:8-22 - The Faith of the Patriarchs

Hebrews 11:23-31 - Faith in the Midst of Danger

Hebrews 11:32-40 - The Faith of the Future Hope

Hebrews 12:1-3 - Jesus our Great Example

Hebrews 12:4-11 - The Discipline of the Lord

Hebrews 12:12-17 - Run the Race and Be Wary of Counterfeits

Hebrews 12:18-29 - God’s Unshakable Kingdom

Hebrews 13:1-25 - Sermon’s End

Hebrews 13:1-17 - Final Exhortations for Communal Life

Hebrews 13:1-6 - Continue in Love

Hebrews 13:7-17 - Commitment to Sound Leadership

Purpose of Book

Christ, who has accomplished salvation through His atoning sacrifice, is greater than all things; therefore, persevere in true faith and encourage others to do likewise

Main Point

The author begins closing his sermon commanding the congregation to love one another with brotherly love

Hebrews 13:1-6 - Continue in Love

Hebrews 13:1–6 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?”

Let brotherly love continue.

Brotherly love

John 13:31–35 ESV

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Continue

Command

Notice that this is not a command to start loving one another, but to continue in loving one another

Hebrews 6:9–10 ESV

9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers

Command

For thereby some have entertained angels unawares

Genesis 18:1–10 ESV

1 And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. 9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.

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

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them

Remember - Command

Those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body

Hebrews 10:32–34 ESV

32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

1 Corinthians 12:22–26 ESV

22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

***In vss 4-5 the author writes with striking forcefulness***

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled

Honor or precious - the marriage covenant is a precious covenant between man and woman and that should be understood by the entire community regardless of marital status

God expects sexual purity/holiness within the marriage relationship

For God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous

Here is the reason why the marriage bed must remain undefiled

Will judge - future tense revealing judgment on the Day of the Lord - those who have not repented from sexual immorality and adultery will will be excluded from God’s own presence in eternity - To God sexual immorality is a breach and violation of the New Covenant

1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

Revelation 22:14–15 ESV

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

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.”

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have

1 Timothy 6:3–10 ESV

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Philippians 4:11–13 ESV

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

For he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Joshua 1:1–5 ESV

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

So we can confidently say,

The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?

Psalm 118:6 ESV

6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Messianic Psalm

The psalmist is surround by enemies who desire to destroy him

Here the context is in regards the money - they were in financial straits because of being Christian - regardless GOD is their helper and will give them strength!

Hebrews 13:7-17 - Commitment to Sound Leadership

Hebrews 13:7–17 ESV

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. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God.

Remember your leaders

Command

Meant for the listeners to reflect on their very lives

Those who spoke to you the word of God

The Gospel

Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Consider the outcome of their way of life

The entire course of their life

These first leaders are most likely dead

Imitate their faith

Command

They heard the stories of faith from the OT, now they are called to imitate real life examples

These leaders’ lives were opposite of the wilderness generation and Esau’s

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The lives of the leaders affirmed the truth about Jesus Christ

Though godly leaders may change, Christ never does

The Gospel they preached was in staunch opposition of the the teachings described next - filled with grace revealing Jesus as the One who fulfilled the Law making the Old Covenant obsolete

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.

Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings

Command

Diverse = perverse

For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them

Heart - has been the main concern for the author in this epistle

By grace - The Old Covenant works are fulfilled in Christ and our hearts are strengthened by His grace

Foods - referenced to Jewish ceremonial meals that could not cleanse the conscience

Adhering to the Old Covenant is now heresy because they lead the congregation away from God Himself

We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.

Have an altar

Reminds us of the high priestly work of Jesus Christ

The work of Christ has spiritual benefit, but the ceremonial works have none

Those who serve the tent have not right to eat

Continuing in the Old Covenant worship is a sign of unbelief and have NO RIGHT to participate in the benefits given by the sacrifice of Christ

For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.

Day of Atonement

Leviticus 16:11–15 ESV

11 “Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself. 12 And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil 13 and put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die. 14 And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.

Leviticus 16:27–28 ESV

27 And the bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp. Their skin and their flesh and their dung shall be burned up with fire. 28 And he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.

So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.

Jesus also suffered outside the gate

John 19:16–20 ESV

16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.

Isaiah 53:3 ESV

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

In order to sanctify the people through his own blood

Isaiah 53:10 ESV

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.

Therefore let us go to him outside the camp

Removal of oneself from Judaism and worship in the Temple thus exposing themselves to attack and abuse by the Jews and Roman empire

Bear the reproach he endured

The congregation is called to be disgraced and insulted for the sake of following Christ

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

Here we have no lasting city

This is a temporary home and decisions must be made to live a radically different life than our co-workers, neighbors, even our own families who do not know Christ

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

We seek the city that is to come

Hebrews 11:10 ESV

10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Hebrews 12:22 ESV

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God

Hebrews 8:8–13 ESV

8 For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” 13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

That is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name

Hosea 14:2 LES2

3 Take words with yourselves, and return to the Lord, our God. Speak to him, in order that you may not receive injustice and may receive good things. And we will repay the fruit of your lips.

God removes sins

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have

Command

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

For such sacrifices are pleasing to God

Doing good and sharing financially with those in need is a pleasing sacrifice to God Himself

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.

Obey your leaders and submit to them

Obey your leaders - Command

Persuaded by them due to sound biblical teaching

Sit under leaders whom you have been persuaded by their handling of the Word of God

Submit to them - Command

The response to leaders who teach sound biblical instruction

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 ESV

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

If you cannot sit under leaders due to incorrect handling of the Word… leave

For they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account

Why submit to godly, biblically sound leaders? They are watchmen who sound the alarm for predators seeking to destroy believers and the church

The leaders’ ultimate accountability is not to the congregation, but to the Great Shepherd

1 Peter 5:1–4 ESV

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Let them do this with joy and not with groaning

The leaders will be held accountable for their flock leadership AND the congregation will be held accountable for their conduct to the leaders

Joy-filled leaders lead the congregation in health

Joyless leaders do not help the congregation grow

For that would be of no advantage to you

Godly submission to leaders reveals the heart of the individuals

Main Point

The author begins closing his sermon commanding the congregation to love one another with brotherly love