Hebrews 13, verses 1 to 17, part 3, Jesus Christ is unchanging

 

Verse 8 makes the joyful claim that Jesus Christ is constant and unchanging. He is not a capricious God but will never withdraw His hand from His own. This is fundamental to what Paul discussed in chapter 6 on eternal security. Christ will never leave us nor will He forsake us. We are His forever if we are His now.

 

Paul then links, in verse 9, the dangers of the many false doctrines that were going around and then links that danger to the dietary rituals that the Jews had built upon the Law. They are inconsequential in salvation and sanctification to God.

But not only that consider the other pitfalls present in the early church that Paul warned about.

Galatians 1:6 ¶  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

 

But with regard to the immediate context of verse 9;

 

Colossians 2:6  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

 

    13 ¶  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

 

    16 ¶  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18  Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19  And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21  (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23  Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

 

Christ was crucified outside of Jerusalem, outside of the camp, so to speak. Golgotha or Calvary, the place of His execution is thought to have been on a hill outside of the walls of Jerusalem. I’ve read that executions and burials were not permitted within Jerusalem’s limits.

 

Exodus 29:14  But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering.

 

Levitius 4:12  Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.

 

Verse 10 refers symbolically to those who adhere to the ceremonial law and they are not to take of the Lord’s Communion where His body and blood are taken symbolically as they believe something other than their faith in Christ and Christ’s righteousness will save them. He has warned against such Judaizers before as you remember.

 

Let’s go with Christ outside of the city, suffering the hatred unbelieving humanity has for Him, sharing in the world’s contempt gladly. For we have no dwelling place secure in the world but our city is the New Jerusalem as you can see in Revelation.

 

Galatians 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

 

Verses 15 and 16 liken prayer, our prayers, to being better than the Old Testament sacrifices.

 

Psalm 69:30 ¶  I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. 31  This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

 

Psalm 116:17  I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

 

Hosea 14:2  Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.

 

Then we are brought back to verse 7’s command.

 

7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.