Hebrews 13:1 ¶ Let brotherly love continue. 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for
thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound
with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in
the body. 4 Marriage is
honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God
will judge. 5 Let your
conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is
my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. 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. 8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange
doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with
grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied
therein. 10 We have an altar, whereof
they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood
is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without
the camp. 12 Wherefore Jesus also, that
he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13 Let us go forth therefore unto him
without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14
For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice
of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving
thanks to his name. 16 But to do good
and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17 Obey them that have the rule over
you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must
give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is
unprofitable for you.
Paul gives his closing remarks now to this remarkable letter filled with
theology. He says to the Jews who would be followers of Christ and to us by
extension that we should let brotherly love continue. This is expressed by the
word charity in the Bible, most notably 1Corinthians 13. It is
fundamental to the faith.
1Corinthians 13:1 ¶
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and
understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so
that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the
poor, [this shows that this is not referring to charity as we use the word
today] and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it
profiteth me nothing.
4 ¶ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity
envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not
her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in
the truth; 7 Beareth all things,
believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 ¶ Charity never faileth: but whether there be
prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease;
whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is
come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I
understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put
away childish things. 12 For now we see
through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then
shall I know even as also I am known. 13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of
these is charity.
And remember Jesus’ own admonition.
John 13:34 A
new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you,
that ye also love one another. 35 By
this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to
another.
A shocking statement is made in verse 2. Paul states that it is possible
that unidentified persons to whom you minister may be spiritual beings in
bodily form sent by God for your ministry. That you may have been compelled or
urged by the Holy Spirit to talk to a stranger about Christ who was in all
actuality was an angel sent by God, perhaps the angel of a person already in
Heaven, is astounding. Bible characters did entertain angels but often were
keenly aware of the supernatural nature of the individual they were
entertaining. I think of one example being Samson’s parents and the angel or
appearance of God Himself in Judges 13.
Paul asks his audience to remember those Christians who are suffering,
are bound, possibly waiting to be executed. Today we have organizations such as
Voice of the Martyrs that remind us of suffering Christians around the world. Imagine
yourselves bound with them. This is an important part of Paul’s declaration of
what it means to be a Christian, compassion for other Christians who are
suffering, identifying with their suffering.
The honor and propriety of the institution of Christian marriage is
lifted up in verse 4 and contrasted with whoremongers and adulterers.
Genesis 2:24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave
unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
The union of one man and one woman is ordained by God as in marriage for
life and there is no other definition suitable for Christian marriage. Christians
should set the example for non-Christians. Living together in fornication
without a marriage before God and man, shacking up as it has been called,
adultery, casual divorce for any reason you claim that is not Biblical or no
reason at all, a lust for pornography, incest, and all other forms of sexual
expression outside of the marriage bond are wicked and part of what has brought
this country to the point where so many are dependent upon the government and
so many are mentally ill by virtue of the self-hatred and self-loathing that
grew in them as they grew up in single family homes where a parent was rarely
present and poverty was a way of life. I’m glad if you grew up in a single
family home to a Godly mother who raised you in the nurture and admonition of
the Lord but you are a rare outcome of such conditions. Be grateful to God for
His mercy.
Conversation in verse 5 is more than
just talk. It is our behavior, our deportment, our manner of living in front of
others. Here are some examples.
Psalm 37:14
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast
down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
Galatians 1:13
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion,
how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
Philippians 1:27
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that
whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that
ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of
the gospel;
1Peter 1:18
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things,
as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your
fathers;
This includes what we hold as valuable and important in front of the
world. Paul has also made this doctrinal statement elsewhere with regard to our
expectations in this life.
1Timothy 6:6 ¶
But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and
it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into
temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown
men in destruction and perdition. 10 For
the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they
have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things;
and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on
eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good
profession before many witnesses.
Philippians 4:10 ¶
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me
hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want:
for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how
to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to
be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me.
He makes the point in verse 5 about how Christ has promised to always be
with us. We are, as it were, inseparable.
John 10:27
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My
Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck
them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and
my Father are one.
We can set our expectations as Paul commands because of Christ being ever
present with us. We can do without. If all we have is nothing and Christ we
have everything.
Luke 12:15
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a
man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory
by Christ Jesus.
For verse 6 let’s look at some declarations made in Psalms.
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my
strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and
my high tower.
Psalm 27:1 ¶
«A Psalm of David.» The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I
fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
With God on your side you should not be afraid of man.
Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the
soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
God is our helper in all things pertaining to His will, in obedience to
Him.
Verse 7 refers to spiritual rule with the word in the scriptures leading.
This is repeated somewhat in verse 17 here.
17 Obey them
that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your
souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not
with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Notice Peter’s command towards the leaders of the church.
1Peter 5:1 ¶
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a
witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that
shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of
God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but
willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage,
but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And
when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that
fadeth not away.
See Paul’s command in another letter.
1Thessalonians 5:
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know
them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for
their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
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.
Hebrews 13:18 ¶ Pray for us: for we trust we have a good
conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. 19 But I beseech you the rather to do
this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from
the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of
the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you
perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is
wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for
ever and ever. Amen. 22 And I beseech
you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto
you in few words. 23 Know ye that our
brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see
you. 24 Salute all them that have the
rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. 25 Grace be with you all. Amen. «Written
to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.»
2Thessalonians
3:1 ¶
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free
course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
Paul wishes to return to them and perhaps that indicates, since the
traditional postscript has Timothy writing this for Paul from Italy, it is
written to the Jewish Christians in Judea and environs if not to the Jewish
Christians in Rome itself where he is imprisoned. Romans 15 may be going the
other way.
Romans
15:30 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, for
the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive
together with me in your prayers to God for me; 31 That I may be delivered from them that do not
believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be
accepted of the saints; 32 That I may
come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
Verse 20
is just filled with profound meaning. God made peace between Himself and
mankind. I want to read Ephesians, chapter 2 here as that chapter bears a lot
of significance to the first part of this verse in Hebrews.
Ephesians
2:1 ¶ And you hath he quickened, who
were dead in trespasses and sins; 2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in
the children of disobedience: 3 Among
whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh,
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the
children of wrath, even as others.
4 ¶
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us
sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should
walk in them.
11 ¶
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh,
who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the
flesh made by hands; 12 That at that
time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and
strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the
world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who
sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 ¶
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the
middle wall of partition between us; 15
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments
contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making
peace; 16 And that he might reconcile
both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you
which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one
Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore
ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints,
and of the household of God; 20 And are
built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom
all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together
for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Believing
in the resurrection is fundamental to the Christian faith and, in fact, there
is no salvation without that faith.
Romans
10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Jesus is
the great shepherd, the good shepherd.
John
10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good
shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 14
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
1Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in
his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled,
reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself
to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who
his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to
sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are
now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
The blood
of the everlasting covenant was Jesus’ own blood.
Acts
20:28 Take heed therefore unto
yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you
overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own
blood.
Romans
3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the
remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Romans
5:9 Much more then, being now justified
by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Ephesians
1:7 In whom we have redemption through
his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Revelation
1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the
faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the
kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his
own blood,
From verse 21 perfect is complete and finished, lacking nothing.
2Chronicles
8:16 Now all the work of Solomon was
prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it
was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.
James
1:4 But let patience have her perfect
work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Paul wants them to be complete and perfect, lacking
nothing, in their service to God through Jesus Christ, which is most pleasing
to God.
Timothy here is Paul’s amanuensis, a type of
secretary who wrote at Paul’s dictation. This is sent from Italy to the Jewish
Christians in the Ancient Near East, it would seem. And so ends this most
profound theological letter.
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