Better: The Book of Hebrews, part 16
Wednesday Night Bible Study
Last time we finished chapter 12 with the writer again encouraging his Jewish readers to endure tough times as being the discipline of God, and to take very seriously the claims of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we close out the Book of Hebrews with the final chapter 13, the Apostle will touch on several important topics with both warnings and exhortations. He begins with a call to love the brethren:
Hebrews 13:1 ESV
“Let brotherly love continue.”
The word “continue” lets us know love was already among them and they were to assure it didn’t fade away. We think of John’s similar repeated admonition in his letters.
1 John 2:10
“He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.”
John 13:35
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
John 15:12
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
Notes
Then next, another manifestation of love is hospitality:
Hebrews 13:2 ESV
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Most commentators believe the writer is talking about entertaining traveling Christian ministers that he refers to as angels. The word angels simply means messengers, which may have been in the writers mind when thinking of Christ’s traveling ministers.
Notes
Then next another exhortation that is also linked to love:
Hebrews 13:3 ESV
“Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”
Notes
Next, a word about sexual purity:
Hebrews 13:4 ESV
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.“
First, marriage was God’s idea and therefore should be held in honor. It is an honorable institution without which any society would fall apart. It is within the confines of marriage, and ONLY the confines of marriage, that sexual union has been designed for. And in case you don’t believe that, the Apostle has a warning:
“For God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.”
The “sexually immoral” is referring to the sin of fornication, which is sex outside of marriage. Paul the Apostle is crystal clear on this when he writes to the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV
“All things are lawful for me…”
1 Corinthians 6:9 NKJV
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, …”
1 Corinthians 6:13b, 15a, 18-20 ESV
“The body is not meant for sexual immorality (fornication), but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body ….
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? …
18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Notes
Then in verses 5-6, the writer touches on the sin of covetousness:
Hebrews 13:5-6
“Keep your life free from love of money (covetousness), 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?’”
Covetousness is when you are dominated by the desire for financial gain. The desire for money is what makes you tick. It is the driving purpose upon which you expend your time and energy.
Contentment simply means, “I’m satisfied.”
Matthew 6:32-33 TLB
“So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, 33 and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.”
Notes
Then next in verse 7 the Apostle briefly turns to the subject of spiritual leadership:
Hebrews 13:7 ESV
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”
Notes
The next verse connects what just came before it, and what will follow.
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
And since He doesn’t change, neither does His teaching, which is why you should avoid any teaching that deviates from what He taught us:
Hebrews 13:9 ESV
“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.”
Colossians 2:16-17 ESV
“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”
Hebrews 8:13 NIV
“By calling this covenant “new,” (the New Testament) he has made the first one (the Old Testament) obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
“By grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, 9 not of your own good deeds, lest any man should boast that he had something to do with his salvation!”
Notes
Hebrews 13:11-14 TLB
“Under the system of Jewish laws, the high priest brought the blood of the slain animals into the sanctuary as a sacrifice for sin, and then the bodies of the animals were burned outside the city. 12 That is why Jesus suffered and died outside the city, where his blood washed our sins away.
13 So let us go out to him beyond the city walls (that is, outside the interests of this world, being willing to be despised) to suffer with him there, bearing his shame. 14 For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.”
James 4:4 NLT
“You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.”
Hebrews 13: 13-15 ESV
“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.”
Because of time, let’s read through the final verses and I’ll do a little commentary as we go along:
Hebrews 13:16-17 TLB
“Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to him. 17 Obey your spiritual leaders and be willing to do what they say. For their work is to watch over your souls, and God will judge them on how well they do this. Give them reason to report joyfully about you to the Lord and not with sorrow, for then you will suffer for it too.”
The word “obey” here means, as long as your leaders are teaching and leading per the teachings of Christ, the church is to submit to their guidance.
Why? They are watching over your soul.
Hebrews 13:17 NMB
“… Let them do it with joy, and not with grief (groaning).”
Hebrews 13:18-19 NIV
“Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.”
Notes
Hebrews 13:20-25 NIV
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.
23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.
24 Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings.
25 Grace be with you all.”