A CHALLENGE TO HOLY LIVING
Hebrews 13
"The world,” said Alexander Malaren, “takes its notion of God most of all from those who say they belong to God’s family. They read us a great deal more than they read the Bible. They see us; they only hear about Jesus Christ.” This statement is a reason that chapter 13 is given to us in the manner that it is. Most of Hebrews is given for the purpose of doctrine with the last two chapters emphasizing the duty of the believer in his practical existence. It certainly is not enough to only know the truth without obeying the truth. Like a laser beam of Truth this last chapter is beaming with exhortation challenging us to let our light to so shine. Weeks of study would produce a great benefit to the student who would outline and examine all of the instructions that are given in this thirteenth chapter. I will group this final challenge in three parts as I give an exposition of these last words of the Book of Hebrews.
I. THE IMPORTAINCE OF MAINTAINING ONE’S PERSONAL CONDUCT (Vv. 1-6)
There are a number of different areas mentioned in this last chapter that pertains to the believer’s conduct. Here is a list of those things that are mentioned: brotherly love, Hebrews 13:1; hospitality, Hebrews 13:2; sympathy with those in bonds, Hebrews 13:3; fidelity in the marriage relation, Hebrews 13:4; contentment, Hebrews 13:5,6; submission to those in authority, Hebrews 13:7,8; stability in the doctrines of religion, Hebrews 13:9-15; benevolence, Hebrews 13:16; obedience to those entrusted with office, Hebrews 13:17; and special prayer for him who wrote this epistle, Hebrews 13:18,19. The epistle then closes with a beautiful and impressive benediction that should serve to challenge each of us to a personal commitment to the Lord in regards to our personal conduct. Hebrews 13:20, 21.
I. Maintaining a Personal Conduct as It Involves Others (Vv. 1-3)
Verse one begins with “Let brotherly love continue” as though to say let this be an ongoing virtue that marked these early believers. The phrase brotherly love describes an attitude that should mark the church. There should be a family love that even marks the church family. Tenderness and caring one for another should be that which marks us. The word brotherly gives a clue as to the kind of love that should mark us and also a study of the word love as it is defined in the Greek gives a further indication of the atmosphere of love that should characterize the church family. Notice what Guzik says regarding the use of the Greek words for our English word love: “In the ancient Greek language the New Testament was written in, there were four words at hand that we might translate love. Eros was one word for love. It described, as we might guess from the word itself, erotic love. It refers to sexual love. Storge was a second word for love. It refers to family love, the kind of love there is between a parent and child or between family members in general. Agape is another word for love. It is the most powerful word for love in the New Testament, and is often used to describe God’s love towards us. It is a love that loves without changing. It is a self-giving love that gives without demanding or expecting re-payment. It is love so great that it can be given to the unlovable or unappealing. It is love that loves even when it is rejected. Agape love gives and loves because it wants to; it does not demand or expect repayment from the love given - it gives because it loves, it does not love in order to receive. Agape love isn’t about feelings, it is about decisions. But the word for love used in Hebrews 13:1 is philadelphia, coming from the root philia. This ancient Greek word speaks of a brotherly friendship and affection. It is the love of deep friendship and partnership. There should always be plenty of this kind of love among Christians, and it should continue.”
In verse number two, we are told “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” In Bible history we know how both Abraham and lot were called on to entertain angels. The meaning of having a spirit of hospitality is not for the purpose of entertaining angels, as they did, but doing so realizing that according to God’s providence, He may have someone to come your way that He has sent that you can be a benefit to in ways that will have eternal value. This kind of hospitality should certainly mark the believer and also his church. When a missionary drops by or calls on the church, we should have a kind and benevolent spirit towards that one realizing that he is a messenger (angel) from God. The word angel means: messenger.
When we invite friends over and especially the Lord’s servants into our homes, their presence and their influence will have tremendous and long term value. I recall many pastors and missionaries who stayed in my home and the great positive influence that it made on me. That may have strongly contributed to my now being a minister of the Gospel.
Verse number three reminds us to remember those who are in bonds and who are suffering adversity. We need to be very careful not to only think of ourselves. There could be those who are suffering for having done right and either are or have been imprisoned for such. There will be more and more religious persecution for just doing right as the days proceed. Just this week, I received word that a Christian organization is going to be under investigation. The man that is involved in this seems to be a man of real character. Whatever he is being accused of could be very innocent unless a liberal judge interprets otherwise. Then, likewise, we need to pray for any who are going through adversity. Churches are so openly vulnerable to Satan’s attack as well as individuals who make up the church. We certainly need to pray for and encourage one another in this area.
B. Maintaining a Personal Conduct As It Involves Oneself (V.4-6)
In verse number four, we are challenged to acknowledge and to maintain the sanctity of marriage. In recent years, marriage has been greatly cheapened. There is a frontal attack on marriage by the devil, the world and the flesh. If we lesson in our own minds the value and the true meaning and purpose of marriage, we will open our own marriages to “marriage failure”. There are many who so slowly are allowing marriage plaque to build up on the heart of their marriage, not realizing that they are preparing themselves for a marriage thrombosis. When the marriage is compromised by unfaithfulness, you are inviting the fiery wrath of God to fall upon you. This kind of judgment should be avoided by every believer in preference to guarding and maintaining a wonderful and a holy relationship to the marriage partner that God has given us. Each of us should remind ourselves from the Text: “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” There is no way to escape the warning that is given in our Text, when a violation has taken place…
In verse number four we are told to have the right attitude towards our marriage partner and in verse number five, we are told to have the right attitude towards our materially possessions. We should never have a spirit of covetousness. We should remind ourselves that everything that we have or own comes from the Lord. Then, when that is so as verse number six indicates, we will realize that our help truly comes from the Lord. One of the greatest weaknesses that we can encounter in our lifetime is a failure to recognize that the Lord is our Strength and our Substance. Without Him, we have nothing and we can do nothing. We are totally helpless.
II. THE IMPORTAINCE OF MAINTAINING ONE’S PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY (Vv. 7-19)
We have been given heroes in the faith who have gone before as chapter 11 tells us; we also are being given guides to help us keep our eyes and our ears upon Jesus. Any distraction that we have in life comes from losing our focus and taking our eyes off of the Lord Jesus Christ and from not listening to what He has to say. In the span of our lifetime God has given us guides and instructors to help us who have given us a life and testimony to follow. I personally am indebted to so many who have given me good instructions to help me advance in the faith. This is the meaning of verse number seven which says, “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.” God has appointed within your and my lifetime those who are there to give you encouragement to help you stay in the will and the purpose of God. They do not give such instructions for selfish reasons; they do it to share the benefits and the blessings that have constituted their lives. For such reason, we should consider the end or the end results of what they are telling us. We should be careful to have the right attitude towards such.
A. By One’s Attitude Towards The Truth (Vv. 7-14)
Our Christian heritage is given to us to sustain us with reminders from the past. These reminders show us how those before us were able to stay in the race and continue in the faith. We are not only to remember them who went on before us and what they had to say, but we also are not to be “carried about with divers and strange doctrines”, because we have one: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Barnes understood how valuable this knowledge is for challenging and comforting our hearts when he wrote the following: “The evident design of this independent proposition here is, to encourage them to persevere by showing that their Saviour was always the same; that he who had sustained his people in former times was the same still, and would be the same for ever. The argument here, therefore, for perseverance is founded on the immutability of the Redeemer. If he were fickle, vacillating, changing in his character and plans; if to-day he aids his people, and to-morrow will forsake them; if at one time he loves the virtuous, and at another equally loves the vicious; if he formed a plan yesterday which he has abandoned today; or if he is ever to be a different being from what he is now, there would be no encouragement to effort. Who would know what to depend on? Who would know what to expect tomorrow? For who could have any certainty that he could ever please a capricious or a vacillating being? Who could know how to shape his conduct if the principles of the Divine administration were not always the same? At the same time, also, that this passage furnishes the strongest argument for fidelity and perseverance, it is an irrefragable proof of the divinity of the Saviour. It asserts immutability-sameness in the past, the present, and to all eternity—but of whom can this be affirmed but God? It would not be possible to conceive of a declaration which would more strongly assert immutability than this.” Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament
These next several verses show the way that the Lord Jesus went outside of the gate of religious customs and traditions to the place of offerings and the place of sacrifice. We too, are to identify with Christ by leaving all false religions and false worshipping to worship only Jesus and to be identified with only Christ Jesus. He alone is worthy of such worship and such worship in kind. We identify by faith knowing that we do not have a continuing city here, but we certainly do on the other side.
B. By One’s Acceptance of Truth (Vv. 15, 16)
One proves his acceptance of truth by the sacrifice of his lips and by doing well and maintaining a spirit of sharing. This is what the word communicate means. The Greek word means, having in common with others. The meaning is, that they were to show liberality to those who were in want, and were to make a special effort not to forget this sacred duty. This same spirit is seen throughout the First Epistle of John. As born again believers, we should show that we have accepted Truth by the applying of Truth. Truth should mark us in all of our doings. What we do should be done in a very unselfish manner; we are by nature selfish and must resist the tendency to act so selfishly. This was the problem with Ananias and Sapphira. They were selfishly thinking of themselves. Because of their selfishness the Lord judged them harshly.
C. By One’s Acting Upon Truth (Vv. 17-19)
The first admonition involving the obeying of Truth involved mostly those who have already died while leaving behind words of Truth that we are to recall to our remembrances. This next admonition involves obeying those who are presently our guides. These are our religious leaders who speak the Truth to us in a very unselfish manner knowing that they have both an obligation and also accountability back to the Lord for instructing us in the ways of the Lord. We should give heed to what they say so that it will not be unprofitable to those who refuse to obey the Truth.
III.THE IMPORTAINCE OF MAINTAINING ONES PERSONAL COMMITMENT (Vv. 20-25)
Just knowing that we have one who has given us a better Priesthood and with that a better economy, we can be challenged by knowing that He will make us “perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever.” These last few verses are a concluding benediction to some in particular mentioned in the Text and also to the readers of the Book of Hebrews. As this Book closes, the reader who is the believer can keep his eyes upon Jesus as he goes on to perfection.
The Lord does not affirm that the reader is perfect or that he will be perfect in this life, but it carries the idea of being perfected in an eternal sense with God giving the graces that is necessary for being perfected. The meaning of the word perfect as used here means that Paul prayed that God would fully endow them with whatever grace that was necessary for the believer to do his will and to keep his commandments. This is the purpose of Hebrews being written so that we can clearly see how much better things we have as believers as we LOOK UNTO JESUS!
