Christian Duties
Hebrews Chapter 13
Scripture Reading Heb 13:1-3
Introduction:
1. Throughout the book of Hebrews we learned that a Christian is justified by faith.
2. Hebrews has shown us that we ought to put our faith in Jesus because his is better then anything else.
3. Outline of Hebrews.
a. Jesus is a better spokesman. 1:1-4:13
b. Jesus is a better priest. 4:14-10:31
c. Jesus is a better way. 10:32-13:17
d. Conclusion. 13:18-25
4. Let us now consider this final chapter from the book of Hebrews.
I. Social Duties. (1-6)
When Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes moved to Washington, D.C., to take up his duties as chief justice, he transferred his membership to a church in the area. Now, it was the custom in that church for all new members to be called to the front of the sanctuary at the close of the worship service. The first to be called was Ah Sing, a Chinese laundryman who had moved to the capital from the West coast. He took his place at the far side of the church. As the dozen or so other people were called forward they stood at the opposite side of the church, leaving Ah Sing standing alone. But when Chief Justice Hughes was called, he took his place beside the Chinese laundryman. When the minister had welcomed the group in the church’s fellowship he turned to the congregation and said, "I do not want the congregation to miss this remarkable illustration of the fact that at the cross of Jesus Christ the ground is level."
a. Duty to our brethren. (1-3)
Hebrews 13:1-3 KJV
(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.
1. The readers are now encouraged to continue loving their brothers and sisters in Christ.
a) Brotherly love is not always an easy thing.
1 John 3:16-24 KJV
(16) Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
(17) But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
(18) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
(19) And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
(20) For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
(21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
(22) And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
(23) And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
(24) And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
b) The words “let…continue” suggest that perhaps there is danger of the love of this band of disciples is being severed.
c) During times of persecution the church’s love for one another may slacken due to a fear of getting involved and thereby suffering also.
2. These readers are not only to continue hospitality to their local brethren but also to the brethren all over.
a) It seems that perhaps the fear of strangers, due to persecution, had stopped these brethren from opening up their homes.
b) Perhaps they were divided over doctrine (as the text clearly shows) and this stopped them from practicing hospitality.
2 John 1:10-11 KJV
(10) If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
(11) For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
c) Perhaps they were not opening their homes to Gentile Christians.
3. God has always been pleased when his people show hospitality and it seems here that men like Abraham, Lot, and Gideon actually entertained angels by doing so.
Frightened by the clamor of thunder in the night, a little child cried out. Holding her securely in his arms, her father explained that she needn’t fear. God would take care of her because He loved her greatly.
"I know God will take care of me and love me," she replied. "But right now, Daddy, I want someone with skin on to love me." We are to be God’s love, with skin on!
a) Hospitality is vital to Christianity.
Matthew 25:35-40 KJV
(35) For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
(36) Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
(37) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
(38) When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
(39) Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
(40) And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Romans 12:13 KJV
(13) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
1 Peter 4:9 KJV
(9) Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
b) These Hebrew Christians are encouraged to continue to tend these Christian brethren who have been imprisoned for their faith.
c) In the first century prisoners depended on the kindness of others for almost every need, as opposed to the state providing it.
d) The idea of finding “yourselves also in the body” is that if they were still upright and taking nourishment as a Christian it is likely that they would find themselves jailed at some point.
b. Duty to our spouse. (4)
Hebrews 13:4 KJV
(4) Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
1. Marriage is honorable.
There is a custom in an area of the Netherlands where newlywed couples enter their house through a special door. The door is never used again until one dies and the body is carried out through that same door. God designed marriage like that house. It has one door that is locked tightly. That lock, which keeps the marriage bond secure, is loving commitment for life, which includes a commitment to being reconciled if the relationship should break.
a) Consider the rendering of the NASV.
“Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” (NASB)
b) In the world in which we live we have seen a decline in respect for the marriage union.
c) The best and most accurate static for divorce in America is approximately 41%
2. The marriage bed is undefiled.
a) The “marriage bed” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
b) It is clear from this verse that God intended for this activity to be in the context of two people (a man and a woman!) who have joined themselves in marriage.
c) “This was a novel view to many in the first century. For them chastity was an unreasonable demand to make. It is one of the unrecognized miracles that Christians were able not only to make this demand, but to make it stick.” Leon Morris, “Hebrews” in Expositor’s Bible Commentary, p.147.
3. Fornication and adultery is a wicked sin.
a) Fornication is the act of sex before marriage.
b) Adultery is infidelity after marriage, or (according to Matthew 19) sex with some who is currently married to another.
c) God will judge
c. Duty to our selves. (5-6)
Hebrews 13:5-6 KJV
(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.
1. The Christian must never become greedy, but rather must be content with what is reasonable.
a) Contentment is something that is hard because we have been given so much.
b) What we have is never enough.
c) The point that the author of Hebrew is trying to portray is that our trust should be in God
2. The Lord will provide.
a) The Lord is our helper.
b) The Christian doesn’t have to fear anything.
c) No matter what man may do, nothing can take away our confidence in God.
3. Man cannot take away a true Christians confidence.
II. Religious Duties (7-17)
a. Imitate those who are faithful. (7-8)
I heard of a man who was digging for oil. It seemed that his well was going to be a dry hole, but he believed that there was oil at that place. So he kept digging, and the people thought that he was crazy to keep on spending money on that worthless well. But he said that there was oil in there. He kept digging and spent all the money he had and borrowed about all he could get.
Finally he went down until he struck a gusher. He took his old hat and stuck it under the oil gushing out of the ground, filled it up, and put it on his head. He ran down the main street of the town. He did not have to say anything. He had oil all over him, on his face and clothes. Everyone could see that he had struck oil, for he had it all over him.
Can others easily tell that we have Christ all over us?
William Moses Tidwell, "Pointed Illustrations."
Hebrews 13:7-8 KJV
(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.
1. Imitate those faithful saints who helped lead you to Christ.
a) These are those saints who have helped lead us to Christ.
b) They were faithful and Jesus saved them.
2. What Jesus did for the faithful before you, he will do for you.
b. Continue in the faith. (9-15)
Hebrews 13:9-15 KJV
(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.
1. Do not give into false teaching.
a) Christians are to be unified in doctrine.
b) The strange doctrines here spoken of is the Greek word ξένος xenos, which translates “foreign”, probable to the Gospel of Christ.
c) These teachings are probably the Jewish prohibitions to food.
2. There is a Christian Alter.
a) It seems like one of the arguments being presented against the true form of Christianity is that there is no alter.
b) Paul here confirms that Christ is our alter and he is greater then any alter made by man.
3. Christians are sanctified by the blood of Christ.
c. Be benevolent. (16)
Hebrews 13:16 KJV
(16) But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
1. The Christian should always look for opportunities to do good.
2. We should share.
3. God will be pleased with these sacrifices.
d. Be obedient to leaders in the church (17)
Hebrews 13:17 KJV
(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.
1. The leaders of the church must be obeyed.
2. We are to submit to their faithful will.
3. Any injunction they give is one that has been considered gravely.
III. Instructions and greeting. (18-25)
a. Prayer request. (18-19)
Hebrews 13:18-19 KJV
(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.
1. Paul request prayers
2. Everything he has done has been with a clean conscience.
3. He desires to come to them quickly.
b. Prayer for the readers (20-21)
Hebrews 13:20-21 KJV
(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.
1. He calls on the God of peace.
2. He desires that these saints be properly equipped.
3. He gives God the glory.
c. An exhortation. (22-23)
Hebrews 13:22-23 KJV
(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.
1. Paul has said some strong things in this epistle and they should understand that these words are for their own good.
2. Paul says the Timothy is coming.
3. Paul hopes to come with him.
d. Final greetings and benediction. (24-25)
Hebrews 13:24-25 KJV
(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.
1. Paul gives his regards.
2. The Italian saints send their regards.
3. Grace be with you all.
Conclusion:
2. It is our hope that the readers of this epistle heeded it words.
3. Sadly not long after this epistle was written the church plummeted into apostasy.
4. Let us heed the words of this great book and remain faithful to Christ Jesus.
5. So many people put their hope in things other than God.
6. Illustration of Alfred Hitchcock
7. So many of us are buried with our hope.
