TEXT: Hebrews 13:1-17
TOPIC: “Five Final Commands”
INTRODUCTION:
I. EXPRESS LOVE (V.1-3)
A. Express it continually (v.1) (Rom. 12:10; 1 Pet. 1:22).
1. The expression of love to brothers and sisters in Christ is to be continual.
B. Express it through hospitality (v. 2; Rom 12:13).
1. Love is to be expressed to stangers
2. Love for strangers is expressed through being hospitable.
a. Some have entertained angels by doing so.
C. Express it to the outcast (v.3).
1. Express love to the prisoners
a. Notice the attitude of this expression of love: as bound with them.
2. Express love to those who are going through adversity
a. Notice the attitude of this expression of love: as being a part of their body, suffering the same thing (empathy).
II. KEEP THE FAMILY AS A SACRED TRUST (V.4).
A. God views marriage as a special relationship (v.4a).
1. Let marriage be held in honour (as of great price, precious , esteemed, especially dear).
2. and (let) their bed be undefiled
B. God will judge those who do not preserve the sacred nature of marriage (v.4b).
1. for God will judge the sexually impure (pornous) (heterosexual and homosexual) and adulterers.
a. Revelation 21:8 (KJV) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
b. Ephesians 5:5 (KJV) 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
III. AVOID COVETOUSNESS (V. 5-6).
A. There is a command to avoid coveteousness (v.5a) (Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5).
1. “Let your conduct be without covetousness.”
a. This is a command.
B. There is a contentment to be cultivated (v.5b).
1. arkeo = to be satisfied, to be contented
2. pareipsi = such things as one has, to have on hand.
C. There is a companion to aid us in holiness (v.5c-6; John 14:18).
1. Jesus himself has given the promise.
2. He will not leave or forsake us.
IV. ACCEPT THOSE WHO GOD SENDS TO SERVE YOU (V.7, 17).
A. Accept the men God sends to serve you (v.7; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).
1. There is to be an acceptance of those God sends to lead the fellowship of believers.
a. mnamoneuo = to be mindful of, to remember, to call to mind
b. hegoumenon = to go before, to be a leader, to rule, command, to have authority over
c. oitinen elalhsan umin ton logon tou theou = Those who have spoke the word of God to you.
2. There is to be a following of the lives of the men God sends to lead the fellowship of believers (1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 3:17).
a. on anatheorountes tain ekbasin tain anastrofain mimeisthe tain pistin = whose faith follow (imitate, mimic), considering the outcome of their manner of life (conduct, behaviour, deportment)
B. Accept the leadership of the men God sends to serve you (v.17).
1. There is to be a submission to the authority of the men God sends to lead the fellowship (1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Corinthians 16:15-16).
a. Peitho = to listen to, obey, yield to, comply with, to trust, have confidence in.
b. tois hegoumenois humon = those who rule (to be a leader, to rule, command, to have authority) over you.
c. kai upeikete = and submit yourself (to them)
2. There is a responsibility borne by the men God has sent to lead the fellowship (James 3:1).
a. They are responsible to watch out for your souls. (gar agrupnousin uper ton psuchon umwn wv logon)
b. They must give an account (apodidwmi = to render account) to God for their leadership.
3. The men who lead the fellowship should be able to lead with joy.
a. The rationale: So that they may do it with joy, not grief.
b. Causing them heartache is not profitable to you.
(Jeremiah 13:17; Philippians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 2:19)
V. ENGAGE IN TRUE WORSHIP (V.8-16).
A. Engage in true worship of the unchanging one (v.8; James 1:17).
1. He is the same (autov = himself, the same) past present and future.
2. We are to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
B. Engage in true worship by maintaining pure doctrine (v.9-10).
1. Don’t be carried about (periferw = carry about, in doubt and hesitation to be led away now to this opinion, now to that) by every wind of doctrine.( 1 Timothy 4:1; Ephesians 4:14)
2. Establish (peripateo = to regulate one’s life, to conduct one’s self) your life on sound doctrine (grace).
3. Reject doctrine that is unprofitable (Galatians 1:6-8).
a. It has not even benefited those who have been occupied with it.
C. Engage in true worship through proper sacrifices (v. 11-16).
1. Accepting the sacrifice Jesus made for us (v. 11-12).
a. It was the payment in full for our sins.
2. Offering the sacrifice of identifying with Christ (v. 13-14).
a. Being willing to “bear the reproach” of Christ through open identification with Him.
1.) Through POF & Baptism
2.) Through openly witnessing
3.) Through identifying with God’s people (Heb. 11:24-26).
3. Offering the sacrifice of praise ( v.15; Colossians 3:16)
a. We are to continually (diapantos = constantly, always, continually) offer the sacrifice of praise (karpov = praises, which are presented to God as a thank offering).
4. Offering the sacrifice of ministering to one another (v. 16; Galatians 6:10).
a. Minister by doing good (eupoiia) for one another.
b. Minister by sharing (koinonia) with one another.
c. These sacrifices please (euaresteitai = to be well pleasing) to God.
CONCLUSION:
