Hebrews 13:1-25
Chapter
13 is indeed a “wrapping up” kind of chapter. The NIV entitles the first part
as “Concluding Exhortations,” but the whole chapter is a real mix of various
topics, almost as though the author kept thinking of “just one more thing” that
he wanted to say. The challenge for us today is that each verse just about could
warrant a sermon on its own – and there are 25 verses. So we will not be able
to take a deep dive into each topic but may seem to be jumping around quite a
bit, just as the author does. Let’s get started with verse 1.
Keep
on loving one another as brothers and sisters. – Hebrews 13:1
The
author is addressing a family of believers. You may recall that the beginning
of the book gives no clue as to its intended audience, unlike most of the other
epistles. However, its traditional title and the way that it is written seems
to indicate that it was a letter to one or more congregations of Jewish
Christians, which may have included some Gentile believers too. This
exhortation to “keep on loving one another” is a timeless and critical concern
for Christians. Jesus said that we would be known as His disciples by our love for each other. Judging from all the
divisions in His body we have not been very good at it.
There
was a recent article in The Atlantic entitled, “How Politics Poisoned the
Evangelical Church.” It talks about the political issues that are causing deep
and acrimonious divisions among Christians who might otherwise agree on basic
theological truths. Loving someone as a brother or sister means finding a way
to bridge these divisions rather than building fortresses to defend ourselves
from others who think differently from us. Neither Jesus nor the apostles took
on the political issues of their day, but some churches now are being defined –
and in many cases divided – by the political positions that they hold so
passionately. Gathering around the basic truth of the gospel is actually treated
with suspicion. The article quoted one pastor talking about politics as saying,
“If you don’t take a side, you’re on the wrong side.” Brotherly love is
replaced by scorn, derision, or even hatred. Jesus set a high standard for His
disciples, echoed in this verse here. Love is our first responsibility, not
being right.
Do not forget to show hospitality
to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels
without knowing it. – Hebrews 13:2
Our
love in action should extend beyond other believers. We need to reach out to
strangers and make them feel welcome in our homes. This has been largely lost
in American culture, but I have enjoyed very generous hospitality in many other
places in the world, even from people whom I had just met and was unlikely to
ever see again. Abraham is a fine example of this in the Bible. Genesis 18
records how he welcomed and fed three strangers who turned out to have an
important message from God for him and his wife. I’m afraid that in this day
and age I tend to often view strangers in my own space with suspicion rather
than considering first if they might be angels. I wonder if I am missing any
messages from God as a result.
Continue to remember those
in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are
mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. – Hebrews 13:3
Christians
in the early church had a common expectation of being arrested and put in
prison for what they believed. A later verse in this chapter references Timothy
just being released from prison. This threat of imprisonment is still common in
certain countries today but is outside the experience of most of us. I don’t
think I have ever been mistreated solely for being a Christian. But persecution
is indeed increasing in many places like India and China and Nigeria and
Afghanistan, and we need to remember to pray for our brothers and sisters in
those countries.
And
in a more general sense, people are being mistreated all around us, so as
followers of Jesus we need to take a stand for justice for anyone who is
oppressed. He does not give us permission to stand up for our own rights but
commands us to defend and care for the poor and weak, reaching out to victims
of violence and discrimination as the Good Samaritan did. The parable of the
sheep and the goats in Matthew 25 reminds us that when we feed the hungry, give
a drink to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, care for the sick,
and visit prisoners it is as though we are doing those things for Jesus Himself.
Marriage should be honored
by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer
and all the sexually immoral. – Hebrews 13:4
As
another expression of love, marriage should be held in high regard. Marriage
models the relationship between Christ and the church, so sex outside of
marriage equates to idolatry. Unfaithfulness in marriage or any kind of sexual
immorality reflects a heart that is not fully committed to God. I am reminded
of the verse in 2 Chronicles 16 that appears like a jewel in the story of Asa
king of Judah: “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth
that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” That’s how
the NASB puts it. The Lord will strongly support those whose hearts are
completely committed to Him. And He will judge those who are unfaithful, whose
loyalty is divided.
Keep your lives free from
the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has
said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be
afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?” – Hebrews 13:5-6
What can mere mortals do to me?” – Hebrews 13:5-6
Here
is another form of idolatry, perhaps not as frequently condemned in the church
as sexual immorality. Who doesn’t love money? In America security is often
measured in dollars and cents. How many of us feel a twinge of fear when the
stock market takes another plunge? But if the Lord is my helper, I will not be
afraid. Are we trusting Him to take care of us or are we relying on our bank
accounts?
Be
content with what you have. Clearly this is not suggesting that we should be
lazy or unproductive. In the parable of the talents Jesus commended the servants
who doubled their investment. It’s a question of motivation and purpose. Why
are we trying to get ahead? Is it just to satisfy ourselves? Or are we plowing
our resources back into service to God?
Because
we live in a consumer driven economy we are continually encouraged to buy more,
to get more stuff, whether we need it or not. Discontent frequently arises when
we compare ourselves to others who have more than we do. We think that gaining
material things will somehow make us happy. How many times have you heard or
read of someone describing their childhood saying, “I grew up poor, but I
didn’t know we were poor. We were just like everyone else.” But there are so
many voices telling us now that we need more: more money, more things. It can
be difficult to resist. But we need to remember where our true source of
security and satisfaction lies: in God alone.
Remember your
leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of
their way of life and imitate their faith. – Hebrews 13:7
We
may consider emulating people who hold leadership positions in church bodies,
but we should remember others as well who may not be considered formal leaders.
Any Christian can be a spiritual leader, speaking the word of God into specific
situations and leading by the example of their way of life, as it says here. We
tend to admire and accept people who can speak well, but the outcome of their
faith – the day-to-day evidence of how they are committed to and fully trusting
God – is what we should really respect and imitate.
Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever. – Hebrews 13:8
Leaders
who represent Jesus should aim to be as consistent as He is. We can trust Jesus
because we know that He is faithful, never capricious or impulsive. In a world
full of change and uncertainty we can rely on His constant presence and
provision. He will never leave us nor forsake us, as it said earlier. His
nature and his purposes are eternal. Our hope in Him is like that anchor for
our soul that keeps us secure in all the storms of our lives.
Do not be carried away by
all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be
strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no
benefit to those who do so. We have an altar from which those who minister
at the tabernacle have no right to eat. – Hebrews 13:9-10
We
don’t have the deep spiritual connection with food that many other cultures
have, though we recognize that food has more than just a physical effect on us.
There are still plenty of strange teachings related to diet that we may be
tempted to put too much stock in. The question of eating food offered to idols
was a concern addressed in 1 Corinthians. Paul’s principle there is to not do
anything that cause a weaker brother or sister to stumble in their faith. We
have a responsibility to make good choices in what we eat, taking care of the
bodies that God has given us, while recognizing the greater benefit of being
strengthened in every way by His grace. Our bodies will eventually weaken and
wear out, but inwardly we can be renewed day after day, as it says in 2
Corinthians 4.
God’s
grace is made available to us at the cross, the altar that those who minister
at the tabernacle have no right to eat. What does that mean? The sacrificial
system of the tabernacle was based on performing certain rituals. Without
faith, these would not give people access to God’s grace and forgiveness. Serving
in the tabernacle should not be seen as a privileged position. Right standing
before God always comes by faith in what He has done for us, not by what we
have done to try to achieve His favor.
The high priest carries
the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the
bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the
city gate to make the people holy through His own blood. Let us,
then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. For
here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that
is to come. – Hebrews 13:11-14
The
priesthood of Jesus, in the order of Melchizedek, is recognized here again, in
offering His own blood for our atonement. Jesus has the unique position of
being both priest and sacrifice, sanctified and shamed at the same time. What
does it mean for us to go to Him outside the camp? Well, it says here that it
is a place of suffering and disgrace. The wilderness, away from civilization,
is a place of vulnerability and discomfort. Going outside the security of the
camp means leaving certain things behind, stripping away certain things like
our pride and status as we identify with Jesus in his disgrace. We can no
longer hide in the crowd if we are serious about following Him. The city
represents security and predictability and belonging. But here we have no enduring
city. We look forward to having those things in heaven. In the meantime, on the
positive side, we are not tied down, trapped by human expectations. We have the
flexibility to move onward into whatever God would call us to.
Through Jesus, therefore,
let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of
lips that openly profess His name. And do not forget to do good and
to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. –
Hebrews 13:15-16
Offering
a sacrifice implies that we are giving something up. A sacrifice costs us
something. We give something up to gain something else. Praise to God can
indeed be a sacrifice, especially when we do it when we don’t feel like it. We
praise in submission to Him, as we give up our need to make sense of our circumstances
or to satisfy our own desires. We give up ourselves to receive fulfillment in Him.
The continuity of praise described here is related to Paul’s exhortation to
“give thanks in all circumstances,” mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5. We can only
do this “through Jesus,” not in our own strength. And openly professing His
name, verbally giving God credit for the ways He is blessing us, may involve a
cost. Giving God glory may not cost us anything in church, but if we do it
publicly we may incur ridicule and opposition. But let us press on to
acknowledge the Lord, as it says in Hosea.
Our
life of worship should involve a second type of sacrifice mentioned here, in
keeping with Jesus’ admonition to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind
and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are to do good and to share with
others. This involves sacrifice as well, as we give up our own desires to meet
the needs of others. Service is a crucial component of worship, intensely
practical, since actions always speak louder than words. The Message puts verse
16 this way: “Make sure you don’t take things for granted and go slack in
working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes
particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of “sacrifice”—that
take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.” That’s where the
rubber hits the road, so to speak.
Have confidence in your
leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over
you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be
a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. – Hebrews 13:17
Submission
is another topic worthy of a separate sermon. “Submit to one another out of
reverence for Christ,” it says in Ephesians 5:21. That is the overall
principle. We submit to leaders not because they are necessarily right but
because their authority has been given to them by God. That is why we have to
submit to civil authorities who may not even acknowledge God. However,
submission does not mean blind obedience. We are still individually accountable
to God. Submission means that when there is disagreement and someone needs to
make a decision, that the leader is allowed to decide and everyone else quits
arguing. And the leader then needs to take responsibility for the decision,
too. Leaders must give account to God, as it says here. This type of submission
actually makes life easier for everyone. Again from the Message, “Contribute to
the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make
things harder for them?”
Pray for us. We are
sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every
way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you
soon. – Hebrews 13:18-19
This
is an expression of sincerity. The author acknowledges a need for prayer and a
desire to again be with the believers that he is writing to. His desire to live
honorably in every way ought to be universal. There should be nothing deceptive
or manipulative or insincere in the way we relate to others.
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, 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. – Hebrews 13:20-21
This
then is the closing benediction, similar to the ones Paul wrote in his
epistles, including its appeal to “the God of peace” honoring His eternal
covenant. Jesus is referred to as the great Shepherd, echoing Jesus’
identifying of Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the
sheep. Part of God’s care for us through Jesus is to equip us with everything
we need to do His will as well as to transform us into what He desires. This inner
transformation and outward change in behavior go together, as God’s work of
grace in our lives. In the words of 2 Corinthians 9:8 that we frequently sing,
“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all
times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” It is God
who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose, as it
says in Philippians 2. So we can see that this is all of God’s grace, as we
depend on Him.
Brothers and sisters, I
urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you
quite briefly.
I want you to know that
our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come
with him to see you.
Greet all your
leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their
greetings.
Grace be with you all. –
Hebrews 13:22-25
The
author recognizes that there is so much more that could be said about all the
topics in this letter. He reiterates his desire to see them and sends
greetings, including from believers from Italy. Some commentators take this to
mean that the letter was written to congregations in Italy. Others interpret it
as being written from Italy. Many facts about this letter, including its
authorship, will remain unknown to us.
The
message of Hebrews however is clear. Jesus is Someone special, supreme over
everything and at the very center of God’s redemptive plan. He is the one who
gives us access to God. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time
of need.” Is Jesus worthy of our commitment and adoration? Hebrews gives a
resounding yes.
In
closing, I would like to return to where we started today: “Keep on loving each
other as brothers and sisters.” Siblings may not always get along, but family
is what binds us together, within this body and with believers all around the
world. The gospel is very simple. Romans 10 sums it up like this:
If you declare with
your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God
raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your
heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you
profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes
in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between
Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who
call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved. – Romans 10:9-13
Therefore,
anyone who declares that Jesus is Lord on the basis of their faith in His
completed work on their behalf is my brother or sister in Christ. Salvation is
so simple: everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Some
people may be like the criminal on the cross next to Jesus. All he said was, “Jesus
remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus recognized his remarkable
faith that looked beyond that awful death to the glorious kingdom to come and
responded, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.” We need to be careful not
to add too many qualifications to the gospel of salvation, too many other
things to believe or positions to take. The basic truths that should unite us
as the body of Christ are much more important than the many smaller issues that
we may disagree on.
Some
of our brothers and sisters in Christ may differ in almost every way, but it is
my responsibility to love each of them as my neighbor, namely to love them as I
love myself. One of the unique things about the body of Christ is its amazing
diversity. And 1 Corinthians 12 tells us that every part is important. We need
everyone’s perspective, everyone’s insight, everyone’s participation.
Denominations
and individual churches so easily become echo chambers where everyone says
pretty much the same thing and feels obligated to agree with everyone else. We
need to be challenged by people who think differently than we do. And we need
to feel free to challenge them with our understanding of Scripture and how we
live it out in the grace of God. Together we will be able to reach a slightly
fuller understanding of our infinite God that none of us will ever completely
comprehend. When we gather around His throne in heaven, there will be many
different voices joining in perfect harmony, giving glory to the worthy
empowerer of our praise.
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