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Hebrews 13Hebrews 13:1-25(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.

I. Let brotherly love continue: In the New Testament, there are basically four words that are translated “love.” Eros, which is used to describe an erotic type of love or a sexual type of love. Another word is storge. This type of love refers to family love—the kind of love that is between a parent and a child or family members, in general. Then, there is the word agape, with which most Christians are familiar. Of course, this is the most powerful word used for love in the New Testament. It is most often used to describe God’s love toward us. It is a non-changing love. It is a self-giving type of love, the type of love that gives without expecting repayment. In fact, this type of love is so great, it can be given to the unloving or unappealing. It is the type of love that loves even when it is rejected. Agape love loves because it wants to do so, expecting nothing in return. Agape love isn’t about feelings; it is whole-heartedly about decision. But the word used here in 13:1 is philadelphia, which comes from the root word philia—the ancient Greek word for “brotherly friendship and affection.” Philia is descriptive of deep friendship and partnership. Thus, the writer of Hebrews encourages us to let this type of love continue.

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II. Besides the fact that it is entirely possible that many of us have entertained angels unaware, what Paul is encouraging us to do is to be hospitable because hospitality is an important virtue. It is so important that it is commanded of Christians and leaders. You will remember back in Romans 12:13 that Paul told us to be willing “. . . to distribute to the necessity of the saints and to be given to hospitality.” In talking about pastors, in I Timothy 3:2, Paul says that a pastor must be “. . . given to hospitality.” Again, in I Peter 4:9, Peter says to, “Show hospitality one to another without grudging.” Hospitality is simply a practical way to let brotherly love continue.

a. Strangers: The writer of Hebrews is directing us to be hospitable to Christians who are strangers. I mean, the fact is, you very well may invite your best friends over for lunch or for dinner, and that’s great, but it doesn’t fulfill this command. One of the best ways to fulfill this command is to befriend strangers at church and to entertain them with your hospitality because the word “hospitality” in the Greek literally means “love for strangers.” Brotherly love means to generally love all your brothers and sisters in Jesus—not just those who are currently your friends.

III. Remember the prisoners: Many brothers and sisters in the Lord have taken this admonition to heart by getting involved in prison ministries and ministering to those who have been imprisoned, extending this love not just to those who have been imprisoned for the Gospel but for any other reason that they might show the love of Christ.

(4) Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

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IV. The marriage bed undefiled: It is very clear from many Biblical texts that the Bible strictly condemns sex outside of the marriage commitment. Thus, this verse says, “. . . fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” But the Bible also celebrates sexual love within the commitment of marriage, devoting a whole book of the Bible to it (Song of Solomon). I heard a preacher say one time, “The enemy of our soul wants to do everything he can do to encourage sex outside of the marriage bed that he might defile those who engage in it and, in turn, he wants to do everything he can to discourage sex inside the marriage bed, where they might be cleansed from defilement. We need to recognize this strategy and not give it a foothold among us.”

(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.

V. Let your life be without covetousness: Covetousness is often described as greed. Unfortunately, in our day and time and in our culture, greed is often excused and even admired, often renaming it “ambition.” Contentment, however, is the exact opposite of covetousness. Paul gives us a great illustration of how this is lived out in Philippians 4:11-15.

Philippians 4:11-15(11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.(12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.(13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.(14) Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

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(15) Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

I read a quote one time by millionaire Bernard Baruch. He was asked, “How much money does it take for a rich man to be satisfied?” to which Baruch answered, “Just a million more than he has.” This is the epitome of greed, my friends.

a. The Lord is my helper: Real contentment, my friends, comes only when we trust in God to meet our needs and to be our security. It has been said that we are often more likely to put our security and find contentment in things far less reliable and secure than God, Himself.

b. Those crazy Christians: There is even a whole segment of Christendom devoted to the corrupt concept that God wants you rich, preaching, as the Apostle Paul warned, “. . . that gain is godliness:” to which Paul the Apostle would then say, “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (I Timothy 6:5-6).

(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.

VI. Those who rule over you: We are exhorted here to recognize and to follow Godly leadership within the Body of Christ, but I would point out to you that this is a conditional commandment predicated upon the leader’s faithfulness to teach the Word of God. Paul gives the condition when he says, “. . . who have spoken unto you the word of God . . . .”

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Therefore, it is my firm contention and belief that only those leaders who deliver the unadulterated, full counsel of God through His Word are deserving of such loyalty and emulation. This is why Paul exhorted Timothy in I Timothy 4:16:

1 Timothy 4:16 (16) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Such leaders should be recognized and followed. It has been said, “Just as much as the church needs Godly leaders, it also needs Godly followers.”

(8) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

VII. Jesus is the same: As if out of nowhere, the writer of Hebrews reminds us of the immutability of Jesus. He is “. . . the same, yesterday, and today, and forever.” It is His unchanging nature that provides a measure for all Christian conduct, particularly in the Word and in worship. Thus, when new things arise in the Body of Christ, it scares me. Remember the old adage, gang: “If it’s new, it ain’t true, and if it’s true, it ain’t nothing new.” The very nature of Jesus as it is revealed in the Bible is the same nature of Jesus that should be seen in the church today. Our God, Jesus Christ, is immutable.

(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.

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(14) For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

VIII. Various and strange doctrines: There’s never been a shortage of various and strange doctrines in the church. The ones specifically in mind here seem to be dealing with the return to the Mosaic ceremonies and laws that were fulfilled in Jesus.

IX. Established by grace: Our hearts will only be established by grace when we have the understanding that God approves of us even though we do not deserve it. This is not to be confused with an assumed approval, which is gained through a keeping of lists of rules and regulations, such as the dietary laws, which is why the author of Hebrews says, “not to be established with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied by them.”

X. The cross is our altar: These Jewish Christians had probably been branded as illegitimate by other Jews because they did not continue in the Levitical system. Thus, they were not taking their sacrifices to the temple to be offered upon the altar there. Paul insists here that we have an altar, and it is an altar that those who insist on clinging to the Levitical system have no right to.

Our altar is the cross, the very centerpiece of the Christian Gospel and understanding.

1 Corinthians 1:18(18) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

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XI. Bearing the reproach of Jesus: Because Jesus suffered outside the gate, let us go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. If Jesus was rejected and His sacrifice, which He performed on the cross—our altar—and was branded illegitimate, what better do we expect? Identifying with Jesus often means bearing His reproach, the very thing that many people today are unwilling to do.

XII. Outside the camp: When the writer refers to “outside the camp,” he is referring to institutional Judaism, which had rejected Christ. It is important to remember that these Jewish Christians had been raised to consider everything outside the camp as unclean and evil. Yet, we are told that this is the very place that we must follow Jesus because Jesus came to save an unclean and evil generation.

XIII. No continuing city: There is no doubt that it is not always easy bearing His reproach, but it is easier when we remember that the city or the society that we are cast out of is temporary. What we seek is to belong to that permanent city that is yet to come, whose builder and maker is God.

(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.(16) But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

XIV. The sacrifice of praise: Because we have an altar (the cross) and a superior high priest (Jesus Christ), we should always offer sacrifices—not the bloody sacrifices of the old covenant, but the sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of our lips.

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a. Praises pleasing to God: In this passage, the writer of Hebrews spells out several essentials for proper praise.1. Praise that is pleasing to God is offered by

Him, that is, by Jesus Christ on the grounds of His righteousness and His pleasing God.

2. Praise that pleases God is offered continually.3. Praise that pleases God is a sacrifice of praise.

A sacrifice means just that, my friends, in that it may be costly or inconvenient.

4. Praise that pleases God is the fruit of our lips, which means that it is much more than thoughts directed to God. It is the spoken word unto the Lord, either in prose or in song. It has been said, “What proceeds from the lips is regarded as fruit, which reveals the character of its sources as the fruit of a tree reveals the nature of the tree.”

b. Don’t forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices, God is well pleased. Praise is not the only sacrifice that pleases God. We are also sacrificing to God when we do good and when we share. Praise and worship are important, but being motivated by our love of Jesus to do good works is just as important and pleasing to God. This is why we are told in Ephesians 2:10 that we are “. . . created in Christ Jesus unto good works . . ,” not to be approved but simply to please Him who has done all for us.

(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.

XV. Obey those that rule over you: The exhortation that the writer gives us here is to be submissive to the leaders that God has given us, assuming, as I said before, they have the character mentioned in Hebrews 13:7.

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We are simply told to obey those who rule over us. It is important to remember when speaking on the authority of God’s Word, leaders have a right and a mandate to tell us how to live and walk after God. I want to emphasize that we should only be following those who fall in line with Hebrews 13:7 and who are giving to us the full counsel of God.

a. The Shepherding Movement: When it comes to this idea of submission to leaders, many Christians have taken this much too far. This can be easily seen in the past “Shepherding Movement,” which is a clear example of the abuse of this verse. The Shepherding Movement took the submission to leaders to an unprecedented, unhealthy level, going to their leaders for every little thing, seeking guidance on buying homes, cars, and what not. Many Christians at the time seemed to welcome this, wanting someone else to be responsible for their lives. A true teacher teaches us to submit to God—not to himself.

b. They will give an account: Why should we obey and submit to our leaders? Because God has put them in a place of responsibility and accountability over us. This does not relieve individual responsibility, but it does put additional accountability and responsibility on leaders.

Just to be clear: I just want to make myself and my understanding very, very clear. I do not say, nor do I believe, that the writer of Hebrews is saying that we should follow and submit ourselves to “leaders” in the church just because they occupy that position. Not every person who stands behind a pulpit or is in a leadership position is there because God put them there.

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If this were true, we would have to concede to the fact that God has placed homosexuals, which is contrary to scripture, in the pulpit. We would have to say that God has placed those who do not qualify in light of I Timothy 3 in the pulpit or in leadership. This, my friends, God does not do. Since the beginning of the church, there has always been those individuals who seek out leadership positions within the body of Christ for their own selfish reasons. You will know them by their fruit. Many of them go to Bible college or seminaries because many congregations who do not understand the Word of God and who have accepted men’s traditions rather than God’s commandments believe that a degree is a declaration of their qualification. This is not necessarily true. Thus, we are to vet those to whom we submit by considering the end of their conversation. Do they teach the entire Word of God? Do their lives reflect total submission to the inerrant Word of God? If the answer is, “No,” then you are under no obligation to listen to or follow such a person.

1 Timothy 5:17(17) Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

c. Let them lead with joy: It is important that those who are in leadership positions are able to do so with joy—not grief. That is unprofitable for you. Cooperative conduct is not only a joy to leaders, but it is profitable for the whole Body. It is for our own sakes that we should obey and submit to God-appointed leaders.

(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.

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XVI. Pray for us: In the ancient Greek, the word “pray” here is in the present imperative verb tense. It looks for a continuous activity and implies that they had already been praying for him. I don’t know any minister worth his salt who doesn’t covet the prayers of those that he leads. After all, it was the prayers of the congregation that saw Peter set free from prison, and Paul’s request here is that he may be restored to them sooner. This is why Paul says here, “. . . that I may be restored to you sooner.” Evidently, there were obstacles preventing him from being reunited with the readers, but Paul knew that prayer could remove those obstacles. To this sentiment, even James, the half brother of Jesus, reminds us that “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).

(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.

XVII. The blessing: The style of this blessing sounds very, very familiar.

Numbers 6:22-27(22) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,(23) Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,(24) The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:(25) The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:(26) The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.(27) And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

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XVIII. Everlasting Covenant: Most Bible teachers agree that the everlasting covenant spoken of by the writer is speaking of the covenant that existed before the foundations of the world between the persons of the Godhead working in harmony for the salvation of mankind.

XIX. Every good work: Works are important, my friends, but it is more important to know the source of those good works. I want you to notice that the writer says, “. . . complete in every good work to do his will, working in you what is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ . . . .” This idea that just doing good works is somehow an evident token of your devotion to Jesus Christ is preposterous. Even the heathens, my friends, exercise philanthropy, doing many good works—helping the sick, feeding the poor, etc. The difference, however, between them and us is motivation. Get this in your soul if you can: God isn’t concerned with what you do as much as why you do it. Anyone can lay a groundwork of great intentions. Many so-called Christians intentionally do a lot of things in the name of God and in the name of Jesus Christ. I want to take a look at what Jesus says about their great intentions and works.

Matthew 7:22-23(22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?(23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

If you’re taking notes, write this saying down and get it into your soul and into your mind: “There are three types of people in this world, my friends. Them that is; them that ain’t; and them that ain’t but think they is.” That’s what good intentions will get you, my friends.

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It was Jesus who said, “Without me, you can do nothing.” If what you are doing in the name of the Lord is not motivated by your love of Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit, then your works are in vain. Many people have strove to “become like Jesus,” making the mistake of thinking that by simply doing “good things” like Jesus would do, this would somehow make them closer to the image of Christ. The truth is much easier, for the scriptures declare, “For those he foreknew, he also did predestinate to be conformed into the image of his Son. . . .” (Romans 8:29). This work is done only by the infilling of the Holy Spirit, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). This, my friends, is inspiration. Anything less than this produces only perspiration.

(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.(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. Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.