Hebrews 13
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. 4Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
In verse 1 we have the very definition of the Greek word philadelphia. It means Brotherly love we are to let it continue. Of course we are to have agape love but God also wants us to have that bond of a strong friendship with each other. The crew here shares that bond of friendship. Michael and Dana just got back from a trip where he stopped and meet with Don Culp and John Tudor. I haven’t seen Don Culp in person in a long time but we have known each other for over 40 years in fact he was at my wedding. We all share a friendship that will last forever.
Hospitality was commanded by God back in the book of Genesis in fact that was one of the problems with Sodom and Gomorrah. They were not hospitable places. They had found great wealth and did not want to share it. Most towns had a public square where travelers could stay overnight neither of these cities had the public square where visitors could stay. To see about hospitality read Genesis 18 and 19 you will also see the difference between Sodom and Gomorrah and how hospitable place operated.
The word remember:
The Greek word is mimnēskō, and it means, “remember,” but in the ancient cultures it did not mean just mentally “remember,” but to keep in mind and do something for. Thayer’s lexicon has, “remember and care for.” Samson called out to God, “Remember me,” meaning, “Help me.” The thief on the cross said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom”, meaning “Take care of me; let me be a part of your kingdom.” Abigail asked David to remember her when David became king
The text moves from Heb. 13:1-3, which are about loving others (Heb. 13:1-2) and especially remembering and caring for other Christians who are suffering (Heb. 13:3), to respecting others via respecting the marriage. The word “honor” is the first word in the sentence in the Greek text, and is made emphatic by its position in the sentence, and the adjectives are emphatic, thus the word “must” in the REV translation
5Let 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.
Here is the same verse from the REV
Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will absolutely not fail you, and I will absolutely not forsake you.
Hebrews 13:5 REV
Many will try and wrap verse 5. It does not say. We need to be thankful there is no question about that but that doesn’t mean it is wrong to want something it is wrong to let those kind of desires be your driving force. All the things of the word are to be our driving force. Remember it is the love of money That causes problems.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6:10
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Verse six is a gnome which means it is a quote from the Hebrew scriptures
Psalm 118:6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me?
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, today, and forever.
The Greek word for follow is It means to mimic. We are to mimic those who followed Christ. From the Hebrews it is that great cloud of witnesses Moses, David, ect.
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 we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
The word food inverse 9 refers to the foods used in religious ceremonies. We are not to get carried away in religious ceremonies of which there were many contained in the law. Jesus Christ put an end to those when he became our sacrificial lamb. There are no more sacrifices needed he is the payment in full so we can now choose to love him and put ourselves on the line because of the example he set. We are to mimic him. We have the grace of God that we live in. We are to become those examples so we need to do as the word of God tells us. We don’t want to become those who have given up even trying to do what the Word of God says we are to do.
15By 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.
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.
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.
Here is another spot where we are told to pray for leadership. Our leaders have decisions that they need to make and we should be asking God to direct them into the right path. We depend on them and they depend on us to do our job.
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.
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.
There you have the book of Hebrews. I have learned a great deal from teaching as best I could this book I hope you learned as much as I did.
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