Let’s wrap up our study of the book of Hebrews with chapter 13. The writer has shown that Jesus is a better messenger than the angels, a better servant than Moses, a better high priest than Aaron, has a better covenant than the old covenant, and is a better sacrifice than animals. All this produced a better way, the new and living way, the way of faith and the assurance that we have bold access into the very throne room of God through Jesus who offered his blood once for all.

But notice that in the first 12 chapters there aren’t a lot of instructions on basic Christian living. Instead there are a lot of debte type points and arguments to show all the “better” points. There is a big emphasis on enduring suffering to the end. So if you were the Hebrews writer, how would you conclude this letter with some basic Christian living instructions? Don’t go back to Judaism but what would you think were the most important things for Jewish Christians to focus on in daily living? Here they are:

1. 13:1 Let love of the brothers and sisters continue.” This love is philadelphia: Brotherly love, love of brothers: from phílos, “loving friend” and adelphós, “a brother”) – properly, affection for the brethren (fellow-believers). Maybe this is a reflection of chapter 2 where we are called the brother of Jesus, making us one big spiritual family where we should have the love this usually found between maternal brothers and sisters. It is interesting that he doesn’t use agape love here. AI: “Where agapē highlights unconditional, sacrificial commitment, philadelphia stresses the warmth and tenderness proper to siblings.”
2. 13:2 ² Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” The Greek is philoxenia: Hospitality: from phílos, “friend” and xenos, “a stranger”) – properly, warmth (friendliness) shown to strangers; (figuratively) the readiness to share hospitality (generosity) by entertaining in one’s home, etc.” Why would the author stress this? Chapter 10 might be the reason. 10:³² But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, ³³ partly by being made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming companions with those who were so treated.  The writer is encouraging his readers to show sympathy and love to Christian strangers who are suffering and undergoing insults and distress. Some had “accepted joyfully the seizure of your property” (10:34) and did not have a place to live. Use your homes to show love to suffering Christians whom you don’t know and to all Christians whom you don’t know. After all, you might be entertaining angels like Abraham did in Genesis 18. 3 men who looked like normal men visited his camp, but they were all 3 angels appearing in human form for a short time.
3. 13:3 ³ Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.” This would also be tied to 10:³⁴ For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property.” The Neronian persecution of Christians had begun during the time period of writing Hebrews, so this is probably the prisoners the writer is speaking of: those in prison b/c of their faith. AI: “In ancient times, prisoners often depended on friends and family for necessities like food and supplies. The verse encourages the church to support these prisoners, perhaps those imprisoned for their faith, by praying for them, sending them letters, visiting them if possible, and providing for their needs.” I read in the Voice of the Martyrs magazine of Christians in foreign countries who are put in prison and rely on friends and fellow Chrisitans to bring them any food and water, so this still happens today. You might recall how Onesiphorus “refreshed Paul often” while he was in prison in Rome. 2 Timothy 1:¹⁶ The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; ¹⁷ but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me.” Of course, we can also help those in prison for crimes they have committed although Peter makes this comment in 1 Peter 4:¹⁵ Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; ¹⁶ but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.” One of my best friends and brother in Christ spent 25 years in prison for murder and it was a joy to help him during that 25 years. He has been out of prison for 15 years and is doing well spiritually.
4. 13:⁴ Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” Christianity begins in the home with husbands and wives faithful to their vows that they made to God. As a minister, I did a lot of vows. Here was the vow I usually had them say: “I, (Name), take thee (Name), to be my wedded (husband/wife), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, and to be faithful to you only, as long as we both shall live”. This is a vow before God to not ever commit adultery, an oath, and God in the Old Testament stressed keeping your oaths and vows that you make to God. Often that part “to be faithful to you only” is not in vows today. Maybe that is b/c potential mates don’t want to make such a strong sexual commitment vow. Since the divorce rate is over 50% and most likely adultery is involved in each divorce, you can see where the vows are becoming less and less restrictive sexually. God will judge not only the adulterers but also the sexually immoral, which would include any kind of forbidden sexual acts not marriage related. Research shows that nearly all Americans (95%) have had premarital sex by age 44, and a significant majority (75%) have it by their early 20s. Many young adults who have premarital sex also cohabit with their partners before marriage, a fairly common practice nowadays. God will forgive those who repent of sexual immorality and/or adultery, but it is a very serious sin. A strong admonition comes from the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:¹⁸ Flee sexual immorality. Every other sin that a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. ¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? ²⁰ For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” I know you could say that all sin is equal, but Paul is saying that sexual immorality is worse than other sins.
5. 13: ⁵ Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,” ⁶ so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” The Greek is aphilarguros: Free from the love of money, not greedy. from “not,” philéō, “fond of” and árgyros, “silver”) – properly, “not fond of silver,” i.e. not covetous for money; free from the love of materialism; not dominated (over-influenced) by the desire for financial gain; non-materialistic.”  It is the love of money, not money itself, that is the root of all evil. 1 Timothy 6:¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Jesus said, Luke 12:¹⁵ But He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one is affluent does his life consist of his possessions.” He then went on to tell the parable of the rich fool who used his overflowing wealth to build bigger barns. A classic text on greed is Ecclesiastes 5:¹⁰ One who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor one who loves abundance with its income.” Paul puts greed right there along with sexual immorality, adultery, idolatry, drunkenness, and homosexuality in 1 Corinthians 6:⁹ Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” Someone has said that greed is the most common “hidden” sin among church members in the U.S. But the writer of Hebrews stresses “being content with what you have” along with not loving money or being greedy. It is hard not to look at others and want more than what you have. Others might be paid better, have better jobs, have better houses and cars, have vacation homes, etc. but are you really content with what you have? Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:⁷ For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. ⁸ If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. ⁹ But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction.” When you make job and career decisions, do you think about the spiritual consequences of each decision or is money the main consideration? He also said in Philippians 4:¹¹ Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” No matter how bad the circumstances get, the Lord will always be with you to help, strengthen, and comfort you. He might not remove the bad circumstance, but He will be your Helper to help you through it. That takes away the fear, “I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” Many of us Christians live in fear. Fear or being afraid of a lack of money, of failing in business, of bad health, of tragedy that might happen, of being ridiculed b/c of our faith, of death, of physical harm, of losing a job, etc. That is sad b/c we have the Father as a constant 24/7 helper. We should be able to be at peace through any and all bad circumstances.
   

Chapter 13 closes with a few more instructions concerning spiritual sacrifices. In the old covenant, only those of the Levitical tribe were priests, but in the new covenant, all Christians are priests. The Reformation Movement called this the “priesthood of believers”. Peter taught this in 1 Peter 2:⁴ And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, ⁵ you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” John said in Revelation 1:5 To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— ⁶ and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.” The Hebrews writer had already said in 5:1 that it was the duty of priests to “offer up sacrifices and gifts”. All Christians are priests who should offer up spiritual sacrifices (not animals). What are those sacrifices? Hebrews 13:¹⁵ Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name. ¹⁶ And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” 1) Praise. 2) Doing good. 3)Sharing. 4) Romans 12:1 adds “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” In one sense, everything you do in he name of Jesus is a living sacrifice, one form of worship and reverence toward God. 5) Thanksgiving (Psalm 50:23 He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me). 6) Prayer. The prayers of the saints was like offering incense in Revelation 5:8. Notice “continually”: regularly, often, without stop. Would people look at you doing all these things on a regular basis and see that you truly are a spiritual priest of God? We don’t need Roman Catholic priests. We Christians are all priests.

I hope you have enjoyed this study of Hebrews.