Brotherly Love
Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
Having warned the readers about the need for staying faithful to Jesus and not returning to the old covenant of the law, the author lists some important things concerning their responsibilities to others of the family of God. We are God's family, with responsibilities. Do not let your bad thoughts pull you from your needed place among the brethren. You are important, and are needed. The first need that must continue is brotherly love, let it continue. The word for love used here is the Greek word "philadelphia," meaning brotherly love. For the other definitions of love, go to this web page: What Is Love?
2 Cor 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
2 Cor 6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
2 Cor 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
2 Cor 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,...
Yes, we are in a battle, but Jesus won the battle for us on the cross. Look unto Jesus with a thankful heart and love your brothers and sisters in the Lord. Have love for all who will receive it.
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
I love you.
Hospitality
Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Hospitality is a gift to be used.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
1 Pet 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Luke 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.
Luke 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
Luke 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Who knows you may do good to an angel?
Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Abraham showed hospitality to angels, who looked like men traveling. (Gen. 18:1-22)
Use discernment and don't invite just anyone into your home. Follow your conscience and the Holy Spirit.
Remember the bound
Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
We are one body and have responsibilities to one another when there is a need. In fact it is important to God that we help our brother in need.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
We are saved by faith, but then we are to do the works of God. Jesus fulfilled Isaiahs prophecy and we are to continue his ministry.
Luke 4:17 And there was delivered unto him (Jesus) the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luke 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Marriage is honourable
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Intimate relations between husband and wife are blessed of God. The marriage bed is undefiled. In fact even if there is the mistake of marrying an unbeliever, the marriage is sanctified, clean and holy, because of the Christian believer.
1 Cor 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
Regardless, if you are a Christian, your children are holy unto the Lord All children are innocent before God until the age of accountability. The age where they are able to Choose Jesus or reject him.
But unrepentant whoremongers, pimps, those who sell others for sex and money, these will be condemned in the lake of fire.
Adulterers, shall also perish, if they do not receive Jesus as savior. Adultery is being unfaithful to a marriage partner. Fornication is between unmarried partners. Jesus even spoke of divorce and remarriage as adultery. We should try to stay together with the partner that you gave your vow to. Is there forgiveness for those who remarry after divorce? They need to give their lives to God, receiving forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. Jesus offered forgiveness and new life to the woman at the well, so should we, and not be a stumbling block. Jesus expects honesty and repentance.
John 4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
John 4:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Without Covetousness
Heb 13:5 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.
Be content, be at peace, you don't have to have wealth to be happy. The most important things are free, health, friends, God's creation, so much to discover. The most important things are of God, honoring him and serving him, as Paul said to young Timothy.
1 Tim 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Tim 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1 Tim 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1 Tim 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Tim 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1 Tim 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
1 Tim 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Paul put into practice his teaching, his conversation, or manner of life matched his words.
Phil 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Phil 4:12 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.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Phil 4:14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
We can trust in God only, but friends in Christ are a great blessing in times of need. We are his hands that comfort, his feet to deliver the good news, his voice to speak words of life. We pay no heed to the workers of iniquity.Our God is our help and our strength, forever.
Follow Jesus
Heb 13:7 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.
We are to be under the covering of a local church and the Pastor and those who teach the word of God. Follow their faith, and be accountable to them, knowing their way of life and the hope of glory that is ahead through Christ Jesus.
Heb 13:17 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.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Our accountability is also with the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church. Men may fail but he shall never fail. As he was on earth the word giver and the healer he is today. He is our great high priest and our Lord. He is Godman forever, the first of a new creation, the last Adam from heaven to bring many into eternal life through faith in His name.
1 Cor 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1 Cor 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1 Cor 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Strange Doctrines
Heb 13:9 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.
Diverse and strange doctrines are very much in evidence in our time. I have been scolded by these who receive other doctrines, as not using my mind. They say, you must look within. Who is speaking within them? but a false god, a deceiving spirit and many today are deceived.
2 Tim 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
We live by the grace of Jesus. No longer do we offer animal sacrifices on the altar and enjoy the meat as a feast, giving some to the priests. Jesus is the last sacrifice, there are no more. Those Jewish Christians who were thinking of returning to the Jewish faith, were not in God's will. Jesus did away with the ceremonial laws.
Mark 14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
Mark 14:23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
Mark 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
John 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
John 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
John 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
John 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Those who are Jewish priests have no right to eat at the altar of the new covenant. They have not received the lamb of God and the bread of life. They walked in types and shadows of the true sacrifice that is of Jesus. They are unable to eat of the Bread of Life. Ye must be born again.
Let us go forth
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Comparing the old covenant sacrifice of animals to the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. The old covenant sacrifice was burned outside the camp, away from their sacred temple. Outside was considered to be unclean, the Gentiles lived outside the city, they were considered unclean and were spoken of as dogs.
Jesus was sacrificed outside the city, he bore our uncleanness and our sins upon the cross. The cross became the new covenant altar, in which the holy blood of Jesus was poured out for our sins. The work of Jesus was accomplished outside of the Jewish rites and traditions. The followers of Jesus are to take the good news of Jesus saving us from our sins to all of the world.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Jesus was not approved of by the Jewish leaders, he was despised.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
We share in the sufferings of Christ as we go forth as his witnesses, but the rewards are eternal and our joy is full.
1 Pet 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 Pet 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1 Pet 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
1 Pet 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
We are not home yet. Our final city is heavenly, this is not our home.
John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Sacrifice of Praise
Heb 13:15 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.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
How is praise a sacrifice? Perhaps when we are not feeling joyful? We praise anyway and soon we feel better. Many depressed people need to praise God and sing hymns, even if they do not feel like it, it pleases God.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Thanksgiving and praise are the fruit of a heart that belongs to Jesus. How much better our praise is if it comes from deep in our hearts, How much more acceptable is our worship in Spirit and in his word.
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
If we are studying Hs word and meditating on it, we worship in truth. When we receive negative thoughts, or see something difficult in our lives, we may become sad. Seek God with thanksgiving and praise and obey him. Do what is good.
Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Do good and talk to the LORD. God wants to hear from us and we need to hear him. He will guide our paths and fill us with His love and wisdom.
Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Obey
Heb 13:17 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.
So much trouble could be avoided if people would listen and submit themselves to those who are over them, especially in the church and the life of God's family.
How many godly parents have been upset by their rebellious children? I can remember the fear of going to school for the first time. But, I have not learned, how can I go to school? That is why you are going to school. We all must learn from a good teacher or pastor or parent, the way we should go. God was not pleased with rebellion. Samuel the prophet spoke God's word to king Saul. who did not obey God's command.
1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Obey those who are in authority, so that they may see good fruit in your life. Do not listen to the devil or his servants who seek to divide you from God's truth and to get you to act on your own.
Heb 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
I covet your prayers. I ask that each trust God for all things and submit to godly authority. Each should be planted in a good church, have a church family with godly leadership. The pattern should be brought to the families at home. Children should be taught to obey God and those of authority who wish to do them good.
God working
Heb 13:19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
The writer of Hebrews was not known, yet in his asking for prayer to be restored to his friends, it must be Paul in prison because later in verse 13:23 he refers to his young friend Timothy.
Heb 13:20 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,
Mat 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Mat 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Heb 13:21 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.
He begins to conclude his letter with a blessing, peace through God who raised Jesus from the grave. Jesus who is our great shepherd, who we are connected to by the blood he shed to redeem us, making the way to God through the new covenant. Allow God to work in you to make you perfect, to be conformed to the image of Christ.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Our God can do his best work through us when we are empty of self, when we are weak, then we will see God do his mighty work by us, through faith. Be sure you are following the voice of God and not of the destroyer. The voice of God brings forth good works. The voice of the destroyer will accuse you and make you feel worthless. Keep trusting in Jesus.
Final greeting
Heb 13:22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
I strongly ask you to allow these words to be heard, for they are important and necessary words.
Heb 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
Timothy was set free, nowhere was it ever said that he was in prison, so perhaps he was free of some duty. The author was hoping to come with Timothy to the Church in Jerusalem. Paul was free from prison in Rome for a period of time. Perhaps this was just a wish. We are not certain of future events in our lives, things can change.
James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Heb 13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
A final greeting for and from the saints, believers in Italy. Paul was under house arrest in Rome, Italy.
Acts 28:16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
Heb 13:25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
He concludes his letter with grace. The grace of Jesus, be with you all.
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