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INTRODUCTION
This Epistle was evidently written as the ancient Hebrew economy was passing away in the growing glory of the Christian Church. Perhaps Jerusalem had already fallen under the arms of Titus. It was addressed to Hebrew Christians, who were settled in a definite locality. See Heb_13:23. The writer is not certainly known. Luther thought that it was written by Apollos, and this view has had several learned advocates. But many ascribe it to the Apostle Paul, which was the opinion of the early Fathers. The object of this noble treatise is to counsel those to whom it was addressed to bear their persecutions with equanimity, and to forego, with contentment, the external attractions of the Temple service, because of the transcendent glories of Christianity surpassing those of the Mosaic ritual. The penalties of apostasy would therefore be the more terrible as the claims of Christianity were the more compelling.
Sacrifices Pleasing to God
Heb 13:1 Let love of your fellow believers continue.
Heb 13:2 Do not neglect to extend hospitality to strangers [especially among the family of believers--being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. [Gen_18:1-8; Gen_19:1-3; Jdg_6:11-24; Jdg_13:6-20]
Heb 13:3 Remember those who are in prison, as if you were their fellow prisoner, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body [and subject to physical suffering].
Heb 13:4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all [that is, regarded as something of great value], and the marriage bed undefiled [by immorality or by any sexual sin]; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Heb 13:5 Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed--be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, "I WILL NEVER [under any circumstances] DESERT YOU [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], NOR WILL I FORSAKE or LET YOU DOWN or RELAX MY HOLD ON YOU [assuredly not]!" [Jos_1:5]
Heb 13:6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER [in time of need], I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?" [Psa_27:1; Psa_118:6]
Heb 13:7 Remember your leaders [for it was they] who brought you the word of God; and consider the result of their conduct [the outcome of their godly lives], and imitate their faith [their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider of eternal salvation through Christ, and imitate their reliance on God with absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever.
Heb 13:9 Do not be carried away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and strengthened by grace and not by foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no benefit or spiritual growth to those who observe them.
Heb 13:10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle (sacred tent) have no right to eat.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. [Lev_16:27]
Heb 13:12 Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the [city] gate so that He might sanctify and set apart for God as holy the people [who believe] through [the shedding of] His own blood.
Heb 13:13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His contempt [the disgrace and shame that He had to suffer]. [Lev_16:27]
Heb 13:14 For here we have no lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.
Heb 13:15 Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. [Lev_7:12; Isa_57:19; Hos_14:2]
Heb 13:16 Do not neglect to do good, to contribute [to the needy of the church as an expression of fellowship], for such sacrifices are always pleasing to God.
Heb 13:17 Obey your [spiritual] leaders and submit to them [recognizing their authority over you], for they are keeping watch over your souls and continually guarding your spiritual welfare as those who will give an account [of their stewardship of you]. Let them do this with joy and not with grief and groans, for this would be of no benefit to you.
Heb 13:18 Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good conscience, seeking to conduct ourselves honorably [that is, with moral courage and personal integrity] in all things.
Heb 13:19 And I urge all of you to pray earnestly, so that I may be restored to you soon.
Hebrews 13:1-13
SANCTIFY DAILY LIFE
We may not like all the brethren, but there is something in each of them that Christ loves. Let us try to discover it, or love them for His sake. We can love people with our mind and think for them, or with our strength and serve them, even though the heart is somewhat reluctant.
Strangers and captives must never be forgotten, either in our prayers or our ministry. The love within the marriage tie must be unsullied, and we must watch against the insidious lust of gold. Why should we always be thinking of money, when God has promised, with two negatives, never to fail us, Heb_13:5? Thrice we are asked to remember those who bear office and rule in the church, Heb_13:7; Heb_13:17; Heb_13:24.
We are called to a holy crusade. It is not for us to linger in circumstances of ease and self-indulgence when our Master suffered without the gate! Let us go forth unto Him, bearing His reproach! Has not the Church tarried in the city long enough, enervated by its fashions and flatteries?
Hebrews 13
Overview
Heb_13:1, Divers admonitions as to charity; Heb_13:4, to honest life; Heb_13:5, to avoid covetousness; Heb_13:7, to regard God’s preachers; Heb_13:9, to take heed of strange doctrines; Heb_13:10, to confess Christ; Heb_13:16, to give alms; Heb_13:17, to obey governors; Heb_13:18, to pray for the apostles; Heb_13:20, The conclusion.
REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS
Outline
(a) What is the theme of this Epistle?
(b) What are the two parts of the third division?
Introduction
(c) When was this Epistle written?
(d) To whom was it addressed?
(e) What was the writer’s purpose?
Hebrews 1-13
Each question applies to the paragraph of corresponding number in the Comments.
1. Who is God’s final and supreme messenger?
2. For whom is Christ’s saving work intended?
3. How is Christ able to help those who are tempted?
4. Why is Christ counted worthy of more glory than Moses?
5. Why were the children of Israel denied entrance to the Land of Promise? What is the application to us?
6. What is the rest which Christ affords?
7. What encouragement have we to come to the throne of grace?
8. Of what order is Christ’s priesthood? How did He learn obedience?
9. What are the stages of growth in Christian discipleship? What is the penalty of falling away?
10. By what two immutable things have we strong consolation?
11. Who was Melchizedek? How is he a type of Christ?
12. How is Christ able to save to the uttermost?
13. How did the New Covenant take the place of the Old?
14. What was the furniture of the Tabernacle?
15. How is the sacrifice of Christ related to the sacrifices under the Old Covenant?
16. What is the present work of Christ?
17. How is the Christian sanctified?
18. To what does the blood of Christ secure an entrance for us?
19. What will be the reward of patience and steadfastness?
20. What is faith? How was it exemplified by Abel? By Enoch? by Noah?
21. What was the supreme trial of Abraham’s faith?
22. How was the faith of Moses exhibited?
23. In what does the victory of faith consist?
24. How may the Christian life be compared to a race?
25. What are the benefits of chastisement?
26. What are the present privileges of the Christian?
27. What is our duty toward strangers and captives?
28. Give the benediction in the closing section of the Epistle.
This Epistle was evidently written as the ancient Hebrew economy was passing away in the growing glory of the Christian Church. Perhaps Jerusalem had already fallen under the arms of Titus. It was addressed to Hebrew Christians, who were settled in a definite locality. See Heb_13:23. The writer is not certainly known. Luther thought that it was written by Apollos, and this view has had several learned advocates. But many ascribe it to the Apostle Paul, which was the opinion of the early Fathers. The object of this noble treatise is to counsel those to whom it was addressed to bear their persecutions with equanimity, and to forego, with contentment, the external attractions of the Temple service, because of the transcendent glories of Christianity surpassing those of the Mosaic ritual. The penalties of apostasy would therefore be the more terrible as the claims of Christianity were the more compelling.
Sacrifices Pleasing to God
Heb 13:1 Let love of your fellow believers continue.
Heb 13:2 Do not neglect to extend hospitality to strangers [especially among the family of believers--being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. [Gen_18:1-8; Gen_19:1-3; Jdg_6:11-24; Jdg_13:6-20]
Heb 13:3 Remember those who are in prison, as if you were their fellow prisoner, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body [and subject to physical suffering].
Heb 13:4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all [that is, regarded as something of great value], and the marriage bed undefiled [by immorality or by any sexual sin]; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Heb 13:5 Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed--be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, "I WILL NEVER [under any circumstances] DESERT YOU [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], NOR WILL I FORSAKE or LET YOU DOWN or RELAX MY HOLD ON YOU [assuredly not]!" [Jos_1:5]
Heb 13:6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER [in time of need], I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?" [Psa_27:1; Psa_118:6]
Heb 13:7 Remember your leaders [for it was they] who brought you the word of God; and consider the result of their conduct [the outcome of their godly lives], and imitate their faith [their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider of eternal salvation through Christ, and imitate their reliance on God with absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever.
Heb 13:9 Do not be carried away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and strengthened by grace and not by foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no benefit or spiritual growth to those who observe them.
Heb 13:10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle (sacred tent) have no right to eat.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. [Lev_16:27]
Heb 13:12 Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the [city] gate so that He might sanctify and set apart for God as holy the people [who believe] through [the shedding of] His own blood.
Heb 13:13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His contempt [the disgrace and shame that He had to suffer]. [Lev_16:27]
Heb 13:14 For here we have no lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.
Heb 13:15 Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. [Lev_7:12; Isa_57:19; Hos_14:2]
Heb 13:16 Do not neglect to do good, to contribute [to the needy of the church as an expression of fellowship], for such sacrifices are always pleasing to God.
Heb 13:17 Obey your [spiritual] leaders and submit to them [recognizing their authority over you], for they are keeping watch over your souls and continually guarding your spiritual welfare as those who will give an account [of their stewardship of you]. Let them do this with joy and not with grief and groans, for this would be of no benefit to you.
Heb 13:18 Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good conscience, seeking to conduct ourselves honorably [that is, with moral courage and personal integrity] in all things.
Heb 13:19 And I urge all of you to pray earnestly, so that I may be restored to you soon.
Hebrews 13:1-13
SANCTIFY DAILY LIFE
We may not like all the brethren, but there is something in each of them that Christ loves. Let us try to discover it, or love them for His sake. We can love people with our mind and think for them, or with our strength and serve them, even though the heart is somewhat reluctant.
Strangers and captives must never be forgotten, either in our prayers or our ministry. The love within the marriage tie must be unsullied, and we must watch against the insidious lust of gold. Why should we always be thinking of money, when God has promised, with two negatives, never to fail us, Heb_13:5? Thrice we are asked to remember those who bear office and rule in the church, Heb_13:7; Heb_13:17; Heb_13:24.
We are called to a holy crusade. It is not for us to linger in circumstances of ease and self-indulgence when our Master suffered without the gate! Let us go forth unto Him, bearing His reproach! Has not the Church tarried in the city long enough, enervated by its fashions and flatteries?
Hebrews 13
Overview
Heb_13:1, Divers admonitions as to charity; Heb_13:4, to honest life; Heb_13:5, to avoid covetousness; Heb_13:7, to regard God’s preachers; Heb_13:9, to take heed of strange doctrines; Heb_13:10, to confess Christ; Heb_13:16, to give alms; Heb_13:17, to obey governors; Heb_13:18, to pray for the apostles; Heb_13:20, The conclusion.
REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS
Outline
(a) What is the theme of this Epistle?
(b) What are the two parts of the third division?
Introduction
(c) When was this Epistle written?
(d) To whom was it addressed?
(e) What was the writer’s purpose?
Hebrews 1-13
Each question applies to the paragraph of corresponding number in the Comments.
1. Who is God’s final and supreme messenger?
2. For whom is Christ’s saving work intended?
3. How is Christ able to help those who are tempted?
4. Why is Christ counted worthy of more glory than Moses?
5. Why were the children of Israel denied entrance to the Land of Promise? What is the application to us?
6. What is the rest which Christ affords?
7. What encouragement have we to come to the throne of grace?
8. Of what order is Christ’s priesthood? How did He learn obedience?
9. What are the stages of growth in Christian discipleship? What is the penalty of falling away?
10. By what two immutable things have we strong consolation?
11. Who was Melchizedek? How is he a type of Christ?
12. How is Christ able to save to the uttermost?
13. How did the New Covenant take the place of the Old?
14. What was the furniture of the Tabernacle?
15. How is the sacrifice of Christ related to the sacrifices under the Old Covenant?
16. What is the present work of Christ?
17. How is the Christian sanctified?
18. To what does the blood of Christ secure an entrance for us?
19. What will be the reward of patience and steadfastness?
20. What is faith? How was it exemplified by Abel? By Enoch? by Noah?
21. What was the supreme trial of Abraham’s faith?
22. How was the faith of Moses exhibited?
23. In what does the victory of faith consist?
24. How may the Christian life be compared to a race?
25. What are the benefits of chastisement?
26. What are the present privileges of the Christian?
27. What is our duty toward strangers and captives?
28. Give the benediction in the closing section of the Epistle.
