Bobservations' Column
Titled - "One To Come"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz
Titled - "One To Come"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz
As we open the 13th Chapter of Hebrews, we are closing out this wonderful Epistle. It is filled with good things for us to keep in mind daily. The writer opens up with, “Let brotherly love continue.” That command is the second half of The Great Commandment. That’s not a coincidence. It is one of the hardest things to do, especially given Jesus’ description of brothers, and of neighbors. A neighbor might live next door, or be someone in a store check-out line. And a brother may well be a Christian stranger, or a family member. Nonetheless, let brotherly love continue.
The first half of The Great Commandment is about our love and respect for Jesus. It is repeatedly quoted in Mtatthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27 as well as a Jewish prayer in Deuteronomy 6: 4, 5: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thine heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”
The phrasing describes our Triune God, and the Holy Spirit spoke it to the Jews. Verse 4 says, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.” He is the Almighty Three-in-One-Lord and God.
With Christmas coming soon, we will read of all three members of the Godhead. At the same time, we have read of the relationship of Christ and His church in Ephesians 5:21-33, with specific directions to the Church as The Bride of Christ, and other specifics to the husband. This passage is about love and respect, and they are not reciprocal; they are God’s command to the husband, and God’s command to the wife.
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;” - Romans 12:10
Bobservations' Column: Audio Version
Sunday Morning Message:
Hebrews 13:1-14 - "One To Come"
Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:
From there, the writer returns to drawing comparisons between elements of the old covenant and the ministry of Jesus Christ. Earlier in this book, it was explained that rituals and sacraments of the Levitical law were meant to symbolize the "real" plan, enacted through Jesus (Hebrews 8:5–6). In this section, a parallel is shown between the disposal of sacrificed animals and the crucifixion of Christ. Animals offered to consecrate Aaron's priesthood were burnt outside the borders of Israel's camp (Exodus 29:14). Jesus, whose sacrificial death reconciled us to God (Hebrews 2:10; 9:24–26), was executed outside the borders of the city of Jerusalem (John 19:17–20).
In making this comparison, the writer once again encourages the reader to "hold fast" in the face of persecution, choosing to be identified with Christ rather than with the world (Hebrews 11:24–26). This leads back to another reference to spiritual leadership, reminding believers to cooperate with teachers, rather than frustrating them (Hebrews 13:10–17).
Sunday Morning Audio Message:
Key Words and Definitions with Reference:
Brotherly Love (13:1) - brotherly affection, brotherly kindness. This is an expressed love between people who have Christ in common. Those who know Christ, and are in Christ, Jew and Gentile, ought to love each other as members of the incredible family of God.
Entertain Strangers (13:2) - The extension of love to those who were strangers (Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:2). Hospitality in the ancient world often included putting up a guest overnight or longer. This is hardest to do when experiencing a time of persecution. The Hebrews would not know whether a guest would prove to be a spy or a fellow believer being pursued.
Angels (13:2) - This is not given as the ultimate motivation for hospitality, but to reveal that one never knows how far-reaching an act of kindness might be (cf. Matthew 25:40, 45). Examples: Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18:1-3), Lot (Genesis 19:1,2), Gideon (Judges 6:11-24), and Manoah (Judges 13:6-20).
Yourselves (13:3) - Believers should be able to identify with the suffering of others because they also suffer physical ("in the body") pain and hardship.
Honorable (13:4) - God highly honors marriage, which He instituted at creation (Genesis 2:24); but some people in the early church considered celibacy to be holier than marriage, an idea Paul strongly denounces in 1 Timothy 4:3.
Covetousness (13:5) - Lusting after material riches is "a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness" (1 Timothy 6:10; cf. 1 Timothy 3:3).
Covetousness (13:5) - Lusting after material riches is "a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness" (1 Timothy 6:10; cf. 1 Timothy 3:3).
I Will Never (13:5) - Quote from Genesis 28:15; Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5; 1 Chronicles 28:20. Believers can be content in every situation because of this promise. Five negatives are utilized in this statement to emphasize the impossibility of Christ deserting believers. It is like saying, "there is absolutely no way whatsoever that I will ever, ever leave you."
Boldly (13:6) - Not the usual word for boldness, this word has the idea of being confident and courageous.
Various and Strange Doctrines (13:9) - These would include any teachings contrary to God's Word. The New Testament contains countless warnings against false teaching and false teachers (cf. Acts 20:29, 30; Romans 16:17; 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5; Galatians 1:6-9; Ephesians 4:14; 2 Timothy 3:16).
Established by Grace (13:9) - Those who are experiencing God's grace in Christ have hearts and minds that remain stable.
Foods (13:9) - The Mosaic Law had regulations for everything, including food (Leviticus 11). But for Christians, those laws have been abrogated (Acts 10:9-16; cf. 1 Corinthians 8:8; Romans 14:17; 1 timothy 4:1-5).
An Altar (13:10) - The altar, the offerer, and the sacrifice are all closely related. Association with an altar identifies the offerer with the sacrifice. With certain offerings, the individual further identified himself with the altar and sacrifice by eating some of the sacrifice. The apostle Paul referred to this relationship to an altar when giving instruction to the Corinthians regarding eating meat offered to idols (1 Corinthians 9:13) and regarding the observation of the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 10:18). Here, the altar is equivalent to the sacrifice of Christ, especially as seen in the comparison to the Day of Atonement.
