HEBREWS HEB15

The implications of loving Hebrews 13:1-25

Introduction

Most of the chapter is comprised of short comments on practical issues, with a concluding benediction and greetings.

1. Short comments on practical issues (1-19).

a. Love (1). For how long? In what way?

Check out some other references: e.g. 1 Thess. 3:12; 4:9, 10; 1 John 3:16-18; 4:19-21. Pick out the points of emphasis here:

What situations in our church and town call for this practical expression of love?

b. Hospitality (2)

The original reference here is probably, to putting up people who stop over for a night when on a journey – still a common practice in Asia. (See Gen. 18:1-8; 19:1-3).

What can we learn for ourselves? How about people who are virtually strangers to us in the church? or neighbourhood?

It’s an expression of love (1 Pet. 4:9). See also Rom. 12:13.

c. People with problems (3)

You can’t give hospitality to prisoners. But what can you do? Does ‘remember’ just mean ‘don’t forget’, or something more? What ways are there of ‘remembering’ people with problems who can’t be invited into your home? How about people who are ill or immobile? What programme/action is needed? What’s the next step after identifying a need? How about it? What can we do about people imprisoned for Christ overseas?

d. Marriage (4)

How do we ‘honour’ marriage? What guidelines would you lay down for avoiding adultery? What is God’s attitude to sexual immorality? Think about the command of

1 Cor. 6:18-20, and the related reasons for avoiding immorality. There are various references to marriage in the N.T., each usually arising out of a particular situation,

e.g. in Corinth some were advocating celibacy, and 1 Cor. 7:1-5 was Paul’s response. Other references are: Eph. 5:21-33l 1 Tim. 5:14; 1 Pet. 3:1-7.

e. Greed and contentment (5,6)

See how these two ideas also come together in 1 Tim. 6:6-10. What corrective does Paul give in 1 Tim. 6:11? How are the O.T. quotations in 13:5b and 6 an adequate counter-balance to the ‘love of money’?

f. Leaders (7,8)

This refers to past leaders which have died. What three characteristics of those leaders are worth considering?

Another insight is given in 1 Thess. 5:12, 13.

Think about the qualities of spiritual leaders (‘overseers’) mentioned in 1 Tim. 6:1-7.

What three important things would you value most in a church leader?

What valuable quality of our Supreme Leader comes out in v. 8?

How does that relate to 12:2?

g. Wrong teaching (9-12)

This may be a reference to the activity of false teachers who tried to turn Jewish inquirers and believers back to Judaism. What is the significance of ‘grace’? Think about

Eph. 2:4; 2 Cor. 12:8-10; 2 Tim. 2:1. Notice how wrong teaching tends to take people away from the central truth of the faith – the ‘altar’ of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross (10)

The high priest and all who followed him in perpetuating the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement under the old covenant (10, 11) had no part of the benefits of Christ’s atoning sacrifice who had now offered Himself ‘outside’ the camp (11,12). How do you recognise wrong teaching?

h. Identification with Christ (12-14)

Identifying Christ as the true sacrifice for sin leads on naturally to a statement of that sacrifice’s effects.

What does Christ’s identification with us achieve? (12b)

What does our identification with Him call for? (13a)

What does our response result in? (13b)

Is it worth it? Think about the implications of v. 14 (Phil. 3:20,21 makes a similar point).

If it’s all worthwhile, in what practical ways can we be identified with Christ here in our own town?

h. Praise (15,16)

If the preceding verses are true, what are some of the things we can praise God for? How often? (15).

If one side of the coin is vocal praise, what is the other? (16)

When does ‘doing good and sharing with others’ become a sacrifice? (16)

What practical examples can you think of?

i. Obeying leaders (17)

These are their present spiritual leaders.

Why is considerable emphasis placed on obeying them?

For what is the leader accountable? To whom?

What is the result when leadership becomes a burden?

Identify leaders in the church – in the various sections of church life and activity. In what ways can members of the fellowship help them to fulfil their roles?

j. Prayer (18,19)

It’s one of our great privileges – to pray for one another. The requests need to be specific wherever possible (19).

Paul sets a good example (Rom. 15:30-32; Eph. 6:18-20). How can the church be made more aware of prayer needs?

2. Final prayer and conclusion (20-25)

The benediction (20,21) represents the writer’s prayer for his readers. In what ways does it summarise much of the letter?

The final verses give no real clues as to who the writer was, but the specific details indicate a real person writing to real people about an important subject. Behind that writer stood the ultimate author, the Holy Spirit, who enables us to apply the writer’s words to our own situation and needs.