November
13th
Hebrews 13
Superior Love
1:
Let brotherly love continue. 2: Be not forgetful to entertain
strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3:
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which
suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. 4: Marriage
is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and
adulterers God will judge. 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. 6: So that we may
boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall
do unto me. 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. 8: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to
day, and for ever. 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. 10: We have an altar, whereof they have no right to
eat which serve the tabernacle. 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. 12: Wherefore Jesus also, that he might
sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13: Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his
reproach. 14: For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to
come. 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. 16: But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such
sacrifices God is well pleased. 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. 18: Pray for us: for we
trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live
honestly. 19: But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be
restored to you the sooner.
Blessing
& personal messages
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, 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. 22:
And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I
have written a letter unto you in few words. 23: Know ye that our
brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I
will see you. 24: Salute all them that have the rule over you, and
all the saints. They of Italy salute you. 25: Grace be with you all.
Amen.
And
so the writer to the Hebrews brings his letter to an end with homely
exhortation. He reminds the Hebrews to have brotherly love for each
other and to have hospitality. They are to remember those who are in
prison for Christ’s sake. He reminds them that marriage and sexual
relations are honourable to all. He says let you hearts be contented,
because Christ promised that he would never leave us. They are to
have due respect for those who have the spiritual rule over them. He
then warns them not to be carried away with different and strange
doctrines. He then describes the rejection of Jesus and how that he
was expelled outside ‘the camp’ of the Jews. He then exhorts the
Jewish believers to go outside the camp of Israel to stand with
Christ. He says, we have no earthly city here, because we seek one to
come. He encourages us to worship in song and to give with charity.
He says, obey those that have the rule over you in the LORD because
they care for your souls and they will give account for their
responsibility. Then the writer says, pray for us, because we live as
law abiding Jews in good conscience before God. Finally, the writer
gives the benediction. He prays that the Lord Jesus – the Good
Shepherd might bring them to maturity in every good work to do Gods
will. He says, Timothy has been released and when he joins me we will
come to you. He closes with salutations to the Elders and all the
saints. Then the writer sends greetings from the believers of Rome.
(Probably this indicates that this letter is written from Rome by
Paul). Lastly he closes with the Christian greeting ‘Grace be with
you’.
- What exhortations does the writer give to the Hebrews in his last chapter?
- How should these Hebrew believers respond to the rejection of Christ by their countrymen?
- What does the writer ask for prayer?
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