Hebrews 13 Love Your Neighbors
1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. 3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also. 4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”[Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5] 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”[ Psalm 118:6]
"For our God is a consuming fire.” (12:29) Thus, here is what we should do. "Let brotherly love continue" (1) "that feeling of mutual regard, subsisting among the members of the faithful, which is felt to be due from one brother to another, and without which, in the intercourse of domestic life, there could be neither peace in families nor comfort in society." (E. G. Marsh) If church members do not regard you, that "does not warrant your retaliating in a like spirit, rather does it provide opportunity for the exercise and manifestation of Divine grace...desiring and seeking only their good…” (A. W. Pink) Do it “not in the pretence and appearance of it only, but in the truth and reality of it." (William Burkitt) ”If a man say, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" (1John 4:20)
"Do not forget to entertain”— lodge— "strangers,”— foreigners, whose regard of Yahweh is not apparent to man— “for by so doing some" - Abraham and Lot- "have unwittingly entertained angels." (2) "So, that which was commanded under the old covenant is repeated under the new: ‘But the stranger that dwells with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and you shall love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God’ (Lev. 19:34 and cf. Deut. 10:19, etc.).” (Pink) "So may an unknown guest, even now, be of more worth than he appears, and may have angels attending him, though unseen. Genesis 18:2 ; 19:1 ." (Wesley) "Not merely angels, but Christ Himself, is received by us, when we receive the poor of the flock in His name.” (Calvin)
"Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also." (3). "The immediate reference is unto those who had been deprived of their liberty for Christ’s sake... ‘remember’ signifies far more than to merely think of them, including all the duties which their situation called for. It means, first, feel for them, take to heart their case, have compassion toward them... At best their food was coarse, their beds hard, and the ties which bound them to their families had been rudely sundered. Often they lay cruelly fettered, in a dark and damp dungeon... But more: ‘remember’ them in your prayers. Intercede for them, seeking on their behalf grace from God, that they may meekly submit to His providential dealings, that their sufferings may be sanctified to their souls, that the Most High will so overrule things that this Satanic opposition against some of His saints may yet issue in the extension of His kingdom. Finally,… visit them (Matt 25:36), endeavor to comfort them… and leave no stone unturned to seek their lawful release… When some are tried as unto their constancy in bonds, others are tried as unto their sincerity in the discharge of the duties required of them. And usually more fail in neglect of their duty towards sufferers, and so fall from their profession, than do so fail under and on the account of their sufferings.’” (A. W. Pink)
Fear God and keep His Commandment. But regard not the traditions of man, even the religious. ”You shall not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14)
”Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (4) if repentance does not occur, "though they frequently escape the sentence of men." (John Wesley) “The apostle’s affirmation… is chiefly intended to counteract the pernicious notion of some ascetics, who at this early period denounced marriage as incompatible with the pure spirit of christianity; and who, if their vile imposture had been continued, they would well nigh have depopulated the human race." (Joseph Sutcliffe) The institution of marriage found in Genesis 2:18-25 is honorable; "right, proper, and for ministers of the gospel as well as others. As marriage is God’s institution for the happiness of man and the prevention of fornication and other abominable vices, he who forbids or discourages it increases the temptations to these crimes, and exposes himself to the just indignation of God." (Justin Edwards)
"Let your conduct be without covetousness. But be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' [Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5] So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" [Psalm 118:6] (6) Not only should we not seek out neighbor’s wife, but we should be content with the “things” which we have. “It is striking to observe what a small foundation the apostle seems to lay down, when he bids us to be content. He holds out no promise of earthly good things and temporal rewards. He simply quotes a verse of God’s Word.” (J C Ryle) “‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee’-- so to Jacob, Gen 28:15; to Israel, Deut. 31:6,8; to Joshua, Josh. 1:5; to Solomon, 1 Chr. 28:20. It is a divine adage. What was said to them extends to us. He will neither withdraw His presence (‘never leave’) nor His help (‘nor forsake thee’) (Bengel).” (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown) “The Master has spoken—‘He has said’… It is striking besides this, to observe that the text he quotes was not originally addressed to Hebrew Christians, but to [the spiritual Levites and then to] Joshua; and yet St. Paul applies it to them. This shows that Bible promises are the property of all believers. All [who ‘hear’ and desire to ‘serve Him acceptably’] have the right and title to them.” (J C Ryle)
"What can man do to me?" (Psalm 118:6b) (6b)
"Man can do much: he can fine, imprison, banish, reduce to a morsel of bread, yea, torture and put to death; yet as long as God is with us and stands for us, we may boldly say, ‘I will not fear what man can do.’ Why? God will not see thee utterly perish...” (Thomas Manton) “Psalm 118, a psalm of declaration and praise, is the climax of the group of psalms called the Passover or ‘Hallel’ psalms, after the Hebrew word for praise… Hallelujah comes from this word. This psalm was probably sung by the Savior on the night before His death.” (The Nelson Study Bible)
Hebrews 13 Feast on Jesus Outside the Camp
7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.
“’Remember those who rule over you’— the apostles and prophets, the elders and pastors, who instructed the saints and directed the government of the churches. No doubt the apostle was more specifically alluding to such men as Stephen and James who had been beheaded by Herod (Acts 12:2)’— ‘who have spoken the word of God to you’— who didn’t invent new laws, but who simply declared the will and applied the statutes of Zion’s King. — ‘whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.’ (7) — They sealed the Truth they proclaimed by laying down their lives for it.’” (Pink) Remember these martyrs, as well as the Head- "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." (8) "Men may die; but Jesus Christ, yea, and His gospel, is the same from everlasting to everlasting." (Wesley) He remains, “being alive for evermore. Jesus Christ was the One who had supported their deceased leaders, who had passed through their trials victoriously, and if trusted in, He would sustain them, for He was the same gracious and powerful Shepherd of the sheep.” (Pink)
"Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines." (9a) “There are some men who, because they want to grow, are continually being transplanted; and they think that because they keep moving from place to place, they are gaining; but they gain nothing at all. Trees that grow fastest stand stillest. Running after every new thing that presents itself does not increase the growth of Christian graces, or anything else that is good. If a man would grow spiritually, he must have a standpoint, a fixed root-place, for his religious convictions..." (H. W. Beecher) based on revelation of the Spirit by His Word. “There is but ‘one faith,’ as there is but ‘one Lord’ (Eph. 4:5)... Hence, when the Truth is in view, it is always ‘doctrine’ in the singular number, as ‘the doctrine’ (John 7:17), ‘the doctrine of Christ’ (2 John 9) and see Romans 16:17; 1 Timothy 4:16 etc. On the other hand, where error is referred to the plural number is employed, as in ‘doctrines of men’ (Col. 2:22), ‘doctrines of demons’ (1 Tim. 4:1). The Truth of God is one uniform system and chain of doctrine, which begins in God and ends in Him; but error is inconsistent and manifold.” (A. W. Pink)
"'For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods'- meats; the Jewish distinctions of meats, and the whole ceremonial law connected with them- 'which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.' (9b) The words intimate that it is the grace of Christ alone, not these carnal ordinances, that has power to establish the heart. To treat external rites and ceremonies as the chief thing does much evil and exposes men to the loss of their souls, because it tends to prevent their reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ." (J. Edwards)
"We have an altar" - "The altar is here put for the sacrifice on the altar; the Christian altar is the Christian sacrifice, which is Christ Jesus," (Adam Clarke)- "from which those who serve the tabernacle"-- the priest and Levites- "have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.” (10-11) “A part of the meat offered in sacrifice among the Jews became the property of the priests and Levites, and they had, by the Law, a right to this as a part of their support; see Lev 6:25-26; Num 18:9-10. But the apostle says that there is a higher and more valuable sacrifice of which they have no right to partake while they remain in the service of the 'tabernacle' or temple.” (Albert Barnes)
It is the body of the sin offering. “The choicest of the internal organs, namely, the fatty tissue over and on the entrails, the two kidneys and their fat, and the appendage to the liver, were all offered to the Lord on the altar (Lv 4:8-10). The carcass and the other entrails were burned outside the camp when it was a bull for the priest or for the people. This was also true of the bull for the ordination of the priests (Ex 29:10-14; Lv 8:14-17).” (Tyndale Bible Dictionary) “The wage of sin is death." (Romans 6:23)
"Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate." (12) Sanctification- change- takes place outside of mainstream. It is personal. "Perhaps all this was typical of the abolition of the Jewish sacrifices, and the termination of the whole Levitical system of worship. He left the city, denounced its final destruction, and abandoned it to its fate; and suffered without the gate to bring the Gentiles to God." (Clarke) “‘Outside the camp’ was the place where the leper was compelled to dwell (Lev. 13:46), it was the place where criminals were condemned and slain (Lev. 24:14 and cf. Joshua 7:25, 1 Kings 21:13, Acts 7:58), it was the place where the defiled were put (Num. 5:3), it was the place where filth was deposited (Deut. 23:12-14). And that was the place, dear Christian reader, that the incarnate Son, the Holy One of God... [suffered and died] for you and for me! The immediate reason why none of the Israelites, not even the high priest, was allowed to eat any portion of the sin offering, and why its carcass was burnt outside the camp rather than upon the altar, seems to lie in the distinctive nature and special design of this offering... The ultimate reason and deeper design was to denote that Judaism had to be abandoned before one could ‘eat’ or derive benefit from the Christian’s ‘altar.’ Herein lies the superiority of Christianity, that we are permitted to feed upon a Sacrifice of the highest and holiest kind, receiving there from those blessings and benefits which Christ has procured for His people by the shedding of His precious blood.” (Pink)
"Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach." (13) “‘From the first to the last day of the Church of God, the place of witness is not inside, but outside the camp; and the true position of the Christian is to go forth without the camp..." (C. H. Spurgeon) "Let us leave this city and system [of dead religion], devoted to destruction, and take refuge in Jesus alone, bearing His reproach-being willing to be accounted the refuse of all things, and the worst of men, for His sake who bore the contradiction of sinners against Himself, and was put to death as a malefactor." (Adam Clarke) We must ”renounce all errors in religion and all earthly affections. We have something in our hearts which keeps us from our God till we be truly converted." (G. Lawson)
“For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.” (14) "The Jerusalem that was below was about to be burnt with fire, and erased to the ground; the Jerusalem that was from above was that alone which could be considered to be μενουσαν, permanent. The words seem to say: 'Arise, and depart; for this is not your rest: it is polluted:' About seven or eight years after this, Jerusalem was wholly destroyed." (Adam Clarke) This world will soon be destroyed at the coming of Jesus for the salvation.
Hebrews 13 Let Us Offer These Sacrifices
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God (15a)— “The Jews approached God by the blood of the sacrifice and by the ministry of their high priest. The exhortation of the apostle here is founded on the general course of argument in the Epistle 'In view of all the considerations presented respecting the Christian High Priest - His dignity, purity, and love; His sacrifice and His intercession, let us persevere in offering through Him praise to God.'" (Albert Barnes)— “that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (15b)
After Israel of olds sin offerings, “when the worshipping Israelite approached the tabernacle or temple, he did not come empty-handed, but brought with him a thank-offering.” (A. W. Pink) Likewise, after we partake of the Sin Offering of Christ outside the camp, it is needful that we have something to bring. Let us bring ourselves— offering our praise, our service and our witness. “Interestingly enough, it was while in the belly of the great fish that the prophet Jonah vowed to God, ‘I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving.’… Jeremiah received the word of God regarding the ‘sacrifice of praise’ while he was suffering in prison. (Jer. 33:1). This was certainly an odd place for the Lord to speak to His prophet regarding praise! But praise to God should naturally spring forth from a believer’s lips regardless of the circumstances… See the patriarch Job sitting shaved head on a pile of ashes saying, ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord.’ See the apostle Paul and Silas sitting in a most uncomfortable position while in stocks, but at midnight ‘praying and singing hymns to God while the prisoners listened to them.’ (Acts 16:25). See our precious Lord on the very night He would be betrayed, arrested and spit upon leading the disciples in the singing of ‘a hymn.’ (Mt. 26:30)… The translation of the phrase is also important. The phrase ‘sacrifice of praise’ comes from the King James translation. However, the New International Version helps us out here by translating the phrase, ‘those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord.’.” (Wisconsin Christian News)
"But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." (16) "No reliance, even on the infinitely meritorious sacrifice of Christ, can be acceptable in the sight of God if a man have not love and charity towards his neighbor." ( Adam Clarke) "A heart that is enjoying the certainty of salvation through the redemption of Christ cannot but feel some of the deep and wonderful love which the Savior showed all men in His vicarious suffering and death. All acts of beneficence, therefore, all forms of doing good, of communicating to the brethren and to all men in need, are the sphere of the Christian's activity.” (Kretzmann's Popular Commentary) “It was at this very point that Israel failed so often under the old covenant. Instead of treating their servants considerately, they imposed upon them; instead of ministering to the widow, they robbed her; instead of relieving the poor, they oppressed them. Nevertheless, they were very strict in keeping up their worship of Jehovah! A striking example of this is recorded in the first half of Isaiah 58…Though we deem our feeble praises and charitable works as too poor to be worthy of notice or mention, God Himself regards those very things as acts of worship that meet with His hearty approbation. A beautiful illustration of what has just been pointed out is found in Philippians 4. The Philippian saints had sent a gift to the apostle Paul, which he not only gratefully acknowledged, but declared that the same was ‘an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God’ (v 18).” (A. W. Pink)
“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.” (17a) “The third [exhortation] has respect to our ecclesiastical obligation, rendering unto those officers in the church that submission and respect to which they are entitled by virtue of the position and authority which Christ has accorded them. This is a Gospel institution, which can only be disregarded to the manifest dishonor of the Lord and to our own great loss.— ‘for they watch for your souls as those who must give account.’ — The true under-shepherds of Christ have no selfish aims, but rather the spiritual and eternal good of those who are entrusted to their care. Many a minister of the Gospel is often awake, burning midnight oil, while the members of his flock are asleep… The ministerial office is no idler’s one: it makes demands on heart, mind, and nervous energy, such as none other does…They are but men themselves, ignorant, weak, and erring, and unless they are granted a double portion of the Spirit they are not equipped for their arduous and honorable calling. They are the ones who bear the brunt of the battle, and are the special objects of Satan’s attacks. They are often tempted to compromise, to keep back that which, though unpalatable to them, is most profitable for their hearers. In the face of many disappointments and discouragements, they are apt to grow weary in well doing.” (A. W. Pink)
Let us "do so"- that is, bless our spiritual mentors- "with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” (17b) Let us take their full counsel, if it be proved by the Word, ending in our submission in baptism.
“The wise may bring their learning, the rich may bring their wealth,
And some may bring their greatness, and some bring strength and health;
We, too, would bring our treasures to offer to the King;
We have no wealth or learning; what shall we children bring?
We’ll bring Him hearts that love Him; we’ll bring Him thankful praise,
And young souls meekly striving to walk in holy ways;
And these shall be the treasures we offer to the King,
And these are gifts that even the poorest child may bring.
We’ll bring the little duties we have to do each day;
We’ll try our best to please Him, at home, at school, at play;
And better are these treasures to offer to our King;
Than richest gifts without them—yet these a child may bring.”
(Edward J. Hopkins)
Hebrews 13: Conclusion w Doxology
18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. 19 But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you[d] what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 22 And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly. 24 Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. 25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
“Pray for us;” (18a) Let us pray one for another. "The Scriptures teach that the prayers of many may prevail where the prayers of one, or only a few, might not. Even an apostle depended on such reinforcements as prayer (Romans 15:30; Philemon 1:22); and if such a person as Paul needed such help of his prayers, how much more is it true of others?” (Coffman)— “for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.” (18b) Paul had been a persecutor of the church but, by the grace of God, he had been Redeemed by Messiah. He and his fellow ministers had a good conscience, but they still requested the prayers of the people that they may keep God’s Commandments. He understood the mysteries of God but was a man of like passions as we are.
“Enlightened ministers of Christ often express a desire for the prayers of Christians on earth, but never ask or desire others to ask for them the prayers of Peter, Paul, Mary, or any of the saints in heaven.” (J. Edwards)
“But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.” (19) Paul wrote this long letter full of the mysteries of God, but you would never know that he was in chain, except for this verse. “He is the more urging and pressing them to the exercise of this duty more fervently, instantly, and abundantly, at this time, that they might prevail with God to remove hinderances by his enemies, freeing him from his chain and restraint at Rome, and to speed his liberty for a return to them, that it might be in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel. So the church prayed for Peter, and prevailed, Acts 12:12, and he had hopes that God would hear them for him also, Philemon 1:22.” (Matthew Poole)
”Now may the God of Peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (20-21) “How fittingly it”— the doxology— “comes in after this recital of the Divine power and ability! All true praise must be based upon a real and deep apprehension of the grace of God in Christ Jesus.” (The Pulpit commentary) “Having desired their prayers for him, he adds thereunto his prayer for them, and therewithal gives a solemn close to the whole epistle. A glorious prayer it is, enclosing the whole mystery of divine grace, in its original, and the way of its communication by Jesus Christ. And he prays for the fruit and benefit to be applied unto them of all that he had before instructed them in; for the substance of the whole doctrinal part of the epistle is included in it. And the nature and form of the prayer itself,, with the expressions used in it, evidence its procedure from a spirit full of faith and love.” (Thomas Coke)
Paul invokes not the old, but rather the New Covenant and the God of Peace who established it from everlasting. "The 'covenant' spoken of is not …. the covenant on Mount Sinai, though there may be an allusion to it; since the blood which was then shed, and sprinkled on the people, is called the blood of the covenant, Exodus 24:8 but that was not an everlasting covenant, that has waxed old, and vanished away; but the covenant of grace is meant, before called the new and better covenant, of which Christ is the surety and Mediator.” (John Gill)
"And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words." (22) "And now, in conclusion, he lets them know how he quite understands their attitude of mind towards his letter. He does not expect his exhortations to commend themselves at first. But, knowing the word of truth to be in them, he knows they will guide his friends to higher duties and higher hopes, if only they will consider them. Thus he shows at the same time regard for the feelings of his friends, and anxiety that truth may not be repelled because at first it does not look serviceable.” (The Pulpit Commentary)
God's Word never returns void.-- “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10-11)
“‘Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.’ (23) ... Paul’s confidence in the prospect of his own release (verse19) was so strong that he planned on joining Timothy soon in going to meet with these brethren.
‘Greet’—salute— ‘all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.’ (24a) Salute means to give a friendly greeting which implies a wish for the wellbeing of the one saluted. This was to include the elders as well as other saints... Others in Italy (of which Rome was the capital) joined Paul in his salutation for the brethren in Judea.
‘Grace be with you all. Amen.’ (24b) Grace means the unmerited favor of the Lord and it was the sincere wish of Paul that his brethren everywhere should so live as to receive that favor.” (E.M. Zerr's Commentary)