_AN APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION_ ‘Let brotherly love continue.’ Hebrews 13:1 Brotherly love had been a conspicuous feature of the early Church (Acts 2:44; Acts 4:34; Acts 11:27; Hebrews 10:32). But in the perilous times foretold, ‘the love of many would wax cold’; hence the call to continuance. This lo... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT_ ‘Be content with such things as ye have.’ Hebrews 13:5 Christian contentment—what is it? To be contented is to be satisfied; it is the amen of spirit with regard to what is— I. CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT PRESUPPOSES EFFORT.—It is clear that something is presupposed in the comm... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE NEVER-FAILING PRESENCE_ ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’ Hebrews 13:5 These words, or words very like them, occur in five different places in the Bible. They were spoken to Jacob (Genesis 28:15); and again twice to Israel in Deuteronomy 31:6; Deuteronomy 31:8. God Himself repeate... [ Continue Reading ]
_ALWAYS THE SAME_ ‘Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.’ Hebrews 13:8 You will observe the accuracy of the words and the exact force of the expression. It is not ‘yesterday, and to-day, and _ to-morrow_,’ though that would be the natural sequence; but all _ the past_ is a y... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE POSITION OF CHRISTIANS IN THE WORLD_ ‘For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.’ Hebrews 13:14 These words sum up what was certainly the apostolic mind as to the position of Christians in this world. They were members—they could not help being members—as we are of a vast... [ Continue Reading ]
_PRAISE_ ‘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.’ Hebrews 13:15 In order to be fit for heaven, we must find true happiness in loving and praising God. I. ONE GREAT THING—THE GREATEST FAR—FOR WHICH WE OU... [ Continue Reading ]
_GOD’S REQUIREMENTS_ ‘To do good and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.’ Hebrews 13:16 Do not let any of us pretend that we do not know what God requires of us. We know it well enough. It is, as regards God, to love Him, and as regards man, ‘to do good and to... [ Continue Reading ]
_SACRIFICE: THE OLD AND THE NEW_ ‘With such sacrifices God is well pleased.’ Hebrews 13:16 What do we mean by the word sacrifice? We look back to the dawn of history, sacred or profane alike, and everywhere we find the same belief, the same practice, not resting, so far as we know, on any externa... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE GREAT SHEPHERD_ ‘Our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep.’ Hebrews 13:20 The Son of God, Who came down from heaven, and Who lived and died and rose again for us, has been known by many names, chiefly descriptive of His many-sided mission to the world, but none have appealed more for... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE RIGHT AIM IN LIFE_ ‘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, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Chr... [ Continue Reading ]