College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Hebrews 13:1-7
IV.
Final exhortation regarding duties pertaining to the Truth. Hebrews 13:1-25.
A.
Social duties. Hebrews 13:1-7.
Text
Hebrews 13:1 Let love of the brethren continue. Hebrews 13:2 Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:3 Remembering them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are ill-treated, as being yourselves also in the body. Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will Judges Hebrews 13:5 Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee. Hebrews 13:6 So that with good courage we say,
The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear:
What shall man do unto me?
Hebrews 13:7 Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the Word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.
Paraphrase
Hebrews 13:1 Let that brotherly love, for which I commended you, continue to be exercised by you to all the disciples of Christ, whether they be Jews or Gentiles.
Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to entertain strangers, though unacquainted with them, for thereby some have had the happiness to entertain angels, without knowing they entertained angels.
Hebrews 13:3 By your prayers and good offices assist them who are in bonds for their religion, as equally liable to be bound for that good cause; and them who suffer any kind of evil, as being yourselves also in the body, subject to adversity.
Hebrews 13:4 In opposition to the notions of the Essenes, let marriage be esteemed an honourable state among all ranks, and let adultery be avoided. For fornicators and adulterers, though not punished by men, God will severely punish, as invaders of their neighbour's dearest rights.
Hebrews 13:5 However poor ye may be, show no immoderate love of money in your dealings; being contented with what things ye have. In every difficulty rely on God. For, when he ordered Joshua to conduct the Israelites, He Himself said, (Joshua 1:5), -As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee, I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.-'
Hebrews 13:6 So that when afflicted, but especially when persecuted, taking courage, we may say with the Psalmist, (Psalms 118:6. LXX.), The Lord is my Helper, and I will not be afraid of any evil that man can do to me in opposition to Him.
Hebrews 13:7 Remember your teachers who have preached to you the Word of God; of whose conversation attentively considering the ending, imitate their faith in the doctrines, and precepts, and promises of the Gospel, that when ye end your conversation, ye may be supported as they were.
Comment
Let love of the brethren continue
This sounds as though brotherly love characterized them.
a.
This is true. See Hebrews 6:10-11.
b.
They must have been strong on the social gospel and weak in other ways.
1.
In Hebrews 5:11 they were dull of hearing, were in need of teaching.
2.
The many exhortations to lay hold, press on, etc., are indications of a special need.
This virtue characterized the early Hebrew church. See Acts 2:44-47; Acts 12:5-12; Acts 15:22; Acts 15:25.
forget not to show love unto strangers
What does love mean if strangers are to receive it?
a.
This was a command for Jews in the Old Testament. Leviticus 19:34.
1.
The Hebrews would therefore understand what was meant.
2.
This just reminds them to not neglect it.
b.
It probably meant the exercise of love which all owe to all men. 2 Peter 1:7.
There is no honor to us if we love only those that love us. See Matthew 5:43-46.
a.
The church will grow when strangers, visitors, now Christians, are warmed with the friendly helpfulness of Christians.
b.
The world needs love, for there is so much of bitterness and strife in the world.
for thereby some have entertained angels unawares
Instances of it are found in the visit to Abraham and Lot.
a.
Calvin and Milligan agree to this.
b.
See Genesis 18:2-10; Genesis 19:1-3.
Our guests may often be messengers sent to us from God for our special benefit.
remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them that are ill-treated, as being yourselves also in the body
The people had been in bonds themselves at one time. See Hebrews 10:32-34.
a.
These people at that time had remembered one another. Hebrews 10:34.
b.
The possibility of them forgetting others in bonds must have been a possibility now that their days were easier.
c.
Perhaps these people were the strangers, for to their own countrymen they had been so helpful in the past. Ill treatment was often displayed in that day.
a.
Romans were known for their cruelty to their children and to their slaves.
1.
All slaves were slain if the master were slain by a slave.
2.
A story is reported of a master who killed a slave so that a guest could see the spectacle of a dying man.
3.
Another Roman fed his fish with the mutilated body of a slave.
b.
The early church received severe persecutions.
1.
The Jews were cruel, as seen by Stephen's treatment.
2.
The Romans were severe, as seen by Nero and others.
As being yourselves also in the body, suggests identifying one's self with them as the Golden Rule suggests. Luke 6:31.
Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Let marriage be had in honor among all suggests that is a state that should be revered.
a.
God instituted marriage by providing Eve for Adam.
b.
The conduct of married people to each other is suggested often in the New Testament.
1.
Ephesians 5:22-28: Subjection of the wife is in order.
2.
1 Corinthians 7:1-5: A clean marriage state.
3.
1 Peter 3:1-7: The wife is to be honored.
c.
Celibacy is advocated by some as though marriage is not honorable.
1.
If it is to be honored by all, it is honorable for all.
2.
Fornication is a disregard for marriage, and adultery is a defilement of marriage.
God will judge those guilty of defiling the honorable marriage relationship with fornication and adultery.
a.
It was a sin that brought capital punishment in the Old Testament. See Leviticus 20:10.
b.
The New Testament indicates that people guilty of this will be in hell. 1 Corinthians 6:9; Revelation 2:22.
Be ye free from the love of money
It is a root of all kinds of evil when it is loved, 1 Timothy 6:10.
a.
It causes people to lie, steal, cheat, commit murder.
b.
It causes people to hope for the death of those leaving money to them as an inheritance.
c.
It corrupted the temple in Jerusalem. John 2:14; Matthew 21:12.
d.
It kept the rich young ruler from Jesus.
This section has an alternate translation.
a.
Let your conversation be without covetousness.
b.
Let your mind be free.
The passage in all translations teaches us to avoid a covetous life.
a.
Men with money are sometimes possessed of it.
b.
Money only seems to bring contentment.
content with such things as ye have
Paul gave us an example of this in his own life.
a.
In Philippians 4:12 he said he knew how to be abased.
b.
Paul gave up everything for Christ.
It is not a destruction of ambition or legal endeavor as seen by other passages. See Romans 12:11: In diligence not slothful, Also Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:11. We are not to be like animals reaching across a fence for grass no greener than we deserve.
for Himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee
Deuteronomy 31:6 is probably the source of this quotation.
a.
Similar expressions are found in Joshua 1:5; 1 Chronicles 28:20.
b.
This, says Milligan, became a proverbial saying among the Hebrews because of its consolation.
This is a sentiment expressed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 6:25-30.
neither will I in any wise forsake thee
This was conditional, however, for those who would not forsake God.
a.
Israel found God forsaking them in the day of provocation.
b.
We have no right to expect God to reward us for unfaithfulness. Jesus promised to be with us even unto the end of the world if we preach the Gospel. Matthew 28:18-20.
so that with good courage we say, The Lord is my Helper
We may speak confidently that the Lord is our Helper.
a.
The word we appears often in this book.
b.
We do not need to understand that Paul had an assistant author.
c.
Anyone who has faith can make the statement.
The Lord is my helper is an expression of faith. Psalms 118:6 is quoted, but observe that in the original Psalm it is translated, The Lord is on my side.
a.
Milligan says this was one of the collection of hymns that was sung at the close of the feast of tabernacles.
b.
Paul expressed the same thought: If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31.
I will not fear: what shall man do unto me?
This verse does not suggest that man will never do man bodily harm.
a.
David knew differently.
b.
Paul knew differently; so did these brethren, for they had been afflicted.
The idea is, What can man do that God cannot undo?
a.
Man can bring pain, but God will give us a body that knows no pain.
b.
Man can kill, but God can make alive.
remember them that had the rule over you
This very likely refers to such men as Stephen, James, the brother of John, and other faithful preachers.
a.
These men had preached the gospel to the Hebrews.
b.
Actually, it means those leading you.
Newell suggests that the Greek word means to go before, which suggests it was their work, not an office.
a.
There were no bosses in the early church, such as Popes, etc.
b.
These men were leaders because of work.
men that spake unto you the Word of God
Paul once was spoken of as the chief speaker, Acts 14:12, and the same Greek word appears here.
There were others who spoke. Acts 14:12
The elders also were responsible to speak. 1 Timothy 5:17;
and considering the issue of their life
In Greek, the manner of their life.
a.
Blessed is a people who have a leader whose good life is worthy of consideration.
b.
These leaders had been unmoved in their hours of trial.
c.
Their lives were like Abraham of oldlived in faith. Something was to be learned from their leaders.
imitate their faith
Faithcan it be imitated?
a.
It is all that should be imitated.
b.
Imitate faith, not mannerisms.
c.
Imitate their method with God.
d.
Imitate their reliance, confidence in God.
In all other respects we must imitate God. Ephesians 5:1: Imitation of God as beloved children.
Study Questions
2765.
Characterize the 13th chapter.
2766.
What may we assume characterized the Hebrew brethren by Hebrews 13:1?
2767.
Does Hebrews 6:10-11 verify this?
2768.
Did they major on the social gospel and fall short in other respects? Cf. Hebrews 5:11.
2769.
What verses in Acts show that the Hebrews loved one another?
2770.
What did the Jerusalem church require of Paul at the Jerusalem Conference?
2771.
What is meant by show love unto strangers? Is it possible?
2772.
Were the Hebrews consistent in their love?
2773.
Who would strangers be?
2774.
How would the Jews know who was meant? Cf. Leviticus 19:34.
2775.
Compare 2 Peter 1:7, as it includes all men.
2776.
Is there any honor in loving those who love us? Cf. Matthew 5:43-46.
2777.
Explain have entertained angels unawares.
2778.
Who could be included in the word some?
2779.
Compare Genesis 18:2-10; Genesis 19:1-3.
2780.
Who could be referred to as being in bonds?
2781.
Had the Hebrews ever been in bonds?
2782.
What is meant by, as bound with them?
2783.
What would such identification do?
2784.
Was cruelty, ill treatment, common in that day?
2785.
What does the author teach concerning marriage?
2786.
How do we know marriage is to be revered?
2787.
What is meant by the word honor?
2788.
Give other verses of scripture that speak of married conduct. Cf. Ephesians 5:22-27; 1 Corinthians 7:1-5.
2789.
Does celibacy teach that marriage is honorable for all?
2790.
Were the apostles married?
2791.
What is meant by, God will judge?
2792.
How serious a sin was adultery in the Old Testament?
2793.
What is the difference between fornication and adultery?
2794.
Is it serious today? 1 Corinthians 6:9; Revelation 2:22.
2795.
How could Jesus allow remarriage in the case of adultery?
2796.
If adulterers are not killed under our law, is it less serious with God now?
2797.
Why are we exhorted to be free of the love of money?
2798.
Show instances of corrupted people in the New Testament.
2799.
What does love of money cause today?
2800.
If it causes murder, jealousy, envy, thefts, kidnapping, etc., is it not a very dangerous sin?
2801.
How is this verse translated by some?
2802.
Is the meaning the same?
2803.
Does contentment destroy ambition?
2804.
What is our attitude to be toward our possessions or lack of them?
2805.
Compare Paul in this regard. Philippians 4:12.
2806.
Is this verse against ambition? Cf. Romans 12:11; Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:11.
2807.
Where is this verse quoted?
2808.
Did Jesus express this sentiment?
2809.
What consolation does he give for those in need?
2810.
Did God place any condition on it?
2811.
Did He ever forsake the Hebrews?
2812.
Did Jesus promise to be with us? Cf. Matthew 28:18-20.
2813.
Does Hebrews 13:6 suggest a double authorship?
2814.
How is the Lord our Helper?
2815.
What may be the source of the expression, The Lord is on my side?
2816.
Does this verse suggest that God will not allow man to suffer ill treatment?
2817.
Can God undo everything that man does to the body?
2818.
What is implied by remember?
2819.
Who had the rule over them?
2820.
Who are the rulers referred to in Hebrews 13:7?
2821.
What seemed to constitute the rule?
2822.
Were they leaders, or bosses?
2823.
Who might they have seen?
2824.
Who spoke the word in the early church?
2825.
Besides remembering, what were they to consider?
2826.
Define issue of their life.
2827.
What does he recommend to imitate?
2828.
How can you imitate faith?