Hebrews 13
Public life of a Christianverses 1-3
Let brotherly love continue
be not forgetful to entertain strangers
for thereby some have entertained angels unawares
Remember them that are in bonds – as bound with them
and them which suffer adversity
as being yourselves also in the body
Private life of a Christianverses 4-6
Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled
but whoremongers and adulterer God will judge
Let your conversation be without covetousness
and be CONTENT with such things as ye have
for HE hath said
I will never leave you – nor forsake you
So that we may boldly say – The Lord is my helper
I will not fear what man shall do unto me
Church life of a Christianverses 7-9
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
Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and for ever
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
Worship of Christiansverses 10-17
We have an altar – whereof they have no right to eat which serve the
tabernacle for the bodies of those beasts
whose blood is brought into the sanctuary
by the high priest for sin
are burned without the camp
WHEREFORE Jesus also – that HE might sanctify the people with
HIS OWN blood – suffered without the gate
let us go forth therefore unto HIM without the camp
bearing HIS reproach
FOR here have we no continuing city – BUT we seek one to come
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
BUT to do good and to communicate forget not
for with such SACRIFICES God is well-pleased
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
Final instructions of authorverses 18-24
Pray for us – for we trust we have a good conscience
in all things willing to live honestly
BUT I beseech you the rather to do this
that I may be restored to you the sooner
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
make you perfect in every good work to do HIS will
working in you that which is well-pleasing
in HIS sight – through Jesus Christ
to WHOM be glory for ever and ever AMEN
AND I beseech you – brethren – suffer the word of exhortation
for I have written a letter unto you in few words
Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
with whom – IF he come shortly – I will see you
Salute all them that have the rule over you – and all the saints
they of Italy salute you
Grace be with you all AMEN
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (32 “angels” [aggelos] a messenger, pastor, envoy, or one who is sent)
DEVOTION: It seems that there is a problem in our culture in our understanding as to who these created being are in relationship to God. Today we are watching the worship of messengers of God come to life in our bookstores and on television. We have people who pray to angels instead of to the Father in Jesus name. These created beings are messengers of God not God. We only pray to God.
HE will send these messengers or representatives to answer our prayers. HE has used these messengers to minister to those who are followers of God.
Satan was such a messenger until his fall from heaven. There are good messengers and bad messengers. When Satan fell from heaven there were a number of messengers who fell with him. These other messengers are called demons or evil spirits throughout the New Testament. These demons or evil spirits could take possession of people who don’t know Christ’s bodies and make them do things not humanly possible. They would also cause sickness in the ones they were possessing. The purpose of evil spirits is to lead everyone away from the God of the Bible.
The author of Hebrews is telling us that we need to welcome fellow believers into our homes. Some of these fellow believers might be messengers from God. There might come strangers into our churches on a given Sunday who need a meal or help and we have the responsibility to try to help them. One way we can help is to invite them into our homes and serve them a meal. Many individuals who have just visited a church and received this kind of treatment have stayed in the church and been goo workers for the LORD. God wants us to open our lives to help others in their relationship with the LORD.
In our visits across the country we have found that many pastors are not invited into the homes of their people for even a meal. Pastors are messengers of God, they are not part of the group that is found in heaven but they are God’s messengers here on earth.
There should be fellowship in each Christian’s home on a regular basis. Some are afraid that their home is not fancy enough or clean enough. These are not good reasons not to invite people over to share a meal. We can clean our homes to the best of our ability and then let it be a place to entertain those sent by God to our door.
Our homes are a gift that God has given to us. If we don’t’ use it for HIS purposes, HE can take it away from us. Let’s remember to use all our gifts or blessings for service to the Lord. Are we welcoming the messengers of God into our homes?
CHALLENGE: Invite someone into your home that cannot return the invitation. We can take a step of faith and take a visitor to our church out for a meal, whether in your home or at a restaurant.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. (2558 “suffer adversity” [kakoucheo] means torment, to treat ill, subject to cruel treatment, mistreat, to be afflicted, or to cause to suffer)
DEVOTION: God wants us to be concerned for those who are going through a rough time in their life. HE gives us the responsibility to come alongside those in our world who are suffering from consequences of sin or consequences of someone sinning against them.
We are to look at those who are in prison as sinners who need to know the LORD. When they get out there should be those in the church who will come alongside them to help them lead productive lives from that point on. They should be treated well. Jesus stated that if they treated someone who had been in prison with love they have treated HIM with love.
There are those who have been mistreated by others that need to know the LORD. They have not had an easy life. It could be that they were brought up in a family that had children but the parents only thought of their own needs rather than the needs of the children they brought into this world. There are many fathers and mothers who don’t care about their children today. There are many children that have no relationship with their parents for one reason or another and need someone to talk to on a regular basis to give them good advice.
People from both groups need the LORD and people to come alongside and give them instruction and assistance to face each day of their life. It is not to be a relationship of dependence but one of constructive assistance for a fruitful and productive life.
Ask the LORD is there is someone in your school that you can help be a better person because they know you and the LORD. Ask the LORD if there is someone in your workplace that could use your guidance to help them live a better life. God will honor your assistance.
CHALLENGE: Remember their first need is to know who Jesus Christ is and how HE can give them hope.
: 4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. (5093 “honourable” [timios] means precious, dear, esteemed, of a high status, of great worth, highly respected, or valuable)
DEVOTION: Marriage is under the gun these days. Many people think it is not necessary. Some are living together for long periods of time without getting married. It used to be that if a couple stayed together for seven years they were legally married.
Commitment is an issue today. No one seems to want to make a lifelong commitment to another person. One person said that her boy friend wanted to buy a house together before they were married to see if it would work.
The Bible teaches marriage. It is something that every adult should think about. Some are chosen by the LORD to be single all their life to give HIM faithful service. They never felt a need to be married or to have someone else close by their side.
Divorce was only granted by God because of the hardness of heart of the people. God hates divorce. The only one who wins in a divorce is the lawyer. The ones who lose the most in a divorce are the children. We are a selfish people even after becoming a follower of the LORD. We sometimes only think of ourselves and what we want. This is wrong in the eyes of the LORD.
Remember that the Bible teaches that there should be no sex before marriage. There are many ways that people try to get around this fact. They find new ways to have a relationship without completing the action and think that they are not having a sexual relationship. That is still sin in God’s eyes. HE wants us to be celibate until we get married.
The Bible again teaches that marriage is between one woman and one man for life. There is no other type of marriage accepted by the LORD. HE deems this type of marriage precious in HIS sight.
HE is going to judge all those who have any other type of relationship besides the one that HE condones. There is going to be a time of judgment at the end of the age. All individuals will stand before the LORD regarding all of their actions in their lifetime.
Those who have committed sexual sins without repentance will have to pay the consequences for eternity. Those who have been guilty of these sins and repent will be forgiven and the LORD will honor them throughout eternity. The choice is given and the results are sure.
CHALLENGE: Honor the LORD in your choice of type of wedding. Marry for a lifetime to someone of the opposite sex. God will honor your commitment.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken to you the Word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. (2233 “rule over” [hegeomai] means esteem, be governor, be a leader, to be in charge of, to guide, to direct, or to go first)
DEVOTION: The author of this book of Hebrews wants those who are reading his letter to realize that there are leaders who need to be followed. Today we live in a world that is made up of people who don’t want to follow anyone. It seems that the only reason they will follow someone is if there is great present benefit to them. If there is no benefit they will not follow.
In the church there are men who are designated as leaders or pastors or elders. These men are to give the congregation an example to follow. They are not going to be perfect but they are going to be consistent. These individuals should be the mature men of the church. They are to be individuals who can train other in the Word of God because they know the Word of God and are studying it on a daily basis. They will be able to teach young families how to have family devotions in the home. They will be able to answer questions that come up during the week. They will be able to be called if there is an emergency in the home that needs prayer and guidance.
These individuals are available on a regular basis. They are known to the church people as people who genuinely care for the maturity of those who attend the church. They have a loving disposition. They are constructive in their guidance and not destructive.
They know what it means to make wise decisions and then step out in faith to see the LORD work in their life and in the life of the church.
We need these kind of leaders today in every local church praying for a revival in their midst. If God’s people work together, to reach their world for the LORD revival can come.
CHALLENGE: Are you one of the leaders that God can count on to lead others to a closer walk with the LORD? If so, work for the day is coming when the LORD will return for HIS own.
:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (2675 “make perfect” [katartizo] means 1 to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete. 1a to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair. 1a1 to complete. 1b to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust. 1b1 to fit or frame for one’s self, prepare. 1c ethically: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: Recently we looked at the outside of our house and realized that we needed to make some repairs. These were not major structural repairs, but some that, if not made, would lead to further deterioration of the outside of our house. In fact, we hadn’t even seen these things until someone else pointed them out to us.
God’s sanctification of us works the same way. There are three chronological aspects to sanctification. The first is positional sanctification, which means that God sees us as perfect from the day that we receive Christ Jesus as our savior, because Jesus’ blood then rests upon us. The second is ultimate sanctification, which means that when we are resurrected God will give us bodies which are without sin. The third is in the time between these two, and is called progressive sanctification.
Progressive sanctification is supposed to be going on in our lives right now, when we as God’s children are to grow in Christlikeness and to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). God is busy pointing out aspects of our lives which need to change through the means of the Holy Spirit using the Word of God. God’s responsibility is this is to make us to want to obey Him and equip us to do so (Philippians 2:13). The author of Hebrews then prays the concluding prayer for his readers in which he asks God to equip them and to make them perfect in His sight at the present time.
This verse is one of the verses of the Bible that makes an excellent prayer for others you know. This model prayer would be one that you should adopt and pray for others throughout the day.
CHALLENGE: God is in the process of sanctifying us. He provides the ability and we provide the will. Ask Him to show you what area of your life you need to grow in Christlikeness today, and then take one intentional step toward doing so. (MW)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Sacrifice of praiseverse 15
Sacrifices well please Godverse 16
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Obeyverse 17
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Entertain strangersverse 2
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Written a letterverse 22
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Fruit of our lips giving thanksverse 15
Pray for leadersverses 18-19
Pray for people by spiritual authorverses 20-21
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of Godverse 7
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 4, 7, 15, 16, 20
Judgeverse 4
Word of Godverse 7
God of peaceverse 20
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Lordverses 6, 20
Helperverse 6
Jesusverses 8, 12, 20, 21
Christverses 8, 21
Jesus Christverses 8, 21
Same yesterday, today and foreververse 8
Suffering without the campverse 12
Lord Jesusverse 20
Great Shepherdverse 20
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angelsverse 2
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Whoremongersverse 4
Adulterersverse 4
Covetousnessverse 5
Divers and strange doctrinesverse 9
False teaching regarding eating meatverse 9
Sinverse 11
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Brotherly loveverse 1
Entertain strangersverse 1
Remember those in bondsverse 3
Remember those who suffer adversityverse 3
Marriageverse 4
Bed undefiled in marriageverse 4
Conversation [lifestyle]verses 5, 7
Contentverse 5
Christ never leaves or forsakesverse 5
Boldnessverse 6
Helpverse 6
Not fear manverse 6
Faithverse 7
Heart established by graceverses 9, 25
Sanctifyverse 12
Bearing Christ’s reproachverse 13
Sacrifice of praiseverse 15
Give thanksverse 15
Obeyverse 17
Submit to leadershipverse 17
Prayverse 18
Good conscienceverse 18
Live honestlyverse 18
Peaceverse 20
Sheepverse 20
Perfect [mature]verse 21
Good workverse 21
Do God’s willverse 21
Wellpleasing verse 21
Saintsverse 24
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Brotherly loveverse 1
Rule over congregationverse 7
Spoke Word of Godverse 7
Faith of rulerverse 7
Lifestyle of rulerverse 7
Obedience to leadersverse 17
Leaders watch over soulverse 17
Leaders give accountverse 17
Leader lead with joyverse 17
Word of exhortationverse 22
Salute those who rule over youverse 24
Last Things (Future Events)
Seek continuing city to comeverse 14
Blood of the everlasting covenantverse 20
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QUOTES regarding passage
5 Sins of impurity and covetousness are also linked elsewhere in the NT (e.g., 1 Cor 5:10–11; Eph 4:19; 5:3–5; 1 Thess 4:3–6). The covetous man pursues his selfish aims, whether sexual or financial, without regard to the rights of others. So the writer warns against the love of money and urges contentment with what one has. In any case covetousness is needless, for the believer has the promise that God will never leave him nor forsake him. The origin of this quotation is not clear; the words do not correspond exactly to any OT passage, though there are several statements that are rather like it (e.g., Gen 28:15; Deut 31:6, 8; Josh 1:5; 1 Chronicles 28:20; Isa 41:17; perhaps closest is Josh 1:5). It is interesting that Philo has the same quotation in the same words (On the Confusion of Tongues 166). Accordingly, it seems that both Philo and the writer of Hebrews are quoting from a version of the LXX that has not survived. Be that as it may, the words point to the complete reliability of God. Since he has promised to help his own, covetousness in all its forms is useless. God’s people are secure no matter what comes, because he is with them. Beside this great fact, the petty securities of worldly possessions, position, and the like do not matter at all. (Morris, L. (1981). Hebrews. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 147). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Be ye free from the love of money (ἀφιλαργυρος ὁ τροπος [aphilarguros ho tropos]). No copula, but supply ἐστο [esto]: “Let your manner of life (τροπος [tropos], way, Matt. 23:37), be without love of money” (ἀφιλαργυρος [aphilarguros], double compound), once found only in the N. T., here and 1 Tim. 3:3, but now several times—or the adverb ἀφιλαργυρως [aphilargurōs]—in papyri and inscriptions (Deissmann, Light, etc., pp. 85f.). Alpha privative and φιλος [philos] and ἀργυρος [arguros]. The N. T. is full of the peril of money on the character as modern life is also. Content with such things as ye have (ἀρκουμενοι τοις παρουσιν [arkoumenoi tois parousin]). Present passive participle of ἀρκεω [arkeō], to suffice, to be content as in Luke 3:14. Cf. αὐταρκης [autarkēs] in Phil. 4:11. Here in the nominative plural with no substantive or pronoun (anacoluthon, as in 2 Cor. 1:7) or the participle used as a principal verb as in Rom. 12:16. “Contented with the present things” (τοις παρουσιν [tois parousin], associative instrumental case of τα παροντα [ta paronta], present active neuter plural participle of παρειμι [pareimi], to be present or on hand). For himself hath said (αὐτος γαρ εἰρηκεν [autos gar eirēken]). God himself as in Acts 20:33 of Christ. Perfect active indicative as in Heb. 1:13; 4:3f.; 10:9. The quotation is a free paraphrase of Gen. 28:15; Deut. 31:8; Josh. 1:5; 1 Chron. 28:20. Philo (de Confus. Ling. 32) has it in this form, “a popular paraphrase” (Moffatt). Note the five negatives strengthening each other (οὐ μη [ou mē] with the second aorist active subjunctive ἀνω [anō] from ἀνιημι [aniēmi], to relate, as in Acts 16:26; οὐδʼ οὐ μη [oud’ ou mē] with second aorist active subjunctive ἐγκαταλιπω [egkatalipō] from ἐγκαταλειπω [egkataleipō], to leave behind, as in Matt. 27:46; 2 Tim. 4:10). A noble promise in times of depression. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Heb 13:5). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
If we love God and others as we should, then we will have a right relationship to material things (Heb. 13:5–6). Times of suffering can either be times of selfishness or times of service. It is not easy to take “joyfully the spoiling of your goods” (Heb. 10:34). But with the economic and ecological problems in our world today, comfortable Christians may soon find themselves doing without some luxuries that they now consider necessities.
A Christian couple was ministering to believers in Eastern Europe, behind the Iron Curtain. The couple had brought in Christian literature, blankets, and other necessary items. At the church gathering, the couple assured the believers that Christians in America were praying for believers in Eastern Europe.
“We are happy for that,” one believer replied, “but we feel that Christians in America need more prayer than we do, We here in Eastern Europe are suffering, but you in America are very comfortable; and it is always harder to be a good Christian when you are comfortable.”
The word covetousness literally means “love of money”; but it can be applied to a love for more of anything. Someone asked millionaire Bernard Baruch, “How much money does it take for a rich man to be satisfied?” Baruch replied, “Just a million more than he has.” Covetousness is the desire for more, whether we need it or not.
Contentment cannot come from material things, for they can never satisfy the heart. Only God can do that. “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15, niv). When we have God, we have all that we need. The material things of life can decay or be stolen, but God will never leave us or forsake us. This promise was made to Joshua when he succeeded Moses (Deut. 31:7–8; Josh. 1:5, 9); and it is fulfilled to us in Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:20; Acts 18:9–10).
The affirmation of faith in Hebrews 13:6 comes from Psalm 118:6. This is a messianic psalm and is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, so we may claim this promise for ourselves. It was a source of great peace to the early Christians to know that they were safe from the fear of man, for no man could do anything to them apart from God’s will. Men might take their goods, but God would meet their needs.
A woman said to evangelist D.L. Moody, “I have found a promise that helps me when I am afraid. It is Psalm 56:3—‘What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.’ ”
Mr. Moody replied, “I have a better promise than that! Isaiah 12:2—‘I will trust and not be afraid.’ ”
Both promises are true and each has its own application. The important thing is that we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Helper, and that we not put our trust in material things. Contented Christians are people with priorities, and material things are not high on their priority lists. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 327–328). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
13:5 love of money. Lusting after material riches is “a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1Ti 6:10; cf. 1Ti 3:3). I will never. Quoted from Ge 28:15; Dt 31:6, 8; Jos 1:5; 1Ch 28:20. Believers can be content in every situation because of this promise. Several negatives are utilized in this statement to emphasize the impossibility of Christ deserting believers. It is like saying “there is absolutely no way whatsoever that I will ever, ever leave you.” (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Heb 13:5). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Ver. 5. Let. your conversation be without covetousness, &c.] Which is an immoderate desire of riches, an over-anxious care for worldly things, attgnded with dissatisfaction, and discontent with their present slate: it discovers itself many ways; in preferring the world to religion; in laying up treasure for a man’s own self, without, being any ways useful to others; in withholding from himself the necessaries of life, and in making no use of his substance for the glory of God, and the interest of religion: this is a very great, evil; it is called idolatry, and is said to be the root, of all evil; and is very pernicious to true religion: a believer’s conversation should be without it; in his family, for whom he should provide things convenient and honest; and in the world, where he should deal a uprightly, and not defraud and over-reach; and in the church, where he should be liberal, and generously communicate, upon all occasions; and such a conversation is becoming the Gospel, which is a declaration of things freely given to us of God. The reason of the apostle’s mentioning this sin of covetousness is, because the Jews were prone to it, and these believing Hebrews might be inclined to it, and be dissatisfied with their present, condition, in which they suffered the spoiling of their goods; and besides, unless this was avoided, the above-mentioned duties could not be performed aright, as brotherly love, hospitality, remembering and relieving persons in bonds, and adversity. And be content with such things as ye have; or with present things; with present riches, or with present poverty; with present losses and crosses; with present reproaches and afflictions; and contentment with these things shews itself by thankfulness for every mercy, and by submission to the will and providence of God in every state of life: and there are many things which may move and engage unto it; as the consideration of the state and condition men are in, when they come into the world, and will he when they go out of it; the will of God, and the disposition of his providence according to it, which is unalterable; a sense of their own unworthiness; a view of interest in God and Christ; and an eye to the recompense of reward; as well as the many promises of God to support and supply his: and among the rest, what follows, for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee; which is a promise made to Joshua, and belongs to all believers, Josh. 1:5 which may regard things temporal, as that God will not leave his people in the hands of their enemies, nor forsake them in distress, nor withhold any good thing from them needful for them, but will supply them with the necessaries of life, with which they should be content: and this passage is very pertinently cited for this purpose, and could be easily understood in this sense by the Hebrews; for the Jews explain such places as speak of God’s not forsaking men, of the sustenance of them, as Psal. 37:25 and observe that the word עזיבה, forsaking, is never used but with respect to פרנסה, sustenance; though the words may also relate to things spiritual, as that God will not leave them to themselves, to their own corruptions, which would overpower them; nor to their own strength, which is but weakness; nor to their own wisdom, which is folly; nor to Satan, and his temptations, who is an over-match for them; nor to the world, the frowns and flatteries of it, by which they might be drawn aside; nor will he leave them destitute of his presence; for though he sometimes hides his face, and withdraws himself, yet not wholly, nor finally; nor will he forsake the work of his own hands, in them, but will perform it until the day of Christ; he’ll not leave or forsake them, so as that they shall perish; he’ll not forsake them in life, nor at death, nor at judgment. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 485). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Lectures on the Epistle to the HEBREWS by Samuel Ridout:
As these Hebrew saints had, through grace, opened their hearts to the love of the brethren, so also were they to open their homes to any one who might have need; a word appropriate to times of stress, when limited abilities might tempt them to selfishness. (p. 282)
As we look around us today, we see that covetousness is characteristic of the whole world. The word “covetousness” in the original means “having more.” It is not necessarily wishing for what someone else has, but wishing for more than I have; the root of all covetousness is being dissatisfied with what we already have. (p. 283)
If we realize that we have HIM who is the source of all wealth, the living God as our portion – if HE fills the heart, there is no room for covetous desire. (p. 283)
It is very suggestive, and quite in accord with the spirit of the whole Epistle, that the apostle should three times in this last chapter speak of their guides: here they are told to remember them; later, to obey; and lastly, to salute them. (p. 285)
God guides HIS people by HIS Word, and guides are those who have spoken to us that Word. (p. 286)
There is no limit to praise. It will endure throughout eternity, and shall we limit it here? Let your whole life be one of praise. It is never by anything – energy or skill – in ourselves. We offer it by Him whose name give acceptance to the feeblest whisper that tells of His worthiness and beauty before God. (p 295)
These closing salutations are so like the close of all Paul’s Epistles, that it must be a perversion of will to refuse to recognize him as the author of this wondrous Epistle. (p. 300)
Perhaps C.S. Lewis put it best: “You can hardly open a periodical without coming across the statement that what our civilization needs is more ‘drive,’ or dynamism, or self-sacrifice, or ‘creativity.’ [But] In a sort of ghastly simplicity, we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.” (A Hole in “The Heart of the Matter by Cherie Harder)
THE CROSS IS AN INVITATION
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth. Isaiah 45:22
The cross is an invitation…”the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:24). Abel’s blood has no invitation in it. Abel’s blood cries out for retribution, for punishment; there is no invitation there to anybody, except to the wrath of a holy God. But in this other blood “that speaketh better things than that of Abel,” there is a word of invitation. And from your standpoint and mine, looking at it very practically, there is nothing more wonderful about the cross than this. We know that the cross is a historical event. It is a setting forth in public of this great act of God. But thank God it does not stop there. It is an appeal; it is an invitation; it asks us to listen as we value our own immortal souls.
You know the Old Testament prophets had seen something of this. But they had not seen it very clearly. They were not meant to, and they could not see so far off. They saw something of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that was to follow, but they had not seen this. One of them, at the height of his prophetic inspiration, put what he saw into the mouth of the Messiah that was to come when he said, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 45:22). “Look unto me.” It is an invitation. That is not only proclamation—that is an invitation. “Look unto me”!
I like the way the apostle Paul puts it in Ephesians 2. It is so wonderful. He says, “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances…that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross” (verses 14-16).
A Thought to Ponder: The cross is an appeal; it is an invitation; it asks us to listen as we value our own immortal souls.
(From The Cross, pp. 164-165, by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
After Jesus raises his close friend, Lazarus, from the dead, many believe in Him.
INSIGHT
Jesus was ministering on the east side of the Jordan River, about a day’s walk from Bethany, when Lazarus fell sick. Messengers were sent to tell Jesus, who waited two days before returning to Bethany. He found that Lazarus had been dead for four days, apparently having died the same day the messengers were dispatched. So Lazarus was dead by the time Jesus learned about his illness.
Why, then, did Jesus delay His return for two days? Jesus knew Lazarus’ condition. His delay was to heighten the manifestation of the power of God. Jesus called, “Lazarus, come forth!” And Lazarus came forth. The result of this miracle? Many of the Jews believed in Him, and the Son of God was glorified. (Quiet Walk)
Pastors and Teachers
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” (Ephesians 4:11)
The four or five specific spiritual gifts mentioned by Paul in this passage are said to have been given “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). And all of this is for the ultimate goal that “we…speaking the truth in love, may grow up into [Christ] in all things” (Ephesians 4:14-15).
The teaching gift is of particular importance in attaining this goal. The gift of serving as an apostle was given only to the 12 plus a few others (e.g., Paul) who had actually seen the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:21-22; 1 Corinthians 9:1); the last of these was John. The gift of real prophets who could convey God’s revelations to men was necessary in that first century before the New Testament was written, but that also has apparently ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8), though there are still many false prophets (Matthew 24:11).
The gifts of evangelists and pastors will continue as long as there continue to be lost people who need to be won and new believers who need to be led (the word “pastor” actually means “shepherd” and is so translated in all its other occurrences). The other two lists of spiritual gifts do not mention either evangelists or pastors, but all three do mention teachers (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28). Many pastors also have the gift of teaching, but the other two lists indicate that teaching is a gift for many others as well.
In fact, Christ’s great commission included teaching people “to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). And since He in the beginning had created “all things” and is now “upholding all things” (Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:3), this teaching could well include all true education, in every subject.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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