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FINAL COMMANDS AND FINAL WORDS

Hebrews 13:1-3a

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    The writer is nearing the conclusion of his epistle to the Hebrews.

 

B.      There are many things that he longs for them to know and do.  Thus, he gives them a list of twelve commands before closing the chapter.

 

C.     As we read these last twenty-five verses, we find the writer still drawn to his theme (Heb. 13:9-14).

 

D.    We have divided the chapter into two sections:

 

i.                    FINAL COMMANDS (Heb. 13:1-19)

 

ii.                  FINAL WORDS (Heb. 13:20-25)

 

I.             FINAL COMMANDS (Heb. 13:1-19)

 

A.    Brotherly love (Heb. 13:1)

 

Let brotherly love continue.

 

1.        The Greek word for brotherly love is “philadelphia.”

a.       It is a combination of two words:

1)       Phileo:  love

2)      Adelphos:  brother

b.      Literally translated it is “love of brothers.”

1)       It speaks to the love which should be shared by Christians.

2)      When we obeyed the gospel, we were born again and became part of the family of God (I Tim. 3:15).  All other Christians are our brothers and sisters. 

3)      There is to be a love between us, a love like unto the love Christ has for us (John 13:34-35).

 

A new commandment give I unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

2.       The word “continue” indicates that they had this type of love already.  The writer wants this love to continue to abide among them.

a.       Continue

1)       Strong (3306):  stay

2)      Thayer:  to remain, abide, not to depart, to continue to be present, to be held, kept, continually, to continue to be, not to perish, last, endure

b.      LESSON:  Brotherly love can be lost.  Negative emotions, even hate, and ill-will can develop among brethren.  We must make certain that brotherly love is kept and that it never perishes.

3.       Other verses:

a.       Romans 12:10

Be ye kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.

 

b.      I Thessalonians 4:9

 

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you:  for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

 

B.      Hospitality (Heb. 13:2)

1.        The responsibility (Heb. 13:2a)

 

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers…

 

a.       Definitions:

1)       Forgetful

a)      Strong (1950):  to lose out of mind, neglect

b)     Thayer:  to forget, neglecting, no longer caring for, given over to oblivion

c)      Vine:  to forget or neglect

2)      Entertain strangers

a)      Strong (5381):  hospitableness

b)     Thayer:  love to strangers, hospitality

c)      Vine:  a combination of two words (philonexia):  phileo (love) and xenos (strangers), thus, love of strangers, to show love to strangers

b.      Hospitality’s importance

1)       Hospitality dates back to the early history of mankind when individuals were nomads and travelled from place to place.

2)      The stranger was to be treated kindly under the Old Covenant (Exo. 22:21).

3)      Too, the Greek god Zeus was known as “the god of strangers.”

4)      “The Romans regarded any violation of the rites of hospitality as impiety” (Vincent, e-sword).

c.       Hospitality in the New Testament:

1)       “…given to hospitality” (Rom. 12:13).

2)      Elders are to be “given to hospitality” (I Tim. 3:2) and “lovers of hospitality (Tit. 1:8).

3)      Peter tells Christians:  “Use hospitality one to another without grudging” (I Pet. 4:9).

d.      Why was hospitality so badly needed?

1)       There were not many inns at which to stay.

2)      Some who travelled did not have enough money for an inn.

3)      It was safer to stay with a brother than to camp outside.

4)      Hospitality brought blessings to the one who practiced it.

2.       The remarkable (Heb. 13:2b)

 

…for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

 

a.       Definitions

1)       Entertained

a)      Strong (3579):  to be a host

b)     Thayer:  to receive as a guest, to entertain, hospitality

2)      Angels

a)      Strong (32):  one who brings a message, messenger, angel, pastor

b)     Thayer:  messenger, one who is sent, angel, a messenger of God

3)      Unawares

a)      Strong (2990):  to lie hid, unwittingly

b)     Thayer:  to be hidden, secretly, unawares, without knowing

b.      The reference appears to be a reference to both Abraham and Lot at the time of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

1.        Abraham showed hospitality to the messengers from God (Gen. 18:1-8).

2.       Lot invited them into his house instead of allowing them to remain in the street (Gen. 19:1-3).

 

3.       LESSONThe motive here urged for doing it is, that by entertaining the stranger we may perhaps be honored with the presence of those whose society will be to us an honor and a blessing. It is not well for us to miss the opportunity of the presence, the conversation, and the prayers of the good. The influence of such guests in a family is worth more than it costs to entertain them” (Barnes, e-sword).

 

C.     Those in affliction (Heb. 13:3)

1.        The prisoner

 

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them…

 

a.       The command to “remember” (Heb. 13:3a)

1)       Definition:  remember

a)      Strong (3403):  to remind, to recall to mind

b)     Thayer:  to remind, to be recalled or return to one’s mind, to remind one’s self of, to remember, had in remembrance, be mindful of

c)      It means more than simply to recall from time to time. 

-          To feel sympathy for

-          To remember in prayer

-          To provide relief for as far as practical.

2)      Those to be remembered are those that are in bonds.

a)      Barnes:  “All who are “bound;” whether prisoners of war; captives in dungeons; those detained in custody for trial; those who are imprisoned for righteousness’ sake, or those held in slavery”(e-sword).

b)     In the immediate context, it most likely refers to those who have been imprisoned because they were Christians.

c)      Jesus reveals that part of our judgment will be based upon our care for those in prison (Matt. 25:34-36).

 

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

 

b.      The compassion to be manifested (Heb. 13:3b)