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FINAL COMMANDS AND FINAL WORDS

Hebrews 13:5b-7a

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

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

 

B.      There are lots of 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 draw 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)

 

B.      Hospitality (Heb. 13:2)

 

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

 

D.    Marriage (Heb. 13:4)

 

E.      Contentment and Reliance (Heb. 13:5-6)

1.        Covetousness to be eliminated (Heb. 13:5a)

2.       Contentment is to be embraced (Heb. 13:5b)

 

…and be content with such things as ye have…

 

a.   Content

                                    1)  Strong (714):  raising a barrier, to ward off, satisfactory

                                    2)  Thayer:  to be possess of unfailing strength, to defend, ward off, to be satisfied, to

                                         be content

b.   Clarke:  The covetous man is ever running out into futurity with insatiable desires after secular good; and, if this disposition be not checked, it increases as the subject of it increases in years” (e-sword).

                               c.   Contentment is something that can be learned (Phil. 4:11).

 

Not that I speak in respect of want:  for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

 

3.       Confidence in God is evidenced (Heb. 13:5c-6)

a.   His promise (Heb. 13:5c)

 

…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

1)       Clarke:  “There are no less than five negatives in this short sentence, and these connected with two verbs and one pronoun twice repeated. To give a literal translation is scarcely possible; it would run in this way: “No, I will not leave thee; no, neither will I not utterly forsake thee” (e-sword).

2)      We have a tendency to trust in things rather than God. 

3)      The writer exhorts his reader to trust in God and be content with what they have.

4)      This contentment is based on His promise which says:  “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (See Deut. 31:6; Josh. 1:5; I Chron. 28:20).

a)      Barnes:  “…in all times when we scarcely know whence the supplies for our necessities are to come, we may put our trust in God, and be assured that he will not leave us to suffer” (e-sword).

b)     Psalm 37:25 (See also Matt. 6:26, 30).

 

I have been old, and now am young; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

 

b.   Our profession (Heb. 13:6)

 

So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

                                   

1)       In trusting God’s promise, we will ultimately be able to make the profession found in this verse.  In fact, we will be able to make it boldly.

2)      The Lord is my helper

a)      The Lord’s strength

b)     The Lord’s resources

c)      The Lord’s wisdom

d)     The Lord’s angels

e)      The Lord’s love

3)      I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

a)      Man can take away all of our earthly goods, and we will still have God.

b)     Man can put us in prison, but we will forever be free in Christ.

c)      Man can take our life, and we will have eternal life.

d)     Matthew 10:28

 

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:  but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

F.      Church rulers (Heb. 13:7)

1.        Call to mind your rulers (Heb. 13:7a)

 

Reemember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God…

 

a.       Remember

1)       Strong (3421):  to exercise the memory, recollect

2)      Thayer:  to be mindful, to remember, call to mind, to think of and feel for a person or thing, to hold in memory, keep in mind

b.      Rulers

1)       Which have the rule over you

a)      Strong (2233):  to lead, that is, command (with official authority)

b)     Thayer:  to lead, to rule, command, to have authority over

2)      Who is this?  The elders of the local congregation (See I Tim. 5:17 and I Tim. 3:5).

 

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in word and doctrine.

 

3)      LESSON:  Elders of a church have rule, command, and authority.

a)      Their authority is delegated authority.  They are the shepherds of the flock and are under the chief shepherd (I Pet. 5:1-4).

b)     They do not have authority to add to, delete from, or change the Word of God.  That is divine authority.

c)      They do have authority in matters that are optional and pertain to the church. 

d)     NOTE:  To rebel against the elders, is to rebel against Jesus who gave them their authority.

4)      Note only do these men rule over the congregation, they have also been teachers within the church, “who have spoken unto you the word of God.”

a)      Elders are supposed to be skillful in teaching (I Tim. 3:2) and should be able to convict and convince the gainsayers with the Word of God (Tit. 1:9).

b)     Elders would be wise to teach on a regular basis in the church.  There are some churches wherein elders have never taught a Bible class.  If they have not, how could the words of Hebrews 13:7 apply to them.

2.       Copy their faith

 

…whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.