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FINAL COMMANDS AND FINAL WORDS

Hebrews 13:17-19

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)

F.      Church rulers (Heb. 13:7)

G.    Jesus Christ (Heb. 13:8)

H.    False doctrines (Heb. 13:9)

I.        Altar and Sacrifice (Heb. 13:10-13) 

J.       The Sacrifice of Praise (Heb. 13:15)

K.     To Do Good and Communicate (Heb. 13:16)

 

L.      Obey Those Who Rule Over You (Heb. 13:17)

 

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:  for they watch for your sould, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief:  for that is unprofitable for you.

 

1.        Remember, the elders are the ones who have been authorized to rule the local congregation (I Tim. 5:17).

2.       This is the second admonition regarding the leadership of the church (See Heb. 13:7).  In the previous verse, he told his readers to remember those who rule over them and follow their faith.

3.       The inspired author uses two words that describe our responsibilities to these men in this verse.

a.       Obey them

1)       Definitions:

a)      Strong (3982):  to assent to authority

b)     Thayer:  to listen to, obey, yield to, comply

2)      Barnes:  “…subordination is necessary for the welfare of the church” (e-sword).

3)      NOTE:  Defying them is not obeying them.

b.      Submit yourselves

1)       Definitions

a)      Strong (5226):  to yield, be “weak,” surrender

b)     Thayer:  to resist no longer, but to give way, yield, to yield to authority, submit

2)      This submission involves both the things that are required in the Word of God and the things about which the eldership makes decisions involving optional matters.

4.       One of the reasons we obey and submit it because we know that these men are doing all that they can to “watch” for our souls.

a.       These men are “elders.”  Thus, they are older, more knowledgeable, and more experienced than others in the church.

b.      They implement classes, works, and programs that are designed to assist us in our Christian walk. 

1)       If we do these things, we will live a more faithful and productive life in Christ.

2)      Our souls will be safe instead of being in danger.

c.       NOTE:  The elders take their job seriously because they know that they “must give account” unto Jesus Christ, the Chief Shepherd.

1)       Elders WILL stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account for how well they performed their tasks as elders.

2)      They will not be able tell Jesus that He does not understand.  He is the “bishop” of our souls (I Pet. 2:25) and the Chief Shepherd (I Pet. 5:4).  He knows exactly what is involved in the role.

5.       The writer ends with an appeal to his readers.

a.       He wants them to obey and submit to the elders so they can give an account with joy and not with grief.

1)       If we obey them, their account will be joyful.

2)      If we refuse to obey, their account will be one filled with grief.

b.      The writer tells us that if it is with grief, that will be “unprofitable” for us.

1)       An elder will have to report to the Chief Shepherd about all of the unruly and difficult members of the church over which he was a shepherd.

2)      Unprofitable

a)      Strong (255):  gainless, that is, pernicious

b)     Thayer:  unprofitable, hurtful, pernicious.

3)      God will not only hold elders accountable for how they have ruled.  He will also hold the members accountable as to how they obeyed and submitted. 

 

M.   Pray for us (Heb. 13:18)

1.        The burden (Heb. 13:18a)

 

Pray for us…

 

a.       Pray

1)       Strong (4336):  to wish, will, or pray toward, that is, in the direction of God

2)      Thayer:  to offer prayers, to pray

b.      On several occasions, Paul asked churches to pray for him (See Eph. 6:18-19; I Thess. 5:25).

1)       Paul knew he needed prayer.

2)      Paul knew prayers of righteous people avail much.

3)      Paul knew that God worked providentially to answer prayer.

c.       LESSONS

1)       We call this a burden because it requires attention and time on our parts.  We have to stop and name the individual and speak of his situation before the throne of God.  It is one thing to say:  “I will pray for you;” it is another thing to do it.

2)      If Paul needed the prayers of others, what about us? 

2.       The basis (Heb. 13:18b)

a.       Has someone ever asked you to pray for them, and you were hesitant because of the kind of life they were living. 

b.      Paul asked these Christians to pray for him based on two things:

1)       “…for we trust we have a good conscience…”

a)      Paul’s inner man was right with God’s will.

b)     He was sincere.  He was true.  He has no ungodly motives that drive him. (See II Cor. 1:12).

 

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

 

c)      “This was the fruit of satisfaction that he had done all within his power to preach the gospel and fulfill his responsibility as a good steward of Christ” (Wacaster, p. 562).

2)      …in all things willing to live honestly.”

a)      Outwardly his life was right with God’s will (I Thess. 2:10).

 

Ye are witnesses, and God also, who holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.

 

b)     Three points are made by the writer:

-          In all things:  he sought to live all of his life as God directs.  He did not compartmentalize his life

-          Willing:  it was not a forced obedience; he did it willingly, voluntarily

-          Honestly: 

+    Strong (2573):  well (usually morally)

+    Thayer:  beautifully, finely, excellently, rightly, truly, nobly, in

      honor, commendably, so that there shall be no room for blame

+    Romans 13:13-14; I Thessalonians 4:12

 

Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wontonness, not in strife and envying:  but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

 

+    LESSON:  If every Christian would fully commit to all three of these

      areas:  all things, willingly, and honestly, we would have no

      difficulty living our Christian lives.

3.       The begging (Heb. 13:19)

 

But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

 

a.       It is clear that the writer knew these Hebrews well and they knew him.

b.      He beseeches them to pray.

1)       Strong (3870):  to call near

2)      Thayer:  to entreat, beg, beseech

c.       He reason he begs is because he wanted to be restored to them sooner.

1)       Something was hindering an immediate return.

2)      It seems the readers knew of his present situation.

3)      The quicker it was resolved, the quicker he could be with them.

 

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

 

A.    Blessing Desired (Heb. 13:20-21)

B.      Beseeching Continues (Heb. 13:22)

C.     Brothers Coming (Heb. 13:23)

D.    Brethren Salute (Heb. 13:24)

E.      Blessing Denoted (Heb. 13:25)