Hebrews 13:1-6
1: Let love of the brethren continue.
2: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
3: Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.
4: Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
4: Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
5: Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”
6: so that we confidently say, THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?”
***
Paul began his closing remarks by encouraging his readers to continue in brotherly love—always an important topic with Paul. He also said not to neglect being hospitable to strangers either because many had encountered angels without realizing it (Genesis 18:1-5, 19:1).
He asked that they remembered fellow believers who were in prison, and those who were ill-treated, as if they were imprisoned with them. We are all one body in Christ, so when one member suffers, we all do (1 Corinthians 12:1-27).
Paul said marriage was an honorable thing and to be considered as such. The marriage bed was to remain undefiled. God will judge fornicators and adulterers who defile it (1 Corinthians 6:9). The first thing He told Adam and Eve to do was to be fruitful and multiply, to replenish the earth and subdue it—even before He told them what to eat (Genesis 1:26-28). The kingdom of God operates on a seed and harvest principle (Galatians 6:6-10, Matthew 13, Luke 6:38)—the reproductive purposes of the marriage relationship being the first example. Sexual sin dishonors God, interfering with man’s basic purpose.
Paul warned them to be sure they were free from the love of money, and to be content with what they had. He quoted from Deuteronomy 31:6,8 to say the Lord will never fail you or forsake you; and Psalm 118:6 so we can say the Lord is for me, I will not fear, what can man do to me.
Maintaining a sincere love of the brethren while keeping any and all appetites in check are two important points Paul made here. We can’t let the desires of the flesh—whatever form they may come in—distract us from our kingdom purpose. The Lord has not left us alone to struggle through the temptations of life on our own. He set the example first, pioneering the path we are to follow. He remains with us today and will never leave us.
He asked that they remembered fellow believers who were in prison, and those who were ill-treated, as if they were imprisoned with them. We are all one body in Christ, so when one member suffers, we all do (1 Corinthians 12:1-27).
Paul said marriage was an honorable thing and to be considered as such. The marriage bed was to remain undefiled. God will judge fornicators and adulterers who defile it (1 Corinthians 6:9). The first thing He told Adam and Eve to do was to be fruitful and multiply, to replenish the earth and subdue it—even before He told them what to eat (Genesis 1:26-28). The kingdom of God operates on a seed and harvest principle (Galatians 6:6-10, Matthew 13, Luke 6:38)—the reproductive purposes of the marriage relationship being the first example. Sexual sin dishonors God, interfering with man’s basic purpose.
Paul warned them to be sure they were free from the love of money, and to be content with what they had. He quoted from Deuteronomy 31:6,8 to say the Lord will never fail you or forsake you; and Psalm 118:6 so we can say the Lord is for me, I will not fear, what can man do to me.
Maintaining a sincere love of the brethren while keeping any and all appetites in check are two important points Paul made here. We can’t let the desires of the flesh—whatever form they may come in—distract us from our kingdom purpose. The Lord has not left us alone to struggle through the temptations of life on our own. He set the example first, pioneering the path we are to follow. He remains with us today and will never leave us.
Comments
Post a Comment