"THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

Exhortations To Manifest Love (13:1-3)

INTRODUCTION
  1. When we began our study, we noted that "The Epistle To The Hebrews"...
    1. Began like an "essay" - cf. He 1:1-2
    2. Progressed like a "sermon" - cf. He 2:1-4
    3. Ended like a "letter"
    -- With the final chapter, we see the tone of the epistle taking on the characteristics of a personal correspondence
  2. As with many epistles in the New Testament, this letter ends with various exhortations...
    1. The first regarding the objects of their love - He 13:1-3
    2. Here we find the author practicing what he preaches; seeking to stimulate love and good works - cf. He 10:24

[As Christians, toward whom should we manifest our love? Certainly toward all men, even our enemies (Lk 6:32,35); but in the text our attention is focused upon manifesting love first...]

  1. TOWARD BRETHREN (1)
    1. THE IMPORTANCE OF BROTHERLY LOVE...
      1. It is a mark of true discipleship - Jn 13:35
      2. It is an indication of true spiritual life - 1Jn 3:14
    2. THE HEBREWS HAD MANIFESTED BROTHERLY LOVE...
      1. Note the text says their love was to "continue"
      2. They had demonstrated brotherly love in the past...
        1. In their ministry to God and His saints - He 6:10
        2. Even in their service to the author - He 10:32-34
    3. THE NEED FOR BROTHERLY LOVE NEVER DIMINISHES...
      1. Just as Paul wrote...
        1. For the Thessalonians to excel in their love - 1Th 4:9-10
        2. For the Philippians to abound in their love - Php 1:9
      2. Just as Peter wrote that our love should abound - 2Pe 1:7
      -- Even now, the author of Hebrews says "Let brotherly love continue"!

    [No matter how much we may have manifested love towards one another as brethren in the past, it is imperative that such love continues!

    Equally imperative is the manifestation of love...]

  2. TOWARD STRANGERS (2)
    1. THIS IS A CALL FOR "HOSPITALITY"...
      1. The Greek word is philoxenia {fil-ox-en-ee'-ah}
        1. Lit., a love of strangers
        2. It involved receiving a stranger (sojourner) into one's home as an honored guest and to provide the guest with food, shelter, and protection (Holman BD)
      2. In many ancient cultures, hospitality was a solemn duty
        1. It was regarded as a sacred obligation by the ancient Greeks and Romans, one that was approved by Zeus, the god and protector of strangers
        2. The Egyptians claimed it as a meritorious deed in life
        3. For the Bedouins, it was an expression of righteousness (Holman BD)
        4. "Hospitality is one form of worship" (Jewish Proverb)
      3. In the early church, it was an important ministry...
        1. Christians were often displaced by persecution; public inns were scarce, costly, and sometimes dangerous
        2. Traveling evangelists were to be supported through hospitality - 3Jn 5-8
      4. Thus hospitality was to be manifested by...
        1. Those men who would serve as elders (bishops) - 1Ti 3:2; Tit 1:8
        2. Those widows who would be "taken into the number" - 1Ti 5:9-10
        3. All Christians - Ro 12:13; 1Pe 4:9
    2. A REASON TO PRACTICE HOSPITALITY...
      1. "for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."
        1. The example of Abraham - Gen 18:1-8
        2. The example of Lot - Gen 19:1-3
      2. The point is not that we should expect angels to literally come our way
        1. Though some we entertain may serve as His "messengers" ("angel" means "messenger") in a providential sense
        2. The key idea is that "You never know what hospitality might bring" (Lightfoot)
          1. One often receives unexpected benefits from his or her guests
          2. There is always the "blessedness" of giving - Ac 20:35

          [The physical need for hospitality today may not be as great as it was in ancient times, but the spiritual need (e.g., the strengthening of spiritual ties) is just as important. Therefore we need to "be hospitable to one another without grumbling" (1Pe 4:9).

          The manifestation of our love should also extend...]

  3. TOWARD PRISONERS AND THE PERSECUTED (3)
    1. A CALL TO REMEMBER THEM...
      1. Christians were often persecuted and imprisoned for their faith
        1. Prior to his conversion, Paul often led the assault - Ac 8:3; 26:9-11
        2. Later, he himself was a prisoner - Php 1:12-18; Col 4:18
      2. The Hebrews had already shown their love toward such prisoners - He 10:32-34
      3. To remember and visit Christians in prison was an act of devotion to Christ Himself - Mt 25:35-40
      4. Their provisions for the prisoners would be a "sweet-smelling sacrifice", well-pleasing to God - cf. Php 4:18
      5. They could also remember them in their prayers - Ac 12:5; Ep 6:18-20
    2. THEIR LOVING REMEMBRANCE WAS TO BE INFLUENCED...
      1. By their sense of fellowship in their brethren's suffering
        1. "as if chained with them;"
        2. The Lord intended such connection between the members of His Body ("if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it") - 1Co 12:26
      2. By their awareness of their own vulnerability
        1. "since you yourselves are in the body also"
        2. They would not be immune to persecution themselves, therefore they should be sensitive to the sufferings of others
CONCLUSION
  1. In providing a "new and living way", it is true that Jesus made possible a close relationship between man and God - cf. He 10:19-22
  2. But the purity we experience through obeying the truth...
    1. Is not just that we may have fellowship with God
    2. But also that we may have fellowship with each other in sincerity and love! - cf. 1Pe 1:22-23
  3. Thus it naturally follows that as we draw near to God, we should also draw near to one another; this we do when we manifest love...
    1. Toward brethren (1)
    2. Toward strangers (2)
    3. Toward prisoners and the persecuted (3)

May we all be diligent to heed the exhortation to...

"Let brotherly love continue"!