Sermon
#92 Hebrews
Notes
Title: “Let Brotherly Love Continue”
Text: Hebrews 13:1-7
Subject: Practical Religion
Date: Tuesday Evening—
Tape # X-21a
Introduction:
How often our Lord encourages us to love one
another! Nothing is more like our Savior than love. Nothing is more unlike him
than the absence of love. As he brings his Epistle to its inspired conclusion,
the Apostle Paul makes his final word of instruction an encouragement to
brotherly love. The last chapter of the Book of Hebrews begins with these
words—“Let brotherly love continue.”
Paul has been encouraging us to persevere in the
faith, to continue in the grace of God, to run with patience the race that is
set before us. Then, he says, “Let brotherly love continue.” It is as
though he is saying, “The way to run this race, the way to persevere in grace,
the way to walk in faith is to keep on loving one
another.”
Tonight, I want us to look at the first seven verses
of this chapter. May God the Holy Spirit be our Teacher and grant us the grace
to obey the instructions he gives us in these seven verses.
(Hebrews 13:1-7) "Let
brotherly love continue. (2) Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:
for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (3) Remember them
that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity,
as being yourselves also in the body. (4) Marriage
is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and
adulterers God will judge. (5) Let your conversation be without
covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath
said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (6) So that we may
boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do
unto me. (7) Remember them which have the rule
over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow,
considering the end of their conversation."
Multitudes live in religious bondage, trying to obey
rules and regulations imposed upon them by their leaders. These rules of
bondage people everywhere call “practical godliness.” Our Lord calls them “vain
traditions,” “works of the flesh,” “a vain show in the flesh”
and “a form of godliness.”
Proposition: Here, in these seven
verses of Inspiration, the Holy Spirit shows us that godliness is to be
measured by love.
This is very much the same thing that James says in
James 1:26-27.
(James 1:26-27) "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his
tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
(27) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and
to keep himself unspotted from the world."
Divisions: There are three things in
these open verses of Hebrews 13 to which I call you attention tonight.
1. First, we see love expressed by
deeds (vv.1-4).
2. Second, verses 5 and 6 speak of
contentment rising from assurance.
3. Third, the Holy Spirit calls for
us to remember God’s servants as rulers worthy of allegiance (v. 7).
I. First, we see love expressed by deeds
(vv.1-4).
As was his custom, having finished his doctrinal
instruction, Paul here applies his doctrine to our everyday lives. He begins
the application of his doctrine with these words, “Let brotherly love
continue.” He is saying, “Children of God, never
cease loving one another. Let nothing divide your hearts. Make it your life’s
business to love one another and to show your love to one another. Let
brotherly love continue in you and among you.”
We are to love all men, even our enemies; but the
love Paul is talking about here is that special family love that God plants in
the hearts of his people for one another. It is the love of hearts united to
Christ. – “The fruit of the Spirit is love.”
(John 13:35) "By this shall
all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love
one to another."
(1 John 3:7-11) "Little
children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous,
even as he is righteous. (8) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for
the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (9) Whosoever
is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he
cannot sin, because he is born of God. (10) In this the children of God
are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness
is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. (11) For this is
the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one
another."
(1 John 4:20) "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:
for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom
he hath not seen?"
(1 John 5:1) "Whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth
him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him."
A. I am not talking about lip love. Anyone can say,
“I love you,” or “I love my brethren.” Lip love is no love. Love is
manifest by deeds. And the deeds by which the love of Christ in us is
manifest are not matters about which we have to guess.
1. If we love one another, we pray for one another.—That’s how Christ loves us. Isn’t it?
2. If we love one another, we bear one another's
burdens.—That’s how Christ loves us. Isn’t it?
3. If we love one another, we are forbearing,
patient, longsuffering, and forgiving with one another.—That’s
how Christ loves us. Isn’t it?
4. If we love one another, we meet together to
encourage and exhort one another.—That’s how Christ
loves us. Isn’t it?
If we do not love one another, any profession
of faith we have is but a meaningless, vain delusion (1 Peter 2:17; 1 John
3:14-18).
(1 Peter 2:17) "Honour all men.
Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."
(1 John 3:14-18) "We know
that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that
loveth not his brother abideth in death. (15) Whosoever hateth
his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life
abiding in him. (16) Hereby perceive we the love of God, because
he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the
brethren. (17) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother
have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how
dwelleth the love of God in him? (18) My little children,
let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
(1 Corinthians 13:1-7)
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (2) And
though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and
all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,
and have not charity, I am nothing. (3) And though I bestow all my goods
to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not
charity, it profiteth me nothing. (4) Charity suffereth long, and is
kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
(5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil; (6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth
in the truth; (7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all
things, endureth all things."
Paul says, “Brethren, see that you make this the
fixed principle by which you live, the unbroken habit of your lives. Love one
another. As you grow in love for Christ, grow in love for one another.”
Now, look at verse 2. Here the Holy Spirit tells us
something about how this love for the brethren is to be expressed.
B. Love is hospitable, given to hospitality.
We know that a pastor must be a man given to
hospitality; but the reason that is a requirement for one who preaches the
gospel is simply the fact that faith in Christ makes people loving, gracious,
hospitable.
(Hebrews 13:2) "Be not
forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels
unawares."
The Amplified Version gives us an excellent
paraphrase of this verse.— “Do not forget
or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the
brotherhood--being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of
your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained
angels without knowing it.”
We must never neglect or fail to care for and meet
the needs of God’s people in this world. We must never fail to use that which
God has trusted to our hands, as stewards in his house, to benefit, minister
to, and comfort his people in this world[1].
We are to make it a matter of conscious effort to be
friendly, cordial and gracious, toward God’s people (especially those who
cannot return the kindness), sharing the comforts and provisions of our homes
generously.
Now, watch this—“for thereby some have
entertained angels unawares.” When you invite one of God’s people into your
home and into your life, you may just be inviting an angel of God, a special
messenger of God into your home and life.
·
Abraham (Gen. 18:1-8)
·
·
The Disciples (Luke 24:28-31)
Our Savior tells us that entertaining one of
his people is entertaining him (Matt. 25:38-40).
C. Brotherly love expresses itself by tenderly
caring for brethren in need (v. 3).
(Hebrews 13:3) "Remember
them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer
adversity, as being yourselves also in the body."
This is not talking about prison ministries and
caring for legally incarcerated criminals. It is talking about those who are in
bonds for the gospel’s sake and those who suffer adversity (particularly God’s
suffering people in their adversities), because we are in the same body with
them.
·
The Body of this Flesh
·
The Body of Christ
·
The Body of the Church – The Same Family. – “Weep with those that
weep. Rejoice with those that rejoice.”
If we love as brothers and sisters in Christ, we will
see that missionaries, old people, needy people, sick people and people out of
work have their needs supplied, as we are able to supply them.
Then, in verse 4, Paul seems to throw in something
that is unrelated to this matter of brotherly love. He speaks of the honor of
marriage. But what he has to say is very much related to brotherly love. He
says…
(Hebrews 13:4) "Marriage is
honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers
God will judge."
D. Brotherly love flourishes when home love
flourishes.
If I do not love my wife and care for her, if I do
not devote myself to her, I do not love you or Christ and will not care for you
and the things of Christ. So Paul says…
1. Take your marriage vows seriously.
– Let marriage be held honorable and highly esteemed in all things. Your
marriage bed is honorable. And there is never an excuse (religious or
otherwise) for a husband neglecting his wife or a wife her husband.
2. Love means you keep yourself from sexual
promiscuity!—“Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
II. Second, verses 5
and 6 speak of contentment rising
from assurance.
(Hebrews 13:5-6) "Let
your conversation be without covetousness; and be content
with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee. (6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my
helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
Here again, Paul is still taking about brotherly
love. Covetousness destroys it. Contentment promotes it.
Children of God live free from love of money, free
from craving wealth and worldly possessions, free from greed and lust for
material things. Be content with what God has given you. Be content with your
present position and circumstance. Such contentment arises from the assurance
spoken of in verse six. God has said, "I will not in any way fail you, nor
give you up, nor leave you without support.'' “The Lord is my shepherd, I
shall not want” (Matt.
Five times in the Book of
God this promise is given,
1. —Jacob (Gen. 28:15)
2. —Moses (Deut. 31:6-8)
3. —Joshua (Jos. 1:5)
4. —Solomon (1 Chro. 28:20)
5. —Us (Heb. 13:5)
that we may, as Isaiah puts it, (Isaiah 66:11) "That ye may suck, and be satisfied
with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted
with the abundance of her glory."
(Psalms 37:25) "I have been
young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor
his seed begging bread."
(Philippians 4:6) "Be
careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
(Philippians 4:11-12) "Not
that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith
to be content. (12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to
abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be
hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."
(1 Timothy 6:6-8)
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. (7) For we
brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry
nothing out. (8) And
having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
III. Third, the Holy
Spirit calls for us to remember God’s servants as rulers worthy of allegiance (v. 7).
(Hebrews 13:7) "Remember
them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God:
whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation."
This is not talking about political rulers, but
spiritual rulers, those men who are given the responsibility for ruling God’s
house, pastors. The word would be better translated “guides” or “governors.”
Gospel preachers are men who rule the house by the Word of God and the example
of faith, by which they guide God’s people to glory.
(Jeremiah 3:15) "And I will
give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge
and understanding."
·
Remember Them
·
Respect Them
·
Follow Them
·
Pray For Them
·
Provide For Them
·
Honor Them For Christ's Sake.
(Hebrews 13:17) "Obey them
that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your
souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not
with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."
(1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
"And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you,
and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; (13) And
to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at
peace among yourselves."
(Ephesians 4:1-13) "I
therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the
vocation wherewith ye are called, (2) With all
lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
(3) Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(4) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of
your calling; (5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) One God
and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
(7) But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the
gift of Christ. (8) Wherefore he saith, When he
ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (9) (Now
that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower
parts of the earth? (10) He that descended is the same also that
ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) (11) And
he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till
we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of
Christ."
[1] When the Apostle tells us to “entertain strangers” he is not suggesting that we open our homes and invite people into them who are strangers to us, though that may certainly be included. We have a responsibility to protect our families. The strangers he speaks of here are the “strangers” spoken of in verse 13 of chapter 11. They are our brethren who are “strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”