How do you sum up a letter like Hebrews? I see two ways that the author takes this chapter to make his final points to a people who were afraid to leave Judaism behind and fully plant their feet in Jesus.
His first point is that they are not really leaving all they knew behind - but they will see its actual fulfillment in their hearts and through their lives. I see this in these verses in a practical outworking of the Law in the life of the Christian.
The second thing is a final encouragement to stay the course - trust in those that are looking out for you - and ultimately, the Lord - that by service, perseverance, and worship - you can have everything you need.
This is a practical section - no longer is the author dealing with the heavy theology and philosophical arguments for the supremacy of Jesus Christ - now he’s encouraging them to live the life.
1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
The Ten Commandments can be summed up in just four words: Love God, love others. The second part of that is what we see in verses 1-3. But notice the character of this love for others. We are to show "brotherly love" which is the Greek word Philadelphia. There was a new kind of relationship that these people had with others who shared a faith in Jesus - brothers. This would have been pretty foreign to someone from Israel, now calling someone outside their nation a "brother." And it was to "continue" as if to say that because of the seed planted by the Holy Spirit - they already have this love for others - even gentiles!
Second he says "do not neglect" - which means keep something from slipping out of your mind. Don’t just substitute one kind of exclusive family for another - but also reach out to those who you don’t know. Both Abraham and Lot entertained angels unawares - it doesn’t mean it will happen to you - but you never know who the Lord might put in your path. Ministry can happen when you least expect it. That’s why Paul told us to be prepared to share in season and out (2 Timothy 4:2)
Then he says "remember" those in prison. It means "to recall." Identify with those who were perhaps already arrested or mistreated for this faith in Jesus - it’s a picture of connection - you guys are now connected to this new family - it is a part of you.
Jesus uses the picture of a vine and branches. Paul picks this up to say that we have been grafted into the vine - and that Israel was cut out due to unbelief, but can quickly be grafted back in again.
So then he focuses on two other important aspects of the Law:
4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we can confidently say,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" (Psalm 118:6)
Just because they came to Christ and have new relationships and a new family doesn’t mean that they can just chuck their wives and husbands - nor does it mean they can just go out and do anything they want with the forgiveness of their sins. God’s character has not changed - and He is in the business of creating people who are more righteous, not less.
It means not letting the physical senses take over - both relationships with others and relationships with the world. The book of the Covenant talked a lot about personal responsibility with money and possessions - and then there is always "do not covet your neighbors wife or your neighbors donkey" (paraphrase of Exodus 20:17).
There was a real possibility that when these people came to Christ out of Judaism, that their families and communities would shun them - so they needed to know that their Lord would never shun them nor leave them but would provide for them.
And if you want an example of those who have gone this route and done okay - consider the elders:
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Imitating leaders as they imitate Jesus Christ is repeated throughout the New Testament. (Philippians 3:17, 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7, 1 Peter 5:3). But even as leaders are not perfect - and they come and go - Jesus is always there and always faithful (we’ll talk more about this at the end). The Israelites were also told to listen to Moses and their leaders - but also warned not to follow them if they suggest abandoning Yahweh - so too the Hebrews are warned that there will be those, like in the land of Canaan, that will attempt to deceive them:
9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
"Diverse and strange" means - anything opposed to the gospel. One of the ones they were likely to encounter were Jews masquerading as Christians who said that in order to a "super" Christian they needed to follow the Jewish food laws!
It is inner beauty caused by the presence of the Spirit that matters - not the outward appearance of following ritual.
10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.
11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
Here he goes back to some of the points he made earlier in the book - but this time he is talking about the Day of Atonement. On all the other days the priest could eat the meat of the sacrifice, but not on that day - the animal was burned up outside the camp - it’s a reminder of how Jesus was to be shunned by His people, taken by gentiles outside the city gate and sacrificed. His point is that the idea of "food" is so much more important and complete in Jesus - much more than ritual food laws - Jesus is real food!
This sacrifice was better - it cleansed us once for all time, not just once for a year - and the priests who ministered in the earthly Tabernacle don’t have a part in this sacrifice - and no ritual or animal sacrifice can compare. And instead of staying in the camp while the animal was taken away - we should go to Jesus, bear His reproach - to find a dwelling place with God that is forever.
Romans 6 tells us that we died with Christ on the cross - so then we too have been raised - what a glorious thing. The sacrifices for sin have been finished - but there are still sacrifices we can offer:
15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
In a way, this is also a restatement of the core of the Law: Love God, love others. No, we don’t need to offer atonement sacrifices - but when we lift up our voices or our hands or our hearts or our lives in worship and adoration to God - it is like the sweet smelling aroma of the barbequing meat is ascending to God. Or when we selflessly give to others through the prompting of the Holy Spirit - it’s like God’s hands are reaching out through us - and that too is sweet to God.
The Christian community got to practice this - sharing amongst themselves when anyone had need. It doesn’t earn points with God - but it does put a smile on His face.
By the way - this is one of the reasons that we describe our worship here at Calvary Chapel is "musical prayers to God." Our worship is focused on God like prayers - ascending to the throne room - prayers of love, praise, adoration, thanksgiving and the like. This is the only thing we can give back to God - a response to our salvation.
This attitude should extend outward as well - if we are worshiping God and serving others we should not be grumbling and griping about those the Lord has placed in our lives as models:
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
We can do this because godly leaders have the same attitude as in verses 15-16 - they are "accountable" to God for what they do - and they "serve" others by leading them into maturity as a believer. The easier you make it on a leader the more advantage it is to you.
How do you do that? Find out what the Lord has laid on the hearts of the leadership, then pray about how you can get behind that vision and use your own gifts and talents to contribute. Don’t be looking for what you can get out of church, but how you can give to the work - to see the Lord’s plan for that fellowship enhanced.
It’s true that leaders watch out for the souls of those in their fellowships. We watch to make sure no bad doctrine gets in from the outside or is formulated on the inside, we reach out to help the hurting, strengthen the weak, provide opportunities for those who want to serve, and generally help the body of Christ to: "grow up into Him." (Ephesians 4:15)
Ephesians 4:15-16 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. ESV
As he says next - leaders need pliable, loving people - they also need prayers:
18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Leaders are not perfect. Only God is. We need God’s help to make sure that what we are doing is the right thing. We will make mistakes - but I like the prayer request here - it’s not: "pray that we will always do exactly the perfect thing every time." The request is that in the end we know we tried to the do the right thing - both inside ourselves (clear conscience), and with you (act honorably).
In verse 17 it says to "obey" which means to both assent to, and convince. So from the leaders perspective - we need to have reasons for what we teach and what we ask - the pastor is not the star or the boss. If I or one of the elders do something that is contrary to the Scriptures then we are wrong. But on the other hand - there is the idea of "assenting" to or to "rely on." It’s a cooperative thing - I’ll do my best to lead in a good direction, then you do your best to come alongside and help agreeably.
We finish up the book then - with a benediction, which could really serve as a summation of all he’s talked about:
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Bottom line: we want to please God - that is what we were made for. To please Him we need to do His will. To do His will we need the equipment. We get the equipment (the means to do His will) by the blood of an everlasting agreement with God. That agreement comes by our leader - our shepherd, Jesus Christ. He can give us that means and be our shepherd because He died and rose from the dead, having given His life so that can have life. No wonder he says "to whom be glory forever and ever!
22 I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with all of you. ESV
There are important things in this book - not only the differences between the Old and New Covenants but the difference between eternal life and eternal death!
There is an alternate way of understanding verse 22 - "don’t be angry, be challenged." "bear with" = don’t get angry. "exhortation" = be challenged. When the Bible or a teacher or someone you trust brings a challenging word - what is your response? Instead of closing off to it - see what is there for God to hone you.
He says he wrote "briefly." I’d like to have seen the "longly"!
Timothy mentioned here is probably the same Timothy that was a protégé of the Apostle Paul. We don’t have a record of Timothy being imprisoned, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
Then he ends with "grace be to you all" - a fitting ending since it is grace, not law, that is the focus of the entire book.
Conclusions
To sum up, then - let the Law of God, planted in your hearts, express itself through your attitudes, your actions, your service, your worship, and your character.
Hebrews in a nutshell
If Jesus is better - then He is better than something - an alternative. Are our alternatives as Christians or 21st century humans differ that much from those faced by 1st century Hebrews?
Angels - supernatural or ecstatic (Emotional Christianity) reliance on gifts, not the giver - focus on an experiential high, rather than a steady walk). This can lead to false doctrine and influence of demons
Moses - pastor or leader worship (Celebrity Christianity). This leads to idolatry and disappointment as leaders fall - our real Leader never will.
Priestly system - spiritual surrogacy (Spectator Christianity). This leads to stagnant Christians who are stunted in their growth and open to false doctrine and discouragement.
The Law - legalism (Pharisaical Christianity) - this leads to uptight Christians who focus on becoming something they are not - instead of celebrating something they already are. It also leads to micro-ethical misunderstanding of the Bible and missing the "big picture."
Animal sacrifices - (Mystical Christianity) grace misunderstood, "Infusion" - Catholic idea of grace (I get grace every time I take communion) vs God declaring that we are justified as a legal once-for-all declaration. This leads to reliance on ceremony rather than true worship.
Not entering God’s Rest - (Sociological Christianity) lack of full commitment, hedging your bets, syncretism (synchronizing various religions, picking the best from each but not fully putting your weight down in Jesus). This leads to confusion, apathy, indecision, and great weakness.
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