Hebrews 13 - Come to the Altar Where the Arms of the Father are Open Wide!

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 13

13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

As the writer closes out his letter to the Hebrews, he reminds them that faith is shown in love to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, but also those who are in need of God's love. When we welcome in a stranger, we might have a heavenly encounter with one of God's angels. There are times when I have helped strangers that there was a twinkle their eyes. Maybe this is what he is talking about. 

They are also to show compassion and empathy to those in need and those who are suffering. Note true empathy is when you help prisoners, just as if you were in prison with them. Helping those who are being mistreated as those who are undergoing a similar trial. The word empathy means to enter into someone's suffering with them. 

4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Deut 31:6 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Psalm 118:6-7

The author deals with two other sins which so easily entangle Christians, lust and greed. He affirms the value of marriage, which should be honored by all people. But, he also warns of the judgment that comes with adultery when sacred marriage vows before God are broken. He urges them not to love money but realize all they have comes from God and He will provide for them. These admonitions come in connection with two Old Testament verses which state that God will never leave or forsake us, and if God is for us who can be against us. 

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

He tells them to honor those who have preached the word of God to them, which led them to faith. Faith always come by hearing, hearing the Word of God, which is Jesus. Notice how a preacher or pastor is not just about preaching and teaching God's Word, but also modeling the way of life in Christ Jesus. All Christians should be able to say as Paul does, "Imitate me, as I imitate Christ". 1 Corinthians 11:1  Jesus never changes, so they can always count on him to be the same. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. 

9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

The author reminds them of something he taught quite a lot about in the letter to the Hebrews. Ceremonies and strange teachings about sacrifices were all done away with by the grace of Jesus Christ and his blood poured out on the altar once and for all for the forgiveness of our sin. The altars we usually see at the church usually have a cross behind them, reminding us that we can have confidence to come to the altar to receive Christ and all his benefits through faith. 

Here is a great song we sing in our church called "Come to the Altar". If you need Jesus today, come to the altar! 

Christian Song "Come to the Altar"

11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Similar to the offering of animals in the Old Testament, the blood of animals was carried to the most holy place, but the bodies were taken and burned outside of the city. Jesus suffered in Jerusalem at a hill called Golgotha. We too as believers will be brought outside the camp so to speak.  Or, we could say outside of the church. We too may suffer disgrace but it is only temporary, as we look to the heavenly city that is to come where we will dwell forever. 

In bearing His reproach we face great difficulty and suffering. The good news is that for those who bear His reproach, this world is the worst they will ever have it. For cowards who turn their back on Jesus, this life is the absolute best they will ever have it. - Guzik

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Our sacrifice is a living sacrifice not a dead sacrifice (see Romans 12:1-2 - my life verse). Our sacrifice is to give thanks and praise to God with our lives as typified with sharing what we have with others. For God desires mercy not sacrifice. Hosea 6:6

As I have said before when it says, "God is pleased", the opposite can mean that God is not pleased when we don't do good and share with others. Living a life pleasing to God is one of the greatest joys of being a Christian. 

17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

For a second time, the writer urgest them to honor and respect their leaders by having confidence in them and submitting to their authority. Leaders will be accountable to God for the authority God has given them. Whenever the bible talks about the authority given to someone, it is a divinely given right to be use and exercise power justly and lovingly. Those who have such authority will answer to God if they have abused it. 

When followers treat their leaders like this, leading the flock is a great joy to them. I can attest to that in my 30 years of being a pastor. With rare exceptions the congregations I have been called to have given me great joy in serving them. 

18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.

The writer, which I am pretty much convinced is the apostle Paul, asks for prayer for "us". Meaning he and other leaders like Timothy. As Paul often says, "He hopes to see them soon!" Paul always has a heart for those he ministered to.  

Benediction and Final Greetings

20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly. 23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings 25 Grace be with you all.

More evidence the writer is Paul comes, when he shares that Timothy had been released from prison. Paul hopes the two of them can be with them soon. When Paul says that those from Italy send their greetings it probably means he is at the end of his missionary journeys, as he ended up on Rome, where he went on trial.