Hebrews 13 … earnest exhortation…

13:1 Let brotherly love continue.

13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:(hospitableness) for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (by implication: a person carrying forth a message from God, i.e. a servant (a disciple, pastor, elder, prophet, etc.))

13:3 Remember them that are in bonds (captives), as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

We have to place into context the time frame in which this is written. The book is believed to have originated between 63 and 67 C.E.. Wikipedia tells us “Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (/ˈnɪəroʊ/ NEER-oh; born Lucius [light] Domitius [“having been tamed”] ; 15 December AD 37 – 9 June AD 68), was the fifth Roman emperor and final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigning from AD 54 until his death in AD 68.” 

Wikipedia continues “Most Roman sources offer overwhelmingly negative assessments of his personality and reign. The historian Tacitus claims the Roman people thought him compulsive and corrupt. Suetonius tells that many Romans believed that the Great Fire of Rome was instigated by Nero to clear land for his planned “Golden House”. Tacitus claims that Nero seized Christians as scapegoats for the fire and had them burned alive, seemingly motivated not by public justice but by personal cruelty. Some modern historians question the reliability of the ancient sources on Nero’s tyrannical acts, considering his popularity among the Roman commoners. In the eastern provinces of the Empire, a popular legend arose that Nero had not died and would return. After his death, at least three leaders of short-lived, failed rebellions presented themselves as “Nero reborn” in order to gain popular support.”

This letter to the Hebrew believers abroad in the Roman Empire carried with it a heavy cost and Paul knew that… it is the motivation for the letter.

13:4 Marriage (both in the physical as well as the spiritual) is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

13:5 Let your conversation (character) be without covetousness (greed); and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

• Psalm 23:1-4 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

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. (Character)

*G2233 ἡγέομαι hegeomai (hee-ǰe’-o-mai) v. to lead

These are mentors in the faith, someone to look towards for the truth of Scripture rightly divided.

• 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

During the sacrifice the inward parts were offered as sweet aroma to the Lord; and the meat would be shared by the priesthood. They literally had to stomach the sins of the people.

13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

• John 19:16-17 “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:”

Golgotha, the place of the skull, was a site immediately outside Jerusalem’s walls where Jesus was crucified. This is the fulfilment of the promise in the Garden!

• Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

The head of the Giant Goliath lay under the dirt where the cross stands. Goliath represents the pride of Satan and the fall of the Angels who were sentenced to eternal damnation and were not offered salvation due to their rebellion. Yeshua defeats this permanent death by His life lived in perfection to the character of God. Every counterfeit move of Satan carefully and completely answered by God. Check Mate!

13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

• Isaiah 65:17 “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
• Isaiah 66:22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.”
• 2 Peter 3:13 “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
• Revelation 21:2 “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you [mentors], 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.

13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

13:19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

13:22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

13:25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

And a salute to all of you that have taken this 10 month journey through Hebrews with me. For me this has been the most exhilarating study I have completed since discovering the depths of Genesis. I hope this has been a bless for you as much as it has been for me. Hopefully others will be blessed by it too. Praise Yah!