Scripture Text (NRSV)
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
13:1 Let mutual love continue.
13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing
that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
13:3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison
with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were
being tortured.
13:4 Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed
be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.
13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content
with what you have; for he has said, "I will never leave you or
forsake you."
13:6 So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will
not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?"
13:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you;
consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
13:15 Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of
praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have,
for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Comments:
Our praise is a sacrifice of our cynisism on the alter of surrender.
When we praise we enter a different realm. Psalms says that he is
enthroned on our praise. Our praise is a sacrifice that brings
results. As when Elijah, on the mountain, claimed God as above all the
"little gods," and fire came down from heaven as a show of the
watchful eye over Elijah and his confession of God's power, so will
our confession of his name bring power.
Whenever I read this passage I remember a joke my mother used to tell.
A man rented a room in a boarding house where the hostess served the
same meal each night. Day after day as he sat down to his evening meal
I heard him mutter under his breath: "Hebrews 13:8" over and over
again. One day my curiosity got the better of me, and I approached a
local pastor who was only too happy to show me the passage in
question. Imagine my surprise when he read, "Jesus Christ, the same
yesterday and today and forever." Now I never read this passage
without having a chuckle before any sombre reflection or anaysis.
Terry
The conclusion of the letter to the Hebrews contains many suggestions
for the conduct of life, all of which are shaped by God's love toward
us in Jesus Christ.
Entertaining angels unawares. Imagine you put the teapot on the stove
for guests and wind up entertaining heavenly beings in your living
room (v. 2). Hoping for such good fortune we open our doors to
strangers anticipating that we just might serve angels. Such hopes are
dashed quickly when those entertained turn out to be plain earthlings
like us. (Of course, these strangers may not be like us at all. They
may be imprisoned, tortured [v. 3], or simply strange.) Either way,
when we discover that those at our table are not heavenly angels but
earthly sinners like or unlike us, we wind up disappointed. Our
disappointment soon turns to inhospitality. After all, who wants to
entertain such mundane earthlings when we had hoped for heavenly
beings?
Such disappointment and eventual inhospitality betrays a deeper
dissatisfaction. We are not content with what we are given. Not just
the stuff: the cars, the houses, the clothes, the spouse (v. 4!), the
children, the church. But a deep dissatisfaction with those visitors
whom we'd hoped would prove heavenly—those whom the writer of Hebrews
hints might be heavenly. Our dissatisfaction doesn't rest on the
stranger, though. It moves from the gift to the Giver. We are content
with neither what we have been given nor the One who gives it. Now
it's not the stranger who disappoints us, but God himself.
God judges fornicators and adulterers (v. 4b). Our disappointment in
the earthiness of those given to us may not have turned to outright
adultery and fornication, but it sets us down the very same road
toward the very same judgment. Will we who have neglected strangers
and forgotten the imprisoned and the tortured find ourselves left
behind? Maybe we don't care. After all, God himself has turned out to
be the biggest disappointment. However, our carelessness is just
further grounds for God to abandon us.
But while we fail to care for and identify with the plight of others,
there is One who identifies completely with us, remembering us sinners
as though he were a sinner like us (cf. v. 3). And this One really
does come from heaven! Not to be entertained by us, mind you, but to
show the ultimate in hospitality. Rather than leave us behind, this
One stays close by, promising never to leave us or forsake us (v. 5b).
While we love stuff, neglect hospitality, and forget those who suffer,
Jesus Christ remains ever vigilant in his attention to us. He is the
same yesterday, today, and forever (v. 8). He steadfastly identifies
with us and never forsakes us.
Our leaders were content with that, those who spoke the word of God to
us (v. 7). As we receive that word we share their faith, imitate it,
say with the same confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be
afraid. What can anyone do to me?" (v. 6). Certainly nothing can drive
Jesus Christ away from us, nothing can stop him from identifying with
us, and nothing can cause him to forget us. This One whom God the
heavenly Father rewarded with an eternal seat next to his, has
declared "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Now, what could be
more satisfying than that?
Such steadfast love rubs off, gets imitated, continues (v. 1). This
mutual love plays host to strangers, not in the hope of entertaining a
hidden angel, but in genuine love for one like or unlike us. This
mutual love is content to serve earthly visitors and prisoners and the
tortured. It is a love for the one with whom we share the marriage bed
or for the one who occupies our guest bed. Such a mutual love refuses
to sacrifice the stranger for an angel, sacrificing instead what we
have (v. 16) for the good of others. It praises the One who is
steadfast in his love.
Douglas Chamberlain
Terry that is a wonderful story. The need to remember to give thanks
for the sameness of the one we love. Nancy-Wi
I always remember a book written by Dale Evans about her little child
who suffered a terrible illness (I think that was the case, it was so
long ago). The name of the book was "Angel Unaware." "Bammammas"
experience their babies as cherubs unaware.
Shalom bammamma
Last Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis, a 17-year-old Good Samaritan
stopped to help a woman with a flat tire. A third car hit them. The
Good Samaritan was pinned beneath one of the vehicles. The woman he
had stopped to help was pinned against the median. About a dozen other
motorists stopped to help. On Monday night, the Good Samaritan died.
His funeral is Friday.
That's the news here, and this is my preaching text. I'm going to talk
about our options in showing hospitality (some of the "easy" ones:
lock your doors, ignore the shabby-looking man with the cardboard sign
requesting money, share the peace with a stranger but don't talk with
him/her, etc., send money to an overseas missionary) and how the world
will always offer us shortcuts and easy-way-outs, but that having a
real relationship with God isn't about our comfort or convenience. Doc
in Minnesota
This is such a great passage! I've not been in the habit of preaching
sermon series; but this passage is so rich that I cannot do it justice
in one message. There are so many practical insights to share that
really will result in a happier life. So my series will be titled
"God's Little Instruction Book". I would appreciate any illustrations
from you DPSers out there that would be relevant to the text. Also, if
you like the title, feel free to borrow it.
Peace & blessings - Rich in Bama
Atually, Rich in Bama, I think that title has seen the light of day
before! Check amazon.com for details. ;-) Blessings, Dave K. in West
Ohio <><
Jeremiah's God rails against the waywardness of the people with
threats(a jeremiad). The psalmist's God pleads for them to return to
right relationship so he may bless. Luke's Jesus advises those on the
edge of failure how to do right instead. How refreshing that the
Church finally got it, and were doing well. The writer to the Hebrews
commends, "Let mutual love continue.(v. 1)" Continue!! You are on the
right track(2-6). Don't veer off it. Hold up those gone before you as
examples to yourselves so you don't slip(7-8). Keep on offering up the
sacrifice of praise, doing good, sharing(15-16). "'Is this not the
fast I choose?' Says God." I'm looking for illustrations in our midst
of folks getting it right to hold up for commendation, and godly
examples gone before to inspire and guide us. tom in TN(USA)
