Sermons

The Letter to the Hebrews

Love, Hospitality, And Compassion

Hebrews 13:1-3

Today we start in on the last chapter in the book of Hebrews.  So let’s turn to Hebrews 13.  If you need a Bible, go ahead and raise your hand and we will bring one to you.  Hebrews 13 is on page 1009 in the Bibles we are passing out.

We’ve all heard the phrase – you can’t see the forest for the trees.  There’s truth to that.  It’s wonderful to see individual trees up close – to see their beauty and variety and color.  But it’s also wonderful to get up high so you can look down and see how all those trees make an entire forest.  So the point is – don’t just look at individual trees.  Be sure to also see the entire forest.

That’s also true when it comes to Bible study.  Because when we study the Bible we start by reading individual verses – and that’s powerful.  But it’s also powerful to step back and see the forest of all the verses – to see how all the verses create a forest of beauty and power and glory.

So since today we are starting in on the last chapter, I thought we should first look at the forest – the big picture of what we’ve seen so far in this book.

In chapter one through chapter 10 v.18 the author starts out by teaching us that Jesus is God’s Son who conquered death, who sympathizes with us in our weaknesses, and who is the perfect priest and sacrifice for our sins.

Then in the rest of chapter 10 he says, therefore, because of who Jesus is, we should draw near to God, cling to His promises, encourage each other to trust God’s promises, and stir up faith in Him as our better possession.

And then in ch.11 he explains why it’s so crucial that we stir up our faith – it’s because faith is the only way we can please God, see God’s miracle-working power, obey God, and endure trials.

And then in ch.12 vv.1-17 the author says therefore, because of how important faith is – lay aside sin and encumbrances run the race of faith in Christ.  And then in vv.18-29 the author gives us another reason why this is worth laying aside sin -- it’s because what we gain is an unshakeable and infinitely valuable salvation.

And then in ch.13 he brings everything to a huge conclusion.  Today we’ll focus on vv.1-3.  So therefore – because of all the author has said in the first 12 chapters – he says in v.1 --

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.

So he starts by calling us to – “let brotherly love continue.”  That means brotherly love will not continue unless we do something.  So how can we continue in brotherly love?

To answer that, let’s be clear on what brotherly love is.  The usual usual Greek word for love is agape.  But this is the Greek word philadelphia, from philew which is the word for “affection,” and the word adelphia which is the word for brothers and sisters.  So the author is calling us to have a feeling of affection for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We are called to have agape love – care and compassion – for everyone.  But we are called to have philew love – brotherly affection – toward our brothers and sisters.

To see an example of this brotherly love, this feeling of affection, turn to 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (p.986).  Here Paul reminds the Thessalonian believers how he felt about them –

So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

That’s a perfect picture of brotherly love.  Paul feels affection for them.  He desires to be with them.  They are very dear to him.  That’s what it means to have brotherly and sisterly love for fellow-believers.

So – back to Hebrews 13.  We are to continue to have brotherly love for our fellow-believers.  So how would we do that?  Well, think of how feelings of affection work.

You feel the most affection toward those who share your greatest joy.  The reason is because, since you have this joy in common, when you spend time with them your greatest joy is increased.  And so you feel great affection for them, you love being with them, they are very dear to you.

Here’s an example.  Let’s say your greatest joy is the 49ers.  You love the 49ers, know all about them, read their blogs, watch every game.  What happens if you meet someone else who loves the 49ers?  You increase each other’s joy in the 49ers!  Maybe they point out a blog you hadn’t seen.  Maybe you tell them something about Kaepernick they hadn’t known.  And so, because being with them increases your greatest joy, you feel affection for them, you desire to be with them, and they are very dear to you.

But what happens if you switched and became a Raiders fan?  You love the Raiders.  But whenever you saw them, they were 49ers this, and 49ers that.  Would you feel the same affection?  No.  Because your joy is in the Raiders, and being with them would not increase your joy in the Raiders.

That’s how brotherly affection works in the body of Christ.  You love Jesus Christ.  Your greatest joy is in trusting Him, talking about Him, learning about Him.  So what happens when you meet someone else who loves Jesus Christ?  You increase each other’s joy in Christ!  Maybe they share a promise in God’s Word – and that increases your joy.  Maybe you encourage them with what Jesus has done in your heart – that increases their joy, and your joy. So because you both have Jesus Christ as your greatest joy, being together increases your greatest joy, and so you feel affection for them, you desire to be with them, they are very dear to you.

So why do we need to work on maintaining that?  Because sin happens.  What if you start to think your joy is found in being the lead Nursery worker at Mercy Hill?  (We don’t have that position here – it’s just an example.)  And what if they get chosen to be the lead Nursery worker? 

Being with them doesn’t increase your greatest joy – it brings pain about your greatest joy.  So you no longer feel affection for them, you don’t like to be with them, they are no longer dear to you.

But the author of Hebrews would look at you with great love and say – “let brotherly love continue.”  So what would you do?  You’d need to turn from seeking your joy in being the lead Nursery worker – and turn back to Jesus Christ as your joy.  And then this person being the lead Nursery worker will not matter.  And because you are back to seeking Jesus as your joy, you will feel affection for them, want to be with them, and they will be very dear to you – because they increase that which is your greatest joy – Jesus Christ.

So think about the brothers and sisters sitting around you.  Think about those in your home group.  Do you feel affection for them?  Do you want to spend time with them?  Are they very dear to you?  If not – it’s because something else has become more important to you than Jesus Christ.  (It might also be because something else has become more important to them.  But we’re focusing here on what we can do to continue in brotherly love.  So let’s assume the problem is on our end.)

So the way to have brotherly affection continue, is by continually turning your heart back to Jesus Christ as your all-satisfying Treasure.  When you do, and you once again experience the joy of beholding Him, you will have brotherly and sisterly affection for those around.

So that’s v.1.  Then the author turns from brotherly affection, to hospitality.  Look at what he says in v.2 –

2              Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

So what is hospitality, and why should we pursue it?  The word “hospitality” refers to having people who are not part of your household eat and stay at your home.  And throughout the New Testament we can see that Jesus calls all of us to practice hospitality.

In Romans 12:13 Paul says “seek to show hospitality.”  In 1 Peter 4:9 Peter says “show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”  And hospitality is so important that it’s a requirement for elders.

So we are all called to show hospitality.  And what would this look like?

Maybe some neighbors are going to have their house tented for termites, and you invite them to stay at your house.  That’s hospitality.

Or maybe some missionaries are passing through San Jose and you offer your home to them.  That’s hospitality.

Or maybe – because of your brotherly affection for those in your home group, you decide to have some of them over for dinner.  That’s hospitality.

Or maybe you invite a widow in your neighborhood to come over for dinner.  That’s hospitality.

But let’s be honest.  Hospitality can take hard work.  It can be inconvenient.  It can disrupts the rhythm of your life.  It can cost money and be uncomfortable.   

So what will motivate us to be hospitable?  If we have people over –

• We’ll experience God’s grace helping us with all the inconveniences (2Cor 9:8)
• We’ll show the world Christ’s glory (John 17:21)
• We’ll have more joy in Christ forever (Luke 14:12-14)

So there’s lots of reasons.  But the author mentions one reason here that’s not mentioned anywhere else.  Read v.2 again --

2              Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

He’s probably referring to Abraham, who had 3 men visit him who were actually angels.  He had them sit down and had Sarah prepare a meal.  So when you invite someone over for dinner, or to spend the night – you might be entertaining an angel.  Now I’m not sure exactly how that motivates us.  But it’s a real possibility.

That’s v.2.  Then look at what the author says in v.3 --

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.

So what would it look like to remember those who are imprisoned and mistreated?  The church to whom this letter was written had suffered.  Some were in prison for their faith – and would not be able to eat unless others brought them food.  Others had been mistreated – probably beaten, losing their homes, having their property stolen while the authorities did nothing. 

So what should the rest of the church do?  He says -- “remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them.”  The suffering of those in prison should be as real to the others as if they were in prison with them.  And then he also says remember “those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”  You should feel their pain as if it they were part of your own body that was in pain.

Here’s the point.  When you put your faith in Jesus Christ you are not only born again – you are also spiritually joined to a local body of believers.  You are one spiritual body with them.  Which means that when they suffer – Jesus’ joy in your heart will make you feel their suffering as if you were suffering with them and feel their mistreatment as if they were part of your own body.

Now here at Mercy Hill we don’t have anyone in prison for their faith.  And we don’t have anyone who has lost their home because of persecution.  But we do have members who suffer in other ways.

We have some in our body who suffer chronic pain from medical problems.  Jesus’ love in our hearts will help us feel as if their pain was part of our own body – so we sympathize with them, reach out to them, pray for them, maybe drive them to the doctor.

 We have some in our body who are unemployed or underemployed.  And Jesus’ love in our hearts will help us sympathize with them as if it was we ourselves who were unemployed or underemployed.  So we will care for them, maybe have them over for dinner, share encouraging promises with them, and help them network or strengthen their resume.

We have had some in our body who have lost loved ones.  Jesus’ joy in our hearts will feel their pain as if it was our own – so we reach out to them and pray for them and grieve with them and pray with them.

But it’s not just people in our local body.  In Syria believers are having their homes destroyed and some are being killed.  In North Korea a Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae was recently sentenced to 15 years in a hard labor camp.  In Africa Mohamed El Baladi was recently sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison for the crime of evangelizing.

So Jesus’ joy in our hearts will make us sympathize with them and care for them and do what we can to help them.  Like checking out the Voice of the Martyrs website at Persecution.org.  Pray for our brothers and sisters.  Consider supporting these agencies financially.

But let’s close by thinking about our body here.  Notice the theme in these three verses – it’s loving each other.  Maintain brotherly affection, invite each other over, and remember those who are suffering.  And this flows from setting our hearts on Jesus Christ, and experiencing Him pouring His joy into our hearts.

So this week, let’s especially focus on doing this in our home groups.  Let’s set our hearts on Christ.  Let’s experience Him pouring His joy into our hearts.  And let’s nurture brotherly affection for each other, let’s practice hospitality towards each other, and let’s remember and care for those in our midst who are suffering.