Chapter
13 The previous chapter closes with the shaking of heaven and earth, an overall
view of the greatness of God's kingdom, and our receiving this kingdom that cannot
be shaken from our God who is a consuming fire. Glory to God, what a vision to
set before the church!
Now we come to the last chapter of this great book.
It is a chapter of relationships. It deals with our relationship to our brothers
in the Lord, to strangers, to husbands and wives, to our elders in the church,
and to the Lord.
Verse 1, which says, "Let brotherly love continue," is
brought out beautifully in the Amplified Bible: "Let love for your fellow believers
continue and be a fixed practice with you - never let it fail". There are no conditions
in this verse. Just simply "love the brethren". "Let it continue" means that it
is already there, placed in each heart by the Holy Spirit when He comes into that
life. How beautiful it was, at conversion, when you rose to your feet from the
altar and looked upon the smiling faces of the saints. You felt as though you
had never seen such beautiful people, and a tremendous love sprang up in your
heart for them.
The key to this verse and to our relationship with our
brethren is "let love continue." He does not say, "Try to begin loving them."
The Holy spirit creates a love in our hearts for our brethren in the beginning.
The problem is trying to continue to love them after you learn to know them better,
and find out some of the weaknesses of their human nature. Rubbing shoulders in
a close "family" relationship often causes the sparks to fly. In many modern churches,
the only time you see the other church people is for a brief hour on Sunday morning,
and the only contact is a possible handshake as you leave. There is no problem
getting along with folks like this. For you never discover their frailties and
personality problems.
But the early church was a close knit family, lined
up together against a persecuting world system. They ate together, walked together,
suffered together, and laughed together, as well as worshipping the Lord together.
In a situation like this, there was ample opportunity for personality clashes,
to butt heads over minor differences. And the enemy takes advantage of this situation
to destroy love, if he can.
What God is doing today, in preparation for
great persecution and attacks from the devil, is to bring together local bodies
of believers who are bonded together in the spirit as a family of God. So this
scripture begins to mean a lot to us. "Let love of the brethren continue." In
spite of our doctrinal understanding, our differences in age or personality, or
our different life styles and appearance, let it continue. One thing we are going
to find that we need desperately in these end times, is the love of our brethren.
So let it continue.
Angels Unawares
People have always been wary
of strangers. We seem to fear the unknown. In the large cities, if your brother
or son was attacked by thugs, you would rush to his rescue, calling for the police,
etc. But if it was a stranger being attacked, the general feeling is to cross
the street, turn your head, "don't get involved." We just don't have a feeling
for those who are not our own. This is what makes war easier to bear, when those
we shoot are just "gooks, nips, congs, or Charlie." They seem less than human
somehow. They are strangers to us.
God's attitude toward strangers is to
extend them hospitality. Thank God, that when we were strangers, aliens to the
way of life, He took us in, cleansed us, fed us, and made us a part of the family
of God. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens
with the saints, and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19)." Therefore, as
we bear His image, we should be happy for each opportunity to share our blessings
with others in the family of God, even if they are strangers to us. The amplified
Bible expresses it thus: "Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality
to strangers in the brotherhood--being friendly, cordial and gracious, sharing
the comforts of your home and doing your part generously." It is a qualification
for eldership, "given to hospitality."
God gave us our big home in Springfield
more than 5,400 days ago (15 years) and during that time, I am confident that
there have been more than 1,000 people who have shared our hospitality, sometimes
for one night, sometimes much longer. I learned how it felt to be on the road
myself with no place to sleep, and no money for motels. I have at times slept
in the car by the side of the road, or just continued to drive all night. What
a blessing it was when some saint opened up their home, and provided a nice bed
and a good meal. So I determined that our house would be a place where even "strangers
in the brotherhood" could find a refuge and hospitality. It is not easy on a wife
when a carload arrives sometime past midnight, with 2 couples and 4 or 5 children,
all hungry and sleepy and needing baths. But my wife and I have opened our hearts
because we love the Body of Christ, and god has abundantly blessed us for it.
Praise the Lord!
Real Angels?
Verse 2 (Amplified) says: "for through
it some have entertained angels without knowing it." I guess that if they didn't
know it, there was no way they could verify whether or not these were real angelic
beings, or human "angels." I believe that many of god's saints have actually had
angelic beings in their homes, more times than they realize. And many more have
had some of God's special "messengers (human "angels")," and have been greatly
blessed because of it. I know that I asked God for (and received) the privilege
of blessing (in the name of the Lord) those who blessed us with their hospitality
and gifts. I felt it was my right to do so, and god granted me the authority to
bless those who bless His messenger. I have seen spiritual, physical, and material
blessings come to many in this way, and I am no longer surprised when it happens.
So it doesn't really matter whether or not it is one of God's heavenly
angels, or an earthly one. The fact is, some angels come wrapped in unusual packages.
We've had them come in faded blue-jeans and worn out tennis shoes and oversized
coats, some with long hair and beards, even. But they were sent to us by God.
And we loved them.
Prisoners of Hope
Remember that we are speaking
of relationships in the body of Christ. So when he tells us to feel a oneness
with those in prison, He is not speaking of the murderers, rapists, and thieves.
It is the saints who are in prison that God wants us to hold up in prayer, to
learn to share their sufferings with them. Some saints are in prison on false
charges, persecuted by the anti-christ forces. Others are in prison from a crime
they committed, but have been converted while in prison. Now they find themselves,
a brand new babe in Christ, living in the midst of a situation inhabited by a
wild pack of human animals of the vilest sort. Their lives are in constant danger,
and temptations abound on every side. Violence, drugs, homosexuality, and physical
intimidation are present everywhere in the prison system. Many of God's children
in prison are ill-treated daily, suffer adversity, and we are admonished to stand
with them and give them strength in the Lord by our prayers for them. One of my
dear friends, now in her 70's, has had a rich and rewarding ministry in the prisons,
regularly visiting and corresponding with "her boys." God will never forget that.
I have no idea how many men have been brought to Christ through her ministry.
But God knows. She has won more souls to God than many men who stand behind a
pulpit. We have heard from some of these, for she passes out much of our literature
among the prisoners.
Marriage is Honourable
The New American Standard
Bible says (verse 4): "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage
bed be undefiled, for fornicators and adulterers God will judge." What a message
from the Word of god for this licentious age in which we live. "Let marriage be
held in honor." When a man cheats on his wife, he is not holding his marriage
in honor. And God will judge him. Thus saith the Lord.
This verse is talking
about the sexual relationship in marriage. It is reserved for husband and wife,
it is undefiled, and God honors it. There is prevalent in our land today 2 very
wicked attitudes towards sex and marriage. They are the 2 extreme and opposite
poles from the beautiful and normal relationship that god intends for a man and
a woman. These 2 evils are: "Sex without marriage," and "marriage without sex."
The first one involves fornication, adulterer, free love, and the so-called "new
morality" of the anti-God world. The second, marriage without sex, generally evolves
from brutality toward the wife, lack of communication, frigidity, or desire for
the celibate life. There is a teaching, direct from the pit of hell, that says
that the celibate life, or "virgin purity," is more holy than the marriage relationship,
and that god only allows marriage sex for the non-spiritual Christians, and only
for the procreation of children. They say that in order to be in the bride of
Christ, you must either remain single, a virgin or eunuch, or to remain married
without any sex-life. Some wives, either tired of a brutish husband, or frigid,
or deceived by false doctrine, have used this idea to avoid any sex with their
husband, This is not holding the marriage in honor.
Now there are some
practical reasons why some men remain single, or why some couples abstain from
the marriage bed. Some men, like Paul the apostle, who spend their lives in constant
hardship and travel, in and out of prisons and shipwrecks, would be completely
out of order trying to maintain a home with wife and children. But this situation,
then and now, is very unusual. As for married men, Paul instructs them as to times
of abstinence. "Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also
the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but
the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his
own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for
a time that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again lest
Satan tempt you."
Many years ago, in the earlier days of my ministry, 2
young people of my acquaintance were married. She was a beautiful young lady,
very much in love with this young minister, and he was a homosexual. Only after
they were married did she discover that he did not marry her because he wanted
her, but to remove the reproach upon him as a single young man in the ministry.
The marriage did not last, for it was not built upon God's order. He did not hold
his marriage in honor.
Then there is the very practical problem of age.
God has very wisely ordained that the sex drive and ability to bear children diminish
as old age comes along. But even that is over ruled at times by the Lord Himself.
Consider Abraham and Sarah. When at age 89, Sarah heard the angel say that she
was to have a child, she laughed, saying: "After I am waxed old, shall I have
pleasure, my lord being old also?" It had been a long time since they had the
God-given pleasure of sharing the marriage bed together. Not because of some false
doctrine, or a desire to be "more holy," but simply because of age. As I told
one elderly minister in his 70's who preached the celibate life for married folks:
"At your age it is not wrong to practice celibacy, but it is wicked for you to
preach it to young married couples, bringing them under either condemnation or
temptation." Yes, there is some very practical living in verse 4 of this 13th
chapter of Hebrews. A lot more than we have realized. Many do not realize that
there is a very spiritual relationship between husband and wife in the marriage
bed. You see, God does not use the Bible to teach unspiritual things. This truth
is not based just upon physical sex-lust; but in the union of husband and wife,
there can be (and should be) a spiritual strength and blessing available to each.
Let me say to the husbands and wives, if you do not have this, you are missing
one of the greatest things in marriage. When two are truly made one, then the
strength of each is multiplied ten-fold. It is true.
"The Lord is My Helper"
The next subject dealt with here in this scripture is contentment. This
is really only possible with those who know that they have all eternity to enjoy
far better things than earth could ever offer. Therefore, if they have nothing
during their whole lifetime of the things men fight for here on earth, what does
it matter? To illustrate what I'm saying, think of a young lad sitting at his
school desk, bored to tears, waiting 15 minutes for the bell to ring that signals
the start of summer vacation. And the 15 minutes of boredom compared to all summer
of liberty is still a weak comparison to this life and eternity. When I see people,
especially children, who are blind, crippled, or in constant pain, my heart really
goes out to them in compassion. To know that crippled or retarded children can
never enjoy the games and have the fun that more fortunate children around them
have, is heart rending. But to know that God has all eternity to make it up to
them, and that He surely will, takes the sting out of the hurt.
"Let your
way of life be free from the love of money." No one can really be content if they
love money, for this disease creates an insatiable thirst that can never be quenched.
For one who loves money can never be satisfied. The more he gets, the more he
wants. "For the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10)." It is
not having money that hurts you, it is loving it. When you can have money without
loving it, then you are free to share your blessings with others. And God is free
to continue to pour out material blessings upon you. He wants you to have plenty,
but He does not want you to love it. He wants your love for Himself. Love God,
for He is your helper. Money can vanish, sometimes overnight, but God will always
be there. Having Him is the real true riches of life. When you have Him, there
is nothing that man can do to you.
Because of this, I have learned not
to be afraid of any man, but only to be sure that I have the Lord on my side.
I have had powerful people try to destroy my ministry, and sometimes my life,
also. But as long as I knew that I was walking in the Spirit, and was in the will
of God, there was no fear. I volunteered for the Marine Paratroopers in world
War II, and was sent to the South Pacific. I knew that if we were dropped behind
enemy lines we would be the prime targets of the enemy. But the thought in my
heart was simply that "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall
do unto me." On a ministry trip to new Zealand, my pilot and I were forced down
in a light plane during a storm, and had to land on a beach. Had it not been for
the Lord, it could have turned out to be a serious crash. We got front page headlines
in the local newspaper, and national T.V. and radio coverage. When the reporters
asked me if I was scared while circling the city in the storm, trying to find
a place to land, I had to stop and think about it, and I came to the conclusion
that fear had not entered into the situation. I told the reporters: "I had a good
pilot, and the Lord at my side, why should I be afraid?" This is simply the way
of life for sons of God. It is the way of faith.
"Those Who Have the Rule"
In this 13th chapter of Hebrews, verses 7, 17, and 24 do not set too well
with those who don't believe that god has set leaders in His church with authority
to rule. And that word "rule" means "to guide." 1 Timothy 3:5 says that if an
elder cannot "rule" his own house, how can he "take care of" the church of God?
So to those who are the head of a house, or an elder in a church, and think that
ruling means to boss everyone else around with an iron hand, let me say that it
really means you have the responsibility to take care of the members of your family,
or the people in the church. And dad, or elder, God will hold you responsible
for how you take care of them and guide them through the hard places in life.
Those who are called to speak the word of God, are to lead God's people into the
good life. In verse 17 the people are commanded to submit themselves to their
leaders. Then the verse goes on to reveal what a tremendous responsibility rests
upon the leaders for the faithful performance of their ministry, and how they
must give an account to God for the people to whom they ministered.
Dear
ones, don't be afraid, or rebellious, of those "who have the rule over you." They
are God's gifts to you, to help bring you to perfection (maturity). Treasure them,
love them, and pray for them. And the Bible also says: "obey them." God's true
ministries would not harm you in any way, or bring you into bondage. You must
learn to discern between the shepherd and the wolf. Sheep are supposed to be rather
dumb animals, but even they knew that difference. And God's people certainly should
be able to know those who have ordained themselves, and have not been sent by
the Holy Ghost. If you have not already read the previous message on "shepherds,"
dealing with discipleship and submission, please send for this free booklet now.
It is an important message on this controversial subject.
"Yesterday--Today--Forever"
Right in the middle of all this teaching concerning relationships, verse
8 shouts out a tremendous statement of faith and fact: "Jesus Christ the same
yesterday, and today, and forever!" No instructions here as to what we should
do about it, or how it applies to us. Just a plain and glorious statement. He
is the same, always has been, always will be. What He did back then, He is doing
today. Some are not seeing it, but of course, some did not see it then, either.
Therefore, if He confirmed His Word with signs and wonders and miracles in the
days of the early church, He will do the same in the last day church. So let us
preach His Word, and expect Him to do His part.
A whole sermon could be
preached on this verse alone, and many have been. But while meditating on this
glorious scripture, I saw a principle concerning us, His church. As sure as He
is unchangeable, just as sure we are being changed. Just as He is now what He
has always been, so we who started out in the image of Adam, shall be changed
into the image of Christ Himself. Anything less than this is unscriptural, and
degrading to His plan and purpose for us. Hallelujah!
Yesterday--Lost in
Sin
Paul makes it very plain in the book of Romans that in this flesh there
is no good thing. Humans seek after such things as physical beauty, dynamic personality,
intellectual achievements, popularity, fame and fortune. But these things are
fading flowers on the lower plane of carnal life and pleasure. The fact is, until
Christ comes in, the whole human race is lost in sin, under judgment, in rebellion
against God. There is none righteous, no not one. This is where we were, yesterday.
And except for Christ sharing His life with us, there was no possibility for a
change in that situation. Lost, forever. We can all see this is where we've been,
the pit from whence we were digged (Isaiah 51:1). This was our yesterday. But
thank God it is not us who are the same yesterday, today, and forever. We are
being changed. Glory to God.
Today--Alive in Christ
"We have borne
(yesterday) the image of the earthy. and we shall bear (forever) the image of
the heavenly (1 Corinthians 15:49)." Looking back we see the image of Adam, lost
in sin, corruptible. Looking forward we see kings and priests ruling with Christ
forever in the Melchisedec order. But where does that leave us today? We are in
the process of change. Not yet perfected, not yet on the throne, nor behind the
veil. But we are on the way! We are alive in Christ, and entitled to all the privileges
due the sons of God.
Today God's people live far beneath their privileges,
in too low a realm of life for those who have been redeemed and ordained to the
life in the Spirit. We do not have to wait for tomorrow, to live in victory today.
As one dear saint said: "I know I'm not what I'm going to be, but I sure ain't
what I used to be!" It is true that I may not be ruling over the nations with
a rod of iron today, but there is no reason why I cannot rise in the Spirit to
a place where I can rule my own spirit. Now. Today. This is where we are living,
this is the present field of battle. Quit dreaming about pie in the sky, and recognize
what you can be in God today. You are sons of God. Act like sons, think and talk
like sons. Walk tall. We are victors on the field of battle.
When you see
Christians depressed, defeated and discouraged, it is because they are either
leaning back toward yesterday's life of being dominated by the powers of darkness,
or they are drawn into a little shell of dreaming of a better tomorrow. I want
you to know that today is a day of victory! You will be amazed at how much dominion
you now have over your circumstances and battles of life, if you just dare to
believe and speak a word of faith in every situation. Stop drowning in your efforts
to bail out your little boat. rise up and speak to the storm with a voice of authority.
You can do it! Yes, today is a glorious day. But thank God, we will not forever
be in this state of wresting with the principalities and powers and rulers of
the darkness of this age. There is a glorious tomorrow for us. We are still being
changed. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. But as for
us, tomorrow holds another marvelous change.
Forever - Kings and Priests
So what does tomorrow bring to the sons of God? I would not be so presumptuous
as to try to tell you that I understood all the mysteries of God, and that He
had revealed all His future plans to me. And beware of that man who says he now
has it all figured out. He will lie to you about other things, too.
But
just let me share a little of what God has unveiled to us about His plans for
His church, His glorious church, in the age to come. First of all, let me say
that the new age is upon us, the rule of Satan is at an end, the age of darkness
is about over I know that the world situation doesn't look that way, but we are
now at the climax of the war of the ages, and the forces of evil are going all
out with a last roar of defiance.
There are certain words and statements
in the bible that give us clues as to what lies ahead. Words such as "overcomer,"
"Melchisedec priesthood," "immortality," "manchild," "kings and priests," "in
His throne," "glorious church," and "manifestation of the sons of God" bring truths
to us that are little understood in most of the pentecostal churches, to say nothing
of fundamental and modernistic churchianity. These words are not dealing with
what happens out there in the ages of the ages, millions of years from now. These
are things dealing with the very near tomorrow of the kingdom age about to begin.
But there is a change involved in our very state of being, before we can enter
all that is suggested by these terms.
The very greatest human being in
the "yesterday" realm of sin cannot measure up to the eternal blessing of the
least of one of the "today" saints who have been redeemed and become a part of
the kingdom of God. Just so, the greatest of the saints in the "today" realm cannot
be compared with the glory of one who has passed into the "forever" of God's eternal
purposes. So there is no way to illustrate, by comparison, the things that God
has prepared for us. They have to be revealed by the Spirit. Those who look forward
to a beautiful city with streets that are paved with a soft yellow metal, or long
for a huge house in the sky, all their own and no mortgage, have some wonderful
surprises coming. For God's eternal tomorrow shall greatly exceed anything our
minds could possibly conceive. The "yesterday" of the Adamic image is past for
us. The "today" of a redeemed life of victory and joy is ours now. But we are
still being changed, getting ready for a maturity and perfection that will put
us on His throne with Him. Authority to rule and reign, bringing order and glory
out of the chaos and destruction and death of this present world, and even the
creative power of sons, are just some of the things before us. Makes the trip
worthwhile, doesn't it? An entire book could be written about that one word "forever,"
and what it means to us. But we will have to go on, to see what else this glorious
chapter has to say to us.
"Divers and Strange Doctrines"
In this
chapter of relationships, we come in verse 9 to a word dealing with our relationship
to God's written word. "Divers and strange doctrines" is expressed in the NAS
Bible as "varied and strange teachings." There is a lot of difference between
"new" teachings and "strange" teachings. Everytime they hear something new and
fresh, some people apply this scripture to it. Not so. God has always been faithful
to give us fresh manna from heaven, a new and exciting revelation of Himself and
His plans for His church. The word "strange" here has the meaning of something
weird and out of harmony with the Bible, rather than something we just haven't
known previously.
In this verse, He connects "strange doctrines" with being
occupied with foods. Then as now, people spent a lot of time trying to figure
a way to reach immortality and escape death by certain eating habits. But the
scripture says it is unprofitable. There is certainly nothing wrong with eating
good food, and with being sensible in your eating habits. Your body will benefit
from it. But to establish strange doctrines, and be occupied with weird diets
or food fads, is not profitable. "Do not be carried away" by these things. This
lets us know that there is a force involved that can carry people into wrong doctrines
and weird spirits. Don't play around with it, or you will be overcome by a spirit
of deception and find yourself convinced that this is the only way to purity and
perfection. Long before Ponce de Leon landed on Florida shores, seeking the "fountain
of youth," men were deceived into thinking that somewhere there was something
they could put into their bellies to make them live forever. And some still are.
Beloved, don't be carried away. Such foolishness is unprofitable, and a waste
of time. There is a better way to establish your hearts with the grace of God.
This is a glorious and heavenly life, but it is a very practical way. It takes
good common sense to be a successful son of God. Jesus was the most practical
person that ever lived. Everything He did had a good purpose behind it. "He went
about doing good (Acts 10:38)."
We Have an Altar
Now, in verses
10 through 16, he uses the Old Testament altar and sacrifices as illustrations
of what we have in Christ today. Long before the religious people of Jerusalem
crucified the Lord Jesus, and long before denominations of men cast out saints
who wanted more of god, God ordained that the bodies of the sacrifices be burned
outside the camp. "Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing
His reproach (verse 13)." Yes, dear ones, when men cast you outside their camps,
or you go outside voluntarily, it is not your own reproach you are bearing, it
is His! Glory to God! This verse was a great comfort to me more than a quarter
century ago when, as a young preacher determined to follow the Lord, I was judged
and condemned and cast out by the councils of men. It was good for me to know
that God had already planned it that way.
One of my favorite revelations
is found in verse 14: "Here we have no continuing city." In this realm of mortal
life, we need not build our own little "city," for nothing is permanent on this
plane of life. Abraham was a pilgrim on this earth. He never built a city, none
ever bore his name, for he had seen a city which had foundations, whose builder
and maker is God. And once you have seen the city of God, you never try to build
one of your own. Men build great organizations and denominations, and lay foundations
for their cities which continue on long after all the inhabitants are dead. They
do this because they have not seen the city of God. But here, in this age, we
have no continuing city. But there is one that is permanent. It is in the "forever"
realm. It is the one we seek.
"Therefore" (because of this city of God),
"let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually." This is the fruit of
our lips, giving thanks to God for all that He has done for us. Our sacrifice
if far different from the kind the Old Testament priest offered. He is showing
here how much better this new way is than the temple worship. Once more the writer
of Hebrews is trying to wean the Jewish Christians away from the Jew's religion
with it's blood sacrifices. Since Jesus came, we no longer offer up the body of
beasts. There is no value in that, in fact, it displeases God very much, and now
falls into the same category as idolatry. But there is great value in lifting
up our voices and praising the Lord. This is a sacrifice He will accept. Hallelujah!
Verse 16 brings out another means of offering sacrifices to God with which
He is well pleased. "Do good," and "communicate (which means to share what you
have with others)." This is something that pleases God, and is considered a good
sacrifice. Jesus set the example, He went about doing good, and healing all who
were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). I know that had He had a home, a car,
or a refrigerator, He would have shared those things also. He gave people what
He had, life and healing and truth. "Silver and gold have I none, but such as
I have, give I thee," said the Apostle Peter to the lame man. What he had, he
shared. And in doing so, he offered up a sacrifice to God. This can even be done
with material things, money, labor, and other earthly possessions. And especially,
rich or poor, we can give people what they need more than most anything else,
our love and concern for their needs. If your heart is full of love, share it
with others. If you are filled with hate and bitterness, don't give it to anyone
else. Go to Calvary and be delivered and cleansed.
A Loving Good-Bye
"Pray
for us (verse 18)." What a humble confession on how much we need each other. A
great desire is expressed that he might live honestly and honorably before the
Lord. Even the saints still live in human bodies, and with all the temptations
and pressures around us, it is not an automatic thing to live right and with honor.
It takes a real desire and a lot of effort, along with the help of the Holy Spirit.
In the next verse he expresses his hope that he can be restored to them soon.
This is an indication of the great love that existed in the early church, and
how they desired and needed to be with other saints, in a world full of sin and
unbelief and hatred. I can't tell you how many times some of our saints in the
body of Christ in Springfield have returned home after an extended time elsewhere,
relating how that they had never really appreciated the blessings of being in
the family of God, until they were separated to themselves for a period of time.
We sing a chorus: "There is a love among the brethren," and it is really true.
This letter to the Hebrews closes with such a tender note, and with such a beautiful
expression of the love of God.
Reference is made in verse 23 to "our brother
Timothy," who obviously has just been set free after a time of imprisonment. Verse
24 mentions the saints in Italy. It is possible that this letter was written to
the Hebrew Christians by Paul while in Rome. He indicates that he is free to come
and see them, if Timothy comes with him. So he is not in prison himself at this
time. Scholars disagree as to who the author of this letter is, but some feel
there is indication in the style of writing and teaching throughout the letter
that it was written by the Apostle Paul. Although his call was to the Gentiles,
he still carried a heavy burden for Israel. And he was the most opposed, and the
most outspoken, against the old Jewish law, of any of the New Testament writers.
This entire book of Hebrews has been an effort to show how much better
the New Covenant is than the Old. This chapter has shown the better relationships
in the body of Christ, better sacrifices, a better city, and a better future.
It is beautiful to see how that after all the strong forceful arguments and logic
put forth in previous chapters, he ends the letter in such a tender and personal
manner. And dearly beloved, may I add here that this love still exists in the
true body of Christ. And this body of Christ, scattered throughout the world,
in many local expressions, salutes you. Pray for us.
The End
Bill
Britton Hebrews the book of better things