Hebrews 13:9-25
13:9
“Do not be carried away by all kinds of
strange teachings. It is good for our
hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods which are of no
value to those who eat them.”
“Strange Teaching” refers to outlandish
things taught in their day but repeated throughout church history and even
today.
“Carried away” is present imperative
passive. Since it is a command in the
passive voice it is a permissive passive.
“Strengthened by Grace” – your
confidence in God’s provision will strengthen you. Not your confidence in yourself or some
physical activity.
Note:
this does not disqualify the importance or the value of being obedient to the
word of God or to practicing fasting or other convictions that keep your heart
right before God.
“Food”
is not the answer. See 1 Cor. 8:8 and Romans 14:17
13:10
“We have an altar from which those who
minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.”
You
can not get to the table of the Lord by continuing to eat from and trust in the
Levitical altar.
Christians
were often called atheists because they had no visible altar or image.
There
is no connection here to the Lord ’s Supper.
The writer is not talking about the Christians sacraments or any
physical thing they have. He is talking
about Christ’s sacrifice and the provision it provides. This is the grace he spoke of and the
teaching we are not to allow ourselves to be carried away from.
Notice
the author avoids connecting the bread and the wine of Melchizedek here.
13:11
“The high priest carries the blood of
animals into the
Lev.
16:27 bodies of animal sacrifices were burnt outside the camp.
13:12
“And so Jesus also suffered outside the
city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.”
The
sacrifices were slaughtered in the tabernacle and later carried out.
The
red heifer, a sin offering, was slaughtered outside the camp.
Jesus,
the true sacrifice, was rejected and taken outside the camp.
13:13
“Let us, then, go to him outside the
camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.”
The readers and us today should get used to being taken outside the camp.
At
this time in history this is were the religious system and the world system
want us.
13:14
“For here we do not have an enduring
city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.”
Exodus
33:7 shows how after the golden calf, God took his tent outside the camp of the
people and they had to leave the camp to come inquire of him.
13:15
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us
continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess
his name.”
So
these people who had grown up bring sacrifices and offerings to God, no longer
had anything to bring, but yet they did.
13:16
“And do not forget to do good and to
share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
In
addition to Sacrifice of thank offerings and confessing the name of the Lord a
third sacrifice is given: Doing good and sharing with others
James
1:27
1
Peter 2:5
Romans
12:1
Christianities
sacrifices:
1) The offering of Christ
2) The offering of the peoples:
a. Praise
b. Confession of Jesus
c. Good Deeds and service
d. Possessions and property
e. Lives and minds
13:17
“Obey your leaders and submit to their
authority. They keep watch over you as
men who must give an account. Obey them
so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no
advantage to you.”
These
are the second generation of leaders since the first leaders have passed on
(13:7)
The
writer has confidence in these leaders
“Keep Watch” means “to be without sleep,
to seek after sleep, to be watchful”
The
leaders, or guides, must give an “account”
which is the word “apodwsonteV” and means “to give
an account, to render account”
Philippians
2:16 Paul was considering the day of evaluation as a leader
13:18
“Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience
and desire to live honorably in every way.”
“Pray
for us” since the writer was a leader.
“Clear
Conscience” is reference to him fulfilling his role as a leader. He has done his assigned duty and lived
honorably.
13:19
“I particularly urge you to pray so
that I may be restored to you soon.”
13:20-21
“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, 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.”
This
appears to be an established and accepted formula for it has:
13:22
“Brothers, I urge you to bear with my
word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter.”
13:23
“I want you to know that our brother
Timothy has been released. If he arrives
soon, I will come with him to see you.”
It
is possible that when Timothy went to see Paul in
13:24
“Greet all your leaders and all Gods’
people. Those from
If
Timothy is in
13:25
“Grace be with you all.”