Historical Posts
Bear with Me
Bear with this article as you read it. What kind of impression did you just get? Are you wishing you would already read what the point of the article is? What does a person mean when he says, “Bear with me for a moment…?”
The Bible says, “And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words (Hebrews 13:22).” The author of Hebrews invites his readers to bear with the letter! Sometimes the content is difficult to swallow; other times it seems to take forever to get to the point. However, we must always bear with the word of God, because it will benefit us!
No doubt this author wrote these inspired words out of love. If we truly love the word of God as we should, we will bear with it. One characteristic of love is that it “bears all things (1 Corinthians 13:7).” We must also exhort one another even more, which the author of Hebrews earlier stated (Hebrews 10:25).
As the author of Hebrews commands us to bear with God’s word, we must also bear with each other. Paul wrote, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).” God had to bear a lot with us; we must bear a lot with His word and each other. Let us encourage one another to study God’s word, follow it, and help each other get to Heaven.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Do You Need a Reminder?
Have you ever tied a ribbon around your finger, only to forget what that was supposed to remind you of? Note pads, voice recordings, sticky notes, highlighters, and other products are for our use to remember something very important. It is often said, “If I don’t write it down I’ll forget it!”
Peter gives Christians a reminder. He writes, “Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease (2 Peter 1:15).” We truly need to remember the Lord’s inspired words even today. Peter has long since been deceased, but his inspired words remain in the Word of God.
We need constant reminders from God’s Word. We are faced with challenges every single day. Constant study of God’s Word will help us remember (2 Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:11). After all, Peter earlier said, “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you (2 Peter 1:12-13)…”
Use your highlighter in your Bible, make notes, and put sticky notes on the mirror to look at each day if needed. Put a ribbon on your finger so you will remember to turn the pages of God’s Word!
Content by Richard Dillon
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Hebrews 13:18-25 Closing Words – audio
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Text: Hebrews 13:18-25
Introduction
1. We now come to the closing words of Hebrews
2. With the last eight verses, we find:
a. A request for prayer in behalf of the author – Hebrews 13:18-19
b. A prayer offered in behalf of the readers – Hebrews 13:20-21
c. A final exhortation, comment and farewell – Hebrews 13:22-25
Body
I. REQUEST FOR PRAYER (Hebrews 13:18-19)
A. ONE REASON FOR HIS REQUEST
1. He is confident of “a good conscience”, desiring to live honorably
a. The mention of a good conscience brings to mind several verses – Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:22
b. Through the blood of Christ, his conscience has made clean to serve God
2. Certainly their prayers in his behalf would be for a good purpose
a. To bless a man whose has been cleansed by the blood of Christ!
b. To bless a man who desires to live honorably!
B. ANOTHER REASON FOR HIS REQUEST
1. To be restored to them sooner
2. Thus he expresses his intention to come them
II. PRAYER OFFERED IN THEIR BEHALF (Hebrews 13:20-21)
A. MAY GOD
1. Described as “the God of peace”
a. A description found often in Paul’s letters – Romans 15:33; 16:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Philippians 4:9
b. He is the source of peace (note the salutations in most epistles)
2. “who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead”
a. This is the only explicit reference to Jesus’ resurrection in the epistle
b. Though it is assumed in passages which speak of Christ at the right hand of God – Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 9:24; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:2
3. Jesus is described as “that great Shepherd of the sheep” – John 10:11; John 10:14; 1 Peter 5:4
B. MAKE YOU COMPLETE
1. “in every good work to do His will”
a. The author wants them to be complete in doing God’s will
b. Yet he recognizes that they cannot do it on their own, they will need God’s help!
2. How will God make them complete in every good work to do His will?
a. “through the blood of the everlasting covenant”
1) This refers, of course, to the blood of Jesus
a) Which is able to purge our conscience from dead works – Hebrews 9:14
b) By which Jesus has become the Mediator of the New Covenant – Hebrews 9:15
2) By this blood Jesus has perfected forever those who are being sanctified – Hebrews 10:10; Hebrews 10:14
3) Through the blood of Jesus, then, God is able to make us complete in every good work to do His will
b. “working in you what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ”
1) Not only are we cleansed by the blood of Jesus, but God works in us to do what pleases Him!
a) This is reminiscent of Paul’s comments – Philippians 2:12-13
b) That as we “work out” our salvation, God “works in” us!
2) Instrumental in God working in us is the role of His Spirit
a) We are strengthened by God’s Spirit in the inner man – Ephesians 3:16
b) It is by the Spirit we can put to death the deeds of the body – Romans 8:13
3) It is by both the blood of Jesus and the work of the Spirit that we are truly “washed”, “justified” and “sanctified” – 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5-7
III. A FINAL EXHORTATION, COMMENT, AND FAREWELL (Hebrews 13:22-25)
A. HIS FINAL EXHORTATION (Hebrews 13:22)
1. To “bear with the word of exhortation”
a. This epistle has truly been one of exhorting them; we have exhortations against:
1) Drifting from what they have heard – Hebrews 2:1-4
2) Departing from the living God – Hebrews 3:12-15
3) Disobedience to His Word – Hebrews 4:11-13
4) Dullness of hearing – Hebrews 5:11-6:6
5) Despising God’s grace – Hebrews 10:26-39
6) Defying Him who now speaks from heaven – Hebrews 12:14-29
b. While at times he has written rather strongly, he encourages them to bear with it
2. While one of the longer epistles in the New Testament, it was still “written to you in few words” (compare it with some of the writings of the “church fathers”!)
B. A COMMENT REGARDING TIMOTHY (Hebrews 13:23)
1. “Our brother Timothy” – most likely he who was Paul’s constant companion
2. Evidently just released from prison, and likely to join the author in coming to them
C. GREETINGS AND FAREWELL (Hebrews 13:24-25)
1. Greetings from the author
a. To “all those who rule over you”, i.e., their elders (Hebrews 13:7; Hebrews 13:17)
b. To “all the saints”, i.e., the rest of the Christian
2. Greetings from “those from Italy”; this suggests two possibilities
a. The author was writing from Italy, passing along greetings from those present
b. The author was writing to Italy, sending greetings from those with him who were from there
3. A simple farewell: “Grace be with you all. Amen”
Conclusion
1. So ends “the word of exhortation”, the epistle known simply as, “The Epistle To The Hebrews”
2. Though written to Jewish Christians, with their particular need in mind
a. It is of great value to all Christians
b. It tells us more about the intercessory work of our Lord as High Priest than any other book of the New Testament
c. Its warnings and exhortations are needed just as much today by Christians who are being tempted to leave Christ and go back into the world
3. Especially these words:
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:19-25
4. I pray that our study has served the same purpose, to encourage us all to “draw near” to God, to “hold fast” the hope we confess, and to stir us up “love and good works”.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Hebrews 13:01-03 Loving Exhortations – audio
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Text: Hebrews 13:1-3
Introduction:
1. When we began our study, we noted that the epistle to the Hebrews
a. Began like an essay – Hebrews 1:1-2
b. Progressed like a sermon – Hebrews 2:1 – 12:29
c. Ended like a letter – Hebrews 13:1-25
2. As with many epistles in the New Testament, this letter ends with various exhortations
a. The first regarding the objects of their love – Hebrews 13:1-3
b. Here we find the author practicing what he preaches; seeking to stir up love and good works – Hebrews 10:24
Body
I. TOWARD BRETHREN (Hebrews 13:1)
A. THE IMPORTANCE OF BROTHERLY LOVE
1. It is a mark of true discipleship – John 13:35
2. It is an indication of true spiritual life – 1 John 3:14
B. THE HEBREWS HAD MANIFESTED BROTHERLY LOVE
1. Note the text says their love was to continue
2. They had demonstrated brotherly love in the past
a. In their ministry to God and His saints – Hebrews 6:10
b. Even in their compassion to the author – Hebrews 10:32-34
C. THE NEED FOR BROTHERLY LOVE NEVER DIMINISHES
1. Just as Paul wrote:
a. For the Thessalonians to excel in their love – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10
b. For the Philippians to abound in their love – Philippians 1:9
2. Just as Peter wrote that our love should abound – 2 Peter 1:7-8
3. Even now, the author of Hebrews says Let brotherly love continue!
II. TOWARD STRANGERS (Hebrews 13:2)
A. THIS IS A CALL FOR HOSPITALITY
1. The Greek word is philoxenia {fil-on-ex-ee’-ah}
a. Literally, a love of strangers
b. It involved receiving a stranger (sojourner) into one’s home as an honored guest and to provide the guest with food, shelter, and protection
2. In many ancient cultures, hospitality was a solemn duty
a. It was regarded as a sacred obligation by the ancient Greeks and Romans, one that was approved by Zeus, the god and protector of strangers
b. The Egyptians claimed it as a meritorious deed in life
c. For the Bedouins, it was an expression of righteousness
d. Hospitality is one form of worship (Jewish Proverb)
3. In the early church, it was an important ministry
a. Christians were often displaced by persecution; public inns were scarce, costly, and sometimes dangerous
b. Traveling evangelists were to be supported through hospitality – 3 John 1:5-8
4. Thus hospitality is to be manifested by
a. Those men who would serve as elders (bishops) – 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8
b. Those widows who would be taken into the number – 1 Timothy 5:9-10
c. All Christians – Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9
B. A REASON TO PRACTICE HOSPITALITY
1. for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
a. The example of Abraham – Genesis 18:1-8
b. The example of Lot – Genesis 19:1-3
2. The point is not that we should expect angels to literally come our way
a. Though some we entertain may serve as His messengers (angel means messenger)
b. The key idea is that you never know what hospitality might bring
1) One often receives unexpected benefits from his or her guests
2) There is always the blessedness of giving – Acts 20:35
III. TOWARD PRISONERS AND THE PERSECUTED (Hebrews 13:3)
A. A CALL TO REMEMBER THEM
1. Christians were often persecuted and imprisoned for their faith
a. Prior to his conversion, Paul often led the assault – Acts 8:3; 26:9-11
b. Later, he himself was a prisoner – Philippians 1:12-18; Colossians 4:18
2. The Hebrews had already shown their love toward such prisoners – Hebrews 10:32-34
3. To remember and visit Christians in prison was an act of devotion to Christ Himself – Matthew 25:35-40
4. They could also remember them in their prayers – Acts 12:5; Ephesians 6:18-20
B. THEIR LOVING REMEMBRANCE WAS TO BE INFLUENCED
1. By their sense of fellowship in their brethren’s suffering:
a. As if chained with them;
b. The Lord intended such connection between the members of His Body (if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it) – 1 Corinthians 12:26
2. By their awareness of their own vulnerability
a. Since you yourselves are in the body also
b. They would not be immune to persecution themselves. Therefore, they should be sensitive to the sufferings of others
Conclusion
1. In providing a new and living way, it is true that Jesus made possible a close relationship between man and God – Hebrews 10:19-22
2. But the purity we experience through obeying the truth
a. Is not just that we may have fellowship with God
b. But also that we may have fellowship with each other in sincerity and love! – 1 Peter 1:22-23
3. Thus it naturally follows that as we draw near to God, we should also draw near to one another; this we do when we show our love
a. Toward brethren (Hebrews 13:1)
b. Toward strangers (Hebrews 13:2)
c. Toward prisoners and the persecuted (Hebrews 13:3)
4. May we all be diligent to heed the exhortation to let brotherly love continue!
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Hebrews 10:19-25 A Gracious Exhortation – audio
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(audio starts part way through the introduction)
Text: Hebrews 10:19-25
Introduction
1. To this point in the epistle to the Hebrews, doctrinal arguments have been presented to encourage faithfulness and steadfastness:
a. Demonstrating the superiority of the Son – Hebrews 1:1-8:6
b. Illustrating the superiority of the New Covenant – Hebrews 8:7-10:18
2. With Hebrews 10:19, the author begins making application based upon these premises:
a. Which he does through a series of exhortations and warnings
b. These comprise the remaining part of this epistle
3. In Hebrews 10:19-25, we find a three-fold exhortation:
a. To draw near to God
b. To hold fast our faith
c. To stimulate one another in love and good works
d. All based upon what Christ has done and will do for us!
Body
I. LET US DRAW NEAR IN FAITH (Hebrews 10:19-22)
A. WE ARE EXHORTED TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD
1. To enter the Holiest – Hebrews 10:19
a. That heavenly place where Christ has entered! – Hebrews 9:11-12
b. Into the presence of God Himself! – Hebrews 9:24
2. How are we to do this?
a. having boldness (with great confidence) – Hebrews 10:19
b. with a true heart (with all sincerity) – Hebrews 10:22
c. in full assurance of faith (without doubt) – Hebrews 10:22
B. WHY ARE WE ABLE TO DO THIS?
1. We are able to enter God’s presence because:
a. Jesus has consecrated a new and living way, through the veil – Hebrews 10:19-20
1) There is now a new way to approach God in heaven, through One who lives!
2) It is made possible by the blood of Jesus…His flesh (His death on the cross)
b. Jesus now serves as a High Priest over the house of God – Hebrews 10:21
1) Who is able to come to our aid – Hebrews 2:17-18
2) Who sympathizes with our weakness – Hebrews 4:14-16
3) Who ever lives to intercede in our behalf – Hebrews 7:24-25
2. But we are also able to enter God’s presence because:
a. We have had our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience – Hebrews 10:24
1) This is an allusion to the Old Testament practice of taking blood from the altar and consecrating the priests by sprinkling them with it – Exodus 29:21
2) It is the blood of Christ purges our conscience of sin – Hebrews 9:14
b. We have had our bodies washed with pure water
1) Another allusion to the manner in which priests were consecrated – Exodus 29:4
2) The author has reference to baptism
a) For baptism is referred to as a washing – Acts 22:16; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5
b) Though the stress is on the inner cleansing, not the outer – 1 Peter 3:21
II. LET US HOLD FAST OUR HOPE (Hebrews 10:23)
A. WE ARE EXHORTED TO HOLD FAST THE CONFESSION OF OUR HOPE
1. In Christ we have a much better hope – Hebrews 6:19; Hebrews 7:19
2. But there is the danger of apostasy – Hebrews 3:12-13; Hebrews 4:11
3. For which reason we must hold fast the hope which we confess – Hebrews 3:6-14; Hebrews 4:14
4. Indeed, we need to hold fast…without wavering – Hebrews 10:23
B. A GOOD REASON TO HEED THIS EXHORTATION
1. The faithfulness of God: for He who promised is faithful – Hebrews 10:23
2. God will not fail us (Hebrews 13:5); therefore we need to emulate the faith of Sarah, who judged Him faithful who had promised – Hebrews 11:11
III. LET US CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER (Hebrews 10:24-25)
A. IN ORDER TO STIR UP LOVE AND GOOD WORKS
1. As we draw near to God and hold fast our hope, we are not to do so alone
2. We are to be mindful of each other and how we are doing (consider one another)
3. With a view to incite or spur on (stir up) both love and good works
4. This is reminiscent of the exhortation in Hebrews 3:12-14
B. ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH FREQUENT ASSEMBLING
1. An important purpose of our assembling is to stir up love and good works
a. Yes, we do come to worship and praise God
b. But we also come to edify and exhort one another! – Hebrews 10:25a
2. Therefore we must not become guilty of forsaking the assembling of ourselves together
a. The word forsake means to abandon, desert
b. To stop assembling with the saints altogether
c. Some evidently had done so (as is the manner of some)
3. Exhorting one another through assembling is even more imperative as you see the Day approaching
a. The Day refers to the Judgment Day at the Second Coming
1) It certainly fits the context of Hebrews 9:27-29; Hebrews 10:27, Hebrews 10:37
2) And while one might not know the day and hour of His coming, we were given some general signs of His coming – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8
b. The main point is to appreciate the value and necessity of our assemblies, and that forsaking them is indicative of apostasy!
Conclusion
1. With A gracious exhortation, we are encouraged to:
a. Draw near to God in full assurance of faith
b. Hold fast the confession of our hope
c. Consider one another to stir up to love and good works
2. As motivation to heed this exhortation, we are reminded of:
a. The new and living way now open to God, made possible by Jesus’ death
b. The High Priest who now serves for us over the house of God
c. How we have been consecrated through having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water
d. How He who has promised is faithful
e. How we have each other to encourage us along
f. The approaching Day, in particular the Day of Judgment
If we truly appreciate the blessings we now have in Christ, we will do all that we can to draw closer to God, hold fast that hope which we confess, and utilize the opportunities we have to encourage one another in love and good works!
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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