Hebrews 13:1-14

Hebrews 13:1-14

A community that is harassed, oppressed, or persecuted will not survive if it is divided. Throughout history, despots and dictators have worked hard at dividing the people they hoped to dominate. So as this faith community faces hardship, the author stresses the importance of the unity of the church.

Foundational for that unity is the “love of the Brethren.” The ability to endure hardship while supporting and being supported is irrefutably essential. Whether in the extremes of combat or in the lightheartedness of sports, the conviction that we are “in this together” that comes from mutual love enables the members to endure much more than any individual. Show me a church where love has failed, and I will show you a failing church.

This principle extends beyond those well known to us. The hospitality of strangers is the logical next outward extension of love. In a persecution situation, it may be necessary for believers to care for believers they do not know, both as refugees and by remembering (supporting) those who are in prison or in some way oppressed. The blood of Christ makes us closer to a fellow believer we have never before met than to a biological brother who is outside of Christ.

The author addresses two additional threats to the unity of the church: first, sex, and second, money. Sexual misconduct is not only devastating to the parties directly involved; it has a ripple effect throughout the church. Those who are aware of the circumstances, always more people than we imagine, will feel the urge to take sides. Those who remain unaware will perceive that something is wrong. No one in the church will be exempt from the effects. As for money, materialism is completely inconsistent with life in faith. There is nothing wrong with having money so long as we remember that we have it as a steward, that is holding what belongs to someone else. As such, we use it as the true owner wishes. When we attempt to possess it for our own, we set the community and ourselves up for conflict. Two final safeguards for unity are mentioned. In verses 7 and later in 17, the relationship with leadership is addressed. We will address this issue as we look at verse 17. Second is having grace about matters of opinion. In verse 9 the author brings up dietary laws, and the following passage deals with a wide variety of issues on this subject. The strength of the Christian life is grace, not keeping rituals, as was the case in the Old Testament. We have the ability to get bent out of shape over lesser things that are personally important to us. Food would have been a serious point in a Jewish community with the potential to create graceless divisions. But we also have our opinions we would like to make into laws for others to obey. 

“Lord, help me to take seriously the ‘the love of the brethren’ and all that means. AMEN