Final Exhortations and Benediction
Psalm 50:23 ● Hebrews 13:1-25
May 28, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF)
Congregation of Christ: What if the pastor of your church has “been guilty of arrogance, responding to conflict with a quick temper and harsh speech, and leading the staff and elders in a domineering manner … [and having] attitudes and behaviors reflected by a domineering style of leadership”? What if the pastor “domineers by making people feel unsafe and insecure should they desire to voice an objection to his proposals and policies”?
These statements were made in late 2014 by other pastors and elders of Mars Hill Church in Seattle against its pastor, Mark Driscoll. Mars Hill Church was a Seattle megachurch with satellites in 15 cities in five states, and had a weekly attendance of 12,000 people. Mark Driscoll eventually resigned after these allegations, and the tragedy is that the whole Mars Hill group dissolved.
Our text this morning is the last chapter of the Book of Hebrews. All throughout this epistle, this small persecuted church of converted Jews heard exhortations to persevere in their faith in Christ. Some were being convinced by the Jews to go back to the old covenant worship, with its temple, priesthood and sacrifices. But the writer argued that Jesus is the superior Temple, High Priest and once-for-all sacrifice. Why go back to the types and shadows of what Jesus had already fulfilled?
In Chapter 13, the exhortations can be divided into two groups. The first group concerns the people’s relationship with one another: they were to love and serve one another. The second group is about their relationship with the church’s leaders: they were to honor and submit to their leaders. And the character and qualities of Mark Driscoll in Seattle fall very much short of the requirements of a pastor in Scripture.
The epistle then ends in a prayer for God’s blessing on the people.
“Such Sacrifices are Pleasing to God”
The first group of exhortations can be summed up in verse 16, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” The writer speaks of sacrifices many times in the book. In the old covenant, he refers to animal sacrifices offered by the people for their sins. In the new covenant, he speaks of Jesus fulfilling these sacrifices with his once-for-all sacrifice on the cross. But he also speaks about the sacrifices that believers offer to God that are pleasing to God. Paul calls our life as Christians as “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Rom 12:1).
So here are five exhortations listed by the writer, all too familiar to New Testament readers:
First, “keep on loving each other as brothers.” We know he is referring to brothers and sisters in Christ. We have our own families: parents, grandparents, siblings, uncles, aunts cousins. But we also belong to God’s family, God’s household. We call God our heavenly Father, and Jesus calls us brothers and sisters. We are God’s adopted children with all the benefits and inheritance of being true children of God. If you love your family, then why shouldn’t you love your church family? Shouldn’t you support and meet the needs of your brothers and sisters in Christ? This is the idea of “communion” or “fellowship,” which means sharing. The early church shared their possessions with one another. Obviously, it’s impossible to do the same today, but this is the idea behind our offerings. They are for expenses incurred in having a church facility, for pastor’s support, and for supporting those in need among us and then among the community outside the church.
Second, “show hospitality to each other.” The word “entertain” or “show hospitality” is literally “love of strangers.” This implies welcoming a person, even a stranger, with open arms. It was common in first-century Graeco-Roman culture to take people in for the evening because inns are usually unaffordable or merely brothels. When the writer says, “for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it,” he has Abraham in mind. In Genesis 18:2-15, while Abraham was resting under an oak tree, three men appeared before him. He greeted them respectfully, and served them meat, milk, bread and water. He had no idea that two of the men were angels, and one of the men was the Lord, Yahweh, himself appearing to him as a man. This Lord was none other than an appearance of Christ himself before he was born!
Do you show hospitality to your brothers and sisters in Christ? Do you show hospitality to strangers and first-time visitors? Remember the apostle James’ exhortation not to show favoritism towards rich in the church (Jas 2:1-4).
Third, “remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” The writer is referring to their brothers and sisters who had been thrown into prison or are suffering otherwise because of their faith in Christ. Jesus will reward those who visited fellow Christians in prison (Matt 25:36). Paul was thankful for the food and comfort that Onesiphorus gave him when he was in prison (2 Tim 1:16). The disciples prayed for Peter and John after they were arrested (Acts 4). The word “remember” therefore means to keep the prisoners present in one’s thoughts and prayers as if they themselves were in prison and suffering with them.
And this exhortation should bring us to remember our brothers and sisters in Christ in Muslim-dominated countries in the Middle East. Just a few days ago, Islamic terrorists murdered 26 Christians in Egypt in a bus to pray and worship in a monastery. The dead included many children. What can we do to remember them? Give them aid through Christian relief organizations. Pray for them. Welcome Christian refugees to settle in our country.
Fourth, “marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure.” The word “honor” means to treat with respect and to be regarded as precious. Be sexually pure, both married and unmarried. In the first-century world, it was accepted, even expected, for married men to have mistresses. So this teaching was counter-cultural then. But it has also become counter-cultural in our day. Chastity among men and women has become unacceptable to the great majority in our culture today. Violating marriage vows is all too common. What is a Christian parent or grandparent to do? Teach them God’s Word to keep the marriage vow, to not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the Holy Spirit. And then pray without ceasing.
Fifth, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.” This exhortation follows that of sexual purity, just as what we read in the 7th and 8th commandments prohibiting adultery and stealing. The apostle Paul often lumps sexual immorality and greed together, for example, “the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters” (1 Cor 5:10). Or Ephesians 4:19, where he says that unbelievers “have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.”
Contentment or satisfaction is the opposite of greed and covetousness. The love of money often leads to lying, deception, fraud, stealing and even murder. Contentment is a sign of trust in God’s provision, so the writer quotes various Old Testament texts, such as Joshua 1:5, “I will not leave you or forsake you,” and Psalm 118:6, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Not only will God provide for his people; he will also protect them from their enemies.
This is most comforting to the Hebrews audience, a congregation going through severe persecution. Their persecution includes confiscation of their homes and other material possessions (Heb 10:32-34), in addition to the threat of prison or even martyrdom. In this country and in other countries in the West, Christians are not threatened, except in a few cases. We all remember the photographer and the bakers who lost their businesses for their stand against homosexual marriage. So it would be beneficial to prepare ourselves for more persecution and harassment in the coming years. Dark clouds of persecution are looming on the horizon.
“They are Keeping Watch Over Your Souls”
Beginning with verse 7, the exhortations switch to the congregation’s relationship to their church’s leaders, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” The hearers are exhorted to consider, think deeply about, and imitate the exemplary faith and lives of their leaders. He has listed the men and women who led lives of heroic faith in Chapter 11, and these men and women are worth imitating as examples.
But then in verse 8, the writer seems to digress to a different subject, stating an important doctrine, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” What’s the connection between this verse to the subject at hand? Previously, the writer has explained that Jesus was active in creation (Heb 1:2, 10). At present, he reigns from heaven and intercedes for his people (Heb 7:26-28). And he reigns forever (Heb 1:8, 10-12).
The transition is back in verse 7 where he says that their leaders “spoke the word of God to you.” By focusing on Christ’s unchanging nature, the writer reminds them that the word of God spoken to them in the past does not change because it is the eternal Word. That gospel remains the same in the present and will remain the same forever, just as Jesus remains the same forever.
Because the gospel is unchanging, he warns his readers to guard against “strange teachings,” giving as examples the old covenant restrictions about ceremonial meals and animal sacrifices. These ceremonies were of no value, because they are not means of receiving God’s grace. The only source of God’s grace is the sacrifice of Christ. Paul says that these ceremonies are “a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (Col 2:17). He then compares the old covenant sacrifice on the Day of Atonement with the sacrifice of Christ. The bull and goat are slaughtered in the tabernacle, brought outside the camp, and there burned (Lev 16:27). In the same way, Jesus was sacrificed and suffered “outside the gate” of the city. Every year, the blood of animal sacrifices atoned for their sins. But Jesus offered his own blood “to make the people holy.”
Therefore, the writer encourages the people to “go to him outside the camp.” They must leave the camp of the old covenant Jewish religion. Doing this would mean being persecuted, rejected and disgraced, just as the Jews did to Christ. But the comfort is the reward of “an enduring city… that is to come,” the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 12:22), the city “whose designer and builder is God” (Heb 11:10).
There are two exhortations as a result of the sacrifice of Christ. The first is, “continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.” With our lips, we are to offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to God for our salvation in Christ. This is why the psalmist declares, “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Psa 50:23) The second encouragement is, “do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” With our sacrifices of good works toward our brothers and sisters, God is pleased.
From doing good toward each other, the writer switches back to his point back in verse 7, that of the congregation’s relationship with their leaders. Who are the church’s leaders? They are the officebearers established by apostles: pastors, elders and deacons. Expectations are high for a pastor. His résumé is diverse, including eloquent speaker, sensitive counselor, administrator, trainer, motivator, teacher, prayer warrior, and song leader. But some people think the pastor preaches and teaches on Sundays, but what does he do the rest of the week? So the pressure sometimes can be stressful.
In verse 17, the writer encourages the people, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.” This is one of the membership vows we all make. Do you respect your leaders’ authority over you in worship, doctrine and practice? Are you teachable? Do you discuss controversial views with others that could divide the church into factions?
The writer gives the reason why these things are important. First, your leaders keep watch over your spiritual life. They are undershepherds of Christ, so he has delegated his work of keeping his flock nourished and walking on the right path. Second, because they are under Christ’s authority, they are accountable to him (Jas 3:1). They are more accountable to God for their doctrine and life. Third, a church that recognizes the authority of its leaders is a joy to work for and to work with. Is your participation in the church ministries characterized by joy and thankfulness to God and to one another? Or are you a grumbler, fault finder, but at the same time passive in your participation? Fourth, if this is the case, then your leaders would be overburdened in their work. so the writer says, “that would be of no advantage to you.” Your leaders will not function well in their God-appointed tasks. Fifth, because your leaders’ duties for Christ’s kingdom are a great burden, you are to pray for them.
The communion of saints is not easy. But if everyone contributes his spiritual gifts for the benefit of the church and live holy lives in response to God’s Word, our Lord Jesus Christ is pleased as the Shepherd of our souls.
“May the God of Peace Equip You with Everything Good”
Finally, the writer, as all other New Testament do, sends his congregation away by pronouncing God’s benediction or blessing upon them. The pastor doesn’t say, “You’re dismissed!” or “See you next Sunday!” But he sends you away with a blessing from our Trinitarian God.
Our God is a God of peace, so he gives peace to the Hebrews congregation in the midst of dissension and persecution. He continues to give us peace in our hearts that only he can give through difficulties in our church communities.
Jesus Christ is our resurrected Lord, another great comfort that God is able to raise his people from the dead on the last day (John 6:39ff). Like Moses, but much greater than Moses, he is our great Shepherd (Isa 63:11), guiding and nourishing us. He saved us from sins and gave us eternal life by his bloody sacrifice on the cross, the foundation of the eternal covenant of grace.
Finally, the Holy Spirit works in us by giving us spiritual gifts (Gal 5:22-24). He strengthens our weak souls so we are able to do God’s will (2 Thess 2:13), therefore pleasing him (Phil 2:13).
Dear people of God, may this Epistle to the Hebrews, God’s “word of exhortation” to you, encourage you to listen to Jesus Christ, the perfectly obedient Son of God. He is superior to all creation, including angels.
May you find rest for your soul in Christ, your great High Priest, who intercedes for you before your Father in heaven in all your troubles and afflictions. May you find assurance in him who fulfilled all the old covenant shadows in the temple, the priesthood and ceremonial sacrifices. He is the new Temple, and you are the temple of God. He is the Mediator and High Priest of the new covenant of grace. His once-for-all sacrifice on the cross delivered you from all your sins and made you righteous forever. May you imitate the examples of great faith in this book and in your church’s leaders. May you always look always look forward to your inheritance, the heavenly city, whose designer and builder is God. May you always love and do good to your brothers and sisters in Christ, for this is pleasing to God. May you listen to the warnings to persevere in the faith in the face of sufferings and even persecution.
Finally, may this great book of doctrine and exhortations convince you that God’s salvation plan from Genesis to Revelation is unified and fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ, our Great Prophet, Priest and King forever.
