Summarizing one of the most theologically profound books in the New Testament, the writer simply says in Hebrews 13:1: “Let brotherly love continue.” He is writing primarily to Hebrew believers, some no doubt having been saved from the earliest days of the church, on Pentecost. These saints had been scattered abroad because of persecution. Many had lost everything: jobs, families, homes, and a place to worship freely. Some were contemplating what it was like before their profession of faith in Christ, and they were actually considering returning to Judaism. Thus, the stringent warnings and admonitions throughout the book: “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” (Hebs. 2:3); “Let us go on to perfection” (6:1,2); “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together” (10:25); and, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (10:31)
Coupled with these warnings, the writer demonstrated, with great understanding of both Jewish Law and Christian faith, the advantages of possessing this great salvation and Savior. He argued against anyone even thinking about exchanging the freedom in Christ for the bondage of the never-once-for-all system of ordinances, sacrifices, and earthly priesthood of the Law that was but a shadow of the perfect sacrifice of the believer’s High Priest in Jesus Christ.
Having masterfully completed his apologetic, the writer wraps up his treatise in chapter 13 on another plane entirely: “Let brotherly love continue.”
The Greeks used the term “brotherly love” at first to simply mean that we ought to love our brothers and our sisters—in a filial sense. Then, in time, the term took on the meaning that our love ought to be for “blood relatives.” Next, that was expanded in the family of faith to mean “brothers and sisters” through a spiritual relationship, brothers and sisters in Christ. This latter usage is no doubt what the writer of Hebrews has in mind, while not altogether departing from the family-first concept of love.
In the first eight verses of the chapter, three groups of people are delineated as being those whom we should continue to love: (1) Other believers, including strangers and those who have been imprisoned; (2) our spouses; and (3) those who have been chosen of God to rule over us in our local church.
First, he specifies that we should let brotherly love continue for those who are strangers. This is an especially important reminder, considering that so many early Christians had become strangers after they had trusted Christ. Many were “scattered abroad throughout all the regions of Judea and Samaria” because of persecution. (Acts 8:1) Thus the book of Hebrews spoke in a special way to (and of) these scattered saints, as did James (“to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad…”); and I and II Peter (“to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia…). (James 1:1 & I Peter 1:1) It was imperative, therefore, that other believers remain sensitive to those “strangers” who were still suffering the loss of all earthly ties and treasures. No doubt, those who heard and read this exhortation thought of Abraham who, with his wife Sarah, was visited by three “strangers,” as recorded in Genesis 18, one of which Abraham recognized as being God himself, who had taken on flesh. We still, today, may just be entertaining “angels” (messengers from God) unawares when we entertain strangers, the writer said. He adds that we must not forget those who are in bonds “as bound with them,” just as Paul pleaded to the Colosse church that they “remember my bonds.” (Colossians 4:18)
Second, he turns his attention to the home, exalting the marriage relationship between husband and wife. In the cities where Paul had started churches, there were pagan temples of so-called worship, in which “priestesses” were practicing prostitution as part of a “religious” ceremony. As many as a thousand of these prostitutes practiced in some temples. It was as common and as accepted as sports betting is in today’s culture. It was not uncommon for a married man, especially an unbeliever married to a Christian wife, to look at the old way of life—getting gratification in the pagan temple with a prostitute—to want to return to that practice. The writer warns that wheras it is wholesome to have one’s needs fulfilled through the sexual relationship that God has ordained through marriage; it is adultery to have that need met through sexual activity outside of the bonds of marriage. Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge, the writer warns. To the Christian partner in a relationship with a husband or wife who is unfaithful, he also admonishes that wishing you were free of this person to whom you are united, even to the point of coveting another person’s place or home—or husband or wife—is not the answer: “Let your conversation (lifestyle, way of living) be without covetousness”; and “be content with such things as you have”; (13:5) and don’t forget that, though your spouse may choose to be unfaithful, even to leave you, “He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” (13:6)
Finally, “remember them which have the rule over you. For two reasons: (1) they have spoken to you the Word of God; and (2) they have lived an example before you— “whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” (13:7) Later in the chapter, readers are exhorted to “obey them that have the rule over you.” (13:17) Both of these directives speak of our response to those who are “elders” (bishops, pastors) to whom God has given the charge to “feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof.” (I Peter 5:2) Our relationship toward, and response to, our spiritual leaders is a fundamental way in which we can “let brotherly love continue.”
Sensitive to “strangers” and those in bonds; submissive in love to one’s spouse; and subject to the guidance of our spiritual leaders—all ways, practical to be sure, that we can and must “let brotherly love continue,” even in our world today!
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (Jesus: John 13:35)
YOU and GOD 