Jesus is Better - Hebrews Week 15
This is our last
week studying the book of Hebrews; we have seen above all else that King Jesus
is better. He has ushered in a new covenant, mediated through His blood, and by
faith in His name; we have a great inheritance that lies before us.
What is one takeaway from our study in
the book of Hebrews?
Now, for this week's study...
The Point:
We must
live seeking the eternal city.
Hebrews
13:1-25
Let brotherly love
continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some
have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though
in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the
body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be
undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your
life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has
said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The
Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
7 Remember your
leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their
way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and
today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for
it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have
not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who
serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose
blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin
are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in
order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to
him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no
lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us
continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips
that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you
have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
17 Obey your
leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as
those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with
groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18 Pray for us, for
we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all
things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be
restored to you the sooner.
20 Now may the God
of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of
the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything
good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 I appeal to you,
brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.
23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I
shall see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints.
Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with all of you.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton,
IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Heb 13:1-25.
Study
Notes
WEEK 15 NOTES:
Hebrews 13:1-25
Similar to the book
of Romans, Hebrews is a book that’s largely theological, with reference after
reference to the Old Testament. Yet, the book of Hebrews is also similar to the
book of Romans in that it was written to a specific group of believers at a
specific time in a specific location.
Thus, it’s in
Hebrews 13, where the author switches from a pastoral exhortation to practical
application. In Hebrews 12:28, the author says, “Therefore, let us be grateful
for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God
acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”
Because we have an inheritance above, a coming kingdom where we reign with
Christ in glory for all time, we must live in this world with endurance,
holding fast to the confession of our hope.
And it’s because of
that great inheritance, the author says, we not only are empowered to endure,
but we should be motivated for proper worship and service to God. The author
doesn’t leave us hanging on what he means by “acceptable worship.” In fact, he gives
us ten principles for seeking the heavenly city and offering up to God obedient
worship through the Lord Jesus.
1) Love Each Other
(v.1)
2) Show Hospitality
(v.2)
3) Remember the
Mistreated (v.3)
4) Let Marriage Be
Held in Honor (v.4)
5) Be Content in
Christ (v.5)
6) Trust Your
Leaders (v. 7, 17)
7) Hold on to the
Truth (v. 8-9)
8) Suffer Well (v.
10-15)
9) Show Compassion
(v. 16)
10) Pray for Each
Other (v. 18)
While much could be
said on applying each of these principles to the life of the Christian, it must
also be noted there is an incredibly straight-forward application to each.
These aren’t simply suggestions, but commands for the believer. Furthermore, it’s
not as if these principles appease or please God in and of themselves. The
author has already stated, “...without faith it is impossible to please him.”
Rather, these principles are to be offered up to God by faith in the Lord Jesus
as “...as sacrifice of praise to God.”
The author
summarizes this, as well as his message from the rest of the letter, in his
benedictory prayer in v. 20-21. Thus, we no longer offer to God the sacrifices
of bulls or rams as in the old covenant because God has provided a better
sacrifice, who mediated a better covenant through his own blood. By faith in
his name, we now offer to God the sacrifice of our lives, walking in
worship-filled awe of who God is, awaiting the heavenly kingdom. How we
worship, how we walk in anticipating the coming of that kingdom, is how we live
out these principles given forth by the author.
QUESTIONS
FOR DISCUSSION
According to the
author of Hebrews, what is our motivation for worship?
What does it look
like to live a life of worship according to Hebrews 13?
Which of the ten
principles stand out to you?
Of the ten
principles for seeking the heavenly city, which is the most difficult for you?
Which comes most naturally to you?
How do you think
the world around you would view Christ-followers if we walked according to
these ten principles?
We live our life in
this world seeking the heavenly kingdom above, where Christ our King is seated
on his throne. Because we have a great inheritance before us, we live in the
now with hearts of gratitude, desiring above all else to glorify God and
advance his gospel into the world.
END
Teacher Notes:
One of my devotions this week...
Click Play to Watch
In John 14:9 Jesus said, “… Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father…”
Jesus showed us that He is like God in taking on flesh and blood, and so, in His generosity, in His compassion – that’s what God’s like. In His telling of the truth – that’s what God’s like. In His love, and forgiveness, and sacrifice – that’s what God’s like. That’s who God is.
God is
sheer being itself – Spirit. Those who worship Him do it out of their very
being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration. – John 4:24 (MSG)
Sometimes you can feel God, like you do the rhythm of
a song, and it moves you. One could say that this song is playing all around us
all the time, the song is playing everywhere, it’s written on our hearts, and
everybody is playing the song. So, the question isn’t whether you’re playing a
song, the question is, Are You In Tune?
Maybe the way we live every day
determines
how in tune with God we
are.
We no longer offer to God the sacrifices of bulls or rams as in the old
covenant because God has provided a better sacrifice - Jesus, who mediated a
better covenant through His own blood.
By faith in His name, we now offer to God the sacrifice of our
lives, walking in worship-filled awe of who God is, awaiting the heavenly
kingdom.
My
devotion closed with this:
Maybe you
haven't felt in tune or connected or in relationship with God
because of all these things, these ideas you have about what that means, all
these things that you’ve been told about what it is or what it isn’t.
To be
honest - an infinite, massive, kind of invisible God, can be hard to get our
minds around, but truth, love, grace, mercy, justice, compassion – the
way that Jesus lived – I can see that, I can understand that - I can
relate to that, and I can feel that song, and that rhythm.
Jesus
said, “I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” –
John 10:10 (CEV)
So, in
closing:
May you
come to see and feel that the song IS written on your heart.
And as you live in tune with the song, in tune with the way Jesus lived – may you realize that you ARE connected and in relationship with the living God.
Let me close as I opened:
with two anteaters sharing marital wisdom.
