The way of love

Hebrews 13:1-25

Key Verse 13:1

This passage contains the author's final exhortations. His exhortations can be studied with the title “the way of [God's] love”, in that the exhortations remind the members of Jesus' church of the love God has for his children.  

1. Read verses 1-3. How many categories of people are mentioned and what are they? What does the author of the epistle exhort his flock to do in regard to each group? 

** 4 groups

a) Members of the church (called 'each other'); b) strangers; c) those in prison; and d) those who are mistreated. 

** vs. 1-3

2. Read verse 4. What does it mean to "honor" marriage? Can you think of any examples recorded in the Bible where God judged the adulterer and all the sexually immoral? 

** It means we must recognize it as a divine institution which God established to serve his purpose such as procreation and nurturing children to grow up in love as parents serve their children in a home environment. 

** People in the days of Noah; people living in Sodom and Gomorrah

3. Read verses 5-6. What does the expression "keep your lives free from" [especially the word "free"] indicate about "the love of money"? Why should we keep our lives free from the love of money? How can one "free himself from the love of money"? (5b-6)

** It indicates that as one loves money, he or she so easily gets caught up and enslaved by the desire for more. 

** 1Ti 6:10; When a person is materialistic, busy making money all the time, he does not have any time or the energy to serve the Lord. 

** vs. 5b-6; Read also Matthew 6:33

4. Read verses 7-8. Verse 7 indicates that leaders are charged with the duty to speak "the word of God". How is "the word of God" related to "Jesus Christ" described in verse 8?  

** Studying, hearing, learning, and/or speaking (or teaching) the Word of God leads man to knowing Jesus Christ. 

Jesus is called the Word of God. 

The point of the whole Bible is Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. 

A leader who is called to speak the word of God is obligated to serve God's word in such a way that his audience should be able to meet Jesus personally. The purpose of teaching the word of God is to lead people to Jesus Christ. 

5. Read verses 9-16, and describe: 1) example(s) of "strange" teachings; 2) the meaning of the "altar" (as described in verse 10); 3) the purpose of Jesus' sufferings (outside the city gate); and 4) the duties we have in the Lord (15-16). 

** Those who teach that in order to strengthen your heart (spirit), certain foods need to be eaten or need to be eaten in certain way. 

** Altar reminds us of Jesus who died on a tree for our sins; the term "altar" was not used to mean a physical altar, but rather symbolically, so that it refers to the sacrifice Jesus made as described in vs. 11-13. 

** He suffered to make the people holy through his own blood. 

** 1) offer to God a sacrifice of praise; and 2) do good and share [the gospel, i.e., the grace we receive from Jesus] with others.  

6. Read verse 17. Why should we obey our leaders?

** Ultimately it is to our own advantage, for through their services, and as much as we obey them, they are motivated work harder and better with joy for the flock of God, including ourselves.

7. Read vs. 18-25. What does this passage tell us about: 1) God; 2) our Lord Jesus; 3) [people who are described as] "we" (in verse 18) or "I" (in verse 19); and 4) the people described as "you" (mentioned in verses 19,21-25)?

     ** This passage shows us the channel through which God's blessings reach the flock of God, that is, God first, then Jesus, then his servants such as the Apostle Peter or Paul, then to their sheep, then the rest of God’s flock etc. 

1) God is the God of peace; he wants to build a peaceful relationship between God and men.

2) To fulfill God's purpose (peace-making), God sent Jesus, the peacemaker. Jesus died for our sins and rose again for our justification. So in and through Jesus, the new and living way, we can come to God for life. 

3) We - the author (most likely the Apostle Paul) and his coworkers such as Timothy; it appears that the author was still in prison (perhaps for the sake of the gospel). Timothy was once imprisoned, but he was released.

4) You - the recipients of the epistle

The end

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