Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
Hebrews 13:17
This is a tough verse for me to comment about; I have been in church leadership for roughly 40 years, and I doubt I ever once quoted it unless I was teaching Hebrews 13: We live in cynical times…
Over the years, there have been great leaders in the church; there have also been some who were not so great; leaders can suffer from the same issues that everyone else may suffer from. Some may be in leadership for all of the wrong reasons, some may think that being a leader in the church makes them a big shot or an important person, and yes, I have met a few like that. In my experience, many church members are critical of their leaders, no matter what those leaders do, but I must tell you that in my experience, that sort of criticism usually said much more about the critic than the leader.
This simple verse has two points to it. First is the injunction for us to submit to Biblical authority within the church. Dear reader, if we cannot do this, there will never be unity in our churches. The second is that leaders must understand that they will give an account for their leadership tenure, for it is a heavy responsibility. It occurs to me that I should say that when I speak of leaders in the church, I refer not to leaders within a denominational structure somewhere, but rather at the local congregational level, and this is because these are the ones this verse refers to, not denominational authorities. I can say this because at the time of writing, there were no denominational structures or authorities.
To be a leader in the church is not for everyone; it means that you become the servant of all. It involves making sacrifices that few will give you credit for, few will ever even know about. It means that you may be unfairly criticized by those you serve, and it will result in many sleepless nights and lots of prayers for guidance. In short, it is possibly the most wonderful experience anybody can have on the earth… but it isn’t for most people.
It is a whole lot easier if people complain and criticize less and focus on Jesus Christ more, that’s for sure.
Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.
Hebrews 13:18-19
Please read these 2 verses carefully, and you will detect a heart that yearns to be with the people of the church, apparently a church in which the author has served as a leader. In verse 18 it is clear that he fully comprehends the responsibility of leading, the parental love he feels for his people, and in verse 19 you can easily see his longing to return to them in these difficult times of testing through which they are travelling. I can tell you from experience that this is how it “feels” to have been a leader in the church.
In this area, the trees are turning later than usual, many are still green and there is speculation concerning the reasons for this. Some say that the rest won’t turn at all, the leaves will just quickly die and fall off. I’m no scientist, and while I will admit that I am curious about this, it really doesn’t matter because the trees will do what they need to and what God made them to do. As you might guess from this statement, I doubt that these things happen for no reason; somebody is in charge.
Why can’t we be like the trees? Why can’t we just do what we need to do, when it needs doing and not worry about everything else that isn’t relevant? Nobody gave those trees a calendar and a deadline; they just do what they need at the right time. If the right time this year is a little different than it was last year, those trees don’t stop everything and hire a consultant to explain why that is, they just do what needs doing.
Think about it; God rules nature; He determines when the trees change and how they will do it… and they do. There are no committee reports and complaints; no arguments and no analysis.
Are you ready for me to be finished talking about trees?
OK, here’s the point…
We are God’s servants and He has things for us to do. So, when will we do these things? Will we call a meeting of the church board and “discuss” it? Will we just get our work done?
We are to make disciples, and we all know it, what will we do today to accomplish the work God has given us?
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:15-16
Wonderful verses! Our author is wrapping up his exhortations now, thus the “therefore.” A sacrifice of praise; this isn’t really an Old Testament concept as much as it is a recognition of the reality that has come in Christ. What is left to do but praise Him? This is a sacrifice that pleases God…
But there is something of a “catch” in the second part of the sentence. This pleasing sacrifice is the “fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” Think about those original recipients in Rome during Nero’s persecution. Wouldn’t it make sense to keep your mouth shut if you were in their situation? Of course it would, there’s no need to invite trouble, right?
Well dear reader, that’s why the author called it a sacrifice; it was truly a dangerous thing to do.
Fast-forward to the 21st century… How is it exactly that so many who live in freedom justify not speaking out in praise of Jesus Christ…? Yeah, I know, I’ve heard all of the excuses.
There is another new sacrifice mentioned in verse 16. We must “do good” and “share with others.” Please take careful note of the word “do.” As I’ve mentioned previously, the whole faith versus works argument is an argument based entirely on a false premise, for the two are not mutually exclusive. We don’t earn anything by what we do… clearly! We “do” because we love. We love because He first loved us, therefore the “do” part is a response to His love. Stop fighting it; it has nothing to do with earning something, it is a sacrifice that is pleasing to God.
As true as that is, there is more, for in serving others and “doing good” there is an added benefit, we grow closer to Him in relationship when we humble ourselves and put others ahead of ourselves. When the Body of Christ lives this way, the testimony to the world is powerful to say the least, and many more come to receive His love. You see, dear reader that is what Christ’s Ambassadors are here to do in this strange and foreign land we call earth.
Note: I originally posted this on October 25, 2014. I share this with you now and hope you will enjoy it.
This is my fourth October on Word Press, and in each of the past three years I have posted something about Halloween. I’ve noticed that there aren’t as many this year on the subject… but there’s still time, and I’m sure there will be more in the days to come.
Back in October of 1985 or ’86, I spent a Saturday afternoon with Mr. Edgar Dale, who gave me a guided tour of Virginia City, Nevada and of the historic part of Carson City, Nevada where I was living back in those days; it was one of the most amazing afternoons of my life. Mr. Dale was a spry 98-year-old who had been born and raised in Virginia City, and who had then moved to Carson City where he attended high school and graduated from Carson High School, Class of 1906. He took me all over Virginia City telling me about the people who lived in this house and that house, about the gunfight in this or that block, and the movement of the old trains that were still carrying silver ore from the mines of the Comstock Lode in the 1890’s.
In Carson City, he pointed out the house on Minnesota Street where his best friend from high school lived. It seems that this friend was the preacher’s son, and that he had a younger sister. One fine summer evening, the sister’s birthday, Mr. Dale was invited to spend the night. He and his buddy waited until everyone was asleep, and then crept downstairs to get the rest of her birthday cake, and then snuck back upstairs, climbed out of the window, and gorged themselves on the cake while sitting out on the roof. Apparently, the boys thought they could talk and laugh out there without waking anybody up, but when the preacher came out the front door to see what was going on, they discovered that their brilliant plan hadn’t worked out so well.
Later that year, the boys again snuck out late at night. They met up and proceeded to acquire a goat that they placed on the roof of the preacher’s house, and then crept back to their respective places. Oh, did I fail to mention that this was their Halloween prank for the year 1904?
The next day when the preacher came out to get the morning paper and noticed there was a goat on the roof, he knew right away that his son was involved, and that if his son were involved his partner in crime must be Edgar. Needless to say, the boys had to figure out how to get that goat off the roof, return it, and then be given not only numerous chores to do, but to be singled out in Sunday School for the next several months for all of the hard questions.
When I was that age, a prank like that would have landed me in jail!
That brings us to the question of Halloween and the Christian; should a Christian participate in Halloween?
Halloween has origins that are entirely pagan; nobody argues that point. Since it originated, a certain aspect of the occult has been added to it, and at least in some countries, there is a cultural aspect as well, that has no particular occult connection, like Mr. Dale’s recollections of 1904. I must point out that Halloween is not the only holiday with pagan origins that most of us observe, but we’ll talk more about that in December.
Should a Christian participate in Halloween? Well, I don’t participate in Halloween, but that is mostly because my children have grown up. When they were little, I allowed them to participate under my supervision. My reasoning was that Halloween as a festival for children and fun, was neither pagan nor occultic; it was fun. I educated my kids on the difference and taught them the reasons and the dangers of messing around with the occult, and there were no untoward incidents of any kind.
I know that many will disagree with me on this, and that’s fine, I respect your views and understand why you have them. Yet it seems to me that parents can take the effort to supervise and direct their children in their activities and ensure a safe and non-occult Halloween, and if they’re really sharp, they can turn the occasion into one in which the gospel is shared, rather than into a pseudo-pagan indulgence.
And so, with all of this said, I wish you a happy… Reformation Day… or Nevada Day… or just a happy day.
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
Hebrews 13:9-10
As he continues in his exhortations, the Hebrews author now moves into the area of “strange teachings.” This follows from his remarks in verses 7-8 in which he told us to “remember” our leaders who “spoke the word of God to you.” Strange teachings seem to refer to teachings that are at variance with the Truth, that are at variance to the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. Very clearly, any teaching that re-imposes the Old Covenant Law onto the New Covenant would count as “strange” indeed. He continues by pointing out that it is better for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, rather than by eating ceremonial foods which are of “no benefit.” In trying to follow this, we might keep in mind that Jesus, the Living Word came to us “full of grace and truth.” He didn’t bring us ceremonial regulations like those contained in the Old Covenant; He brought “grace and truth.” The reality of grace and truth replaced the ceremonies, feasts, and festivals; why put any reliance upon these things now that the New has come? In light of this, it always strikes me as interesting when I think of our special days, special meals and special ceremonies today…
The author underscores this with his comment about the altar that we have, that the Old Covenant priests have no access to; the real one in heaven that they cannot approach, as opposed to the “illustration” in the Temple. And now, the author has set up what comes next:
The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
Hebrews 13:11-14
In this little paragraph, the author makes a comparison between the sacrifice made in the earthly Temple and the fire consuming the sacrifices outside of the earthly camp, with the New Covenant sacrifice outside the city… with our being “strangers” on earth. In order for us to fully appreciate this, recall that contrast of Covenants: The Old Covenant is an earthly exercise in every respect. It has outward laws, outward sacrifices, and outward, physical promises. It has a physical Temple and a physical earthly nation. The New Covenant brings the reality of what was pictured in the physical aspects of the Old Covenant. We are no longer citizens of an earthly realm, being now citizens of a heavenly Kingdom. We no longer have human priests presenting animal sacrifices in a physical Temple, we have the superior sacrifice of Christ, and we can now present ourselves in the heavenly Temple, in the actual presence of God. With this in mind, let’s look at verses 13-14:
Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
We leave the earthly city and go outside to where Jesus bore our sin and its disgrace in perfect humility, as servants. We have no city here, for we are not citizens of earth, but citizens of heaven, and we look forward to the day when we will go “home” to our true heavenly home. Think about the impact of this to his original readers, in their trial of persecution.
Now, think about what this means for us… Only our earthly circumstances are different, the Truth of these things is the same.
The Apostles came to view the Books of the Old Testament as relating to an entirely different relationship from that of the Christian. In fact, they viewed the covenants of the Old Testament as being altogether separate from Christ’s Covenant. They treated the religion of the Old Testament as a completely different covenant from that of Christ, and the result was a clear-cut doctrine of two covenants. This clear distinction is demonstrated in the following passages.
Romans 7
Here, Paul uses the analogy of marriage to demonstrate what happens to a bride when her husband dies; she is free from the binds of marriage, and able to enter into another covenant. In the analogy, the husband represents the Law (Old Covenant) and the wife represents those who were under the Law. When the husband (Law) dies, the wife (us) is free to marry (enter the New Covenant).
So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.
Romans 7:4
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
Romans 7:6
In this chapter, Paul points out to us that those who lived under the Old Covenant terms were released from those terms when that Covenant died on the cross along with Christ, and that as a consequence, we are not bound by the terms of the Old Covenant.
Romans 10
Here Paul discusses the fact that in the New Covenant, Christ is righteousness, and that those who are “in Christ” are righteous because Christ is righteous. Under the Law, righteousness was defined by a written code, and we were left to follow it; something resulting in a hopeless situation.
Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Romans 10:3-4
2 Corinthians 3
In this chapter, Paul has put together an amazing comparison and contrast of the two Covenants in vv. 6-18:
Old Covenant
New Covenant
Tables of stone
New covenant
In letter
In Spirit
Kills
Gives life
Glory
Greater glory
Fading
Permanent
Brings condemnation
Brings righteousness
Israelites look…
We behold…
At Moses’ face
Glory of the Lord
Which is veiled
With unveiled face
Veil lies over their minds
Veil is taken away
Mind hardened
We are being transformed
The Lord is the Spirit
There is freedom
It was all or nothing… there was no middle ground. Moses had mediated a Covenant that faded as he faded, and now all things were new in Christ. The Ten Commandments were part of the old treaty, and if parts of the Commandments were to be kept, it was because they had been re-authorized by Christ through His Apostles, not because they had been part of the old Law.
Galatians 2
We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
Galatians 2:15-16
Under the Law, men were justified by keeping the standard of the written code. This is no longer possible because the code has been done away with at the cross. Even if a man can keep the Law, in all of its 613 dictates… he will not be justified, as even the Jew, a descendant of Abraham, cannot be justified by it any longer. Justification comes by our living “in Christ” as Christ would have us to live; justified by Christ’s righteousness and not by our own. Under the Law, a man’s conscience can never be free from guilt. It is only through Christ that a man can be freed.
Galatians 3
Paul’s treatment here of Jesus as the “seed of Abraham” is one of his strongest arguments.
The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”
Galatians 3:8
Abraham had more than one son by more than one woman, but only through the son of promise was this blessing passed: Isaac. Now, Jesus was in the place of Isaac, and only through Him would blessing be passed. You were either the blood of Isaac or you were not; now you are either the blood of Christ or you are not.
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.
Galatians 3:16
Abraham had entered into covenant for himself. After Abraham, people entered into covenant by the blood of Isaac. From Calvary forward, people entered into covenant by the blood of Christ. Abraham believed God, and that was considered righteousness by God. Now, all men must believe God, and the result is that they are counted righteous by the righteousness of Christ. His strongest statement follows:
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:26 ff.
At the Second Jerusalem Conference, Peter had boldly stated that Jews, like Gentiles, were saved by faith in Christ apart from the Law. Here, Paul takes away the last shred of pride in being a physical descendant of Abraham; he declares the Gentiles to be Israelites: If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
A Jew not in Christ was “not my people” (Romans 9:25). A Gentile in Christ was part of “all Israel” (Romans 11:26). The “all Israel” about which Paul spoke was related to the covenant of the “deliverer from Zion”:
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
Romans 11:26-27
Galatians 4
In this chapter, Paul uses an interesting metaphor: Hagar represents the two major covenants of the Old Testament, the Mosaic and Abrahamic Covenants. Paul claims that the Law was added to the Abrahamic covenant, and in effect only until the last promise of the former covenant was fulfilled in Christ. Sarah represents the New Covenant, and the result of the New Covenant is the ouster of both Hagar and her son.
These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: “Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”
Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does the Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”
Galatians 4:24-30
Jerusalem is another name for the church when so noted:
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.
Hebrews 12:22 ff.
When Paul said “cast out” he was really referring to the casting out of all non-Israelites by faith. For him, there was absolutely no possibility of two covenants operating side by side, one for the Jew and one for the Christian. There were two covenants, but the first one was over… and that was all there was to it!
Ephesians 2
Here, Paul is dealing again with the same issue. Once there had been two kinds of people: Jew and Gentile. The wall between them had been created by the Law of Moses (2:15). Now, the wall was gone forever.
by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:15-20
The Old Law was gone, but the history of redemption continued seamlessly. Because the New Covenant in Christ was the fulfillment of both the Abrahamic and Mosaic systems, it continued the history of the relationship forward into the future for the rest of time, and the old systems ceased to function.
Hebrews 7
For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 7:17
The Law of Moses provided a priesthood from the Levites. If Jesus is a priest, it is an illegal priesthood. But the argument is made that Abraham bowed down to Melchizedek, thus indicating that Melchizedek is superior to Abraham. If this is so, then Aaron and Levi are also subservient to Melchizedek, and ought to bow before him. Jesus, as a priest of the order of Melchizedek is also superior to Abraham, Aaron, and Levi: therefore, all Levites and all Jews must bow down to Him. This creates a choice: The Law or Christ. If the choice is for Christ, the priesthood of the Law is replaced:
For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:4-8
The Hebrews author continues to wind up his letter to Rome with exhortations, and at first glance this selection seems a little random, almost out of context, in fact. We’ve been going through the amazing reality of the New Covenant, sweeping through redemption history, coming into the very presence of God… in a context of remaining faithful to the end, even through terrible persecution; even unto death. Then the author suddenly begins to tell us to respect marriage, be pure, not to love money and to respect our leaders in the faith. Circle the piece in the picture that doesn’t belong…
But don’t be too hasty!
You could say that these things are mentioned to remind the recipients not to slip into sin, and who could argue with that? Yet it still doesn’t quite fit in context, does it? Yes, yes, not slipping into sin is the correct Sunday school answer, but it hardly gets to the point; Sunday school answers usually don’t get to the point.
Remain faithful to the end, even unto death. Faithful is a covenant term meaning to keep covenant. Adultery is a violation of the marriage covenant. Have you ever known (or been) someone who is involved in an extra marital affair? These things seem to require a web of deceit and deception to keep them going, and there seems to be a certain drive to keep them going. When the guilty party is found out, there is great carnage in their homes, relationships, and in their lives in general. These things take a lot of work and attention, and I can say with great confidence that they do not promote or advance anybody’s relationship with Jesus Christ. Sexual immorality tends to have the same kinds of attributes even if there is no marital issue involved. How about the love of money and things? While this may not always require secrecy, it does require attention and effort; a great deal of it, actually. Does it enhance one’s relationship with our Lord? Hardly!
The author has been teaching us not to neglect our covenant relationship― he has been encouraging us to remain faithful. Sexual immorality of whatever kind, and the love of money, are things that can become so all-encompassing in a person’s life that they can easily cause one to slip away from Christ, their faith, and even to “fall away” entirely; thus, these are not random exhortations at all. The quotations from Deuteronomy 31 and Psalm 118 take the exhortation to the next step, for they remind us that in Christ, we have the help we need to stand firm in our faith; to remain faithful and to persevere. Even the mention of our leaders who stand tall in their faith to teach, encourage, and exemplify what it is to live in Christ is there to give us encouragement. Leaders, this should also remind you of your responsibility to emulate Jesus Christ in everything that you do and say.
As we pause here to reflect, can you see how this all fits together? It is as though the author is telling us to keep our eyes on Jesus, not to be drawn off track by the temptations of this world, but to persevere through any kind of trial, whether it is a trial of persecution or a trial of temptation so that we can remain faithful to the end. What he is not really doing here is citing mere “violations”, for he is going much deeper than that. He is asking us to consider our innermost priorities, just as Jesus taught in His Sermon on the Mount.
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No, we aren't perfect, we are works in progress. There's no judging, no guilt and no condemnation here, just perspectives on life and truth as we work on our Project to become a little more like Him every day.
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