D. Acceptable service... in regard to Truth (vs. 7-14)--
a. the true doctrine (vs. 7-9).
b. the true altar (vs. 10-12).
c. the true city (vs. 13-14).
13:7 Remember them which have {had} the rule over you,
who have spoken unto you the word of God:
whose faith follow, considering the end of [their] conversation.
the rule over you- GK=hegeomai, guidance, leadership.
The church leaders are not to rule over the people, but rather to lead as a shepherd.
Such men lead like Christ (eg. Psa 23:1-4) and to Christ (v.8).
They lead by the Word, by the example of their faith, and way of life.
Note the past tense: they have led, they have spoken.
God will hold us accountable for how we hear, and how we follow.
His Word does not become invalid when His servant is removed.
the 'end' of their {manner of life}- Their life purpose was to know & serve Christ.
13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
the same- This refers to His unchanging character, person, and attributes.
It does not refer to His place or performance. Those, who fail to make this distinction, fall into error by assuming that Jesus must act today, just as He did during His earthly ministry (eg., with healing & miracles).
His person:
Jesus- the eternal Son of God, who became Son of man.
Christ- the anointed One who fulfills the promises of God, and accomplishes the salvation of God.
His place & performance have changed. [adapted from JVMcGee]
Once He was a baby in Bethlehem.
... He is no longer a baby, nor is He in Bethlehem.
Once He was subject to Mary in Nazareth.
... He is no longer in Nazareth, nor is He under Mary's influence.
Once He suffered & died on the cross.
... He is no longer on the cross, nor is He suffering for our sins.
Now He is risen, ascended, and exalted at the Father's right hand.
Now He is the one Mediator between God & man.
Soon He will come from heaven to judge the living & the dead.
For [it is] a good thing that the heart be established with grace;
not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
'grace' versus 'unprofitable meats'- Man tends toward a religion of works, featuring things
which must be done by, applied to, or imbibed by the flesh. Judaism became focused on such external ceremonies of religion. But ritual could not accomplish redemption. The religion of Christianity also has its share of unprofitable rites (eg., indulgences, special diets, holy water, the Mass, etc.). Rom 14:17; Heb 9:9-12; Joh 6:54,63
That which is "established with grace" rests totally on God's working.
Salvation, sanctification, acceptable service...must be all of grace.
13:10 We have an altar,
whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
an altar... no right to eat-
The OT priests were partially supported by partaking of the altar. That is, they had the right to eat portions of the sacrificial animals. However, they were forbidden to eat of the sin offerings, especially that offered on the Day of Atonement. Lev 6:29,30
Christ's one sacrifice superseded the many Temple sacrifices. (10:11-12)
Christ's all sufficient sacrifice is an offense to fleshly ritual,
because it accomplished "once for all" what the flesh could never do.
Those who continue to "serve the tabernacle" (ie., the OT system)
cling to shadows which speak of Christ, but they do not partake of His reality. (10:1)
13:11 For the bodies of those beasts,
whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin,
are burned without the camp.
On the Day of Atonement, the blood sprinkled, on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies, made atonement (a covering) for sinful people before a Holy God.
Meanwhile, the body of the sacrificial animal was burned "outside the camp", symbolizing the putting away of sin by the consuming fire of God's presence. (cp. 12:29)
13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
let us go...unto Him- If we would be identified with Him in His sanctification (v.12),
we will also be identified with Him in His rejection by men.
without the camp- We are to separate ourselves: from fleshly religion, and unto Christ.
The original readers did not want to leave the temple or its ritual & religion. But since that institution rejected and dishonored Christ, they must separate if they would be true to Him.
13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
(2) Dispossession- The earthly Jerusalem & its temple, though considered sacred (cp Psa 137:5), must not hold us back from following Christ. Unknown to the original readers, earthly Jerusalem would continue only a few years before its destruction in 70 A.D.
"the fruit of our lips" alludes to Hos 14:2 which reads "the calves of our lips", implying the costliness of sacrifice. Changing circumstances may make "giving thanks" seem burdensome. But God remains ever constant in His person & promises. Col 1:12
Praise is: "...the fruit of lips that make confession of His name." [vs.15b as translated by Wuest]
Note that our priestly service has Godward aspects (points 1 & 2 above), and manward aspects (3 & 4 below).
13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not:
for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
3. Your purse (v.16b)
"to communicate"- GK=koinoneo, to share, to have in common.
4. Your performance (vs.16a, 17)- "to do good". cp.1The 5:15; Heb 6:10
13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:
for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account,
that they may do it with joy, and not with grief:
for that [is] unprofitable for you.
obey- GK=peitho, be won over by persuasion (cp. the Bereans, Acts 17:11; 2Cor 5:11).
submit- GK=hupeiko, yield under (their leadership).
them that have the rule- as in v.7, those who are your guides & leaders.
V.7 tells us to "remember them who have spoken the Word unto you".
Here, we are to obey & submit according to the teaching of the Word.
'It would be better not to hear the Word, than to hear & not obey.' [JVMcGee]
they that watch...must give account-
The spiritual leaders, as shepherds of God's people, are responsible to Him.
See 9:9 and 10:14 where "perfect" is GK=teleio, to make complete, to finish.
13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will,
working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ;
to whom [be] {the} glory for ever and ever. Amen.
make you perfect- GK=katartizo. This is not the usual word for perfect (see v.20 note).
This word is also translated as "prepared" (10:5), or "framed" (11:3).
Here the meaning is "to make fit, to prepare fully" for His specific purposes.
working- GK=poieo, to do, to bring forth (see note at 12:27)
13:22 And I beseech {ie., exhort} you, brethren,
suffer {ie., allow, bear with} the word of exhortation:
for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
few words- This profound epistle is brief enough
to be read at one sitting of the assembled church. But, we dare not discount or minimize its message.
13:23 Know ye that [our] brother Timothy is set at liberty;
with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
The reference to Timothy may be an indication of Pauline authorship. cp. 2Cor 1:1; 1Tim 1:1,2
13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
them that have the rule- ie., those who guide & lead (as in vs.7,17).
all the saints- ie., those who are sanctified in Christ (eg., 6:10; 13:12).
But we should not think that these words are merely a polite formality.
Here, the author expresses his prayerful desire that his readers would enter fully into God's grace in Christ, as described in this letter. cp. Titus 3:5-7,15