Hebrews 13:1-6 (NKJV) Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. 3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.
4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
V1 “Let brotherly love continue.” The Hebrews writer now starts writing practical topics. As is often in Paul’s writings doctrine is at the beginning of the letter and the practical placed after the doctrinal section is finished. The first, perhaps foremost, command for the church (believers) is to show brotherly love. Believers are a family (Ephesians 1:5, Romans 8:16-18, and 1 John 3:10) and must show familial love.
V2 “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” The Greek word for “entertain strangers” is (G5381) φιλοξενία philoxenía, which means (Word Study Dictionary) “Hospitality or kindness to strangers (Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2).” The Greek word for “entertained” (the second) is (G3579) ξενίζω xenízō, which means someone unknown to us. If that person is truly a believer than it could refer to the traveling evangelists who relied on housing and food from other believers. Paul also followed this practice at times (Romans 15:24 and 2 Corinthians 1:16). It was also a common practice in the early church (3 John 1:6). Some of the “strangers” were angels. See Genesis 18:1-15.
V3 “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.” Many were in prison for no other reason than they were Christians. Remember them in prayers (Acts 12:5) and visitations (Hebrews 10:34 and 2 Timothy 1:16-18). This also shows brotherly love.
V4 “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” We must not have the sin of covetousness. Our thoughts and actions must be so. God help us. The solution is to learn being content (Philippians 4:11). Some helps to learn to be content are 1) being thankful for what we have, 2) knowing that our weakness of being satisfied with what we have builds spiritual strength (2 Corinthians 12:10), 3) realizing that when we die, we leave everything (1 Timothy 6:6-9), 4) having an attitude to not be rich (1 Timothy 6:6-9), 5) desiring and working for spiritual treasure (Matthew 6:19-21), 6) knowing that we are saving ourselves from temptation to steal, etc., (1 Timothy 6:6-9), 7) having an attitude that I serve only the Lord God (Matthew 6:24), and 8) leaning upon God’s assisting grace (Philippians 4:11-13). The greatest help is that Jesus never, ever, leaves His people.
V5 “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” What we say and do must match. An example of covetousness is the Christian (or Evangelical) Industrial Complex. We must avoided it. Quote: “As I’ve written often on The Roys Report, the result is something called the evangelical industrial complex, a network of ministries, Christian celebrities, media, and megachurches all working together ostensibly to further the gospel—but also to build multi-million-dollar enterprises.~Julie Roys.”
V6 “So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Having God’s help is more important than any amount of money or influence. See Matthew 10:28.
(Holman Commentary):
“Another threat to family life is anxiety. Encouraging words from Psalm 118:6-7 remind us that God’s presence in life banishes anxiety about personal needs. This is the only New Testament verse describing God as a helper. Hebrews 2:18 uses the verbal form of the word to picture Jesus as a source of help for the tempted (cf. Mark 9:22; 2 Cor. 6:2).
“The question, What can man do to me? presumes the answer: “Nothing at all!” With God’s presence, no event in life can shake believers from their foundation. Anxiety about life’s needs or challenges has no place in the heart of the believer who has determined to make God his helper.”
We learn:
- Believers mutual love for each is to be practiced.
- To keep in mind strangers who are believers, Christian prisoners, and marriage are to show this love in public and private
- To be content
- To rejoice in God’s care for us