Daily Scripture Reading Hebrews 13:3-25

Modern culture is actively trying to diminish marriage. Many people live together without getting married, and our culture treats that as normal. For the most part adultery is still frowned upon, but adulterers are not shamed as they once were. Divorce and remarriage are quite common. Our society sees nothing wrong with divorce and remarriage.

Today’s passage reminds us that marriage should be honored. When we think about the Biblical teaching on marriage, we should become aware of the extent to which our society, and our churches, have fallen away from the Biblical standard.

Heb. 13:3 Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you yourselves also are in the body.

Both Romans 12 and 1Cor 12 refer to Christians as a body. The idea in those passages is that just as a body has different parts which have different functions, so too the body of Christ has different people who have different functions.

Another aspect of a body is that when one part is hurting, the whole body suffers. If a person cuts their hand, the whole body is in pain.

The author of Hebrews tells us to remember Christians who are persecuted as if we are also being persecuted. If one Christian is suffering, all Christians should feel the pain because we are one body.

Heb. 13:4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled, for the sexually immoral and adulterers God will judge.

This is a command that modern culture disdains. Marriage is not honored and the marriage bed is frequently defiled. Even Christians are not good examples to our culture in this area.

Notice the word “judge”. Adulterers will be judged. Keep in mind the Bible defines remarriage after divorce as adultery.

Sex outside of marriage, pregnancy outside of wedlock, living together without being married, adultery, and remarriage after divorce are all sins that dishonor marriage and defile the marriage bed. Unfortunately, all these sins are common today, even inside the church.

Christians must return to having Biblical standards regarding sex, marriage, and divorce.

Heb. 13:5 Make sure that your way of life is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”

This verse does not tell us to be poor. Nor does it tell us not to have money. Instead, we are not supposed to love money. Poor people can love money just as much as rich people.

Notice the command to be content. Poor people who are not content with their lot in life may be guilty of loving money. Rich people who are not content with their wealth may be guilty of loving money.

Many people in our culture think only rich people love money. There is a suspicion and accusation that rich people are rich because they love money. However, that is not what this verse says. Anyone, regardless of financial status, can be a lover of money.

The reason we should be content is because God is always with us and will always provide our needs.

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Heb. 13:6 so that we confidently say,

“THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID.

WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?”

Heb. 13:7 ¶ Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

Heb. 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Heb. 13:9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

Look at the command to avoid being carried away by strange teachings. The key to avoiding false beliefs is to know the Bible so that we know if a teaching is true or false.

Heb. 13:10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no authority to eat.

The pronoun “we” refers to Christians. The Jewish priests are the ones who serve the tabernacle. Christians have an altar from which the priests had no authority to eat.

Heb. 13:11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.

The Jewish priests did not eat the sin offering. Instead, it was burned outside the camp.

Heb. 13:12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

Jesus was crucified outside the city.

Heb. 13:13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

This letter is called Hebrews because it was written to Jews. In order for Jews to become saved, they need to believe in the resurrection of Jesus and make Him Lord of their life. That is not something that was being taught by the Jewish leaders in the 1st century. Therefore, in order for Jews in the 1st century to become saved, they needed to go outside the camp. They needed to go outside 1st century Judaism.

Heb. 13:14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the one to come.

Heb. 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess His name.

Heb. 13:16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Heb. 13:17 ¶ Obey your leaders and submit to them—for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they will do this with joy and not with groaning, for this would be unprofitable for you.

Heb. 13:18 ¶ Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves well in all things.

Heb. 13:19 And I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Heb. 13:20 ¶ Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus,

Heb. 13:21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, by doing in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Heb. 13:22 ¶ But I urge you, brothers, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.

Heb. 13:23 Know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you.

Heb. 13:24 Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

Heb. 13:25 ¶ Grace be with you all.

That concludes the book of Hebrews.

Sex outside of marriage, pregnancy outside of wedlock, living together without being married, adultery, and remarriage after divorce are all sins that dishonor marriage and defile the marriage bed. Unfortunately, all these sins are common today, even inside the church. Christians must return to having Biblical standards regarding sex, marriage, and divorce.

What attitudes in your church have to change in order for your church to honor marriage and the marriage bed?

What personal beliefs and actions do you need to change in order to honor marriage and protect the marriage bed?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”