Christain Ethics: Practice and Heritage Lesson 30
Hebrews 13:1-6
How We Live: What We Pass ON
Heb 13:1-8
13:1 Keep on loving each other as brothers. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels
without knowing it. 3 Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
5 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."
6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Titus 2:7-8
7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness
8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned,
so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us
1 Peter 2:15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
I. The Underlying Premise for Love in the Family
13:1 Hee filadelfía menétoo
13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
A. Loving those from “the same womb”
LOVE phileo NT:5368 is to be distinguished from agapao in this, that phileo more nearly represents "tender affection." The two words are used for the "love" of the Father for the Son, John 3:35 (No. 1), and 5:20 (No. 2); for the believer, 14:21 (No. 1) and 16:27 (No. 2); both, of Christ's "love" for a certain disciple, 13:23 (No. 1), and 20:2 (No. 2). Yet the distinction between the two verbs remains, and they are never used indiscriminately in the same passage; if each is used with reference to the same objects, as just mentioned, each word retains its distinctive and essential character.
BROTHER adelphos NT:80 denotes "a brother, or near kinsman"; in the plural, "a community based on identity of origin or life." It is used of:— (1) male children of the same parents, Matt 1:2; 14:3; (2) male descendants of the same parents, Acts 7:23,26; Heb 7:5; (3) male children of the same mother, Matt 13:55; 1 Cor 9:5; Gal 1:19;
Notes: (1) Associated words are adelphotes, primarily, "a brotherly relation," and so, the community possessed of this relation, "a brotherhood," 1 Peter 2:17 (see 5:9, marg.).; philadelphos, (phileo, "to love," and adelphos), "fond of one's brethren," 1 Peter 3:8; "loving as brethren," RV.; philadelphia, "brotherly love," Rom 12:10; 1 Thess 4:9; Heb 13:1;
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
B. The reality of being “Born Again”
John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
C. The foundational attitude
Phil 2:3-4
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
D. Skipping the syrup and going for the broccoli
1 John 3:17-18
17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him,
how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
E. The reason we don’t love
Matt 24:12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
2 Tim 3:1-2 1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, ......
F. God’s view of our family
John 13:34-35
34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Rom 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Gal 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
1Thes 4:9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.
1 Pet 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
2 Peter 1:5-8
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure,
they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
II. The Underlying Premise for Hospitality toward Strangers
13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it
Job 31:32 but no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler—
A. The illustration of Gaius of 3 John
Matt 10:8 ...... Freely you have received, freely give.
Luke 14:12-14
12 Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives,
or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.
13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
B. The examples of those before us
1. Abraham Genesis 18
2. Gideon Judges 6
3. Manoah Judges 13
III. The Underlying Premise for Empathy toward Prisoners
3 Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
A. There are those in our family in prison
Luke 3:19-20
19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done,
20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison .
Phil 1:13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
Philem 9-10
9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul — an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus —
10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.
2 Tim 4:16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.
B. Doing what you would like to be done
Matt 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
2 Tim 4:9-13
9 Do your best to come to me quickly,
10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
C. Doing what Jesus would like to be done
Matthew 25:31-40
D. An example of one who did it
2 Tim 1:16-17
16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains .
17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.
IV. The Underlying Premise for Purity in Marriage
4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
A. Marriage is honored when it is viewed the way it was intended
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Gen 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Matt 19:4-6
4 "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,'
5 and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?
6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
B. Marriage is honored when God’s purposes for marriage are fulfilled
1. companionship
2. procreation
3. intimacy
4. living illustration of the church
C. Marriage is honored when God’s design for marriage upheld
1. When husbands are acknowledged, and fulfill their roll, as head of the household
1 Cor 11:3 Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,
2. When husbands give themselves to their wives sacrificially
Eph 5:25, 28-29
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—
1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
3. When wives give themselves to their husbands in submission
Eph 5:22, 24
22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
1 Peter 3:1-6
3:1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over
without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.
4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.
They were submissive to their own husbands,
6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
D. Marriage is honored when it is kept pure
Eph 5:3-6
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper
for God's holy people.
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person — such a man is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
1 Cor 6:9-10; 18-20
9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters
nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
V. The Underlying Premise for Contentment in Attitude
5 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."
6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
A. The danger of greed
Prov 15:27 A greedy man brings trouble to his family, .....
Eccl 5:10 Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
1 Tim 6:9-10
9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
B. The blessing of contentment
Ps 65:4 Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.