28 Proper Christian Conduct

Throughout the epistle, we’ve seen the author go step-by-step through the believer’s faith journey, by providing a working definition of faith, the importance of it in believers’ lives, examples of believers who’ve lived by faith, how to apply faith in one’s life, and finally, how Jesus fulfills the Old Covenant law.

Now, here at the start of chapter thirteen, he begins concluding the epistle, by discussing the subject of proper Christian conduct.

1 The Need for Love

The author begins by exhorting the church:

Hebrews 13:1-6

He begins the exhortation by discussing the need to “Let brotherly love continue”.

The word translated as “brotherly” comes from the ancient Greek word “Philadelphia” which speaks of having deep affection and friendship for someone.

By exhorting them that such love should “continue” presents the assumption that it already exists.

Of course, it was Jesus who commanded that believers should love one another:

John 13:34

Next, he addressed what is often thought of as an “usual” area of Scripture:

Hebrews 13:2

Even though it might be somewhat difficult to understand, it still connects to the preceding thoughts, since our hospitality is borne out of our love for our brethren, which is also commanded by Scripture:

1 Peter 4:9

Due to the persecution experienced by the early church, it often became necessary to be hospitable to traveling believers.

Even so, they had to use great wisdom and discernment, as unscrupulous individuals began to take advantage, by pretending to be a believer, all for the purpose of getting a free meal and room and board.

Next, is the difficult or “strange” area, where the author suggested that some have unwittingly entertained angels.

In biblical times, angels would interact with people more than in our day, although often they weren’t aware they were in the company of a heavenly being, but rather assumed it was a man.

Angels are both God’s servants, but also his messengers, and therefore, they have, and still do interact with man.

However, because under the New Covenant, believers have the Holy Spirit living within them, we may interact with the Lord directly at any time we wish.

We don’t have a distant relationship with God, as those who were under the Old Covenant, which means the church doesn’t have need to interact with angels.

The author then spoke of the need to remember those imprisoned.

The idea would certainly cover both those imprisoned and persecuted, which of course covers both those in biblical times as well as in our day, therefore we should remember to pray for those in both situations.

2 Conduct in Marriage

Hebrews 13:4

While man has seemingly attempted to do everything possible to tinker with the institution of marriage, in reality, it was God who created and established what marriage is.

And because it was the Lord who created and established marriage, we should all understand that, God’s standard of marriage being between oner man and one woman for a lifetime, is perfect as it is, since the Lord doesn’t make mistakes with anything He does. And therefore, He holds marriage in such high regard.

Which is why, the author states “marriage is honorable among all.”

Marriages are dishonored, when they aren’t guarded and protected.

They’re also dishonored when they look upon a marriage as a contract, rather than a three-way covenant between God, a husband and a wife.

Marriage is also dishonored when couples engage in premarital sex, which will only cheapen the marriage, eliminating the “specialness” of a man and woman coming together as husband and wife before the Lord.

This leads to the author stating that the “marriage bed is undefiled.”

Sexual intimacy between a husband and wife, is blessed by the Lord, as shown in the Song of Solomon. This verse also points to the fact that the sex act is not only for the purpose of reproduction, but it is to be enjoyed, when engaged in between a husband and wife.

Scripture shows that in the union of a husband and wife, the two become one:

Genesis 2:24

The author then speaks of how God will judges adulterers (married individuals who engage in sexual activity outside of marriage) and fornicators (those who are unmarried, but who engage in sexual activity).

3 Contentment not Covetousness

In verses five and six, the author addressed a problem which is as much a problem in our day, as it was in the early church:

Hebrews 13:5-6

As God’s child, we are to be content, since it shows the understanding that the Lord is our Provider and is in complete control.

Covetousness is the opposite of contentment and presents the attitude of mistrust toward God.

The believer maintains contentment because they understand that the Lord will never abandon them:

Deuteronomy 31:6

In verse 6, the author partially quotes Psalm 118:6, as he shows that our contentment shows, the Lord is our helper, and we can trust Him.