Hebrews 13:1–6 - 1 Let love of the brethren continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. 4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 5 Make sure that your character 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,” 6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” What does today’s passage say? In today's passage, the writer instructs believers to continue showing brotherly love and hospitality to fellow believers, strangers, prisoners and the ill-treated (vv. 1-3). We should treat marriage with the highest of honor and avoid sexual impurity. Those who don’t will face God’s judgment (v. 4). We should avoid being overcome with a love of money and worldly things and, instead, trust in the Lord’s sufficiency in our lives knowing that He is always with us and is our help in times of need (vv. 5-6). How can I apply Hebrews 13:1-6 to my life? What does it truly mean to live out our faith? This passage points to some powerful practical applications for believers. While culture elevates individualism, instant gratification, and material success, God calls His people to radical counter-cultural lifestyles lived for an eternal focus. Our time on earth provides a brief yet pivotal opportunity to embrace kingdom priorities and bear fruit that endures forever. This passage exhorts Christians to pour themselves out in selfless love for others, to honor marriage highly according to God’s design, to resist greed and covetousness by finding supreme contentment in Christ, and to cling tightly to the certainty of God’s help through all adversity. Rather than chasing what the world offers, God urges His family of faith to fix their eyes on serving, on purity, on holy contentment, and on dependence on the Father who walks every step alongside us. As we read the Word, it reads us in return – probing hidden motives and calling for renewed allegiance to the ways of God over human nature. Here are some basic principles from this passage that we should apply to our lives:
Maintain Unwavering Love and Care for Fellow Believers, strangers, those in prison, and those who are treated badly (vv. 1-3): These verses exhort believers in Jesus to pour out unwavering love through all seasons and trials—continually caring for fellow Christians as dearly loved family, welcoming strangers with hospitality, remembering prisoners with letters and gifts, identifying with the persecuted in their affliction. Actively pursue the countercultural, selfless way of Christ, who laid down His life for others. Make intentional space in your schedule this month to fulfill the “one another” commands—build up a struggling Christian with encouragement, take a meal to a sick church member, extend generosity to someone in financial need. Pray about volunteering in jail ministry or a church outreach that serves ex-convicts reentering society. Ask the Spirit to open your eyes to the vulnerable in your community, then seek to meet practical needs. As we pour ourselves out for others, we live as visible Gospel embodiments (Romans 12:9-13, Galatians 6:1-2, Isaiah 58:6-7).
Food for Thought: Why do you think loving those in need is such a core aspect of living out our Christianity? What fears or hesitations arise as you consider reaching out to prisoners and ex-convicts?
Maintain the Highest Respect for Marriage as Those Who Don’t Will Face the Judgment of God (v. 4): This passage speaks sobering truth—the marriage union is to be held in highest honor, kept pure and undefiled, because one day God will judge those who commit sexual sin and adultery. For married couples, continually nurture profound respect for your spouse by setting strict filters against anything that could plant seeds of lust, avoiding emotional intimacy with friends of the opposite sex, and bringing any temptations immediately into the light through confession and prayer. Single Christians must uphold the same high standard by shunning pornography, fleeing tempting situations, and practicing self-control in dating relationships. Across the board, Christians must model the sacred goodness of marriage as designed by God in Eden, teaching these countercultural truths in our families and churches. Taking this call casually invites judgment. We must make choices daily to treasure purity in our minds and relationships above passing pleasure or entertainment (Hebrews 12:14-17, Job 31:1, Psalm 51:10).
Food for Thought: Why is guarding our eyes and thoughts absolutely essential for purity? How have you seen the “little foxes” of temptation sabotage respect in marriages?
Do Not Succumb to the Love of Money but, Instead, Let Christ Be Your Sufficiency (v. 5): This probing statement confronts believers: does your heart secretly long for money, possessions, and status more than Jesus and His eternal reward? Bring that soul-piercing question honestly before the Lord. Recognize Christ alone fills the soul’s deepest longings—He is enough. Anchored in Him as highest treasure, you walk free from jealousy, greed, comparison and striving for more. Abiding in the Father with gratitude, you generously assist others’ needs and rest as a child at peace. Still, living this out requires examining assumptions about lifestyle habits of spending, saving, giving. Do not measure your worth by how your car, clothes, or salary stack up against another. Reject the pressures of the world for more, more, more that only bring discontent. In prayer, acknowledge specific aspects of God’s faithful character that fortify unshakable trust in Him to meet each need. Consider simplifying possessions to freely build God's Kingdom (Luke 12:15, 2 Corinthians 9:8, 1 Timothy 6:6-10).
Food for Thought: How can reminders of heaven loosen money’s grip on our hearts? What are practical ways to guard against greed in a culture overflowing with affluence?
In Every Aspect of Your Life, Always Remember that the Lord Has Promised to Help You and Be with You (vv. 5b-6): Here is an anchor for the storm-tossed believer: God stands ready to lend help, infuse courage and strength through every rising swell - loving as the perfect Father. Just as He faithfully accompanied the Old Testament Saints into unknown terrain, Christ remains by our side through our deepest pain, disorienting change, and oppressive isolation. Call on Him with bold expectancy. When adversity leaves you depleted, pick up the shield of faith, remembering all the amazing testimonies in Scripture of God helping His children powerfully when they were in desperate need. Allow these accounts - of an angel strengthening Jesus after agonizing prayer, of the Lord opening up a stream in the desert for Hagar and Ishmael - to fortify your faith that our Shepherd neither slumbers nor abandons His own. We can fully trust this promise for help in hard times (Isaiah 41:13, Psalm 121:1-8, Romans 8:31-39).
Food for Thought: What attributes of God do you especially need to cling to in this season of life? What Bible stories of deliverance help steady your soul during current challenges? As we go through rhythms and routines of everyday life, may the exhortations from God’s Word in this passage become more than fleeting inspiration. When exhaustion or inconvenience tempts you to glance past the lonely new kid at school, the homeless man on your route to work, or that annoying guy at church attender, remember the call to selfless Christian love. When sexual temptation crouches at your door, waiting to entrap through an internet ad or lingering look, recall the resounding biblical imperative to honor marriage with integrity and purity in mind, body, and spirit. As consumer culture whispers hollow promises of wish fulfillment over another purchase, make the intentional choice to shift your focus back to Christ as your truest Treasure. This is how we quiet down the covetous desires of our hearts. Most comfortingly, as unpredictable storms of pain or loss inevitably break into your life in this fallen world, set your anchor once more in the magnificent truth that God remains present, ready to uplift His beloved child with an everlasting embrace of strength and help. May this passage inspire much more than fleeting conviction; let it produce new rhythms and routines of living wholeheartedly for an Audience of One. Prayer Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You for the gift of Your Word that speaks truth and wisdom into my life each day. I pray that You would give me grace and courage to live out the powerful applications in this passage to Hebrews. Produce unwavering love in me for other believers as well as strangers, empowering me to meet practical needs and freeing me to minister to prisoners. Help guard my eyes and heart, protecting purity in all my relationships. Deepen my dependence on Christ so that greed and comparison find no home in me, as I rest securely in Your eternal provision. When sorrow or trials come, renew my faith so I remember You always stand ready to uplift me as the Good Shepherd. Shape these truths deep in my soul. I pray these things in the most precious name of Jesus, Amen.
Hebrews 13:5b-6 - “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” 6 so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?” With His Blessings, Pastor Corby
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