Hebrews 13:7-16 – Be sure to cultivate our spiritual life

The next thing the author called on the Hebrew believers to take care of was their own spiritual life. First and foremost, he told them to remember those who had led them before, especially those who taught them the Word of God. Very probably some of them might have even passed on. The readers were exhorted to consider those leaders’ good examples and emulate their godly behavior and faith. Then he reminded them of the One, Who would forever be available to them: Jesus Christ. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. In other words, Jesus Christ never changes. He is the same and will remain the same. The writer acknowledged the need to emulate the lives of faithful leaders but most importantly, all must set their eyes on the unchanging Jesus Christ.

Verses 9-10 seem to suggest that some of the Hebrew believers were prideful. They were being carried away with “varied and strange teachings”. Some had probably subscribed to deviant teachings of some heretical positions. The author warned them not to succumb to those heresies and be ensnared, like those who believed in these unbeneficial lies. The word “foods” suggests that they could have believed that eating certain foods or abstaining from them would result in greater godliness. The author wanted them to know grace was what they needed to rely on. He told them that it was in accepting the grace God provided in Christ that one’s heart could be strengthened. The word “altar” in verse 10 is referring to Jesus Christ, Who is the believers’ peace offering to God. “Those who serve the tabernacle” would be referring to those who held on to the old sacrificial system. It meant that those who held on to the old sacrificial system could not partake of the spiritual sustenance and fellowship with God, since they were still bound by the old system. In verse 11, the author compared Jesus to the sin offering that was offered by the high priest on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:27). On the Day of Atonement two animals were sacrificed: a bull for Aaron’s family and a ram for the people. The blood of the animals was brought into the Holy of holies by the high priest to apply on the mercy seat. But the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. Jesus’ death outside Jerusalem fulfilled the ritual of the Day of Atonement where the bodies of sacrificed animals were taken outside the camp and burned. Like the blood of the sacrifice that was supposed to cleanse the people, so also the Lord Jesus’ own Blood would sanctify the believers. The author to the Hebrews then told them to do one thing: go to Jesus. So in verse 13, he called on them to go to Jesus outside the camp and willingly bear any disgrace being associated with Him. The impression here is that it is worth it all. Why? For in going to Jesus is to find that eternal city, the unshakable Kingdom of God. In comparison the city here on earth was only temporary in nature, and could not endure the impending shaking of God. In verses 15-16, the writer then said that coming to Jesus must result in two very positive responses in life: the offering of continual worship to God and the willingness to do good works.

Worship should be the highest priority of one’s life. Believers should continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God. It must be self-giving and be totally caught up in passionate love for Jesus. The fruit of our lips mean to express one’s love verbally. God loves to hear the believers’ praise and adoration to Him. Secondly, true worship would result in giving of oneself in sharing with others. It is like the actions of Mary and Martha put together (John 12). One worshipped the Lord Jesus with wholehearted devotion and the other worked and served Him with wholehearted commitment.