Book Reviews

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Chapter 13
This final chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews offers some last instruction on the virtues of Christian living. The writer also gives his prayer request for the brethren and closes with a benediction.
In the first six verses, we're reminded to live in the virtues of Christian love for one another and hospitality towards strangers. The Christian life is a life of sexual purity, and there is no fornication or adultery for the Christian. In verse three, the writer introduces and strong Biblical truth. "Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body." (Hebrews 13:3) We are to care for the prisoners as if we were one of them. This statement is an excellent concept of what other members of the body of Christ are experiencing; we are as members of His body.
As a follower of Christ, we are to have charity toward people who are experiencing a disadvantage. We must be ready to share that the Lord has given us in abundance. A Christian must be content with the provisions the Lord has made available. Blessings the Lord gives are in relationship to our stewardship. "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:23)
The writer now turns to spiritual matters in the life of the believer. As members of the body of Christ, we are to respect the spiritual leaders and faithfully ensure the teaching of sound doctrine. First, the spiritual leaders are to follow the example they have shown us by their spiritual walk in faith. Also, we are to seek the constancy of the gospel message. We do this by observing the model given to us in the life of Jesus. The Church is always looking for new and current changes in presenting the gospel message. Jesus Christ has not changed. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)
The truth does not change either; God's Word was before the beginning and will remain unchanged eternally. The doctrines found in the Word of God, the Scriptures, and the Bible will never change. Therefore, neither shall the presentation of the Word. Our actions in the Word, or the speaking of His Word. Anything presented that does not line up with the whole Word of God is false and should be rejected as heresy. "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19)
The writer of Hebrews makes a final comparison between the Old Covenant and the New. In the Old Covenant, the sacrifice of animals was slaughtered outside the city's gate. Their blood was sprinkled in the Temple. In the New Covenant, Jesus was slain outside the city, and His blood was sprinkled in the Temple of Heaven. There is no need for further sacrifices, and the work of Jesus is finished, and the sin debts of man are paid.
For the Christian believer, it is better to hold fast to their faith during persecution. The believer of Jesus should always cooperate with their spiritual leaders and not frustrate their work. The Christian should be identified with Christ than with the world. The world will pass away, and the Kingdom of God is eternal.
Discussion Topics:
Question: Why should we have empathy for fellow people who struggle in their life?
Answer: As members of the body of Christ, we are all affected by the trials within the body.
Question: What is good stewardship of the Lord's abundance?
Answer: Use our abundance to bless others with our charity.
Question: How do we show respect for our spiritual leaders?
Answer: We follow their example of living and protecting the teaching doctrine.
Question: Why are we to protect the doctrines of the Bible?
Answer: God's Word is eternal and does not change.
Opinion Question
Why is the blood of Jesus an eternal sacrifice for humanity's sin?
First Baptist Church of Durant (2020)

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