Chuck Larsen

The writer of Hebrews is a leader in his own right. And the difficulties associated with Christian leadership now moves him to ask for prayer for himself. He wants them to pray because he definitely needs help personally because of a current situation which has kept him away from the believers he is writing to, but also he asks for prayer for “us” which appears to be a request for himself and other leaders. Hebrews 13:18 says, “Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.” Nothing is more desirable for Christian leaders than to have the people believe in the leadership and trust that they sincerely have the best interest of the people at heart and desire only the best in the most honorable way possible. He is arguing that they do have a clear conscience that they are not attempting to lord it over the church for personal gain, but only desire the welfare of the entire body.

This kind of prayer is something every leader prays. Leadership in the church is the most difficult form of leadership possible. It’s all voluntary. There are no salaries to hold members faithful to the leadership. It’s just the opposite. Members give to support the ministry. There’s nothing quite like Church leadership in the first century and even more so today. That’s why Kent Hughes writes, “So, we see that leadership is difficult in the modern church because the ever-present radio has inbred in some an implicit disregard for local pulpits. The disregard has been further fed by a worldly business mentality that regards bigger as worthy of more respect. Mix in the anti-authoritarian strain of American individualism and subjectivism, and it all adds up to a leadership crisis for the modern church and an entire generation of beat-up clergy. No wonder that in so many places the church is awash, drifting aimlessly, and at the mercy of the hostile seas of neo-pagan culture.”^[1]

Now verse 19 is a change in requesting prayer for “us” to requesting prayer for himself. It reads, “I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.” We don’t know the reason he was prevented from coming to them. The Preacher’s Commentary suggests that, “A thought of imprisonment comes quickly to our mind, but this is probably not his situation, as he says he hopes to come with Timothy if he arrives in time for an imminent departure. Some other cause for which he sought relief must have detained him, perhaps sickness.”^[2] We don’t know what that was but what is really important is what Kistemaker says, “What is important, however, is that we realize the significance of the author’s special request: he desires that the church ask God for a speedy reunion of pastor and people. When this happens, the writer knows that the bond of peace and harmony is strong. He prays for unity in the Lord.”^[3]

^[1] R. Kent Hughes, Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul, vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993), 234.

^[2] Louis H. Evans Jr and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Hebrews, vol. 33, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1985), 247.

^[3] Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, Exposition of Hebrews, vol. 15, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 429.

We’ve read earlier that Jesus has ascended to the heavenly throne and is seated at the right hand of God where he makes intercession for us. The heavenly city, and the heavenly role Jesus plays is a permanent one! The role played by the sacrificial system on Earth along with the whole law were simply temporary. This fact is again emphasized in Hebrews 13:14. It says, “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” The religious system of the Jews was a temporary system. Jesus is the permanent way to the Father. Richards explains this, “Nothing in Hebrews suggests that the old way was wrong. As a system instituted by God, it was good. But the old was temporary. It foreshadowed only. When the new that it mirrored came, reality replaced shadows. The old priesthood faded away as a single High Priest took His stand in the heavens. A single sacrifice replaced the endless repetition. And the promise of perfection became a present possibility.”^[1]

But there is a sacrifice that we offer to God. It’s our praise, our worship, all in the name of Jesus. That’s what the writer says in Hebrews 13:15, “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Fleming argues that you cannot blend religion with Jesus. It’s always only one or the other. They are contradictory systems. One focuses on the works of man and the other focuses on the works of God in His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. He writes, “Those Jews who still wish to be members of the earthly Jerusalem (i.e. the old Jewish religion) cannot belong to Christ and his heavenly kingdom. They must come out of the ‘camp’ of Judaism and share the shame of Christ through being insulted by their fellow Jews as Christ was (13–14). The sacrifices they then offer will not be dead animals, but sincere praise to God and practical kindness to their fellows (15–16).”^[2]

It won’t be praise and worship to gain or earn God’s acceptance. No, it will be praise and worship and caring for others because of our complete acceptance by God through our faith in the one and only fully sufficient sacrifice. Believers in the complete sufficiency of Christ are set free from offering sacrifices and doing deeds to earn God’s favor and now respond to God’s love and acceptance by living in love. This seems to be the basis for verse 16. It says, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

^[1] Lawrence O. Richards, The Teacher’s Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1987), 1015.

^[2] Donald C. Fleming, Concise Bible Commentary (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1994), 569.

The Gospel is truly “good news.” But it can be corrupted by adding to it some aspects of religious observations or rituals or regulations that add man’s own efforts to the salvation offered freely by God through faith in Jesus Christ. This has always been a problem in the Church and remains a problem today. Many still argue that our true salvation is by faith and works. Jesus did his part and we must do our part. What exactly are the parts that we must add is a conglomeration of confusion. It seems every specific sect has their own ideas as to what we “must” do to be saved in addition to what Jesus has accomplished for us. This is what the writer of Hebrews warns us against in Hebrews 13:9. He writes, “Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.” The voices of religion today certainly present a plethora of “diverse and strange teachings.”

None of those teachings do a thing to strengthen our hearts. No, on the contrary! The demands of religious fervor or strict ritual observances along with many other ideas just confuse us and discourage us. Only through the full “grace” of God offered freely in Jesus Christ do we find true strengthening of our hearts. Grace is what “strengthens” our hearts. Law does nothing but condemn us. Fruchtenbaum, a former Jew, points this out well. He writes, “The author states: for it is good that the heart be established by grace. The heart should be established by grace as over against being established by the Law. Spiritual maturity will come by means of the teachings of the Messiah not by means of going back to the Levitical system.”^[1]

The Levitical system has failed to make anyone acceptable to God. But in Christ we have confidence regarding our eternal destiny which enables us to live at peace with God and others today. The passage speaks about “food” not benefiting anyone in any way. Homer Kent observes, “Paul wrote to the Colossians about those who made unwarranted judgments about meat and drink (Col. 2:16). He told the Corinthians that meat per se has no spiritual value either positive or negative (1 Cor. 8:8).”^[2] The author wants us all to remember that we have come to “Mount Zion” and have not returned to “Mount Sinai.” The law has been fulfilled in Christ and we can find our acceptance by God in our connection with Christ by faith and faith alone! No religious ritual or observation will win favor with God. As Pentecost says, “The writer previously stated, ‘The law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God’ (Heb. 7:19). Faith will provide a foundation so that the one living by faith might enter into rest and peace even in the midst of conflict.”^[3]

^[1] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Messianic Jewish Epistles: Hebrews, James, First Peter, Second Peter, Jude, 1st ed. (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2005), 191–192.

^[2] Homer A. Kent Jr., The Epistle to the Hebrews: A Commentary (Winona Lake, IN: BMH Books, 1983), 282.

^[3] J. Dwight Pentecost and Ken Durham, Faith That Endures : A Practical Commentary on the Book of Hebrews, Rev. ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2000), 218.

In Chapter 11, the writer of the book of Hebrews brought to mind a wide selection of characters from the Old Testament who lived by faith. One thing that might not have been too obvious in that list of “believers” is that their faith was in “God’s Word.” The object of their faith was God. Biblical faith always has God as the object. The specific content of that faith may change from era to era but the object always remains the same. God’s word to Noah was that a flood was coming that would destroy the world. Noah believed and built an ark. Abraham and Sarah heard a call from God to trust him in their pilgrimage from their homeland to a place he would show them. They left. Moses heard from God in a burning bush. He believed that what God had promised him was better than anything he would get in Egypt. Hebrews 11:26 says of Moses, “He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.” All of the Old Testament “believers” had faith in God’s promise to bring about their deliverance through the Messiah. They believed God and rested their confidence on His promised redemption through Jesus Christ.

It wasn’t only the Old Testament characters who trusted God and believed His “Word” and acted on it. The Hebrews saw this truth lived out in the lives of those who had proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ. So the author moves on in Hebrews 13:7 to call for his readers to remember those people as well. He writes, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” When he refers to “the Word of God,” I’m convinced he’s referring to Jesus as the living word. They had God as their object but the clear content of the communication now that came from God was the message of his love for the world demonstrated on Calvary through his one and only Son. God spoke to the people of old in many different ways but the author of Hebrews told us at the beginning of his letter that “in these days he speaks to us through his son.” The message that comes to us through Jesus is far better than the messages received from angels and prophets.

This is fully recognized because of the comment in the next verse. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” This is not a verse that the author drew out of the blue! He had Jesus in mind all the time. When we’re called to imitate “their faith,” we’re called to put all our confidence in Jesus just as they did. One commentary says, “In this fast-changing world, nothing seems dependable and permanent. Leaders come, and leaders go. One leader however, is unchangeable: Jesus Christ. Says the author, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.’ More sermons have been preached on this text than on any other verse from Hebrews, so that this verse almost has attained confessional status in the church.”^[1] This short verse carries incredible implications for every believer. Fruchtenbaum explains, “The context simply teaches that Jesus can give the believers victory in their trials. He brought victory for the distant saints of chapter 11 and for the more recent saints of verse 7. He has given victories in the past, He is giving victories in the present, and He will give victories in the future.”^[2]

^[1] Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, Exposition of Hebrews, vol. 15, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 415.

^[2] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Messianic Jewish Epistles: Hebrews, James, First Peter, Second Peter, Jude, 1st ed. (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2005), 190.

This is the basis of our faith: we have confidence and trust fully in God’s love for us and good intentions for our well-being. There is nothing I will need that he won’t provide. The writer of Hebrews asserts this truth in Hebrews 13:6. He writes, “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” This is not the first time the book of Hebrews has addressed the idea of confidence. O’Brien observes, “In this confession, the listeners are responding with the boldness that has been urged upon them throughout the discourse. They have already been exhorted ‘to hold firmly to their confidence’ (3:6), ‘approach God’s throne of grace with confidence’ (4:16), ‘have confidence to enter the most holy place’ (10:19), and ‘not to throw away their confidence’ (v. 35). Now, emboldened by God’s powerful declaration, they say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper’.”^[1]

I have frequently seen ball caps and bumper stickers that read “No Fear.” I’m not sure what this means to those who use it. Does it mean something like, “You don’t scare me, so don’t try to mess with me?” Or does it mean something like, “I carry a loaded gun with me at all times?” Whatever it means, it does not begin to compare with the words of our Lord, “Fear not.” There is nothing in this world that compares with the safety and security of the believer in Jesus Christ. I’ve not personally counted them, but I’ve read several times that the Bible records the exhortation to “fear not” or “don’t be afraid” 365 times. That’s one time for every day of the year. I should count them sometime! But regardless, there are a lot of times when God’s people are to put on the hat that says, “No Fear.”

When I was writing devotions on the book of Jeremiah, I was impressed with the number of times God exhorted him to “fear not.” I quoted from Timothy Willis’ commentary on Jeremiah and wrote, “The exhortation, do not be afraid, is not backed up with a revelation about what will happen to him and that he will be happy with the outcome, but on the unqualified promise by the Lord, I am with you, no matter what happens. The significance of this is immense. So often, people look for external, physical proof of God’s presence in and approval of their lives when the only ‘proof’ he might offer is that he is with them. Such proof cannot be verified; it is only known in the heart of the believer.”^[2] This is living by faith not by sight!

^[1] Peter T. O’Brien, The Letter to the Hebrews, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 513.

^[2] Charles E. Larsen, Jeremiah Devotions 2015, n.d.