Hebrews 13:1-6
Summary for Heb 13:1-6: 13:1-6 a This series of practical guidelines is similar to other ethics lists in the New Testament. It describes how to love others in the community of faith, a strong ethical foundation for all of life. 13:1 b Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters: Literally Continue in brotherly love. This instruction applies to everyone in the Christian community (see study notes on 2:11; 3:1).13:2 c Hospitality is another foundational principle in Jewish and Christian ethics (1 Pet 4:9 d; see also Matt 10:11 e; Acts 16:15 f; Titus 3:13 g; Phlm 1:22 h; 3 Jn 1:5-8 i). In the first century, most people did not stay at inns when traveling.
• Some ... have entertained angels: See Gen 18:2-15 j; Judg 13:2-23 k.
13:3 l Remember those in prison: Prisoners often depended on family members and friends for their most basic needs. Christians were challenged to provide comfort, food, prayer, and other necessities for those imprisoned because of their faith (13:18-19 m; Matt 25:36 n; Col 4:18 o; 2 Tim 1:16 p).
13:4 q Give honor to marriage means to protect it and hold it as highly valuable.
• Immoral refers to all sexually illicit behavior.
• Adultery breaks the marriage vow by engaging in sexual activity outside the marriage relationship.
13:5 r Don’t love money: See 1 Tim 6:6-10 s. Instead, the believer is to be satisfied with what God has provided. Perhaps some in the community were under financial strain (see Heb 10:32-34 t). The promises of God still stand: “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (see Deut 31:6 u, 8 v).
13:6 w This quotation from Ps 118:6 x offers the response of faith: The Lord is my helper, so we can have no fear of what people might do.
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