Friday June 2nd 2017
key verse: 2
THE CHRISTIANS' DUTY
First, the author talks about the social duties, then about the duties towards the pastors, finally about the attachment to the holy doctrine.
1. Don't fail to practice hospitality and remember the leaders (1-8)
The author urges fraternal love as a basis. Loving each other means making way in our heart for the good of the others (Ph 2:4), and putting ourselves in their place (3a). Like Abraham, the hospitable person unwittingly receives God's angels (2). We must keep conjugal purity and guard against material lust. The security is for the saints who trust God in their material life. Then, we must remember the sufferings of our leaders, honour them and imitate their faith. The author adds Jesus' unchanging character to say that on one side Jesus is our ultimate leader, and on the other side that we must follow our leaders as we follow Jesus.
2. Don't let yourself be led away (9-17)
Apart from the various duties, the Hebrews must have a solid basis of fundamental doctrine: that is Jesus' blood. The doctrine of mercy which feeds the soul vs the doctrine of the works regarded as useless foods. The Christians' altar is the cross. They take part in it and this part has nothing to do with the service of the high priest in the tabernacle. However there is a symbol here: as the high priest burnt the meat out of the camp, also Jesus suffered outside. The Christian must suffer rejection instead of taking advantage of food, he must offer praises, confessing God's name and exersising mercy. The author urges us to listen to our leaders again. Indeed the holy doctrine comes through them.
Prayer: Lord, help me practice fraternal love and hospitality. Then help me to obey my leaders and be sure about the doctrine of mercy taugh by them.
Bottom line: remember it
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