OUR FATHER WHO WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US

The writer concludes the book of Hebrews in chapter 13 with some exortations to continue cultivating brotherly love among themselves. We are reminded to care for all people including those unknown to us for in some cases, some of the guests encountered were actually angels disguised as human beings. We are also reminded to remember fellow believers who were imprisoned and subject to persecutions. This is necessary to do for the Christians who still dwell on the earth.

1 Let brothely love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. 3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

Our writer touches on the sanctity of marriage and warns that defilement of the marriage bed by fornication or adultery would be subject to judgement. 

4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Next, believers are cautioned on their attitude towards material things. To counter the inclination towards covetousness (envy ), we should sustain contentment knowing that the Lord Himself promised that He would never abandon us to our own devices but rather that he would  provide what we need for our lives.

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said,

                             “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”     

                            6 So we may boldly say:

“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.

What can man do to me?”

7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

We are also reminded to be cognisant of those who spoke the word of God to us and whose faith we follow as we reflect on the outcome of their lives.

The writer reminds of the privileged position that believers in Christ have whereby they have access to an altar that those who served the earthy tabernacle had no right to eat from. Whereas the bodies of the sacrificed animals whose blood was presented at the tabernacle were burned outside the camp, the Lord Jesus the Christ, in order to sanctify His people, suffered outside the camp so to speak when he was taken outside the walls of Jerusalem.

We too must be prepared to suffer the ignominy that Christ suffered and so must step outside of the temporal civilization in which we are ensconced so that we can live in the eternal civilization of the kingdom of God. The appropriate response to the sacrifice of Christ is the continous grateful praise of His name and on top of this, do good and share what we have with each other for these two things are loved by God.

10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

We are also called to be submissive to those who have been given charge over us for  they are answerable for our lives. If we conduct ourselves properly under them, their responsibility is joyful but if we cause them endless grief, we would lose the benefit of their guidance.

17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. 19 But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Asking the recipients of the letter to pray for them so that their company would be able to reunite with them, the writer of Hebrews gives a benediction of completion so that they would be able to fulfill the will of God in their lives and causing thme to yield fruit that is pleasing to Him through the Lord Jesus who is glorified forever.

Timothy, the protoge of Paul the apostle, is mentioned in the epilogue of the letter as having been released from prison and this strongly suggests that the letter to the Hebrews was written by Paul himself and only a few  artifacts in this book suggest that it could be another person. 

Naming Timothy as  'our brother' here rather than a 'son' as Paul does in 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 2 does give us a reason to believe that the writer of Hebrews is a protoge of Paul's, but to counter this point, the change of Timothy's title could have come about as Timothy matured and suffered alongside Paul so that Paul evolved to view Timothy as a brother in Christ rather than a son.

Another artifact in this letter to the Hebrews that suggests that Paul did not write it is that the letter is written in the voice of a plural pronoun "we" or "us" and in "Pray for us" and "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away." Heb 2 v1.

Paul, writting to Timothy, uses "I" as the pronoun for example, out of of 2 Tim 1 v 6, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

This stylistic change suggests that the book of Hebrews was written by a person other than Paul but this too can be attributed to a change in attitude that Paul may have undergone in relating to his fellow believers.

Based on the theologiocal depth of the book of Hebrews and the deep understanding of the old covenant, I am inclined to believe that it was Paul who wrote the book when I consider the writer's mention of Timothy and based on the scholarly treatment of the gospel's foundations in the old testament.

20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

22 And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.

24 Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

1