4. Mutual love helps us to grow

An exploration in faith

29 August 2010

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

The final of four addresses from the Book of Hebrews focuses on Chapter 13. We have sought to make sense of the journey of faith in relation to our daily lives. This chapter contains a wide assortment of statements, beginning with a call to let mutual love continue and to show hospitality to strangers – and concluding with a word of exhortation and blessing.

The epistle is designed for those who were apparently suffering for their faith and so the author reminds them of some of the folks who may well have been in prison. The writer admonishes the people to set a godly example, to be mindful of the overarching care of God, which is unchanging and provides a context for our discipleship.

Almost all serious writers about the Book of Hebrews note the clear change in style evident in Chapter 13. It has led some to conclude that it could have been written by another person. I tend to the view of Thomas Long, ‘There is, however, too much similarity’. This is true in terms of language, the pervading themes and the ideas about God.

Long builds on his idea that it is like a series of sermons by suggesting that Chapter 13 is rather like the announcements and the benediction, his argument being that it deals with hospitality, care for people in trouble, concern about the family and money and so on.

Text: Hebrews 13:1 –
‘Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.’

Our text is an encouragement to practise love for one another. The author of Hebrews has been captivated by the Person of Jesus Christ. He uses the name ‘Jesus’ without qualification and over a dozen times at that! It appears in a specifically emphatic way as we find it at the beginning or the end of a phrase or sentence (12:2 and 13:8).

Our love for each other is far more than merely kind thoughts… it is bound up in our relationship with God and the willingness to love one another is a sign of grace.

The nature of mutual love – v. 2

The message of Hebrews contains a call for ‘mutual love’. The New Testament is full of references which speak of the need to ‘love each other’ (John 13:34; Romans 13:8; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 2:10, 3:10 and 4:7).

When speaking of love, it is not uncommon for preachers to refer to the particular word being used in relation to love. Here Philadelphia is a noun translated as ‘loving’. It was common in the early Christian ethical teaching (Romans 12:10; 1 Thess. 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 1:7).

George H Guthrie, in his Application Commentary, writes, ‘Rather than speaking to a particular emotion, the emphasis in the New Testament focuses on the call to meet one another’s needs.’ Nothing could be more practical.

The phrase ‘Brothers and sisters’, found in the New Testament, has been variously adopted by many Christians. The early Methodists picked up the theme when they talked about their fellowship together. It speaks of an intimacy of relationship that is created through our belonging to the family of Christ.

Mutual love is reciprocal

Love is never restricted to mere words. It only makes sense when it is demonstrated in the specific context of compassionate deeds. Some people misunderstand this and suggest it is not of grace. We have long understood here at Wesley Mission that our deeds and our words are intrinsically bound together. The practicality of our life in Christ leads to effective evangelism and social justice.

This passage focuses on the spirit of hospitality and the willingness of the first hearers to open their homes to visitors and to exercise generosity with their possessions.

Raymond Brown reminds us that ‘First century inns were notoriously immoral, unhygienic and expensive. Christian travellers had to know that they could count on a warm welcome at the home of a fellow believer.’

This understanding has taken on a much broader application, but it is important that we grasp the origins of something that is so vitally important to us. The point we seek to take to heart is that if love cannot be expressed in the openness of our home in hospitality, then it can hardly be said to have taken hold of our lives. There are many who cannot do this because they have no homes… but those of us who have homes consider them a gift from God.

Mutual love does not seek repayment

Grace is defined in terms of the free gift of God and it is important to see that love exercised in Christ can never be expressed in expectation of something in return. The word rendered ‘hospitality to strangers’ emphasises treating a person with a generous, fair and loving spirit. Although the love described here is mutual, it does not begin from the assumption that it has to be two-way.

That well known theological teacher, Dennis the Menace, is featured in an old cartoon with his friend Joey. They are leaving Mrs Wilson’s house, their hands full of cookies. Joey says, ‘I wonder what we did to deserve this.’ Dennis wisely says, ‘Look, Joey. Mrs Wilson gives us cookies not because we’re nice, but because she’s nice!’ The lesson can be applied to the love of God – for it is his love that calls us to an understanding of what it means to give.

The plea for hospitality to the stranger is really a call to love someone who will never repay us. This flows from the deep well of God’s grace and is demonstrated throughout the ministry of Jesus:-

When he was physically tired, he fed the crowd.
When he was on a journey to help another, he was touched from behind and was willing to bring healing.
Jesus invited himself to Zacchaeus’ home. Hospitable action is demonstrated in reverse.

Mutuality infers two-sidedness and, in this context, love calls us to exhibit a higher level of responsiveness, even if it has to move beyond mutuality.

David Wilkerson, from the streets of New York, said, ‘Christ’s love is a love without angles: a love that asks nothing in return… this is the quality that redeems.’

Mutual love is responsive to need

The love that Christians share with one another empowers the community to reach beyond its own boundaries to discover what it means to practise kindness.

There is an Old Testament background to this particular piece of scripture. The supreme paradigm for hospitality in early Jewish literature was the hospitality of Abraham, who entertained heavenly visitors (Genesis 18:2-15).

As the early Christian community lived under pressure, the importance of sharing homes and practising concern for one another would become even more important. Around the world today, some Christians know suffering and see the importance of being close to each other.

This is particularly important for leaders. Three times in Chapter 13 we see that the leaders are highlighted (v.v. 7, 17 and 24) – the only times in the epistle where leaders are specifically mentioned.

I have known many Christian leaders who have had to deal with people who were less than generous towards them. Sometimes I have sat down with ministers, preachers or lay workers who had endured abuse, great misunderstanding and unfair expectations. Often it was a case of simply listening, but nearly always it required a deep spiritual response which only grace can provide.

When I was working with our people on the fresh designs for our Wesley Centre, we wanted to ensure that people who entered the building from outside the Christian church would find meaningful words that would inspire them. Among the quotations I selected are these words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: ‘Give me such love for God and people as will blot out all hatred and bitterness.’

The practice of true love – v.3

After speaking about hospitality in relation to homes, the writer moves a step further and talks about friendship to those who have been taken away from their homes and are in prison. I think Raymond Brown is right in suggesting, ‘It is most likely that those who are in prison were there because of their faith.’ If that is the case, then the terminology of ‘those who are mistreated’ would strengthen the thought that Christians were physically suffering for their faith.

The practical nature of our Christian faith is often talked about and yet sadly it is the hurdle at which so many of us fall. However, it seems that this community was demonstrating love in tangible care to those in prison. This was not new to them (10:34).

True love is always put into practice

Love always has outward expression… and must be seen to be more than a mere shell or affectionate words. Prison is a good test as to the genuineness of our faith.

I have always felt fulfilled in the opportunities of prison ministry. Early in my ministry, this was merely going to conduct services. Later it was expressed in chaplaincy. Here in Australia I have enjoyed my visits with the Kairos ministry. One of the great challenges, to which the Christian community must respond, is to find ways to follow up and care for those released from prison.

True love creates a real pathway to contentment

We need to be very careful how we interpret this. It is not a way of telling people they should be happy with their lot. It is, however, important to recognise that we do live in a highly materialistic culture.

Raymond Brown chooses to identify three areas being spoken of by the writer to the Hebrews: ‘Pleasure (13:4), possessions (13:5) and popularity (13:6) are all under the sovereign control of their holy, generous and loving God.’

Christian contentment is not intended to convey the thought that we should have no ambitions. By sharing the mind of Christ, we allow both our possessions and our ambitions to be understood in relation to God. When we grasp this truth, we know there is far more to life than success.

True love is essentially sharing with others

The concept of Christian fellowship is an expression of our Christian love. There is nothing more satisfying and exhilarating when facing a challenge than to form a team to address the issue in hand. God has formed us into a team of faith from the outset. I can remember facing one of those struggles – and, at the close, my feeling was not just that we had solved a problem, but that we had done it together.

The Taizé Community is a Christian order in Burgundy, France… an important site of Christian pilgrimage, with over a hundred thousand young people visiting every year. It was begun by Brother Roger in 1940. Coming to France from his Swiss homeland, he sought to live a life according to the scriptures. Switzerland was neutral and less affected by war but, at that time, France was in the grip of poverty. He purchased a small house which was eventually occupied by the Gestapo. Nevertheless, the community has just celebrated its seventieth anniversary.

Brother Roger wrote, ‘Never resign yourself to the scandal of the separation of Christians – all so readily professing love for their neighbour, yet remaining divided. Make the unity of Christ’s Body your passionate concern.’

Worship is the setting for true love – v.16

Our supreme purpose of Christian mission is expressed in worship… and in the closing section of this epistle that theme comes into focus. It is the dynamic of Christian living. Louis Evans writes, ‘When discouragement tethers our feet to the stakes, when fatigue numbs our spirit, when relentless circumstance hounds us moment by moment and day by day, the mature disciple discovers that praise both produces and releases energy.’ Such understanding:-

releases us from self-pity.
lifts our lives to a new level.
helps us to move forward on our journey.

A God-centred capacity to share

There are many people who talk about the centrality of worship in terms of what it gives to us and others rightly ascribe praise for the gift of Jesus Christ, especially in relation to his death, his present help and our future hope. But far fewer thank him for the enduring capacity that God gives us to share with each other.

Jesus taught the practicality of faith. He challenges us: ‘And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.’ (Matthew 5:40-41)

There is a wonderful story of a little boy who called at the house of a retired couple and offered some picture postcards for sale at 20c each. One of them asked him, ‘What are you going to do with the money?’ He replied, ‘I am raising one million dollars for the earthquake relief.’

He was so tiny and the sum seemed so large - the couple could hardly help themselves from smiling and said, ‘One million dollars! Do you expect to raise that by yourself?’

‘No, of course not. My mate’s down the road… he’s helping too!’ God gives us a vision to make an impact for good on this world.

A self-deprecating willingness to sacrifice

We are called to a life of service and selflessness and this is articulated in these words, ‘And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.’ (v.16)

When I lived in Wales, I was writing a thesis and spent time at the famous library of William E Gladstone. There is a story of how Gladstone announced the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons. He told them that the young son of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the Princess not to kiss her son. Once, when the child was struggling to breathe, the mother forgot herself entirely and without thinking tenderly kissed her son. She caught diphtheria and a short time later she died. The nature of real love is always sacrificial.

A satisfaction that this is God’s real purpose for us

Worship is both the setting and the inspiration for our love and service. However, worship is not the conclusion of our life in Christ; it is the launching pad for our service in the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that the final chapter abounds with exhortations which call us to deeper service. By embracing the call to love one another and love the world, we find a deep sense of purpose and this is God’s holy purpose for our lives. It is his transforming power.

Life can be very difficult and it is quite clear that there were those in this early community who were, in our Australian parlance, ‘doing it tough’. To fully grasp the message of Jesus Christ is to be lifted above our present difficulties and to discover One who blesses us in the richest of ways.

‘Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.’

It is as if the preacher lifts up his hands above the congregation and gives his blessing to all the recipients of his work:-

The peace of God to a suffering people.
The hope of Christ from the Risen Lord.
The care of God for a hurting church.
The call of God to fulfil his will.

This mutual love will help us to grow in every way but, most significant of all, it will help us to grow into the image of Christ our Saviour… and, as Jesus is recorded as saying in John’s Gospel, ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ (John 13:35)

Christian Life