Hebrews chapter 13

vs 1

The more I think about this relationship that Christians have, the more I think that blood family gets in the way of us accepting it and living it out, especially when that blood family also believes. When you've been excommunicated from your family because you believe and they don't, it's easy to concentrate on the Christian family that loves you. But when you have a blood family who are also Christian family, then there is a danger in overvaluing them, rather than remembering that the blood link is actually only temporal.

vs 2

Lot is the only biblical example I can think of who might not have known he was showing hospitality to angels. But the way this is worded makes it sound like this had been a more recent activity.

So will angels come and knock on our doors now? Well, probably not, if we're not prepared to be hospitable, because our culture doesn't require it so much. Thankfully, church culture still retains a hospitality that welcomes strangers. I hope that remains forever.

vs 3

For those in prison or suffering, being in prison or suffering is very important to them. We need to remember that, and to treat them accordingly. Prison, for example, - they're out of sight, so it's easy for them to become out of mind. But the prison is never out of sight for them.

vs 4

Sexual immorality is one of the top 5 things harped on in the New Testament, I reckon (I haven't counted). I wonder if it was one of the top 5 things that was struggled with too, or whether it was one of the easy things to pick on, as it often is now.

Regardless, it's importance is obvious. Sexual purity is one of those things that marks Christians out as holy.

vs 5

Greed and the love of money get mentioned quite a bit too. Surely this has compounded with our invention of corporations, stocks, and capitalism? The warning about money is the same as it almost always is - our reliance should be on God.

vs 6

If only it was so easy to have this attitude. This attitude acknowledges and accepts that human beings will be out to get you because of your holiness. And then it devalues any negative thing they could throw at you, valuing only what God, Christ and the Spirit can do in our lives.

vs 7

It's a shame if you didn't have great leaders that lived strong lives. But in the more likely event that you did, how often do you reflect on them, on their ability to live a life worthy of your emulation?

vs 8

The ultimate leader never changed, and never will. How worthy is he of your emulation?

vs 9

Grace is not a strange teaching. Anything else that seeks to take its place is. Because if you accept the teachings of the Bible regarding the ultimate futulity and inability of humankind to better its own spiritual circumstance, then you will accept that there is nothing but God's grace that will help.

vs 10

This would be the divine altar, perhaps, or is it the table fellowship of the breaking of bread? I actually like the second one better - the idea that our communion is of so much more value than the tabernacle, that a priest would not be allowed to eat of it (if he had not accepted Christ) really paints a picture of the value of the ritual that we have.

vs 11

Okay. I'll take that as read.

vs 12

Interesting analogy. Did the blood come inside the city? We'll find out tomorrow!