Posts
Go Forth Unto Jesus
What it says:Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Heb 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Heb 13:19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Heb 13:22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
Heb 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
Heb 13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Heb 13:25 Grace be with you all. Amen. Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.
What it means:
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
(CEV) That's why we should go outside the camp to Jesus and share in his disgrace.
To go without, or outside, of the camp means to leave behind the old covenant, the old ways, the old city, and the old system and go forward unto Jesus Christ and the new covenant, and the eternal life that He mediated for us by His own blood. If what He did was a disgrace, then let us share in the same disgrace as He did, for we know it is not disgrace but the true grace of God unto the whole world. If He was reproached for God’s grace, then let us be reproached also, in His name, for God’s grace. Let us be built up and established in God’s grace!!
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
(ERV) Here on earth we don't have a city that lasts forever. But we are waiting for the city that we will have in the future.
Why should we cling to the old Jerusalem that is perishing? The word “Jerusalem” stands for the city and especially for the temple which was the concrete earthly symbol of the old covenant.
We know that the temple no longer stands in Jerusalem, for God allowed the Romans to destroy it in the year 70 A.D., but Jesus stands forever in heaven at God’s eternal right hand. By Jesus Christ, we seek the new city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, with its immense crowd of angels and just men made perfect.
Define: Seek – search for, look for, try to find, hunt for, seek out, ask for, inquire about, request, get, take, obtain
We are looking for, asking for, and requesting to be part of God’s city each day by our faithfulness to Jesus.
This also calls forth another idea: that of being near to God. We can only draw near to God because He has already, in Jesus Christ, drawn near to us. We are not speaking of earthly space and time, but of His Heavenly Holy Spirit. Think about the sun. We may know its position in the sky simply by looking at our watches or knowing the time of day. At noon we know the sun is high in the sky and shining bright. The sun always shines bright, wherever it is in our sky. But sometimes when we poke our head out the door at noon, what we see are clouds and rain so we cannot actually see the sun. We know the sun is above the clouds, intellectually, but we do not feel its presence in our hearts. We look at those clouds and wonder if we shall ever see the sun again. We know we will in our minds, but at the moment it does not feel so in our hearts because we lack the manifest presence of the sun. We cannot, at the moment, actually see the sun in the sky, because it is hidden behind those dark clouds.
There is a skill that we need to cultivate: that of trusting in the very Presence of God no matter what we see when we poke our heads out the door.
Define: Manifest – obvious, evident, clear, visible, discernible, observable, display, reveal, exhibit (Antonym: obscure, hide)
Define: Presence – attendance, being there, company, being, life, reality
What is the antonym to “presence?” (Antonym: absence)
Psa 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
The manifest presence means an experience of being in the actual presence of the Spirit of God. David said that being in the presence of God brought fullness of joy to his heart. He started this verse with the words, “Thou wilt show me the path of life” meaning the path that leads to life and not to death. David discovered that when he walked on the path of life, and remembered to put God in front of his face, in the forefront of his mind, and when he was obedient, that God was also at his right hand. Meaning that God gave him favor and blessings. Things happened around David that did not happen anywhere else because God was “with him.” David trusted in God’s ever present help being right next to him. He then discovered his own courage. He could not be moved or shaken. Nothing bothered him when his faith and trust was completely in God and he was walking with Him daily.
Psa 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psa_31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
By faith and trust we may rejoice in the light of the sun even on a cold and cloudy day. Have you known people who like rainy days? Maybe you are one of them. They have learned to see and to feel the beauty of the rain and deeper colors of the trees and foliage around them. They are not gloomy, they rejoice and love the peace they find in the cold and rain and darkness. It gives them satisfaction and real pleasure to see days like that because they see it differently in their hearts. That is what walking with Jesus can be like to those who are willing to cultivate the skill of seeing Him before their face and in their hearts all the time. It is the manifest Presence of God that warms our hearts. God is already everywhere present. We cannot be far from Him, but we can feel like we are not near to Him.
A.W. Tozer, “God’s Immanence” from “The Attributes of God” Vol I: “Have you any tears for that distance that you feel between you and God that you know isn’t there, yet feel is there? You are not diminishing in any way the things God has already done in your life. You’re grateful and thankful for every blessing, for justification, for the good grace of God on your life. But you can’t escape that sense of remoteness, and many a day is a heavy one because God seems far from you. You know He isn’t, but you feel He is. He can’t show His face.”
What causes this sense of being far from God? Usually it is the clouds and rain of sin and selfishness that we have allowed to get between our hearts and God’s Presence. God does not manifest His Presence when the people have turned their backs to Him. God inhabits the praises of His people. When we feel that we are not near to God but desire to be near because we miss Him, we need to reach out through our clouds and rain to Him. We need to repent of not being holy in the Presence of our Holy God. God has, in Jesus Christ, given us the great privilege of being able to approach the Throne of Grace whenever we are in need. No matter what the need.
Heb_4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We need to place God on His throne in the kingdom of our hearts. If you are yearning for the Presence of God, go to Him and ask Him to guide you. Seek Him. Ask Him for what you need and then begin to praise Him, and love Him, and feel Him in your heart. Practice doing the things you know He wants you to do.
Where is the kingdom of God?
Luk 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
The kingdom of God is within you. “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation.” It is not found in any particular place on earth, except in your very own heart. There are no Polaroids or digital files containing a picture of the kingdom of God because His kingdom exists in your heart. That is why our heart is our gauge of how near or far we are from Him. That is why our conscience being clear, allows us the opportunity of seeing Him before us. That is why sin, removes us from His Holy Presence. That is why God looks at our hearts to know who we are. That is also how we know Him: by looking at His heart.
1Jn_4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Eph 2:4-7 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Psa_86:12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
God is always there. God is always faithful. He never leaves us. He never leaves us high and dry. What must you do to trust in the Great God of Heaven every single day? What will it take for you to draw near to God?
Isa 57:13c-15 But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain. And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way." For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
God revives us. He revives the spirit of the lowly. He revives the heart of the contrite when we come to Him, when we seek His Presence – when we live in His peace and His holiness.
Act 3:19-22 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.
God sends times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord – to those repentant souls who are truly seeking Him.
Jas_4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Let us not cling to the clouds and rain but to the Son of God who has shined forth into humanity and eternally reconciled us with the Great God of Heaven. Practice the Presence of God in your own life. Become skilled in a new thing. Cling to the goodness and love of God for you by loving Him. Praise Him and thank Him and walk with Him.
Mic_6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
This is what Jesus said about the Presence of His Father:
Joh 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
Jesus said “the Father hath not left me alone” BECAUSE “I do always those things that please him.” How blessed to know that the Father is “with you” – wherever you go, all the time – Amen! Obedience clears our path to God.
Num 6:24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
What sacrifice are we to offer to God? The sacrifice of praise to God.
How often? Continually.
Psa 107:8-9 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Psa 140:12-13 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
Rev 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
(YLT) and of doing good, and of fellowship, be not forgetful, for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased.
(CEV) But don't forget to help others and to share your possessions with them. This too is like offering a sacrifice that pleases God.
Sometimes the best explanation of archaic terms and phrases is simply a modern translation. In this verse our author has added a couple more sacrifices that are just as well pleasing to God as praising and giving thanks.
With what other sacrifices from us, is God well pleased? To do good, and to communicate.
We are to do good (and not evil), fellowship with other Christians, be not forgetful to help others when they are in need of help, and to share of our possessions with them that have lost their goods -- as we praise the Lord. It is once more, for the last and final time, emphasized that good works are to follow our faith into action. It is also pointed out that doing these things pleases God.
Heb_11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Since we know that doing the aforementioned things (doing good, fellowshipping, remembering, helping, sharing) pleases God, and that it is impossible to please Him without faith, these thing must be the living demonstration of our faith in the Living God. Amen
Jas_2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:
Who are we to obey? Them that have the rule over you.
What does it mean to submit yourself? To serve and to obey.
Our author is now guiding them and us to submit to our local church leaders and be good servants to them who do so much good for the local congregation. He is not usurping their authority but encouraging and supporting it.
for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account,
What do our local leaders do? They watch over our own souls, so they may give an accounting.
The local pastors, elders, and leaders who are watching out for your souls have been given charge over you and they must give an account to the rest of the church and to Jesus, Himself, not only for themselves, but for you also.
that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
What report is preferable for you? A joyful report of us.
What is unprofitable for you? One that give them grief to deliver.
Bless them that they may give their account with joy, not with grief over you – for you will not profit from the grief of those who rule over you. There is benefit to you from the joy you cause them.
Heb 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
(ESV) Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
(GNB) Keep on praying for us. We are sure we have a clear conscience, because we want to do the right thing at all times.
Here our author, most likely Paul, the Apostle, asks for the congregation to “pray for us” meaning him and his companions as they continue to preach and teach the gospel of grace and Jesus Christ while in their own set of circumstances.
Being willing to live honestly… Desiring to do the right thing at all times…. Gives one a good conscience. We receive the blessing of a clear conscience from the atonement of Jesus Christ. Then as we continue to live as God desires for us to live we can hang on to that continued good conscience. We also need to pray for our leaders and for the missionaries and missions that God lays on our hearts.
Heb 13:19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Paul confesses that he is asking for their prayers personally. He prefers their prayers for Him. He wants to be restored (returned) to them more quickly. He longs for home, but for now, he must remain in his chains. He is not asking us to pray for their good conscience, because they already possess that. He is asking them to pray that He may be restored to them as quickly as possible. Each of us has the right to ask for prayers for our own personal wants and desires. It behooves us to be willing to respond to the requests for prayer from fellow Christians because prayer makes a difference not only in their lives, but in our own.
Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace,
Our God is the God of what? He is the God of peace.
that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
What did our God of peace do? Brought our Lord Jesus alive again, from the dead.
What is Lord Jesus called? That great shepherd of the sheep.
How did he become this? Through the blood of the everlasting covenant.
Our author describes the God of Peace as the One who brought Jesus back from the dead and gave Him, and us, new life in Him. He is the great shepherd (protector, provider, and lover) of the sheep (us). The resurrection of the Son, the protection and restoration of the sheep, took place through the blood of the everlasting covenant which was shed by Jesus Christ.
Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will,
In what does God make us perfect? In every good work.
What are we doing in every good work? We are doing God's will.
It is the God of Peace who makes you perfect in Christ, that in every good work you do, you are doing God’s will. We know that “perfect” means the same as consecrated, complete or whole, so we are made complete when we are doing the good works of God. Yet, we cannot take credit for this. It is Jesus Christ who made us whole and perfect before God.
to do his will, working in you
Doing God’s will, does a work in you, too. Just as Paul said their consciences were clear because they were willing to do the work of God, when we, also, do the work of God we keep our consciences clear. We must not think that we are the source, though, because it is the Spirit of the Lord, working in us that gives us peace of mind and prompts us to the works He wants us to do.
that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ;
Our obedience is well pleasing to God. All that we do through and for Jesus Christ is pleasing unto God. Through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, God is doing a work in you that is well pleasing in God’s own sight.
Php_1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
We can only do what we do to serve God through or because of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us. Let us praise Jesus and honor Him forever and ever Amen.
Heb 13:22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
Paul is pleading with the brethren that they “suffer the word of exhortation.” To suffer is to endure with patience, and a word of exhortation is meant to lift you up and bless you, as well as warn you of the potholes and forks in the road of which we must be careful.
BBC: The writer now urges his readers to heed the exhortation of his Letter, that is, to abandon ritualistic religion and cleave to Christ with true purpose of heart.
He speaks of his Epistle as a brief one, and it is, considering how much more he could have said about the Levitical system and how it finds its fulfillment in Christ.
Heb 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty;
So glad to announce that Timothy has been set free from jail.
with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
I hope to come to see you shortly with Timothy, my friend and son in the Lord. That is, if he arrives in time.
Heb 13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints.
Salute or greet – with holy hugs and kisses – all the local pastors and leaders who rule over and take care of you. Salute “all the saints” – we are to greet one another with honor and love, also.
They of Italy salute you.
This could mean the men from Italy who are imprisoned with him, or the folks from Italy where he is living.
Heb 13:25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
What a blessing: “Grace be with you all.” God’s grace living and growing within you and being with all of you. Our hearts are founded or established in God’s grace!! We live by His grace!
Col_3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.
This controversial line appears in one form or another on some of the old manuscripts but not all of them. It seems to contradict the line about Timothy not yet being present. But, if we think about it, perhaps he arrived just in time to finish up the letter, and perhaps deliver it to its intended audience. It may mean that Timothy showed up in time to help make copies, too. There is no way of knowing, but I did not want to arbitrarily leave it out.
Reading our verses once more:
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Heb 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Heb 13:19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Heb 13:22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
Heb 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
Heb 13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Heb 13:25 Grace be with you all. Amen. Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.
BBC: … THE MESSAGE OF HEBREWS FOR TODAY
Does the Epistle to the Hebrews have a message for us in the twentieth century?
Although Judaism is not the dominant religion today that it was in the early days of the church, yet the legalistic spirit has permeated Christendom. In his well-known booklet, Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth, Dr. C. I. Scofield writes:
It may be safely said that the Judaizing of the Church has done more to hinder her progress, pervert her mission, and destroy her spiritually, than all other causes combined. Instead of pursuing her appointed path of separation from the world and following the Lord in her heavenly calling, she has used Jewish Scriptures to justify herself in lowering her purpose to the civilization of the world, the acquisition of wealth, the use of an imposing ritual, the erection of magnificent churches ... and the division of an equal brotherhood into “clergy” and “laity.”
The Letter calls on us to separate ourselves from all religious systems in which Christ is not honored as the only Lord and Savior and in which His work is not recognized as the once-for-all offering for sin.
Hebrews teaches us that the types and shadows of the OT system found their fulfillment in our Lord. He is our great High Priest. He is our Sacrifice. He is our Altar. He serves in the heavenly sanctuary and His priesthood will never end.
It teaches that all believers are priests, and that they have instant access into the presence of God by faith at any time. They offer the sacrifices of their person, their praise, and their possessions.
David Baron writes:
To adopt the model of the Levitical priesthood in the Christian Church, which ritualism endeavors to do, is nothing else but an attempt, with unholy hands, to sew together again the veil which the blessed, reconciled God had Himself rent in twain; and like saying, “stand aside, come not nigh to God” to those who are “made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
The book of Hebrews teaches us that we have a better covenant, a better Mediator, a better hope, better promises, a better homeland, a better priesthood, and better possessions—better than the best that Judaism could offer. It assures us that we have eternal redemption, eternal salvation, an eternal covenant, and an eternal inheritance.
It warns solemnly against the sin of apostasy. If a person professes to be a Christian, associates with a Christian church, then turns away from Christ and joins those who are enemies of the Lord, it is impossible for such a one to be renewed to repentance.
The Epistle to the Hebrews encourages true Christians to walk by faith and not by sight because this is the life that pleases Christ. It also encourages us to bear up steadfastly under sufferings, trials, and persecutions in order that we might receive the promised reward.
Hebrews teaches that because of their many privileges, Christians have a very special responsibility. The superiorities of Christ make them the most highly favored people in the world. If such privileges are neglected, they will suffer loss accordingly at the Judgment Seat of Christ. More is expected of them than of those who lived under the law; and more will be required in a coming day.
“Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb_13:13).
Suggestion: Aside from reading both volumes of “The Attributes of God” by A.W. Tozer, which I highly recommend, you might also wish to read: “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence. Brother Lawrence was a man of humble beginnings who discovered the greatest secret of living in the kingdom of God here on earth. It is the art of "practicing the presence of God in one single act that does not end." He often stated that it is God who paints Himself in the depths of our soul. We must merely open our hearts to receive Him and His loving presence. For nearly 300 years this unparalleled classic has given both blessing and instruction to those who can be content with nothing less than knowing God in all His majesty and feeling His loving presence throughout each simple day.
