The Lord is Our Helper

September 30, 2010

Lesson: Hebrews 13:1–6

Key Verse: Hebrews 13:6

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Introduction

Those who love Christ will keep His commandments, and they will hear Him say, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever” (John 14:16). The Comforter is He who walks along side of us, who encourages us, our advocate between God and ourselves. In other words, He is our Helper. He is also called the “Spirit of truth” who dwells in us (14:17).

How can we be seen as obedient keepers of the commandments of Christ? Those who love God will show this love by keeping His commandments. Christ also promises us that the Holy Spirit, “whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26; 15:26–27). He will not leave us comfortless in our love and obedience toward Christ our Savior.

Therefore, in our love and in our obedience, we rest, in faith, solely upon the promises of Christ, of the love our Father in heaven, and of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

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Brotherly Love—Hebrews 13:1–2

We are citizens of a Kingdom which is kept by King Jesus: “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Heb. 12:28).

How shall we then serve our Father in heaven, the one to whom we pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth?” One way is to heed the divine admonition, “Let brotherly love continue.” The Greek word for brotherly love is ‘Philadelphia.’ This city in Pennsylvania has been called the city of brotherly love because of its name. Whether this city, or any other city in our nation, lives up to its name, is questionable, to say the least. This name is claimed by the Christian church because their love for one another. Is this questionable too?

God’s Word teaches us how this love comes to the heart of the Christian, which is nothing less than the Spirit producing such fruit in and through us. Scripture teaches us that the Christian has purified his or her soul “in obeying the truth through the Spirit.” This act of sanctification by the Holy Spirit leads Christian to an “unfeigned love of the brethren.” This love for one another is practiced “with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22). In other words, the Christian, through the study of God’s Word, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, obeys the truth as He reveals it, which leads to a genuine and deep love for one another.

The stranger at the door is also an object of the Christian’s care. We are to be careful of our attitude toward those who come to our door, “for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. The stranger may be a messenger from God. Gracious hospitality is also a mark of the child of God: “That not mere angels are received, but Christ himself, when we receive the poor in his name” (John Calvin, Commentary).

Discussion: What does it mean to bear the name of brotherly love?

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Moral Action—Hebrews 13:3–4

Love is to be shown in our relationship with one another. We live in a society which claims moral action to be political correctness in marriage of same sex partners or abortion, or rehabilitation in place of responsibility for a crime committed. Righteous moral action and judgment must be made in accord to the Word and Law of God, and not by the will of man.

Two examples are given to us in our lesson. One is our love for the brethren who are in bondage. If one part of the Body of Christ, His Church, suffers adversity, we suffer, “as being also in the body.” If we see a nation killing our brothers and sisters in Christ, and only think of it in terms of human rights and economic sanctions, we have trampled upon the grace and law of Christ, denying Him as the Sovereign King over the nation. Righteousness exalts a nation. The Christian must begin to feel the pain of those in persecution, as well as those who are suffering in this nation, for whatever reason, pray for, and when given the opportunity, comfort with whatever gifts the Lord has given us.

The second illustration is that of marriage. “Marriage is honorable.” Marriage is between a man and a woman, as our Creator has so given us; thus the marriage bed should be a blessing that reveals the preciousness of that union; and not defiled as the world does in dishonorable marriages. You can defile the marriage bed, which speaks of the union of two people, male and female (Gen. 2:23–24), in the transgression of God’s Law, adultery; or in neglect because work becomes the rationale for staying away; or by no loving sacrificially; etc. (Eph. 5:3, 22, 28).

Marriage, in Scriptures, speaks of the union of two people, male and female, that they have become one, the actual joining of husband and wife. Many times these words have been said at a wedding service, “Let no man put asunder.” These words must be listened to, very carefully, by those who are being married. We warn the couple that they must be careful in their relationship, that what they do and say can have a good or bad effect on the marriage. Let brotherly love continue in the home, as well as the love which is unconditional, given to us from the heart of Christ.

Discussion: What is our moral obligation one toward another?

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Lord’s Love—Hebrews 13:5–6

Let our “conversation be without covetousness,” being content with the things we have, and we will realize the truth of Christ’s promise: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Our relationship with one another should not be in the spirit of covetousness. If Christ is with us, then we ought to have, not the desire to have what the other person has, but that sacrificial love with which He has so loved us. Our relationship with one another should reveal the love of Christ in us, and give glory to our Father who has first loved us. It is Christ who has forgiven our transgressions, by whose stripes we are healed (Psalm 53:5). Look to the cross of Christ to know His love.

Our conversation, daily interaction with one another, boldly claims, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me,” From the decisions in congress to the decisions made in the church body, it is seen that many things are done because of the fear of man rather than that of God. When we should be dependent wholly upon the providential work of God, we rest upon the selfish hearts of men.

Discussion: How are we to love one another, as Christ has loved us?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2012 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.