Page 101 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

"adulterers" This refers to sexual relations between people, one or both of whom are married to other
people. Sexual sins were a major concern of the early church because of the rampant immorality and
worship practices of pagan culture (cf. Gal. 5:19-21).

"God will judge" God's judgment of improper human sexuality can be seen in Rom. 1:24-32; Gal. 5:19-
21; Eph. 4:19; Col. 3:5; Rev. 21:8; 22:15. However, there are other passages like 1 Cor. 5:5 and 1 Tim.
1:9-11, which relate to believers who commit these immoral acts. The early church had to face
immorality in the lives of believers and try to draw some guidelines.

1. they need to repent
2. other believers are to help them (cf. Gal. 6:1; James 5:16,19-20)
3. believers are not to be "best" friends with immoral believers (cf. 1 Cor. 5:9-13).

The Christian witness of morality, strong marriages, hospitality, and brotherly love are as crucial today as
in the first century.

13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will
never leave you nor forsake you.”

NASB "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money"
NKJV "Let your conduct be without covetousness"
NRSV, TEV "keep your lives free from the love of money"

There is no VERB, again an IMPERATIVE is implied. The NOUN is a compound of phile ō ( the third compound
with phile ō since v. 1), to love. It means "not a lover of money." The problem is not the money, but the
love of money (cf. Luke 12:15; 16:14; 1 Tim. 3:3; 6:10,17-19; 2 Tim. 3:2).

"being content with what you have" This is a PRESENT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE used in an IMPERATIVAL sense. This
is a key issue for happiness. It is a worldview that does not focus on the physical and the immediate.
Contentment is a wonderful gift from God that must be accepted by faith and lived out daily (cf. 2 Cor.
9:8; Phil. 4:11-12; 1 Tim. 6:6-10).

13:7 "Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you" This is the task of Christian
leaders. They do not teach or preach their discoveries or personal/cultural preferences, but the gospel
of Jesus Christ. For this we honor them, respect them, and pray for them.

"imitate their faith" This is a PRESENT MIDDLE (deponent) IMPERATIVE. Our author is calling on his readers to
mimic the faith of their leaders. Paul often encourages believers to imitate his faith (cf. 1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1-
2; Phil. 3:17; 4:9; 1 Thess. 1:6; 2 Thess. 3:7,9).

13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever " The OT characters of chapter 11 were
good examples; the former and current leaders were good examples; Christ is our supreme example. His
character and faithfulness never change (cf. Ps. 102:26-27, quoted in Heb. 1:12). This same theological
statement is made concerning YHWH in Mal. 3:6. God's character and mercy are constant and, so too,
are Jesus Christ's.

NASB "for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace"
NKJV "For it is good that the heart be established by grace"
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