Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 13

“Loving each other as brothers” (GK 5789) is a most important virtue in the NT. Those who are linked in the common bond of having been saved by the death of Jesus cannot but have warm feelings toward one another (cf. Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 1:7).

To brotherly love the author adds “entertaining strangers” (lit., “love of strangers”; GK 5810). Entertaining “angels without knowing it” reminds us of Abraham (Genesis 18:1ff.) and Lot (Genesis 19:1ff.). The writer is not advocating hospitality on the off chance that one might happen to receive an angel as guest but rather because God is pleased when believers are hospitable. Sometimes unexpectedly happy results follow acts of hospitality. Hospitality was highly esteemed in the ancient world, and it was certainly important for Christians. Accommodation at inns was expensive, and in many cases inns had a bad reputation. But as Christian preachers traveled around, believers gave them lodging and so facilitated their mission. Without that, the spread of the faith would have been much more difficult.

The writer turns his attention to prisoners. Guests may come unbidden, but prisoners must be actively sought out . Some people withheld help from prisoners for fear of suffering a similar punishment. But Christians should have compassion on those in prison “as if you were their fellow prisoners.” “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it,” wrote Paul (1 Corinthians 12:26); there is something of the same thought here. Believers should feel so much for their friends in prison and for “those who are mistreated” that they become one with them. Compassion is an essential part of Christian living.

From love for the badly treated the author turns to love within the marriage bond. The opening expression implies an imperative: “Let marriage be held in honor.” “By all” probably means “in all circumstances.” Some ascetics held marriage in low esteem, but the author of Hebrews rejects this position. “The marriage bed” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse. He considers the physical side of marriage important and “pure.” Contrary to the views of some thinkers in the ancient world, there is nothing defiling about it. Over against honorable marriage he sets the “sexually immoral” (GK 4521) and the “adulterer” (GK 3659; a word used for a violation of the marriage bond).

All forms of sexual sin come under the judgment of God. This was a novel view to many in the first century. For them chastity was an unreasonable demand to make. It is one of the unrecognized miracles that Christians were able not only to make this demand but to make it stick. Sexual sinners are likely to go their way, careless of all others. But in the end they will be judged by none less than God.

Sins of impurity and “love of money” are linked elsewhere in the NT (e.g., 1 Corinthians 5:10–11; Ephesians 4:19; Ephesians 5:3–5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–6). A covetous person pursues selfish aims, whether sexual or financial, without regard to the rights of others. So the writer warns against this sin and urges contentment with what one has. Covetousness is needless, for believers have the promise that God will never leave them nor forsake them. The origin of this quotation is not clear; the words do not correspond exactly to any OT passage, though there are several statements that are rather like it (e.g., Genesis 28:15; Dt 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5; 1 Chronicles 28:20; Isaiah 41:17). The words point to the complete reliability of God and his promises. God’s people are secure no matter what comes, because he is with them.