Hebrews 13:1> 

Let brotherly love continue.

Go to Notes on Heb 13.10:

↪️ All our teaching is according to the Torah and the Prophets and the Writings given as the word of God to Israel, and all we teach is in agreement with the sages of the Torah from the time of the prophets until now. Consider this teaching of the Torah,

This exhortation is in the category of Malachi 3:16

Then they who feared the Lord spoke to one another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the Lord, and took heed of his name.

Steinsaltz commentary:

However, then those who fear the Lord spoke one to another and the Lord listened and heeded. Even when the faithful servants of God feel that the world is bearing down upon them, they do not complain; rather, they offer mutual words of encouragement. Indeed, their statements are not in vain, as God hears their quiet conversations about fearing Him and what that entails. A book of remembrance was written before Him containing this dialogue for those who fear the Lord, and those who think of His name and His ways. Although they thought that their statements and efforts had no effect, they were reminded here that God hears everything and preserves it all. Likewise, God would respond to their harsh complaints that they expressed when they saw the righteous morose, and the wicked joyful.

Then, in the time of Malachi it was difficult for believers to see why it appeared that while the righteous continued to suffer those who chose to live lives of sin and evil went on and on without judgment or correction coming from Hashem. Indeed, these were coming, so when Hashem heard those who feared and trusted him, despite appearances, continuing to show familial love toward their neighbours, getting together to encourage one another in faith, he assured them by the prophet that their conversations were all recorded in a book in heaven for those in the yeshivas there to study.

Here Hebrews is saying wether or not it is now understood why it appears that the time of the Revelation of the Kingdom is delayed, the showing of familial love toward one <><><> neighbours and toward all Jews will prove to be it<><><> own reward.

Hebrews 13:2

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

The intention is that even strangers be treated in good faith in this familial way, and with respect to this the rabbi here inspires us to do this by reminding us of the time we all know well, when Abraham thinking he was receiving strangers into his tent like family members discovered them to be angels!

Hebrews 13:3

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

The rabbi then turns to reinforce two halakhic principles with respect to conducting one’s self in a familial way with others. First, in this verse he will speak to the need to treat every Jew and every non-Jew who is Messianically attached to the Jewish people as members of your own family, for, indeed, there is only one Israel, one body, and Moshiah is its Redeemer. Therefore he says:

This is reflective of the unlimited nature of the mitzvah of Yehoshua to, “love one another as I have loved you.”

In the next verse the rabbi will speak to the boundaries, the limitations involved in this mitzvah.

Hebrews 13:4

Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Just as at the core of familial conduct there is a holy realm which has boundaries that one needs to learn never to cross, so in the extending of familial love to neighbours and even to strangers their is a need to learn where the  boundaries of holiness are.  To give what is not ours to give to others is to cross the boundaries of holiness.

Hebrews 13:5

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

If you do not adopt a style of life that is fully like that of Abraham, treating all Jews like your own family members, and all non-Jews as potential family members, then at least adopt a style of life that is without covetousness. There is no way to live a life that says to others that you have faith in God except by being content with what you have and trusting God for what you need. A lifestyle where one is always dreaming of having more, whether for oneself or one’s community, is a lifestyle that clearly speaks more of love of the world than it does of faith in God. And if one is always dreaming of having more while also speaking loudly of having faith in God, it sounds as if God is thought of as a means to an end of getting what one covets.

But those who have come to a maturity of faith with wisdom, like King David, who have known the discipline of the Lord and have attained a complete repentance, are thankful to have a lifestyle of faith, which says that it is enough for them that God has said, “ I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:6

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

There is a generic threat in the human race against the Jew, against, the Jewish people as a whole, and against any non-Jew who holds the same hope and faith in God as the Jews. All Jews grow up feeling this and knowing this and are afraid of this threat, unless and until they graduate from believing that there is one a God to knowing him as Israel’s eternal Redeemer.

It is then that they are able to say, “ The Lord _is_ my helper, I will not fear what humanity acting through the evil inclination shall do unto me.“

Hebrews 13:7

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

 🎶 Teach Notes on Heb 13:7

Now then, having heard all the words of this message, whatever your lifestyle, attach yourselves to the Tzaddikim of the generation and come under the influence of their lifestyle.

Hebrews 13:8

Yehoshua HaMashiach the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

For by their lifestyle of faith they have attached themselves firmly to the True Tzaddik, the Tzaddik Of Tzaddikim, Yehoshua HaMashiach, who did not only incarnate yesterday the word of God spoken to Abraham, but incarnates it today and forever.

Hebrews 13:9

Do not be carried about with divers and foreign doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Up to this point in this closing chapter, the rabbi has encouraged his fellow Jews, those gathered to hear his teaching, to adopt a lifestyle like that of Abraham, but if not, he has encouraged them at least not to adopt a covetous lifestyle like that of most of the world, but if they do this, to remember the wisdom of David, that discipline from the Lord will come to those he loves, to lead them to repentance. Finally, the rabbi has encouraged them, no matter what their age or with what lifestyle they find themselves living to attach themselves to the Tzaddikim, for then they shall always be found under the wings of their lifestyle of faith.

The rabbi now expounds upon the word: “The human does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” He begins saying,

Do not be carried away with teachings which are foreign” to the Tanakh, “ which come in many forms.” For _it is_ a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not (merely) with foods, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Here there are two matters under discussion. The rabbi’s opening statement will be seen here to be paraphrased, as it were, between the lines. In the past God spoke to us by the fathers, by Moses and the prophets. Representing this, we can say that God established our hearts with foods, the pascal lamb, the sacrifices of the altar, the kosher prohibition of certain foods. But he has now spoken to us by a son, for which all that came before by promise prepared us. We understand that this is the grace of God toward Israel. Repeating in this way what has already been said is the first matter. 

Next, we know that God having fulfilled his promise and now having spoken to us by a son means that Mashiach has broadcast Israel’s light to the nations. This scattering of the light of Israel is like the scattering of seed on all kinds of ground and soil. Only a small portion will be prepared soil. As a result, all manner of growth will result. Many forms of teaching which are foreign to the Tanakh, which you have never heard of before will come into the world. Do not be carried away by them or by trying to defend against them.  Some, whose hearts are established in the word of God according to the Tanakh will be moved to defend against that onslaught of foreign teachings when it comes. But if we think it is enough for our hearts to be established the bread of earth, which is but the symbol of the bread of heaven, the time will come when we will learn differently. It is necessary that our hearts be established in the word of God through the grace of God which he has shown to Israel, in speaking to us through the son whom he promised. When this is fully accomplished in us no manner of alien teachings sprouting from rocky ground, or growing among weeds, or in shallow ground will ever capture our attention.

Hebrews 13:10

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

A.

All our teaching is according to the Torah and the Prophets and the Writings given as the word of God to Israel, and all we teach is in agreement with the sages of the Torah from the time of the prophets until now. Consider this teaching of the Torah,

B.

The altar built for the order of the firstborn of Abraham upon the earth, which order was being represented by the Levitical priesthood, was built to continually express the covenant while it was cut in the form of the promise. The nature of a promise is that it does not, and cannot, reveal what it promises fully and completely. If it could do so, it would not be the promise but the fulfillment. 

A promise reveals some of what it promises directly and some of what it promises only indirectly.  That is to say, when the fulfillment comes it is seen that what is revealed is not only what was promised with better and more perfect clarity. The mystery of what was only indirectly indicated in the form of the promise is also then revealed openly.

More than with any other promise, the promise of the word of God is fulfilled exactly as promised.  This is the meaning of the words, “Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures”. 1 Corinthians 15.  

And this is the meaning of the words we find in Exodus 24, “See that you make everything according to the pattern shown to you on the mountain”. For in this way, the Scriptures spelled out on earth the promise of the Atonement of The Messiah, which would be carried out on earth and fulfilled in heaven. We have looked at this in our notes on [[Hebrews 8.5]].

For what is the altar upon which the Messiah of Israel made his atonement? **In heaven it is the altar of communion between himself and his Father.** **This altar in heaven is the Throne of Grace.** We have looked at this in our notes on [[Hebrews 4.16]].

On earth the priesthood of the promise had **no** commandment or authorization to eat of a burnt offering. It was wholly burnt upon the altar. This was also true of a sin offering which a priest brought for their own transgression, which could not eat of, but was burnt like a whole burnt offering.

This was true even of one other sin offering, the offerings of which they otherwise would have been authorized to eat, were it not that it was brought for the transgression of an unknowing idolatry by the whole nation due to a specific circumstance. This exceptional sin offering was the one brought on behalf of corporate Israel when it had committed an act of idolatry ignorantly due to an error made in an halachic ruling by the Sanhedrin.  [[Sacrifices#If the entire congregation of Israel shall inadvertently err]]

It can be said that this singular sin offering was put upon the altar in the order and manner of a whole burnt offering. 

The offering of Mashiach is like this sin offering, in that it comprehends and fulfills the promise of all sin offerings and all burnt offerings. As we come boldly by faith to the Throne of Grace we have the authorization to partake of the whole burnt sin offering made upon that altar. This is the authority of the obedience of our faith, which is according to the promise of the Scriptures.

Hebrews 13:11

For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

This is to say, the sin offerings which pointed directly to Mashiach are not the sin offerings which were made for the for the individual party apart, but to sin offerings that were made for the priests themselves, or for communal sin offerings, where the blood is taken and placed by the hand of the priest upon the altar. The first kind the priest was authorized by the commandment to eat from. The second kind they were prohibited by the commandment from eating of. 

The second kind, though for an action and therefore a sin offering and not a burnt offering, was treated like a burnt offering. This was true of the communal sin offering of idolatry through an error being made in an halachic ruling by the high court.

Hebrews 13:12

Wherefore Yehoshua also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

This is the meaning of, “Mashiach died for our sins according to the Scriptures”.

What was done on earth in the Mishkan was done according to what Moshe saw when he was caught up into heaven that Mashiach would do.  It is this that was written in a form of promise in the sacrificial system of the Mishkan, which was fulfilled by Mashiach. 

Hebrews 13:13

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

——>  Heb. 6.1  ——>  Eph. 4 = principle of Moshiah 7, "If God permits".

Why were offerings burnt outside the camp? They were treated like burnt offerings because no one but God could attach to these aspects — no one, that is, but the one who was himself the whole burnt offering and the complete sin offering for the body of Israel at once.  It is in this way that we can go out to him and partake though him there of his atonement. It is only in this way that Israel is one with him as the suffering servant.

Hebrews 13:14

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

And this is our service, for the service of this world ends only in death. 

Hebrews 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.

By what means do we serve with him? By confession and praise of his good news of Israel’s atonement in him.

Hebrews 13:16

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Remember always to seek ways to confess this with praise in communion, for to do so will require much sacrificial suffering by which you will greatly honour and please God.

Hebrews 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.

This follows from the immediately previous injunction to seek community assembly as described in Revelation 2-3.  The injunction here is just as there, to “hear what the Spirit says to the Galut Assemblies. For the how does the Spirit speak? By the “angel” of each assembly, to whom the Lord Yehoshua addresses his message.  These seven angels are the 12 Apostles and the 7 lamps and the 7 eyes. 

How do the 12 apostles and 12 tribes of Israel correspond to the 7 branches of the menorah? It is in the aspect of the 12 princes of the tribes, whose priesthood is from Abraham. In the promise of the atonement they are represented by the tribe of Levi, where the menorah is held, and in the fulfillment of the atonement by Mashiach, who walks in the midst of the seven menorah branches. 

The aspect of seven is that it is magnified into eleven when it is amplified by four, which are the four camps. So then the four camps are 12 and at the same time they are 11, with the 12th being Levi holding the place at the centre for Mashiach. And Joseph, who is both 1 and 2 is holding the place for Levi to be counted among the four again when Mashiach comes.

Hebrews 13:18

Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

Pray for us for we are speaking as fellow Jews to you, not as being the angel of your assembly. And to this end pray for us that we are able to live commendably, beautifying every mitzvah.

Hebrews 13:19

But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

I especially ask you to pray for me in this regard so that the way will be opened for me to come to fellowship with you all the sooner.

For as I am admonishing you to suffer with Mashiach outside the camp, I am doing this myself, suffering with him at the gates of Rome.  ( see the Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 98a.)

And as I am admonishing you to seek to gather together with one another to fellowship in these truths of Mashiach, so I seek to fellowship with you in our confession of him. 

Who is speaking? It is the one sitting as scribe for those apostles who at that time gathered in Italy.

Hebrews 13:20

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead Adonenu Yehoshua, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead Adonenu Yehoshua, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant...

Shepherd of Shepherds 

The ever-new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah is cut through his blood sacrifice... in accordance with which God raised him from the dead....

Hebrews 13:21

Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Yehoshua HaMashiach; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen

As in [[Romans 12.1]]

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Hebrews 13:22

And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

This word of exhortation is very brief. Please receive it in good faith.

Hebrews 13:23

Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

Timothy set free.  He is going there. If he comes here to take me with him, I will be coming to you soon.

Hebrews 13:24

Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

Give our regards to the apostles gathered there. All the apostles gathered here send their regards to you.

Hebrews 13:25

Grace be with you all. Amen.

The grace of God to Israel from the altar if the Throne of Grace.