Paul’s Final Exhortation

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-19-2021

Hebrews 13:22-25

 

Introduction:

 

A.  It is a little sad for me to close the Book of Hebrews.  By close, I do not mean that we will not read and preach the Book but this is the 107th message that I have preached in Hebrews.

 

B.  Paul said that he had “written a letter … in few words” and I have preached through Hebrews in “a lot of words.”  I asked a young boy last Sunday if he was listening to me as I preached and he answered, “Yes.”  I asked him, “What did I preach?” and he answered, “A lot of things!”  Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings.

 

C.  The purpose of the Book of Hebrews was to transition these “strangers scattered,” dispersed Jews, from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant: from “do” to “done.”  The key word of Hebrews is “better.” 

 

D.  Now, Paul speaks to them as mature Christians and not as to babes in Christ.  Here are four things that Paul left them with:

 

1.  The Exhortation of “suffer the word of exhortation.”  Verse 22.

 

2 Thessalonians 3:1  Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

 

a.  To listen to God’s Word.  Not to just hear with ears that cannot hear but to listen and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts through the Word of God.

 

b.  To receive God’s Word as it is, the Word of God and not the word of man.

 

c.  To allow God’s Word to have “free course.”  To go where it needs to go without restriction.

 

2.  The Exhortation of Acceptance.  Verse 23.

 

a.  These dispersed Jewish believers had suffered much under the persecution of Saul of Tarsus, Paul’s name as an unbeliever.  They did not trust him in Jerusalem nor did these dispersed Jews trust him.  That is why Paul did not sign his name to the epistle but left his salutation (2 Thessalonians 3:17-18) at the end of the epistle to identify its authenticity. 

 

b.  These dispersed Jews DID trust Timothy because he had been circumcised after the Jewish tradition.  Paul knew that, if he went to them with Timothy, they would accept him.

 

c.  We are to forget people’s past when it is under the blood of Christ and accept them into the brotherhood of Christianity.

 

3.  The Exhortation of Equality. Verse 24.

 

a.  Jews, as a nation, had trouble with accepting “outsiders” or “strangers.” 

 

b.  Salute them that have the rule over you.  Paul stresses the importance of obedience to both spiritual and civil rulers. 

 

c.  Salute all the saints.  Equality of men and women in Christ.  Equality of ethnicity in Christ.

 

4.  The Exhortation of Grace.  Verse 25.  Paul’s salutation in every epistle that he wrote.

 

a.  The knowledge of God’s Grace:  abundant, sufficient, and manifested. 

 

b.  The acceptance of God’s Grace.  Though abundant, sufficient, and manifested—God’s grace must be accepted and applied to each individual saint.

 

5.  The Exhortation of Amen.  Verse 25.  Surely, trustworthy, “so be it.”  What God says you can trust!