Corrie Ten Boom, whom many of you are familiar with, was a compassionate Christian woman who, with her family, helped hide Jewish people from the Nazis in World War II. With the threat of punishment hanging over their heads, they continued to practice this Christian compassion.
The author of Hebrews describes this in these verses. The key idea found here is, even in times of hardship and persecution, as believers, we are called to show compassion to every person. The author reveals to us three groups to whom we must show concern.
I. Care for the Christian
In verse 1 the author says that we are to show care for the Christian. He says, “Let love of the brethren continue.” All believers are related to one another through the blood of Christ and so he calls the church to let brotherly love remain. Perhaps, because of the persecution that was taking place in this area, the author thought there might be the possibility that believers would not show the right care for one another to avoid persecution. In going underground there is a temptation to neglect someone to whom our compassion is due.
But the author wants his readers to understand, that as believers, we are a family. We should have a close association with one another. We should endeavor to assist one another in spiritual growth for the purpose of unity in the body in becoming like Christ. I have seen churches that are simply organizations. But this should not be. We have a bond in Christ that cannot be broken and we should therefore seek in every way to practically live this out. Though we organize, we are not simply an organization but an organism. We are a living representation of Christ. So how well do you show it? How do you put it in practice? Do you understand stand the words of the covenant to which you bound yourself when you joined this church? Let me read one paragraph from it. “We…covenant to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy of speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and…to secure reconciliation without delay.”
Some very good passages of Scripture describe the care we are to have for one another. The apostle Paul says in Philippians 2:1-2 “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” God’s desire for our lives in this church is to see that our bond in Christ should cause us to have affection and compassion for one another. Paul says that this is something we must cultivate. We must be intent on the purpose of encouraging one another to be more like Christ. How have you done this? Have you recently sought out a young believer in this church and asked how you could pray for them? Having done that did you follow up in finding out how they are doing? Have you invited other believers into your home to be able to encourage them in Christ? As believers we share in the fellowship of God’s Spirit in our lives. He is the One who pours the love of God into our hearts so we might pour it out to one another. Too often believers are so intent on their own concerns they fail to reach out to other believers. What happens when you do this? You become even more self-focused. Paul continues in the Philippians passage by saying, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Can you say this? Are you consciously thinking of others more important than yourselves? If you were you wouldn’t always be trying to get the last word in. If you were you wouldn’t be thinking, “How can this relationship benefit me?” When you start thinking of others as more important than yourself you be start to be like Jesus. You will actually get to serve others in the way Jesus wants you to serve them. Can you see the ministry we will be able to accomplish for Jesus when we truly become concerned for the needs of others? Can you see what advancements we will make for the kingdom when we pray and weep over brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling to have victory in their lives? Can you imagine how this church will thrive as people really see Christian concern and care carried out in our midst? Jesus told His disciples that the world would know they were followers of Christ if they had love one for another.
Now I know throughout the years that I have been pastor here, many have remarked and been amazed at the love that is shown in this church. And over 20 years ago, the love I sensed in this church is what caused me to find Christ here and be born again. But what if we grew in our love and concern for one another? Paul’s desire for the churches was not that they just showed love to one another but that they grew in that love for one another. And that in this love they would grow, as he says, “in all knowledge and discernment.” Real love expresses itself in wisdom.
There is a tendency in churches, as they grow, for individuals to isolate themselves from one another. But if we are to be a church bent, not just on hearing the Word but on doing the Word, then we must avoid this tendency. We must seek to be involved in the lives of one another in a growing fashion. We must seek to minister the Word of God to one another to draw us closer to Christ. What are you going to do to allow love of the brethren to remain?
The apostle John also comments on how we are to show concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ. In 1 John 3:16-18 he says, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”
John says that true brotherly concern and love for one another is found in the example of Jesus having laid down his life for us. Sometimes we don’t want to reach out to others because we have been hurt by someone whom we tried to serve for the sake of Christ. But what is real love? Jesus laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. If we allow past difficulties to prevent us from ministering to others today then we have been effectively shut down by Satan. One of the things I love about Pastor Tom is that he has never failed to continue to reach out to people. Even though people have abused him in his attempts to minister to them he has not stopped seeking to minister for Christ. If he had he stopped he would not have had the blessing to see many others serving Christ effectively. I recently received an email from a gentleman trying to get in contact with Pastor Tom. He said, “Pastor Tom discipled me several years ago. I am getting ordained in the spring and was trying to locate Pastor Tom to see if would be able to attend my ordination. I still have fond memories of the time he spent with me and still have the Thompson Chain Study Bible he gave to me when he discipled me.” How many others has Pastor Tom ministered to because he did not fail to reach out to them after he had been hurt by others? I tell you, “I too still have the Thompson Chain Study Bible that Pastor Tom gave me.
John brings it to the point, “whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” The early church saw phenomenal growth, daily, the Scripture says, there were added to the church those who were being saved. Why? They showed concern for one another and people saw this love as an evidence of the veracity, the truthfulness of the Scripture. We have people who want to enter into apologetics and win an argument about the Bible but the greatest apologetic is true Christian love.
Why is God not working this way today in America? Perhaps too many see what they have as theirs instead of God’s? The motto they own is “What is mine is mine.” They fail to see that what is theirs is God’s. John says, “Let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” Anything that is not accompanied by action, John says, is not real love. You can wag your tongue all you like but if it isn’t backed by action it’s worthless.
Later in John’s letter, in chapter 4 he says, “We love because He first loved us. If someone says, ‘I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” You can try to fool others but you can’t fool God or His Word. You can’t sit here with a grudge against your brother or sister in Christ and love God. You may tell yourself you love God but you’re being a hypocrite and a liar.
The author calls for us in every way to show love for fellow believers. Let love for the brethren remain. Don’t neglect it.
II. Care for the Stranger
The next group to whom the author desires we show concern is found in care for the stranger. We note this in verse 2. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” What is interesting to note in this passage is that as the author said, “love of the brethren” in verse 1, he now uses a word, translated “hospitality” that literally means “love of strangers.” So, first you must concern yourself with the love of the brethren and secondly, you must concern yourself with love of strangers.
Showing genuine love for strangers is perhaps more difficult than showing such care for those in the family of faith. What does hospitality deal with? It looks out to welcome those who are new to an area. It means going out on a limb to help those who are in need.
The author makes an interesting side note here about the need for hospitality. He said, “for in this way some have entertained angels without knowing it.” He alludes to an event in Genesis 19 where God has sent two angels to reconnoiter Sodom for any evidence of righteous people. They set themselves to sleep in the city square. Why would they do this? Everyone saw these “angels” enter through the city gate. They knew that if there were a righteous person in town he would invite them to stay at his home for the night. He would provide protection and food for them. It would be the unrighteous who would let them stay in the city square and take advantage of them after they fell asleep. By doing this Lot brought deliverance to his family.
Hospitality should be a characteristic of the righteous. Now the author isn’t telling you to bring people into your home for the chance you might at sometime encounter angelic messengers. He isn’t telling us to expect angels to whom we might give assistance. This wasn’t a common experience. It was an unexpected benefit to Lot. Had he not offered assistance to the angels he might have been swept away with the judgment of Sodom.
The author is saying that there may very well be benefit to practicing hospitality. What benefit might you receive from practicing hospitality? You might have the wonderful blessing of helping one of God’s messengers on their way. Have you had the blessing of entertaining a missionary in your home? Have been encouraged by having such a person?
But truly we are to welcome strangers for the very fact that we are to be like our Lord who welcomed all who came to Him. Jesus said that all who came to Him He would in no way cast out. How do you know that by offering this person hospitality you might have opportunity to present the Gospel? We have had many “strangers” or visitors around our dining room table. And we have had untold number of opportunities to present the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ to them. Jesus also told the multitudes of people, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
We are to welcome strangers lest we become partial judges of who it is we can truly minister to. For us to say, “I will not involve myself with this person,” limits how God can use you. How do you know what kind of impact you will have in a person’s life by helping them in a host of different ways. I can think of the example of Matta. He came here from Egypt and Pastor Tom befriended him and sought to help him. Because of this Pastor Tom became like a father to him and was able to share the Gospel with Matta. It was Pastor Tom’s care for strangers that caused Matta to come to know Christ.
We can make all kinds of excuses for not showing hospitality. But in doing so we lose opportunity to show the love of Christ to others who would never know it in any other way.
III. Care for the Persecuted
The next group to whom the author desires we show concern is found in care for the persecuted. He notes this in verse 3. “Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.” Now truly this is the most difficult of all. This probably requires the most effort and would most likely be the most dangerous. The writer is telling his readers to reach out to those who have been imprisoned and mistreated for the sake of Christ. This requires the most effort. They had to secure permission to visit and care for the prisoners. Because of the nature of their imprisonment (the Gospel) they ran the risk of being implicated with these “criminals.” Yet it was absolutely necessary. Care for prisoners in these days was in short supply. There wasn’t much for them if friends or family didn’t supply their need.
Because of the danger involved, there is a tendency to shy away from such responsibility to help those in this condition. Yet the author makes it clear that they were to avoid apathy while applying empathy. They were to think of these as if they themselves were in prison. The author asks them, “How is it you would wish to be treated?” “Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them.” If you were being ill-treated how would you want to be shown concern?
How do you apply this to your lives? Let me suggest some ways. First, there are believers who need our help in other countries. There are believers who are suffering. One of our missionaries, we support in S.E. Asia, gives us updates concerning those who are being persecuted in his country. As he does we bring these concerns before the Lord in prayer. But we need to pray for them more. Perhaps you may be able to help some of our missionaries by giving financially to their missionary work. The Simons in India have been doing a great work for the Lord for a long time. They send out native missionaries to plant churches in various parts of India. And they fully support these missionaries for about $50/month. These people are truly mistreated for the cause of the Gospel. Can we share together with them encouraging them in their ministry? What are some other ways in which we might apply this?
Maybe, in the future, in this country, we will have serious issues with persecution. Then we might face the decision of having to inconvenience or endanger ourselves to visit those imprisoned or suffering for the sake of Christ. But, we have similar situations today to which we might apply this by analogy. What are you doing for those believers who once were here but who are no longer able to come because they have been hospitalized or can’t leave their home? How will inconvenience yourself to minister to them? Will you visit them? Will you show Christian compassion in this way? Think of yourself in such a situation? How would you want to be treated? Let’s get closer to home. What about Grace Gibbs who lives in Millis? Would anyone be willing to pick her up and bring her to church on Sunday? She used to come every week until she was no longer able to drive. Who will inconvenience themselves to do this?
Here is another example that falls under this category of doing difficult work in helping those in prison. What about taking the time to visit those with Alzheimer’s or dementia? I’ve heard people say this, “Why bother visiting my father anymore?” “Why bother visiting my sister? Even when she does remember who I am, she doesn’t ever remember that I visited. Why go?” It is always right to do right. The question I might ask is, “Who are you looking for a reward from?” Are you looking for a pat on the back from the person you want to visit? Or are you seeking to glorify God. When we look at it from God’s perspective it is never a waste of time. God will use our Christian care for others as He sees fit. The results from the compassion shown in our lives will be seen in heaven.
I am going to close this message in a little different fashion than I usually do. I am going to read a passage of Scripture, from Matthew 25:31. But before I do, I want to make sure that no one misunderstands this message. If there is anyone here who does not understand the Gospel message and could not clearly explain it, I want to say that living out this type of Christian love does not make one a Christian or provide forgiveness of their sins. You can do all the kind and loving things you want but will not find yourself one step closer to heaven. It is our salvation, found in the new birth of the Spirit, which causes us to desire to love one another. Our love for others does not produce salvation but only reveals our salvation. Listen to Jesus’ words carefully.
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they themselves also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”