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In close and startling proximity to the need for acceptable service and the fact that
God is a consuming fire come the words:--
"Let brotherly love remain" (Heb. 13: 1).
"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers" (Heb. 13: 2).
"Remember them that are in bonds" (Heb. 13: 3).
"Marriage is honourable in all" (Heb. 13: 4).
When we remember that the glorious doctrine of Ephesians is linked by the apostle
with its practical outworking expressed in the relationship of husband and wife, parent
and child, master and servant, and that similar warnings concerning immoral acts are
included (see Eph. 5: and 6:), we are the more prepared to learn that our whole life,
with its complete circle of outgoings, is involved in this blessed and glorious service.
Carnal ordinances, baptisms, fasts, feasts and ceremonies have given place to hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience, bodies washed with pure water, and heart service in
every sphere of life.
Brotherly love and the entertainment of strangers are a part of acceptable service to
God. This is seen by a further reference to 13: 15, 16: "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." If we stop here, however, we are not rendering acceptable service. Brotherly
love and hospitality must be added; therefore the passage continues: "But to do good
and to have fellowship, forget not." The words "forget not" are the structural link with
Heb. 13: 1, 2:--
"Be not forgetful" (verse 2).
"For with SUCH sacrifices God is well pleased" (verse 16).
This close connection between God and the brotherhood in service has been expressed
in Heb. 10: 19-24:--
"Let us draw near . . . . . Let us hold fast . . . . . Let us consider one another."
While we have no room for "humanism", we are also sure that a mere doctrinal
exactness is not acceptable with God. The true service embraces the Lord and His
people, and is sound both in doctrine and practice. So the third reference to "acceptable"
stresses "doing":--
"Now the God of peace (literally `of the peace', something already mentioned and
understood, Heb. 7: 2; 12: 11, 14), that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the age-abiding covenant, make
you perfect in every good work to do His will, doing in you that which is well pleasing in
His sight, through Jesus Christ" (Heb. 13: 20, 21).
Philippians, the parallel epistle of the mystery, has the same emphasis:--
"Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me,
DO: and the God of peace be with you" (Phil. 4: 9).