1 Let brotherly love continue.

Hebrews 13:1

Explanation

Don’t let the brevity of this verse keep me pondering some deep and profound truth that could really impact my life. Four words explain it well, I believe.

Imperitive.  This verse is an imperative, a command with a subject that is implied. The reader that is a brother, a believer, is the subject.

Love.  This is an expressed love between people who have Christ in common. Those who know Christ, and are in Christ, Jew and Gentile, ought to love each other as members of the incredible family of God. 

Permission. The word “let” means that nothing should be done that would hinder this love. It means that we should prioritize love over preference, frustration, or anything else.

Assumption.  The word “continue” assumes that the brotherly love was already being expressed. As this was written to the Hebrews, the context might be implying that though there is another new covenant, and the gentiles now partake in this covenant, that does not mean that love for the bretheren stops. Now that brotherhood is not merely ethnic. Now it is part of all who are people of faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We ought to let that love continue.

Application

There are all kinds of things that can hinder love in relationships.

• Pride over humility.
• Selfishness over generosity.
• Anger over gentleness.
• Hatred over kindness.

These are the enemies of love and the right kind of familial unity. The way that we battle these sins that hinder brotherly love is through being filled with the Spirit. That means that staying in the Word, abiding in Christ, praying in Christ, and allowing Him to control us through defeating temptation is critical not just for our relationship with God, but also for our relationship with the brotherhood.

Response

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for making me a part of your family in Christ. Help me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ well. For Jesus sake, and in His name, Amen.