Better Morals

Hebrews 13:1-8
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

This passage includes several moral instructions.

1. Love Each Other. v. 1

1 John 4:7-8
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

2. Take care of strangers. v. 2 (cf. Luke 10.25-37, The Good Samaritan)

3. Care for prisoners and the mistreated. v. 3 (Matthew 25.37-40)

4. Be sexually pure. v. 4

5. Don't be greedy. v. 5

There is a promise that makes this all possible:

Hebrews 13:5-6
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

And we know this promise is true because...

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.