Friday, December 21, 2018

Suffer the Word of Exhortation Hebrews 13:22


The Hebrew writer prayed that “the God of peace” would “make” his readers “perfect in every good work to do his will”, and that God would “work in” them “that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ”. The writer added, “to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twenty-two of Hebrews the writer exhorted his readers to “suffer the word of exhortation where we read:

And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation:
for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

The verse begins, And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation:”. The writer began with the words, “And I beseech you” which means “the writer called to his side, summoned, admonished, exhorted and entreated his readers”, “brethren” or “fellow believers who are united to one another by the bond of affection”, “suffer the word” which means “hold up, sustain, bear and endure the speech, decree, mandate and order” “of exhortation” or “importation, supplication, entreaty, persuasive discourse and stirring address”. The writer desired for his “brethren” readers to “hold up and sustain” his “mandate” of “entreaty or exhortation”.

The verse continues, for I have written a letter unto you in few words.”. The writer added the word, “for” or “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “I have written a letter” or “sent a message and command with writing” “unto you” which refers to the readers of Hebrews “in few words” which means “in short, small and little words”. One of the reasons the writer sent this “short” letter to his readers was so they would “keep and sustain” his words of “exhortation”.

When we consider these words in Hebrews, we see the writer's desire for his readers to “hold on to” his words of “persuasive discourse”. These words were meant to remind his readers concerning the great sacrifice that Jesus Christ who is superior to all other things whether spiritual or earthly, and the importance of knowing Jesus and the salvation He offers is the preeminent thing. We have opportunity to comply with the writer's “pleading” and find ourselves yielding to his “exhortation” as we allow the Heavenly Father to perform His desire in our lives.

Next time the writer tells his readers “our brother Timothy is set at liberty”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites,
http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.





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