Hospitality and Marriage in Hebrews 13

In my studying through Hebrews, the first section of Chapter 13 caught my attention. Have you ever asked, “Why did the writer suddenly shift to these topics?” In this chapter, the writer as he begins to wrap up discusses hospitality (13:1-2), marriage (13:4), and then money and contentment (13:5-6).

He provides admonitions and reminders before the conclusion of his letter. At first glance, these topics may seem unrelated. But they aren’t. They are “Things they have demonstrated before (think about 10:32-34), they are things that express their commitment to each other rather than a withdrawal from the group, and they are things that will help them to endure the hardships they were facing, either by way of things to pursue or things to avoid. [1]

When we go back to verse one, the writer begins with love. Love is at the foundation of Christianity. Love must be at the center of all of our choices. Love is action and is to be demonstrated by visiting and assisting those in need. When suffering occurs, it can become easy to lose focus on loving one another. Love is not based upon our conditions. It’s not to be left up to our moods or if everything is going the way we want it to go.

The inspired writer dives into the marital relationship next. He warns the disciples then and us today to avoid the lusts of the flesh. “A desire to please the flesh was what doomed the Israelites who came out of Egypt. They were more concerned about their immediate physical comfort than they were about their coming inheritance and rest with God. The author therefore mentions the kinds of things that are typical manifestations of the worldly, fleshly spirit that will eventually pull a person away from the faith.”[2]

Fornication is a sin in which fleshly people typically engage. We don’t know if this was a problem for this particular audience, but the writer still warns them. God has designed the sexual union (the marriage bed) to be enjoyed between a husband and wife. The sexual relationship is only for those who are married (1 Corinthians 7:2; Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:4-9). “God has created this relationship in the beginning, and it is just as much a part of God’s design for the world as the sun and the moon (Genesis 2:24).

Sexual infidelity was common in the ancient world, possibly more so among Greeks than Romans. In ancient Greek culture, it was assumed that a man would have both a wife (for bearing children) and a mistress (for sexual pleasure). Augustus outlawed adultery among Romans, but this probably only had the effect of making the practice more discreet. However, even some pagans bemoaned the loss of morality that adultery signaled. Christians ought to be known as people who neither condone nor practice fornication (Ephesians 5:3).

Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled. The writer is emphasizing the respect and high regard one should have for marriage. “This includes respect for one’s own marriage as well as the marriage of others. Each husband is to love his own wife and no one is to share “the bed” with another man’s wife, (1 Corinthians 7:2; Ephesians 5:28, 33). Fornication and adultery are not just sins against one’s flesh (1 Corinthians 6:18), they are also the manifestation of a worldly and fleshly mind and heart (Matthew 15:19) that really cares nothing for what God says. A lack of respect for God’s design for marriage betrays a preference for the gratification of the flesh rather than pleasing God, and is a step toward complete renunciation of Jesus. Conversely, having the proper attitude toward marriage is part of having a mind that is set on the things of God (Romans 8:6).

[1] David McClister Hebrews commentary page 489

[2] Ibid page 494