Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?”
some have entertained angels without knowing it - "The word 'angel' may refer to superhuman beings (see Gen 18:1-8 for an example of such entertaining) or it may refer to a human being who is a messenger from God (see James 2:25 for an example of such entertaining)." (Ryrie)
"Abraham, Lot and Manoah entertained angels unawares." (Williams)
"It is important to notice that Israel must endure to the end of their Great Tribulation while keeping the faith of Christ and the commandments, which is referred to as the 'everlasting gospel,' the source of which is angels:
Revelation 14:6: And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Revelation 14:12: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
And it is the utmost importance for remnant Israel to pay attention to angels, hence this instruction to entertain strangers because those strangers might actually be angels; and angels have the everlasting gospel to preach to remnant Israel.
These instructions are very much opposite the apostle Paul's clear teaching that we in our dispensation are not under the commandments (Romans 6:14, Colossians 2:16, Galatians 5:1) and that we are not to listen to angels:
Galatians 1:8: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (McLean)
remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them - "Prisoners at that time, and in some lands today, were dependent on their friends for food. They starved to death if they got none. So these Hebrew believers were to remember these Christ-confessors and send them food." (Williams)
He Himself has said - "See Deut 31:6. The idea is that Christians need not be anxious (cf. Matt 6:25-34)." (Ryrie)
I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU - "While the apostle Paul agrees that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim 6:6), there can be little doubt that the promise to never leave nor forsake belongs to Israel (Deut 31:6; Josh 1:5; 1 Chron 28:20). Such a promise is of no consequence to believers in our dispensation in that we know that judicially we are already complete in Christ (Col 1:9-10) and that while we are apart from Christ (2 Cor 5:6) we will be with Him soon (1 Thes 4:17). The Lord is not our help: rather, we are His ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20). The Hebrew people of remnant Israel, hiding from the antichrist, eschewing the mark of the beast at the expense being unable to buy or sell, living with the dangers inherent during the time of the Great Tribulation, would have every reason to believe that God had left and forsaken them. These verses would serve as a needful reminder." (McLean)
some have entertained angels without knowing it - "The word 'angel' may refer to superhuman beings (see Gen 18:1-8 for an example of such entertaining) or it may refer to a human being who is a messenger from God (see James 2:25 for an example of such entertaining)." (Ryrie)
"Abraham, Lot and Manoah entertained angels unawares." (Williams)
"It is important to notice that Israel must endure to the end of their Great Tribulation while keeping the faith of Christ and the commandments, which is referred to as the 'everlasting gospel,' the source of which is angels:
Revelation 14:6: And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Revelation 14:12: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
And it is the utmost importance for remnant Israel to pay attention to angels, hence this instruction to entertain strangers because those strangers might actually be angels; and angels have the everlasting gospel to preach to remnant Israel.
These instructions are very much opposite the apostle Paul's clear teaching that we in our dispensation are not under the commandments (Romans 6:14, Colossians 2:16, Galatians 5:1) and that we are not to listen to angels:
Galatians 1:8: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (McLean)
remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them - "Prisoners at that time, and in some lands today, were dependent on their friends for food. They starved to death if they got none. So these Hebrew believers were to remember these Christ-confessors and send them food." (Williams)
He Himself has said - "See Deut 31:6. The idea is that Christians need not be anxious (cf. Matt 6:25-34)." (Ryrie)
I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU - "While the apostle Paul agrees that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim 6:6), there can be little doubt that the promise to never leave nor forsake belongs to Israel (Deut 31:6; Josh 1:5; 1 Chron 28:20). Such a promise is of no consequence to believers in our dispensation in that we know that judicially we are already complete in Christ (Col 1:9-10) and that while we are apart from Christ (2 Cor 5:6) we will be with Him soon (1 Thes 4:17). The Lord is not our help: rather, we are His ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20). The Hebrew people of remnant Israel, hiding from the antichrist, eschewing the mark of the beast at the expense being unable to buy or sell, living with the dangers inherent during the time of the Great Tribulation, would have every reason to believe that God had left and forsaken them. These verses would serve as a needful reminder." (McLean)
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