v1-6: This section applies faith in our everyday lives, especially that we might show spiritual characteristics in our attitudes to others; love, hospitality, prayer, purity, contentment, and faith.

v1: Brotherly love; its source is God, not man; 1 Thess 4.9-10; we are to continue to love our brothers.

v2: Recognising the wider church community, we must show hospitality. There is a blessing in being hospitable.

Hebrew readers would be familiar with hospitality. Their people were well known for being hospitable. No man counted his home his own; pilgrims travelling to and from Jerusalem always found somewhere to stay. There was a custom to hang a curtain in front of their door to indicate there was space available. 

One Rabbi stated; 'the entertainment of travelers was as great a matter as the reception of the Sheckinah!' (quoted in Dr Alfred Edersheim, Sketches of Jewish Social Life)

v3: Remember to pray for such as these; those in prison, and those who are ill-treated for their faith. Many still suffer in this way. Find out about them; understand them, so that we can pray for them, identifying with them.

v4: Sex is part of marriage, but we must not transgress God's standards here. Sexual sins, although common, remain sins. Those who continue in them are subject to God's judgement.

v5-6: Contentment, see Phil 4.11-12. This is something to be learned, like patience and endurance; the fruit of a life, not of a moment. We are content with those things we have; we have God, and the promise of His presence; and we have God's help.

In contrast we are not to be covetous, see Luke 12.15.

v7: Proper respect for elders, see also v17;

• they rule over you;
• they speak the word of God to you; and
• they watch out for your souls.

Elders have a responsibility;

• to teach;
• to lead holy lives;
• to lead by example;
• to give an account for their leadership, see 2 Cor 11.28; James 3.1.

Having acknowledged that such leaders are called by God, proper respect must be given them; - remember them;

• recognise them as leaders;
• pray for them;
• follow their example carefully;
• obey them;
• be submissive; and
• encourage them.

In our present world context, where leaders of integrity are lacking, we note the writer's emphasis here. This is to do with character and faith, not achievement, fame, or wealth.

v8: Our faith is in Jesus Christ, who is unchanging. His character is perfect, for He is God; His character is unchanging, therefore He can be totally trusted. See Mal 3.6.

v9: The problem of strange teachings, which come in all kinds, Gal 1.6-7. Such can trouble us and carry us away from the truth. The response is a heart established by grace from God, and not to rely on physical things; this was a key issue for the converted Jew, perhaps struggling to be free from the system of sacrifices and offerings, and regulations that related to physical things.

v10: Those who held to Judaism kept themselves from spiritual blessings; debtors to keep the whole law, Gal 5.13.

We identify with Christ, and the new altar in the heavens; we receive from Him, but we also identify with Him in His suffering and reproach, see v13.

v11-12: In accordance with the O.T., Jesus suffered outside the camp, the place of suffering and reproach.

'It was the place where the bodies of those beats whose blood had been sprinkled in the Holy Place for sin were burny on the refuse heap. These bodies. upon which the sins of the offerers had symbolicaly been placed were burnt as sin-cursed refuse, utterly abhorrent to both God and man. Day after day the smoke went up outside the camp, and the place was pervaded by its stench.' (Roy Hession, We Would See Jesus)

‘in other words, the Old Testament dispensation had confessedly within its sanctuary no real provision for the spiritual wants to which they symbolically pointed; their removal lay outside its sanctuary and beyond its symbols. Spiritual death, as the consequence of the fall, personal sinfulness, and personal guilt, lay beyond the teach of the Temple-provision, and pointed directly to Him was who to come.’ (Alfred Edersheim, The Temple, its Ministry and Service)

v13-14: Because of these things, we have a responsibility to identify with Him. In Num 5.1-4, those who would defile were put outside the camp, deemed to be infectious, contaminating others; Jesus Christ was treated in this way. As we identify with Him, we find we share in His suffering and rejection.

With this challenge is the confidence that we have no continuing city on earth anyway, but we do look forward to God's city, 11.10,16.

v15-16: Through Christ, our sacrifices are pleasing to God;

• continual, habitual; a spiritual attitude and lifestyle;
• bringing praise to God, honouring Him in our lives;
• the fruit of our lips. This is more than just explicit praise to God; it includes speech seasoned with salt, Ps 19.14; Mal 2.6; Eph 4.32;
• an attitude of gratitude, not grumbling;
• do good, for that was what Christ did; and
• share, encouraging others, see Gal 6.6.

v17: See also v7. This verse makes a clear statement concerning church leadership. To obey those over you means to submit; to be submissive means to be under. This authority is not imposed in some carnal way. Godly authority demands a godly life, and excellent character.

v18-19: A request for prayer, for a life of integrity, to renew fellowship.

v20-21: Power in the blood of Jesus, to save and to keep eternally. Through this power, God's will is worked out in our lives today, as we do His will, that which is pleasing to Him.

v22-25: The writer's closing greetings