Let Brotherly Love Continue
Hebrews 13:1 says what it means and means what it says. But for some brethren, UNDERSTANDING the commandment is less than accurate. To illustrate, remember Jesus commanding His apostles, saying, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) For them to prove their love, they were required to keep the Lord’s commandments. The definition of love is important as well. According to scripture, LOVE is 1) the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:10), 2) of God (1 John 4:7), and 3) perfected in us (1 John 4:12). No less than twelve passages in the New Testament command us to “love one another,” including the Lord’s statement, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Now, to come to the full definition via scripture: brotherly love is the conduct of being as Jesus was toward His disciples, fulfilling the law of God, being from God, and perfected in us as perfected in us when we love one another with a pure heart fervently, being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever. (cf. 1 Peter 1:23)
Saying “I love you” comes easy, but for some brethren, proving that love is more difficult than saying it. The apostle John says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16) Indeed, some brethren are like the Pharisees in loving one another: they say and do not! (Matthew 23:3) Lip service is not heartfelt and, therefore, is superficial at best!
Hebrews 13:1 requires brotherly love to exist for it to continue. If Paul is the author of Hebrews (and most believe he is), then he would know well the absence of brotherly love among some brethren. In writing to the Romans, Paul proved neither Israelites nor Gentiles could think more highly of themselves than they ought to think (12:3). Now read carefully verses nine through twenty-one of this chapter, noting the demeanor we must exhibit toward one another. Verses ten and sixteen specifically say “one another” when expressing brotherly love. We would do well to re-read that passage and make sure these elements of brotherly love are genuine in each of us!
If brotherly love were as it should be among us, hate would cease to exist between brethren. Love is an element that appreciates correction when administered with love (Hebrews 12: 6 – 12). Prejudice would cease to exist as brotherly love is without respect of persons (James 2:1 – 13). Further, churches of Christ would flourish in their effectiveness with the gospel and their growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). The reason is simple: We are members one of another – that makes us FAMILY – FAMILY OF GOD!
Unfortunately, some souls consider the blood of the flesh more valuable than the blood of Christ. Their love is generously bestowed toward those of their fleshly kindred in immense proportion, while love toward their spiritual kindred is casual at best. These are the souls who desperately need to read, study, and learn the content of Romans 12! They cannot fulfill the requirement of Hebrews 13:1 without understanding and complying with Romans 12! Scripture is not a “grocery store of products” from which we choose what we like and leave the rest on the shelf. Jesus told us that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). Paul told us all scripture comes from the breath of God (2 Timothy 3:16). If we claim to obey Hebrews 13:1 without practicing Romans 12, and understanding the importance of 1 Peter 1:23, we fail ourselves and cannot truly let brother love continue – we won’t know what it is!!!
How thankful we are to know true brotherly love and share that experience faithfully with most brethren! But we are grieved when this love is not shared with ALL our brethren! It is harmful to the church when “outsiders” learn of “fusses” among brethren. It hinders the teaching of God’s word, as it expresses hypocrisy rather than unity. It all begins with me (and you as you read this.) Brotherly love is NOT optional. Find it in you and live it faithfully.