On the surface, today’s passage does not offer a specific definition for the word hospitality, yet we are not left without clues. First of all, hospitality is something that is done “one to another.” This means that it is an action that should be done to other believers. It should also be done “without grudging.” Additional insight can be gleaned by considering hospitality’s root word, hospital. A basic definition for the word hospital involves a shelter for the needy or a place where the sick can recover. Thus, hospitality involves taking others in, even for a short time, to strengthen them in some area of need. Hospitality can be as simple as sharing a meal together or it may require more effort and time.
Every person cannot give the same amount, but every person can give. According to our passage, “Every man shall give as he is able.” Because some people might use this as an excuse not to give, the Lord further states that giving should be “according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.” The New Testament repeats this same principle in 1 Corinthians 16:2. Every man is to give “as God hath prospered him.” The book of Acts gives a practical example. In Acts 11:29, the disciples sent relief to their brethren and every man did so “according to his ability.” Each believer should give to the Lord corresponding to how the Lord has prospered him.
Most people never experience the joy of willingly and cheerfully giving to the Lord and His work. The Old Testament set precedence for how much man would give to the Lord. This standard was not the maximum offering but simply the minimum. The Bible repeatedly identifies the amount in scripture as a tithe, which means a tenth (Leviticus 27:32). Failure to give the tithe to the Lord was deemed robbery by God (Malachi 3:8). Simply put, the tithe belonged to God. The tithe, however, was not to be considered the peak of what man gave back to God. It never was intended to be so, nor ever should it be. Those who truly love the Lord will not use the tithe as a maximum amount to give. Instead, they realize that this portion already belongs to the Lord and it serves as the bare minimum of what they should give to Him. Those who pride themselves on tithing, pride themselves on giving God the least.
The modern description of fellowship has been weakened extensively from its original intent. Earlier usage of fellowship always inferred a partnership. The word fellow was used to signify a coworker in Exodus 2:13 and each of the various combinations designated something that people did together (i.e., fellowservants, fellowhelpers, fellowlabours, etc.). Therefore, it is important to realize that fellowship is not merely two people or a group of people coming together in the name of fun. Fellowship involves two or more people uniting together to accomplish a task. Fellowship always suggests a foundational unity of purpose and motive (Amos 3:3). This is why, as we will learn, it is so important that we have the proper biblical fellowship with like-minded believers.
Learning to fear the Lord yields great results in our daily walk with Him. Some facets of man’s relationship with the Lord change over time and through the seasons. Yet, one thing that has remained constant from the very beginning concerns God’s call upon His people to fear Him. How vital is the fear of God? The Bible refers to it as “the whole duty of man.” Some Bible teachers have tried to lessen the severity of this truth by saying that this fear merely refers to reverencing God, yet Hebrews 12:28 presents the fear of God and reverence as two separate and distinct actions. God’s people are to fear the Lord as the Creator of all things and the One who will one day bring all things into judgment. As saints of God, we will never please the Lord until we first learn to fear Him (Deuteronomy 4:10).
Sometimes the most effective means of defining a Bible word involves researching those words commonly associated with the word in question. Delicate is such a word. On four occasions, the Bible associates the word delicate with variations of the word tender (Deuteronomy 28:54, 56; Isaiah 47:1). This association provides the Bible student with the sense that a delicate person is easily broken spiritually. Additional Bible study demonstrates that a tender heart remains pliable and prone to brokenness before the Lord. Conversely, the Bible points to a hardened heart as remaining obstinate. The word obstinate conveys an inflexibleness or stubbornness. As believers, we should aspire to be tenderhearted before the Lord with a heart easily moved to accomplish His will.
Many things have changed since Old Testament times. For instance, the Lord visited His people in the temple or tabernacle in the Old Testament by dwelling between the cherubims on the ark of God (Psalm 80:1). This ended especially with the onset of the New Testament and the permanent indwelling of God's Spirit within believers. The Lord stressed, “. . . that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you” (1 Corinthians 3:16). For this reason, the New Testament does not place as much emphasis on reverence in the physical house of God. Regardless, the Lord is not silent concerning our behaviour in His house. We should behave ourselves both respectfully and properly (1 Timothy 3:15). Of all people, Bible believers should demonstrate reverence in the house of God so that others get a sense for our awe of God and His goodness.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, many things change; however, some themes remain constant. One such theme involves the Lord's desire to use pure things and pure people. God commanded His people in the Old Testament to make sure the things used in the tabernacle were purified (Leviticus 8:15). He also commanded that His servants be purified (Ezra 6:20). In the New Testament, the apostle Paul confirmed the continuation of this theme by saying that “pureness” approved him as a minister of God (2 Corinthians 6:4-6). God still requires those who serve to strive to live pure and holy lives. Impurities hinder the Lord’s effectiveness in our lives though we may not be aware of the hindrance.
Reading commentaries offers varying opinions concerning the definition of purity. However, the Bible offers some exacting details which give the right definition. Today's passage speaks of the “pure blood of the grape.” In other words, nothing was added to the juice—it was pure. There are several other substances in scripture identified as pure: gold (Exodus 25:39), olive oil (Exodus 27:20), myrrh (Exodus 30:23), incense (Exodus 37:29), and language (Zephaniah 3:9). Each instance emphasizes that nothing exists to corrupt the nature of the original. These substances are not combined with other materials to dilute or defile them. In essence, purity demands the absence of any substance that corrupts, defiles, or taints in any way.
As previously discussed, every man desires inner peace. Yet, some individuals know peace while others live a life of unrest and instability. Those who have peace are considered wise as they strive to keep it. Unfortunately, many people who do not understand true peace convince themselves that they possess it already. According to scripture, these are the type of people who walk in the imagination of their own heart. They do things their own way rather than God’s way and claim to experience peace in the process. Claiming peace without possessing it is unsafe, unwise, and certainly unscriptural. Hope in a false peace has destroyed many nations, peoples, homes, and individuals. Sadly, God's people have never been immune to this regrettable deception. In fact, the Lord declared His fury because the prophets and priests dealt falsely (Jeremiah 6:13). How did they deal falsely? They proclaimed, “Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14).
