Jesus Is The Same
Hebrews 13: 1 - 8
The New Year is often seen as a time for change, yet Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Unfortunately, this verse is often quoted on its own, without paying attention to the context around it. But when we read Hebrews 13 as a whole, we see that it offers simple yet profound advice—a clear picture of what I would call “simple Christianity.” This advice is far from moralism because every time we read verses 1-7, we cannot think of it without Christ (in verse 8). How do we relate verses 1-7 to verse 8? We must see verses 1-7 as a list of Christian virtues and I want to discuss in relation to the immutability of Christ.
1. Let Brotherly Love Continue (Hebrews 13:1)
Love certainly has emotional and affective aspects, but if we look at Scripture, we see that love is more than just these two. Love, as described in the Bible, is a practical expression of sensitivity to the needs of others. In the family of God, we are called to care for one another, paying attention to those around us, starting with our church community. God, our Provider, works not only through direct intervention but also through the care and generosity of others. Likewise, God can use us to be providers for others. When we live out this sensitivity in the Christian community, it becomes a beautiful reflection of God’s love.
2. Show Hospitality to Strangers for Thereby Some Have Entertained Angels Unawares (Hebrews 13:2)
Hospitality is important not only in the context of a persecuted church but also in a highly individualistic society. We are taught to show hospitality, to open our hearts and lives to others, and allow them into our personal space. For some, especially those who value their privacy, this can be uncomfortable. It doesn’t mean they are introverts; rather, they feel their privacy is being disturbed. They like to set boundaries in relationships because they don’t want their way of life to be disrupted. They are okay with having a relationship but not to the extent of offering hospitality. They may even be willing to pay for someone else’s place to stay as long as the guest doesn’t stay in their home. But does this reflect true Christianity?
Hospitality was a cornerstone of the early church, especially during times of persecution. Believers opened their homes to strangers and teachers coming to share the Gospel. Why didn’t God just miraculously provide for these traveling teachers and strangers? Because He wanted to train His people to practice hospitality. Today, we are also being trained in this way. We are called to open our hearts so that others can enter our lives, and we, in turn, enter theirs as part of the Christian community.
Why should we provide hospitality? Because the Jesus we follow is a hospitable Jesus. He opened Himself up to be “polluted” by sinners like us, even to the point of dying on the cross for our sins. In the same way, we are invited to open ourselves to others, just as Christ did, and this is a beautiful expression of His love. We must never become a church that looks good on the outside but lacks care and sensitivity for those in need.
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2) Some commentaries suggest that this refers to an event experienced by Abraham. In the Gospel of Matthew, we also read about people who provide food, clothing, and other help without keeping track of it, doing good without calculation. It’s an act of kindness that naturally flows from those who know Christ. The mark of a person growing in Christ is doing good to others unconsciously, without expecting anything in return.
3. Remember Those who are in Prison and Mistreated (Hebrews 13: 3)
Why should we remember those who are punished? Because we, too, are people who are punished. Kindness is rooted in the awareness that others carry burdens just as we do. If we only see our own struggles without recognizing that others face similar or even greater challenges, we will find it hard to be generous. In fact, we may become rude, feeling as though we are the ones who are punished the most. True kindness comes when we recognize the shared burden of hardship.
In verse 3, if we recognize that we, too, are people who are punished, we are called to have compassion for those in prison. Those who have experienced illness can easily empathize with the sick. In the same way, Christ chose to enter our world not from a position of superiority but at our eye level. He could have looked down from above, but He chose to see us from the same eye level, not from a place of distance or superiority.
We must be careful, however, because it is easy to help others while looking down on them or feeling superior. Can the church live out this “eye-level spirituality” in a society that heavily prioritizes class and status? Remember the Christmas story: Jesus came to be human, not from a place of power, but at the same level as those He came to save, even lower so that state leaders and Pharisees could not see Him. As Christians, we are called to adopt this same mindset, recognizing that we are not “free” people visiting those who are imprisoned, but that we, too, are prisoners in this world in need of God’s mercy.
“Remember those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” The body can be mistreated, but we must remember that we are still part of the body and are not exempt from mistreatment. While we do everything we can to avoid mistreatment—whether through wealth, power, or connections—the more we avoid it, the less compassion we may feel for those who endure it. Look at Christ, who came into the world, was mistreated, and because of that, has deep compassion for those who are mistreated. This is simple Christianity—a faith that is lived out and embodied in our lives.
4. Let Marriage Be Held in Honor Among All, and Let the Marriage Bed Be Undefiled (Hebrews 13:4)
In the culture of that time, chastity in marriage was often disregarded. Having mistresses was common, especially among the wealthy. Why should I stay with the same husband? Why should I remain in the same church or theological tradition? Why should I stick with this Bible? Failure to maintain chastity in marriage leads to many mistresses, but this issue goes beyond marriage. There can be “mistresses” in theology, friendships, and many other areas of life. Why? Because we struggle to be content with what God has provided. If we cannot be faithful and content in a simple marriage, we are likely to find dissatisfaction in other areas as well. If we are willing to defile the marriage bed through adultery, we will likely defile other areas of our lives, committing adultery in friendships, in the Christian community, and so on. This can lead to highly opportunistic behavior, where we are always seeking something better, never satisfied with what God has given.
5. Keep Your Life Free From Love of Money, and Be Content with What You Have (Hebrews 13:5)
Why do we often find verses in the Bible linking sexual impurity with covetousness? According to one commentary, sexually immoral people often also struggle with greed for money, because their lives are essentially about self-gratification and pleasing themselves. For them, God’s gifts are never enough, and they accuse God of being unable to provide the happiness they seek in relationships, jobs, countries, churches, and so on. Their discontent leads to greed, desiring what others have or what is considered better. Contentment is never attractive to the world because it’s a greedy world. Therefore, contentment becomes a rare and precious jewel.
Consider the examples of those who perished in the Bible—Achan, Judas, and the Rich Ruler. What was their sin? It was the love of money. Money has such power that, when worshipped or loved, it becomes like a god. That’s why the Bible says we must choose to worship either God or mammon; we cannot serve both. This doesn’t mean other sins are insignificant—every sin is serious—but the love of money is particularly dangerous because it blocks a person from hearing God’s Word. If we are consumed by the love of money, how can the Word of God take root in our hearts and minds? People who love money are never satisfied with what they have. They may attend church, but their worship is tainted with greed, leaving them feeling empty, never truly fulfilled. True worship, rooted in contentment, brings great peace and benefit.
We need money to live, but as Scripture teaches, money is merely a tool provided by God to meet our needs. As the apostle Paul says, if we have food, drink, and clothing, we have enough. Unfortunately, this view is at odds with the mindset of the world, where people place their security, comfort, and identity in wealth. In the Bible, money is never meant to drive human life. As we grow older and mature in God, we should realize that we don’t need many things. Let’s not become greedy as we age, seeking to collect “worldly toys.” It is tragic that many people only realize this truth when they are on their deathbeds. That’s why Solomon said that it is better to be in a house of mourning than in a house of feasting. In a house of feasting, we are focused on amplifying our desires, but in a house of mourning, we are reminded that worldly possessions don’t matter. When people are on their deathbeds, they often realize that they didn’t need those “toys” after all. Those who seek money for their own gain, without seeking God, will find themselves eternally lost because they never understood God’s sufficiency and didn’t learn to love Him. So, what do we need in the new year? Is it more financial stability or political security? No, what we truly need is God’s presence. And the truth is, God’s presence is enough for us. If we have God, nothing else—financial freedom, political stability, or worldly connections—matters. Having God and being fully owned by Him: that’s the simplicity of Christianity.
6. The Lord is My Helper, I will not Fear (Hebrews 13:6)
Verse 6 says: So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" What does this mean for us? We live in a fallen world, where there are evil people who may seek to harm us or destroy our lives. Yet, we are called to find contentment in God as our Helper. We should not depend on human mercy or favor. If we are content in God, what can evil people really do to us? They may harm our bodies, but they cannot touch our souls that are secure in God. In fact, death would be a gain for the believer, as it brings us closer to our eternal God. This is the simplicity of the Christian message: finding peace in God, regardless of external circumstances.
Continuing to verse 7 it says: Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. What should we remember about them? We should remember how they lived out the principles in verses 1-6. Look at the end of their lives and imitate their faith. This means they were tested, and through it all, they maintained brotherly love, showed hospitality to strangers, remembered those in prison and those who were mistreated, honored marriage, and kept their lives free from the love of money. They finished their lives demonstrating the Christian virtues. As we begin this new year, what kind of leaders are we seeking? Are we looking for leaders who embody these Christian virtues, or are we more focused on worldly traits and achievements?
In closing, verse 8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." What does this verse mean? It means that God will continue to provide leaders and role models who have Christian virtue. He Himself is the ultimate Role Model, living a life fully embodying these virtues. While the world is constantly changing, and leaders may fail to maintain brotherly love or other Christian virtues, God remains unchanging. Unlike humans, who are swayed by circumstances and can disappoint, Jesus remains the same—yesterday, today, and forever. While many world leaders today are unpredictable, we find comfort in knowing that our God is constant and will always provide us with examples of faith, from the past to eternity. (G.N.S)