Arthur W. Pink

“Let brotherly love continue.” —Hebrews 13:1

“Let brotherly love continue.” What a humbling word is this! One had thought that those bound tog word is this! ether by such intimate ties, fellow members of the Body of Christ would spontaneously love each other and make it their constant aim to promote their interests. Ah, my reader, the Holy Spirit deemed it requisite to call upon us to perform this duty. What sort of creatures are we that still require to be thus exhorted! How this ought to hide pride from us. Surely, we have little cause for self-complacency¹ when we need bidding to love one another! “Hateful and hating one another” (Ti 3:3). True, that was in our unregenerate days. Nevertheless, the root of that “hatred” still remains in the believer and, unless it be judged and mortified,² will greatly hinder the maintenance and exercise of Christian affection.

“Let brotherly love continue.” What a solemn word is this! Is the reader startled by that adjective?—a needful and humbling one, but scarcely a “solemn.” Ah, have we forgotten the context? Look at the verse that immediately pre cedes. Remember that when this epistle was first written, there were no chapter breaks: 12:29 and 13:1 read consecutively, without any hiatus³—“Our God is a consuming fire: let brotherly love continue!” The fact these two verses are placed in immediate juxtaposition⁴ strikes a most solemn note. Go back in your mind to the first pair of brothers who ever walked this earth. Did “brotherly love continue” with them? Far otherwise. Cain hated and murdered his brother. And did not he find our God to be “a consuming fire”? Most assuredly, he did, as his own words testify, “My punishment is greater than I can bear” (Gen 4:13). The wrath of God burned in his conscience, and he had a fearful foretaste of Hell before he went there.

But it may be objected to what has just been said, “The case of Cain and Abel is scarcely a pertinent⁵ and appropriate one! They were merely natural brothers, whereas the text relates primarily to those who are brethren spiritually.” True, but the natural frequently adumbrates⁶ the spiritual, and there is much in Genesis 4 that each Christian needs to take to heart. However, let us pass on down the course of human history a few centuries. Were not Abraham and Lot brethren spiritually? They were. Then did brotherly love continue between them? It did not. Strife arose between their herdsmen, and they separated (Gen 13). Lot preferred the well-watered plains and a home in Sodom to fellowship with the father of the faithful. And what was the sequel? Did he find that “our God is a consuming fire” (Heb 12:29)? Witness the destruction of all his property in that city when God rained down fire and brimstone from heaven! Another solemn warning is that for us.

“Let brotherly love continue.” But what a gracious word is this! Consider its implications: are they not similar to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love” (Eph 4:1-2)? That means we are to conduct ourselves not according to the dictates of the flesh, but according to the requirements of grace. If grace has been shown toward me, then surely I ought to be gracious to others. But that is not always easy: not only has the root of “hatred” been left in me, the “flesh” still remains in my brethren! There will be much in them to test and try my love; otherwise, there would be no need for this exhortation “forbearing one another in love.” God has wisely so ordered this that our love might rise above the mere amiability of nature.⁷ We are not merely to govern our tempers, act courteously, be pleasant to one another, but bear with infirmities and be ready to forgive a slight: “Charity⁸ suffereth long, and is kind” (1Co 13:4).

“Let brotherly love continue.” What a comprehensive word is this! Had we the ability to fully open it word is this! and space to bring out all that is included, it would be necessary to quote a large percentage of the precepts of Scripture. If brotherly love is to continue, then we must exhort one another daily, provoke unto good works, minister to each other in many different ways. It includes far more than dwelling together in peace and harmony, though unless that be present, other things cannot follow. It also involves a godly concern for each other (see Lev 19:17; 1Jo 5:2). It also embraces our praying definitely for each other. Another practical form of it is to write helpful spiritual letters to those now at a distance from us: you once enjoyed sweet converse together, but Providence has divided your paths. Well, keep in touch via the post! “Let brotherly love continue.”

“Let brotherly love continue.” What a forcible word is this! By [this] we mean [that] it should drive all of us to our knees! We are just as dependent upon the Holy Spirit to call forth love into action, as we are our faith: not only toward God, but also toward each other. “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God” (2Th 3:5). Observe the forcible emphasis Christ placed upon this precept in His paschal discourse: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another” (Joh 13:34). Ah, but the Savior did not deem that enough:⁹ “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (Joh 15:12). Why that repetition? Nor did that suffice: “These things I command you, that ye love one another” (Joh 15:17)…The Philadelphian church is the church of “Brotherly love.” Have you observed the central exhortation in the epistle addressed to that church: “Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Rev 3:11)?

“Let brotherly love continue.” What a Divine word is this. The love that is here enjoined is a word is this. holy and spiritual one, made possible “because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost” (Rom 5:5). For until then, there is naught but hatred. Love for the brethren is a love for the image of God stamped upon their souls: “And every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him” (1Jo 5:1). No man can love another for the grace that is in his heart, unless grace be in his own heart. It is natural to love those who are kind and generous to us: it is supernatural to love those who are faithful and holy in their dealings with us. “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness” (Col 3:12-14).

From Studies in the Scriptures, reprinted by Chapel Library.

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Arthur W. Pink (1886-1952): Pastor, Bible teacher, and author of Studies in the Scriptures and numerous books; emigrated to the U.S. from Great Britain and later returned to his homeland in 1934; born in Nottingham, England.

Notes:

1. self-complacency – being satisfied with one’s self.
2. mortified – a state of a Christian in which “the strength of sin is weakened and the dominion of it destroyed, being utterly disabled from having a commanding power or rule over the man anymore by the efficacy and virtue of Christ’s death.”—Christopher Love
3. hiatus – interruption in continuity; gap.
4. juxtaposition – side by side.
5. pertinent – relevant to the matter being considered.
6. adumbrates – exhibits a faint resemblance.
7. amiability of nature – a cheerful and agreeable disposition that comes naturally.
8. charity – love; “Charity is the…word used in the New Testament to signify love. And I wish we had always rendered it [love] because in our common use of speech, charity is restrained to one effect of love: relieving the poor and afflicted, which is nowhere the sense of the word in Scripture. It is love, then, that is intended.”—John Owen
9. deem…enough – consider that to be enough.

Published with permission of Chapel Library.