Exhorting one another

Hebrews 3:13   But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Exhorting:

      The Greek word in our text is para-kaleo and means: “comfort, beseech, call to one’s side, admonish, console, encourage, strengthen”, etc and literally “come along side”. Two examples of the word used by Paul are: 2 Cor 1:4; Phil 10.

      In the noun form, Jesus used it in Jn 15:26 of the Holy Spirit that He would send to us after His departure back to heaven. It has a variety of use and applications for us. The emphasis in this passage is that we are to exhort one another. In Heb 10:25 the writer tells us that this encouraging is to be accomplished by us when we join together in fellowship, worship or Bible study. Elsewhere when the word is used in Scripture, it is in relation to remaining true to the Lord or holding unto our faith (Acts 11:23; 1 Thes 2:11-12).

      It is the duty of all believers to exhort, but it is especially the duty of ministers to exhort (2 Tim 4:2). Paul used the word when addressing the Lord’s return and those who had died in the Lord (1 Thes 4:18). Ministers exhort through the ministry of the word, Bible study as well as one on one occasion. All believers are to exhort one another when we meet together and also when we meet on other occasions.

Why are we to exhort?

      In the text verse we are told that the reason for this need is because of the deceitfulness of sin and the possibility of believers hardening their hearts in unbelief. Sin deceives us a little at a time. The devil uses many wiles to deceive us; he uses lies and half-truths to get us to doubt God and His word. Once our heart has been deceived we need help to bring us back to the right path (Isa 44:20; Jam 5:19-20)

      The enemy uses many means and people to deceive and beguile people who are serving the Lord to turn from their steadfastness and away from God In 2 Pet 2:18-21 Peter warns: “ For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. {19}  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. {20}  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. {21}  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. Wantonness is unbridled lust and speaks of those who have not been purified through the cleansing of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet 2:18) for he says they live in error (wandering, straying). Some are led away through false teaching and doctrine (Eph 4:14). To the Corinthians, Paul speaks of another gospel and spirit (2 Cor 11:3-4).

      We are warned of those who try to interpret the Scriptures their own way, twisting it and corrupting it to make it say what they want it to say (Rom 16:17-18; 2 Cor 4:2; 2 Pet 2:16; Phil 3:18-19). Scripture is truth and we do well to heed what it says without trying to make it say what is pleasing to us or to please certain people groups – being politically correct. We have much of the “twisting” of Scripture today with the same sex community and those who adhere to this perversion. But God said His word is forever settled in heaven and man cannot change it.

Written by : Super User