Two surprises leap at me from Hebrews 13:16, one marvelously comforting and the other shocking and disturbing.
The first is the layered excuse – deliberate omission – that people were making. They kept skipping their roles as do-gooders and sharers. They covered this up with “I forgot”.
The second is that they/we are not allowed to keep this practice of not doing the sacrificial things, the priestly service.
To these two shortcomings Paul offered:
- you must not keep forgetting to do well and share your gifts
- doing good and sharing are God-pleasing (living) sacrifices
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Living sacrifices from a living priesthood.
Get on with doing good and sharing