Read & explore together
Brotherly Love
Hebrews 13:1–4 gives brief, practical instructions for life with other people. These verses move from love within the Christian community to care for strangers, prisoners and the mistreated, and then to honour in marriage.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This part of Hebrews is written as direct teaching. In these verses, the writer gives a series of commands: continue in brotherly love, practise hospitality, remember people in bonds and those who are ill-treated, and hold marriage in honour while taking God’s judgement seriously.
Hebrews 13:1–4Main takeaway
These verses teach that faithful living shows itself in steady love, practical care for vulnerable people, and honourable conduct in marriage.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Love that keeps goingThe first instruction is short and strong: “Let brotherly love continue.” This points to ongoing care, not a brief feeling.
Explanation
The first instruction is short and strong: “Let brotherly love continue.” This points to ongoing care, not a brief feeling. “Brotherly love” speaks of family-like love among God’s people. The verse does not describe a new event. It gives a continuing command about how believers should treat one another.
02Welcome for strangersThe next command widens that love outward: “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers.”
Explanation
The next command widens that love outward: “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers.” Hospitality means receiving and caring for people who are not part of one’s household. The reason given is striking: some have “entertained angels without knowing it.” The point here is to keep practising generous welcome, even when we do not know everything about the guest.
03Remember the sufferingThe writer then turns to people under hardship: “those who are in bonds” and “those who are ill-treated”.
Explanation
The writer then turns to people under hardship: “those who are in bonds” and “those who are ill-treated”. “Remember” means more than noticing them. The comparison “as bound with them” calls for deep sympathy, and “since you are also in the body” reminds readers that they too are vulnerable human beings.
04Honour marriage seriouslyVerse 4 says, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled”. Marriage is to be treated with respect, and sexual faithfulness matters.
Explanation
Verse 4 says, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled”. Marriage is to be treated with respect, and sexual faithfulness matters. The verse also adds a warning: “God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” This makes clear that honouring marriage includes moral seriousness before God.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the word “continue” add to the command about brotherly love?
Look at the exact wording in Hebrews 13:1 and think about whether this love is meant to be occasional or ongoing.
02Why does the writer give a special reason for showing hospitality to strangers?
Read Hebrews 13:2 carefully and notice the surprising example attached to the command to welcome strangers.
03How does Hebrews 13:3 ask readers to think about prisoners and the ill-treated?
Focus on the phrases “as bound with them” and “since you are also in the body” to see how the verse teaches empathy.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Hebrews 13:1–4
1Let brotherly love continue.
2Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.
3Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body.
4Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.