Please explain Hebrews 13:9.
Let’s begin by reading Hebrews 13:9 which says, “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.”
It is obvious that the writer’s words here in the book of Hebrews are directed to Jewish believers. Throughout this valuable book it is shown that the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is BETTER than all the Jewish rites and practices that were involved in Judaism. For a couple of examples, we see that Christ is BETTER than the angels (1:4), Christ is BETTER than the Law (7:19), through Christ, they had a BETTER covenant (7:22), the sacrifice of Christ is BETTER than the Old Testament sacrifices (9:23). These are just a few of the things given in this book to show the superiority of Christ over the Old Testament law. Even though this book is written directly to Jewish believers of their day, the lessons and ministry contained in this book is also for ALL believers today to learn from and profit from.
The first part of Hebrews 13:9 gives a warning to all that we should not be “carried away with divers and strange doctrines.” Let’s compare that to the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:11-16, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: THAT WE HENCEFORTH BE NO MORE CHILDREN, TOSSED TO AND FRO, AND CARRIED ABOUT WITH EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
In both of these portions we are drawn to realize the danger of following after crafty teachers who teach false doctrine. To be able to discern truth from falsities, we ALL need to be forewarned and be led of the Lord into the truth of His Word, by study and the revealing of truth through the Holy Spirit. The Lord has given all believers various ‘gifts’ so that we might minister the truth to one another. So, instead of being carried away with strange doctrines, we should have our “heart be ESTABLISHED with grace.” We are taught in Colossians 2:6-7, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and STABLISHED IN THE FAITH, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
The whole system of ceremonial rites under the Law is indicated under the one word…”meats.” Even so, the blessings of the Christian faith are included under one word…”grace,” a word used throughout this book with great importance. I encourage you to search this book and find the eight times that grace is mentioned in it.
These ‘meats’ brought no profit in the sense of producing justification, perfect cleansing of the conscience, and sanctification, etc. Even today, many will follow traditions of men, common practices, and expensive ceremonies in a vain effort to follow the Lord. May we hear the dire warning of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 15:8-9, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Rather, dear reader, let us follow the words of 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (CC) (633.2)