Daily Devotional for Sunday, March 23, 2025

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How Must Brotherly Love Continue Among the People of God?

Hebrews 13:1 states, “Let brotherly love continue.” Though brief, this verse contains a profound and enduring command. The inspired writer of Hebrews, having provided deep theological instruction about Christ’s priesthood, covenant, and sacrifice, now turns in chapter 13 to practical exhortations for daily Christian living. This first imperative concerns the priority of ongoing love—specifically, the love that exists between brethren in the faith. The verse calls for more than casual friendliness; it demands an enduring, active, and faithful commitment to one another grounded in truth and obedience to God.

The Greek phrase translated “brotherly love” is philadelphia, a compound term derived from philos (affection) and adelphos (brother). This is not merely a general kindness but familial loyalty and devotion. The use of philadelphia here reminds readers that Christians are part of a spiritual family (Galatians 6:10), adopted through faith and obedience to the gospel. They are not strangers to one another but children of God (Romans 8:16), heirs with Christ, and members of one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). As such, the love they share must reflect this sacred relationship.

The verb “continue” (menetó) indicates an ongoing, uninterrupted action. Brotherly love is not to be occasional or seasonal but steadfast and enduring. It is not dependent on favorable circumstances or mutual benefit. Rather, it is to be maintained despite differences, misunderstandings, or even conflict. In this way, it mirrors the steadfast love of Jehovah, who is “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” (Psalm 103:8). Just as God’s love endures, so must the love that binds His people together.

This command is consistent with the teaching of Christ himself. In John 13:34-35, Jesus told the apostles, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” The distinguishing mark of a true disciple is not theological knowledge or religious appearance, but genuine love—seen in action—for other believers. The love Jesus showed was not abstract; it was demonstrated in service, sacrifice, and constant care, culminating in his giving of himself for the redemption of others.

The apostle Paul similarly exhorted the early church in Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” The love between believers is not built on sentimentality but on deep commitment. It manifests in humility, forgiveness, hospitality, support, generosity, correction, and shared joy in the truth. Such love refuses to keep a record of wrongs and does not seek its own (1 Corinthians 13:5), but looks to the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4).

The continuation of brotherly love is not only beneficial to the church—it is essential. When it wanes, congregations fracture, spiritual maturity is stunted, and evangelistic witness is undermined. In contrast, when brotherly love is strong, the body is built up in unity, strengthened in service, and protected from division (Ephesians 4:15-16). In 1 Peter 1:22, Christians are urged, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” Purity of heart and obedience to truth are prerequisites for sincere, enduring love.

It is also important to recognize that brotherly love does not ignore sin or error. True love speaks the truth and seeks the eternal good of others (Ephesians 4:25). It gently restores those caught in sin (Galatians 6:1), upholds righteousness, and encourages steadfastness. It is not flattery or avoidance of confrontation, but genuine concern for the soul. This is the kind of love that “rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6) and does not compromise faithfulness to Jehovah for the sake of comfort or superficial peace.

Furthermore, the call to let brotherly love continue implies that it was already present among the believers addressed in Hebrews. This is consistent with what is seen in Hebrews 6:10, where the writer commends them: “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Yet even strong love must be guarded and renewed daily. As sin, discouragement, and pressures from the world press in, the natural tendency is for love to grow cold (Matthew 24:12). The inspired writer thus urges believers not only to practice love—but to let it persist.

Ultimately, Hebrews 13:1 calls for unwavering commitment to the love that should characterize all true followers of Christ. This brotherly love is not optional—it is commanded, sustained by truth, and essential to the health of the church. It is rooted in the knowledge of Jehovah’s love, expressed through Jesus’ example, and empowered by obedience to the Spirit-guided Word. It demands humility, sacrifice, patience, and vigilance. When believers heed this simple but powerful command—“Let brotherly love continue”—they reflect the heart of Jehovah and bring glory to His name in every generation.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).