Hebrews 13:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“Let your conduct be without love of money, being content with what you have.” He did not say, “Acquire nothing,” but, “Let your conduct be without love of money.” That is, let your mind be free, and let your thoughts express wisdom. This will be shown if we do not seek what is unnecessary and are content with what is needful. Earlier he said, “you accepted the plundering of your possessions with joy” (Heb 10:34). Here he exhorts them not to love money: “being content,” he says, “with what you have.” [...] “Let your conduct,” he says, “be without love of money.” Since many, after losing property. Then try to acquire it again under the pretext of almsgiving, he says, “Let your conduct be without love of money.” That is, let us seek only what is useful and necessary.

“Let your conduct be without love of money.” He did not say, “Acquire nothing.” Rather, even if you have possessions, do not be slaves, but relate freely to what you have. Then you will not grieve if you are ever deprived of any property. As he said above, “you accepted the plundering of your possessions with joy” (Heb 10:34). In general, since many after the loss of property try to acquire again, he says this in view of the need to help others: “Let your conduct be without love of money.” Therefore he continues: “being content with what you have.” He shows how one can be without love of money. It is if we are content with what we have, and if we do not strive to acquire anything beyond what is useful and necessary.

And remember what is written: "Let your manner of life be without love of money; be content with what you have." Pay attention to the Apostle's remark about improper attachment to money. Therefore, when your hand touches money, guard your heart.

"Let your manner of life be without love of money." The Apostle did not forbid acquiring property, but love for possessions, because covetousness is born from it. "Be content with what you have." Let no one strive to increase his estate, for it is praiseworthy to be content with what one has. The Apostle also presents a sufficient guarantee for what he teaches. "For He Himself has said, I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you." The One who promised is not false. Let us receive the promise with faith. This too the Apostle adds.

“Without love of money in conduct,” that is, let one’s conduct be without love of money. By “conduct” he means the desire of the soul. For one can be a lover of money even without having silver, merely by desire and striving for it. Since among them there were some who had suffered the plundering of their possessions and were content with a little, he added, “being content with what remains.” Then he adds consolation in the following words: “For He has said, I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you” (Deut 31:6). “He” means God Himself, even though He uttered this through another. For in the First Book of Chronicles it is written: “I the Lord my God am with you. He will not depart from you, nor will He leave you” (1 Chr 28:20). We receive the words of God-bearing men as the genuine words of God Himself.

Therefore let us abstain from everything that excites the passions. Let us, as the true philosophers did, avoid foods that inflame sensuality, beds that soften by their luxury, and every other luxury and the passions bound to it. What others attain through the greatest labors is as though it did not exist for us. Moderation is among the greatest gifts of God. For He Himself said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5; cf. Deut 31:6, 8). By this He says to us, as it were: “Strive to be worthy of that election which unites you to Me.” Therefore, as we press forward, we must reverently and readily take upon ourselves the easy yoke of the Lord (Mt 11:30). He alone is the One who moves us toward salvation, so that each, progressing from faith to faith (Rom 1:17), may finally attain the happiness suited to him.

From Christian brotherly communion the Apostle turns to the basic relations of earthly life. He exhorts them to honor the holiness of marriage and to guard against love of money. When the readers think of the plundering of their possessions (Heb 10:36), which they may lose again, they should remember that God is their helper. Without God's permission, men can do them no evil.