Exhorting One Another

Hebrews 3:13 “You must warn (exhort) each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God".

The fascinating word rendered “exhort” (Greek para-kaleo) translated means “comfort,” “beseech,” etc., literally means “call alongside.”

2 Corinthians 1:4

He (God) comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us

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Paul’s appeal to Philemon.

Philemon 10

“I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison". Such words as “desire,” “entreat,” and “pray” are also used.

The unusual importance of the word is pointed up by the fact that its noun form (parakletos) is used as one of the titles of God the Holy Spirit. Jesus said:

John 15:26"But I will send you the Advocate (Comforter, or Encourager, or Counselor)-the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me..

Thus, a Christian who is “called alongside” to comfort a sorrowing friend, to beseech a person to do right, or to exhort him to useful action all in the name of Christ, is in effect performing the same type of service on the human level that the Holy Spirit Himself performs on the divine level.

Further, we should do this –whether done in the context of exhorting or comforting or beseeching– to prevent the one to whom he is “called alongside” from being “hardened against God.” And since this is a moment-by-moment danger to the unwary, the ministry of exhortation (or comforting or entreating, as the need may be) is one which must be performed “daily, while it is still today.”