“Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so” (Hebrews 13:9).

The entire book of Hebrews is a plea by the author to remain committed to Jesus when tempted to go back to the old system of rules, regulations, and religious ceremonies. All those Old Testament religious symbols were meant to prepare for the coming of Jesus. Now that He’s here don’t go back.
“Carried away” is the picture of being whirled about. It’s like a carnival ride that spins you until you can’t walk straight. That’s a fair picture of being caught in more religious rules than you can remember. The Jews of Jesus’ day had hundreds of rules just involving what you could or couldn’t do on the Sabbath. That’s enough to make anyone’s head spin.

The contrast is between that unsteady way of living and being “strengthened by grace.” “Strengthened” is a word that has a meaning connected with the foundation of a building. When we are strengthened in this sense we are stable and will not collapse even when other things collapse around us. The firm foundation on which we stand is grace, not religious rules and our ability to keep them. Grace keeps us focused on God’s love, His power, and the security of trusting in what God has done for us.

To depend on my ceremonial performance is to spin around unsteadily. To stand on a foundation of God’s grace is to be absolutely and eternally secure. The NIV translates the word that refers to a foundation as “strengthened” so here is advice that will save all of us a lot of turmoil. “It is good to be strengthened by grace.”