Bible Commentaries
Hebrews 13

Verses 1-3

KEEP ON LOVING

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Hebrews 13:1

With this last chapter the author focuses mainly upon exhortations concerning the practical aspects of Christianity. In the Jewish world this practical side of faith is called "ha-lak-hah," taken from the Hebrew word "walk." We see here that there is also a Christian halakhah or a Christian walk. The Christian walk or manner of life in the first century made a great impression upon unbelievers. Nothing impacted them more than the love these Christians had for each other. The church father Tertullian around AD 200 reported what the pagans were saying about Christians, "'Look,' they say, 'how they love one another' (for they [the pagans] themselves hate one another); 'and how they are ready to die for each other' (for they themselves are readier to kill each other)."^(F1)

Jesus had said that the mark of true disciples would be seen in their love for one another (John 13:35). The author exhorts these early believers that their love must continue. This implies that they already possessed this love.^(F2) The word for love here is philadelphia, the special Greek word for brotherly-love (cf. Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 2 Peter 1:7). Barclay mentions how this love was so great that "there were actually cases where Christians sold themselves as slaves to find money to ransom their friends."^(F3)

Coffman tells the story of how love is the secret of growing effective churches. In a Manhattan church there was an elderly lady who had attended a number of years when she finally made a decision for Christ and agreed to be baptized. When asked of her motivation she mentioned another Christian lady who was her friend and companion saying, "Yetta holds my hand when we cross the street!"^(F4) Suddenly, the secret was out. A simple act of love in the church had changed the eternal destiny of a soul.

"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it" (13:2). In the early Christian world it was of great importance to look out for strangers and wayfarers. After all, the faith ancestors of these Christians as well as they themselves were aliens and strangers on earth (11:13).

It was very important that they entertained the strangers who were believers because many traveling ministries needed food and lodging (3 John 1:5-8). There were Christians, especially in the time of this letter, who were driven from their homes due to persecution. Also, many poor saints from other places could not afford the price of an inn.^(F5) The inns of the first century, where they did exist, were notoriously bad and terribly expensive. "Both their price and their moral atmosphere made the public inns impossible."^(F6)

It is clear that the Old Testament patterns for this exhortation were those of Father Abraham (Genesis 18:1ff) and his nephew Lot (Genesis 19:1ff.). Their concern for the travelers was instant and extravagant. Little did they know that their visitors were angels from heaven and in Abraham's case, even the Lord himself.

So, with our hospitality to strangers we can sometimes entertain angels without knowing it. This should make us want to err on the side of hospitality when we are confronted with such instances. I remember many years ago in my early ministry as pastor of a small Kentucky church, an unusual event took place. At the time my wife and I felt the Lord was leading us to serve him somewhere in the western US. On one of my hospital visits I encountered a trucker from the western state of Wyoming. He had gotten sick on his run and his partner brought him to the hospital and then he continued on with the truck.

This poor man was almost without clothes or means. I felt great compassion for him and when he was released I took him to the church and we all began to care for him. The church members pitched in and together we fed him, bought him some new clothes and arranged for him to work a little so that he could get some spending money.

The man continued with us for several days but one day when I tried to find him he had simply disappeared. None of us ever saw him or heard from him again. Over the years I have often thought that we were visited by an angel and that God was testing our love for people in the west before allowing us to go there and minister. Shortly thereafter my wife and I were called to a church in Colorado and we ended up spending a good portion of our lives in the Rocky Mountain west.

"Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering" (13:3). These Hebrew Christians at one time had a great record of caring for those in prison as we saw earlier in 10:33-34. Now they were exhorted to remember and keep on. In 2 Timothy 1:16, we saw that Onesiphorus was an outstanding example of this principle.^(F7) The imprisoned Paul commended him with these words, "He often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains."

Barclay reports how the heathen orator Aristides spoke of the Christians, "If they hear that any one of their number is imprisoned or in distress for the sake of their Christ's name, they all render aid in his necessity and, if he can be redeemed, they set him free."^(F8) The Christian practice of love and hospitality to prisoners was so great that it finally became a concern to the Roman authorities. In the early fourth century the Emperor Licinius passed legislation forbidding people to show such kindness to prisoners.^(F9)

Verse 4

SEXUAL IMMORALITY

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Hebrews 13:4

The old King James Version of the Bible had this verse reading, "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled…" From this translation many have no doubt assumed that all was well within the bonds of marriage. However, recent study and experience have shown that this is not the case. Many of our newer translations correct this verse and read similar to the NIV translation above, or else they read "Let marriage be held in honor" as the English Standard Version and New Revised Standard Versions have it. Utley comments on the Greek usage here saying that "verses 4-6 seem to be governed by the unexpressed, but understood, imperative 'must be:' marriage (must be) honored; the bed (must be) undefiled; your lives (must be) free of the love of money."^(F10)

Since marriage between a man and woman is a cornerstone doctrine in Judaism, in Christianity and even in the world at large, we can understand why the enemy has attacked it throughout history and why he is so viciously attacking it today. Although Judaism has a strong view of marriage there were some groups like the Essenes that frowned upon marriage and even prohibited it.^(F11)

The New Testament teaching is highly favorable to marriage, still there were certain groups like the Montanists that forbade it.^(F12) Later in Christian history the monastic movement did much also to discredit marriage. This type teaching was clearly forbidden by Paul in 1 Timothy 4:2-3, "Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods…."

Today the attack on marriage between a man and woman is unyielding. George Guthrie remarks about this saying, "For many in modern culture the sanctity of the marriage bed is a nonissue. Adultery and sexual immorality are so widely accepted in the Western world as to barely raise a yawn, much less and outcry…."^(F13)

We need to realize that there are many things today that can defile the marriage bed. First and foremost, adultery can do so. Adultery may be defined as any voluntary sexual intercourse with someone outside the marriage union. We are told in this verse that God in no uncertain terms will judge the adulterer. Fausset remarks, "Most whoremongers escape the notice of human tribunals; but God takes particular cognizance of those whom man does not punish."^(F14)

In the Greek text there are two important words used in this verse, pornous meaning fornicators and moichous meaning adulterers, both of whom God will judge. Pornous is translated as "sexually immoral" in the above passage. Be sure, God will judge not only the adulterer but the sexually immoral. The word pornous is the basis of some of our modern words like "fornication," "porn" and "pornography" as we might expect. Utley says of fornication, "The term in the OT means sexual relations between two unmarried people, but in the NT it has the wider connotation of sexual immorality of any kind."^(F15)

One of the biggest threats of sexual immorality today is the widespread usage of pornography. In recent years it has become a worldwide plague due to the rapid spread of the internet. A few years ago we heard statistics like 20 percent of Christians were frequenting porn sites. Now that figure has apparently exploded to 50 percent.^(F16) On top of that we are getting the shocking statistics that even 40 percent of our ministers have also tuned in to porn sites.^(F17)

Pornography is extremely destructive to the marriage bed and to the mind of the guilty party as well. Due to the ever increasing pull of evil it is a handy door-opener to even more serious and destructive sins. Charisma Magazine says, "Addiction to cyberporn can take hold in a matter of hours or days…but rehabilitation from habitual pornography takes six to 18 months, just to get free…A person addicted to pornography faces a more complex recovery than an adulterer."^(F18)

Perhaps the greatest threat to the normal marriage relationship is the one posed by homosexuality and lesbianism. While homosexuals claim they are capable of a monogamous relationship the truth is that homosexuals have hundreds of relationships on the average.^(F19) . This poses a terrible health threat to marriage partners or to mates involved in such relationships. Dr. Daisy Stern in a medical study presented to the Israel Health Ministry traced the rapid rise of HIV infections in Europe after large international Gay Pride events. "Similarly, Stern writes, a study in Rome found that new HIV infections increased between 2000-2003 – right after 'half a million gays and lesbians reveled there in a week-long homo-lesbian extravaganza.'"^(F20)

Homosexuality strikes at the very heart of the Creator's plan for marriage and family. In its haughtiness it tries to present a better idea of marriage than God had. Yet, we do not have to be statisticians to understand that if everyone on earth became truly homosexual, the human race would shortly disappear. God sternly forbids homosexuality in all its forms. In the past he destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of this sin. In blistering terms Paul deals with homosexuality in Romans 1:25ff Also in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 he says, "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

Well, there are many other abuses that could fall under these categories. One common area of abuse even in Christian churches is the matter of "live-in" relationships and sex before marriage. The popular television host and psychologist, Dr. Phil, stated in his show (Apr. 7, 2005) that the likelihood of a marriage succeeding that is born out of such infidelity is less than 10 percent. He was speaking specifically of live-in relationships.

God is unabashedly pro-marriage and this is seen all over the Bible. It is God's great plan for the advancement of humanity and for bringing forth godly children (Malachi 2:15). It is God's plan for the shelter and protection of the weak and young. Once a Roman matron asked Rabbi Jose bar Halafta, "How long did it take the Holy One, blessed be he, to create the world?" He said to her "Six days." "And from then until now what has he been doing?" The rabbi answered, "The Holy One, blessed be he, is occupied in making marriages."^(F21)

Verses 5-6

COVETOUSNESS AND FEARFULNESS

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Immediately after his discussion of sexual sins the author deals with covetousness. It is interesting that sexual sins and covetousness are often linked in the New Testament (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:11; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5). This may occur because these commandments are given side by side in the Decalogue.^(F22) It may also occur because sexual lust is very closely connected with lust for money and power.

The word covetousness (philarguros) is made up of two Greek words, phileo "to be fond of," and arguros "silver."^(F23) The compound word is thus "to be fond of silver." It is unfortunate for us today that the motto of many Americans is "Keep up with the Joneses."

This catchphrase means that one must live in a nice house, have a nice salary and nice car like the Jones family next door. The idea is that they should even exceed the Jones family in these things. Another word for this is covetousness. We excuse our covetousness in several other ways like calling it "ambition."^(F24) Paul once said about all this, "…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want" (Philippians 4:11-12).

There are several problems with loving silver and being covetous for things. The Bible says, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:10). We note that it is the love of money and not the money itself that is the root of evil. Money itself can be a good thing if we use it to serve the Lord. Another problem with money is that no one ever seems to get enough of it. The millionaire Bernard Baruch was once asked how much money it would take for a rich man to be satisfied. He replied, "Just a million more than he has."^(F25)

Another thing about the love of money is that it tends to worry us a lot. "John D. Rockefeller was the world's first billionaire. It is said that for many years, he lived on crackers and milk because of stomach troubles caused by worrying about his wealth. He rarely had a good night's sleep, and guards stood constantly at his door. Wealthy – but miserable! When he began to share his wealth with others in great philanthropic endeavors, his health improved considerably and he lived to be an old man."^(F26)

The Lord says "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (cf. Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 118:6-7). Wuest describes this statement in the Greek language saying, "There are three negatives before this word, making the promise one of triple assurance. It is, 'I will not, I will not, I will not let thee down, leave thee in the lurch, leave thee destitute, leave thee in straits and helpless, abandon thee.'"^(F27) After all, in Matthew 6:25-28, Jesus tells us not to worry about things like food and clothing. He assures us that if God can care for the birds of the air and feed them he will surely feed us. If he can so beautifully clothe the flowers of the field he can surely clothe us.

"So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'" (13:6). Oswald Chambers, that noted Scottish minister and teacher, once said, "The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else." Once the great evangelist D. L. Moody was approached by a woman who excitedly exclaimed to him, "I have found a promise that helps me when I am afraid. It is Psalm 56:3 – 'What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.' Mr. Moody replied, 'I have a better promise than that! Isaiah 12:2 – I will trust and not be afraid.'" ^(F28)

It cannot be denied that in our troubled age there are many people who are afraid. They are afraid of the economy, they are afraid of a nuclear war, they are afraid of their health, and they are afraid of a thousand other things. In the US, it is said that 2.4 billion prescriptions are written each year. Of these, 118 million, or the largest group, are for anti-depressants.^(F29) Even children are afraid. It is now said that today's children have the anxiety level of the psychiatric patients of the 1950s.^(F30)

In our worries and fears we need to resort to that old scripture that Mr. Moody used in Isaiah 12:2, "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation."

Verses 7-8

REMEMBERING OUR LEADERS

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7

The use of the Greek aorist tense elalesan (spoke) probably indicates that these leaders had passed on.^(F31) This can also be gathered from the Greek word ekbasis (outcome) which seems to refer to the sum total of their life accomplishments.^(F32) Nevertheless, these early leaders had left a lasting impression on these saints and they were encouraged to remember this. Perhaps some of these leaders had even died as martyrs for their faith.

Supposedly a memorial marker stands to John Wesley in Westminster Abbey. It bears this inscription, "God buries his workmen, but he carries on his work."^(F33) Such workmen of God are worthy of our deepest respect. This may be difficult for us to understand in a day such as ours, when ministers of God have come to be held in such low esteem by the masses.

These Hebrew Christians were urged to consider how the founders of their faith had lived and perhaps how they had died for their beliefs. These were the days before there was a New Testament in circulation and therefore their leaders were "the local deposit of the truth."^(F34) The Hebrew believers were charged to "imitate" and to carefully observe the lives of these faithful leaders. No doubt these were true servants, as the Lord had said in Mark 10:43-44, "…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all."

We know from our own bad experiences that our earthly Christian leaders are not all good. The scripture tells us that there are some false shepherds who do not care for the sheep. Others tend to be unstable in other ways and thus they injure the flock. There is however one leader whom we must remember above all, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever"(13:8). This verse stands out in scripture like the Rock of Gibraltar. It is probably the most famous verse in this whole epistle.^(F35)

Over the centuries many troubled saints have clung to this word. "How fortunate, then, are Christians who may find amidst the 'wreck of atoms and the crush of worlds' the changeless and invariable glory of the Son of God!"^(F36) These have found as Hebrews 1:12 says concerning Christ, "…You remain the same, and your years will never end."

Verses 9-10

STRANGE TEACHINGS

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 "strange teachings" mentioned here were connected somehow to foods and they seem to reflect the kind of tensions over food that would be expected in a mixed Jewish/Gentile church. It is likely that these Jewish believers were being drawn back into Judaism through the observance of certain food customs. Even today many Jewish people who become believers in Christ insist on keeping Jewish kosher standards in their homes. This should not in itself be a problem providing these believers maintain a biblical view of such foods. They should not try to force their beliefs upon others and they should not allow themselves to be drawn back into their old faith through the myriad food laws.

In the 14th chapter of Romans Paul deals with such problems in great detail. The problems related to food are called "disputable matters" which are not matters of real spiritual concern, unless the Body of Christ is being fractured by them. Paul terms those who are bound up in such matters as "weak." However, he does not go on to shame these but he accepts them in faith (Romans 14:1). Paul had become convinced that there was no food unclean in itself (Romans 14:14). So he instructs the Romans with these words, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit," (Romans 14:17).

Today, as Paul did long ago, we need to realize that all the food laws have been fulfilled in Christ (cf. Matthew 15:11; Mark 7:18-23; Acts 10:15; Colossians 2:16-23).^(F37) For us these Old Testament rules and regulations about food have simply passed away.

There is also the possibility here that the doctrine concerning foods had to do with meat that was offered to idols. Paul deals with this question in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. He says that an idol is nothing and that we have freedom to eat. However, we must not use this freedom to make other believers stumble (1 Corinthians 8:13).

"There has never been a shortage of various and strange doctrines in the church."^(F38) In our day there are many questions about food, which ones are good for us and which ones are not. There are many different ideas on diets and eating programs. Some have ascribed almost an aura of holiness to their particular diets. We must remember the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 8:8, "But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do."

Instead of concerning ourselves with foods we need to remember the real food mentioned in John 6:57-58, "Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."

Our author continues on with the matter of real food saying, "We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat" (13:10). Although it seems at first to be a natural conclusion, scholars feel that this verse has no connection to the Eucharist.^(F39) Clarke probably sums up the real idea here saying, "the Christian altar is the Christian sacrifice, which is Christ Jesus, with all the benefits of his passion and death."^(F40) Obviously, those Jewish priests of old had no right to eat at this altar without accepting the sacrifice and salvation of Christ. Long ago the church leader Ignatius cried out to Israel with these words, "Hasten to come together as to one temple, even God; to one altar, even to one Jesus Christ."^(F41)

Verses 11-14

MINISTRY "OUTSIDE THE CAMP"

The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. Hebrews 13:11

The offering spoken of in this verse was the sin offering made on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus Ch. 16). On this day the animals were slain and their blood was applied to the altar with the select portions being offered on the altar fire. Hughes notes that the priestly order could not have their normal portions of the offering on this day but the animals were totally burned outside the camp.^(F42) We know that at other times the priests could partake of their allotted portion, even of the people's sin offerings (Leviticus 6:26; 10:17; Ezekiel 44:29). Perhaps on this day part of the offerings represented the sin of the priests themselves and thus the offerings could not be eaten. Of this we cannot be sure and it is not mentioned in the Mishnah which gives much detail of the Day of Atonement.

"And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood" (13:12). Now we begin to see the beautiful type of Jesus suffering for us outside the camp (cf. John 19:17- 20). The expression "outside the camp" has great spiritual significance. The statement itself seems to have two distinct meanings. In ancient Israel "outside the camp" was a place reserved for sinners (Leviticus 24:23), the sick (Leviticus 13:46) and the unclean (Deuteronomy 23:10). Now we see that Jesus was sacrificed outside the camp to bring forgiveness, healing and cleansing for just such people. As Slemming says, "Outside, Christ met man's need; inside, Christ met God's demands, and so a reconciliation was made…The blood went in – the body went out."^(F43)

But there is another meaning of the expression "outside the camp." Bruce explains, "What was formerly sacred was now unhallowed, because Jesus had been expelled from it… What was formerly unhallowed was sacred because Jesus was there."^(F44) Gench adds to this, "Christ's death outside the camp: made every secular space potentially holy, and those who follow him are to claim every arena of life as God's own and subject to God's rule."^(F45)

Today in Israel the large twin-domed Church of the Holy Sepulcher stands on the supposed spots of Christ's crucifixion and burial. This site was just outside the western wall of Jerusalem in Jesus' day. Although there is an alternate site on the north side of the city near the Damascus Gate, this ancient site seems to have the weight of history behind it. Of course most of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70 and this would have included any early structure that might have been built on the spot. However, after the Bar Kokhba War (AD 132-135) the Roman Emperor built a shrine to Venus on the spot of today's church.

In the fourth century when the Roman Empire began to be ruled by the Christian Emperor Constantine the shrine to Venus was destroyed and removed with a new structure being built.^(F46) Through the centuries the Church of the Holy Sepulcher has somehow survived fires, earthquakes, renovations, wars and the ravages of time. Every year millions of pilgrims visit this very important archaeological site.

"Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore" (13:13). Jesus was crucified in the place of sinners, the sick and the unclean as we have said. His followers may also find themselves suffering in the same kind of places.

Jesus was cast outside the camp of Israel and exiled from its worship and its temple. We may at times find ourselves in a similar position as his followers. We remember how God was once rejected in the camp of Israel. After that Moses pitched a tent in a place outside the camp (Exodus 33:7). It was named the "Tent of Testimony" and all those who sought the Lord could go outside the camp to the tent.^(F47)

It is possible that we may sometimes find ourselves exiled outside the camp of religion. A word of caution is in order here, for some in the past have used this text to cause great divisions in the Body of Christ. We need to be extremely careful when we find ourselves "standing apart" from the Lord's church (cf. Hebrews 3:12). This can be legitimate when the church has departed from the teaching of Christ, and often in such cases the true saints are rather forced out of such fellowships. Jesus didn't go outside the city by his own choice.

Of course such a thing happened to Martin Luther. We recall that Luther had no desire initially to leave Catholicism. A similar thing happened to the great evangelist John Wesley (1703-1791). Wesley, who shook two continents with his preaching, became almost a persona non grata in his own Anglican denomination. Wesley was not deterred and since he believed his task was to call the people to repentance and revival, he began to preach to large groups of people in the open air. Wesley became the founder of Methodism and eventually had great impact on the holiness movement with Wesleyan, Nazarene, and Missionary Alliance churches. Wesley's emphasis on personal holiness, evangelism and a personal relationship with Christ has also greatly influenced Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movement.^(F48)

So we must be prepared to go outside the camp bearing the reproach of Jesus. We cannot help but think here of Simon of Cyrene (Matthew 27:32) who no doubt was very surprised when the Romans compelled him to carry the cross of Jesus outside the city. He might have been alarmed and humiliated at first. But as he saw Jesus suffer on his way to the crucifixion something must have happened deep within his soul. Later in Christian history we hear of his sons Alexander and Rufus who were well known to the Christian church in Rome (Romans 16:13).

"For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come" (13:14). Jesus in being forced "outside the camp" initiated a break with the old system of Judaism. The truth is that he was not seeking the natural city of Jerusalem but a city that had foundations. When we are sent outside the camp or are forced outside the city we must remember that we seek a city with foundations whose builder and maker is God.^(F49)

The religious leaders clung to the city of Jerusalem and cast Jesus from it. They surely did not realize that within a short span of some forty years the city of Jerusalem and the temple they trusted in would be totally destroyed. On the Temple Mount platform there would not be one stone left standing upon another exactly according to Jesus' words in Matthew 24:2.

Verses 15-16

OFFERING THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15

In ancient days some Jewish rabbis believed that the time would come when all sacrifices would cease and instead there would be praises. Also the First Century Jewish writer Philo spoke of a time when the best sacrifice would be the ones glorifying God with hymns.^{Vayikra Rabba, sect. 9, fol. 153, and Rabbi Tanchum, fol. 55, "Rabbi Phineas, Rabbi Levi, and Rabbi Jochanan, from the authority of Rabbi Menachem of Galilee, said, In the time of the Messiah all sacrifice shall cease, except the sacrifice of praise."">(F50)} Indeed, in Palm 50:23 it is written, "Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation."

We see that the Christian is to offer to God continual praise. Praise needs to be our constant habit. Such praise can only arise as we are filled with the Spirit of God and as Jesus lives comfortably inside us. We are to offer to God continually the fruit of our lips. Scholars feel this expression is taken from Hosea 14:2. In the Hebrew of this verse it reads literally "the young bulls of our lips" (par-im se-fa-te-nu). Praise is indeed a sacrifice.

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased" (13:16). As Christians we sometimes think that the days of sacrifice are over but the scripture disputes this. The concept of sacrifice has not passed away. Real religion still demands it as we see in this verse.

In response to the all-important sacrifice of Christ, which was made once for all for our salvation, there are some sacrifices we can make. There is the matter of doing good and sharing with others as we see in this verse. The word used for sharing is the Greek koinonia, the word often used for fellowship. Undoubtedly, this has to do with sharing our gifts with others in need (Philippians 4:18); Then there is the sacrifice of prayer (Psalm 141:2) and the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). Finally, there is the sacrifice of the whole life offered up to God as seen in Romans 12:1-2, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will." If we want to know how meaningful our religion is, we should count up what it is costing us in time and money, and that will be a good indicator.

Like our fathers of old we need to get into the practice of building altars everywhere we go and offering our precious things upon them. Abraham did this regularly. It is our altars that break open the heavens for us, for our children, and for others around us. I personally feel that it was the result of Abraham's sacrifice in Genesis 12:8, that Jacob was able to see heaven opened in Genesis 28:10-15. Both events occurred at exactly the same spot, with only time separating them

In Leviticus 6:9,12,13, we see that the fire must never be allowed to go out on God's altar. His altar is never to be without sacrifice. Let us keep the fires kindled. It will bring us a warmer, more blessed relationship with the Creator.

Verses 17-19

THE SPIRITUAL CHAIN OF COMMAND

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17

The writer now returns to the subject of church leadership and the focus this time is clearly on their current leadership.^(F51) In the natural world around us there is leadership displayed everywhere. Every school of fish has a leader and every flock of birds has a leader. Although the church is a spiritual body it too has leadership established by God. Even though the church is an organism it is still organized to some degree. Otherwise it would have to function somewhat like a jellyfish.

There are six or seven titles used interchangeably for the church leader in the New Testament. Coffman mentions them all. There is the bishop or overseer, the presbyter or elder, the pastor or shepherd, and steward. There may be some doubt attached to the last designation when used as an actual title.^(F52)

As we see in this verse the pastor must give an account of his flock just as Jesus had to give an account of his own disciples (John 17:12). We, as sheep of the flock, need to do our best to make their work easy (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). It would be greatly to our disadvantage if our pastors have to give an account of us to the Lord with grief, deep sighing and groaning (Gk. stenazonten).^(F53) There is a beautiful passage in 1 Peter 5:1-4, that aptly describes the work of a shepherd or pastor:

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

We should note that the pastor or elder must not rule with an authoritarian spirit but with that of a servant. Authority in the ministry works very similar to authority in the marriage. It must be always exercised with love, humility and in a spirit of service. The scripture never exhorts us to submit ourselves to leaders who are unsound, unfaithful, or sinful.^(F54) The great apostle Paul bade his sheep to follow him in this way, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1).

The author of Hebrews then asks a favor of the flock, "Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way" (13:18). We can see by this statement that in spite of all the stern warnings he has given to this flock he still regards them as bona-fide Christians.^(F55) We note here that it was quite customary for early Christians to support their leadership with faithful prayer, especially those traveling ministries (1 Thessalonians 5:25; Ephesians 6:18-19; 2 Thessalonians 3:1).

"I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon" (13:19). Most commentators do not feel that the author was in prison at this time since this seems to be ruled out in verse 23.^(F56) He may have been beset with troubles or detained by some persecution.^(F57) It is possible that the author was deeply involved in some outreach or ministry that he could not leave at that time. In any event the author needed the prayers of the saints of God going up on his behalf.

Verses 20-21

THE BENEDICTION

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

The benediction used here has been called "one of the noblest in holy writ."^(F58) It has some similarities to the great priestly blessing found in Numbers 6:22-27.

"In the ancient world benedictions were important to an address, and in the Jewish context specifically a benediction was an aspect of worship."^(F59) A benediction could also be crafted to make a quick summary of the message and that is exactly what the prayer does in this case. He simply ends by summarizing the essential elements of his letter.^(F60)

This benediction evokes beautiful pictures of the great Shepherd of the sheep who was long promised and who had now come (Ezekiel 37:24-28; Isaiah 40:11). The Good Shepherd would not only carry the sheep in his bosom but he would lay down his life for the sheep (John 10:11,14-18). In the end he would appear, bringing his sheep into glory, giving them crowns that would never fade (1 Peter 5:4).^(F61)

We see, as we have previously mentioned, that it is God who equips for his work and works in us to perform it (cf. Philippians 2:13). The Greek word used here is katarizo and it has the meaning of "equipping for service."^(F62) With his short summary of prayer and praise the author ends his benediction with the traditional "Amen" or "so be it."

Verses 22-25

CONCLUSION

Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly. Hebrews 13:22

The author refers to his book as an exhortation or sermon but he closes it like a letter. It is thought by some that the sermon or letter actually ended with the benediction but these last few verses are sort of an addendum attached when the manuscript was actually sent by the courier.^(F63)

"I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you" (13:23). It is generally assumed that this Timothy is the same as the young companion of Paul mentioned so often in scripture. If this is truly the case then this is the only record we have of Timothy being in prison.^(F64) The fact that Timothy is mentioned here may reveal a time-frame for the composition of Hebrews, indicating that it was published during the lifetime of Paul or else soon after his death.^(F65)

"Greet all your leaders and all the Lord's people. Those from Italy send you their greetings" (13:24-25). As he has done earlier in this chapter he once again honors the leaders. The fact that these leaders are mentioned in the plural suggests that this letter was to be read to all saints or churches in the given area (cf. Colossians 4:16).^(F66) Again we are reminded that the expression "Those from Italy" does not give us any conclusive indication as to the place of its writing or to who the recipients actually were. We still do not know for sure if it was written to Italy or from Italy.

The epistle then ends in a very traditional Christian manner "Grace be with you all."