Hebrews 13
13
1#After recommendations on social and moral matters (Heb 13:1–6), the letter turns to doctrinal issues. The fact that the original leaders are dead should not cause the recipients of this letter to lose their faith (Heb 13:7), for Christ still lives and he remains always the same (Heb 13:8). They must not rely for their personal sanctification on regulations concerning foods (Heb 13:9), nor should they entertain the notion that Judaism and Christianity can be intermingled (Heb 13:10; cf. notes on Gal 2:11–14; 2:15–21). As Jesus died separated from his own people, so must the Christian community remain apart from the religious doctrines of Judaism (Heb 13:11–14). Christ must be the heart and center of the community (Heb 13:15–16). Let mutual love continue. 2Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.#Gn 18:3; 19:2–3; Jgs 6:11–22; Tb 5:4. 3Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment, and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you also are in the body.#Mt 25:36. 4Let marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterers.#1 Cor 5:13; Eph 5:5. 5Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.”#Dt 31:6, 8; Jos 1:5. 6Thus we may say with confidence:
“The Lord is my helper,
[and] I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?”#Ps 27:1–3; 118:6.
7Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.#1:12; 7:24; Rev 1:17.
9Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching.#Strange teaching: this doctrine about foods probably refers to the Jewish food laws; in view of Heb 13:10, however, the author may be thinking of the Mosaic sacrificial banquets. It is good to have our hearts strengthened by grace and not by foods, which do not benefit those who live by them.#Rom 14:17; 1 Cor 8:8; Eph 4:14; Col 2:16. 10We have an altar#We have an altar: this does not refer to the Eucharist, which is never clearly mentioned in Hebrews, but to the sacrifice of Christ. from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11The bodies of the animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.#Ex 29:14; Lv 16:27. 12Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, to consecrate the people by his own blood.#Mt 21:39; Mk 12:8; Lk 20:15; Jn 19:17. 13Let us then go to him outside the camp, bearing the reproach that he bore. 14For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come.#11:10, 14. 15Through him [then] let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.#Hos 14:3. 16Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.#Phil 4:18.
17#Recommending obedience to the leaders of the community, the author asks for prayers (Heb 13:17–19). The letter concludes with a blessing (Heb 13:20–21), a final request for the acceptance of its message (Heb 13:22), information regarding Timothy (Heb 13:23), and general greetings (Heb 13:24–25). Obey your leaders and defer to them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account, that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18Pray for us, for we are confident that we have a clear conscience, wishing to act rightly in every respect. 19I especially ask for your prayers that I may be restored to you very soon.
20#These verses constitute one of the most beautiful blessings in the New Testament. The resurrection of Jesus is presupposed throughout Hebrews, since it is included in the author’s frequently expressed idea of his exaltation, but this is the only place where it is explicitly mentioned. May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord,#Is 63:11; Zec 9:11; Jn 10:11; Acts 2:24; Rom 15:33. 21furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever [and ever]. Amen.
22Brothers, I ask you to bear with this message of encouragement, for I have written to you rather briefly. 23I must let you know that our brother Timothy has been set free. If he comes soon, I shall see you together with him.#Acts 16:1. 24Greetings to all your leaders and to all the holy ones. Those from Italy send you greetings. 25Grace be with all of you.#Ti 3:15.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Hebrews 13
13
Final Exhortations
1Let brotherly love # Rm 12:10; 1Pt 1:22 continue. 2Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. # Gn 18:3; Mt 25:35 3Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily. # Or mistreated, since you are also in a body 4Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers. # Mt 25:36; 1Co 6:9 5Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. # Dt 31:6,8; Jos 1:5; Php 4:11 # Dt 31:6 6Therefore, we may boldly say:
The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me? # Ps 27:1; 56:4,11; 118:6 # Ps 118:6
7Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. # Heb 6:12; 13:17,24 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. # Jn 8:58; Heb 1:12 9Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by foods, since those involved in them have not benefited. # Eph 4:14; Col 2:16 10We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle do not have a right to eat. # 1Co 9:13; 10:18 11For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest # 1Co 9:13; 10:18 as a sin offering are burned outside the camp. # Ex 29:14; Lv 16:27 12Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, # Jn 19:17: Ac 7:58 so that He might sanctify # Or set apart, or consecrate the people by His own blood. 13Let us then go to Him outside the camp, bearing His disgrace. # Heb 11:26; 1Pt 4:14 14For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come. # Mc 3:10; Heb 12:22 15Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name. # Lv 7:12; Hs 14:2; Eph 5:20 16Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices. # Rm 12:13; Php 4:18 17Obey your leaders # Or rulers and submit to them, for they keep watch # Is 62:6; Ezk 3:17; Ac 20:28 over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. 18Pray for us; for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves honorably in everything. # Ac 23:1; 1Th 5:25 19And I especially urge you to pray # Lit to do this that I may be restored to you very soon.
Benediction and Farewell
20Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus — the great Shepherd of the sheep # Jn 10:11; Ac 2:24; Rm 15:33 — with the blood of the everlasting covenant, # Zch 9:11; Heb 7:22; 8:6-10; 9:15; 12:24 21equip # Or perfect you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever. # Other mss omit and ever # Rm 11:36; Php 2:13; 1Pt 5:10 Amen.
22Brothers, I urge you to receive this message of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon enough, he will be with me when I see you. 24Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who are from Italy greet you. 25Grace be with all of you. # Ac 16:1; Col 4:18; 1Th 3:2; Heb 13:7,17; 1Pt 5:12
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