Hebrews13
New International Version
1Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.
2Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
3Continue 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.
4Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
5Keep 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.”
6So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
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 and today and forever.
9Do 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.
10We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
11The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp.
12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.
13Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.
14For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
17Have 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.
18Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
19I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.
20Now 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,
21equip 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.
22Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.
23I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.
24Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings.
25Grace be with you all.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Hebrews 13.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Exhortations to various duties, and to be content with what Providence allots. (1–6). To respect the instructions of faithful pastors, with cautions against being carried away by strange doctrines. (7–15). Further exhortations to duties, that relate to God, to our neighbour, and to those set over us in the Lord. (16–21). This epistle to be seriously considered. (22–25).
vv1-6
The design of Christ in giving himself for us, is, that he may purchase to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works; and true religion is the strongest bond of friendship. Here are earnest exhortations to several Christian duties, especially contentment. The sin opposed to this grace and duty is covetousness, an over-eager desire for the wealth of this world, with envy of those who have more than ourselves. Having treasures in heaven, we may be content with mean things here. Those who cannot be so, would not be content though God raised their condition. Adam was in paradise, yet not contented; some angels in heaven were not contented; but the apostle Paul, though abased and empty, had learned in every state, in any state, to be content. Christians have reason to be contented with their present lot. This promise contains the sum and substance of all the promises; “I will never, no, never leave thee, no, never forsake thee.” In the original there are no less than five negatives put together, to confirm the promise: the true believer shall have the gracious presence of God with him, in life, at death, and for ever. Men can do nothing against God, and God can make all that men do against his people, to turn to their good.
vv7-15
The instructions and examples of ministers, who honourably and comfortably closed their testimony, should be particularly remembered by survivors. And though their ministers were some dead, others dying, yet the great Head and High Priest of the church, the Bishop of their souls, ever lives, and is ever the same. Christ is the same in the Old Testament day. as in the gospel day, and will be so to his people for ever, equally merciful, powerful, and all-sufficient. Still he fills the hungry, encourages the trembling, and welcomes repenting sinners: still he rejects the proud and self-righteous, abhors mere profession, and teaches all whom he saves, to love righteousness, and to hate iniquity. Believers should seek to have their hearts established in simple dependence on free grace, by the Holy Spirit, which would comfort their hearts, and render them proof against delusion. Christ is both our Altar and our Sacrifice; he sanctifies the gift. The Lord's supper is the feast of the gospel passover. Having showed that keeping to the Levitical law would, according to its own rules, keep men from the Christian altar, the apostle adds, Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp; go forth from the ceremonial law, from sin, from the world, and from ourselves. Living by faith in Christ, set apart to God through his blood, let us willingly separate from this evil world. Sin, sinners, nor death, will not suffer us to continue long here; therefore let us go forth now by faith and seek in Christ the rest and peace which this world cannot afford us. Let us bring our sacrifices to this altar, and to this our High Priest, and offer them up by him. The sacrifice of praise to God, we should offer always. In this are worship and prayer, as well as thanksgiving.
vv16-21
We must, according to our power, give to the necessities of the souls and bodies of men: God will accept these offerings with pleasure, and will accept and bless the offerers through Christ. The apostle then states what is their duty to living ministers; to obey and submit to them, so far as is agreeable to the mind and will of God, made known in his word. Christians must not think themselves too wise, too good, or too great, to learn. The people must search the Scriptures, and so far as the ministers teach according to that rule, they ought to receive their instructions as the word of God, which works in those that believe. It is the interest of hearers, that the account their ministers give of them may be with joy, and not with grief. Faithful ministers deliver their own souls, but the ruin of a fruitless and faithless people will be upon their own heads. The more earnestly the people pray for their ministers, the more benefit they may expect from their ministry. A good conscience has respect to all God's commands, and all our duty. Those who have this good conscience, yet need the prayers of others. When ministers come to a people who pray for them, they come with greater satisfaction to themselves, and success to the people. We should seek all our mercies by prayer. God is the God of peace, fully reconciled to believers; who has made a way for peace and reconciliation between himself and sinners, and who loves peace on earth, especially in his churches. He is the Author of spiritual peace in the hearts and consciences of his people. How firm a covenant is that which has its foundation in the blood of the Son of God! The perfecting of the saints in every good work, is the great thing desired by them, and for them; and that they may at length be fitted for the employment and happiness of heaven. There is no good thing wrought in us, but it is the work of God. And no good thing is wrought in us by God, but through Christ, for his sake and by his Spirit.
Key Words
μένω (ménō): to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy)
φιλαδελφία (philadelphía): fraternal affection
ἐπιλανθάνομαι (epilanthánomai): to lose out of mind; by implication, to neglect
μή (mḗ): (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 (οὐ) expects an affirmative one)) whether
φιλονεξία (philonexía): hospitableness
γάρ (gár): properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
τὶς (tìs): some or any person or object
ξενίζω (xenízō): to be a host (passively, a guest); by implication, be (make, appear) strange
ἄγγελος (ángelos): compare G34 (ἀγέλη)) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor
λανθάνω (lanthánō): to lie hid (literally or figuratively); often used adverbially, unwittingly
Cross References
Hebrews 13Source of the divine promise "I will not leave thee" given to Jacob, applied to believers.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Source of the promise "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" made to Joshua.
Supported by JFB
Direct historical precedent of Abraham entertaining angels unawares.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct historical precedent of Lot entertaining angels in Sodom unawares.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Day of Atonement law requiring sin offering bodies to be burned outside the camp.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Old Testament source for offering the "calves of our lips" as spiritual sacrifices of praise.
Supported by JFB
Jesus identifies Himself as the "good shepherd" who lays down His life for the sheep.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Exhorting and testifying in a brief, concise letter matching the writer's 'few words'.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Jewish synagogue custom of delivering a 'word of exhortation' to the people.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Reiteration of respect and greetings due to those who have the spiritual rule over you.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Christ identifies Himself with the stranger, showing that hospitality to believers is hospitality to Him.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Pauline exhortation to be "given to hospitality," aligning with the command to entertain strangers.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The theological basis for sympathy: if one member suffers, all members suffer with it.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The original creation institution of marriage establishing it as honorable and sacred.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Abraham's expectation of the city which has foundations, matching the "city to come."
Supported by Matthew Henry
Believers function as a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Elders commanded to take heed to and feed the flock over which they watch.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Good works and sacrifices that are pleasing and well-pleasing in God's sight.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Apostolic mention of writing an epistle with one's own hand or in brief words.
Supported by JFB
Paul's parallel appeal to his readers to strive together with him in prayers.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Apostolic designation of Timothy as 'our brother' in mutual ministry.
Supported by JFB
A typical Pauline benediction invoking the grace of Christ at the letter's close.
Supported by Matthew Poole