At the end of the letter to the Hebrews, like the end of many New Testament letters, we have a collection of final words -- a series of commands or exhortations. Given the Jewish background, it is not surprising that these come off as a series of proverbs.
13:1-3
Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Amidst the persecution, we have a reminder to care for those who are in prison. Although always appropriate advice, this is probably especially poignant here since some of the believers (or their family members) are probably in prison for their faith.
Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Amidst the persecution, we have a reminder to care for those who are in prison. Although always appropriate advice, this is probably especially poignant here since some of the believers (or their family members) are probably in prison for their faith.
Old Testament examples of people entertaining angels occur in Genesis 18 and Genesis 19 where first Abraham and then Lot entertain a small group of angels.
13:4
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
Sex is always a place where we get to demonstrate our view of life and our relationship with God. We keep the marriage bed "pure" by being consistently committed to our spouse and faithful to a (joyful and affirming) sexual relationship with him/her.
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." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
One piece of evidence that we belong to another country instead of a modern (capitalistic) country: "Be content with what you have".
The quote in verse 5 ("Never will I leave you...") is from Deuteronomy 31:6; the quote in verse 6 is from Psalm 118:6,7.
The quote in verse 5 ("Never will I leave you...") is from Deuteronomy 31:6; the quote in verse 6 is from Psalm 118:6,7.
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Verse 8, in my experience, has been abused: I heard one church leader quote it in opposition to any change! It is Jesus who is eternal.
13:9a
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.
13:9b
It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.
Let our hearts be shaped by grace!
13:10-16
We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. 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. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.
For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. 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. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.
For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
The statement about the tabernacle is written in present tense, as if the tabernacle still stands. Indeed, the whole paragraph implies that, despite the reality of the temple in Jerusalem, the Hebrews should be ready to join Jesus "outside the city gate", as castouts, not part of the popular flow of society. For this reason, many believe this letter was written before the destruction of the temple in 70 C.E.
Regardless of the date of the letter, the viewpoint of this letter -- with Christians as members of a "better country", not one on earth -- is a viewpoint Christians should always have, in every time and every place.
13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Harmony with church leaders is a concept that runs throughout a number of New Testament letters. The human tendency for each of us to seek control is destructive to the church.
13:18-19
Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.
Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.
The author longs to rejoin the readers. Note that the pronoun here is singular, so the writer is probably not the couple Priscilla and Aquila?
13:20-21
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.
Amen!
13:22-25
Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter. I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. Greet all your leaders and all God's people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. Grace be with you all.
13:22-25
Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter. I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. Greet all your leaders and all God's people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. Grace be with you all.
Finally, here, we have evidence that this letter, although surely written by someone associated with Paul, is not written by Timothy! Could it be Barnabas who writes this?
This is only a short letter. What did the long letters look like?
This is only a short letter. What did the long letters look like?
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