Hebrews Chapter 13

Introduction

This chapter closes out the Epistle to the Hebrews, which has been largely doctrinal thus far, expounding Jesus out of the Old Testament scriptures, and focusing on the faith of the saints (because of Jesus’ faith). This chapter, however, is more practical in its exhortations, focusing on working out that faith with brotherly love, godliness, unity in doctrine and spirit, and perseverance. We are exhorted to walk the walk of a believer and not just talk the talk.

We are reminded of Philippians 2:12&13, “¶Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.” and James 2:20-24, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and byworks was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.“

The last chapter in Hebrews also provides additional evidence that the Apostle Paul is the anonymous author of this Epistle to the Hebrews.

The Changeless Christ

Hebrews 13:1, “¶Let brotherly love continue.“

The Apostle Paul is not talking about loving all men and even our enemies, but rather that we should have a familial love for fellow believers, who are in a spiritual relationship to one another as also part of the Body of Jesus Christ, His Church

We should pray for each other, bear one another’s burdens, forgive each other, and meet in fellowship together to encourage and exhort one another. This love is to continue (without ceasing) as routine practice and grow as our love for Jesus continues and grows.

Romans 12:10, “[Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” and

1 Peter 1:22, “¶Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:“

Hebrews 13:2, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.“

We are reminded here that a believer should be given to hospitality as we read in

Romans 12:13, “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”

1 Timothy 3:2, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;“

Matthew 25:35, “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:”

Remember Abraham, when he met the three angels who were strangers to him, in Genesis 18:3, “And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.“

Remember also the “Parable of the Good Samaritan“

Hebrews 13:3, “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; [and] them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.“

Christians have suffered various degrees of persecution since the beginning of the New Testament to this day and that will continue until Judgment Day. All believers are to pray for, and attend (wherever possible) to the needs of such as might be in a “physical prison”, remembering that this is not talking about those arrested for criminal activity, but rather for the sake of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. We must view them as if we are fellow prisoners with them. Moreover, we are exhorted, if we really love our spiritual brothers and sisters, we should extend the same courtesies to them. These include missionaries, the elderly, the infirm, the unemployed/unemployable within the body of believers.

Matthew 25:36, “Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.“

Hebrews 13:4, “¶Marriage [is] honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.“

Marriage, only between a man and a women, was first instituted by God in Genesis 2:22-24, “And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. ¶And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.“

Marriage was established by God to be a representation of the union between Jesus Christ and His Church in Ephesians 5:22-25, “¶Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. ¶Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” and Revelation 21:2, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

Sexual love between and husband and wife is honorable, holy, and ordained by God. It is encouraged to prevent sin as we read in 1 Corinthians 7:1-5, “¶Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence:and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not powerof his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except [it be] with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.“

But God will judge and deal with those who are promiscuous and unchaste. Married believers are to live together in love, compassion and submission, protecting and building their marriages and homes for the glory of God and the good of themselves and for the furthering of the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 6:9, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the LordJesus, and by the Spirit of our God.“

Hebrews 13:5, “¶[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.“

Here we are all exhorted to have our character and conduct be free from the love of money, free from craving wealth and worldly possessions, free from greed, covetousness, and lust for material things. we are to be content with what God has given us, as well as our present circumstances and station in life.

1 Timothy 6:6-10,”¶But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” and Jesus made clear in Matthew 16:26 (and Mark 8:36 & Luke 9:25) “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?“

Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.”

The Lord’s Prayer in Psalm 23 begins with, “¶[[A Psalm of David.]] The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.” We will not lack anything from God that is needful for us.

Jesus gave us these instructions in the Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 6:19–21, 25–34, reiterated in Luke 11:34–36 , Luke 12:33&34 . More here in Philippians 4:6&7, “¶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” and Philippians 4:11-13, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.“

Galatians 5:14, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.“

This is reminiscent of Genesis 28:15, when God told Jacob, “And, behold, I [am] with thee, and will keep thee in all [places] whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done [that] which I have spoken to thee of.“

Jesus’ last words to the disciples with regard to the Great Commission to preach the Gospel of Salvation: Matthew 28:20, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

Hebrews 13:6, “So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.“

The believers can certainly be bold in knowing this Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” We know that God can meet our every need spiritually, materially, and physically and Jesus said above in the Sermon on the Mount.

Psalm 27:1, “¶[[A Psalm of David.]] The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?“

Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who [can be] against us?

Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.“

Hebrews 13:7, “¶Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of [their] conversation.“

Jesus Christ is our King, but God put rulers over us in the Word. We have Pastors who are subordinate leaders over us, who instruct us and teach us from the Word of God, the Bible pointing the Way to Jesus, faithfully guiding us to an understanding of the Scriptures. They are responsible for shepherding the flock on an earthly level to ensure that the church remains faithful (and is not led into apostasy) and keep that flock in the Way of Jesus Christ.

To remember them is to respect them, to provide for their materials needs (if such are the needs, as stated in 1 Corinthians 9:9 and 1 Timothy 5:18), and to honor them for Jesus’ sake.

Hebrews 13:17, “¶Obey them that have the rule over (guide) you , and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.“

Hebrews 6:12, “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.“

God-pleasing Sacrifices

Hebrews 13:15, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving (confessing) thanks to his name.“

Psalm 100:4, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name.

Psalm 95:2, “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”

Hosea 14:2, “Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive [us] graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.”

Ephesians 5:20, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;“

Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.“

Hebrews 13:16, “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

Romans 12:13, “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.“

2 Corinthians 9:12, “For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for [your] liberal distribution unto them, and unto all [men];

Pastors, elders, and teachers in the church are the ones who have rule over the congregation. We obey them by attending to the Word that is faithfully preached by them… by regarding, respecting, and heeding their good counsel, advice and admonitions. We must recognize that they have God given authority and leadership. They bear the greater responsibility and God will hold them the more accountable is they are false teachers. James 3:1, “¶My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”

True Pastors are not concerned with worldly gain, fame, or possessions. They should indeed be watching for the souls of each one in the congregation, and all those who come under their hearing.

They must give an account to their own consciences that they remain faithful.
They must give an account to the church to whom they minister.
They must give account to The LORD, Almighty God, for Whom they speak.

Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.“

Hebrews 13:7, “¶Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of [their] conversation.“

1 Timothy 5:17, “¶Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.“

Paul, in referring to his “fellow soldier” in the Gospel”, Epaphroditus (Ἐπαφρόδιτος (epaphroditos))^G1891 (a visiting Philippian, whose name means “lovely”, previously sick and who almost died), said this to the church at Philippi in Philippians 2:25, “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus,^G1891 my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.” and moreover, in Philippians 2:29), “Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:“

To refuse to hear the Gospel from true ministers is to refuse to hear Jesus. Hebrews 3:15, “While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” and Jeremiah 13:10, “This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.”

Hebrews 13:18, “¶Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.“

Pray for those who minister God’s Word.Pray that God will give the pastor, teacher, or missionary His Word to you in the church. If the pastor is blessed, the people will be blessed. To say “trust we have a good conscience” is to say that the writer believes that the Gospel is being faithfully and honestly preached, as directed by God The Holy Spirit, and is not in anyway being altered or hindered by competing influences.

Ephesians 6:19, “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Acts 23:1, “¶And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.“

Acts 20:25-27, “¶And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I [am] pure from the blood of all [men]. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.“

Hebrews 13:19, “But I beseech [you] the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.“

This is a further petition for prayer on the writer’s behalf that he be freed from his bonds to quickly be returned to them.

Benediction

The Book of Hebrews concludes with a prayer for the Hebrews (likely by the Apostle Paul). The writer asked for prayer from the Hebrews, and is no praying on their behalf in return (by way of example).

Hebrews 13:20, “¶Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant (testament),“

Romans 15:33, “Now the God of peace [be] with you all. Amen.”

Romans 4:24&25, “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.“

Galatians 1:1, “¶Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)“

1 Peter 2:25, “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.“

Zechariah 9:11, “As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein [is] no water.“

Hebrews 13:21, “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.“

1 Peter 5:10, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].”

Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.“

Galatians 1:5, “To whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Hebrews 13:22, “¶And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.“

1 Peter 5:12, “¶By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.“

Hebrews 13:23, “Know ye that [our] brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.“

This is another one of the indicators that makes it more likely that the Apostle Paul is the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, as Timothy was like a son to Paul. Evidently Timothy has also been in bonds in Italy, and had secured a release from prison.

We first read of the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews as being in bonds (hence in prison or at least some form of arrest, without liberty/freedom) in Hebrews 10:34, “For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.“

There are two Epistles from the Apostle Paul wherein he specifically identified himself as being “in bonds” and also in Chain, which provide additional connections to the Epistle to the Hebrews:

Philippians 1:7, “Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.“
Philippians 1:13&14, “So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other [places]; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.“
The last words of Paul in Colossians 4:18, “¶The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace [be] with you. Amen.“
Philemon 1:10, “I beseech thee for my son Onesimus (Ὀνήσιμος (onēsimos))^G3682, whom I have begotten in my bonds:” Oneismus means “Profitable” or “Useful“
It should also be noted that the in Paul’s second letter to Timothy, Paul wrote of “my chain” in Rome…2 Timothy 1:16, “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus (Ὀνησίφορος (onēsiphoros)^G3683; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found [me].” Onesiphorus means “Bringing Profit“

1 Thessalonians 3:12, “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all [men], even as we [do] toward you:“

1 Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, where unto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

Hebrews 13:24, “¶Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.“

This is another evidence that the author is the Apostle Paul as the last days of his earthly life were spent in Rome, Italy.

References back to Hebrews 13:7 & Hebrews 13:17

Hebrews 13:25, “¶Grace [be] with you all. Amen.“

Titus 3:15, “¶All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace [be] with you all. Amen.

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