ⓘThis set of practical guidelines is like other...
This set of practical guidelines is like other ethical lists in the New Testament. It explains how to love others in the faith community, providing a strong ethical foundation for life.
1Continue in brotherly love. 2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. 3Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.
4Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for Godwill judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
Christ’s Unchanging Nature
5Keep your livesfree from the love of money and be content with what you have, for 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 man do to me?”†ⓘThis middle part of chapter 13 is framed...
This middle part of chapter 13 is framed by mentions of the community's leaders (13:7, 17–19). Rabbis often used a technique called inclusio, where similar words or phrases mark the start and end of a section, like a subheading in a modern book. This part suggests there were several challenges in the church that the book of Hebrews originally addressed.
7Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8JesusChrist is the same yesterday and today and forever.
ⓘSince Jesus does not change (Hebrews 13:8), believers...
Since Jesus does not change (Hebrews 13:8), believers should avoid being drawn to strange, new ideas. The false teachings mentioned involved rules about food. In some parts of Judaism, certain ritual meals were thought to provide God's grace to participants. Some in the community might have been tempted to leave the Christian community to join Jewish fellowship meals. These Jewish meals sometimes encouraged participants to focus on the Jerusalem altar. The author reminds listeners that we have an altar that those under the old covenant cannot access—Christ’s sacrifice (7:27–28; 8:13; 9:11–14; 10:11–14).
9Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them. 10We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
ⓘThe author explains the sacrifice on the Day...
The author explains the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:1–28), where animals were burned outside the camp (Leviticus 16:27). Similarly, Jesus suffered and died outside Jerusalem's city gates. He was the ultimate Day of Atonement sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11–14, 24–28; 10:1–4).
11Although the high priest brings the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood. 13Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. 14For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
Sacrifice, Obedience, and Prayer
ⓘBecause of Jesus’s selfless work for us, believers...
Because of Jesus’s selfless work for us, believers still need to offer sacrifices such as praise and obedience. Christ ended the old covenant sacrifices when he gave himself as the final sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27–28; 8:13; 9:11–14; 10:11–14). Now these spiritual sacrifices are the ones that please God.
15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to Goda sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. 16And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrificesGod is pleased.
17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
ⓘPray for us: The author requests prayers for...
Pray for us: The author requests prayers for himself using the "authorial plural" (a literary device where the author uses "we" instead of "I") (see also 5:11; 6:9).
18Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19And I especially urge you to pray that I may be restored to you soon.
Benediction and Farewell
ⓘBenedictions, or closing blessings, were an important part...
Benedictions, or closing blessings, were an important part of letters, speeches, and sermons. The author of Hebrews includes many of the book’s main themes in his benediction.
The image of our Lord Jesus as the great Shepherd of the sheep (see Psalm 23) shows God's care and protection for his people (see also John 10:11–18; 1 Peter 2:25) and connects it to an eternal covenant.
20Now may the Godof peace, who through the bloodof the eternalcovenant brought back from the dead our LordJesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with every good thing†to do His will. And may He accomplish in us†what is pleasing in His sight through JesusChrist, to whom be gloryforever and ever. Amen.
22I urge you, brothers, to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have only written to you briefly.
23Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.
ⓘThe book ends with a formal greeting and...
The book ends with a formal greeting and a blessing.
Those from Italy: The author is likely writing back to Rome from another place in the Mediterranean world. Some scholars, however, think the author may have been writing from Rome itself.
24Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings.
25Grace be with all of you.†
Commentary
Hebrews 13:1
Continue in brotherly love: This advice to keep on loving each other like family is for everyone in the Christian community (see study notes on Hebrews 2:11; 3:1).
Remember those in prison: Prisoners often relied on family and friends for basic needs. Christians were encouraged to offer comfort, food, prayer, and other essentials to those jailed for their faith (Hebrews 13:18–19; Matthew 25:36; Colossians 4:18; 2 Timothy 1:16).
Keep your lives free from the love of money: See 1 Timothy 6:6–10. Instead, believers should be content with what God has given them. Some in the community might have faced financial difficulties (see Hebrews 10:32–34). God's promises remain true: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” (see Deuteronomy 31:6, 8).
Remember your leaders: The word leaders referred to military, political, and religious figures. These leaders, likely founders of this community, taught the word of God to them, which is a basic duty of those who lead (see 1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:15; Titus 1:9). Their lives and faith were examples to follow.
let us go to Him outside the camp: We should stand with Jesus, identify with him, and reject the false safety and comfort of siding with the world against him. By standing with Christ, we share in the disgrace he experienced (Hebrews 6:5–6; 12:1–3).
Like Abraham's family (Hebrews 11:9–16), we do not see this world as our permanent home. We are waiting for our future home, the heavenly city of Jerusalem (12:22).
sacrifice of praise: This likely refers to a peace offering (Leviticus 7:11–14). The person bringing the offering needed to be ritually clean first. We can continually offer thanks to God because Jesus has made us clean forever. By giving thanks to Jesus all the time, we show our loyalty to his name.
Commentary
Hebrews 13:16
Doing good and helping those in need are basic Christian sacrifices (Hebrews 6:10; 10:24, 34; 13:1–3). These actions define life in the Christian community.
Commentary
Hebrews 13:17
The relationship between the church's spiritual leaders and its members might have been tense. The author encourages members to listen to and trust their leaders.
The Greek word for obey can also mean follow, place confidence in, or be persuaded by.
Christian leaders care for people's souls (Acts 20:28–31; 1 Peter 5:1–4), which is a serious responsibility. It makes them accountable to God (James 3:1).
The word grief could also mean groaning. It refers to emotional burden and stress. Leaders who are stressed and burdened by a difficult church are less able to help and lead the church effectively.
This Timothy might have traveled with Paul (see "Timothy" Profile). If that's the case, the New Testament does not mention his imprisonment. He clearly knows both the author and the recipients of this letter.
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