Hebrews 13:14-21

14 For here ¹we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking ²the city which is to come.

God-pleasing Sacrifices

15 ³Through Him then, let us continually * offer up a ⁴sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ⁵the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

16 And do not neglect doing good and ⁶sharing, for ⁷with such sacrifices God is pleased.

17 ⁸Obey your leaders and submit to them, for ⁹they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

18 ¹⁰Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a ¹¹good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.

19 And I urge you all the more to do this, ¹²so that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction

20 Now ¹³the God of peace, who ¹⁴brought up from the dead the ¹⁵great Shepherd of the sheep through ¹⁶the blood of the ¹⁷eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,

21 ¹⁸equip you in every good thing to do His will, ¹⁹working in us that ²⁰which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, ²¹to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

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Images for Hebrews 13:14-21

Hebrews 13:14-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HEBREWS 13

The apostle having finished the doctrinal part of this epistle, closes it with practical exhortations to these Hebrews, puts up prayers for them, and sends salutations to them. The exhortations are to brotherly love, and the continuance of it, Heb 13:1 to hospitality, by which some have entertained angels unawares, Heb 13:2, to sympathy with those that are in bonds, and in, afflictions, Heb 12:3 to purity and chastity in the honourable state of marriage, urged by the judgment of God on unclean persons, Heb 13:4 to avoid covetousness, and to be content with present things, enforced by the promises of God, which give boldness and strength to faith, Heb 13:5,6, to remember their spiritual guides and governors, the preachers of the Gospel to them; to follow their faith, and consider the end of their conversation, which is Christ Jesus, the same yesterday, today, and for ever, Heb 13:7,8. And then he cautions them from being carried about with the doctrines of men, which are divers and strange; which he urges from the profitable effect of the Gospel to establish the heart, and from the unprofitableness of meats to legal worshippers, and from the Christians having an altar, which is Christ, which those who are seeking life by the service of the law have nothing to do with, Heb 13:9,10. And this he illustrates in the type of burnt offerings, which were burnt without the camp, and there was nothing left for the priests to eat of, Heb 13:11. In like manner Christ, the antitype, suffered without the gates of Jerusalem, for the sanctification of his people, by his blood; and who only, and not those who seek for righteousness by the law, have an interest in, Heb 13:12. However, it becomes the saints to quit everything, and all dependence on themselves, and fellowship with others, and go forth to Jesus, believing in him, whatsoever reproach they suffer on his account; for here is nothing permanent and durable in this world; but there is a state of happiness to come, which will last for ever, Heb 13:13,14. And since Christ has offered himself for his people, they ought to offer up the sacrifices of praise to God by him, and to do acts of beneficence and goodness, which are sacrifices well pleasing to God through him, Heb 13:15,16. And to these exhortations apostle adds others; as to obey their spiritual rulers and governors, and submit unto them; since they watch for their souls, and must give an account, which to do with joy, and not with grief, is best and profitable, Heb 13:17 and to pray for the apostle, and other ministers, since they had a good conscience, and were willing to live honestly; and the rather, that he might be restored to them the sooner, Heb 13:18,19 and to engage them to this their duty, he sets them an example, by putting up prayers for them, Heb 13:20,21 and desires them to take in good part the letter he had wrote unto them, Heb 13:22 and acquaints them that Timothy was set at liberty, with whom he hoped to see them in a short time, Heb 13:23 and then closes the epistle with his own, and the salutations of others, and with his usual benediction, Heb 13:24,25.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 21

1. Hebrews 10:34; Hebrews 12:27
2. Ephesians 2:19; Hebrews 2:5; Hebrews 11:10, 16; Hebrews 12:22
3. 1 Peter 2:5
4. Leviticus 7:12
5. Isaiah 57:19; Hosea 14:2
6. Romans 12:13
7. Philippians 4:18
8. 1 Corinthians 16:16; Hebrews 13:7, 24
9. Isaiah 62:6; Ezekiel 3:17; Acts 20:28
10. 1 Thessalonians 5:25
11. Acts 24:16; 1 Timothy 1:5
12. Philemon 22
13. Romans 15:33
14. Acts 2:24; Romans 10:7
15. Isaiah 63:11; John 10:11; 1 Peter 2:25
16. Zechariah 9:11; Hebrews 10:29
17. Isaiah 55:3; Jeremiah 32:40; Ezekiel 37:26
18. 1 Peter 5:10
19. Philippians 2:13
20. Hebrews 12:28; 1 John 3:22
21. Romans 11:36

Footnotes 4

[a]. Lit "confess"
[b]. Lit "in order that they may do this"
[c]. Lit "groaning"
[d]. Lit "in"