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Hebrews 13 – Text and Notes
Practical Relational Christianity:
- Love – for Spiritual Family
1 Let love of the brethren [i.e., believers or believers they know] [philadelphia] continue [present imperative].
- Hospitality – to Anyone
2 Do not neglect [negative present imperative] to show hospitality [lit., love of strangers] to strangers [i.e. unbelievers or believers they do not know], for by this some have entertained angels [i.e., Abraham (Gen.18)] without knowing it. [Hebrews begins by mentioning angels serve us (1:14) and ends with us serving angels (13:2).]
- Empathy – Towards Those in the Flesh
3 Remember [present imperative] the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. [10:32-34]
- Purity – in Your Marriage
4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed [koite; Rom.13:13] is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
- Contentment – Relying on God
5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money [1 Tim.6:9-10, 17-19], being content with what you have; for He Himself has said [perfect], [Josh.1:5] “I will never desert [aorist] you, nor will I ever forsake [aorist] you,”
6 so that we confidently say [present],
[Ps.118:6] “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid [phobeo (5399) – Extended Notes of 4:1; Heb.4:1; Heb.11:23; Heb.11:27; Heb.13:6].
What will man do to me?”
- All of the above practical aspects of relational Christianity are given a reason as to why they should be practiced – except the first.
7 Remember [present imperative] those who led [vv.17,24; does past tense suggest they had already gone to their reward?] you, who spoke the word [logos (3056) – “when used in reference to God, logos means ‘God’s word, command, commission,’ as well as ‘of the divine revelation through Christ and His messengers’ (Arndt/Gingrich); the essence, reason, or cause of a matter, having particular reference to the ‘thought to which it is connected’ (Cremer); ‘reasoned speech’ (Vine)” (The Discovery Bible, p.545)] of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct [or, end of their life], imitate [present imperative] their faith [Chapter 11 gives a host of people to imitate, but sometimes it is easier to follow the example of people we know, than distant historical figures.]. [The Greek tense suggests these have died, possibly from persecution.]
- Godly leaders lead by the Word of God
- Godly leaders lead by their Example
- Live what they Teach
- Godly leaders change the lives of others
- Godly leader are worth Imitating
- Godly leaders receive their Reward
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
9 Do not be carried [negative present imperative] away by varied and strange teachings [“It may be that no one will ever discover the precise meaning behind this passage.” (Barclay)]; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened [present] by grace [charis (5485) – Heb.2:9; Heb.4:16; Heb.10:29; Heb.12:15; Heb.12:28 (translated “gratitude”); Heb.13:9; Heb.13:25], not by foods [either food offered at sacrifice and eaten by priests, or dietary restrictions (Lev.11), although the context could suggest the former], through which those who were so occupied [lit., walked] were not benefited. [How does grace benefit in a way that abiding by the Levitical food restrictions never could? The latter is outward, grace is inward; the latter is physical, grace is spiritual; and maybe most importantly, experiencing grace, both by receiving it and granting it to others, causes us to live like God. ]
10 We have an altar [Cross?; Christ?; Communion?; Christian System] from which those who serve the tabernacle [or, sacred tent] [Levitical priests] have no right to eat [aorist]. [Considering that much of the book of Hebrews contrasts Jesus and His sacrifice to the Levitical priests of their sacrifices, and considering this as a powerful concluding thought, I wonder if the main audience is former priests now Christians (Acts 6:7)]
11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. [Day of Atonement – The fat of the sin offering was burned on the altar (v. 25), and the remains of the bull and the goat were taken outside the camp, where they were burned (Lev.16:27).]
12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify [aorist] the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
13 So, let us go [present] out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. [The here is never presented as important as the hereafter.]
15 Through Him then [oun (3767) – then, therefore, accordingly, consequently, these things being so (Thayer); Heb.2:14; Heb.4:1; Heb.4:6; Heb.4:11; Heb.4:14; Heb.4:16; Heb.7:11; Heb.8:4; Heb.9:1; Heb.9:23; Heb.10:19; Heb.10:35; Heb.13:15], let us continually offer [present] up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give [lit., confesss] thanks to His name. [contrasted to v.11]
16 And do not neglect [negative present imperative] doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. [contrasted to v.11; Isa.58:3-6]
17 Obey [present imperative; Extended Notes] your leaders and submit [present imperative] to them, for they keep watch over your souls [psuche (5590) – “(from which our English word psychology is derived); ‘the point of contact between man’s bodily and spiritual nature’ (Green); ‘the inner life of man, equivalent to the ego, person, or personality’ (DNTT); man’s individual distinctiveness and identity before God” (The Discovery Bible, pp.537-538)] as those who will give an account. Let them do [present] this [lit., in order that they may do this] with joy and not with grief [lit., grief], for this would be unprofitable for you. [Extended Notes]
- “Human history is a record of mass accomplishment under leadership.” (anonymous, Nehemiah and the Dynamics of Effective Leadership, p.11)
- “In order for a man to be a leader he must have followers. And to have followers, he must have their confidence. Hence the supreme quality for a leader is unquestionable integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office. If a man’s associates find him guilty of phoniness, it they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must square with each others. The first great need, therefore, is integrity and high purpose.” (Dwight D. Eisenhower.) (Nehemiah and the Dynamics of Effective Leadership, p.124)
18 Pray [present imperative] for us, for we are sure that we have a good [kalos – “good in appearance; beautiful; aesthetically satisfying and pleasing; that which evokes admiration and a sense of the lovely and beautiful; praiseworthy; ‘good’ as having the perceived value and outward impression of charm and attractiveness; useful (‘The basic idea of kalos is the idea of winsome beauty’ [Barclay]; ‘excellent in its characteristics …therefore well adapted to its ends’ [Thayer])” (The Discovery Bible, p.533)] conscience [can only come through Christ (Heb.10:2)], desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.
19 And I urge you all the more to do [aorist] this, so that I may be restored to you the sooner.
20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great [megas – (3173) – “great in rank, stature, level, or order” (The Discovery Bible, p.534)] Shepherd of the sheep through [or, in] the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,
21 equip [aorist] you in every good [agathos (18) – “inwardly good; ‘of a good constitution or nature’ (Thayer); hence, that which produces benefit and genuinely good effects and results; (agathos has its focus on the inward character and tus carries the idea of ‘morally’ or ‘inherently’ virtuous or brave; worthy of admiration and respect.)” (The Discovery Bible, p.533)] thing to do [aorist] His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Six Gracious Wonders
- A Reconciled God – “now the God of peace”
- A Risen Savior – “Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus
- A Constant Shepherd – “That great Shepherd of the sheep”
- An Everlasting Covenant – “thought the blood of the everlasting covenant”
- An Inwrought Sanctification – “Perfect you in every good work to do His will, working in you…”
- A Grateful Doxology – “To Whom be glory unto the ages of the ages” (J. Sidlow Baxter, The Strategic Grasp of the Bible, p.392.)
22 But I urge you, brethren, bear [present imperative] with [or, listen to] this [lit., the] word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.
23 Take [present imperative] notice that our brother Timothy has been released [perfect], with whom, if he comes soon [present], I will see you.
24 Greet [aorist imperative] all of your leaders and all the saints [or, holy ones]. Those from Italy [either those originally from Italy or the writer is writing from Italy.] greet you.
25 Grace [charis (5485) – Heb.2:9; Heb.4:16; Heb.10:29; Heb.12:15; Heb.12:28 (translated “gratitude”); Heb.13:9; Heb.13:25] be with you all.
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