Review the overall book outline (link above) when beginning each section.
Supplemental chapter outline:
Chapter 13 makes practical applications for -
-- living by faith (ch. 11) in perilous times (ch. 12).
Acceptable service towards God (12:28,29) is described...
A. In regard to our brothers (v.1-3).
B. In regard to marriage (v.4).
C. In regard to wealth or want (v.5-6).
D. In regard to Truth (v.7-14).
E. In regard to worship (v.15-19).
A. Acceptable service... in regard to our brothers (v.1-3)--
13:1 Let brotherly love continue {abide, remain}.
brotherly love {GK=philadelphia, tender affection of brothers}
We are not to love fellow believers 'as though they were' brothers, but because we are brothers (1Joh 4:20- 5:2).
A stronger word for love {GK=agape, love which gives itself for the sake of the one loved} is used in 1Pet 1:22 (second occurrence); in the epistle of 1John (all 29 occurrences).
D. Acceptable service... in regard to Truth (v.7-14)--
a. the true doctrine (v.7-9).
b. the true altar (v.10-12).
c. the true city (v.13-14).
13:7 Remember them which have {ie., had} the rule over you,
who have spoken unto you the word of God:
whose faith follow, considering the end of [their] conversation.
remember them which had the rule {GK=hegeomai, guidance, leadership} over you -
The church leaders are not to 'rule' over the people, but rather to lead as shepherds.
Such men lead the flock, like Christ (eg., Psa 23:1-4) and to Christ.
They lead by the Word and by the example of their faith and way of life. 1Pet 5:1-4
Note the past tense: they have led, they have spoken.
God will hold us accountable for how we hear, and how we follow.
His Word does not become invalid when a godly pastor is removed. We are responsible for remembering and applying the Word which our spiritual shepherds have taught.
considering the 'end' {ie., issue, outcome} of their conversation {manner of life}.-
Their life purpose (stated in v.8) was always to know and serve Christ.
cp. Php 1:20,21; 3:8-17
13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
the same - This refers to His unchanging Person, character, and attributes.
It does not refer to His place or performance. Those, who fail to make this distinction, fall into error by assuming that Jesus must act today, just as He did during His earthly ministry (eg., with healing and miracles). Consider...
His person and purpose -
Jesus - the eternal Son of God, who became the Son of man.
Christ - the anointed One who fulfills all the promises of God, including our salvation. 2Cor 1:20
His place and performance have changed. [adapted from JVMcGee]
Once He was a baby in Bethlehem.
He is no longer a baby, nor is He in Bethlehem.
Once He was subject to Mary in Nazareth.
He is no longer in Nazareth, nor is He under Mary's influence.
Once He suffered and died on the cross.
He is no longer on the cross, nor is He suffering for our sins.
Now He is risen, ascended, and exalted at the Father's right hand.
Now He is the one Mediator between God and man.
Soon He will come from heaven to judge the living and the dead.
For [it is] a good thing that the heart be established with grace;
not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
'grace' versus 'unprofitable meats'-
Man tends toward a religion of works, featuring things which must be done by, applied to, or imbibed by the flesh. Judaism became focused on such external religious ceremonies. But ritual could not accomplish redemption (Heb 9:9-12).
The religion of Christianity is also encumbered with unbiblical and unprofitable rites, which cannot establish a relationship with God. The truth is:
13:10 We have an altar,
whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
an altar... no right to eat...-
The OT priests were partially supported by partaking of the altar. That is, they had the right to eat portions of the sacrificial animals (1Cor 9:13). However, they were forbidden to eat of the sin offerings, especially those offered on the Day of Atonement. Lev 6:29,30
13:11 For the bodies of those beasts,
whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin,
are burned without the camp.
On the Day of Atonement, the blood sprinkled, on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies, made atonement (a covering) for sinful people before a Holy God. However, the body of the sacrificial animal was burned "outside the camp," symbolizing the putting away of sin by the consuming fire of God's holiness. cp. Ex 29:14; Heb 12:29 [For details of OT procedures, see Lev 4:1-21 (regarding a sin offering); 16:1-34 (regarding the sin offerings of the Day of Atonement).]
13:12 Wherefore Jesus also,
that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, {Heb 10:4-18}
13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
let us go... unto Him - If we would be identified with Him in His sanctification (v.12),
we will also be identified with Him in His rejection by men. Joh 15:18-21
without the camp - We are to separate ourselves: from fleshly religion... unto Christ.
The original readers were hesitant to leave the temple and its ritualistic religion. But since that institution rejected and dishonored Christ, they must separate, if they would be true to Him.
13:17 Obey them that have the rule over 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.
The sheep are also responsible for how they hear and heed God's Word.
that they may do it with joy... not with grief {lit., groaning}.-
Godly leaders yearn to give the Chief Shepherd good reports concerning His flock and each of the sheep. eg., Php 1:27; 4:1; 1The 2:19,20; Php 3:17-21
13:18 Pray for us:
for we trust {ie., we are confident that} we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly {ie., desiring to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect}.
Pray for us - The request may be specific: for the writer and his companions,
or general: for all who bear responsibility as church leaders.
13:20 Now the God of peace, {cp. v.20,21 with 1The 5:23,24}
that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
...that brought again from {ie., out from among} the dead our Lord Jesus:
The Great Shepherd, who perfects and matures His sheep,
leading them to find refreshment and nourishment, in knowing Him. Psalm 23
The Chief Shepherd, who, at His second coming,
will bring all of His own into His glorious home. 1Pet 5:4; Psalm 24
(At His first coming, His victory accomplished our salvation. At His second coming, the 'hosts' {armies, multitudes} of His redeemed will enter heaven's gates with Him.)
13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will,
working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ;
to whom [be] {the} glory for ever and ever. Amen.
make you perfect...-
The Great Shepherd accomplishes the perfection of his sheep:
"through the blood of the everlasting covenant," which was shed once for all (v.20).
In the book of Hebrews, the first twelve occurrences of the word 'perfect' or 'perfection' are from GK=teleioo, which means "to make complete, to finish." Jesus Christ, through His obedience and suffering, became the 'perfect' Author of salvation for all who admit their need and submit to the Savior (Heb 2:9,10; 5:9). Christ, by Himself (in His death and resurrection), has accomplished the perfect sanctification (holiness) of believers, making them welcome in the presence of the Holy God (10:1-4,14-22).
Here in v.21, the final occurrence of the word 'perfect' (in Hebrews), is from a different word {GK=katartizo}. Elsewhere, this word is translated as "prepared" (10:5), or "framed" (11:3). Here, the meaning is "to make fit, to prepare fully" for His specific purposes. This is very similar to a related word, in 2Tim 3:16,17, where 'throughly furnished' {GK=exartizo} means "to be equipped fully." The saints have not only been made perfectly holy to enter God's presence, but are also being prepared for His service.
This preparation is being accomplished...
through His active 'working' within each believer,
by His Spirit, as they feed on His Word.
make you perfect {prepared}... ...in every good work {GK=ergon, endeavor, } to do His will.-
The glory is His, not only because this Son of man is God the Son, but also because through His sacrifice, He completed God's purpose in establishing the everlasting covenant, by which we not only have peace with God, but are also made 'well pleasing' in the sight of Him who looks on the heart. cp. Heb 1:1-3; Psa 115:1; Joh 1:14; Gal 1:3-5; Rev 5:9-13
13:22 And I beseech {ie., exhort} you, brethren,
suffer {ie., allow, bear with} the word of exhortation:
for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
few words - This profound epistle is brief enough
to be read at one sitting of the assembled church. But, we dare not discount or minimize its message.
13:23 Know ye that [our] brother Timothy is set at liberty;
with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
The reference to Timothy may be an indication of Pauline authorship. cp. 2Cor 1:1; 1Tim 1:1,2
13:24 Salute {ie., greet} all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
them that have the rule - ie., those who 'guide' or 'lead' God's flock (as in v.7,17).
all the saints - ie., those who are sanctified in Christ (eg., v.12; Heb 6:10).
Italy - apparently the place of writing.
At Paul's first imprisonment in Rome, he presented the Gospel to the Jews there. Their varied response may have motivated the writing of this epistle to professing Hebrew Christians. cp. Acts 28:16-31
13:25 Grace [be] with you all. Amen.
Paul closed most of his epistles similarly.
But we should not think that these words are merely a polite formality.
Here, the author expresses his prayerful desire that his readers would enter fully into God's grace in Christ, as described in this letter. eg., v.9; Heb 4:15,16; 12:28; cp. Titus 3:5-7,15