Hebrews 13
Concluding Exhortations
1Keep on loving each other as brothers. 2Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. 3Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
4Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."[a] 6So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"[b]
7Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
9Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. 10We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
11The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 17Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.
20May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
22Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter.
23I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.
24Greet all your leaders and all God's people. Those from Italy send you their greetings.
25Grace be with you all.
Footnotes:
a. Hebrews 13:5 Deut. 31:6
b. Hebrews 13:6 Psalm 118:6,7
3 comments:
Heb 13
We might have to do this one again soon. Pretty amazing stuff in here for sure. Timeless.
5Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.
Hummm. He must be talking to someone else.
This should be my mantra
"The Lord is my helper,so I will not be afraid.What can mere mortals do to me?"
I know I place to much emphasis on th what others think. I think it is ok at some level, but my fulfilment should come from above. Am I the only one who struggles from being an "approval seeker".
Father, thank you for this amazing handbook. Help us to be strong and to continue our daily study until this is almost like breathing for us.
IN Christ,
cas
Again, instructions on daily living. I like the first lines about being kind to strangers...this takes a Conscientious effort and something i am working on. Also, i kind of sensed some antagonism here towards the old covenant, rules, and leaders. Kind of got the sense that he is really trying to draw a stern line between Christianity and the laws of the time. I really have gained so much knowledge of the culture by reading Hebrews. Really, kind of feel like i need a full course on the culture for me to really understand the Bible.
Father, Guide us. Use us. help us to be appreciative and filled by what you have given us, and help us to give it back to others. Help us through our challenges, our daily struggles. Help us to find strenght in you, to trust you no matter where you take us. Amen.
Heb 12:
I thought you guys hit the main, true & telling points already, but here's one more I really liked:
20May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
"May [we] be equipped with everything good for doing his will"
It's an amazing prayer, and something to stick with us, let us be armed with all of those things that help us to do God's will. Not, let us be equipped with enough money to be comfortable and do God's work, or let us be strong enough to impose our will, but simply, let us be equipped with the good necessary things we need to do those things that God's wants us to do.
Father, let us learn to be satisfied with You and Your gifts, and never with what we've accomplished, instead let us live a life focused on You, and doing those things You want. Let aab, elb, and ajb have a safe trip up north, and watch over their collective healths. Guide us all to walk in Your light today.
Amen
crb
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