Hebrews
Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
Hebrews 13
Hebrews 13
1Let love of the brethren continue.
2Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
1Let brotherly love continue.
2Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Commentary · verses 1-2
3Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are ill-treated, as being yourselves also in the body.
3Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Commentary · verse 3
Remember those who are suffering because you are also in the body and connected to those who are afflicted, even if you are not physically present with them.
4Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
5Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.
4Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Commentary · verses 4-5
Let your conduct be without love of the physical. Be content with what you have because God will never leave or forsake you…
6So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?
6So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Commentary · verse 6
…so that we may with good courage (confidently) was a reference to Psalm 118:6, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?"
7Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.
7Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Commentary · verse 7
Consider those who have led you in the faith and have spoken God's Word to you. Follow them and consider (think hard about) how they lived their life faithfully to the end. All of the commands given in this chapter can be found in other epistles from Paul.
8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever.
8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Commentary · verse 8
Christ is unchanging. He is always completely Right and always completely Just.
9Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.
9Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. 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.
Commentary · verse 9
Do not be carried away with strange (foreign to the truth) doctrine for it is good that the heart is established with grace. Again, this was a main theme for Paul's pastoral epistles.
10We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle.
10We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Commentary · verse 10
Paul contrasted some key differences between the covenants. Our Covenant results in benefits from Christ's sacrifice. The previous Covenant did not result in benefits, it resulted in lack of detriments.
11For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned without the camp.
11For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Commentary · verse 11
The previous Covenant burnt the sacrifices outside the camp.
12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate.
12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Commentary · verse 12
Our Covenant had Jesus sacrificed outside the city.
13Let us therefore go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
14For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come.
13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Commentary · verses 13-14
This was poetic: We should not seek the present physical city and attempt to remain comfortable. We ought to seek a spiritual city to come (the new Jerusalem) by choosing to share in Jesus' discomfort.
Doctrines on this passage
15Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name.
15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Commentary · verse 15
Our sacrifice: The fruit of our lips praising and thanking God. Words are important.
16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Commentary · verse 16
The word "communicate" was koinonia, which was usually translated as fellowship. Paul reminded believers of two "sacrifices":
-
to do good (Righteousness as an effect of the First Command) and
-
have fellowship with others (Second Command).
The translation emphasized communicating with each other using words...after all, the previous verse stated our sacrifice to God was made up of words.
17Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this were unprofitable for you.
17Obey 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.
Commentary · verse 17
Obey those who lead you because they have your best interest at heart.
18Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.
18Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Commentary · verse 18
Paul was the only New Testament writer who asked for prayer.
19And I exhort you the more exceedingly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
19But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Commentary · verse 19
Remember, this letter was written from prison. Paul wanted prayer in order to get out of prison.
20Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus,
20Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Commentary · verse 20
Jesus is the Great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant.
21make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
21Make 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 glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Commentary · verse 21
God works in His believers through the Holy Spirit: grace.
22But I exhort you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation: for I have written unto you in few words.
23Know ye that our brother Timothy hath been set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
22And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
23Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
Commentary · verses 22-23
Paul was the only epistle writer to mention Timothy.
24Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
24Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Commentary · verse 24
Paul was in Italy (Rome) when he wrote his letter to the Galatians.
25Grace be with you all. Amen.
25Grace be with you all. Amen. Written to the Hebrews from Italy by Timothy.
Commentary · verse 25
Theme of Chapter 13: After the two previous chapters summarized faith and grace, respectively, Paul summarized the behaviors of believers.
The authorship of the epistle to the Hebrews is in dispute mainly because the author was not specifically named within the letter. In the oldest manuscript, this epistle followed Paul's letter to the Galatians with the title "To the Hebrews," indicating that it was part of the Galatian epistle. Remember, Paul stated in Galatians 6:11 he had written a large letter, yet Galatians was not that large, but would be if it included Hebrews. Also Galatians ended (Galatians 6:16) with a mention of "the Israel of God" which would have been an appropriate introduction for the epistle to the Hebrews. The belief was that Paul did not mention his name in this half of the letter because it would help Paul's points be better accepted by the Jews. Some say that Paul never wrote to the Jews, however, Peter mentioned that Paul did write an epistle to the Jews (2 Peter 3:15-16). If this epistle was part of the letter to the Galatians, this letter would have been written by Paul around 68 AD from Rome during his time in prison. (Hebrews 13:24 stated this letter was written from Italy. Hebrews 13:19,23 alluded to imprisonment and mentioned Timothy.) Remember, Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians (in Greek) to encourage new believers not to listen to false teachers who were attempting to convince the Galatians they needed to be under the Law in order to have Salvation. This epistle to the Hebrews was written (in Hebrew) to prove to the Jews that the Law had come to an end and to confirm that Jewish Christians were included into the new covenant. We saw many other similarities between this epistle and other epistles written by Paul. Tradition stated that Luke translated this epistle from Hebrew to Greek.
Do not forget to entertain strangers because some may be angels.