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  • Hebrews Chapter 13

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How we can live for God

13 Continue to love each other like brothers and sisters. 2 Always remember to be kind to strangers. Let them stay in your homes. In this way, some people have received angels as visitors, and they did not know that they were angels. [ a ]

3 Remember to help those believers who are in prison. Think about what that would be like, if you were there with them. Remember those believers who are receiving trouble from people. Think about them as if you were receiving the same pain in your own body. [ b ]

4 When a man and a woman have married each other, they must each respect the marriage. Husbands and wives must only have sex with each other. God will punish anyone who has sex with another person's husband or wife. He will punish anyone who has sex in a wrong way.

5 In the way that you live, do not want lots of money. Be happy with the things that you have. Be happy, because God has said this:

‘I will never leave you;
I will always be there with you.’

6 Because of that, we can bravely say this: [ c ]

‘The Lord is the one who helps me,
so I will not be afraid.
I will not be afraid of anything that people can do to me.’

7 Remember your leaders, who taught God's message to you. Think about the way in which they have lived and the good things that they have done. They have trusted God, so you should have faith like they have.

8 Jesus Christ is always the same, yesterday, today and for ever. 9 Some people teach all kinds of strange new things. [ d ] Do not let them lead you away from God's true message. It is good that God is very kind to us. That is what makes us strong inside ourselves. Rules about what foods we should eat do not make us strong like that. Those rules have never helped the people who tried to obey them.

10 Jesus Christ is the sacrifice that saves us. Jewish priests do not have the authority to receive anything from his sacrifice. 11 In the old agreement, the leader of the priests brings the blood from the animal sacrifices into the Most Holy Place. He does that so that God will forgive the sins of the people. But they take the bodies of those animals away from there. They burn them outside the town. [ e ] 12 In the same way, Jesus also died outside the city. [ f ] He died as a sacrifice on our behalf. His blood has made his people clean from their sins. 13 Jesus died like that in a place where people insulted him. So we must go out to that place too. We must be ready for people to insult us, as they insulted him. 14 Here on earth, we who are believers do not have a city that will always be our home. But we are waiting for God's city that will come.

15 So we should always praise God, because of what Jesus has done for us. We should say clearly that we trust Jesus. That is like our sacrifice which we offer to God all the time. 16 Remember to be kind to other people. Share with them the things that you have. God is happy with sacrifices like that.

17 Respect your leaders and obey them. They watch over your lives on God's behalf. God will check to see if they have done their work well. So respect them, and then they will be happy as they serve God. Do not say bad things against them, because that will never help you.

18 Pray to God for us. We are sure in our minds that we have done nothing wrong. We always want to do only what is right. 19 The most important thing is this: Pray that I may come back to you soon.

20 I pray that God will help you. He is the one who gives us peace in our minds. He caused our Lord Jesus Christ to become alive again after death. God forgives us because of the blood of Jesus' death on the cross. That is God's new agreement with his people that will be true for ever. Jesus is our great shepherd. He takes care of us like his sheep. 21 I pray that God will give you every good thing that you need to serve him. Then you can do everything that he wants. I pray that God will help us to serve him in a way that will make him happy. He will do that because we belong to Jesus Christ. Jesus is very great, and we should praise him always and for ever! Amen. This is true.

22 My Christian friends, please listen patiently to my message. This is only a short letter and I want to help you to be strong. 23 I want to tell you about Timothy, who is like a brother to us. They have let him go out of prison, so that he is free now. If he arrives here soon, he will come with me when I travel to see you.

24 Say ‘hello’ on my behalf to your leaders and to all God's people. The Christians who have come here from Italy say ‘hello’ to you too. 25 I pray that God will be very kind to all of you.

Footnotes

  1. 13:2 The Bible tells us about some people who received angels as visitors. See Genesis 18:1-21 ; 19:1-3 .
  2. 13:3 At the time when this book was written, Christians received a lot of trouble from other people. Many of them were in prison. People did many bad things to them.
  3. 13:6 See Psalms 118:6-7 .
  4. 13:9 Some people were teaching that Christians should obey certain rules about food. They thought that Christians should obey the old rules about meals at the Jewish sacrifices. Food can make our bodies strong but it cannot help our spirits. Only God can help us like that. Only God can make us really strong inside ourselves.
  5. 13:11 Jewish priests could eat some of the meat from animals that people brought as sacrifices. See Leviticus 6:26 , 29 ; 7:6-7 . But Jesus' sacrifice was not like that. It was a special sacrifice to take away sins. See Leviticus 6:30 ; 16:27 . The priests did not have authority to eat any meat from that kind of sacrifice. Only people who trust Jesus will receive anything from his sacrifice.
  6. 13:12 They killed Jesus outside the city of Jerusalem. See John 19:20 . The Israelites thought that a place ‘outside the city’ was a dirty place. It was a place where people were ashamed to go.

Worship That Pleases God

13 Continue loving each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. 2 Always remember to help people by welcoming them into your home. Some people have done that and have helped angels without knowing it. 3 Don’t forget those who are in prison. Remember them as though you were in prison with them. And don’t forget those who are suffering. Remember them as though you were suffering with them.

4 Marriage should be honored by everyone. And every marriage should be kept pure between husband and wife. God will judge guilty those who commit sexual sins and adultery. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money. And be satisfied with what you have. God has said,

“I will never leave you;
I will never run away from you.” ( A )

6 So we can feel sure and say,

“The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
People can do nothing to me.” ( B )

7 Remember your leaders. They taught God’s message to you. Remember how they lived and died, and copy their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Don’t let all kinds of strange teachings lead you into the wrong way. Depend only on God’s grace for spiritual strength, not on rules about foods. Obeying those rules doesn’t help anyone.

10 We have a sacrifice. [ a ] And those priests who serve in the Holy Tent cannot eat from the sacrifice we have. 11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place [ b ] and offers that blood for sins. But the bodies of those animals are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the city. He died to make his people holy with his own blood. 13 So we should go to Jesus outside the camp and accept the same shame that he had. 14 Here on earth we don’t have a city that lasts forever. But we are waiting for the city that we will have in the future. 15 So through Jesus we should never stop offering our sacrifice to God. That sacrifice is our praise, coming from lips that speak his name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with others, because sacrifices like these are very pleasing to God.

17 Obey your leaders. Be willing to do what they say. They are responsible for your spiritual welfare, so they are always watching to protect you. Obey them so that their work will give them joy, not grief. It won’t help you to make it hard for them.

18 Continue praying for us. We feel right about what we do, because we always try to do what is best. 19 And I beg you to pray that God will send me back to you soon. I want this more than anything else.

20-21 I pray that the God of peace will give you every good thing you need so that you can do what he wants. God is the one who raised from death our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of his sheep. He raised him because Jesus sacrificed his blood to begin the new agreement that never ends. I pray that God will work through Jesus Christ to do the things in us that please him. To him be glory forever. Amen.

22 My brothers and sisters, I beg you to listen patiently to what I have said. I wrote this letter to strengthen you. And it is not very long. 23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy is out of prison. If he comes to me soon, we will both come to see you.

24 Give my greetings to all your leaders and to all God’s people. All those from Italy send you their greetings.

25 God’s grace be with you all.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 13:10 sacrifice Literally, “altar.” Here, it means the sacrifice (offering) of Jesus. He gave his life to pay for people’s sins.
  2. Hebrews 13:11 Most Holy Place Literally, “the holies,” the place in the Jewish Tabernacle or Temple where God met the high priest.

13 Let brotherly love continue.

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

5 Let 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.

6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

7 Remember 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.

8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

9 Be 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.

10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

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.

12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

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.

18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

20 Now 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,

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 glory for ever and ever. Amen.

22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

The Changeless Christ

13 Let ( A ) love of the brothers and sisters continue. 2 Do not neglect ( B ) hospitality to strangers, for by this some have ( C ) entertained angels without knowing it. 3 ( D ) Remember ( E ) the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. 4 ( F ) Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; ( G ) for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 5 Make sure that your character is ( H ) free from the love of money, ( I ) being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “ ( J ) I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you ,” 6 so that we confidently say,

( K ) The Lord is my helper , I will not be afraid .
What will man do to me ?”

7 Remember ( L ) those who led you, who spoke ( M ) the word of God to you; and considering the [ a ] result of their way of life, ( N ) imitate their faith. 8 ( O ) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever. 9 ( P ) Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to ( Q ) be strengthened by grace, not by ( R ) foods, ( S ) through which those who [ b ] were so occupied were not benefited. 10 We have an altar ( T ) from which those ( U ) who serve the [ c ] tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For ( V ) 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. 12 Therefore Jesus also suffered ( W ) outside the gate, ( X ) that He might sanctify the people ( Y ) through His own blood. 13 So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, ( Z ) bearing His reproach. 14 For here ( AA ) we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking ( AB ) the city which is to come.

God-pleasing Sacrifices

15 ( AC ) Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a ( AD ) sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ( AE ) the fruit of lips praising His name. 16 And do not neglect doing good and ( AF ) sharing, for ( AG ) with such sacrifices God is pleased.

17 ( AH ) Obey your leaders and submit to them —for ( AI ) they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they may do this with joy, not [ d ] groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you.

18 ( AJ ) Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a ( AK ) good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. 19 And I urge you all the more to do this, ( AL ) so that I may be restored to you more quickly.

Benediction

20 Now may ( AM ) the God of peace, who ( AN ) brought up from the dead the ( AO ) great Shepherd of the sheep [ e ] through ( AP ) the blood of the ( AQ ) eternal covenant, that is , Jesus our Lord, 21 ( AR ) equip you in every good thing to do His will, ( AS ) working in us that ( AT ) which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, ( AU ) to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

22 But ( AV ) I urge you, ( AW ) brothers and sisters , [ f ] listen patiently to [ g ] this ( AX ) word of exhortation, for ( AY ) I have written to you briefly. 23 Know that ( AZ ) our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. 24 Greet ( BA ) all of your leaders and all the [ h ] ( BB ) saints. Those from ( BC ) Italy greet you.

25 ( BD ) Grace be with you all.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 13:7 Or end of their life
  2. Hebrews 13:9 Lit walked
  3. Hebrews 13:10 Or sacred tent
  4. Hebrews 13:17 Or sighing
  5. Hebrews 13:20 Lit in
  6. Hebrews 13:22 Or listen to
  7. Hebrews 13:22 Lit the
  8. Hebrews 13:24 Lit holy ones ; i.e., God’s people

Concluding Exhortations

13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. ( A ) 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, ( B ) for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. ( C ) 3 Continue to remember those in prison ( D ) as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

4 Marriage should be honored by all, ( E ) and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. ( F ) 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money ( G ) and be content with what you have, ( H ) because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.” [ a ] ( I )

6 So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?” [ b ] ( J )

7 Remember your leaders, ( K ) who spoke the word of God ( L ) to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate ( M ) their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ( N )

9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. ( O ) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened ( P ) by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, ( Q ) which is of no benefit to those who do so. ( R ) 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle ( S ) have no right to eat. ( T )

11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, ( U ) but the bodies are burned outside the camp. ( V ) 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate ( W ) to make the people holy ( X ) through his own blood. ( Y ) 13 Let us, then, go to him ( Z ) outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. ( AA ) 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, ( AB ) but we are looking for the city that is to come. ( AC )

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice ( AD ) of praise—the fruit of lips ( AE ) that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, ( AF ) for with such sacrifices ( AG ) God is pleased.

17 Have confidence in your leaders ( AH ) and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you ( AI ) as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

18 Pray for us. ( AJ ) We are sure that we have a clear conscience ( AK ) and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon. ( AL )

Benediction and Final Greetings

20 Now may the God of peace, ( AM ) who through the blood of the eternal covenant ( AN ) brought back from the dead ( AO ) our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ( AP ) 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, ( AQ ) and may he work in us ( AR ) what is pleasing to him, ( AS ) through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. ( AT )

22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly. ( AU )

23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy ( AV ) has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.

24 Greet all your leaders ( AW ) and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy ( AX ) send you their greetings.

25 Grace be with you all. ( AY )

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 13:5 Deut. 31:6
  2. Hebrews 13:6 Psalm 118:6,7