BOOK 58 OF 66 · GENERAL EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

Hebrews 13

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Hebrews 13 Overview

Hebrews closes with practical exhortations about brotherly love, hospitality, prisoners, marriage, contentment, leaders, sound doctrine, praise, generosity, obedience, prayer, and separation from the reproach of the world. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and believers seek a continuing city to come.

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13Chapter

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Before you read Hebrews 13

Coming from

Because believers are surrounded by such witnesses, Hebrews calls them to lay aside weights and sin and run with endurance while looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith. The chapter explains fatherly chastening, urges holiness and peace, warns through Esau and Sinai, and contrasts the terror of Sinai with believers coming to heavenly Zion and the mediator of the new covenant.

In this chapter

Leads into

The canonical sequence continues into James.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The final chapter shows that strong doctrine about Christ’s priesthood should produce ordinary faithfulness in relationships, money, worship, and church life.

‘Obey them that have the rule over you’ describes real spiritual leadership but does not grant leaders unlimited or unaccountable authority contrary to God’s word.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Christian doctrine should produce practical faithfulness

Love, purity, contentment, generosity, and praise all matter.

Christ is unchanging

His constancy anchors believers amid changing teachings and circumstances.

Believers live as pilgrims

They have no continuing city here but seek one to come.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Philippians 4:11–13

Paul’s contentment teaching parallels Hebrews’ warning against covetousness.

1 Peter 2:11–12

Believers are likewise described as strangers and pilgrims.

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13

Church leaders are to be recognized and esteemed for their work.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not use leadership obedience to excuse abuse or contradiction of Scripture

Leaders themselves give account to God.

Do not make hospitality a superstitious method for meeting angels

The verse recalls that such encounters have happened, not that every guest is secretly angelic.

Do not separate praise from doing good and sharing

The chapter names both as sacrifices pleasing to God.

Read Hebrews 13 watching for…

Brotherly love and hospitality.

Marriage and covetousness warnings.

Jesus Christ the same forever.

Remembering and obeying leaders.

Going outside the camp with Christ.

Praise and practical generosity.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-6Brotherly love, hospitality, marriage, contentment, and trust in God are commanded 7-17Believers are told to remember faithful leaders, reject strange doctrines, bear Christ’s reproach, praise God, do good, and obey leaders 18-21The writer asks for prayer and prays that the God of peace will make the believers complete in every good work 22-25Final words, news of Timothy, greetings, and grace close the letter

Let brotherly love continue.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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,

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.

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

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

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

Grace be with you all. Amen. <<Written to the Hebrews from Italy by Timothy.>>

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