The Bible — World English Bible
Hebrews 13
In brief
Hebrews 13 is the practical chapter that closes the letter. After showing the superiority of Christ, the author calls for a concrete life: brotherly love, hospitality, remembering prisoners, faithfulness in marriage, freedom from the love of money. He reminds us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, invites us to go out to him outside the camp, to offer a sacrifice of praise and to respect our leaders, and ends with a blessing that entrusts everything to the God of peace.
The chapter in 5 parts
1Let brotherly love continue.
2Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.
3Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body.
4Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
5Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”
6So that with good courage we say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
7Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith.
8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by food, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.
10We have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat.
11For 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 of the camp.
12Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate.
13Let’s therefore go out to him outside of the camp, bearing his reproach.
14For we don’t have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come.
15Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name.
16But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.
18Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.
19I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner.
20Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus,
21make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
22But I exhort you, brothers, endure the word of exhortation; for I have written to you in few words.
23Know that our brother Timothy has been freed, with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you.
24Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. The Italians greet you.
25Grace be with you all. Amen.
Key verses
Let brotherly love continue.
The letter ends with a simple call: to keep on in brotherly love. The following verses give very concrete examples, from hospitality to visiting prisoners.
Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.” So that with good courage we say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Contentment rests on a promise: God will not abandon his own. Whoever knows this can say with confidence that the Lord is their helper, without fearing what anyone can do to them.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
This verse declares that Jesus Christ does not change. In a shifting world and in the face of varied teachings, his person remains the fixed point of faith.
Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name.
The sacrifice offered to God is no longer an animal but praise: the fruit of lips that proclaim his name. It goes through Jesus and carries on in daily life.
Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
The final blessing names Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, brought back from the dead. It asks God to make believers complete in every good work, because he is the one working in them.
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Frequently asked questions about Hebrews 13
What does “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” mean (Hebrews 13:8)?
The verse declares that the person and character of Jesus Christ do not change: the one the first Christians knew is the one we follow today. In context, it serves as a foothold against varied and strange teachings. It does not say that God always acts in the same way, but that Jesus remains true to himself.
What is a sacrifice of praise according to Hebrews 13:15?
The author takes up the logic of sacrifices to say that what God now receives, through Jesus, is the fruit of lips that proclaim his name. A sacrifice costs something: it means praising even when it is not easy. The next verse adds doing good and sharing, because those too are sacrifices that please God.
What does “Let’s therefore go out to him outside of the camp” mean in Hebrews 13:13?
The text compares Jesus to the sacrificial animals whose bodies were burned outside the camp: he also suffered outside the city gate. To go outside the camp is to go to him and accept to share his reproach, giving up religious or social security. Verse 14 explains why: we seek the city that is to come.
Should we obey our church leaders (Hebrews 13:17)?
The verse calls us to obey those who watch over souls and who will give an account to God. Preachers often clarify that this is not blind obedience, but trust based on the life and faithfulness of these leaders. Churches understand this point differently, depending on how they are organized.
Articles quoting Hebrews 13
World English Bible translation — public domain.