The Epistle to the Hebrews

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- Chapter 13 -

May fraternal charity remain in you.

And do not be willing to forget hospitality. For by it, certain persons, without realizing it, have received Angels as guests.

Remember those who are prisoners, just as if you were imprisoned with them, and those who endure hardships, just as if you were in their place.(a)

May marriage be honorable in every way, and may the marriage bed be immaculate. For God will judge fornicators and adulterers.(b)

Christ’s Unchanging Nature

Let your behavior be without avarice; be content with what you are offered. For he himself has said, “I will not abandon you, and I will not neglect you.”

So then, we may confidently say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear what man can do to me.”

Remember your leaders, who have spoken the Word of God to you, whose faith you imitate, by observing the goal of their way of life:

Jesus Christ, yesterday and today; Jesus Christ forever.

Do not be led away by changing or strange doctrines. And it is best for the heart to be sustained by grace, not by foods. For the latter have not been as useful to those who walked by them.

We have an altar: those who serve in the tabernacle have no authority to eat from it.

For the bodies of those animals whose blood is carried into the Holy of holies by the high priest, on behalf of sin, are burned outside the camp.

Because of this, Jesus, too, in order to sanctify the people by his own blood, suffered outside the gate.

And so, let us go forth to him, outside the camp, bearing his reproach.(c)

For in this place, we have no everlasting city; instead, we seek one in the future.

Sacrifice, Obedience, and Prayer

Therefore, through him, let us offer the sacrifice of continual praise to God, which is the fruit of lips confessing his name.

But do not be willing to forget good works and fellowship. For God is deserving of such sacrifices.

Obey your leaders and be subject to them. For they watch over you, as if to render an account of your souls. So then, may they do this with joy, and not with grief. Otherwise, it would not be as helpful to you.

Pray for us. For we trust that we have a good conscience, being willing to conduct ourselves well in all things.

And I beg you, all the more, to do this, so that I may be quickly returned to you.

Benediction and Farewell

Then may the God of peace, who led back from the dead that great Pastor of sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, with the blood of the eternal testament,

equip you with all goodness, so that you may do his will. May he accomplish in you whatever is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom is glory forever and ever. Amen.

And I beg you, brothers, that you may permit this word of consolation, especially since I have written to you with few words.

Know that our brother Timothy has been set free. If he arrives soon, then I will see you with him.

Greet all your leaders and all the saints. The brothers from Italy greet you.

Grace be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

(a)13:3 The word ‘labor’ does not necessarily refer to work; it often is used to refer to various kinds of hardships.(Conte)

(b)13:4 Or, Let marriage be honourable in all:That is, in all things belonging to the marriage state. This is a warning to married people, not to abuse the sanctity of their state, by any liberties or irregularities contrary thereunto. Now it does not follow from this text that all persons are obliged to marry, even if the word omnibus were rendered, in all persons, instead of in all things: for if it was a precept, St. Paul himself would have transgressed it, as he never married. Moreover, those who have already made a vow to God to lead a single life, should they attempt to marry, they would incur their own damnation. 1 Tim. 5. 12.(Challoner)

(c)13:13 Let us go forth therefore to him without the camp, bearing his reproach:That is, bearing his cross. It is an exhortation to them to be willing to suffer with Christ, reproaches, persecutions, and even death, if they desire to partake of the benefit of his suffering for man’s redemption.(Challoner)

Let brotherly love continue.

Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body.

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Christ’s Unchanging Nature

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.”(a)

So that with good courage we say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?”(b)

Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

We have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat.

For 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.(c)

Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate.

Let’s therefore go out to him outside of the camp, bearing his reproach.

For we don’t have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come.

Sacrifice, Obedience, and Prayer

Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God

(d)

continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name.

But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Obey 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.

Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.

I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner.

Benediction and Farewell

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.

But I exhort you, brothers, endure the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.

Know that our brother Timothy has been freed, with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you.

Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. The Italians greet you.

Grace be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

(a)13:5 ℘ Deuteronomy 31:6

(b)13:6 ℘ Psalms 118:6-7

(d)13:15 ℘ Psalms 50:23