Hebrews 13: Pleasing God in Daily Life
Faith works itself out in love, hospitality, purity, and contentment, as we offer praise to the unchanging Christ and follow him outside the camp.
Hebrews 13 (WEB)
1 Let brotherly love continue.
2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.
3 Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body.
4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
5 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.”
6 So that with good courage we say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
7 Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9 Don’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.
10 We have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat.
11 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.
12 Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate.
13 Let us therefore go out to him outside of the camp, bearing his reproach.
14 For we don’t have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come.
15 Through him, then, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name.
16 But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17 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.
18 Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.
19 I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner.
20 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,
21 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.
22 But I exhort you, brothers, endure the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.
23 Know that our brother Timothy has been freed, with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you.
24 Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. The Italians greet you.
25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
Hebrews 13 (KJV)
1 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. Written to the Hebrews from Italy by Timothy.
Hebrews 13 (ASV)
1 Let love of the brethren continue.
2 Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are ill-treated, as being yourselves also in the body.
4 Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
5 Be 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.
6 So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?
7 Remember 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.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever.
9 Be 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.
10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle.
11 For 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.
12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13 Let us therefore go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
14 For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come.
15 Through 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.
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 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.
18 Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.
19 And I exhortyouthe more exceedingly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
20 Now 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,
21 make 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.
22 But I exhort you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation: for I have written unto you in few words.
23 Know ye that our brother Timothy hath been 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.
Summary
The letter closes with practical exhortations that flow from all that has come before. Brotherly love is to continue, and hospitality to strangers is urged, for some have entertained angels unawares. They are to remember prisoners and the mistreated as if suffering with them, to honor marriage and keep the marriage bed pure, and to be free from the love of money, content with what they have, because God has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” so they can boldly say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.” They are to remember their leaders who spoke God's word, imitate their faith, and remember that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, not being carried away by strange teachings, for the heart is strengthened by grace, not by foods. We have an altar from which those who serve the earthly tabernacle have no right to eat; just as the bodies of sin-offering animals were burned outside the camp, Jesus suffered outside the gate to sanctify the people through his own blood. So we are to go out to him, bearing his reproach, for we have no lasting city here but seek the one to come. Through him we offer a continual sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips confessing his name, and we are not to neglect doing good and sharing, for such sacrifices please God. They are to obey and submit to their leaders, who keep watch over their souls, and to pray for the writer, who longs to be restored to them. He closes with a benediction to the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, asking that he equip them to do his will and work in them what pleases him, through Jesus Christ. After a final appeal to bear with his word of exhortation, news of Timothy's release, and greetings, he ends, “Grace be with you all.”
Key Figures
- Jesus, the unchanging shepherd — The same yesterday, today, and forever, who suffered outside the gate to sanctify his people and was brought back from the dead as the great shepherd of the sheep.
- The leaders — Those who spoke God's word and watch over souls, whose faith is to be imitated and whose oversight is to be honored with obedience and submission.
- The God of peace — The one who raised the great shepherd by the blood of the eternal covenant and equips his people to do his will and what pleases him.
Key Verse
Hebrews 13:8 (WEB)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Lessons Learned
- Genuine faith expresses itself in love, hospitality, purity, and contentment.
- God's promise never to leave us frees us from the love of money and from fear.
- Jesus Christ is unchanging, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
- We follow Jesus outside the camp, bearing his reproach, seeking the city to come.
- Faith shows up in everyday love. “Let brotherly love continue” (Hebrews 13:1, WEB). The grand theology of Hebrews lands in ordinary acts of love, hospitality, and care.
- God's presence frees us from greed and fear. Be content, “for he has said, 'I will in no way leave you'” (Hebrews 13:5, WEB). Knowing God is with us breaks the grip of money and dread.
- Christ never changes. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, WEB). In a shifting world, he is the one constant we can build our lives on.
- Praise is a continual sacrifice. “Let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually” (Hebrews 13:15, WEB). Worship and doing good are the offerings God now delights in.
- How do the practical commands at the start of chapter 13 grow out of the letter's earlier teaching about Christ?
- How does God's promise “I will never leave you” (13:5) address both the love of money and fear?
- What does it mean that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (13:8) for a church facing change and pressure?
- What does it look like to “go out to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach” (13:13)?
- Which of these closing exhortations—love, hospitality, contentment, praise—is God pressing on your heart, and what is one step you can take?
- Because Christ is supreme and has secured our salvation, the natural response is a transformed life of love, purity, and generosity (13:1-5). Doctrine and daily conduct are not separate; the gospel produces ethics. Help the group see practical obedience as the fruit of grace, not a way to earn it.
- God's pledge of his abiding presence undercuts the anxiety that drives us to hoard money and the fear of what others can do to us (13:5-6). If the Lord is our helper and never leaves us, we can be content and courageous. Security in God replaces security in possessions.
- Amid persecution and the temptation to change course, Christ's unchanging nature is an anchor; he is as faithful now as ever and will be forever (13:8). His constancy steadies a church in flux. Encourage the group to root their stability in him rather than in circumstances.
- As Jesus suffered outside the gate, his followers are called to leave behind the safety of the familiar and identify with him, even when it brings reproach (13:12-13). It means accepting the cost of belonging to Christ rather than clinging to acceptance. We do so because our lasting city is still to come.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name which exhortation convicts or stirs them and one tangible step—an act of hospitality, a generous gift, an offering of praise. As leader, close the study by resting in the God of peace who equips us to do his will, and let grace have the final word.