Hebrews 13
New Catholic Bible
Conclusion
Chapter 13
Aspects of the Christian Life.[a] 1 Let mutual love continue, 2 and do not forget to offer hospitality to strangers, for by doing this some have entertained angels without knowing it.[b] 3 Be mindful of those who are in prison, as though you were imprisoned with them, and of those who are being maltreated, since you too are in the body.
4 Let marriage be held in honor by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for those who are immoral and adulterers will have to face God’s judgment. 5 Do not succumb to the love of money, but be content with what you have, for God has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.” 6 Therefore, we can say with confidence:
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?”
Let Us Seek the City That Is To Come.[c] 7 Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Keep in mind the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9 Do not be led astray by all kinds of strange doctrines. It is good for us to have our hearts strengthened by grace, and not by ceremonial foods, which have not benefited those who partake of them.
10 We have an altar[d] from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.[e] 12 Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.[f]
13 Let us then go to him outside the camp[g] and bear the abuse he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we are seeking the one that is to come. 15 Through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise,[h] that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
16 [i]Do not neglect to do good works and to share with others what you have, for these are the kind of sacrifices that please God. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls and will have to render an account in that regard. Make this a joy for them to do rather than a grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18 Pray for us. We are sure that our own conscience is clear, and our desire is to act honorably in everything we do. 19 I especially ask you to do this that I may be restored to you as soon as possible.
20 Final Doxology.[j]May the God of peace—who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant— 21 make you perfect in every respect so that you may do his will. And may he enable us to achieve what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 News and Farewell. I urge you, brethren, to listen to my words of exhortation; that is why I have written to you only a short letter. 23 I want to let you know that our brother Timothy has been set free.[k] If he arrives in time, he will be with me when I see you.
24 My greetings to all your leaders and to all the saints.[l] Those from Italy send you their greetings as well.
25 Grace be with all of you.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 13:1 The Letter’s conclusion opens with a series of recommendations concerning the conduct and attitude of Christians.
- Hebrews 13:2 Some have entertained angels without knowing it: e.g., Abraham (see Gen 18), Gideon (see Jdg 6), and Manoah (see Jdg 13).
- Hebrews 13:7 The remembrance of leaders, who perhaps confronted martyrdom, is a call to fidelity. It provides the author with the opportunity to insert a new development in the Letter. Christians must cling to the teaching received from their leaders and not to the doctrines of Judaism. They should, therefore, look to Christ; only in him and nowhere else will believers find what can evoke the altar or the sacrifice. If Christ suffered outside of Jerusalem and not in the temple, was that not perhaps a sign that the worship of Mosaic times must be replaced by the definitive worship, which is spiritual? Note three important verses in this section: v. 8, a splendid profession of faith in Christ; v. 14, the thrust toward the future and the realities that endure; and v. 15, life as praise of God (see Ps 50:14, 23; Hos 14:3).
- Hebrews 13:10 Have an altar: an allusion to Eucharistic worship and sacrifice, compared with the Levitical worship and sacrifices of the Old Testament (“the tabernacle”).
- Hebrews 13:11 Camp: here, as in v. 9, the author uses the great Jewish rite of atonement as a point of comparison (see Lev 16:27).
- Hebrews 13:12 Christ’s death outside Jerusalem symbolized the removal of sin in the same way that the removal of the bodies of sacrificed animals outside the camp of Israel had done.
- Hebrews 13:13 Let us then go to him outside the camp: this is a call to separate from Judaism. Just as Christ died in disgrace outside the city, so Christians should be willing to face scorn by leaving Judaism for Christ.
- Hebrews 13:15 Sacrifice of praise: “sacrifice” here means an offering to God (see Rom 12:1; Phil 4:18). There is no longer need for animal sacrifices.
- Hebrews 13:16 Christians will have to facilitate the task of the leaders of the community and to put their preoccupations in prayer, even when these leaders believe themselves obliged to remind them of the difficult demands of fidelity.
- Hebrews 13:20 The author artfully summarizes his ideas and his concerns. The news that he gives seems to indicate that he is waiting for Timothy in order to visit Palestine with him. The mention of “those from Italy” can indicate that he is in a port in Italy or simply that he is surrounded by Italians in some city of the Empire.
- Hebrews 13:23 Timothy has been set free: the event to which the author is referring is unknown to us.
- Hebrews 13:24 Saints: a term in use among the early Church for God’s people, those who have been set apart as holy to the Lord (see note on Rom 1:7).
