Concluding Moral Directions

13 Let (A)brotherly love continue. (B)Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing (C)some have unwittingly entertained angels. (D)Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

(E)Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; (F)but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, (G)“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say:

(H)“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”

Concluding Religious Directions

Remember those who [a]rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is (I)the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried [b]about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

10 We have an altar 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 for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might [c]sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing (J)His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 (K)Therefore by Him let us continually offer (L)the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, (M)the fruit of our lips, [d]giving thanks to His name. 16 (N)But do not forget to do good and to share, for (O)with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17 (P)Obey those who [e]rule over you, and be submissive, for (Q)they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Prayer Requested

18 (R)Pray for us; for we are confident that we have (S)a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. 19 But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell

20 Now may (T)the God of peace (U)who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, (V)that great Shepherd of the sheep, (W)through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you [f]complete in every good work to do His will, (X)working in [g]you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

22 And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.

24 Greet all those who [h]rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 13:7 lead
  2. Hebrews 13:9 NU, M away
  3. Hebrews 13:12 set apart
  4. Hebrews 13:15 Lit. confessing
  5. Hebrews 13:17 lead
  6. Hebrews 13:21 perfect
  7. Hebrews 13:21 NU, M us
  8. Hebrews 13:24 lead

Do Not Neglect Salvation

Therefore we must give [a]the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word (A)spoken through angels proved steadfast, and (B)every transgression and disobedience received a just [b]reward, (C)how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, (D)which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was (E)confirmed to us by those who heard Him, (F)God also bearing witness (G)both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and (H)gifts[c] of the Holy Spirit, (I)according to His own will?

The Son Made Lower than Angels(J)

For He has not put (K)the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. But one testified in a certain place, saying:

(L)“What is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him?
You have made him [d]a little lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
[e]And set him over the works of Your hands.
(M)You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now (N)we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, (O)who was made [f]a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death (P)crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death (Q)for everyone.

Bringing Many Sons to Glory

10 For it was fitting for Him, (R)for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation (S)perfect through sufferings. 11 For (T)both He who [g]sanctifies and those who are being sanctified (U)are all of one, for which reason (V)He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying:

(W)“I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”

13 And again:

(X)“I will put My trust in Him.”

And again:

(Y)“Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”

14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He (Z)Himself likewise shared in the same, (AA)that through death He might destroy him who had the power of (AB)death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who (AC)through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not [h]give aid to angels, but He does [i]give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had (AD)to be made like His brethren, that He might be (AE)a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 (AF)For in that He Himself has suffered, being [j]tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 2:1 all the more careful attention
  2. Hebrews 2:2 retribution or penalty
  3. Hebrews 2:4 distributions
  4. Hebrews 2:7 Or for a little while
  5. Hebrews 2:7 NU, M omit the rest of v. 7.
  6. Hebrews 2:9 Or for a little while
  7. Hebrews 2:11 sets apart
  8. Hebrews 2:16 Or take on the nature of
  9. Hebrews 2:16 Or take on
  10. Hebrews 2:18 tested

The Promise of Rest

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, (A)let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, [a]not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

(B)“So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: (C)“And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: (D)“They shall not enter My rest.”

Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:

(E)“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”

For if [b]Joshua had (F)given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

The Word Discovers Our Condition

11 (G)Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is (H)living and powerful, and (I)sharper than any (J)two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is (K)a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 (L)And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are (M)naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Our Compassionate High Priest

14 Seeing then that we have a great (N)High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, (O)let us hold fast our confession. 15 For (P)we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but (Q)was in all points tempted as we are, (R)yet without sin. 16 (S)Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 4:2 NU, M since they were not united by faith with those who heeded it
  2. Hebrews 4:8 Gr. Jesus, same as Heb. Joshua

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