Brit Chadasha Foundations-Concepts in Hebrews-Chapter 13

Heb 13.1-25 gives a final admonition about the duties of the believers including hospitality; sympathy to those in prison or afflicted; purity in marriage; wvoiding covetousness and strange doctrines not consistent with the Torah, but to follow Torah-observant leaders who follow Yeshua; giving praise to God; a request for prayer; a final blessing and conclusion.

v 1…Let love (in action) of the brethren continue (abide, live, remain).

v 2…Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels (messengers of God, like Abraham, Lot, Gideon did; can include people sent by God-Matt 25.34-40; Luke 24.15-31) without knowing it.

v 3…Remember the prisoners (for the sake of Messiah) as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated (outwardly), since you yourselves also are in the body (help like you would want to be helped).

v 4…Marriage is honorable in all (don’t undervalue it or say to be celibate is superior spiritually), and let the bed be undefiled (don’t let others into it); for whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

v 5…Let your character (way of life) be free from the love of money (covetousness), being content with what you have; for he himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”

v 6…so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I shall not be afraid. What shall men do to me (looking forward to the promise of the Olam Haba; man has no authority over a believer unless it was granted by God)?”

v 7…Remember those who led you (as guides, directors), who spoke the word of God to you (in the Tanak at the time), and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

v 8…Yeshua the Messiah the same yesterday, and today and forever (this is the meaning of the name “Yehovah” in Hebrew; it combines three Hebrew forms: “hiyah” meaning “he was”; “hoveh” meaning “he is”; “yiyeh” meaning “he will be”; this shows that Yeshua is Yehovah and he is unchangeable, even into the Olam Haba).

v 9…Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings (contrary to the Torah); for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace (spiritually), not by foods (that profit only the flesh).

v 10…We have an altar (Yeshua) from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat (if they persist in unbelief-John 6.53).

v 11…For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holies by the high priest for sin are burned outside of the camp (Lev 16.27; on Yom Kippur).

v 12…Therefore (in order to give meaning to the type) Yeshua also, that he might sanctify (set apart with a kedusha) the person through his own blood, suffered outside the gate (of Jerusalem; like the Parah Adumah or Red Heifer-Num 19.1-3).

v 13…Hence let us go out to him outside the camp (of this world; the Olam Ha Zeh), bearing his reproach (which believers receive in the same way he did).

v 14…For here we do not have a lasting city (in the Olam Ha Zeh), but we are seeking one which is to come (in the Olam Haba-Isa 61.10-62.12; Rev 21.1-2).

v 15…Through him, then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips (Hos 14.2) that give thanks to his name (“sacrifice of praise” is used in the Septuagint in 2 Chr 29.31 and this is not a “new testament” concept; it means that this was always be done, whether there is a temple or not).

v 16…And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

v 17…Obey your leaders (Heb 13.7) and submit yourselves (to what is defined, legal, and right in the Torah); for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief (as long as they teach a Torah-based faith in Yeshua), for this would be unprofitable to you (no teacher can give his best to a person who is unattentive, ungrateful or argumentative).

v 18…Pray for us (these Hebrews knew who wrote this letter, even though it is not mentioned), for we are sure that we have a good conscience (so he felt he could appeal to them for their prayers), desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things (live honestly with God and all people, Jewish or non-Jewish).

v 19…And I urge you all the more to do this (pray), that I may be restored to you sooner (brought back safely and quickly).

v 20…Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant (the renewed covenant in the Olam Haba), Yeshua our Lord,

v 21…equip you in every good thing to do his will (to obey the Torah), working in us that which is pleasing in his sight through Yeshua the Messiah, to whom be the glory (deserving of the highest regard) forever and ever. Amen (to be trusted; so be it).

v 22…But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly (a few words).

v 23…Take notice (know) that our bother Timothy has been released (sent away, from what we do not know) with whom if he comes soon (comes back to the writer), I shall see you (the Hebrews in Judea).

v 24…Greet all your leaders and all the saints (the tzadikim or called out ones; the righteous ones with a kedusha). Those in Italy greet you.

v 25…Grace (the source of all blessings) be with you all.

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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