New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Hebrews 13
2
Don't forget to welcome strangers. By doing that, some people have welcomed angels without knowing it.
Reference
3
Remember those in prison as if you were in prison with them. And remember those who are treated badly as if you yourselves were suffering.
Reference
4
All of you should honor marriage. You should keep the marriage bed pure. God will judge the person who commits adultery. He will judge everyone who commits sexual sins.
Reference
Judgment
1 Corinthians 5:13
Parallel theme
Genesis 2:24
Galatians 5:19
1 Corinthians 7:38
1 Timothy 3:4
1 Timothy 3:12
Titus 1:6
References God
Galatians 5:21
1 Corinthians 6:9
Ephesians 5:5
5
Don't be controlled by love for money. Be happy with what you have. God has said, "I will never leave you. I will never desert you." --(Deuteronomy 31:6)
Reference
6
So we can say boldly, "The Lord helps me. I will not be afraid. What can a mere man do to me?" --(Psalm 118:6,7)
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 41:10
Romans 8:31
Hebrews 4:16
Psalm 56:4
Matthew 10:28
Psalm 63:7
References Lord
Psalm 124:8
Psalm 54:4
Psalm 33:20
Psalm 94:17
7
Remember your leaders. They spoke God's word to you. Think about the results of their way of life. Copy their faith.
Reference
Faith
Hebrews 6:12
Acts 14:23
Matthew 24:45
Romans 10:17
Parallel theme
Hebrews 13:17
Philippians 3:17
Hebrews 13:24
References God
1 Timothy 3:5
Word
1 Thessalonians 1:6
Acts 4:31
9
Don't be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good that God's grace makes our hearts strong. Don't depend on foods the Law requires. They have no value for the people who eat them.
Reference
Grace
Acts 20:32
Parallel theme
Ephesians 4:14
Ephesians 5:6
Acts 20:30
Romans 14:6
1 John 4:1
1 Timothy 6:20
Jude 1:12
Matthew 24:24
Matthew 24:4
10
Some worship at the holy tent. But we have an altar that they have no right to eat from.
Reference
11
The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Room. He brings their blood as a sin offering. But the bodies are burned outside the camp.
Reference
Blood
Leviticus 9:9
Parallel theme
Leviticus 9:11
Numbers 19:3
Sin
Leviticus 16:27
Exodus 29:14
Leviticus 6:30
12
Jesus also suffered outside the city gate. He suffered to make the people holy by spilling his own blood.
Reference
Blood
Hebrews 10:29
John 19:34
Parallel theme
Acts 7:58
Hebrews 2:11
Ephesians 5:26
John 17:19
Leviticus 24:23
Numbers 15:36
Joshua 7:24
References Jesus
1 Corinthians 6:11
13
So let us go to him outside the camp. Let us be willing to suffer the shame he suffered.
Reference
14
Here we do not have a city that lasts. But we are looking for the city that is going to come.
Reference
15
So let us never stop offering to God our praise through Jesus. Let us offer it as the fruit of lips that say they believe in him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Hosea 14:2
Isaiah 57:19
Matthew 11:25
References God
Psalm 50:14
Resurrection
Psalm 50:23
2 Chronicles 7:6
Sacrifice
Romans 12:1
1 Peter 2:5
2 Chronicles 33:16
Leviticus 7:12
16
Don't forget to do good. Don't forget to share with others. God is pleased with those kinds of offerings.
Reference
Good
Galatians 6:10
1 Timothy 6:18
Ephesians 4:28
Acts 10:38
1 Thessalonians 5:15
Parallel theme
2 Thessalonians 3:13
Romans 12:13
Luke 18:22
References God
Hebrews 6:10
Sacrifice
Philippians 4:18
17
Obey your leaders. Put yourselves under their authority. They keep watch over you. They know they are accountable to God for everything they do. Obey them so that their work will be a joy. If you make their work a heavy load, it won't do you any good.
Reference
18
Pray for us. We feel sure we have done what is right. We long to live as we should in every way.
Reference
Faith
1 Timothy 1:5
Good
Acts 23:1
1 Peter 3:16
1 Peter 3:21
Parallel theme
Acts 24:16
1 Thessalonians 4:12
Prayer
1 Thessalonians 5:25
2 Thessalonians 3:1
Colossians 4:3
Romans 15:30
19
I beg you to pray that I may return to you soon.
Reference
Parallel theme
Philemon 1:22
20
Our Lord Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep. The God who gives peace brought him back from the dead. He did it because of the blood of the eternal covenant. May God
Reference
Covenant
Ezekiel 37:26
Zechariah 9:11
Exodus 24:8
Parallel theme
John 10:11
Hebrews 10:22
John 10:14
Peace
Romans 15:33
2 Thessalonians 3:16
References God
Acts 2:24
References Lord
Psalm 23:1
21
supply you with everything good. Then you can do what he wants. May he do in us what is pleasing to him. We can do it only with the help of Jesus Christ. Give him glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Reference
Glory
Philippians 1:11
Good
Philippians 2:13
2 Thessalonians 2:17
2 Corinthians 9:8
Kingdom
2 Timothy 4:18
Parallel theme
Hebrews 10:36
1 Peter 4:2
References Christ
Philippians 4:13
References Jesus
1 Peter 2:5
1 Thessalonians 5:23
22
Brothers and sisters, I beg you to accept my word. It tells you to be faithful. I have written you only a short letter.
Reference
23
I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been set free. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.
Reference
24
Greet all of your leaders. Greet all of God's people. The believers from Italy send you their greetings.
Reference
Chapter Summary
Hebrews 13 brings the letter's theological teaching into practical Christian living by calling believers to continue loving one another, welcome strangers, remember prisoners and suffering people, honor marriage, avoid sexual immorality and greed, trust God's constant presence, follow faithful spiritual leaders, remain centered on unchanging Jesus, reject strange teachings, accept the cost of following Christ outside the camp, pursue God's coming city, offer praise and generous service, cooperate with spiritual leaders, and live according to God's transforming grace.
The chapter begins with several practical commands concerning Christian character and relationships, instructing believers to continue loving one another, welcome strangers, remember prisoners, and remain compassionate toward people experiencing suffering.
Hospitality is presented as especially important because some people have unknowingly welcomed angels, reminding Christians that seemingly ordinary acts of kindness can have significant spiritual meaning.
The writer then emphasizes the importance of marriage and sexual purity, instructing believers to honor marriage and avoid sexual immorality and adultery because God takes such behavior seriously.
The chapter also addresses money and contentment, warning believers not to allow the desire for wealth to control their lives.
Instead, Christians should be satisfied with what they possess because God's promise of continual presence provides a stronger foundation for security than material wealth.
Because God is their helper, believers can confidently face opposition without allowing fear of other people to control their decisions.
The writer then tells Christians to remember their former spiritual leaders, carefully consider the results of their faithful lives, and imitate their faith.
This instruction leads directly to one of the chapter's most important statements: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
While human leaders change, circumstances change, and religious systems can change, Christ remains completely reliable, providing a permanent foundation for Christian faith.
The readers are therefore warned not to become confused or carried away by strange teachings, particularly teachings that emphasize ceremonial food regulations rather than the transforming grace of God.
The chapter then returns to one of Hebrews' major themes by comparing Christ's sacrifice with the old covenant sacrificial system.
The bodies of certain sacrificial animals were taken outside the camp, and Jesus likewise suffered outside the city gate, connecting His crucifixion with the symbolism of the old covenant sacrifices.
Because Jesus suffered outside the city, believers are encouraged to go to Him outside the camp, meaning that they should willingly identify with Christ even when doing so involves rejection, shame, inconvenience, or social exclusion.
Christians do not possess a permanent earthly city, so they are encouraged to seek the city that is still to come, placing their ultimate hope in God's eternal kingdom rather than earthly security.
Their worship is also transformed because they continually offer praise to God through Jesus, described as the fruit of lips that openly confess His name.
Yet worship is not limited to words because the writer immediately adds that believers should do good and share with others, explaining that these practical acts are sacrifices that please God.
The chapter then addresses the believer's relationship with spiritual leaders, instructing Christians to cooperate with those who watch over their souls because these leaders carry serious responsibility before God.
The writer asks for prayer and expresses confidence in having a clear conscience, while also requesting that the readers pray for his return to them.
The closing section becomes a prayer, describing God as the God of peace who raised Jesus from the dead, identifying Jesus as the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant.
The writer asks God to equip believers with everything necessary to accomplish His will and to work within them through Jesus Christ so that their lives will please Him.
The letter closes with encouragement, a reference to Timothy, greetings to Christian leaders and believers, greetings from those associated with Italy, and finally a blessing of God's grace.
The central message of Hebrews 13 is that faith in the superior and unchanging Christ must become visible through everyday Christian living, including persistent love, hospitality, compassion, sexual purity, contentment, courage, faithful leadership, resistance to false teaching, willingness to share Christ's rejection, hope in God's coming kingdom, continual praise, generosity, service, obedience, prayer, and dependence upon God's grace to equip believers for everything that pleases Him.
The chapter begins with several practical commands concerning Christian character and relationships, instructing believers to continue loving one another, welcome strangers, remember prisoners, and remain compassionate toward people experiencing suffering.
Hospitality is presented as especially important because some people have unknowingly welcomed angels, reminding Christians that seemingly ordinary acts of kindness can have significant spiritual meaning.
The writer then emphasizes the importance of marriage and sexual purity, instructing believers to honor marriage and avoid sexual immorality and adultery because God takes such behavior seriously.
The chapter also addresses money and contentment, warning believers not to allow the desire for wealth to control their lives.
Instead, Christians should be satisfied with what they possess because God's promise of continual presence provides a stronger foundation for security than material wealth.
Because God is their helper, believers can confidently face opposition without allowing fear of other people to control their decisions.
The writer then tells Christians to remember their former spiritual leaders, carefully consider the results of their faithful lives, and imitate their faith.
This instruction leads directly to one of the chapter's most important statements: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
While human leaders change, circumstances change, and religious systems can change, Christ remains completely reliable, providing a permanent foundation for Christian faith.
The readers are therefore warned not to become confused or carried away by strange teachings, particularly teachings that emphasize ceremonial food regulations rather than the transforming grace of God.
The chapter then returns to one of Hebrews' major themes by comparing Christ's sacrifice with the old covenant sacrificial system.
The bodies of certain sacrificial animals were taken outside the camp, and Jesus likewise suffered outside the city gate, connecting His crucifixion with the symbolism of the old covenant sacrifices.
Because Jesus suffered outside the city, believers are encouraged to go to Him outside the camp, meaning that they should willingly identify with Christ even when doing so involves rejection, shame, inconvenience, or social exclusion.
Christians do not possess a permanent earthly city, so they are encouraged to seek the city that is still to come, placing their ultimate hope in God's eternal kingdom rather than earthly security.
Their worship is also transformed because they continually offer praise to God through Jesus, described as the fruit of lips that openly confess His name.
Yet worship is not limited to words because the writer immediately adds that believers should do good and share with others, explaining that these practical acts are sacrifices that please God.
The chapter then addresses the believer's relationship with spiritual leaders, instructing Christians to cooperate with those who watch over their souls because these leaders carry serious responsibility before God.
The writer asks for prayer and expresses confidence in having a clear conscience, while also requesting that the readers pray for his return to them.
The closing section becomes a prayer, describing God as the God of peace who raised Jesus from the dead, identifying Jesus as the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant.
The writer asks God to equip believers with everything necessary to accomplish His will and to work within them through Jesus Christ so that their lives will please Him.
The letter closes with encouragement, a reference to Timothy, greetings to Christian leaders and believers, greetings from those associated with Italy, and finally a blessing of God's grace.
The central message of Hebrews 13 is that faith in the superior and unchanging Christ must become visible through everyday Christian living, including persistent love, hospitality, compassion, sexual purity, contentment, courage, faithful leadership, resistance to false teaching, willingness to share Christ's rejection, hope in God's coming kingdom, continual praise, generosity, service, obedience, prayer, and dependence upon God's grace to equip believers for everything that pleases Him.