Hebrews 13King James Version
Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Marriage is honourable in all. Let your conversation be without covetousness. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, make you perfect in every good work.
The letter closes with practical exhortations that feel almost abrupt after the theological intensity preceding them: keep loving each other, welcome strangers, remember prisoners, honor marriage, stay free from covetousness, obey leaders, avoid strange doctrines. Jesus suffered outside the gate to sanctify his people; therefore go to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. We have no permanent city here. The closing prayer is one of the New Testament's richest benedictions, asking the God of peace to equip believers in every good work to do his will. Timothy is mentioned, greetings are sent, and grace is wished on all.
The theological argument of the whole letter lands in very ordinary places: hospitality, marriage, contentment, shared worship, bearing the reproach of Christ in daily life without a permanent city as anchor.
13:8: "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever": the anchor against strange doctrines and social drift is not a creed but a person, whose unchanging character is the constant in every shifting circumstance.
The letter is finished. Whoever is reading it aloud pauses at the benediction: 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, make you perfect in every good work to do his will. The room is quiet. The same God who raised Jesus is the one being asked to perfect them. The letter ends where it began: with a God who acts, and a community invited to trust that he will.
The leaders of the community, to be remembered and obeyed, people who watch for souls and will give account. Timothy, apparently just released from prison, possibly the same Timothy of Paul's letters. Strangers who might be entertained unawares as angels. The God of peace who brought Jesus back from the dead through the blood of the everlasting covenant.
Chapter 13 grounds the entire letter's soaring argument in the texture of daily communal life. The person who has grasped Christ's superior priesthood and the open access to the throne of grace now goes home and is hospitable to the traveler, stays in their marriage, resists the pull of greed, submits to community leadership, and bears social reproach as a deliberate act of going outside the camp to where Jesus is. Theology becomes posture. Doctrine becomes direction.
Verse 14 lands quietly after everything the letter has argued: here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. It is the reader's own confession back to them: you already know this place is not the end. You were made for the city the letter has been describing all along.
1Let brotherly love continue.
2Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
3Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
4Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
5Let 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.
6So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
7Remember 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.
8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
9Be 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.
10We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
11For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17Obey 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.
18Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
19But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
20Now 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,
21Make 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.
22And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
23Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
24Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
25Grace be with you all. Amen.