• Hebrews Outline:
  • Chapter 1 Christ is greater than the prophets and the angels.
  • Chapter 2 Christ's message is greater than the angel's.
  • Chapter 3 Christ is greater than Moses.
  • Chapter 4 Christ is greater than Joshua and His rest is superior.
  • Chapter 5 Christ's High Priesthood is greater than the Aaronic Priesthood.
  • Chapter 6 God's faithfulness to Abraham and his seed is confirmed by an oath.
  • Chapter 7 Christ is a Priest in the order of Melchizedek and Christ is greater than Abraham.
  • Chapter 8 Christ is Mediator of a new covenant.
  • Chapter 9 Christ offered a better sacrifice at a better sanctuary.
  • Chapter 10 Christ's sacrifice was offered only once and then He sat down.
  • Chapter 11 The just have always lived by faith.
  • Chapter 12 God disciplines His sons who are citizens of the New Jerusalem.
  • Chapter 13 Give thanks, do not forget to do good, and share.
  • Introduction & Review

In the previous section the author encourages the saints to live godly lives which includes loving the brethren, being hospitable, remembering the afflicted and maintaining pure marriages. We care continuing in this section where the author is giving a number of moral directives at the conclusion of his letter.

• Exposition

Hebrews 13:7-25

7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

• This verse ties together with verse 17 as two general instructions regarding the relationship between leadership and the congregation. It appears that this verse may be encouraging them to remember past leaders and verse 17 pertains to those who currently rule over them. Regardless, the instruction is crucial.
• Notice what the people were to remember about these leaders, first that they preached the word of God to them but more importantly they are to remember the outcome of their conduct and imitate their faith. If the outcome of their life was a disaster, then there would be nothing worth imitating. They should be imitated as they imitate Christ.
• Sometimes, people will not want Godly leaders because these type of leaders raise the standard for everybody. Don't find yourself taking comfort in leaders whose lives are train wrecks; it is a false comfort because this provides no hope. Those leaders whose lives are not worthy of remembering and imitating (based on the outcome) are not to be leaders. If you don't want to imitate them, then they shouldn't be your leaders.

9 Do not be carried 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.

• This instruction has particular importance to the recipients of the letter in that when it was written the temple was still standing. Daily sacrifices were being offered and the people continued the ordinances for temple worship. The people were tempted to return to these ceremonies which were inferior to the realities found in Christ. Our hearts are established not by sacrificing animals and goats but by the grace of God.
• Those who were still worshipping at the temple did not have the understanding that the sacrifices were over. Those that didn't know it then would soon know it when God's judgment came upon Jerusalem and its temple.

12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

• As we considered earlier in this book, if the people of Israel were to become ceremonially unclean they were to go outside the gate to wash themselves. You may also recall that the Priests were to take the ashes from the animals that were burned on the altar along with the cedar ashes to the area outside the gate where the people did this washing. These are the components of soap, tallow and ashes.
• It was a shameful thing to go outside the gate to be cleansed. As Christians, we forsake the mainstream and we go outside the gate to be cleansed by Christ. This doesn't mean that we act foolish but it does mean that as Christians we may receive the scorn from the world that hates Christ.

15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

• An attitude of praise is not an emotion that you muster up, it is something sacrificial. It is something that we must work at, something that is valuable and its value is not measured in how it makes us feel. Praise is not an event that we do at Church or at some time during the day. The instruction here is to be offering the sacrifice of praise continually. Coming to church and praising Him is only different from the rest of the week in that it is done corporately.

17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for 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.

• God has established three basic forms of government; family church and state. Each one of these governments have realms of influence called jurisdictions. As Christians we are not to attempt to remove ourselves from being under their influence, we are to affirm their authority. We are a people under a number of various authorities. I drive a certain speed because I am under one authority, I preach the Word of God in a certain way because I am under another authority and I speak to my children in a certain way because I am under still another authority. We must understand the boundaries and respect the boundaries of other governments.
• The scriptures do not tell us the authority that we have and then tell us to go rule over our subjects. The Bible does tell us who is over us and then we are to go submit to them. This is not to say that we don't really have the authority but it does mean that although we are given the authority we must remember that all authority is subordinate to God.
• We are to live our lives knowing that some day we will give an account for the things we have done. Although the Christians will stand in the righteousness of Christ, our works will be tried by fire and we will come through that fire because of Christ. But we should remember that we still we give an account. You will give an account and so will your leaders. Your leaders will be held accountable by God for the things that go on in our congregation. That truth should spark a godly fear in our hearts and not many should presume to be leaders. Although it is a commendable thing to desire to be a leader, the book of James reminds us that our leaders will be held to a stricter level of judgment.
• What authority do our leaders have? A godly leader has two authorities, the Word of God and the authority of a Godly life. Within the Church the leaders wield their authority as a body-not as autonomous individuals, but as a plurality of men exercising their gifts to the benefit of the body all of whom meet the qualifications laid out in 1 Timothy and Titus.

18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have 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. 20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in 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 rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. 25 Grace be with you all. Amen. (NKJV)

• In his final words, the author concludes with a benediction and encourages the brethren to heed his warnings and to not abandon their grounds of confidence. Notice that God is the one who was working in them to accomplish whatever was good and pleasing in His sight. Their ground of confidence was to come from the fact that God was sovereign, and that He is the one accomplishing their sanctification.