Scripture Daily

Context No. 989 of 4322 · Hebrews

Context · Reflection

Hebrews 13:17-25: in context

17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you. 18Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things. 19I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner. 20Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, 21make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 22But I exhort you, brothers, endure the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. 23Know that our brother Timothy has been freed, with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you. 24Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. The Italians greet you. 25Grace be with you all. Amen.

As Hebrews closes, the writer gives final instructions. Obey your leaders and submit to them, he says, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will give an account; make their work a joy and not a burden. Pray for us. Then comes one of the memorable benedictions of scripture: may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in you what is pleasing to him. The letter ends with greetings and grace.

The benediction at the center is worth lingering over, because it holds the whole gospel in one sentence. It calls God the God of peace, names Jesus the great shepherd raised from the dead, points to the blood of the eternal covenant as the ground of it all, and then asks God to equip the readers for every good work by working in them what pleases him. Notice the direction of the last part. The good we are to do is not something we generate on our own and offer up; it is God working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight. He equips and he works; our obedience is his own action in us, through Jesus Christ. That takes the pressure off in the best way. The command to do God's will is real, but the power to do it is promised, supplied by the same God who raised the Shepherd from the dead. And notice the instruction that leaders keep watch over souls as those who will give account; being under spiritual care, and giving it, are both serious things done before God.

Am I trying to produce good works by my own effort, or trusting the God of peace to work in me what pleases him, equipping me for the very obedience he asks?

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