Equipped to do His will
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introduction
Throughout the book of Hebrews, the author has been very formal. At times he wrote as if giving a theological treatise and at other times he wrote as if preaching to christians of any background and at any time in history.
In the closing verses though, we see a more personal author who the recipients of this letter have a close relationship with. He wasn’t a thirdhand preacher who decided to throw in his two cents worth of knowledge.
Although we don’t know who wrote this, the readers of that time knew exactly who it was and knew them well.
Here the author shares his personal prayer requests which included seeing these people again. He prays for their equipping of doing God’s will.
Finally, he urges them to apply what he has told them in this letter.
Here we see the heartbeat and great love for his audience.
Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves honorably in everything. And I urge you all the more to pray that I may be restored to you very soon.
The Christian life can be very individualistic. When people ask us to pray for them, sometimes we might assume something must be wrong with them that they can’t pray for themselves.
As we grow and mature in our faith, we realize that praying for one another is a core purpose of the body of Christ.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.
Paul was not ashamed to ask for prayers.
Brothers and sisters, pray for us also.
In addition, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you,
Abundant Christian living and fruitful Christian ministry were empowered by faithful Christians praying.
Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves honorably in everything.
It says that he and his ministry team had a clear conscience but, as he had written throughout this letter, he knew well the temptations to fall back didn’t only rest on the new christians, but ALL Christians.
Without supplemental prayer, he was just as susceptible to turning his attention away from Christ. This is why he wanted to conduct himself honorably in all things.
He makes a very specific prayer that he be restored to them very soon.
And I urge you all the more to pray that I may be restored to you very soon.
It’s not known what circumstances have kept him away up to this point. The busyness of his ministry, the persecutions or hardships may have delayed his visit. Maybe he was imprisoned. Whatever it was, we know one thing for sure, he had absolute confidence in prayer.
Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Now comes the benediction. What is a benediction?
I’ll give you a hint, it has nothing to do with eggs.
It is a blessing.
This personal prayer on behalf of his readers climaxes with a word of praise to God.
Let’s remember who the readers were. Jewish Christians who were feeling the full weight of the repercussions that came with leaving the Jewish faith for Christ.
Their family had likely cut them off, along with their faith community. They were probably looking for some normalcy and predictability in their day to day lives. This included the rituals that they grew up with, which probably prompted them to wonder if all this was worth it.
When the author opened with the God of peace, the audience likely thought of the word “shalom”.
One writer described it this way:
“Completeness, wholeness, harmony, fulfillment, are closer to the meaning. Implicit in shālôm is the idea of unimpaired relationships with others and fulfillment in one’s undertakings.”
God alone is able to grant this type of peace-mentally, physically, emotionally and socially.
The author looks at the main theme of this letter: the superiority of Christ and his works.
Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
When the writer says that Jesus is our great shepherd of the sheep, he is most likely referring to the Psalms.
Psalm 23:1–3 (CSB)
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.
He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Jesus said this about himself.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep.
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.
We go from the name Christ and his deity to the work of Christ.
The author addresses the gospel of salvation
Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Not only did his blood pay for sin and usher in the new covenant, his resurrection from the dead means he is always alive and sitting on the throne to grant us peace and strength to accomplish his will.
equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Through this new covenant, the Holy Spirit has been poured into our hearts to do God’s will.
Paul addressed this to the Philippians.
For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.
The Greek word for equip is katartizo.
καταρτίζω (katartizō): vb.; make adequate, furnish completely, make sufficient, hence, in some contexts, mend, restore
It “is often used of mending what is broken and torn, and some see a reference to putting right what was amiss in the spiritual life of the readers. A prayer that God would put things right would be quite in place. But in this context perhaps the meaning is ‘supply you with what you need to live the Christian life.’ ”
If there were those lacking anything needed to carry out God’s will more effectively and efficiently. The prayer would be that God would provide what they were lacking.
Brothers and sisters, I urge you to receive this message of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon enough, he will be with me when I see you. Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who are from Italy send you greetings. Grace be with you all.
Finally, the author wraps up his letter with three commands. This is also where we say goodbye to this anonymous author.
First,
Bear with the truth of God
Hebrews 13:22
Brothers and sisters, I urge you to receive this message of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.
He addresses them as brothers and sisters indicating his sensitive request. The word urge is “parakaleo”-a word of gentle encouragement.
The book has had its share of rebukes and stern warnings, but now he softens the impact with an appeal.
Don’t merely close this book and check it off the to-do list. He wants them to plant its truths in their hearts-to bear with the teaching.
Some translations say to bear with his exhortation. Another greek term....”bear with” is anechomai. This is an interesting word choice because it means to endure, bear with, put up with...it almost means a sense of tolerating something uncomfortable, frustrating or irritating.
Here are some other applications:
Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.”
I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me!
bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.
The author knows that what he has said up to this point have stung and weren’t always the easiest to understand. He did believe that they not just hear it, but apply it.
He could have said more but says this
Brothers and sisters, I urge you to receive this message of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.
Second,
Take notice of the people of God.
Hebrews 13:23
Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon enough, he will be with me when I see you.
Specifically, the author refers to Paul’s child in faith, close friend and fellow laborer in the ministry, Timothy.
Timothy had been released from prison and desired that he would join him while they traveled together to visit these readers.
Just as the author kept tabs on his friend Timothy, we are encouraged to the same with other believers. It also means that we should not just limit our focus to the individuals but to the body across the globe. There are others that are being persecuted as well and should get our prayers.
Currently we are taking up collections for the children for christmas. There are all sorts of ways to get into contact with and take notice of others in the faith.
Thirdly and lastly,
Express and accept greetings
Hebrews 13:24-25
Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who are from Italy send you greetings. Grace be with you all.
What this is telling us is to engage in hospitable recognition of one another.
This illustrates the nature of early Christian fellowship. This extends beyond the nuclear family to the extended family. This is your local church to other churches and denominations throughout the city, country and world.
After these, the author concludes with a short farewell.
Grace be with you all.
This is a simple prayer of grace. One of the highest and most difficult callings for anyone. Grace with us so we can, in turn, give grace to others.