Final Admonitions (2)

17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. 18 Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. 19 And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon. 20 Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— 21 may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. 22 I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation. 23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released from jail. If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the believers there. The believers from Italy send you their greetings. 25 May God’s grace be with you all.

Hebrews 13:7 NLT

7 Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

Hebrews 13:17–25 NLT

INTRODUCTION:

I- REFLECT ON THE EXAMPLES AND INSTRUCTIONS OF GODLY LEADERS. (Hebrews 13:7, 17)

Hebrews 13:7 NLT

7 Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

Hebrews 13:17 NLT

A. Reflect on the lives and teaching of the men God sends to serve you (Hebrews 13:7)

Hebrews 13:7 NLT

Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

Μνημονεύετε τῶν ἡγουμένων ὑμῶν, οἵτινες ἐλάλησαν ὑμῖν τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, ὧν ἀναθεωροῦντες τὴν ἔκβασιν τῆς ἀναστροφῆς μιμεῖσθε τὴν πίστιν.

(1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

1. There is to be an acceptance of those God sends to lead the fellowship of believers.

a. Μνημονεύετε = to be mindful of, to remember, to call to mind

b. ἡγουμένων = to go before, to be a leader, to rule, command, to have authority over

c. οἵτινες ἐλάλησαν ὑμῖν τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ = Those who have spoke the word of God to you.

2. There is to be a following of the lives of the men God sends to lead the fellowship of believers. (1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 3:17).

1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

Philippians 3:17 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

a. ὧν ἀναθεωροῦντες τὴν ἔκβασιν τῆς ἀναστροφῆς μιμεῖσθε τὴν πίστιν. = Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

B. Accept the leadership of the men God sends to serve you (Hebrews 13:17).

Hebrews 13:17 NLT

Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

Πείθεσθε τοῖς ἡγουμένοις ὑμῶν καὶ ὑπείκετε, αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀγρυπνοῦσιν ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν ὡς λόγον ἀποδώσοντες, ἵνα μετὰ χαρᾶς τοῦτο ποιῶσιν καὶ μὴ στενάζοντες, ἀλυσιτελὲς γὰρ ὑμῖν τοῦτο.

1. There is to be a submission to the authority of the men God sends to lead the fellowship. (1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Corinthians 16:15-16).

1 Timothy 5:17 NLT

17 Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.

1 Corinthians 16:15–16 NLT

15 You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece, and they are spending their lives in service to God’s people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion.

a. Πείθεσθε = to listen to, obey, yield to, comply with, to trust, have confidence in.

b. τοῖς ἡγουμένοις ὑμῶν = those who rule (to be a leader, to rule, command, to have authority) over you.

c. καὶ ὑπείκετε = and submit yourself (to them)

2. There is a responsibility borne by the men God has sent to lead the fellowship. (James 3:1).

James 3:1 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.

a. They are responsible to watch out for your souls. (γὰρ ἀγρυπνοῦσιν ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν ὡς λόγον ἀποδώσοντες)

b. They must give an account (ἀποδώσοντες = to render account) to God for their leadership.

3. The men who lead the fellowship should be able to lead with joy.

a. The rationale: So that they may do it with joy, not grief.

b. Causing them heartache is not profitable to you.

(Jeremiah 13:17; Philippians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 2:19)

Jeremiah 13:17 NLT

And if you still refuse to listen, I will weep alone because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the Lord’s flock will be led away into exile.

Philippians 3:18 NLT

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 NLT

After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you!

II- REMEMBER TO SERIOUSLY SEEK THE LORD THROUGH PRAYER. (Hebrews 13:18-25)

Hebrews 13:18–25 NLT

18 Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. 19 And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon. 20 Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— 21 may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. 22 I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation. 23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released from jail. If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the believers there. The believers from Italy send you their greetings. 25 May God’s grace be with you all.

A- Pray for the continual faithfulness of Godly leaders. (Hebrews 13:18-19)

Hebrews 13:18–19 NLT

18 Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. 19 And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.

1- Pray that leaders will live in a way that produces clear consciences and honorable lives. (Hebrews 13:18)

Hebrews 13:18 NLT

Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do.

Προσεύχεσθε περὶ ἡμῶν, πειθόμεθα γὰρ ὅτι καλὴν συνείδησιν ἔχομεν, ἐν πᾶσιν καλῶς θέλοντες ἀναστρέφεσθαι.

a. πειθόμεθα γὰρ ὅτι καλὴν συνείδησιν ἔχομεν = “for our conscience is clear”

b. ἐν πᾶσιν καλῶς θέλοντες ἀναστρέφεσθαι = “We want to live honorably in everything.”

c. It is possible for Christian leaders to leave the right path. (Acts 20:28-32)

Acts 20:28–32 NLT

28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you. 32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.

d. Even Paul constantly sought the prayer support of other believers.

2- Pray for the physical safety and well-being of leaders. (Hebrews 13:19)

Hebrews 13:19 NLT

And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.

περισσοτέρως δὲ παρακαλῶ τοῦτο ποιῆσαι ἵνα τάχιον ἀποκατασταθῶ ὑμῖν.

a. The writer knew the perils he was facing and asked for prayer support. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2)

2 Thessalonians 3:1–2 NLT

1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. 2 Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer.

B- Pray for the conscious awareness of God’s presence and power. (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Hebrews 13:20–21 NLT

20 Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— 21 may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

1- The writer turns the attention of the Hebrew believers back toward God. (Hebrews 13:20)

Hebrews 13:20 NLT

Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—

Ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης, ὁ ἀναγαγὼν ἐκ νεκρῶν τὸν ποιμένα τῶν προβάτων τὸν μέγαν ἐν αἵματι διαθήκης αἰωνίου, τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν,

a. He reminds the Hebrews of God’s power.

He is “the God of peace.” (Ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης)

“The God of peace” is a title used in Rom. 15:33; 16:20; Phil. 4:9; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:20; cf. 1 Cor. 14:33; 2 Cor. 13:11. The corresponding Heb. word shalom primarily signifies “wholeness. It is God who restores the relationship between the believer and himself.

b. He reminds the Hebrews of what God has done.

He raised Jesus from the dead. (ὁ ἀναγαγὼν ἐκ νεκρῶν τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν)

Because God raised Jesus, we, too, shall be raised.(1 Corinthians 15:23)

1 Corinthians 15:23 NLT

23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.

He ratified an “eternal covenant with his blood.” (ἐν αἵματι διαθήκης αἰωνίου)

(Matthew 26:26-28)

Matthew 26:26–28 NLT

26 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

2- The writer prays for the direct intervention of God in the lives of the Hebrew believers. (Hebrews 13:21)

Hebrews 13:21 NLT

may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

καταρτίσαι ὑμᾶς ἐν παντὶ ἀγαθῷ εἰς τὸ ποιῆσαι τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ, ποιῶν ἐν ἡμῖν τὸ εὐάρεστον ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας· ἀμήν.

a. The writer prayed that the Lord would equip the Hebrew believers with all they need to do His will.

καταρτίσαι = “to make fit, to equip, prepare”

“Equip you with everything you need” (καταρτίσαι ὑμᾶς ἐν παντὶ ἀγαθῷ)

God has provided for the equipping of God’s people.

Equipped through leaders who teach the Word of God.

(Ephesians 4:11-16)

Ephesians 4:11–16 NLT

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Equipped through spiritual gifts that enable service.

(1 Corinthians 12:1-11)

(Romans 12:6-8)

Romans 12:6–8 NLT

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

b. The writer prayed that the Lord would make the Hebrew believers productive through the power of Christ.

God is the one who produces in us that which pleases him. (Philippians 2:13)

Philippians 2:13 NLT

13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

(Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

“May He produce in you through Jesus Christ”= ποιῶν ἐν ἡμῖν τὸ εὐάρεστον ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

c. The writer prayed that the Lord would be glorified.

“All glory to Him forever and ever. Amen!” (ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας· ἀμήν)

C- Pray for the complete focus on faithfulness to God’s instructions. (Hebrews 13:22-25)

Hebrews 13:22–25 NLT

22 I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation. 23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released from jail. If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the believers there. The believers from Italy send you their greetings. 25 May God’s grace be with you all.

1- The writer admonishes the Hebrew believers to pay attention (stay focused) on what he has written to them. (Hebrews 13:22)

Hebrews 13:22 NLT

I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation.

Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, ἀνέχεσθε τοῦ λόγου τῆς παρακλήσεως, καὶ γὰρ διὰ βραχέων ἐπέστειλα ὑμῖν.

a. “Pay attention to what I have written” (ἀνέχεσθε τοῦ λόγου)

2. Paul’s closing remarks (Hebrews 13:23-25)

Hebrews 13:23–25 NLT

23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released from jail. If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the believers there. The believers from Italy send you their greetings. 25 May God’s grace be with you all.