Hebrews 13
Expanded Bible
13 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. 2 ·Remember [Do not forget/neglect] to ·welcome [show hospitality to] strangers, because some who have done this have welcomed angels without knowing it [Gen. 18:1–16; 19:1–22]. 3 Remember those who are in prison as if you were in prison with them. Remember those who are ·suffering [mistreated] ·as if you were suffering with them [or since you are vulnerable to the same treatment; L being in a/the body yourselves].
4 Marriage should be honored by everyone, and ·husband and wife should keep their marriage [L the marriage bed should be kept] ·pure [undefiled]. God will ·judge as guilty [L judge] ·those who take part in sexual sins [L the sexually immoral and adulterers]. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be ·satisfied [content] with what you have. [L For] God has said,
“I will never leave you;
I will never ·abandon [T forsake] you [Deut. 31:6].”
6 So we can be ·sure [confident; bold] when we say,
“I will not be afraid, because the Lord is my helper.
·People can’t do anything [L What can people do…?] to me [Ps. 118:6].”
7 Remember your leaders who ·taught [proclaimed; spoke] God’s ·message [word] to you. ·Remember [Consider; Reflect on] ·how they lived and died [or the outcome/result of their way of life], and ·copy [imitate] their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9 Do not let all kinds of strange teachings ·lead you into the wrong way [take you off course; lead you astray]. ·Your hearts should be strengthened by [or Inner strength comes from] God’s grace, not by obeying rules about foods [C referring to Jewish dietary laws; Lev. 11; Mark 7:19; Acts 10; Col. 2:16], which ·do not help [or have never benefited] those who ·obey [observe; live by] them.
10 We have a ·sacrifice [L altar], but the priests who serve in the ·Holy Tent [T Tabernacle] ·cannot [L have no authority/right to] eat from it. 11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the ·Most Holy Place [sanctuary; L holy things; T Holy of Holies] where he offers this blood for sins. But the bodies of the animals are burned outside the camp [Lev. 6:11]. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the ·city [L gate] to ·make his people holy [sanctify the people] ·with [through] his own blood. 13 So let us go to Jesus outside the camp, ·holding on as he did when we are abused [L bearing the abuse/humiliation he bore].
14 [L For] Here on earth we do not have a city that ·lasts forever [endures], but we are ·looking for [seeking] the city that ·we will have in the future [is to come]. 15 So through Jesus let us ·always [continuously] offer to God our sacrifice of praise, ·coming from [L which is the fruit of] lips that ·speak [profess; acknowledge] his name. 16 Do not ·forget [neglect] to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices please God.
17 ·Obey [or Have confidence in] your leaders and ·act under [or submit to] their authority. [L For; Because] They are watching over you, because they ·are responsible [will give an account (to God)] for ·your souls [or you]. ·Obey them [Do this; Act this way] so that they will do this work with joy, not ·sadness [or complaint; groaning], for that would be of no ·benefit [advantage; help] to you.
18 Pray for us. We are ·sure [convinced] that we have a clear conscience, ·because [or and] we always want to ·do the right thing [act honorably]. 19 I especially ·beg [urge; exhort] you to pray so that ·God will send me back [L I may be restored] to you soon.
22 My brothers and sisters, I ·beg [urge; exhort] you to ·listen patiently to [bear with] this message I have written to ·encourage [exhort] you, because ·it is not very long [L I have written to you briefly]. 23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy [Acts 16:1–5; 1 Cor. 16:10–11; Phil. 2:19–24; 1 and 2 Timothy] has been ·let out of prison [L released]. If he arrives soon, ·we will both come [he will come with me] to see you.
24 Greet all your leaders and all ·of God’s people [T the saints]. Those from Italy send greetings to you.
25 Grace be with you all.
Hebrews 13
New King James Version
Concluding Moral Directions
13 Let (A)brotherly love continue. 2 (B)Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing (C)some have unwittingly entertained angels. 3 (D)Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.
4 (E)Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; (F)but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, (G)“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say:
(H)“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”
Concluding Religious Directions
7 Remember those who [a]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 (I)the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried [b]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. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might [c]sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing (J)His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 (K)Therefore by Him let us continually offer (L)the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, (M)the fruit of our lips, [d]giving thanks to His name. 16 (N)But do not forget to do good and to share, for (O)with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17 (P)Obey those who [e]rule over you, and be submissive, for (Q)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.
Prayer Requested
18 (R)Pray for us; for we are confident that we have (S)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.
Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell
20 Now may (T)the God of peace (U)who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, (V)that great Shepherd of the sheep, (W)through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you [f]complete in every good work to do His will, (X)working in [g]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 [h]rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.
25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 13:7 lead
- Hebrews 13:9 NU, M away
- Hebrews 13:12 set apart
- Hebrews 13:15 Lit. confessing
- Hebrews 13:17 lead
- Hebrews 13:21 perfect
- Hebrews 13:21 NU, M us
- Hebrews 13:24 lead
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
