Ed Urzi

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV).

This reference to the “…Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep” recalls Jesus’ famous self-designation from the New Testament Gospel of John…

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:11-15).

In addition to these references to Jesus as “the good shepherd” in John 10:11, and “the great shepherd of the sheep” here in Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 5:4 identifies Jesus as “the Chief Shepherd” as well. One source ties each of these descriptions together for our benefit…

“As the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ died for the sheep (John 10:11). As the Great Shepherd, He lives for the sheep in heaven today, working on their behalf. As the Chief Shepherd, He will come for the sheep at His return (1 Peter 5:4). Our Shepherd cares for His own in the past, present, and future. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!” ₍₁₎

These references also allow us to contrast the differences between those who emulate Jesus’ self-sacrificial example and those who don’t. For instance…

• A good shepherd feeds the flock. A poor shepherd fleeces the flock.
• A good shepherd works for the benefit of the flock. A poor shepherd believes the flock works for the benefit of the shepherd.
• A good shepherd leads the flock. A poor shepherd drives the flock.
• A good shepherd seeks to give the flock his best. A poor shepherd pursues self-interested priorities.
• A good shepherd gives to the flock. A poor shepherd takes from the flock.

Thus, we should seek to follow Jesus’ good example in our lives and look for leaders who do so as well. As Jesus Himself concluded in John 10:17, “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life…”

(1) Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. 2 vols., 2:330, Wheaton: Scripture Press Publications, Victor Books, 1989, quoted in, Constable, Thomas. DD, Notes on Hebrews 2023 Edition “Doxology 13:20-21” [13:20] https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/hebrews/hebrews.htm

“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, 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” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

After respectfully exhorting the members of his audience to pray on his behalf, the author of Hebrews led by example in praying for his readers here in the passage quoted above…

“In a lovely benediction which captures a number of the major themes of the epistle (e.g., peace, blood, covenant, Resurrection, Shepherd, equip), the writer expressed confidence in our Lord Jesus as the Great Shepherd of New-Covenant people, through whom God was able to effect His will (equip is katartisai, ‘to prepare, make ready for use’; cf. Eph 4:12) in the readers and in himself. This indeed is what he prayed for his readers.” ₍₁₎

In addition to this reference in Hebrews 13:20, the New Testament Scriptures identify God as the “God of Peace” on several other occasions (see Romans 15:33. Philippians 4:9, and 1 Thessalonians 5:23 for additional examples). That list includes the following quote from Romans 16:20…

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (CEB).

For some, these references to the “God of peace” coupled with the act of crushing an enemy, may seem inconsistent. Here is how one source addresses that objection…

“Skeptics often object that God cannot be a ‘God of peace’ since the OT portrays Him as a God of war who ordered people to be killed. These characteristics, however, are not incompatible. The Lord loves peace, but He also combats unrighteousness and those who act contrary to His purposes. People can be the same way—peaceful by nature but willing to fight when times call for it.” ₍₂₎

Finally, this portion of Hebrews also contains the only direct mention of Jesus’ death and resurrection within this epistle. While our author has alluded to Jesus’ sacrificial death at several points within this letter, this explicit reference serves as a final reminder to his audience to persevere in the face of adversity. Then, as now, the God of peace who can raise the Lord Jesus from the dead is certainly capable of acting on behalf of those who face opposition in its various forms.

(1) John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Bible Knowledge Commentary [p.812]

(2) Ted Cabal et al., The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007), 1838.

“Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner” (Hebrews 13:18-19).

As the author of Hebrews approaches the end of this letter, his inspired pen will turn to subjects of a more personal nature. First among those subjects is a prayer request. As we consider this passage, it’s interesting to note that our author began with a plural reference: “Pray for us…”. While there may be some uncertainty regarding our author’s location during this time, we do know one thing: he was not alone.

It’s equally interesting to observe our author’s transition back to a singular reference as he expressed what he hoped to achieve through their prayers: “…that I may be restored to you the sooner.” Whether our author was on a journey (or perhaps incarcerated), this likely tells us two things…

• The author of Hebrews was in the company of those who did not share a personal acquaintance with the recipients of this letter.
• He had a personal connection with the members of his original audience and held a deep desire to be reunited with them.

Thus, our author may have been an exile in exile. Not only was he an earthly sojourner who was “looking forward to a home yet to come” (Hebrews 13:14 NLT), he was also among other companions who were unknown to the circle of friends he left behind.

This exhortation to prayer also reminds us of three important qualities that we should ask of God as we seek His provision for our daily lives…

• Wisdom (or knowing what to do in response to the realities of daily life).
• Perception (a truthful assessment of a given situation, or an accurate understanding of how others perceive us).
• Discernment (or the ability to see and understand things as they really are).

These qualities can help us make good, God-honoring choices. They can also help us identify those areas where our words and actions may have an unintended (or negative) effect. Therefore, we would be well-advised to seek God’s provision for these qualities in prayer each day.

Finally, we should note our author’s firm belief in the efficacy (or effectiveness) of prayer. The author of Hebrews genuinely believed that the prayers of his audience would prompt God to enable his speedy return. This passage thus serves as another Biblical example that should encourage to seek God in prayer regarding the circumstances and situations we encounter (see Romans 15:30-32. 2 Corinthians 1:10-11, Philippians 1:19, and Philemon 1:22 for some additional examples).

“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” (Hebrews 13:17 NLT).

In 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, Paul the Apostle wrote the following message to the New Testament-era church at Corinth: “This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (NIV).

In one sense, the imagery employed by Paul within that passage is reminiscent of a manager. Just as a manager is responsible for supervising others, Paul saw his ministry as a stewardship that was entrusted to him by Christ. That responsibility involved overseeing, and caring for the church, the household of God (1 Timothy 3:15).

A modern-day pastoral minister is similarly accountable for overseeing those who are entrusted to his care. While every Christian is individually responsible to manage his or her God-given talents, skills, and opportunities, these spiritual leaders are tasked with the added responsibility to oversee others as well as themselves. With this in mind, we would do well to reflect upon the the kind of accounting that our spiritual leaders offer to God concerning us. To borrow a phrase from our text in Hebrews 13:17, will they do so with joy, or with sorrow?

That obligation represents a weighty responsibility for any Pastoral leader. Thus, our awareness of that responsibility is one that should influence our relationship with these congregational ministers. Consider the realistic, common-sense counsel offered by the following commentator on this subject…

“In the end, obediently submitting to our leaders by living lives of faithful graciousness in the church is a commitment of faith in God because He has placed these leaders in your church. By submitting to God-appointed authorities, we submit to God. No, the pastor isn’t perfect. No, he doesn’t always get things right. Yes, he too is a sinner—just like you. But when we know this and submit anyway, we give God glory and our pastor grace. This is good for us. We may not be immediately interested in our leaders’ joy, but if we are interested in our own spiritual advantage, we will repent of our selfishness and seek our leaders’ joy.” ₍₁₎

(1) Jarad C. Wilson, “Encourage Leaders With Faithful Graciousness” Tabletalk Magazine, May, 2014 [pg. 67]

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you” (Hebrews 13:17 NET).

The faith and love displayed by the New Testament-era churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Colossae led Paul the Apostle to express his thankfulness to God for them. Paul’s attitude toward those congregations captured the spirit of our text from Hebrews 13:17: “Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit” (NLT).

Modern-day readers of this epistle also possess the ability to inspire others to maintain an attitude of thankfulness to God. For instance, we can motivate others to thank God by the way we live and the choices that we make. Therefore, we should prayerfully seek to become the kind of people who inspire others to say, “Thank God for him/her” whenever they think of us.

While the world may be filled with those who do little to inspire others to thank God, we can be different. Much like those who attended the churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Colossae, we should strive to inspire others to thank God for the impact we make upon their lives.

This leads us back to our passage from Hebrews 13:17. While problems and disagreements are inevitable, every Christian carries a general obligation to act courteously and respectfully when interacting with those in positions of spiritual leadership. This does not mean that we cannot be realistic about the strengths and weaknesses of such leaders, nor does it mean that we are obligated to blindly and unquestionably follow others in positions of authority. However, it does mean that we should seek to maintain a gracious attitude that minimizes the potential for strife, division, or gossip.

One source helps us strike the proper balance in this regard…

“This word of encouragement to submit to Christian leaders is much needed in our day of disrespect for authority of any kind, and an overemphasis on the rights and powers of the individual. God has placed some as leaders among His people (note Num. 16:3-5). We honor them because of their call, training, commitment, and service.

However, there is an opposite ‘ditch.’ God’s calling has been abused by some authoritarian personalities. There must be a balance, a mutual respect, a co-operative spirit between God’s people and God’s leaders. All believers are called to be subject to one another out of respect for Christ (cf. Eph. 5:21).” ₍₁₎

(1) Dr. Bob Utley, Hebrews 13 [13:17] Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International https://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL10/VOL10_13.html

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Hebrews 13:17 ESV).

From the perspective of a church leader, Hebrews 13:17 carries special importance in light of the following reminder: “They keep watch over you as men who must give an account” (NIV). This accountability is something that lays heavily upon an honorable minister.

One day God will call every spiritual leader to account for his or her life and ministry. That accounting will involve an examination of the minister’s teaching, doctrine, finances, and lifestyle. God will also examine every leader’s use of their time, ministry endeavors, and interactions with those who were entrusted to their care. Those responsibilities are clearly reflected in the following Biblical passages…

“And now beware! Be sure that you feed and shepherd God’s flock– his church, purchased with his blood– for the Holy Spirit is holding you responsible as overseers” (Acts 20:28 TLB).

“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1).

“Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you” (1 Timothy 4:16 NET).

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3 NIV).

For these reasons, we should recognize the burden that Pastoral ministers carry. For instance, a Godly minister must live with the knowledge that even sincere and well-meaning leaders can cause spiritual and/or emotional damage in the lives of others. One indiscretion, one moment of frustration, or one poorly worded response, no matter how small, may serve to discredit years of productive ministry.

In addition. Pastoral leaders are often on call 24 hours a day to provide spiritual and emotional support to others. They must respond graciously to the criticisms of those who hold unrealistic or unattainable expectations, as well as the personal attacks that often accompany an online presence. In light of the great accountability that accompanies a leadership position within the church, there is a mutual responsibility that exists between congregations and their leaders. We’ll examine that mutual responsibility in greater detail next.

“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” (Hebrews 13:17).

Hebrews 13:17 is a passage that requires careful and thoughtful consideration. For instance, a dishonorable or misguided leader might use this admonition to “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive” as a means of silencing those who raise legitimate doctrinal or behavioral concerns. Therefore, it is important to exercise discernment as we look to apply this verse in our interactions with spiritual leaders and others within the church.

We can begin by examining some of the primary leadership responsibilities that God has entrusted to His people…

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11).

The following verse explains why God has established these leadership positions…

“for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).

With these responsibilities in mind, we can say that obedience and submission to spiritual authorities presumes they are acting in accord with these verses from the book of Ephesians. Since a church leader is responsible to build, strengthen, and prepare others to perform the work that God has given them to do, we are thus responsible to follow such leaders as they teach and speak on the authority of His Word.

Therefore, we can say that the words and actions of a good spiritual leader should go hand-in-hand with the accurate communication of God’s Word. We should also recognize that good spiritual leaders are those who prepare others to submit to God first. Jesus saved some of His harshest criticism for the religious authorities of His day who abandoned that concept…

“For Moses commanded, ‘Respect your father and your mother,’ and, ‘If you curse your father or your mother, you are to be put to death.’ But you teach that if people have something they could use to help their father or mother, but say, ‘This is Corban’ (which means, it belongs to God), they are excused from helping their father or mother. In this way the teaching you pass on to others cancels out the word of God. And there are many other things like this that you do” (Mark 7:10-13 GW).

In light of this, we should affirm the authority of those who rule over us as they lead in harmony with God’s Word.

“But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).

The need to do good and share with others is one of the first things a good parent seeks to teach a young child. Such lessons are important, for even small children can exhibit the characteristic qualities of greed, selfishness, or envy. Unfortunately, those attributes do not fade away in the lives of those who fail to learn such lessons. They simply become more sophisticated in disguising them as they grow older.

Thus, we have this reminder from Hebrews 13:16: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have…” (ESV). This directive aligns with a similar passage from 3 John 1:11 where we are told, “He who does good is of God…” It also corresponds with another portion of Scripture in Galatians 6:10: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

In addition, Hebrews 13:16 illustrates the realistic nature of the Scriptures when it comes to various aspects of human nature. For instance, this passage clearly acknowledges the fact that doing good and sharing may involve a sacrifice. Nevertheless, we can take comfort in knowing that such sacrifices are pleasing to God. We should also note that Jesus leads by example in this area, as illustrated by His teaching from the Beatitudes…

“But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust” (Matthew 5:44-45 GW).

Finally, the Biblical book of 1 Peter identifies the practical effect of these qualities on a specific group of individuals: “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people” (1 Peter 2:14 ESV). One source offers the following insight in commenting on a related concept from Galatians 6:10…

“Christians have a measure of responsibility to all people to do good, when the occasions arise. When Jesus fed the 5,000, both saved and unsaved participated. So the benevolence of Christians should not be restricted, except that believers are to have the priority. As in a home, family needs are met first, then those of the neighbors.

This passage then speaks clearly about Christian social responsibility, but it should be noted that it is addressed to individual believers. The church is not an agency for social work, though individual Christians are charged to minister in this way as they are able and have opportunity (cf. Rom_12:17-21)” ₍₁₎

(1) John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Bible Knowledge Commentary [p.610]

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Hebrews 13:15 ESV).

The following commentary on Hebrews 13:5 offers several important insights that are worthy of a lengthy excerpt…

“Hebrews 13:15 says, ‘Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.’ The terms sacrifice and praise might seem to be opposites. We think of sacrifice as offering something at great cost to ourselves. Praise, on the other hand, sounds joyful as it bubbles from a grateful heart. However, in the spiritual realm, sacrifice and praise are intertwined.

Praise does not always cost us something. We praise our dogs for fetching the ball and people for a job well done. Praise is often our response to some action that directly benefits us, and we feel generous because we extend it. We often find it easy to praise God from the same motivation. When He has blessed us, helped us, and protected us, we feel generous toward Him. We can sing, worship, and talk about how good He is because we can see it. That kind of praise, although worthwhile, does not cost us anything. It is not a sacrifice.

Then there are those times when God did not come through the way we thought He would. The medical test comes back positive. The spouse wants a divorce. A child is wayward. The mortgage company calls in the loan. God seems very far away, and praise is the last thing to bubble up from our hearts. We can’t see His goodness, and circumstances scream that He has forgotten us.

To praise God in those times requires personal sacrifice. It takes an act of the will to lay our all on the altar before a God we don’t understand. When we bring a ‘sacrifice of praise,’ we choose to believe that, even though life is not going as we think it should, God is still good and can be trusted (Psalm 135:2; Nahum 1:7). When we choose to praise God in spite of the storms, He is honored, and our faith grows deeper (Malachi 3:13-17; Job 13:15).

The command in Hebrews 13:15 says that this sacrifice is to be offered ‘continually.’ …Real praise continues regardless of circumstances. It flows continually from a worshiping heart in good times and bad (Acts 16:23-25).” ₍₁₎

(1) GotQuestions.org, “What does it mean to give a sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15)?” Retrieved 08 July, 2023 from https://www.gotquestions.org/sacrifice-of-praise.html

“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” (Hebrews 13:15).

We can often tell if someone is living a Christ-oriented life by examining the fruit of their words and actions. Just as we can tell the differences between fruit trees by the type of fruit they produce, we can often discern much about others by considering the “fruit” their words and/or deeds produce in their lives and the lives of others.

For instance, a person who seeks to honor God is someone who should be thankful for His daily blessings, for a thankful attitude is one that bears good fruit. Unlike those who seemingly look for areas of criticism or complaint, we should instead look to God in thankfulness for the blessings He extends to us each day.

This is not to say that the problems we experience are not real. Nor can we say that it is wrong to grieve at the tragedies and painful experiences we endure. However, we should note that praise to God is something that often represents a sacrifice, just as we read here in Hebrews 13:15. Thus, we offer “the sacrifice of praise to God,” even in the adversities, misfortunes, frustrations, and annoyances of daily life.

In such circumstances, we do not praise God because we feel like it. We praise God because He is worthy of it. Consider the following commentary on King David’s sinful experience with Bathsheba…

“After David sinned with Bathsheba and was confronted with his sin and repented, he prayed, ‘You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart’ (Ps. 51 :16, 17). God is interested in our praise, but He wants it to be from the heart. This is why our praise for God is a sacrifice.

Often I don’t feel like praising God. Oh, there are certainly times when praise for God just overflows from my life, and I can hardly contain it. But there are other times when praise is difficult. It is especially important that I praise God in those times, from the heart. You see, He doesn’t need anything from us. But praise is something that He wants from us. What an incredible privilege to be able to give something to God that He really wants! The sacrifices of praise.” ₍₁₎

(1) Chuck Smith, The Word For Today Bible, study note on Hebrews 13:15, pg. 1629