Hebreus 13

¹ LetHe comes to the second table of the law, the sum of which is charity, especially toward strangers and such as are afflicted.brotherly love continue.

² Be not forgetfull to intertaine strangers: for thereby some haue receiued Angels into their houses vnwares.

³ Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; [and] them which suffer adversity, asBe so touched, as if their misery were yours.being yourselves also in the body.

⁴ He commends chaste matrimony in all sorts of men, and threatens utter destruction from God against whoremongers and adulterers.Marriage [is] honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

⁵ Covetousness is condemned, against which is set a contented mind with that which the Lord has given.[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: forEven the Lord himself.he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

⁶ So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear whatHe contrasts man with God.man shall do unto me.

⁷ We have to set before us the examples of valiant captains, whom we ought diligently to follow.Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of [their] conversation.

⁸ He repeats the sum of the doctrine, that is, the only ground of all precepts of conduct, and that is this: That we ought to quiet and content ourselves in Christ only: for there has never been any man saved without the knowledge of him, neither is there today, nor shall there be ever.Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

⁹ Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.He speaks to those who mixed an external worship and especially the difference of meats with the gospel which he clearly condemns as repugnant to the benefit of Christ.For [it is] a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not withBy this one form which concerns the difference of clean and unclean meat, we have to understand all the ceremonial worship.meats, which have not profited them that have beenWho observed the difference of them superstitiously.occupied therein.

¹⁰ He refutes their error by an apt and fit comparison. They who in times past served the Tabernacle, did not eat of the sacrifices whose blood was brought for sin into the holy place by the high priest. Moreover these sacrifices represented Christ our offering. Therefore they cannot be partakers of him if they serve the tabernacle, that is, stand in the service of the law: but let us not be ashamed to follow him out of Jerusalem, from which he was cast out and suffered for in this also Christ, who is the truth, answers that type in that he suffered outside the gate.We have anBy the altar, he means the offerings.altar, whereof they have no right to eat whichOf which they cannot be partakers, who stubbornly retain the rites of the law.serve the tabernacle.

¹¹ For the bodies of those beastes whose blood is brought into the Holy place by the high Priest for sinne, are burnt without the campe.

¹² Therefore euen Iesus, that he might sanctifie the people with his owne blood, suffered without the gate.

¹³ He goes on further in this comparison, and shows that this also signified to us, that the godly followers of Christ must go out of the world bearing his cross.Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

¹⁴ For here haue we no continuing citie: but we seeke one to come.

¹⁵ Now that those physical sacrifices are taken away, he teaches us that the true sacrifices of confession remain, which consist partly in giving thanks, and partly in liberality, with which sacrifices indeed God is now delighted.By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.

¹⁶ To doe good, and to distribute forget not: for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

¹⁷ We must obey the warnings and admonitions of our ministers and elders, who watch for the salvation of the souls that are committed to them.Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.

¹⁸ The last part of this epistle, in which he commends his ministry to the Hebrews, and wishes them steadfastness and increase of graces from the Lord: and excuses himself in that he has used but few words to comfort them having spent the epistle in disputing: and salutes certain brethren in a familiar and friendly manner.Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

¹⁹ And I desire you somewhat the more earnestly, that yee so doe, that I may be restored to you more quickly.

²⁰ The God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus, the great shepheard of the sheepe, through the blood of the euerlasting Couenant,

²¹ Make youMake you fit or suitable.perfect in every good work to do his will,From this comes that saying of the fathers, that God crowns his work in us.working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.

²² I beseeche you also, brethren, suffer the wordes of exhortation: for I haue written vnto you in fewe wordes.

²³ Knowe that our brother Timotheus is deliuered, with whome (if hee come shortly) I will see you.

²⁴ Salute all them that haue the ouersight of you, and all the Saintes. They of Italie salute you.

²⁵ Grace be with you all, Amen. Written to the Hebrewes from Italie, and sent by Timotheus.