"THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS" Closing Words Befitting A Grand Epistle (13:18-25) INTRODUCTION 1. We now come to the closing words of what is truly "a grand epistle"... a. One that has been described as: 1) Beginning like an essay 2) Progressing like a sermon 3) Ending like a letter b. In which we noted systematic arguments upholding: 1) The superiority of Jesus Christ 2) The superiority of the New Covenant dedicated by His blood c. Where we have been exhorted to: 1) Draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith 2) Hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering 3) Consider one another in order to stir up love and good works 4) Run with endurance the race set before us, looking to Jesus as we do so 5) Purse peace with all men and holiness 6) Heed the voice of Him who speaks from heaven 7) Serve God with reverence and godly fear 8) Love the brethren, display hospitality to strangers, and remember the prisoners 9) Uphold the sanctity of marriage and avoid covetousness 10) Avoid various and strange doctrines, obeying those who rule over us in the Lord 2. With the last eight verses, we find: a. A request for prayer in behalf of the author - He 13:18-19 b. A benediction offered in behalf of the readers - He 13:20-21 c. A final exhortation, comment and farewell - He 13:22-25 3. I am suggesting that these verses serve as "Closing Words Befitting A Grand Epistle"... a. For they touch upon themes developed earlier in the epistle b. Therefore serving as a close worthy of such an epistle as we have studied [As we take this opportunity to reflect upon these closing words, we first observe the author's...] I. REQUEST FOR PRAYER (18-19) A. ONE REASON FOR HIS REQUEST... 1. He is confident of "a good conscience", desiring to live honorably a. The mention of a good conscience brings to mind several verses - He 9:9,14; 10:22 b. Through the blood of Christ, his conscience has made clean to serve God 2. Certainly their prayers in his behalf would be for a good purpose... a. To bless a man whose has been cleansed by the blood of Christ! b. To bless a man who desires to live honorably! B. ANOTHER REASON FOR HIS REQUEST... 1. To be restored to them sooner 2. Thus he expresses his intention to come them [Having requested their prayers, the author reciprocates with a prayer of his own...] II. BENEDICTION OFFERED IN THEIR BEHALF (20-21) A. MAY GOD... 1. Described as "the God of peace" a. A description found often in Paul's letters - Ro 15:33; 16:20; 1Th 5:23; Php 4:9 b. He is the source of peace (note the salutations in most epistles) 2. "who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead" a. This is the only explicit reference to Jesus' resurrection in the epistle b. Though it is assumed in passages which speak of Christ at the right hand of God - cf. He 1:3; 4:14; 9:24 10:12; 12:2 3. Jesus is described as "that great Shepherd of the sheep" - cf. Jn 10:11,14 B. MAKE YOU COMPLETE... 1. "in every good work to do His will" a. The author wants them to be complete in doing God's will b. Yet he recognizes that they cannot do it on their own, they will need God's help! 2. How will God make them complete in every good work to do His will? a. "through the blood of the everlasting covenant" 1) This refers, of course, to the blood of Jesus a) Which is able to purge our conscience from dead works - He 9:14 b) By which Jesus has become the Mediator of the New Covenant - He 9:15 2) By this blood Jesus has "perfected forever those who are being sanctified" - He 10:10,14 -- Through the blood of Jesus, then, God is able to make us complete in every good work to do His will b. "working in you what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ" 1) Not only are we cleansed by the blood of Jesus, but God works in us to do what pleases Him! a) This is reminiscent of Paul's comments in Php 2:12-13 b) That as we "work out" our salvation, God "works in" us! 2) Instrumental in God working in us is the role of His Spirit... a) We are strengthened by God's Spirit in the inner man - Ep 3:16 b) It is by the Spirit we can put to death the deeds of the body - Ro 8:13 -- It is by both the blood of Jesus and the work of the Spirit that we are truly "washed", "justified" and "sanctified" - 1Co 6:11; Tit 3:5-7 [While we are admonished throughout this epistle to be steadfast, this closing prayer reminds that we are not alone. In His grace and mercy, God aids in our desires and efforts to do His will! And now at last, we notice...] III. A FINAL EXHORTATION, COMMENT, AND FAREWELL (22-25) A. HIS FINAL EXHORTATION (22) 1. To "bear with the word of exhortation" a. This epistle has truly been one of exhorting them; we have exhortations against... 1) Drifting from what they have heard - He 2:1-4 2) Departing from the living God - He 3:12-15 3) Disobedience to His Word - He 4:11-13 4) Dullness of hearing - He 5:11-6:6 5) Despising God's grace - He 10:26-39 6) Defying Him who now speaks from heaven - He 12:14-29 b. While at times he has written rather strongly, he encourages them to bear with it 2. While one of the longer epistles in the New Testament, it was still "written to you in few words" (compare it with some of the writings of the "church fathers"!) B. A COMMENT REGARDING TIMOTHY (23) 1. "Our brother Timothy" - most likely he who was Paul's constant companion 2. Evidently just released from prison, and likely to join the author in coming to them C. GREETINGS AND FAREWELL (24-25) 1. Greetings from the author... a. To "all those who rule over you", i.e., their elders (cf. He 13:7,17) b. To "all the saints", i.e., the rest of the Christian 2. Greetings from "those from Italy"; this suggests two possibilities... a. The author was writing from Italy, passing along greetings from those present b. The author was writing to Italy, sending greetings from those with him who were from there 3. A simple farewell: "Grace be with you all. Amen" CONCLUSION 1. So ends "the word of exhortation", that grand epistle known simply as "The Epistle To The Hebrews" (or "To The Hebrews") 2. Though written to Jewish Christians, with their particular need in mind... a. It is of great value to all Christians b. It tells us more about the intercessory work of our Lord as High Priest than any other book of the New Testament c. Its warnings and exhortations are needed just as much today by Christians who are being tempted to leave Christ and go back into the world Especially these words found in Hebrews 10:19-25... "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God," "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." I pray that our study has served the same purpose, to encourage us all to "draw near" to God, to "hold fast" the hope we confess, and to stir up "love and good works".xecutable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011
