The Benediction and Closing Salutation in the Book of Hebrews

Without God, people have no peace (Is 57:21; 59:8; Jer 6:14; 8:11). Sinners sin (Rom 3:23; 5:12); and sin is lawlessness (1 Jn 3:4). People who break laws victimize others. Sin hurts us and others. This sinful world, in rebellion against God, must be judged by God (Jer 23:5; 33:15). The Day of the Lord is a day of justice, vindication, and vengeance (Dt 32:35; Is 34:8; Jer 46:10; Lk 21:22). It will be a terrifying day for those outside of Christ (Zeph 1:18; 2 Pet 3:10–12). They will suffer the second death as an eternal punishment — an apt consequence for sins against the infinite majesty of God (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 2:11; 20:6, 14–15).

The day of judgment for the Christian has already occurred (Is 53:5; Rom 15:3). Some two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ cut and secured the eternal covenant with His precious blood upon the cross of Calvary (Mt 26:28; Heb 13:20d). In this, the writer issues the title, “the Great Shepherd of the sheep” (13:20b). Jesus taught that as the Good Shepherd, He lays down His life for His sheep (Jn 10:11, 15). Christ died for us, the sheep of his pasture (Ps 100:3). He came to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). He purchased His church with His precious blood (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 1:19; Rev 5:9).

The covenant partners, God the Father and God the Son, accomplished what no one or no group could do. Jesus, the true Israel and head of His church (Is 49:1–6; Col 1:18), successfully represented His people, as their advocate with the Father (1 Jn 2:1). He paid-in-full and permanently cancelled out our debt of sin (Col 2:14). Full forgiveness for sin has been achieved; so that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1). Jesus sacrificial offering of Himself was accepted by God, who has raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to the position of judge over all the earth (Gen 18:25; Jn 5:22; Acts 17:31).

The God of peace has executed the perfect peace agreement (Rom 5:1; 13:20a-b). The resurrection from the dead is divine confirmation that God’s chosen people have been redeemed and reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:18–20). We have peace with God and peace from God (Eph 2:14–15; Phil 4:7; Col 1:20). Jesus Himself is our peace because Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed (1 Cor 5:7).

Jesus our Lord, by His own meritorious work in life and in death secured permanent right standing before God, for Himself, as the God-man, the federal head of a new race of humanity (Jer 23:6; 1 Jn 2:1). As the second (last) Adam (1 Cor 15:45), Jesus is gathering His holy nation of royal priests, chosen by God (1 Pet 2:9). Having received our right standing with God by imputation, God’s people are in Christ (Rom 3:22; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 5:21), who is in God the Father. Nothing can separate us from God because He keeps us, not we ourselves (Rom 8:31–39; Jude 2).

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He was received as the King of glory (Ps 24), having been enthroned at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33; 7:55–56; Rom 8:34; Heb 1:3; 8:1; 12:2; 1 Pet 3:22). The Father and the Son then sent God the Holy Spirit to baptize God’s elect (Mt 3:11; 28:19), redeemed people (Jn 14:26; 15:26). That work of baptizing and gathering continues, today, on a global scale.

This prayer of blessing to the God of peace (13:20–21), through Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit, from the writer and for the congregation, is that God would equip them in every good thing to do God’s will (13:21a). This prayer for the saints is for alignment with the will of God, as His will is now revealed for us in the full canon of the Bible. As new creatures in Christ, our ambition is to please God (2 Cor 5:9, 17; Heb 13:21b). It is faith in Christ that is pleasing to God (Heb 11:6). Thus, the result is for faith to manifest good works (Jas 2:14–26), the production of fruit that remains (Jn 15:16).

God’s grace is His working all things (Rom 8:28), according to His sovereign will (Eph 1:11), for the benefit of those called, beloved, and kept for Jesus Christ (Jude 2). The Mediator through which God’s grace comes to the saints is Jesus Christ (1 Tim 2:5; Heb 9:15; 12:24). For example, God grants repentance and gives faith to those He has caused to be born again (Jn 3:1–8; Acts 5:31; 11:18; Gal 3:22; Phil 1:29; 1 Pe 1:3). He does this by giving them the Holy Spirit, who permanently indwells every Christian (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11; Heb 11:5). The Spirit leads and guides the believers on the narrow way of life — new, abundant, and eternal (Jn 10:10; Rom 6:4; 2 Cor 5:17; 1 Jn 5:11–13).

It is God who works in us (13:21b). It is God who equips us (13:21a). It is Him, willing and doing His good pleasure (Phil 22:13). He performs all our works (Is 26:12), prepared for us by Him beforehand (Eph 2:10). As the Potter, He is molding us into conformity to the perfect God-man (Jer 18; Rom 8:29; 9:19–24), Jesus our Lord. He who began this good work in us will bring it to completion (Phil 1:6).

The author of this letter/sermon closes with a final encouragement to heed what has been written/preached to them…and to us as a sure Word to edify us in our Christian walk (13:22–25). This word of exhortation is to be believed and acted upon by the brethren (13:22). In the original setting it was the Jewish Christians who were being pressured to return to Judaism. Together with them, we rejoice in this brief sermon, regarding the One who is superior to everyone and everything.

God’s grace has taught us that Jesus is not only superior, He is supreme. Even as Timothy was released from jail, we have been released from bondage to works-based religion of any kind. Our salvation, which belongs to the Lord (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1), has been secured for us by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 1:4; 2:13).

As the writer and the congregation were anticipating a reunion, we, too, look forward to our release from this world and reunion with all the saints in heaven (Phil 1:23). This is all God’s grace to us. It remains for us to look to Jesus (Heb 12:2), with the eyes of faith (Eph 1:18), and to marvel at the hope of glory living in us (Col 1:27).

It is right for us to rejoice and give thanks in all the truth revealed to us in the book of Hebrews (1 Thess 5:16–18). It is also right for us to ascribe all honor to the God of peace, to Jesus our Lord, and to the Spirit of truth to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (13:21d).

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

July 23, 2024

Hebrews 13:20–25