As we join Jesus outside the camp of worldly acceptance and living, seeking the city to come, how ought we to live? According to verses 15 to 19 of Hebrews 13, we should offer praise to God, share our lives and possessions with each other, and obey the leaders God has given us.
Firstly, we are encouraged to offer up praise to God. In verse 15, we are encouraged to “through him … continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Instead of offering up rams as sacrifices to God, we are instead to offer up a sacrifice of praise. This sacrifice is offered up through Jesus, empowered by him and not by our own strength. Our lifestyle ought to be one of praise continually offered up to God, in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
The sacrifice of praise to God is described as “the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name”. The author has in mind Hosea 14:2 which encourages Israel to return to God, asking him to forgive their iniquity and they will then “pay with bulls the vows of our lips”. The Greek translation of Hosea 14:2 says “pay the fruits of our lips”. The idea here is that what we speak and say ought to offer up praise to God, both in what we say and how we say it. Our words should be like bulls cast upon the altar of our lips, sacrificed to God.
Secondly, we are encouraged to share our lives and possessions with each other. “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (v.16). Rather than viewing our time and possessions as existing solely for our benefit, we should view them as possessions which we can use to help each other and do good deeds.
Instead of offering animals as sacrifices to please God, we offer up good deeds and our possessions to help each other out, seeing these as sacrifices offered up to God. In place of putting the ram on the altar, we might put the ram on a spit roast for us all to enjoy as a meal, so to speak. Serving one another with what we have, and doing good is a sacrifice which is pleasing to God, and acceptable to him.
Thirdly, we are called to obey our leaders. Verse 17 says “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.” This sounds hard and scary in our day of caution about authority, especially when it has been abused. But God places the eldership over us to care for us, guarding over our souls as under-shepherds. When we submit to them, we make the job easier, which helps them do so with joy instead of groaning!
We also have a timely reminder to keep the leadership of the church in prayer. We should pray that we might be faithfully taught and led in the green pastures of God’s word, and encouraged to live our lives as sacrifices pleasing to God. The leadership of the church desires our prayers for them, that they may grow in grace and godliness, and in turn help us to do the same. Pray for your pastor! Pray for the elders and deacons, of this and every faithful congregation.
As we go outside the camp, we can devote our lives to God and each other as a thank offering. Best of all, we can be sure that God will find our feeblest offerings pleasing and acceptable, because Jesus’ sacrifice has brought us peace with God.
