Hebrews 13:18 - Meaning and Application

Here, first, the apostle asks the Hebrew believers, the Jewish Christians, to pray for him and his fellow workers (Hebrews 13:18). He says, “Pray for us,” meaning himself, Timothy, and the others who labored in the gospel ministry. This was part of what people owed their ministers, because ministers need the prayers of the people. The more earnestly believers pray for their ministers, the more benefit they can expect from their ministry.

They should pray that God would teach those who are to teach them. They should ask that he would make them alert, wise, zealous, and fruitful. They should also pray that he would help them in their work, support them under their burdens, and strengthen them in their temptations. Paul gives two reasons for asking this prayer.

First, he says, “We trust we have a good conscience,” and that he wants to live honorably in all things (Hebrews 13:18). Many Jews had a low opinion of Paul because, though he was a Hebrew, he had set aside the Levitical law, the law connected with the priests and sacrifices, and preached Christ. So he gently defends his integrity. He speaks modestly, saying “we trust,” rather than “we know,” to show humility and teach us not to be overconfident about ourselves. A good conscience is clear, tender, faithful, and in line with God’s truth. It reaches to all God’s commands, in duties toward God and toward other people, and especially in ministry.

Even those who have such a good conscience still need the prayers of others. In fact, careful and faithful ministers are a blessing to the public and deserve the prayers of the people. Paul’s second reason is that he hoped to be restored to them sooner if they prayed for him (Hebrews 13:19). This shows that he had been among them before, that he truly wanted to come back, and that prayer would help make his return a blessing to both sides. When ministers come as an answer to prayer, they often come with greater peace to themselves and greater usefulness to the people. We should seek all our blessings through prayer.

Second, Paul prays for them, since he is willing to do for them what he asks them to do for him. He begins, “Now the God of peace” (Hebrews 13:20). That title is beautiful, because God made a way for peace between himself and sinners, and he loves peace on earth, especially in his churches. Paul then speaks of what God has done: he brought our Lord Jesus back from the dead. Jesus rose by his own power, and yet the Father was involved, showing that justice had been satisfied and the law fulfilled. Christ rose for our justification, that is, so we might be counted right with God, and the same power that raised him can do all that we need.

Paul also gives Christ these titles, “our Lord Jesus” and “the great shepherd of the sheep.” Jesus is our ruler, our Savior, and the promised Shepherd spoken of in (Isaiah 40:11), and he himself said that he is the good shepherd in (John 10:14-15). Ministers are only under-shepherds; Christ is the great Shepherd. This shows his deep care for his people. They are the flock he feeds, leads, and watches over.

Paul then explains the way God is reconciled and Christ is raised, “through the blood of the everlasting covenant” (Hebrews 13:20). Christ’s blood satisfied divine justice and secured his release from death after paying our debt. It also seals the eternal covenant, the lasting agreement, between God and his people. Then Paul asks that God would “make you perfect in every good work” (Hebrews 13:21). He means that believers should be made complete in holiness, with clear minds, clean hearts, warm affections, steady wills, and strength for every good duty now, and finally brought to full fitness for heaven.

God makes his people perfect by working in them what pleases him, through Jesus Christ. No good thing is produced in us except by God’s work. He works in us before we are fit for any good work at all. And nothing good comes to us from God except through Jesus Christ, for his sake and by his Spirit. For that reason, all glory belongs to Christ, because he is the source of all the good principles in us and all the good works done by us. To this, every believer should say, Amen.

Third, Paul tells the Hebrews that Timothy has been set free and that he hopes to see them with Timothy soon (Hebrews 13:23). Timothy, Paul’s coworker, had apparently been a prisoner, most likely for the gospel, but now he was released. The imprisonment of faithful ministers is an honor to them, and their release is a joy to the church. Paul is glad at the thought of seeing Timothy, and also of seeing the Hebrews with him. Faithful ministers value opportunities to write to Christ’s churches, and those opportunities are a pleasure to them.

Fourth, after giving a brief account of the letter and asking them to pay attention to it (Hebrews 13:22), Paul ends with greetings and a short, solemn blessing. He sends greetings from himself to their leaders and to all the saints, that is, to all the believers there. He also sends greetings from the Christians in Italy. Christian love should be written in believers’ hearts toward one another. True religion teaches the best kindness and courtesy. It is not harsh or gloomy.

He closes with a brief blessing: “Grace be with you all. Amen” (Hebrews 13:25). He asks that God’s favor would be with them and that his grace would keep working in them and with them, bringing forth holiness now as the first taste of glory to come. When God’s people have spoken together by word or letter, it is good to part with prayer, asking for one another the continuing presence of God’s grace, so that they may meet again in the world of praise.