Concluding Benediction

Heb. 13: 18 – 25

Introduction

In ending his letter to the Hebrew Christians, I would say that the Apostle Paul has proven to them the superiority of Christ to all. He is more superior to all the angels and to all the Old Testament prophets and priests. He was also able to prove the superiority of the New Covenant compared to the Old Covenant, and the superiority of Christianity compared to Judaism. Until the very end, he encourages them to have faith in Christ and not to go back to Judaism.

I. Quest for Prayer (Heb. 13: 18-19)
A. Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly (Heb. 13:18). Paul emphasizes the importance of prayer. He personally wants their prayers. If the Apostle Paul needs the prayers of others, how much more people like us?
B. The Bible tells us to pray for one another. Pray for your Pastor. He needs it.
C. Because of prayer, many important events happened. In answer to prayer, the Lord made impossible things possible. It is said that prayers move the hand that moves the world. David Cloud wrote, “No prayer, no power, little prayer, little prayer, much prayer, much power”.
D. Paul’s enemies must have told many lies about him, but he affirms his honesty and integrity. His conscience is clear. He and his fellow servants have a good conscience. Through the blood of Christ, their conscience was made clean.
E. In verse19, we can clearly see that Paul was not able to visit them for some reason in which he had no control. This may be either by imprisonment, sickness, or just no opportunity to go there and be with them.

Illustration/Application: Pray for your Pastor
According to the latest poll 97 % of pastors have been betrayed, falsely accused by their trusted friends, 70% of pastors suffers depression, 50% of pastor’s marriage ends in divorce, 1500 pastors quit each month, 80% of pastors feel discouraged, 94 % of pastor’s family feel the pressure of the ministry, 78% of pastors have no close friends, 10% will retire a pastor, 90% of pastors work 55-75 hours per week. Pray for your Pastor.

II. Benediction (Heb. 13: 20- 21)
A. Now the God of peace… (Heb. 13:20). Our God is the God of peace. He is the author and the source of peace. The word peace in the New Testament is used to denote every kind of blessing or happiness. It is opposed to all that would disturb or trouble the mind, and may refer, therefore, to reconciliation with God; to a quiet conscience; to the evidence of pardoned sin; to health and prosperity; and to the hope of heaven (Barnes). Jesus said, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (Jn. 14:27) Because our peace is not affected by circumstances we can have peace in
every situation. Because of Christ, we can experience the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding. (Phil. 4:7)
B. Brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, (Heb. 13:20). The resurrection is the divine sign that Christ’s atonement was acceptable and complete. “The blood of Christ satisfied divine justice, and so procured Christ’s release from the prison of the grave, as having paid our debt, according to an eternal covenant or agreement between the Father and the Son; and this blood is the sanction and seal of an everlasting covenant between God and his people” (Matthew Henry).
C. “That great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (Heb. 13:20). As the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ died for the sheep (Jn. 10:11). As the Great Shepherd, He lives for the sheep in heaven today, working on their behalf. As the Chief Shepherd, He will come for the sheep at His return (1 Pet. 5:4). Our Shepherd cares for His own in the past, present, and future. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! The designation of shepherd reminds us of Christ’s tenderness, compassion and care of His children, the embodiment of Psalm 23.

Illustration/Application: A Touch of His Presence
It is said that the Eastern shepherd, as he brings his sheep back to the fold each night, stands at the door and counts each one. As he does so, he puts his hand on the head of each animal. He makes a habit of touching each one of them. If he were to grow careless and neglect to habitually touch his sheep, it would soon turn its head away when it heard his voice! This, of course, could be very serious, for with such a broken habit would follow the animal’s actually ignoring the warning shout from the shepherd and subsequently could be disastrous for the sheep.
If we are experiencing the Shepherd’s touch daily in our lives, then we will recognize His voice when He warns of impending danger. This will mean “practicing His presence” daily. It we do not practice His presence then we have probably been practicing the presence of our enemy. Our Lord awaits the moment to “touch” our day with His presence. -A Treasury of Bible Illustrations.

D. The blood of Christ on the cross sealed the everlasting covenant of the Gospel of which the resurrection of Christ from the dead was the surety. (PNTC).
E. The covenant that Jesus has made with every believer is everlasting.
1. It is everlasting because it was formed in the eternal councils of God (1 Pet. 1:20). In this sense, Christ is the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8)
2. It is also everlasting because it has no end. The eternal security of the believer could not be described more plainly. The new covenant is called “everlasting” in Isa. 55:3; Jer. 32:40; and Eze. 37:26.
F. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will (Heb. 13:21). The word perfect here in Greek means to make fully ready, to put in full order; to make complete. The meaning here is, that Paul prayed that God would fully endow them with whatever grace was necessary to do his will and to keep his commandments for His service.

Illustration/Application: Hanging Wheat Stalks Are Best
A farmer went with his son into a wheat-field to see if it was ready for the harvest.
“See, father,” exclaimed the boy, “how straight these stems hold up their heads! They must be the best ones. Those that hang their heads down I am sure cannot be good for much.”
The farmer plucked a stalk of each kind, and said,
“See here, foolish child! This stalk that stood so straight is light-headed, and almost good for nothing, while this that hung its head so modestly is full of the most beautiful grain.”
—William Foster Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.

III. Concluding Salutation:
A. And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words. (Heb. 13:22) The word beseech in Greek is “parakaleo” which means “an exhortation.” The word suffer comes from “anecho” and means “to allow, put up with, to endure.” Lots of what Paul wrote has not been easy and for others, “hard to really understand”. Paul is encouraging his readers to bear with it.
B. Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you. (Heb. 13:23) The phrase set at liberty means to “release or let go.”. Evidently Timothy was just released from prison, and likely to join the Paul in coming to them.
C. Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. Grace be with you all. Amen. (Hebrews 13:24-25) Paul greets the Pastors and the Church in general which is common to all Pauline letters. He closes with simple farewell: “Grace be with you all. Amen”

IV. Conclusion:
Though written to Jewish believers who are being tempted to go back to Judaism, it is of great value to all Christians. It tells us more about the intercessory work of our Lord Jesus Christ as our High Priest than any other book of the New Testament. Its warnings and exhortations are needed just as much today by Christians who are being tempted and struggling whether to live spiritually in obedience to God’s Words or not. I pray that the lessons we have taken have touched your hearts and enlightened your minds into loving more, obeying more, and serving more our only Saviour Jesus Christ who died for us all.