Sacrifices of Praise and Good Works
Study Scripture: Hebrews 13: 9 – 21
Background Scripture: 1 Peter 5
Lesson 12 August 23, 2025
Key Verse
By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15
INTRODUCTION
Our Study is on the Intended Life!
Our Study Lesson has been designed to have you examine and face up to the life you are living as you deal firstly with the world, and secondly with the congregation of God, the body of Christ.
These are the two categories of contact you have and hence our Lesson deals with the relationships professing believers have with the two kinds of people they interact with, the worldlings, and the believers.
All of what we read in this Chapter constitute the sacrifices of praise.
It gives us what we should do as “good works”. It teaches us and shows how true Christians are to live and behave as ambassadors for Christ and priests offering spiritual sacrifices.
We are therefore looking at helpful words and comments on the life of the believer. The comments by the Apostle are now at the end of this Book on the ultimate expressions in the life of those whose souls have been redeemed.
This is about your conversation. This word means about the manner of your life, your whole life, all the things that have to do with your life.
Be careful to note this is the climax of what some writers consider to be the preceding admonitions of Chapter 10:18
“Now where remission of these is there is no more offering for sin”.
In Chapter 12 the brethren have been reminded that they have come to Mount Zion and the glory of the New Covenant, and thus in the period between their conversion and the glory of their ultimate destiny they are called in this interim period while they live on earth to do great and marvellous things.
The redeemed must consider that they look forward to the coming of their Lord Jesus Christ and their entrance into their blessing and promised inheritance.
One writer makes it clear that the creed of the professing believer is to be followed by conduct.
The emphasis is on trust and obedience for some will in the interim period of life on earth experience suffering. They will have to always remember “Thus saith the Lord”, and this with the marvellous promises given by the Spirit of God will help them to react and please God in their suffering, The power of the indwelling Spirit of God will as one writer puts it,
‘Slay doubt, smite fear, lighten burdens, open prison doors and give spiritual delight in the experiences we undergo’.
“It is food for every grace and death to every sin”.
Chapter 12 lists a number of exemplary persons who obtained victory over their enemies because they trusted in God in the face of immense difficulties. They are great models of persevering and living faith.
This faith was found in individuals who though not perfect were nevertheless true believers, and as a result God approved the faith of each one.
These faithful were sometimes delivered from their persecutions, but in some cases there was no deliverance. Their reward would come after death, for despite the severe pressure under which they lived, they were all prepared to accept death without apostatizing.
Believers are thus encouraged to continue to trust and obey God despite the temptations that press on them to turn away from following God.
Life presents a challenge, and can be seen as a race filled with encumbrances and entanglements that can cause the believer to lose heart.
The manner of life is therefore stressed.
The imperative of Christian love is proclaimed
This love is not simple affection and it is different from the shallow meaning the world has for ‘love’.
‘Love’ is defined in the Bible by what Jesus did on the Cross and it is to be viewed in that light as stated:
“Herein is love that he has suffered Himself as propitiation for our sins”.
For Christian believers therefore love is sacrificial love and not as one writer state, the shallow love of the world shown in musicaland other dramas.
Hence the Biblical command begins this chapter, “Let brotherly love continue”.
The word used for brotherly love is philadelphia.
One writer commenting on this tells us the writer of the book of Hebrews assumes brotherly love would continue among those in the church. He then examines several words for love in that period of time:
“1. In the ancient Greek language of the New Testament, there were four words at hand that we might translate love.
Eros was one word for love. It described, as we might guess from the word itself, erotic love, referring to sexual love.
2. Storge was a second word for love. It referred to family love, the kind of love between a parent and child or between family members in general.
3. Agape was another word for love. It is the most powerful word for love in the New Testament, and was often used to describe God’s love toward us.
It is a love that loves without changing.
It is a self-giving love that gives without demanding or expecting re-payment.
It is love so great that it can be given to the unlovable or unappealing.
It is love that loves even when it is rejected.
Agape love gives and loves because it wants to; it does not demand or expect repayment from the love given- it gives because it loves, it does not love in order to receive.
Agape love isn’t about feelings; it is about decisions.
4. But the word for ‘love’ used in Hebrews 13:1 is Philadelphia, coming from the root philia. This ancient Greek word spoke of brotherly friendship and affection. It is the love of deep friendship and partnership.
There should always be plenty of this kind of love among Christians, and it should continue”.
Note the Christian has been transformed and their minds renewed. They are not conformed to the world but though they live in it live a transformed life. They reject the terribly wicked philosophy of the world.
So, we now have the first application is made: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers”.
This means hospitality is important
We are clearly told we do not have to be the Hylton or the Sheraton to entertain at that level..
Then, second, “Remember those that are in bonds”.
Those of the world only care about entertaining their friends and those in their limited circles, and those whose relationships will benefit them socially or financially.
That simply means for those in bonds you are to enter into feelings with them, remembering these others are human beings and they often will suffer adversity. One writer puts it this way:
“Christians are to have eyes and ears and hearts open to those who are in need and around them, whether in or otherwise oppressed or mistreated, and to do something about it.
Here is a call to the ministry of compassion”.
Then, third, the focus is on chastity in a world of what one calls “moral pygmies”, a world opposed to the Word of God.
Marital love is to be honoured.
Christians must not follow the loose sexual standards of the world for that is dangerous and lead to tragedy. God will judge the immoral, the fornicators, and the adulterers.
Then, there is a warning about materialism. Believers are to be free from the love of money. This does not mean they should take a vow of poverty. They should not live a life “keeping up with the Joneses”.
They are to be content with what they have. They should not violate the line between what is needed for life and ministry, and needless luxury. They should remember God’s promise “I will never fail you nor forsake you”.
Then, the brethren are to “Remember those who rule over you”.
This is wisdom for the world is in a constant time of change and the great empires have come and gone. The Phoenicians, the Parthians, the Syrians, the Assyrians, the Mongol empire, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, and all the modern empires, the English, the Spanish, the French, the USSR, and the many others have all faded away. Those that are still existing are in the process of fading.
Even the church at Ephesus which had left its first love no longer exists.
It is therefore most important to remember those who are ruling over the church and the brethren should imitate their faith for they have an unchangeable Lord and a faith that believed in Jesus Christ; and that He saves, has everlasting love, and has the strength to preserve His people.
This Jesus Christ is “The same yesterday, today, and forever” and His doctrines and the faith in Him never change.
Note that the idea is that we are to follow the leader, the Lord Jesus Christ, and those He appointed as His under-shepherds. They are appointed to show their faith in Him and carry out their ministry under His direction and the direction of the Holy Spirit that indwells them.
Believers are to keep their feet and keep their hands ready to work. They are to move for the Lord. Understanding Jesus, keeping our eyes fixed on Him gives us this new perspective on suffering and shows us what we are supposed to do.
THE TEXT
Verse 9. Hence the warning is given not to be carried away by strange doctrines.
There are many of these. The history of Christianity shows the alarming frequency with which these strange doctrines emerge. Judaism suffered having the same strange doctrines alongside biblical teaching, for many deviated from the faith.
The salvation from God comes from the grace of the unchangeable God, and this grace establishes the heart. Believers should not fall victim to false rules and not with foods that have not profited those that are preoccupied with them.
Note there were food faddists who insisted on non-biblical rules which have no spiritual value. So some will give up certain foods for Lent, burn candles and perform other rituals, count beads, and follow and encourage practices which have no biblical basis and hence have no spiritual value. These practices do not benefit.
Verse 10. It certainly was difficult for those following the rules proposed by the rulers in Judaism to break away from the old life when believers came to know the Lord Jesus Christ. The offence of the Cross was something that was in conflict with the glory of Temple worship and practice and the many offerings on the Temple altar.
But though Rome had conquered and trampled on Israel and swept away the rituals and religious practices, the priesthood, the beautiful garments and processions, with the morning and evening sacrifices and splendid liturgy, the grace of God had made Jew and Gentile in one body and in Christ they had an altar.
Those who had a right to eat from the old Temple altar had no right to benefit from the new altar . They did not accept the value of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ and accept the Levitical system had been superseded by the sacrifice of the true Lamb of God.
Verse 11. The writer of Hebrews now turned to an illustration of what the Levitical system did and what its practices could not achieve.
In that system sin offerings were brought to the tabernacle or the Temple. The animals were slain, its blood brought to the Mercy Seat. But the bodies of the sin offering animals were then taken outside the camp and burnt there. The priests could not eat of the sin offerings but could eat of the other burnt offerings and the other offerings.
Christians were attacked because they did not have an altar, but they did have an altar and a sacrifice when the Lord Jesus came for the rulers took Him outside the camp, outside of the city of Jerusalem and put Him to death on a Cross. He was sacrificed “outside the gate”.
Verse 12. Jesus sanctified the people with His own blood, and suffered “outside the gate”.
The altar was in fact the Cross. See 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 and 2:1-5.
God the Father rejected the religion of the world and only regarded what was done in Christ “outside the gate”, for Jesus Christ was the altar that believers have.
Only the quiet act of faith in Him was required and this salvation was available to all who had simple, uncomplicated faith in Him.
Verse 13. We are therefore encouraged to go to Jesus “outside the camp”. There we will have to bear the reproach of the Jews for to them the Cross was an outrageous end and to the Greek or Gentiles it was foolishness.
The Gentles even called Christians ‘atheists’ because there was no objective evidence of a God, no altar, no physical sacrifices, no buildings or temples, and no ceremonies.
We therefore know the eternal God has been sacrificed on the Cross having been rejected by those of Judaism. But He is still living and we can bear the Cross for that signifies we are in Him and identified with Him.
We have joined the heroes of faith
Verse 14. Since we have the true and only offering for sin we are not of the world. We do not get trapped into the things they get trapped in.
We believers have a Christ and redemption is complete. The saving work is finished. Sins have been forgiven and forgiveness is available to all. The future is settled.
But our redemption has an aspect which is to come to those believers in Christ.
So believers seek a city to come. The continuing city is the New Jerusalem.
Verse 15. Because we know all these things, and we know our Redeemer and our God, and we know the promises we therefore meekly offer the sacrifice of service.
We have a worship and that worship is acceptable to God for it is though Christ.
The Christian sacrifices himself or herself, their person, by giving praises continually, without ceasing. They thank God for the Cross, and for the many acts of mercy and compassion that are new every morning, all done to us by His love.
On this practical side of life one writer comments:
“Let us remember that meekness is the ability to take praise without conceit, and blame without resentment. This is the curriculum of grace,
“Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in hear” (Matthew 11:29)
Therefore let us go forth to him outside the camp, for here we have no lasting city, that is, nothing permanent.
Then there is the sacrifice of praise, “let us continually offer praise to God”. As Paul says to the Thessalonians “In everything give thanks” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
I have learned to gauge the spiritual life of a Christian by noting the absence or presence of a complaining spirit.
When Christians complain they have obviously failed to grasp the great truth that everything has been sent for a purpose. Therefore “in everything give thanks”.
If all we can do is gripe, grumble, groan, moan and complain it shows that we have failed to believe what God says is true”.
Verse 16. Remember praise is not the only sacrifice we can do to please God. Worship is not the only other sacrifice to please God.
They are important. But we must do good.
Romans 2:13 states, “distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality”.
We must share for God is well pleased with that.
Verse 17. The responsibility of the brethren is to support the leaders. Submission to the leaders must be dome for leaders have a right to tell us how to live and walk in the way Jesus walked.
Verse 7 has laid down the basis for this submission and so we quote:
“Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct”.
Some leaders are pleasing to God and it is a joy to follow them. Sadly some are not so good and they do not minister as Jesus requires. They bring grief to the saints.
The history of Christianity is full of leaders who have been devoted to seeking money for themselves, (simony), power for themselves and their family (nepotism), and are ruled by sexual lusts.
Let all leaders understand they like the brethren will stand on the Day of Judgment. Their discrimination and their abuses of the flock will be dealt with by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Be warned therefore that submission is often carried too far. One writer notes,
“A teacher should teach us to submit to God, not to himself”
Verses 18-19. The saints have a great responsibility they should never forget. They are priests of God called to offer spiritual sacrifices. One Bible scholar and pastor notes:
“This does not relieve individual responsibility but it puts an additional accountability and responsibility on leaders”.
In the imperative Greek verb tense the Saints therefore are told they must pray for the shepherds.
Saints are to pray and work honestly with leaders and all the brethren so that all will please God.
The writer of Hebrews urges the brethren to pray. He hopes and looks forward to be with them soon.
Verses 20-21. So the focus is on life at the centre. As was the blessing of the priests written in Numbers 6:22-27, the writer of this Book prays for the readers.
He blesses the Father and the Spirit. He calls God the God of peace who established the great and everlasting covenant in eternity. They agreed to set up this covenant and the Lord Jesus the Great Shepherd voluntarily came and shed His blood to save.
God was pleased with Him and His sacrifice and brought Him from the dead,
1 Peter 5 utters the same sentiments as this Chapter.
The writer here prays that the brethren will be complete in every good work.
Let us note carefully that the God of peace is the only One that can make you live at a peaceful level. Then and only then will you have complete mental health. He is the source.
Then note He is your great shepherd. You need Him as your shepherd for you are helpless, and as sheep have no wisdom and no weapons.
You cannot defend yourself from your enemies. You cannot find your way back to safety. You are really just like sheep.
But note in this blessing that you are blessed because your shepherd was brought from the dead after suffering by the blood of the Eternal Covenant.
You have thus been reminded of the Cross and of the Resurrection.
CONCLUSION
So ask yourself what you have been given!
You have been given the eternal covenant.
You have been given the power of the resurrected Christ for you are in Him. He has equipped you to do His will.
You can do good. You have no excuse to not do good, for He has enabled you to never fail in service.
When you walk in the way He leads you cannot help but please Him.
What a mighty Gospel!
Examine yourself and get rid of anything that will entangle you and slow down your race.
Do not be afraid to be hard on yourself.
Do not let your feebleness keep you from the race. So therefore one writer puts these words of Scripture in plain language for your benefit. He states:
“Tape up your ankles. Find out where there is weakness.
Help the one who is beside you.
But let us get on with the race, throwing off our burdens, cutting off our entanglements, cheered on by the martyrs, fixing our eyes on Christ, strengthening our limbs.
Let us get on with the race”.