Art Toombs Ministries
Online Bible Commentary
Good Works Please God and Glorify Christ
Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 22 And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly. 24 Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. 25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
The early Eastern Church (Dionysius and Clement, both of Alexandria), from the second century, claimed Paul was the writer of Hebrews. The Western Church later agreed.
Luke translated the letter to the Hebrews into Greek, according to Clement in the second century. Luke was with Paul during his second Roman imprisonment and was his amanuensis during Paul’s final days (2 Timothy 4:11).
It is likely that Luke was also Paul’s amanuensis for this letter. My conclusion is that this was Paul’s last writing, written in late A.D. 67-early A.D.68
In this letter, Paul is writing to Hebrews who have converted to Christianity from Judaism. Family and friends are likely pressuring them to return to Judaism, so Paul is writing to these Hebrew Christians to encourage them to remain steadfast in their faith and not to return to Judaism.
The book of Hebrews is divided into two main topics Through Hebrews 10:18 the topic is the superiority of Christ to Judaism. The rest of the book is devoted to exhortations to obedient living, a fitting conclusion to Paul’s writings.
Initially, in this second topic, Paul gave examples of great men and women of faith who were honored for their obedient living. Now, he is exhorting Christians to obedient living.
In this final passage in the book of Hebrews contains the benediction and final greetings from Paul. Paul knew those to whom he wrote and they knew him.
Paul begins by writing “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant” (v. 20). The benediction from Paul to the first century Hebrew Christians is a blessing of “the God of peace” (v. 20a). It was a blessing made possible by the blood of the resurrected Christ which established the New Covenant, “the everlasting covenant” (v. 20b).
Paul continues with “make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (v. 21). The literal translation of the Greek in verse twenty-one is as follows: “perfect you in every good work for the to do the will of Him, doing in you the thing pleasing before Him, through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory to the ages of the ages. Amen.”
The blessing was to perfect, or equip, believers for every good work. This perfection was so that Christians do the will of God, which pleases God and glorifies Christ forever.
The perfection comes “through Jesus Christ” working in our lives in the form of His spirit, the Holy Spirit. This benediction is similar to that which Paul wrote in his previous writing to Timothy: “So that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2Ti. 3:17).
Next, Paul writes “And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation” (v. 22a). Paul urges the Hebrew Christians to “bear with the word of exhortation”.
This is a reference to the whole letter, the book of Hebrews. The word translated “bear with” is the Greek word “anechomai” which means “to put up with or endure”. It is a reference to endure in the exhortations, to put them into action.
He continues with “for I have written to you in few words” (v. 22b). This is a reference to the length of the letter.
The book of Hebrews is neither the shortest nor the longest letter of Paul. Perhaps he means here that he could have said much more on these subjects. The letter is chock full of Theology and could have been much more detailed.
Paul writes “Know that our brother Timothy has been set free” (v. 23a). Paul thought of Timothy as the son he never had, so keeping track of Timothy, and writing about him, would definitely be Pauline.
The Greek word translated “set free” was commonly meant to be released from confinement, such as prison. It is believed that Timothy came to help Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome.
In his parting words to Timothy in Paul’s previous letter, he wrote: “Do your best to come to me quickly” (2 Ti. 4:9). It is believed that 2 Timothy was written late in A.D, 66.
So, Timothy would probably have come to Rome early in A.D. 67, after the winter of 66-67. Travel was usually not undertaken during the winter. It appears that Timothy was imprisoned for a short time in A.D.67, but then released.
The Roman Emperor Nero reportedly vowed to stop persecuting Christians late in his life. Because of this vow he may have released Timothy in 67 or early 68. Nero died in June, A.D. 68.
Paul continues “with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly” (v.23b). Paul may have expected to be released himself, after seeing Timothy released.
The reference to “if he arrives shortly” probably meant before the winter.
Timothy, upon his release from prison, likely traveled back to check on the church at Ephesus where he had been previously helping to weed out false teachers.
So, when Paul writes about Timothy arriving he may have meant Timothy returning back to Rome from Ephesus. This is all speculation, but it would seem to connect the dots.
Paul continues with “Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints” (v. 24a). The letter ends with greetings. Paul extends greetings to the spiritual leaders and “all the saints”, fellow Christians.
Paul continues with “Those from Italy greet you” (v. 24a). He also sends greetings from those from Italy, where he is imprisoned.
He ends the letter with the typical Pauline blessing of “Grace be with you all. Amen” (v. 25). Paul ended every one of his letters with a reference to grace (Ro. 16:20, 1 Cor. 16:23, 2 Cor. 13:14, Gal. 5:18, Eph. 6:24, Phil. 4:23, Col. 4:18, 1 Th. 5:28, 2 Th. 3:18, 1 Tim. 6:21, 2 Tim. 4:22, Ti. 3:15, and Ph. 25).
The benediction in this letter was a blessing of equipping for doing good works. We are not saved by good works. Good works are the result of our salvation.
They spring from allowing the Holy Spirit to live through us. We can quench the work of the Holy Spirit in us through sin.
So, obedience and good works go hand in hand. We cannot have one without the other.
The Lord is looking for, and expecting, our cooperation. It is up to us not to let Him down. Our good works please God and glorify Christ.