Jul. 22, 2026

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

JULY 15, 2026

Hebrews 13:18-25

18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I

urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the

sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will,

working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and

ever. Amen.

22 I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 You

should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon.

24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be

with all of you.

______________________

v 18 – “Pray for us …”

“for” – peri, around, about

The writer would not have asked for this if prayers are meaningless

Do we really know how to pray as we ought?

“for we are sure …”

What follows is a little surprising—it seems defensive, and it actually may be

The apostles were often falsely accused by their enemies of all sorts of things

In Paul’s letters he is often defending himself and his team

The writer is assuring the hearers that prayers for them are warranted

v 19 – “I urge you the more earnestly …”

more lit. “moreover I exceedingly exhort you to do this …” – an extra and strong appeal

“that I may be restored” – A further direct affirmation that the prayers of God’s people do

receive an answer from God

_________

Who is the writer?

We do not know

Some have suggested Paul, but I do not believe it was Paul. (It does not look like a letter from

Paul, and it does not sound like Paul.)

But, for example, “the God of peace” (v 20) occurs six times in the NT—five of them are

definitely by Paul.

He also mentions Timothy—so that certainly suggests very strongly that he was not Paul,

he was a member of Paul’s team of associates

Whoever it was had a personal relationship with the recipients—but we do not know who the

immediate recipients were.

He also was in some way restrained—perhaps in prison—as he speaks here of being “restored to

you the sooner.”

Could Aristarchus be considered?

2

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning

whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him).—

Colossians 4:10

Colossians was sent from “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and

Timothy our brother”—so Aristarchus and Timothy were together in some way at that

time

However, Aristarchus is a Greek name (he was a Macedonian), and Hebrews really

seems to have been written by a Jewish Christian

But if it was Jewish Christian, that rules out quite a few of the members of Paul’s team

A stronger candidate might be Apollos.

Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent

man, competent in the Scriptures.—Acts 18:24

Although not a good thing, he had enough stature to be “followed” by one of the groups

in Corinth.

“What I mean is that each one of you says, ‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I follow Apollos,’

or ‘I follow Cephas,’ or ‘I follow Christ.’”—1 Corinthians 1:12

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.—1 Corinthians 3:6

Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the

other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when

he has opportunity.—1 Corinthians 16:12

But we just don’t know.

_________

The Benediction

v 20 – “Now may the God of peace …”

A major theme of the Gospel, a major work of God in us and for us, and an aspect of the

character of Christ (the “Prince of Peace,” who “is our peace.”)

Peace with God

Peace within ourselves

Peace with one another

Needed now more than ever

“who brought out from the dead …”

more lit. “who having brought out from the dead” – the difference is subtle, but the emphasis is

on action that necessary for and preceding something else. “They repaired the flat tire. They

continued their trip.” vs “Having repaired the flat tire, they continued their trip.”

Another major Gospel emphasis: the resurrection of Jesus. Do we celebrate and proclaim this

enough? Our Lord rose from the grave—and in triumph over all evil. Jesus won! And Jesus

has won for all eternity. He has defeated death forever, and all his enemies will be put under

his feet. He won’t be put to death a second time—that’s for sure!

“so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to

deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”—Hebrews 9:28

“the great shepherd of the sheep”

Another great theme of the Gospel and of Christ himself

We belong to our shepherd

We depend upon our shepherd

We know our shepherd

He leads, defends, and takes responsibility for our care

This applies to all who are Christ’s, including very strong (in human terms) men and women

3

“by the blood of the eternal covenant …”

Another gospel truth, and a major theme of this book

If there is no blood—no sacrifice of Christ for us—there is no atonement

We had to be saved—and our sins had to be atoned for

There is no gospel without the cross of Christ

This is the new covenant—the old covenant is replaced. Do we really understand? We are made

new and made holy before God by the blood of Christ? We are not “earning our keep.”

“… This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”—Luke 22:20

And this is the eternal covenant. There will not be another one. There could not possibly be

another one—nothing can surpass the finished work of Christ. We are kept through all

eternity by the sacrifice of Christ.

“our Lord Jesus”

[occurs here in the Gk]

Raised from the dead, our great shepherd, our eternal savior—whom we worship forever and to

whom we belong

v 21 – “[may the God of peace] equip you with everything good”

May God make this our prayer for ourselves and make us to see that this is his desire for us.

Equip us with his character (fruit of the Spirit), his gifts … with faith, with love, and with hope.

more lit. “in order to do his will”

We are to seek the will of God, the kingdom of God, in all that we do

Everything is unto him

We have “our part”—and God equips us to be who he has called us to be

more lit. “working in us that which is well-pleasing before him”

And this is “God’s part”! Even as we are serving him, he is working in and through us. It is not

either-or; it is both-and.

This is also a picture of our lives as a sacrifice, using the language of sacrifices that are “wellpleasing”

to God.

“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”—Philippians

2:13

“through Jesus Christ …”

Everything is through Christ and unto his eternal lordship.

“There is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord,

Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”—1 Corinthians 8:6

“Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in

Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and

things on earth in him.”—Ephesians 1:9-10

“to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

And we say Amen.

_________

vv 22-25 – “I appeal to you, brothers …”

A personalized ending—not completely unlike Paul’s endings to his letters, but with differences

(to my way of thinking).

It was a strong letter (and in the writer’s view, a brief one)—and he appeals to his hearers to bear

with his “few words.” Ending with a blessing of grace.