Study Desk

Concluding Exhortations

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.^(a)

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,^(b) for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.^(c)

Continue to remember those in prison^(d) as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Marriage should be honored by all,^(e) and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.^(f)

Keep your lives free from the love of money^(g) and be content with what you have,^(h) because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."^[a](i)

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"^[b](j)

Remember your leaders,^(k) who spoke the word of God^(l) to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate^(m) their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.⁽ⁿ⁾

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.^(o) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened^(p) by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods,^(q) which is of no benefit to those who do so.^(r)

We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle^(s) have no right to eat.^(t)

The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering,^(u) but the bodies are burned outside the camp.^(v)

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate^(w) to make the people holy^(x) through his own blood.^(y)

Let us, then, go to him^(z) outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.^(aa)

For here we do not have an enduring city,^(ab) but we are looking for the city that is to come.^(ac)

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice^(ad) of praise—the fruit of lips^(ae) that openly profess his name.

And do not forget to do good and to share with others,^(af) for with such sacrifices^(ag) God is pleased.

Have confidence in your leaders^(ah) and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you^(ai) as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Pray for us.^(aj) We are sure that we have a clear conscience^(ak) and desire to live honorably in every way.

I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.^(al)

Now may the God of peace,^(am) who through the blood of the eternal covenant^(an) brought back from the dead^(ao) our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,^(ap)

equip you with everything good for doing his will,^(aq) and may he work in us^(ar) what is pleasing to him,^(as) through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(at)

Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.^(au)

I want you to know that our brother Timothy^(av) has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.

Greet all your leaders^(aw) and all the Lord's people. Those from Italy^(ax) send you their greetings.

Grace be with you all.^(ay)