Hebrews 13:20-21: To Whom Be Glory For Ever and Ever
2024-03-17
These next two verses are a doxology and benediction. God the Father is exalted in the first verse, and His blessing resides in the second verse.
Hebrews 13:20
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant (Hebrews 13:20)
God is the God of peace. He may be a God of peace for many reasons, but from this verse, we see that He is the God of peace because He unilaterally extended peace to His people by way of His Son. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2). And again, “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” (John 14:27). He offers true, lasting peace to the believer. It is not temporary, like we find in the world. As a result, we should not be afraid, but rather be comforted.
He does not promise peace within families. That was part of John the Baptist’s intent. “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). What would happen if they did not all turn to the Lord? “And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:6). This is why Jesus did not bring peace to the entire nation: they did not all repent. “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three” (Luke 12:51-52).
He does not promise peace to the world. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).
The Father brought about the Lord Jesus from the dead. A part of the peace He brings is the hope of eternal life. “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:1-2).
But how about this? Didn’t the Son raise Himself from the dead? “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:17-18). The Father commanded His Son to raise Himself.
Part of God’s peace is sending His Son as a shepherd over His people. For a discussion Jesus being a shepherd, see the discussion here.
God’s peace also comes through the blood of Christ. Consider Colossians 1:19-23. We see that Jesus Christ is fully Deity. The blood of the Godman eternally heals the breach between God and man. We are now no longer enemies with God but have been placed in the position of holiness. Everyone who believes has this hope in him.
This covenant of the blood of Jesus Christ is an everlasting covenant. Consider this discussion on everlasting covenants in the Bible here.
This New Covenant, however, is the everlasting covenant in view of Hebrews 13:20. The blood of Christ has eternally reconciled us to God. The rest of the covenants are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, which is why they could ever be called eternal or perpetual. If it is everlasting, it means that it can never be broken. He set up this covenant alone. This brings us great peace.
Hebrews 13:21
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:21)
In the mighty work that God did through His Son, the great Shepherd, who willfully died on the cross for our salvation, He enables us to do the good works we could have never done unregenerate.
First, we are made perfect, or complete, for good works. We have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, both of which empower and direct us to these good works. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13).
We never could please God on our own, but the Son can. Whatever we do that is acceptable to God is done in the power of Jesus Christ. We are in Him, and whatever we do through faith in Him is the only acceptable work in His eyes. “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (Romans 6:13).
The phrase “to whom be glory for ever and ever” appears in other Pauline epistles.
“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Romans 11:36). This is in praising God for how He works salvation in both the Jew and the Gentile.
“Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Galatians 1:4-5). God receives the glory for delivering us from our sins and the evil world system.
“And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:18). The Lord will deliver the apostle from everything that is against him. Even if he is executed by the authorities, he will wake up in heaven.
The use of this phrase gives more credence to Pauline authorship.
Consider a discussion on the word “Amen” here.