Hebrews 13:16 – And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:16 – Living Out Gratitude
Hebrews 13:16 is one of the most important verses in the entire Bible. It summarizes what a Christian’s life should look like out of gratitude for their salvation in Christ Jesus.
The author calls believers to continually offer up praise to God, which is the fruit of their lips that openly profess his name. But he also calls them to do good and to share their resources with others.
Our hearts must be filled with divine gratitude before we will even begin to offer up a sacrifice of praise. The only way this can happen is by having the Holy Spirit within us.
When you do this, your heart will be so saturated with God’s love and His generosity that all of your words and actions will produce pleasing and spiritually “fragrant” fruit. The only “fruit” that will be rotten or foul-smelling are the things we do when our hearts are not filled with gratitude for the abundant blessings that flow to us through Christ Jesus!
Unlike Jewish high priests who brought their sin offerings to the altar in Jerusalem, believers have access to the New Covenant altar outside the gate (v.12). When believers come to this new altar they can find forgiveness and strength for their lives, and will be blessed.
The writer of Hebrews was trying to convince the Jewish people who were returning to their old religion that they needed to accept Jesus as their Messiah and their Great High Priest. To reject this once-for-all offering made by Christ and to continue offering animal sacrifices is a rejection of the only sacrifice that will satisfy God’s demands.
