Hebrews 13:21

Commentary on Hebrews 13:21 (KJV)

Hebrews 13:21 concludes a powerful benediction at the close of the Epistle to the Hebrews, offering a profound prayer for the readers' spiritual growth and effective service. It beautifully encapsulates God's active role in sanctifying and equipping believers for His purposes.

Context

This verse is part of the final exhortations and blessings found in the last chapter of Hebrews. The author has just prayed for the "God of peace" to make the readers perfect, bringing back Jesus from the dead as the "great shepherd of the sheep" through the "blood of the everlasting covenant" (Hebrews 13:20). Verse 21 extends this prayer, focusing on the practical outcome of God's work in their lives: enabling them to live out His will.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Enablement: The primary message is that God Himself is the active agent in the believer's life. It is He who "makes you perfect" and is "working in you." This highlights that spiritual growth and the ability to do God's will are not solely dependent on human effort but are empowered by divine grace.
• Sanctification and Maturity: The word "perfect" here (Greek: katartizo) does not imply sinless perfection, but rather equipping, completing, restoring, or making fit for a specific purpose. It refers to spiritual maturity and readiness for service. God desires to bring His people to a state of wholeness and effectiveness in their walk with Him.
• Purposeful Living: The goal of this divine equipping is "to do his will" and to perform "every good work" that is "wellpleasing in his sight." This emphasizes that Christian living is not passive but involves active obedience and participation in righteous deeds, all directed by God's sovereign plan. Believers are created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
• The Centrality of Jesus Christ: All of God's work in perfecting and enabling believers is accomplished "through Jesus Christ." He is the mediator, the means by which God's grace and power flow to His people. This reiterates the book's consistent theme of Christ's supremacy and His indispensable role in salvation and sanctification.
• Doxology: The verse concludes with a powerful declaration of praise: "to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." This doxology attributes eternal glory to Jesus Christ, acknowledging His divine nature and supreme worthiness of all honor and praise.

Linguistic Insights

• The Greek word for "perfect" is katartizo (καταρτίζω). This term has various meanings, including "to mend," "to restore," "to equip," or "to complete." It was used, for instance, of mending fishing nets (Matthew 4:21) or setting a fractured bone. In a spiritual sense, it speaks of God's work in bringing believers to a state of spiritual wholeness, maturity, and readiness for service, making them fully functional for their intended purpose.
• "Wellpleasing" comes from the Greek word euarestos (εὐάρεστος), meaning "acceptable," "agreeable," or "pleasing." It refers to actions and attitudes that are inherently pleasing to God.

Practical Application

Hebrews 13:21 offers immense encouragement and guidance for believers today:

• God's Active Role: We are reminded that our spiritual growth and ability to serve God are not solely reliant on our strength or willpower. God Himself is actively at work within us, equipping us for every good work and enabling us to do His will. This truth should inspire confidence and reliance on Him.
• Living Out God's Will: The verse calls us to a life of active obedience and purposeful living. As God perfects us, He empowers us to discern and carry out His will, engaging in works that are pleasing in His sight. This involves a conscious effort to align our lives with His desires, as exhorted in Romans 12:2.
• Reliance on Christ: All spiritual blessings and enablement flow "through Jesus Christ." Our effectiveness in serving God and growing spiritually is entirely dependent on our connection to Him. This underscores the need for a continual, intimate relationship with our Savior.
• Aspiration for Maturity: While perfection in the sense of sinlessness is not achieved in this life, the prayer encourages a continuous striving for spiritual maturity and usefulness in God's kingdom. We should desire to be fully equipped and ready for whatever God calls us to do.

This verse is a beautiful reminder of God's faithfulness and His commitment to transforming His people into instruments for His eternal glory.