Hebrews 13:15-16
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just about saying "thanks" but about bringing the "fruit of lips that acknowledge His name." This means our words of praise are seen as a living offering, a spiritual harvest born from a genuine, ongoing recognition of who God is and what He's done.
The author has just explained that Christians no longer have a permanent earthly city, urging them to "go forth" to Christ outside the conventional religious structures. Building on this, he transitions to the Christian's worship, emphasizing that through Christ, believers can now offer a "sacrifice of praise" instead of the animal sacrifices that were tied to the now-obsolete Levitical system. This spiritual sacrifice involves the words of our mouths, acknowledging and thanking God for His name and His redemptive work through Christ.
Remember those ancient animal sacrifices? The ones that filled the air with smoke and blood? God is shifting gears here. Hebrews 13:15 calls us to a completely different kind of offering.
The writer of Hebrews has been talking about Jesus as our ultimate High Priest and the final sacrifice. Because of His perfect work, the old system of animal sacrifices is no longer the way to approach God. Instead, Jesus has qualified us (Hebrews 13:12) to offer something new.
This isn't about earning God's favor through ritual. It's about expressing the result of His favor in us. The "sacrifice of praise" is the natural outflow of a heart made right with God through Christ. It's a spiritual offering, a "thank-offering," replacing the need for literal animals on an altar.
What does it mean for praise to be the 'fruit of lips that acknowledge His name'? It's more than just saying 'thanks.' It's about what our words reveal about God and His character.
The verse clarifies what this 'sacrifice of praise' looks like: "the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." This isn't just empty words; it's the of a life that truly knows and recognizes who God is.
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Think of it like fruit on a tree. The fruit doesn't just appear; it's the natural result of healthy roots and a thriving life within the tree. Our words of praise are the visible, tangible result of our inner relationship with God. When our lips acknowledge His name, we are confessing His truth, His power, and His goodness. This confession is the 'fruit' that God finds pleasing, a sign that His work is alive within us.
God isn't looking for an occasional thank you note. This verse calls for something ongoing, a constant current of gratitude flowing from us.
The instruction to offer this sacrifice "continually" is vital. It means our praise isn't a one-time event tied to a specific blessing. It's meant to be a lifestyle, a continuous posture of the heart.
Why continually? Because the blessings we've received through Christ are inexhaustible! His sacrifice was once for all, but its effects are ongoing in our lives. Through Him (Jesus, our mediator and High Priest), we have continuous access to God's grace. Therefore, our praise should be a constant acknowledgment of His enduring love and provision. It's about recognizing His presence and faithfulness in every season of life, good or challenging.
Understand the original words
homologeō · Greek Verb
To verbally admit, confess, or profess; it involves publicly acknowledging one's faith or agreement with God's truth, often in the face of opposition.
eupoïia · Greek Noun
Refers to deeds that align with God’s moral character and will, often contrasted with evil or sin. In a New Testament context, it is the practical expression of faith and love toward others.
koinōnia · Greek Noun/Verb
The act of distributing or contributing to the needs of others; it signifies a fellowship or partnership in which resources are shared for the common good of the body of Christ.
thysia · Greek Noun
An act of worship or surrender offered to God, historically involving the shedding of blood, but in the New Testament, frequently applied to the offering of one's life, praise, or good works as a spiritual service.
Hebrews 13:15 calls believers to offer a spiritual sacrifice of praise, a concept rooted in Old Testament prophetic and wisdom traditions, and directly enabled by Christ's unique sacrifice which rendered the Levitical system obsolete.
c. 1446 BC
Mosaic Law Promulgated
The Law given through Moses at Mount Sinai established a sacrificial system with specific offerings, including thank-offerings, that the people of Israel were to bring to God.
c. 750 BC
Hosea's Prophecy
The prophet Hosea, addressing the unfaithfulness of Israel, calls them to repentance and speaks of rendering 'calves of our lips' as a spiritual sacrifice, contrasting with literal animal sacrifices.
c. 500 BC - 1st century AD
Rabbinic Tradition on Future Sacrifices
Jewish tradition, as seen in rabbinic writings, contemplated a future where literal sacrifices might cease, but the sacrifice of praise would continue, highlighting the enduring spiritual nature of thanksgiving.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice, is crucified and resurrected, inaugurating the New Covenant and making animal sacrifices obsolete.
c. AD 60-64
Likely Date of Hebrews' Writing
The Epistle to the Hebrews is written during a period when many Jewish Christians were facing persecution and may have been tempted to return to the familiar rituals of Judaism.
This passage is a direct inspiration for the 'fruit of lips' imagery, where the prophet speaks of rendering 'calves of our lips' as a sacrifice, echoing the idea of verbal praise replacing animal offerings.
Psalm 50:23This Psalm highlights that God is honored not just by animal sacrifices, but by the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, which aligns with the New Covenant emphasis in Hebrews.
1 Peter 2:5Peter also speaks of believers as 'living stones' being built into a 'spiritual house' to offer 'spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ,' connecting our praise to Christ's priestly work.
Romans 12:1Paul calls believers to 'present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,' which is a spiritual offering that encompasses our whole lives, including our praise.
ellicottHebrews 13:15: "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."
(15) By him. —Better, through Him. Through His sacrifice, which has made atonement, we are hallowed ( Hebrews 13:12 ), and fitted for our priestly service ( 1Peter 2:5 ). Let us offer the sacrifice.—Rather, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise continually unto God, that is, fruit of lips making confession to His name. The sacrifice we may bring is…
meyerHebrews 13:15: "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."
Hebrews 13:15 . Closing exhortation, through Christ, to offer to God sacrifices of praise. Deduced from Hebrews 13:8-14 . Διʼ αὐτοῦ ] is with great emphasis preposed: through HIM ( sc . Christ), but not through the intervention of the Jewish sacrificial institution. Through Him, inasmuch as by the all-sufficiency of His expiatory sacrifice once off…
This verse isn't just about saying "thanks" but about bringing the "fruit of lips that acknowledge His name." This means our words of praise are seen as a living offering, a spiritual harvest born from a genuine, ongoing recognition of who God is and what He's done.
The author has just explained that Christians no longer have a permanent earthly city, urging them to "go forth" to Christ outside the conventional religious structures. Building on this, he transitions to the Christian's worship, emphasizing that through Christ, believers can now offer a "sacrifice of praise" instead of the animal sacrifices that were tied to the now-obsolete Levitical system. This spiritual sacrifice involves the words of our mouths, acknowledging and thanking God for His name and His redemptive work through Christ.
The author has just explained that Christians no longer have a permanent earthly city, urging them to "go forth" to Christ outside the conventional religious structures. Building on this, he transitions to the Christian's worship, emphasizing that through Christ, believers can now offer a "sacrifice of praise" instead of the animal sacrifices that were tied to the now-obsolete Levitical system. This spiritual sacrifice involves the words of our mouths, acknowledging and thanking God for His name and His redemptive work through Christ.
"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." — This verse isn't just about saying "thanks" but about bringing the "fruit of lips that acknowledge His name." This means our words of praise are seen as a living offering, a spiritual harvest born fr…
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