Hebrews 13:15-16
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This verse offers a brilliant redefinition of "sacrifice" for followers of Jesus. It's not about animal offerings at an altar, but rather the "fruit of lips"—our words of praise and confession acknowledging God's name, offered through Christ who is our ultimate altar and High Priest. This highlights that our most meaningful worship is often found in our spiritual "words" and thankfulness, rather than external rituals.
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)
The author is wrapping up his letter with practical instructions for living out the Christian faith. After emphasizing that believers have a permanent, heavenly home rather than earthly security, he calls them to leave the old religious system behind. This means offering spiritual sacrifices through Christ, not the animal sacrifices of the past, and doing good to others as a vital part of worship.
The Old Testament had a specific altar and sacrifices. Where does that leave us today? Hebrews 13:15 gives us the answer, pointing us to a new way to approach God.
The verse starts by saying, 'Through him therefore let us offer...'. This 'him' is Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews has been building a case for Jesus being our ultimate High Priest, whose one sacrifice on the cross is far superior to the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament. Because of His finished work, we no longer need the Old Covenant rituals to get to God. Our access is now direct, made possible solely through Jesus' sacrifice.
Think of it like this: The Old Testament system had physical altars and sacrifices that pointed forward to Christ. But now, Jesus Himself is the altar and the sacrifice that makes our approach to God possible. This means our worship and prayers are offered through Him, not through any earthly ritual or human mediator.
We're called to offer a 'sacrifice of praise.' What does that even mean? It's not about what we give up, but what we give out from our hearts.
The core of our worship, according to Hebrews 13:15, is a 'sacrifice of praise.' This isn't about bringing animals to an altar like in the Old Testament. Instead, it's about offering the 'fruit of our lips' – our words, our thanks, our confession of who God is.
This praise is called a 'sacrifice' because it requires intentionality and even effort. It’s offering up our words of thanksgiving continually, even when circumstances are difficult. It’s a spiritual offering that stems from a heart that acknowledges God's name and His goodness. This is the new way God wants to be worshipped in this age – not with blood, but with the sincere expression of our gratitude and trust in Him.
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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.
This verse contrasts the discontinued animal sacrifices of Judaism, made obsolete by Christ's ultimate sacrifice, with the new, continuous spiritual sacrifice of praise that believers, through Christ, now offer to God.
c. 1400 BC
The Law Given at Sinai
God establishes the Mosaic Law, including detailed instructions for animal sacrifices and offerings as a means of atonement and communion with Him.
c. 1000 BC
Temple Sacrifices Flourish
Under kings like David and Solomon, the Jerusalem Temple becomes the central place for Israel's sacrificial worship, with various offerings becoming a regular part of religious life.
c. 750 BC
Hosea Prophesies
The prophet Hosea calls Israel back to faithfulness, referencing the "calves of our lips" as a substitute for animal sacrifices when they are unable to offer them.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the era of prescribed animal sacrifices at a central location and leading to the Babylonian Exile.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus offers Himself as the ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice for sin, fulfilling the purpose of the Old Testament sacrificial system.
c. AD 60-64— this verse
Writing of Hebrews
The author of Hebrews writes to Jewish Christians who are facing persecution and temptation to revert to Jewish ceremonial laws, emphasizing the superiority of Christ's sacrifice and priesthood.
This verse directly informs the imagery of 'the fruit of lips' in Hebrews, showing how ancient prophecy spoke of praise as a sacrifice comparable to animal offerings.
Psalm 50:14This psalm emphasizes that true worship involves offering thanks and fulfilling vows to God, aligning with the concept of a 'sacrifice of praise' as superior to mere animal offerings.
Romans 12:1This passage calls believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices, a spiritual offering that parallels the 'sacrifice of praise' as a holistic act of worship beyond outward ritual.
1 Peter 2:5This verse echoes the theme of spiritual sacrifices by calling believers to be a 'holy priesthood' offering 'spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ,' reinforcing the idea of praise as a priestly duty.
Philippians 4:18This verse describes a sacrifice 'acceptable and pleasing to God' as a fragrant offering, linking the concept of praise and thanksgiving to a divinely accepted sacrifice.
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 offers a brilliant redefinition of "sacrifice" for followers of Jesus. It's not about animal offerings at an altar, but rather the "fruit of lips"—our words of praise and confession acknowledging God's name, offered through Christ who is our ultimate altar and High Priest. This highlights that our most meaningful worship is often found in our spiritual "words" and thankfulness, rather than external rituals.
The author is wrapping up his letter with practical instructions for living out the Christian faith. After emphasizing that believers have a permanent, heavenly home rather than earthly security, he calls them to leave the old religious system behind. This means offering spiritual sacrifices through Christ, not the animal sacrifices of the past, and doing good to others as a vital part of worship.
The author is wrapping up his letter with practical instructions for living out the Christian faith. After emphasizing that believers have a permanent, heavenly home rather than earthly security, he calls them to leave the old religious system behind. This means offering spiritual sacrifices through Christ, not the animal sacrifices of the past, and doing good to others as a vital part of worship.
"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 offers a brilliant redefinition of "sacrifice" for followers of Jesus. It's not about animal offerings at an altar, but rather the "fruit of lips"—our words of praise and confession acknow…
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Last reviewed October 2026
