יּקנרק'ד

Hebrews Chapter 13  Verses 15,16  

: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. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” 

After we have examined the “betters” presented to us in the book of Hebrews and Paul has shown that all of the Old Testament tabernacle service presented in types has been fulfilled by Jesus Christ and that Christ is now reigning as King of the kingdom of heaven and that he is our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, we are presented three things that we as a part of the current priesthood of God are to do in the way of offering sacrifices.  Three of those sacrifices are listed for us in the above passage: 

1.  “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually…”  He is worthy of all our praise.  Every thing that is good and everything that is a blessing to us has come at his hands.  We owe everything to him.  The very least that we could do is to continually praise him for his wonderful works to the children of men.  In many places in the New Testament we are told to praise Him: 

                        `a. Luke 19:37 “And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;”                                   

b. Rom. 15:11 “And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.”                                   

c. Eph. 1:6 “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”                                   

d. Eph. 1:12 “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”                                   

e. Eph. 1:14 “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”                                   

f. Phil. 1:11 “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”                                   

g. Phil. 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”                                   

h. Heb. 2:12 “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.”                                   

i. 1 Pet. 4:11 “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”                                   

j. Rev. 19:5 “And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.”   

2.  “But to do good…”  Again we have several New Testament scriptures that teach us that we are to do good: 

        a. Mat. 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”                                   

b. Gal. 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”                                   

c. 1 Tim 6:18 “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;”                                   

d. 1 Pet. 3:11 “Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek  

3. “To communicate…” To communicate means to actively help with the needs of others:

a. Phil. 4:14 “Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.”                                   

b. 1 Tim. 6:18 “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;”                                   

c. James 1:27 “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” 

d. 1 John 3:17 “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” 

“For with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”  There are times that we may wonder if what we do or did is pleasing to God.  However, when we offer the sacrifices above we do not have to doubt for these sacrifices are well pleasing to God.  We know when we do these things that God is well pleased.