I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who has “tuned out” during the giving of a Sunday morning benediction. I’ll even confess I frequently skip reading and meditating on benediction portions of New Testament epistles. After all, isn’t it better to focus on the “meat” of a text? For me, I have neglected to realize that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable…” (2 Timothy 3:16a, emphasis added). I have often failed to recognize the importance of God’s blessing being invoked upon the gathered people of God, whether in-person or as recorded in Scripture. If you don’t find yourself in this camp, praise God; I want to be more like you! If you are like me and often fail to give weight to benedictions, then this post (and series) is for us. Together, let’s mine and meditate on the riches of God’s Word as we consider how select benedictions highlight important concepts in immediate and broad contexts.
First up: Hebrews 13:20-21 (ESV).
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
In the immediate context, the author prays for his audience to be recipients of God’s blessing by being equipped to accomplish that which pleases him—that which brings glory to the eternally-deserving Jesus. The things pleasing to him have been scattered throughout the entire text. (Skim Hebrews to pick up on the significance of living out truth.) Pulling from themes throughout Hebrews, including the supremacy of Jesus and the sufficiency of his sacrificial work, the securing of saints through reception of an unshaken kingdom (New Covenant), and persevering faith, the benedictive address girds up the saint’s resolve by emphasizing: This is who God is. This is what he can and will do in and through his children. All the commands—the call to live a holy life—are accompanied by everything required to labor in grace.
In itself, the benediction gives the believer holy motivation and courage to utilize God’s grace in the right way—to grow as a disciple who helps others grow as disciples. In God’s generosity, he affords believers even more opportunity to connect this benediction’s Holy Spirit-inspired words to the broader counsel of Scripture. As we consider these broader connections, let us not neglect to intently read each passage:
|
Biblical Phrase |
Scriptural Connections (non-exhaustive) |
|
“the God of peace” |
John 14:27—16:33 & Romans 5:1-11 |
|
“who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus” |
Acts 2:22-36 & Ephesians 1:15-23 |
|
“the great shepherd of the sheep” |
John 10:1-18 & 1 Peter 2:13-25 |
|
“by the blood of the eternal covenant” |
Jeremiah 31: 31-34 & Hebrews 7-10:25 |
|
“equip you with everything good” |
John 14, Romans 8 & 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 |
If you skipped over the passages above, I encourage you to stop here and return to each and every reference. There is simply too much devotional depth to the passages given to skip over them. Even if you need to take separate days to unpack the phrases and references, do it. I guarantee it will prove beneficial to your spiritual health.
If you made it through, I’m hopeful you are appreciative in more meaningful ways for what God has accomplished in Christ for us. I hope you are energized to continue living lives worthy of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Whatever the command, we need the strength of the Lord. Whatever the instruction, we need the Lord’s blessing. The “amen” points in this direction. It’s a word signifying, “let it be so.” In Christ, we have been given “everything good” that we may live lives worthy of the gospel. The applications are numerous, but in whatever we do (1 Corinthians 10:31) let us persevere in the faith being rightly and richly motivated by God’s varied kindnesses to us. Our God gives generously. Our God is a graciously-equipping God.
Next up: 2 Corinthians 13:14
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