What do top commentators say Hebrews 13:15 means?
What do top commentators say Hebrews 13:15 means?
SCRIPTURE
"Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name." — Hebrews 13:15 (ASV)
The Christian's New Sacrifice:
Commentators explain that with Christ's final sacrifice, the Old Testament system of animal offerings has ended. For believers today, the primary sacrifice is spiritual: offering praise and thanksgiving to God. This "sacrifice of praise" is not to earn salvation but is the joyful response of those already saved through Jesus. As John Calvin notes, this is now the highest form of worship.
Praise Is Only Through Jesus:
Scholars universally emphasize the opening words, "Through him." Our praise is only acceptable to God because of Jesus. He is our High Priest who presents our offerings, our altar that makes them holy, and our perfect sacrifice that opened the way to God in the first place. Our words of praise are made worthy only through Christ's finished work.
A Continual, Vocal Offering:
The verse defines this sacrifice as "the fruit of lips," a phrase from the Old Testament (Hosea 14:2). This means our praise should be vocal and explicit, a confession of who God is and what He has done. Commentaries highlight that this offering is to be "continual," not limited to specific times or places like the former sacrifices, but a constant lifestyle of thankfulness.
If you are believers in Christ, you are God's priests, and this is the sacrifice that you are to offer continually – the fruit of your lips, giving thanks to God's name.