(20) Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (21) Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21

Explanation:

Though in verse 17-19 he has been addressing human leadership in the church, men who are to be shepherds and do that with joy, He now moves to a benediction that points to the best and great shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, and God the Father who works in us.

We see three parties mentioned here: 

• The God of Peace
• The Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd
• and the Sheep.

What does the God peace do in these verses? 

• He brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus.
• He has brought us peace by sending Jesus Christ to die to appease His wrath.  We can be at peace with God because of the blood of Christ.
• He makes us complete, mature, equipped, or shaped for ever good work.  When we do the will of God we will do the good work of God.
• He works in us what He wants us to be.  If He shapes us into who we will be, we will do what he wants us to do.  As we do what he wants us to do He shapes us into who He wants us to be.  It’s not either or, but both that happen simultaneously.  

What does the great shepherd, the Lord Jesus do in these verses?

• He shed his blood for the everlasting covenant.
• He shepherds our souls, directing, leading, providing, loving, and disciplining us.  
• It is through Him that God perfects us.  We are in him.  We are pleasing in the sight of God because of the righteousness given to us by Christ through His blood.

Who are the sheep?  By now it has been answered.  Those who are in Christ are His sheep!  

Application:

It is so important that we understand that Jesus is greater.  He is better than anything and everything that was presented to us in the Old Testament.  The sacrificed lambs couldn’t transform me from the inside out.  The blood of bulls and goats could never make those who sacrificed them perfect.  How can we be made complete to be and do what God wants us to be and do?  It is only by the blood of Christ, and the power of God who transforms us from the inside out through Christ that we can be perfected.  We should believe on the greater sacrifice, the greater priest, the greater prophet, the greater Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shephard of our souls for our salvation.  We should submit to the working of God in our lives to allow Him to shape us.  We should work with godly Word- filled, Spirit filled leaders who watch for our souls to help us to grow in Christ.  We should pause and reflect on all that God has done for us in Christ.

Respond:

God, I submit to you today to be all that you want me to be.  I ask you, by Jesus Christ, to perfect me.  I submit to you in obedience.  I ask you to forgive me of sins that keep me from being shaped by you and close to you.  I ask you to help me to live for you today.  I love you.  Amen.