“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,”
My Notes
What Does Hebrews 13:20 Mean?
The writer of Hebrews offers one of the most beautiful benedictions in the New Testament. The God of peace — not of chaos — brought Jesus back from the dead. The resurrection is attributed to peace, not power. The shepherd who was great is alive.
"That great shepherd of the sheep" echoes Psalm 23 and John 10 — Jesus as the shepherd who cares for, leads, and dies for his flock. The resurrection means the shepherd is not dead. He is alive and leading still.
"Through the blood of the everlasting covenant" connects the resurrection to the covenant sealed by Jesus' death. The blood was the price. The covenant is everlasting. The resurrection proves both are effective.
The benediction asks God to "make you perfect in every good work to do his will" — equipping believers for obedience. The equipping comes from the same power that raised Jesus. You are not expected to do God's will on your own strength.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does it reveal about God's character that the resurrection is attributed to 'the God of peace'?
- 2.How does the image of Jesus as the 'great shepherd' who rose from the dead comfort you?
- 3.What 'good work' are you doing that you need God to equip you for?
- 4.How does the everlasting covenant sealed by blood give you security?
Devotional
The God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus. The resurrection described not as an act of raw power but as an act of peace. The God of peace raised the dead. That combination — peace and resurrection — tells you something about the character of the power at work.
That great shepherd of the sheep. The shepherd died. And the shepherd rose. And he is still shepherding — still leading, still protecting, still guiding. Death did not end his care for you. It expanded it.
Through the blood of the everlasting covenant. The price has been paid. The covenant is sealed. And the proof that it holds is the resurrection itself. If the shepherd is alive, the covenant is in force.
Make you perfect in every good work. The benediction does not just describe God's past action. It asks for present equipping. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to prepare you — to make you complete, to fit you for every good work God has planned.
The God who raised the dead can certainly equip you for Tuesday.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Now the God of peace,.... This is the concluding part of the epistle, which is ended with a prayer, made up of very…
Now the God of peace - God who is the Author, or the source of peace; notes, 1Th 5:23. The word “peace” in the New…
Now the God of peace - We have often seen that peace among the Hebrews signifies prosperity of every kind. The God of…
Here, I. The apostle recommends himself, and his fellow-sufferers, to the prayers of the Hebrew believers (Heb 13:18):…
the God of peace. The phrase is frequent in St Paul (1Th 5:23 : 2Th 3:16; Rom 15:33; Rom 16:20; Php 4:9).
that brought…
Cross References
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