Hebrews 13:16-19 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
‘Communicate’ [Greek: koinonia] fellowship (2Cor 1:7; 13:14).
‘Well pleased’ – Twelve things are noted in Scripture that pleased God: Blessing Israel (Num. 24:1); Israel being His people (1Sam. 12:22); Unselfish praying (1Kin. 3:10); Christ suffering for people (Isa. 53:10); Christ as His servant (Matt. 3:17; 12:18); People saved by the foolishness of preaching (2Cor. 1:18-24); Setting of members in the body of Christ (2Cor. 12:18); His plan of resurrection (2Cor. 15:38); Christ being the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 1:19); Preachers [meaning the apostles that were commanded to write the gospels and epistles] being separated to the gospel of Christ (Gal. 1:15); People having faith (Heb. 11:5-6); Sacrifices of praise continually (Heb. 13:15-16).
‘For they watch for your souls, as they that must give account.’ No man was fit to rule who was not capable of guiding men safely to heaven and setting the same example as Christ demonstrated while on earth (1Pet. 2:21-23).
‘Pray for us’ – Paul was the only writer of the New Testament who requested prayer for himself (cp. Heb. 13:18 cp. with 2Thess. 3:1).
Living the Word 