Hebrews 13:16
in Hebrews 13And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
KJV
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
⋯
This verse in Hebrews 13
Commentary
17 notes on this verse"Do not forget the good deeds and the fellowship." Paul speaks of good deeds and fellowship as the same. "God is pleased." That is, He is pleased; for the term "is pleased" [εὐαρεστεῖται] indicates to be well-pleased. Therefore, it is necessary not only to offer …
This site's exposition
a sacrifice of praise
on Hebrews 13:15-16
The priestly people still offer a sacrifice of praise, which carries the todah, the thank offering of the law, into the new covenant. The second sacrifice is to do good and to share with others, and with such sacrifices God is pleased.
This site's exposition
do not neglect to do good
The word for sharing means giving a portion of one's means, as at Galatians 6:6. It stands beside the praise of verse 15 as a second sacrifice, and with such sacrifices God is pleased.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
A commentator
Theodore of MopsuestiaFRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 13.16 · Written before 428.
proposed
He calls it "doing good" in order to praise what takes place and "fellowship" because they are concerned about their fellow believers … and so with zeal they seek to meet their needs.
Hymn singing offered to God is of no benefit to us apart from faith in the Son. Since it was to the Hebrews he wrote, who were in the habit of honoring the Father alone, he felt he had to add "through him."
He brought out the sacrifice of praise that is pleasing to God. To it he linked also that of doing good, which he was right to refer to as sharing.… Elsewhere the divine apostle says, "Our abundance supplies for their need so that their abundance …
"But to do good and to communicate forget not." I speak not merely with reference to the brethren present, but to those absent also. But if others have plundered your property, display your hospitality out of such things as ye have. What excuse then shall we have henceforward, when they, even after the spoiling of their goods, were thus admonished?
In the words of this prophet, these two things are distinguished and set forth with sufficient explicitness, that God does not require these sacrifices for their own sakes, and that He does require the sacrifices which they symbolize. In the epistle entitled "To the Hebrews" it is said, "To do good and to communicate, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." And so, when it is written, "I desire mercy rather than sacrifice," nothing else is meant than that one sacrifice is preferred to another; for that which in common speech is called sacrifice is only the symbol of the true sacrifice. Now mercy is the true sacrifice, and therefore it is said, as I have just quoted, "with such sacrifices God is well pleased." All the divine ordinances, therefore, which we read concerning the sacrifices in the service of the tabernacle or the temple, we are to refer to the love of God and our neighbor. For "on these two commandments," as it is written, "hang all the law and the prophets."
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
He mentions another sacrifice, when he says, Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have. As if to say: You formerly performed works of mercy; but now at least with the heart, if you cannot in deed. Therefore, he says, Do …
Where are those who justify themselves by their poverty and therefore do not give alms? Let them hear that Paul persuades the poorest, those who have been plundered, not to forget almsgiving. He also calls it "fellowship," and for what reason — we have often …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Now what are the sacrifices which we must bring and offer on this altar, even Christ? Not any expiatory sacrifices; there is no need of them. Christ has offered the great sacrifice of atonement, ours are only the sacrifices of acknowledgment; and they are, 1.
); he then bespeaks their prayers for him, and offers up his prayers to God for them, gives them some hope of seeing himself and Timothy, and ends with the general salutation and benediction,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
Having thus told us the duty Christians owe to their deceased ministers, which principally consists in following their faith and not departing from it, the apostle tells us what is the duty that people owe to their living ministers (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
But to do good and to communicate forget not,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
But to do good and to communicate - These are continual sacrifices which God requires, and which will spring from a sense of God’s love in Christ Jesus. Praise to God for his unspeakable gift, and acts of kindness to men for God’s sake. No reliance, even on the infinitely meritorious sacrifice of Christ, can be acceptable in the sight of God if a man have not love and charity towards his neighbor.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
But--But the sacrifice of praise with the lips (Heb 13:15) is not enough; there must be also doing good (beneficence) and communicating (that is, imparting a share of your means, Ga 6:6) to the needy. with such--and not mere ritualistic sacrifices.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But to do good, and to communicate, forget not - To communicate or impart to others; that is, to share with them what we have. The Greek word means having in common with others. The meaning is, that they were to show liberality to those who were in want, and were to take special pains not to forget this duty. We are prone to think constantly of our own interests, and there is great danger of forgetting the duty which we owe to the poor and the needy. On the duty here enjoined, see the notes on Gal 6:10. For with such sacrifices God is well pleased - He is pleased with the sacrifices of prayer and of praise; with the offerings of a broken and a contrite heart: but he is especially pleased with the religion which leads us to do good to others. This was eminently the religion of his Son, the Lord Jesus; and to this all true religion prompts. The word “sacrifices” here is not taken in a strict sense, as denoting what is offered as an expiation for sin, or in the sense that we are by doing good to attempt to make atonement for our transgressions, but in the general sense of an offering made to God. God is pleased with this: (1) Because it shows in us a right state of heart; (2) Because it accords with his own nature. He does good continually, and he is pleased with all who evince the same spirit.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | And | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| εὐποιΐας | eupoiias | the good | G2140 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| κοινωνίας | koinonias | of sharing | G2842 → | |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἐπιλανθάνεσθε· | epilanthanesthe | do be forgetful; | G1950 → | 8 times |
| τοιαύταις | toiautais | with such | G5108 → | 56 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| θυσίαις | thusiais | sacrifices | G2378 → | 28 times |
| εὐαρεστεῖται | euaresteitai | is well pleased | G2100 → | 3 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεός.¶ | theos | God. | G2316 → | 1312 times |
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
δὲAnd
deG1161 →2765 times
εὐποιΐαςthe good
eupoiiasG2140 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
κοινωνίαςof sharing
koinoniasG2842 →
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἐπιλανθάνεσθε·do be forgetful;
epilanthanestheG1950 →8 times
τοιαύταιςwith such
toiautaisG5108 →56 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
θυσίαιςsacrifices
thusiaisG2378 →28 times
εὐαρεστεῖταιis well pleased
euaresteitaiG2100 →3 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεός.¶God.
theosG2316 →1312 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 6:10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
- Titus 3:8
This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable…
- Matthew 25:40
And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
- Proverbs 3:27
Through
Hebrews 6:10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 10:42
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”
- 1 Thessalonians 1:3
and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Galatians 6:10
Through
2 Thessalonians 3:13But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:9–10
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
- Galatians 6:9–10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies30
On this verse
On this chapter
- Azazel and the Scapegoat
- The General Epistles
- Contentment
- You Shall Not Covet
- Be Strong and Courageous
- The Fall Feasts
Show the next 6 titles
- Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving
- Now Thank We All Our God
- Hospitality
- Entertaining Angels Unaware
- See How They Love One Another
- Outside the Camp
Show the next 6 titles
About Hebrews

This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, City of God 10.5; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 33; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Theodore of Mopsuestia, FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 13.16; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 13; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.
