Hebrews 13:14
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
here--on earth. Those Hebrews who clung to the earthly sanctuary are representatives of all who cling to this earth. The earthly Jerusalem proved to be no "abiding city," having been destroyed shortly after this Epistle was written, and with it fell the Jewish civil and religious polity; a type of the whole of our present earthly order of things soon to perish. one to come-- (Heb 2:5; Heb 11:10, Heb 11:14, Heb 11:16; Heb 12:22; Phi 3:20).
Open source ↗The apostle, having treated largely of Christ, and faith, and free grace, and gospel privileges, and warned the Hebrews against apostasy, now, in the close of all, recommends several excellent duties to them, as the proper fruits of faith (v. 1-17); 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 (Heb 13:18 to the end).
Open source ↗13:14 Like Abraham’s family (11:9-16), we are not ultimately invested in the world, for it is not our permanent home. We are looking for a home yet to come, the heavenly city of Jerusalem (12:22).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels
Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
Arise and depart, for this is not your place of rest, because its defilement brings destruction— a grievous destruction!
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.