“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15).
Self-described as a “word of exhortation” (Hebrews 13:22), Hebrews does live up to this moniker. Thus far, the inspired penman has exhorted his beloved brethren with “let us fear” (4:1); “let us be diligent” (4:11); “let us hold fast our confession” (4:14); “let us come boldly to the throne of grace” (4:16); “let us go on to perfection” (6:1); “let us draw near” (10:22); “let us hold fast” (10:25); “let us consider one another” (10:24); “let us lay aside every weight” (12:1); “let us run with endurance” (12:1); “let us have grace” (12:28); and “let us go forth” (13:13).
The twelfth and final exhortation is “let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God.”
Specifically, this exhortation pinpoints the means of this sacrifice–“by Him” (I.e., Jesus, not Judaism). It identifies the persistence of this sacrifice; it is to be done continually. It also locates the cause of this sacrifice of praise; it is a grateful heart.
Animal sacrifices are a thing of the past, but a continual sacrifice of praise to God with a grateful heart is not.
