Hebrews 13:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“Greet all your instructors and all the saints.” See what honor he showed them by writing the epistle to them, and not to those instructors.

“Greet all your instructors and all the saints.” See what honor he gives them, if he even greets the instructors through them. It would have been more fitting for him to write the epistle to the instructors and through them greet those governed by them. By this he very wisely heals especially the weak. “Those from Italy greet you.” I am so attached to you that not only do I greet you, but I inspire the same disposition toward you in others. Thus even they, despite such a great distance, love you and therefore greet you.

“Greet all your instructors and all the saints.” This word indicates that those presiding over them had no need of such teaching. Therefore the Apostle did not write the epistle to them, but to the disciples. “Those from Italy greet you.” By this the Apostle showed from where he wrote the epistle. At the same time, he made clear that in a short time the Gospel preaching had spread everywhere, and that the Gentiles, according to the promise given to Abraham, had obtained the blessing.

“Greet all your instructors and all the saints,” all who are now among you. By saints he means either the faithful in general, or those who are especially distinguished by purity of life and teaching. “Those from Italy greet you.” This means the faithful who live in Rome and its surrounding regions.

“Greet all your instructors and all the saints.” By instructors the Apostle means pastors, or presbyters (Heb 13:17), and by saints all the faithful. “Those from Italy greet you.” Here the Apostle does not list either his fellow-workers or persons known to the readers of the Epistle. Rather, he sends a greeting from all the Italian Christians. Brotherly love among Christians moved them to send greetings not only to relatives, countrymen, or acquaintances, but also to unknown brothers in the faith living in distant places.

After this the Apostle concludes his epistle with a blessing. He asks the readers to receive his epistle favorably, informs them of his release from prison, άπο λελυμένον, compare Lk 22:68; 23:16 and following, greets the presiders and the whole flock, and adds that the Italian Christians send them greetings (vv. 22-25).

The expression, "God brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep," is formed according to the pattern of an expression found in the book of the prophet Isaiah (Isa 63:11), which refers to Moses.

The prophet Isaiah, speaking in the name of the Hebrew people, cries out to God: Where is He Who brought them up with the shepherd of His flock, Moses? Having this passage in mind, the Apostle calls Christ the great Shepherd.