Can you imagine what it would be like to read the Bible without chapters and verses? It would be okay for devotional reading (in fact, it’s great), but for study, those reference numbers are an incredible help.

And sometimes, they are an incredible hindrance. Sometimes they get in our way from seeing obvious connections.

Case in point: Hebrews 12:28 and following:
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29)

After these verses comes a big number 13, telling us that the author has changed subjects and the following verses have nothing to do with what was just said. Wrong! Beginning with the next verse, the author tells us what worship is. How do we worship God? With our lives, by doing the daily acts of service listed in the first part of Hebrews 13. As he talks about showing hospitality, visiting those in need, etc., the author has a growing crescendo of worship language, culminating in:

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:15-16)

The author doesn’t return to a discussion of worship in these two verses… he continues it. This whole section is on worship. Verse 16 summarizes what the previous verses have stated: we worship God by doing good, by living moral lives, by looking to the needs of the less fortunate. And yes, we also do it by the “sacrifice of praise,” which is confessing with our mouths what our lives are already saying.

(A side note: I’ve come to believe that “sacrifice of praise” in this verse is actually a technical reference, a reference to the “peace offering” of Leviticus. In continuing his parallels to Old Testament worship, the author says that we make this offering by confessing Jesus’ name, especially in times of persecution. I know that only the KJV ever calls that the “sacrifice of praise” in the O.T., still it seems to fit.)

Hebrews 13 is one of the greatest descriptions of what worship is, and I almost missed it because of a big number 13.