Hebrews 12

God’s Discipline Proves His Love

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.#12:2a Or Jesus, the originator and perfecter of our faith. Because of the joy#12:2b Or Instead of the joy. awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;#12:3 Some manuscripts read Think of how people hurt themselves by opposing him. then you won’t become weary and give up. 4After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

5And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children?#12:5a Greek sons; also in 12:7, 8. He said,

“My child,#12:5b Greek son; also in 12:6, 7. don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and don’t give up when he corrects you.

6For the Lord disciplines those he loves,

and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”#12:5-6 Prov 3:11-12 (Greek version).

7As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?#12:9 Or and really live?

10For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

12So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

A Call to Listen to God

14Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.

18You have not come to a physical mountain,#12:18 Greek to something that can be touched. to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”#12:20 Exod 19:13. 21Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”#12:21 Deut 9:19.

22No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

25Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! 26When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.”#12:26 Hag 2:6. 27This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

28Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29For our God is a devouring fire.

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Hebrews 12

The Race of Faith

1Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, #Col. 3:8let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and #1 Cor. 9:24; Gal. 2:2; Heb. 10:39let us run #Rom. 12:12; Heb. 10:36with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, #Luke 24:26who for the joy that was set before Him #Ps. 69:7, 19; Phil. 2:8; (Heb. 2:9)endured the cross, despising the shame, and #Ps. 110:1has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Discipline of God

3#Matt. 10:24For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, #Gal. 6:9; Heb. 12:5lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4#(1 Cor. 10:13)You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

#Job 5:17; Prov. 3:11, 12“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,

Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

6For #Ps. 94:12; Rev. 3:19whom the Lord loves He chastens,

And scourges every son whom He receives.”

7#Deut. 8:5; 2 Sam. 7:14If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what #Prov. 13:24; 19:18; 23:13son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8But if you are without chastening, #1 Pet. 5:9of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to #(Job 12:10)the Father of spirits and live? 10For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, #Lev. 11:44that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields #Is. 32:17; 2 Tim. 4:8; James 3:17, 18the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Renew Your Spiritual Vitality

12Therefore #Is. 35:3strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

14#Ps. 34:14Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, #Matt. 5:8; (Heb. 9:28)without which no one will see the Lord: 15looking carefully lest anyone #2 Cor. 6:1; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 4:1fall short of the grace of God; lest any #Deut. 29:18root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16lest there be any #(1 Cor. 6:13–18)fornicator or profane person like Esau, #Gen. 25:33who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was #Gen. 27:30–40rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

The Glorious Company

18For you have not come to #Ex. 19:12, 16; 20:18; Deut. 4:11; 5:22the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it #Ex. 20:18–26; Deut. 5:25; 18:16begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20(For they could not endure what was commanded: #Ex. 19:12, 13“And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” 21And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, #Deut. 9:19“I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)

22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23to the general assembly and church of #(James 1:18)the firstborn #Luke 10:20who are registered in heaven, to God #Gen. 18:25; Ps. 50:6; 94:2the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men #(Phil. 3:12)made perfect, 24to Jesus #1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6; 9:15the Mediator of the new covenant, and to #Ex. 24:8the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things #Gen. 4:10; Heb. 11:4than that of Abel.

Hear the Heavenly Voice

25See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For #Heb. 2:2, 3if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, #Hag. 2:6“Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the #(Is. 34:4; 54:10; 65:17; Rom. 8:19, 21); 1 Cor. 7:31; Heb. 1:10removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may #Heb. 13:15, 21serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29For #Ex. 24:17our God is a consuming fire.

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