Hebrews 12
12
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
God Disciplines His Children
4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lordʼs discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”#12:5,6 Prov. 3:11,12 (see Septuagint)
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8If you are not disciplined — and everyone undergoes discipline — then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13“Make level paths for your feet,”#12:13 Prov. 4:26 so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Warning and Encouragement
14Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy
18You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”#12:20 Exodus 19:12,13 21The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”#12:21 See Deut. 9:19.
22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”#12:26 Haggai 2:6 27The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our “God is a consuming fire.”#12:29 Deut. 4:24
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Hebrews 12
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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