Hebrews 12
12
Running the Race with Discipline
1Therefore, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also get rid of every weight and entangling sin. Let us run with endurance the race set before us,
2focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame; and He has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
3Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and lose heart.
4In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed.
5Have you forgotten the warning addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of Adonai or lose heart when you are corrected by Him,
6because Adonai disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He accepts.”
7It is for discipline that you endure. God is treating you as sons—for what son does a father not discipline?
8But if you are without discipline—something all have come to share—then you are illegitimate and not sons.
9Besides, we are used to having human fathers as instructors—and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
10Indeed, for a short time they disciplined us as seemed best to them; but He does so for our benefit, so that we may share in His holiness.
11Now all discipline seems painful at the moment—not joyful. But later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble!
13And make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame will not be pulled out of joint but rather be healed.
14Pursue shalom with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God; and see to it that no bitter root springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.
16Also see to it that there is no immoral or godless person—like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal.
17For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He found no chance for repentance, though he begged for it with tears.
Entering the Unshakeable Kingdom
18For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched, and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and storm,
19and to the blast of a shofar and a voice whose words made those who heard it beg that not another word be spoken to them.
20For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”
21So terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am quaking with fear.”
22But you have come to Mount Zion— to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, a joyous gathering,
23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are written in a scroll in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous ones made perfect,
24and to Yeshua, the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than the blood of Abel.
25See to it that you do not refuse the One who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the One who was warning them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject the One who warns us from heaven.
26His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”
27Now this phrase, “Yet once more,” shows the removal of those things that are 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 show gratitude—through this we may offer worship in a manner pleasing to God, with reverence and awe.
29For our God is a consuming fire.
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Hebrews 12: TLV
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Messianic Jews (Heb) 12
12
1So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us, too, put aside every impediment — that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement — and keep running with endurance in the contest set before us, 2looking away to the Initiator and Completer of that trusting, Yeshua — who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Yes, think about him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you won’t grow tired or become despondent. 4You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in the contest against sin.
5Also you have forgotten the counsel which speaks with you as sons:
“My son, don’t despise the discipline of Adonai
or become despondent when he corrects you.
6For Adonai disciplines those he loves
and whips everyone he accepts as a son.”
7Regard your endurance as discipline; God is dealing with you as sons. For what son goes undisciplined by his father? 8All legitimate sons undergo discipline; so if you don’t, you’re a mamzer and not a son!
9Furthermore, we had physical fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them; how much more should we submit to our spiritual Father and live! 10For they disciplined us only for a short time and only as best they could; but he disciplines us in a way that provides genuine benefit to us and enables us to share in his holiness.
11Now, all discipline, while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable; but for those who have been trained by it, it later produces its peaceful fruit, which is righteousness. 12So,
strengthen your drooping arms,
and steady your tottering knees;
13and
make a level path for your feet;
so that what has been injured will not get wrenched out of joint but rather will be healed.
14Keep pursuing shalom with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one misses out on God’s grace, that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble and thus contaminates many, 16and that no one is sexually immoral, or godless like Esav, who in exchange for a single meal gave up his rights as the firstborn. 17For you know that afterwards, when he wanted to obtain his father’s blessing, he was rejected; indeed, even though he sought it with tears, his change of heart was to no avail.
18For you have not come to a tangible mountain, to an ignited fire, to darkness, to murk, to a whirlwind, 19to the sound of a shofar, and to a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further message be given to them — 20for they couldn’t bear what was being commanded them, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it is to be stoned to death”; 21and so terrifying was the sight that Moshe said, “I am quaking with dread.”
22On the contrary, you have come to Mount Tziyon, that is, the city of the living God, heavenly Yerushalayim; to myriads of angels in festive assembly; 23to a community of the firstborn whose names have been recorded in heaven; to a Judge who is God of everyone; to spirits of righteous people who have been brought to the goal; 24to the mediator of a new covenant, Yeshua; and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better things than that of Hevel.
25See that you don’t reject the One speaking! For if those did not escape who rejected him when he gave divine warning on earth, think how much less we will escape if we turn away from him when he warns from heaven. 26Even then, his voice shook the earth; but now, he has made this promise:
“One more time I will shake
not only the earth, but heaven too!”
27And this phrase, “one more time,” makes clear that the things shaken are removed, since they are created things, so that the things not shaken may remain. 28Therefore, since we have received an unshakeable Kingdom, let us have grace, through which we may offer service that will please God, with reverence and fear. 29For indeed,
“Our God is a consuming fire!”
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