Hebrews 12
12
The Call to Endurance
1Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses # Heb 11:2,4-5,39 surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance # 1Co 9:24; Heb 10:36 the race that lies before us, 2keeping our eyes on Jesus, # Or us, looking to Jesus the source and perfecter # Or the founder and completer of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him # Or who instead of the joy lying before Him ; that is, the joy of heaven endured a cross and despised the shame # Lk 24:26; Php 2:8-9; Heb 13:13 and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.
Fatherly Discipline
3For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart. # Mt 10:24; Gl 6:9 4In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:
My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly
or faint when you are reproved by Him,
6for the Lord disciplines the one He loves
and punishes every son He receives. # Jb 5:17; Ps 94:12; Pr 3:11-12; Rv 3:16 # Pr 3:11-12
7Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8But if you are without discipline — which all # = Christians receive # Lit discipline, of which all have become participants — then you are illegitimate children and not sons. # Dt 8:5; 1Pt 5:9 9Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? # Nm 16:22; Is 38:16 10For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness. # Lv 11:44; 2Pt 1:4 11No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace # Is 32:17; Jms 3:17-18 and righteousness to those who have been trained by it. # 1Pt 1:6
12Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, # Jb 4:3-4; Is 35:3 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated # Or so that the lame will not be turned aside but healed instead. # Pr 4:26; Gl 6:1
Warning against Rejecting God’s Grace
14Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness # Rm 6:22; 14:19 — without it no one will see the Lord. # Mt 5:8; 2Co 7:1 15Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many. # 2Co 6:1; Gl 5:4; Heb 3:12; 10:39 16And make sure that there isn’t any immoral or irreverent # 1Tm 1:9; 4:7; 6:20; 2Tm 2:16 person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for one meal. # Gn 25:33 17For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance, though he sought it with tears. # Gn 27:34-38
18For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, 19to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. (Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, 20for they could not bear what was commanded: And if even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned! # Ex 19:12-13,18; 20:18-21; Dt 4:11; 5:5,25 # Ex 19:12 21The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am terrified and trembling. # Dt 9:19 # Dt 9:19) 22Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels in festive gathering, # Gl 4:26; Heb 11:10 23to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written # Or registered in heaven, to God who is the Judge of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, # Ps 94:2; Lk 10:20; Php 3:12 24to Jesus (mediator # 1Tm 2:5; Heb 7:22; 8:6; 9:15 of a new covenant # 1Co 11:25; 2Co 3:6; Heb 13:20), and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel. # Gn 4:10; Heb 11:4
25Make sure that you do not reject the One who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected Him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven. # Heb 2:2-4; 8:5; 11:7 26His voice shook the earth at that time, but now He has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven. # Ex 19:18; Hg 2:6 # Hg 2:6 27This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken # 1Co 7:31; 2Pt 3:10 — that is, created things — so that what is not shaken might remain. 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. # Or let us give thanks, or let us have grace By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, # Dn 2:44; Heb 13:15 29for our God is a consuming fire. # Dt 4:24; 2Th 1:8
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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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