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Hebrews

Hebrewschapter 12

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A.Lay Aside the Weight and Run Looking to Jesusvv. 1-3

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

B.The Father's Discipline Proves You Are Sonsvv. 4-11

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live? 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. 11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.

C.Straight Paths, and the Warning of Esauvv. 12-17

12 Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees. 13 Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. 14 Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.

D.Not the Burning Mountain but Mount Zionvv. 18-24

18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken. 20 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” 22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels 23 in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

E.A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shakenvv. 25-29

25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.” 27 The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. 29 “For our God is a consuming fire.”

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition
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Chapter summary

'Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith' (12:1-2), who for the joy set before him endured the cross.

Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾

'Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith' (12:1-2), who for the joy set before him endured the cross. Proverbs 3 reframes hardship as fathering ('whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth') and chastening afterward yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Remember Esau, who sold his birthright. Then two mountains: not Sinai's fire and blackness and tempest, but 'mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,' and blood that speaks better than Abel's. 'Our God is a consuming fire.'

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Epistle · Unknown — Hebrews overview

  • A. 1–3 Lay Aside the Weight and Run Looking to Jesus
  • B. 4–11 The Father's Discipline Proves You Are Sons
  • C. 12–17 Straight Paths, and the Warning of Esau
  • D. 18–24 Not the Burning Mountain but Mount Zion
  • E. 25–29 A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
  • Hebrews 123 verses
    • Hebrews 12:3Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
    • Hebrews 12:5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.
    • Hebrews 12:6For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”
    • Read Hebrews 12 →
  • Exodus 193 verses
    • Exodus 19:12And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
    • Exodus 19:16On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
    • Exodus 19:18Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.
    • Read Exodus 19 →
  • Galatians 62 verses
    • Galatians 6:1Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
    • Galatians 6:9Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
    • Read Galatians 6 →
  • 2 Corinthians 42 verses
4 more chapters this one speaks with
  • Proverbs 32 verses
  • Deuteronomy 42 verses
  • Hebrews 112 verses
    • Hebrews 11:4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
    • Hebrews 11:28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.
    • Read Hebrews 11 →
  • Revelation 31 verse

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.