Hebrews12
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 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,
2looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.
4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:
5and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him;
6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not?
8But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.
11All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.
12Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees;
13and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.
14Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:
15looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;
16lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.
17For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought it diligently with tears.
18For ye are not come unto a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them;
20for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;
21and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:
22but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,
23to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel.
25See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven:
26whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven.
27And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.
28Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe:
29for our God is a consuming fire.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Hebrews 12.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: An exhortation to be constant and persevere, The example of Christ is set forth, and the gracious design of God in all the sufferings believers endured. (1–11). Peace and holiness are recommended, with cautions against despising spiritual blessings. (12–17). The New Testament dispensation shown to be much more excellent than the Old. (18–29).
vv1-11
The persevering obedience of faith in Christ, was the race set before the Hebrews, wherein they must either win the crown of glory, or have everlasting misery for their portion; and it is set before us. By the sin that does so easily beset us, understand that sin to which we are most prone, or to which we are most exposed, from habit, age, or circumstances. This is a most important exhortation; for while a man's darling sin, be it what it will, remains unsubdued, it will hinder him from running the Christian race, as it takes from him every motive for running, and gives power to every discouragement. When weary and faint in their minds, let them recollect that the holy Jesus suffered, to save them from eternal misery. By stedfastly looking to Jesus, their thoughts would strengthen holy affections, and keep under their carnal desires. Let us then frequently consider him. What are our little trials to his agonies, or even to our deserts? What are they to the sufferings of many others? There is a proneness in believers to grow weary, and to faint under trials and afflictions; this is from the imperfection of grace and the remains of corruption. Christians should not faint under their trials. Though their enemies and persecutors may be instruments to inflict sufferings, yet they are Divine chastisements; their heavenly Father has his hand in all, and his wise end to answer by all. They must not make light of afflictions, and be without feeling under them, for they are the hand and rod of God, and are his rebukes for sin. They must not despond and sink under trials, nor fret and repine, but bear up with faith and patience. God may let others alone in their sins, but he will correct sin in his own children. In this he acts as becomes a father. Our earthly parents sometimes may chasten us, to gratify their passion, rather than to reform our manners. But the Father of our souls never willingly grieves nor afflicts his children. It is always for our profit. Our whole life here is a state of childhood, and imperfect as to spiritual things; therefore we must submit to the discipline of such a state. When we come to a perfect state, we shall be fully reconciled to all God's chastisement of us now. God's correction is not condemnation; the chastening may be borne with patience, and greatly promote holiness. Let us then learn to consider the afflictions brought on us by the malice of men, as corrections sent by our wise and gracious Father, for our spiritual good.
vv12-17
A burden of affliction is apt to make the Christian's hands hang down, and his knees grow feeble, to dispirit him and discourage him; but against this he must strive, that he may better run his spiritual race and course. Faith and patience enable believers to follow peace and holiness, as a man follows his calling constantly, diligently, and with pleasure. Peace with men, of all sects and parties, will be favourable to our pursuit of holiness. But peace and holiness go together; there can be not right peace without holiness. Where persons fail of having the true grace of God, corruption will prevail and break forth; beware lest any unmortified lust in the heart, which seems to be dead, should spring up, to trouble and disturb the whole body. Falling away from Christ is the fruit of preferring the delights of the flesh, to the blessing of God, and the heavenly inheritance, as Esau did. But sinners will not always have such mean thoughts of the Divine blessing and inheritance as they now have. It agrees with the profane man's disposition, to desire the blessing, yet to despise the means whereby the blessing is to be gained. But God will neither sever the means from the blessing, nor join the blessing with the satisfying of man's lusts. God's mercy and blessing were never sought carefully and not obtained.
vv18-29
Mount Sinai, on which the Jewish church state was formed, was a mount such as might be touched, though forbidden to be so, a place that could be felt; so the Mosaic dispensation was much in outward and earthly things. The gospel state is kind and condescending, suited to our weak frame. Under the gospel all may come with boldness to God's presence. But the most holy must despair, if judged by the holy law given from Sinai, without a Saviour. The gospel church is called Mount Zion; there believers have clearer views of heaven, and more heavenly tempers of soul. All the children of God are heirs, and every one has the privileges of the first-born. Let a soul be supposed to join that glorious assembly and church above, that is yet unacquainted with God, still carnally-minded, loving this present world and state of things, looking back to it with a lingering eye, full of pride and guile, filled with lusts; such a soul would seem to have mistaken its way, place, state, and company. It would be uneasy to itself and all about it. Christ is the Mediator of this new covenant, between God and man, to bring them together in this covenant; to keep them together; to plead with God for us, and to plead with us for God; and at length to bring God and his people together in heaven. This covenant is made firm by the blood of Christ sprinkled upon our consciences, as the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled upon the altar and the victim. This blood of Christ speaks in behalf of sinners; it pleads not for vengeance, but for mercy. See then that you refuse not his gracious call and offered salvation. See that you do not refuse Him who speaketh from heaven, with infinite tenderness and love; for how can those escape, who turn from God in unbelief or apostacy, while he so graciously beseeches them to be reconciled, and to receive his everlasting favour! God's dealing with men under the gospel, in a way of grace, assures us, that he will deal with the despisers of the gospel, in a way of judgment. We cannot worship God acceptably, unless we worship him with reverence and godly fear. Only the grace of God enables us to worship God aright. God is the same just and righteous God under the gospel as under the law. The inheritance of believers is secured to them; and all things pertaining to salvation are freely given in answer to prayer. Let us seek for grace, that we may serve God with reverence and godly fear.
Key Words
τοιγαροῦν (toigaroûn): truly for then, i.e. consequently
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἡμῖν (hēmîn): to (or for, with, by) us
ἔχω (échō): to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
περίκειμαι (períkeimai): to lie all around, i.e. inclose, encircle, hamper (literally or figuratively)
τοσοῦτος (tosoûtos): apparently from G3588 (ὁ) and G3739 (ὅς)) and G3778 (οὗτος) (including its variations); so vast as this, i.e. such (in quantity, amount, number of space)
νέφος (néphos): a cloud
μάρτυς (mártys): a witness (literally (judicially) or figuratively (genitive case)); by analogy, a "martyr"
ἀποτίθημι (apotíthēmi): to put away (literally or figuratively)
ἡμεῖς (hēmeîs): we (only used when emphatic)
Cross References
Hebrews 12Direct Old Testament quotation on despising the Lord's chastening or fainting under His rebuke.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct Old Testament quotation establishing that the Lord chasteneth the son whom He loveth.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct historical reference to the physical terror and boundary warnings at Mount Sinai.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly quoted: 'Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Verbal echo and direct exhortation to lift up hands that hang down and weak knees.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The primary historical account of Esau profanely selling his birthright for a single meal.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The historical aftermath where Esau wept and sought the blessing but was rejected.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The foundational Old Testament scene of terror, thunders, and lightnings at Mount Sinai.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Contrast between Abel's blood crying for vengeance and Christ's blood speaking forgiveness.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The source text declaring that 'our God is a consuming fire.'
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The preceding chapter's catalog of Old Testament heroes constituting the 'cloud of witnesses.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul’s classic athletic metaphor of running the race, laying aside weight, and maintaining self-control.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Connects Jesus as the 'author' (captain/leader) of salvation perfected through sufferings.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Moses instructs Israel that God chastens them as a father chastens his son.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Reflects the unique divine designation 'God of the spirits of all flesh' ('Father of spirits').
Supported by Matthew Poole
The terror-inducing sights and sounds at Sinai that made the people beg for silence.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallels 'the heavenly Jerusalem' which is the mother of all New Covenant believers.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Prior declaration in Hebrews that Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallel warning on the impossibility of escaping if we neglect so great salvation.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The historical description of Sinai shaking greatly when the Lord descended in fire.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Messianic psalm of Christ sitting down at the right hand of God's throne after His work.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrasts their previous sufferings (loss of goods) with not yet resisting 'unto blood.'
Supported by JFB
Direct verbal parallel to 'make straight paths for your feet' to avoid falling.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Echoes the reality of having names 'written in heaven' or in the book of life.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Connects to the 'spirits of just men made perfect' through Christ.
Supported by JFB
The Old Covenant 'blood of sprinkling' typology fulfilled by the blood of Jesus.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophecy of a divine kingdom set up by God that shall never be destroyed.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Moses warns Israel that the Lord who goes before them is a consuming fire.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The temporal heavens and earth will perish and be changed, but God remains.
Supported by Matthew Poole