Chapter 12:1-28

The Epistle To The Hebrews: A Study Guide

By Pastor James P. Vold

Hebrews 12:1-28

12 Therefore, seeing we also are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your minds. 4You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin. 5And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him. 6For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. 7If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom a father does not chasten? 8But if you are without chastening, of which all are 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 rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10For they indeed for a few days chastened us as they deemed best, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11Now no chastening seems to be joyous for the present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12Therefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be turned from the way, but rather be healed. 14Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15looking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and by this many be defiled; 16lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. 18For you have not come to the 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 begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20(For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or thrust through with a javelin.” 21And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “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 the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. 25See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if 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, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27And this word, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal 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 serve God accceptably with reverance and godly fear. 29For our God is a consuming fire. (Heb. 12:1-17 NKJ)

In part 12 we studied the great faith chapter, chapter 11, under the heading: D. The Definition and Illustration of Faith.

The following study of chapter 12 centers on the application of the faith-principle to life. It ends with a final warning against refusing God.

E. A Practical Guideline For Living (12:1-17)

This section has three basic parts:

1) An illustration from the life of our Lord.

2) An explanation concerning chastening (vs 2-11).

3) Exhortations for personal living (vs 12-17).

Part 1

The illustration suggesting that life is like a race exhorts us to put away weights and sin. Weights are those things that burden us. Sin is that which ties our feet. Both weaken us in life and in a race.

The example of a proper running of the race of life is our Lord Jesus. We are to look to Him, not to the crowds around us for guidance. He endured shame and pain because he saw the joy ahead. We, in Paul’s words, need to “look at the things not seen” ( See 2 Cor. 4:18).

Part 2

The explanation of chastening directs us to consider Him in His endurance of opposition. Otherwise we may be weary and discouraged . It also asks us to remember the divine exhortation not to despise the chastening of the Lord or be discouraged when rebuked by Him. Two improper reactions to God’s chastening (child training) are possible: One is to despise it, or treat it as unimportant. The other is to give up and treat it as impossible.

God’s chastening (child training) involves:

a. Stating what is expected of us.

b. Showing us our failure.

c. Giving us a chance to change our behavior and act according to the expectation.

d. Telling us clearly the penalty if we do not change our behavior or attitude.

e. Giving a constant assurance of love to the one who is chastened.

God’s pattern for training is an ideal guideline for every level of disciplining.

When God chastens us, it shows that we are truly His children, that He deals with us as with sons (vs 7). Lack of chastening shows spiritual illegitimacy (vs 8). Reaction to divine chastening is compared to human chastening (vs 9). The proper response is submission. Human chastening is fallible (can err). God’s chastening is always for our benefit. At present it is difficult, but it produces the fruit of righteousness.

Part 3

The study of God’s chastening and it’s fruit leads to exhortations for personal living:

a. Encouraging others (vs 12-13).

b. Pursuing peace with others (vs 14a).

c. Searching for personal holiness (14b).

d. Receiving the grace of God by not allowing bitterness to remain in the heart.

e. Avoiding irreverance (disrespect)—shown by Esau’s conduct with it’s terrible results (vs 16-17).

F. A List Of Our Blessings (12:18-24)

Verses 18-21 review the events at Mt. Sinai. They remind us that to come to faith in Christ is not to partake in Judaism. We come to a great circle of fellowship which includes:

a. Mt. Zion—the place of grace.

b. The city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem. c. An innumerable company of angels.

d. The Church of our Lord Jesus Christ—those who are numbered in heaven.

e. Intimacy (familiarity) with God who is Judge of all.

f. Jesus as mediator of the New Covenant.

g The Old Testament saints—just men made perfect.

h. Christ’s blood of sprinkling (cleansing)—which speaks better things than did the blood of Abel. Abel’s blood cried for Cain’s condemnation. Christ’s blood cries for our justification.

i. Counsel And An Expectation (12:25-29) We are exhorted and encouraged not to refuse the Lord who speaks. Israel’s refusal led to the forty years in the wilderness.

We can expect that God who in times past intervened in the affairs of men, will certainly once more intervene. This expectation encourages us to serve God acceptably—remembering that He is a consuming fire!

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