The twelfth chapter of the letter to the Hebrews is all about encouragement and discipline, which is designed to result in a strong finish to the race of faith, perseverance and overcoming to the end. Let’s take a look.
1) V1-4 – 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let 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. 3Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
The chapter begins with “therefore,” hearkening the audience to everything said before, and most specifically the previous chapter, which revealed all of those examples of Old Testament faith in action. Because all of those heroes, of whom the world was not worthy, are surrounding us, watching us, testifying to the power of God to preserve His people to the very end, and proving that faithful endurance is possible, we believers ought to take certain steps in living a similarly faithful life. We must “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (v1). And we must “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (v1).
It’s a graphic image the author paints for us, a race marked out for us, an obstacle course of sorts with hindering snares and sinful tangles. It could be said that we’re competing with the roaring lion that prowls about on our course looking to devour us. But worldliness itself is perhaps the greatest hindrance; we must realize that this world has nothing of lasting value to offer us, even though this world has seemingly everything to offer (Caedmon’s Call). We can’t get caught in worldly pursuits in this race marked out for us. Furthermore, there is sin all about the course, and it is truly so easy to get tangled in its weedy vines. Though we stumble, though we trip, and though we get knocked down, we must get back up and we must press on. V2 gives us the best method of doing that, fixing our eyes on Jesus.
Despite numerous examples of running a good race of faith in chapter 11, the author can’t help but point to the only perfectly run race in all of history, that of Jesus Christ, “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” (v2). Jesus is called the author of our faith. He is God, who designed and created faith to be the only means of salvation from sin for mankind; that’s generic and corporately speaking. But from a specific and individual viewpoint, He also created faith in you and in me; we didn’t conjure it up, because we were dead in sin and trespasses. But God made us alive in Christ, when we were born again by the Spirit of God, regenerated to believe the gospel of Jesus. This is why, logically, regeneration precedes faith; though chronologically they may seem to be simultaneous. Jesus is also called the perfecter of our faith. Faith, in and of itself, cannot save, unless the object of that faith merits salvation on behalf of the one who believes. That’s exactly what Jesus does. He, as the object of our faith, merits salvation on our behalf by living a perfect, faithful life where we have failed. He makes our faith perfect unto salvation, where apart from Him and His resurrection, our faith is futile. Jesus also perfects our faith through our sanctification. Faith sanctifies (Acts 26:18), and perfect faith sanctifies completely, which is what our condition will be as we persevere in faith, as we are preserved in faith, to the end of our lives and to the second coming of Jesus.
Also in v2, we learn the motive for Jesus’ enduring the cross: joy. For the joy He had to look forward to, spending eternity with God’s elect, Jesus endured crucifixion though He was totally innocent. Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath, His righteous judgment on sin and sinners, all because of the joy that would result. In that effort, Jesus scorned the shame of being crucified. There was no worse way to die than by crucifixion. But, literally, Jesus rejected it for being unworthy. The cross and its corresponding shame had no right to be shameful for Jesus. It was His time to shine, finally to reveal His glory not in the way the world would expect, but by dying and then defeating the grave. There’s no shame in that!
Finally, in v2, Jesus sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. He had been there before; but now He had earned it. He had been granted sovereignty before creation, but now He merited it. And He took His place there, until the Father sends Him back victorious. The author of Hebrews mentions Jesus’ rightful place at the right hand of God numerous times. In Hebrews 1:3, Jesus took that place after providing purification for sins. In Hebrews 1:13, quoting the Old Testament, we learn that it’s Jesus’ rightful place until His enemies are made into His footstool. In Hebrews 8:1 and 10:12, we learn that Jesus earned that position by completing the task of the High Priest, having “offered for all time one sacrifice for sins.” Many other passages refer to Jesus’ place there at the right hand of God (Acts 2:33-34; 5:31; 7:55-56; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; 1 Peter 3:22).
We are to constantly focus on Jesus, considering “Him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that [we] will not grow weary and lose heart” (v3). He remained faithful through significantly greater hardship than we’ll ever face, and that’s why we mustn’t grow weary and lose heart. He won for us. And that should be adequate motivation for perseverance in faith. As Jesus conquered temptation to sin, He resisted to death, to the point of shedding His blood, and won the victory for us. But we have not yet resisted sin to that degree (v4). We have plenty more room to continue resisting sin. Once we resist it to the point that it kills us, that’s when we win as well, for we will be with Jesus. Just when Satan thinks he wins by killing us, he realizes he loses. If he tempts us to sin, specifically to renounce our faith in Christ alone, then he wins. But we have victory over fear and death through faith in Jesus.
2) V5-11 – 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son” [Proverbs 3:11-12]. 7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
While v1-3 of Hebrews 12 are encouraging, v4 reminds us that we have not resisted the temptations of sin to the point of shedding blood. Additionally, we “have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses” us as God’s children (v5). We must not forget that encouragement! We are God’s children, and so we ought to strive to behave like it! We shouldn’t “make light of the Lord’s discipline” and we shouldn’t “lose heart when He rebukes” us (v5). We must realize, rather, that God disciplines and punishes those He loves (v6), and so we should see our hardship as fatherly discipline (v7). In fact, the author goes so far as to say if you are not disciplined at times, then you are not really children of God (v8). Perhaps this is why the wicked seem to prosper at times (as wisdom literature in Scripture considers); they are not disciplined by God, because they are children of the devil, the ruler of this world. When the wicked prosper in this world, then, perhaps it should not come as a surprise to us.
The author acknowledges the importance of human fathers and their discipline (v7-11), and he takes it a step farther so that we also see the importance of the discipline from God, our heavenly Father (v9-10). We respect our human fathers for their efforts to discipline us for a time, while we were under their authority living in their household. And we see the benefit it brought to us, hopefully, in our character. Now their discipline was imperfect, and so we remain imperfect; but God’s discipline is perfect, “for our good, that we may share in His holiness” (v10). We are “predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son” (Romans 8:29), so we should submit to this process, which leads to life (v9). Even though discipline is unpleasant – even painful – while we are experiencing it (v11), we are able to look back and see the good that it did for our character. To be trained by the discipline of God is to be blessed with a harvest of righteousness and peace (v11).
3) V12-17 – 12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13“Make level paths for your feet” [Proverbs 4:26], so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. 14Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.
Because the hardship of God’s discipline is a good thing for us, we ought to straighten up and live strong, godly lives; there’s no need to be weak and feeble (v12). We are lame and disabled, but thanks to God, we are healed as we, by the grace of His Spirit, make our paths level (v13). What does it mean to level your paths? The rest of the passage explains clearly: “Live in peace with all men” and “be holy” (v14); do not miss, or let others miss, “the grace of God” (v15); do not engage, or let others engage, in sexual immorality (v16) or idolatry (godlessness). We know the effects of such sinfulness, and we have ample example from Scripture of the pain of sinfulness, though the author reminds us of Esau’s rejection (v17).
The author says, “Without holiness no one will see the Lord” (v14). We must be holy as our Father in heaven is holy (Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:26; Deuteronomy 23:14; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 Peter 1:15-16). Our need is holiness, and that’s what God grants to us, through faith in the One who was holy on our behalf, for we can never be holy due to our sin nature. We also must guard against bitterness, which causes trouble and defilement (v15). Do you see in your life how troublesome bitterness can be? Has it been a root cause of the times when you have defiled yourself? Though sexual immorality is not further explained here, elsewhere in the New Testament we learn of the specifics and the seriousness. Instead, godlessness (not atheism but idolatry, for their really is no such thing as atheism – Romans 1:18-32) is detailed here (v16-17). Interestingly, the evidence of Esau’s godlessness is found in his willing to sell his inheritance rights “for a single meal” (v16). Sound decision-making is a sign of theism. Rationalism is a sign of theism, not atheism; foolishness, which when used in Scripture refers to one’s moral condition, is a sign of godlessness. When Esau noticed his error, it was too late to change anything, even though his desire to change the circumstance was sincere (v17). Perhaps the lesson for us here is what the author said previously in this epistle: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15; 4:7; see also 12:25). Do not presume God’s patient mercy is limitless.
4) V18-24 – 18You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned” [Exodus 19:12-13]. 21The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear” [Deuteronomy 9:19] 22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
The encouragement to live a holy life, to straighten up with strength, continues in this passage, which really makes a simple statement, half negative and half positive: you have not come there, but you have come here. Under the Old Covenant, the image of God’s presence was Mount Sinai, a physical yet intimidating place (v18-21). But the New Covenant image of God’s presence is different. It’s Mount Zion instead of Mount Sinai; it’s heavenly instead of physical; it’s an established city, rather than a rural setting; it’s an assembly of joy, rather than fear. We “come to God, the judge of all men,” but we are not afraid, because we have been made perfect and our names are written in heaven. We come to Jesus, whose blood “speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” The first blood spilled was innocent, in some regard, but Abel was still a sinner; Jesus’ blood is better, perfect, because He was innocent and sinless.
5) V25-29 – 25See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven? 26At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens” [Haggai 2:6]. 27The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be 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 be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our “God is a consuming fire” [Deuteronomy 4:24].
After the encouragement to stand firm and press on, we are once again warned not to refuse God. It’s a repetition of what we’ve already heard, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15; 4:7). There is no guarantee of a second chance. This effective conclusion to the sermon portion of Hebrews comes full circle, right back to the beginning remarks of Hebrews 1:1-2: “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.”
God spoke to the Hebrew people on earth, at Mount Sinai, and they begged Moses not to have Him do it again. So He spoke through Moses. But they did not listen. Despite the warnings, the Israelites dwelled in sin and that generation that left Egypt failed to escape the wilderness. Today, God speaks to us from heaven, through His Son, Jesus Christ, through His Holy Spirit, and by His word. We need to understand that God can shake “created things” (v27), and He does it with a great purpose, “so that what cannot be shaken may remain” (v27). So just as the kingdom we are receiving cannot be shaken, so we are called to a faith that cannot be shaken; we are called to stand firm in that faith, so that we cannot shaken by the circumstances and troubles of this world, by false teachers in our midst, and by temptations that strive to drive us off the race course marked out for us by the Lord Himself.
We need to be thankful, worshiping God in the ways He has prescribed and with appropriate humility, reverence, and awe. We need to realize that we are secure because of His arrangements on our behalf, out of His great love for us; and we need to realize that He remains unchangeably holy and perfect. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, but this faith is not a dead or dying or stagnant faith. True saving faith is a living and active faith that perseveres and reaches out and stands strong and firm in humble confidence in Christ. All else will be consumed by the fire that is our God.
Footnotes
- 12:6 Prov. 3:11,12
- 12:13 Prov. 4:26
- 12:20 Exodus 19:12,13
- 12:21 Deut. 9:19
- 12:26 Haggai 2:6
- 12:29 Deut. 4:24
Bible text from Gospelcom.net. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.