Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
HEBREWS 12
1 Therefore, 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, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
God Disciplines His Children
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, 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 spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No 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.
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Warning and Encouragement
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy
18 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 such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written 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.
25 See 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? 26 At 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.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Application Notes
12:1-4 The Christian life involves focus and training. It requires us to give up whatever hinders or endangers our relationships with God and to run with stamina and commitment in the power of the Holy Spirit. We will stumble if we look away from him to worry about ourselves or look at the opposition, trials, or suffering facing us. We should be running solely for Christ, not our own glory or success, and we must always keep him in sight.
12:1 This "great cloud of witnesses" contains all the people described in Hebrews 11. Their faithfulness is a constant encouragement to us. We do not struggle alone, and we are not the first to struggle with the problems we face. Others have run the race and won, and their witness stirs us to run and win also. What an inspiring heritage we have! (For further study, find the complete story of each of these people in the Bible to learn more about their faith.)
12:1 Long-distance runners work hard to build endurance and strength. On race day, their clothes are lightweight and their bodies lean. In the ancient world, in fact, runners competed naked. To run the race that God has set before us, we must also strip off the excess weight that slows us down. How can we do that? (1) Choose friends who are also committed to the race. Non-believing friends will have values and activities that may deter you from the course. (2) Drop or curtail certain activities, such as continually checking messages, spending hours a day watching shows or playing video games, or shopping for nonessential items. They may be adding unnecessary weight. Try dropping them for a while; then check the results in your life. (3) Get help for addictions that disable you. If you have a secret weight, such as pornography, gambling, painkillers, or alcohol, admit your need and get help today.
12:3 When you face hardship and discouragement, it's easy to lose sight of the big picture. But you're not alone; you can get help. Many others have already made it through the stage of life you are in, enduring far more difficult circumstances than you have. Suffering provides the training ground for Christian maturity. It develops our patience, makes us realise our need for Christ, strengthens our resolve, encourages humility, and ensures our final victory.
12:4 These readers were facing difficult times of persecution, but none of them had yet died for their faith, though many Christians would die in the future. Because they were still alive, the writer urged them to continue to run their race. Just as Christ did not give up, neither should they.
12:5-11 Who loves his children more--the father who allows them to do whatever they want without restraint or the one who corrects, trains, and even punishes them to help them learn what is right? No one likes to be corrected and disciplined by God, but his discipline shows his deep love for us. When God corrects you through His Word, circumstances, or other people, see it as proof of his love, and ask him what you need to learn.
12:11 We may respond to discipline in several ways: (1) We can accept it with resignation; (2) we can accept it with self-pity, thinking we really don't deserve it; (3) we can be angry and resentful toward God; or (4) we can accept it graciously, letting it accomplish its purpose in our lives.
12:12-13 The word therefore is a clue that what follows is important. We should think of God as not only a disciplining parent but also an Olympic-style coach who pushes us to our limits and requires discipline so we will win the reward of heaven. Although we may not feel strong enough to push on to victory, we will be able to accomplish it as we follow Christ and trust him to strengthen our grip. Then we can use our growing strength to help those around us who are weak and struggling.
12:12-13 We must not go forward with only our own survival in mind. Others will follow our example, and we have a responsibility to them if we are living for Christ, as we claim to be. Does your example clear the path of stumbling blocks and make the way easier for others to follow Christ and keep going? Do you raise the morale of others by demonstrating your grip on the promises of God? Or do those who follow you end up confused and misled? Your encouragement can strengthen them, show them that God knows what he is doing, and teach them how to cooperate with his plans and trust in his promises.
12:14 How can we be holy? The original readers of this letter were familiar with the Jewish ceremonial cleansing ritual that prepared them for worship, and they knew that they had to be holy or clean in order to enter the temple. Sin always blocks our vision of God; so if we want to see him, we must renounce sin and obey him (see Psalm 24:3-4). In God, holy means morally perfect; in us, it means morally clean, set aside for his service. This holy living will result in peaceful living. A good relationship with God leads to good relationships with fellow believers. Rather than pursuing peace, we often strike out at others who are abrasive or offensive to us. Although we will not always feel loving toward all other believers, we must pursue peace as we become more Christlike.
12:15 The "bitter root" can be interpreted two ways: (1) When Moses renewed the covenant with the people of Israel, he warned them about the root that bears bitter and poisonous fruit (Deuteronomy 29:18-19). He referred to the act of turning to false gods and stubbornly following the desires of their hearts. When we lose sight of the grace of God, the bitter root of unbelief can grow. (2) This verse also teaches people to avoid bitterness that springs up in their hearts and minds. A "bitter root" comes when we allow disappointment with God or others to grow into resentment, or when we nurse grudges over past hurts or unmet desires. Bitterness brings with it jealousy, anger, dissension, and immorality. Be alert for it in your own life and help others deal with it as well. Every time you feel hurt by someone, immediately ask the Holy Spirit to take care of the bitterness so it does not poison you.
12:16-17 Esau's story shows us that mistakes and sins sometimes have lasting consequences (Genesis 25:29-34; 27:36). Even repentance and regret could not restore what he had forfeited. The Jews saw Esau as immoral and godless because he took his eyes off God's promise to the family through Abraham and traded everything for a quick meal. Just as immorality and shortsightedness would hurt the Hebrew believers, they can bring disaster to churches and families today. How often do you make decisions based on what you must have right now rather than on God's promises to you in the long run? Evaluate the long-range effects of your decisions and actions. Some decisions and actions you can't take back or do over.
12:18-24 Mount Zion is another name for Mount Moriah, the hill on which the temple had been built. What a c·ontrast between the people's terrified approach of God at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19) and their joyful approach at Mount Zion in his holy city! What a difference Jesus makes! Before Jesus came, God seemed distant and threatening. Since Jesus has come, we can now see how God welcomes us through Christ into his presence. Accept God's invitation and join his worshiping community.
12:22 As believers in Christ, we are citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem right now. Because Christ rules our lives, the Holy Spirit always helps and guides us, and we experience close fellowship with other believers. (For more on the full and ultimate rewards and reality of the heavenly Jerusalem, see Revelation 21.)
12:26-29 When God spoke to the people of Israel the first time, his voice shook the earth (Exodus 19:18). Later, the prophet Haggai foresaw the glorious expectation of God's powerful revelation (Haggai 2:6-7). Eventually, the world as we know it will crumble, and only God's kingdom will last. Those who follow Christ are part of this unshakable kingdom, and they will withstand the shaking, sifting, and burning. When we feel unsure about the future, we can draw confidence from these verses. No matter what happens here, our future rests on a solid foundation that cannot be destroyed. Don't put your confidence in what will be destroyed; instead, build your life on Christ and his unshakable kingdom. (For more on the importance of building on a solid foundation, see Matthew 7:24-27.)
12:28 Here are five ways we can be thankful: (1) We can be thankful that God answers our prayers (Isaiah 65:24; John 11:41). (2) We can be thankful for God's provision for our needs (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18; 1 Timothy 4:4-5). (3) We can be thankful for God's blessings (1 Chronicles 16:34; Philippians 4:6). (4) We can be thankful for God's character and wondrous works (Psalm 7:17; 2 Corinthians 9:15; Revelation 11:17). (5) We can be thankful for our brothers and sisters in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3-5).
12:29 There is a big difference between the flame of a candle and the roaring blast of a forest fire. We cannot even stand near an intense fire. Even with sophisticated firefighting equipment, a consuming fire often rages beyond human control. We cannot control God either. We cannot force him to do anything for us through our prayers. He cannot be contained. Yet he shows us compassion. He saves us from sin, and he will save us from death. But everything temporal, worthless, sinful, imperfect, or destructive, will be devoured by the fire of his wrath (see Deuteronomy 4:24). Only what is good, true, sacred, and righteous will remain. What a catastrophe for anyone considering turning away from God!
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)