Hebrews Chapter 12
Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 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,”
“Wherefore”: This is a very crucial transition word offering an emphatic conclusion (1 Thess. 4:8), to the section which began (in 10:19).
“Witnesses”: The deceased people of (chapter 11), give witness to the value and blessing of living by faith. Motivation for running “the race” is not in the possibility of receiving praise from observing heavenly saints. Rather, the runner is inspired by the godly examples those saints set during their lives. The great crowd is not comprised of spectators but rather is comprised of ones whose past life of faith encourages others to live that way (11:2, 4-5, 33, 39).
“Let us”: The reference is to those Hebrews who had made a profession of Christ, but had not gone all the way to full faith. They had not yet begun the race, which starts with salvation. The writer has invited them to accept salvation in Christ and join the race.
“Every weight”: Different from the “sin” mentioned next. This refers to the main encumbrance weighing down the Hebrews which was the Levitical system with its stifling legalism. The athlete would strip away every piece of unnecessary clothing before competing in the race. The outwards things emphasized by the Levitical system not only impede, they “entangle.”
“Sin”: In this context, focuses first on the particular sin of unbelief, refusing to turn away from the Levitical sacrifices to the perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ (John 16:8-11). As well as other sins cherished by the unbeliever.
“Patience”: Or endurance which is the steady determination to keep going, regardless of the temptation to slow down or give up (1 Cor. 9:24-25).
“Race”: The athletic metaphor presents the faith-filled life as a demanding, grueling effort. The English word “agony”, is derived from the Greek word used here.
The present exhortation to “run” finds its basis in the examples of the champions mentioned (in chapter 11). These heroes of the faith are like a “cloud of witnesses”. As “witnesses” (Greek marturon), they are sometimes regarded as spectators (Greek theatai), or as martyrs. Yet this Greek word should be understood as referring simply to those who testify or witness.
The emphasis is on the witness provided by their living by faith. This “race”: of faith is described by three modifying statements. First, it is to be run by laying aside “every weight”. This refers to impediments that weigh one down, whether clothing or excessive body weight. These things are not inherently wrong, but for the diligent runner or the faithful Christian they must be removed.
Second, it is to be run by putting off the entangling “sin”. This seems to refer to the one sin above all others that defeats a Christian. This may be a different sin for each individual. Third, it is to be run “with patience” (Greek hypomones).
Since patience is not an attribute commonly associated with running, this word would be better translated as endurance (as it is in the cognate verb forms of verses 2 and 3). Endurance and persistence have been on the author’s mind since the end of chapter 10 (10:32, 36-38; 11:13).
These witnesses that are watching everything you do and say can easily be won over to Jesus, if you live the Christian life before them every day. The best sermon any of us can preach is the one we live. Christianity is a turning away from the old habits, and allowing Jesus to live in you. This next Scripture explains it better.
Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: “Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Romans 2:7 “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life:”
When a person truly loves Jesus, it is no longer a chore to do good things. It is the desire of their heart to do good things. These next few verses of Scripture really tell us what the difference is. We are not part of the dark side of life, if we are a Christian; we are of the Light (Jesus Christ).
Romans 13:12-14 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].”
The flesh is opposed to God. The battle going on in every person is between listening to the sinful flesh or listening to the spirit. If we belong to Jesus, then we have put our flesh under the control of the spirit.
1 Corinthians 9:27 ” But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
These 3 Scriptures tell us what it is necessary to do to be able to walk the Christian life every day. Notice in these verses that the Christian has a free will in this, and must will, to do this.
Ephesians 4:22-24 “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Have we become a Christian to the extent this is speaking of?
Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
“Looking unto Jesus”: They were to look to Jesus as the object of faith and salvation (11:26-27; Acts 7:55-56; Phil. 3:8).
“Author” (see the note on 2:10). The term means originator or preeminent example.
“Finisher” (see note on 5:14). The term expresses the idea of carrying through to perfect completion (John 19:30).
“The joy”: Jesus persevered so that He might receive the joy of accomplishment of the Father’s will and exaltation. (1:9; Psalm 16:9-11; Luke 10:21-24).
“Right hand” (see note on 1:3).
Just as (verse 1), establishes some qualities for the entrance into and the actual running of life’s race, so (verse 2), directs one’s eyes to the finish line. Jesus is the “author and finisher” in that He has already blazed the trail and finished the course.
This very thing is what disturbs me about the casual attitude most believers have about Jesus Christ. We must first realize who Jesus is. He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He is the Word of God which created the entire world, and everything in it. He created you and me. He is not only the Author of our salvation, but he is the Author of our life as well.
He was Creator God.
John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “The same was in the beginning with God.” “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
He loved us enough to suffer on the cross for us, because we were His creation. He bought us back with His precious blood. We belong to Him. If we have accepted Him as our Savior and Lord, we are not our own, we are His. The contract says paid in full.
He is seated at the right hand of the Father because His work is finished; it was finished on the cross, and at His resurrection. He defeated sin, when He took sin on His body on the cross. Sin died for the believer on the cross, when Jesus said it is finished. Death was defeated when Jesus rose from the grave. IT IS FINISHED.
Verses 3-4: Though (chapter 11), provides many champions for believers to emulate, the supreme example of endurance is Jesus Himself.
Hebrews 12:3 “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
“Consider him”: Jesus is the supreme example of willingness to suffer in obedience to God. He faced “hostility” (the same word as “opposed” in Luke 2:34), and endured even the cruel cross. The same opposition is faced by all who follow Him (Acts 28:22; Gal. 6:17; Col. 1:24; 2 Tim. 3:12).
“Wearied and faint”: Believer’s pressures, exhaustion and persecutions (Gal. 6:9), are as nothing compared to Christ’s.
At one point, the non-believers even said that Jesus was of the devil. What a terrible accusation to make to the Son of God. Even those who were astonished at the miracles Jesus did, thought He was someone else. Even today, people speak of Jesus as a man. The real problem then, and now, is in realizing who this Jesus Christ really is.
Jesus Christ was Immanuel, God with us. God Manifest (made real), in the flesh.
Matthew 16:13-17 “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” “And they said, Some [say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?” “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
I have a question for you, who do you say, this Jesus Christ is?
Hebrews 12:4 “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”
“Unto blood”: None of the Hebrews had experienced such intense exhaustion or persecution that it brought them to death or martyrdom. Since Stephen (Acts 7:60), James (Acts 12:1), and others (Acts 9:1; 22:4; 26:10), had faced martyrdom in Jerusalem, it would appear to rule out that city as the residence of this epistle’s recipients.
One of the greatest consolations that I have, when I am told, it is not the will of God for me to teach, is the fact that my Leader (Jesus Christ), was rejected also. The church people of Jesus’ day gave Him no encouragement at all. I cannot say that to be true with me, many of them have encouraged me. Just a few rejected these teachings.
I believe this Scripture above is for people like me and for the disciples of all ages. I certainly have not resisted to the point of shed blood. I have not been nailed to the cross. In our society today, just the fact that you are a Christian, labels you as being weird. The majority of people today, are living to please the flesh. The only consideration of whether they will do something is, will it be a pleasure to me?
James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Stand up for what you believe, don’t follow the crowd. Know in your heart what is right and then do it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].”
A Christian should never say (I can’t do it). God will help you, and you can do what He has called you to do. The desire of my life is to be able to say with Paul, at my departing;
2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith:”
Verses 5-6: Here the writer recalls and expounds (Prov. 3:11-12). Trials and sufferings in the Christian’s life come from God who uses them to educate and discipline believers by such experiences. Such dealings are evidence of God’s love for His own children (2 Cor. 12:7-10).
Hebrews 12:5-6 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:” “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
“Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth”: God’s principle of disciplining His own people is completely congruous with human practices. This quotation from (Proverbs 3:12), stating God’s practice, corresponds to the commands God gave to fathers: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes [promptly]” (Prov. 13:24; 22:15; 23:13).
“Scourgeth”: This refers to flogging with a whip, a severe and painful form of beating that was a common Jewish practice (Matt. 10:17; 23:34).
Love and corporal punishment are not incongruous; they are two complementary and necessary aspects of training.
The way we grow in the Lord, is to face problems, and overcome them with the help of the Lord.
Romans 5:3-5 “And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;” “And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
The lessons that we learned the best when we were a child were the ones we were spanked for. If God did not chasten us, it would mean that we are not His. We are a pretty rough stone when God first accepts us as His. He has to smooth us down to make us into the beautiful stone fit to be placed next to the chief Cornerstone (Jesus Christ).
Proverbs 3:11-12 “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:” “For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son [in whom] he delighteth.”
I am thoroughly convinced that the reason children feel so unloved by their parents today is because they do not punish them for wrong doing. Children need a standard set. When they break the rules, they should be punished. If they are not properly punished for their misdeeds, they are never able to release the guilt they bear for that misdeed.
If you love your child, show him you do, by punishing him for wrong doing. Guilt is a terrible thing to carry around. If you sin, pray and ask for forgiveness. God will forgive. Let us see what Jesus said about this (in Revelation 3:19).
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
The best thing to do is not sin in the first place then there will be no punishment.
James 1:12 “Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
Verses 7-8: “Sons”: Because all are imperfect and need discipline and training, all true children of God are chastened at one time or another, in one way or another.
Hebrews 12:7 “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”
There are so many who fall away from God at the very first sign of problems. They are like the ones in the parable of the seed planting which sprang up and then died away at the very first sign of trouble.
Matthew 13:18-23 “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.” “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.” “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;” “Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Notice in this, that there is no difference in the seed (Word of God), that was sown. The difference is not even in the fact that all listened and received the Word. The difference is when trials came; most did not endure the chastening. They fell away. Only the one who fights the battle to the end (endures), will be able to keep the Word given and produce with it.
All Christians are God’s sons. We are adopted into the family of God. We are the bride of Christ. If we are His, he trains us every day. We must do the will of the Father. He teaches us what that will is. The chastening comes because He is training us.
Hebrews 12:8 “But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”
“Bastards”: The word is found only here in the New Testament, but is used elsewhere in Greek literature of those born to slaves or concubines. There could be in this an implied reference to Hagar and Ishmael (Gen. 16), Abraham’s concubine and illegitimate son.
We moved into the country and built a church. The neighbors in the community did not know us and just assumed we were a cult. You guessed it, rumors starting flying everywhere. I shared this with a Christian friend, who thought I should be thrilled. He said, well, Louise, you could be like the majority of the churches who are having no trouble with the devil.
I got really excited when he said this. Sure the devil did not want another church who taught the truth to be opened. If you are attempting to do great things for God, you will have trouble. That makes very good sense. If you are not winning anyone to Christ, the devil will not bother with you. God allows the devil to do these things, to see if you are real.
Just as God gave the devil permission to test Job, He sometimes allows the devil to test us. He would not be interested in us learning how to fight for right, if we were not His. If God is not training you, you are not His.
1 Peter 5:9-10 “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].”
Hebrews 12:9 “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?”
“Be in subjection”: Respect for God equals submission to His will and law, and those who willingly receive the Lord’s chastening will have a richer, more abundant life (Psalm 119:165).
“Father of spirits”: Probably best translated as “Father of our spirits,” it is in contrast to “human fathers” (literally “fathers of our flesh”).
I can only speak for myself, but my father had a razor strap, that drove a few lessons home. Those lessons were not soon forgotten. Children in those days respected and obeyed their parents. God the Father wants only the best for us. When He punishes us, it is to help us. The beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord. Another word for fear is reverence.
The flesh desires cause us to sin. We said in the lesson before this that we must put the spirit in rule over the flesh, to live godly lives.
John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Our loving heavenly Father helps us put the flesh under the spirit.
Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”
Hebrews 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure; but he for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of his holiness.
“Our profit”: Imperfect human fathers discipline imperfectly; but God is perfect and therefore His discipline is perfect and always for the spiritual good of His children.
Nothing is more pleasing to a parent than to have a well behaved child. We are a reflection of our parents in many ways. The parent relives their life through their child. A parent tries to help their child not to make the same mistakes he made growing up. Sometimes the parent spanking a child for a wrong doing is to keep them from making the same mistakes he made.
God the Father is a loving parent. He wants us to be perfect. As we said in the verses above, His punishment of us is to make us perfect. We are instructed to be Holy as He is Holy.
1 Peter 1:15-16 “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;” “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
Hebrews 12:11 “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
Looking back on the punishment that I received as a child, I can thank my parents that they cared for me enough to correct me. It is strange how quickly the pain of the punishment is gone, but the lesson learned is forever. Even the chastening of God is not a pleasant experience while it is happening, but the fruit that it bears is forever.
James 3:17-18 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
Verses 12-17: This passage exhorts believers to act on the divine truths laid out in the previous passages. Truth that is known but not obeyed becomes a judgment rather than a benefit (13:22).
Verses 12-13: The author returns to the race metaphor begun (in verses 1-3; Prov. 4:25-27), and incorporates language (taken from Isa. 35:3), to describe the disciplined individual’s condition life a weary runner whose arms drop and knees wobble. When experiencing trials in his life, the believer must not allow the circumstance to get the best of him. Instead, he must endure and get his second wind so as to be renewed to continue the race.
Some of the runners (of verse 1), have grown so weary that they have become stooped and need spiritual strength to be straightened up again. They must be given help, yet they themselves also must straighten their “paths”, by avoiding obstacles that would spiritually trip them up.
Hebrews 12:12-13 “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;” “And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.”
In my weakness, God within me is strong.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Not only will God strengthen us when we are weak, but we are instructed to strengthen our weaker brothers and sisters.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all [men].”
Jude 1:22-23 “And of some have compassion, making a difference:” “And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”
“Follow … Holiness”: In this epistle, it is explained as
(1) A drawing near to God with full faith and a cleansed conscience (10:14, 22); and
(2) A genuine acceptance of Christ as the Savior and sacrifice for sin, bringing the sinner into fellowship with God.
Believers will not be drawn to accept Christ if believers’ lives do not demonstrate the qualities God desires, including peace and holiness (John 13:35; 1 Tim. 4:3; 5:23; 1 Peter 1:16).
Matthew 5:8-9 “Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” “Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
We see from the next verse that God wants us to be at peace with our fellow man.
Romans 12:18 “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
If we are living for God, He will cause even our enemies to be at peace with us.
Proverbs 16:7 “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;”
“Looking diligently”: Believers are to watch their own lives, so as to give a testimony of peace and holiness, as well as to look out for and help those in their midst who are in need of salvation.
“Fail of the grace of God”: This means to come too late and be left out. Here is another mention of the intellectually convinced Jews in that assembly, who knew the gospel and were enamored with Christ, but still stood on the edge of apostasy.
“Root of bitterness”: This is the attitude of apostates within the church who are corruptive influences (Deut. 29:18).
“Root of bitterness” accurately portrays the nature of bitterness. First it is hidden but when it is discovered its noxious roots have spread and it springs up as something much bigger and more destructive (Deut. 29:18).
We are told to not let the sun go down on our wrath. We are also told to forgive. Even part of the Lord’s Prayer says Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. It is even dangerous to take communion if we are bitter toward any one.
1 Corinthians 11:27-30 “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink [this] cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup.” “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” “For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”
Jude 1:20-21 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Verses 16-17: “Profane person”: This profanity (Greek bebelos), involves far more than one’s speech; it is a quality of one’s life. The author sees this quality exemplified in Esau, even though Esau was not a vile man. In fact, he was less of a crook than his brother Jacob. The author accurately focuses on the one area that revealed Esau as profane, the selling of his birthright.
To “profane” is to regard something as unhallowed, to treat something sacred as common. Being totally concerned with his temporary and material needs, Esau gave them priority over his rights as the firstborn son and his responsibilities as heir to the blessing of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 25:29-34).
The result in Esau’s life was that “afterward”, when he wanted the blessing, he was “rejected”. He repented with tears, but the situation was irrevocable.
Verses 16-17 (See Gen. 25:29-34 and 27:1-39). Esau desired God’s blessings, but he did not want God. He regretted what he had done, but he did not repent. Esau is an example of those who willfully sin against God and who are given no second chance because of their exposure to the truth and their advanced state of hardness (6:6; 10:26). Esau was an example of the “godless” person.
Hebrews 12:16 “Lest there [be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”
“Fornicator”: This refers to the sexually immoral in general. Apostasy is often closely linked with immorality (2 Pet. 2:10, 14, 18; Jude 8, 16, 18).
We spoke of this in a previous lesson, how we have been adopted into the family of God. If we walk away from God, and go back into the sinful way of life, it is as if we have no respect for our birthright in Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:4-7 “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor;” “Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:” “That no [man] go beyond and defraud his brother in [any] matter: because that the Lord [is] the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.” “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”
Hebrews 12:17 “For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”
This again, has to do with those who have the gift of salvation, and have walked in the Light of God. If a person has been adopted in to the family of God and then turns away from God it would be like crucifying Jesus all over again. Salvation is a daily walk. It is not something we take on and off as we please.
Luke 13:24-27 “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” “When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:” “Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.” “But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”
God will help us if we try to live for Him, but if we turn away from Him after we have been saved, (or think we have been saved), and turn back to a life of sin again, we will separate our self from Him. Then this will be the time to reexamine yourself as you were probably never saved in the first place. The solution would be to repent and ask Jesus for forgiveness and to follow His commandments faithfully (John 14:15).
Verses 18-29: These verses contain the fifth and final warning passage of Hebrews (see 2:1-4). In each of these passages a particular area of danger is revealed. Like the second warning (3:7 – 4:13), the fifth begins by exhibiting Israel’s failures and disobedience while journeying to the Promised Land.
In the second, Israel’s sin was unbelief concerning God’s promise to care for them. In the fifth, their sin is the refusal to hear God’s warning at Sinai, (verses 25-27 contain the heart of this warning). The danger lies in refusing to hear the warning of Him who speaks from heaven, for if those at Mount Sinai did not escape God’s wrath “much more shall not we escape”.
One may escape God’s warnings now, but “once more” at Christ’s second coming, God will shake the earth and no one will escape (Isa. 3:1-8; Joel 3:14-16; Matt. 24:27-30; Rev. 16:16-21).
Verses 18-29: The writer proceeds to give an exposition based upon Israel’s encounter with God at Mt. Sinai (see Exodus, chapters 19 – 20; Deut. 4:10-24).
Hebrews 12:18 “For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,”
Exodus 19:12-13 “And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, [that ye] go [not] up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:” “There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether [it be] beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.”
It was then and it is now, certain death to try to reach God the Father by any other plan than the plan He has provided for us. The way to God the Father is by His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the door to heaven that we must pass through. We are not acceptable to God the Father until we have been washed in the blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ).
Romans 14:18 “For he that in these things serveth Christ [is] acceptable to God, and approved of men.”
1 Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
We are acceptable to the Father, because we have taken on the righteousness of Christ.
Philippians 3:9 “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”
Hebrews 12:19 “And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:”
Exodus 19:16 “And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that [was] in the camp trembled.”
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. They did not understand what they saw and heard, but they knew it was far greater than anyone they had ever encountered. This is when they asked Moses to speak to God for them, and then bring the message to them.
The strange thing to me is after this loud voice from this mountain (that sounded like a trumpet), spoke the 10 commandments, they still made the golden calf. Why did they not heed this voice that they were so afraid of? One of the first things He told them was not to make a graven image.
They had heard the voice of God, and then made the golden calf and worshipped it. When Jesus comes back for the Christians, the trumpet will blow and the voice of the Word will call to the believers. Jesus is the Word.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”
Hebrews 12:20 “(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:”
(Quoted from Exodus 19:12-13; 20:19; Deut. 5:23-24).
Their regard for the commandments of God was not what it should have been.
Romans 3:19-20 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that very mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.”
There was no possible way that they could keep the law. They did not even understand why they were doing these things, so even if they did keep the letter of the law, it was not enough, because their heart was not in it. We will see the purpose of the law and all of the ordinances in the next Scripture.
Galatians 3:24 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the law. If we look to Him for our salvation, then we are no longer under the law.
Galatians 3:25 “But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”
Hebrews 12:21 “And so terrible was the sight, [that] Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:”
(Quoted from Deut. 9:19).
We know that Moses was to go on this mountain and meet with God. Moses is just a man and you can easily see why he would feel fear. He knows that anyone who approaches God, who has sin in his life, will die. God has called him and he must go, but you can imagine the fear in his heart. We see the voice of God speaking with Moses in the next verse.
Exodus 19:19 “And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.”
This experience of John tells just how fearful it is to come into the presence of God.
Revelation 1:17 “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:”
No one except Jesus can stand in the presence of God.
Deuteronomy 5:26 “For who [is there of] all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we [have], and lived?”
Moses was a chosen vessel of God, and was invited of God on the mountain, or he would have died.
Hebrews 12:22 “But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,”
“Mount Zion”: As opposed to Mt. Sinai, where God gave the Mosaic Law which was foreboding and terrifying, Mt. Zion here is not the earthly one in Jerusalem, but God’s heavenly abode, which is inviting and gracious. No one could please God on Sinai’s terms, which was perfect fulfillment of the law (Gal. 3:10-12). Zion, however, is accessible to all who come to God through Jesus Christ (Psalm 132:13-14; Isa. 46:13; Zech. 2:10; Gal. 4:21-31).
“Zion … city of the living God … Heavenly Jerusalem”: These are synonyms for heaven itself. For a description of the abode of God, the city of Jerusalem in heaven (see Rev. 21:1 – Rev. 22:5).
“Innumerable”: (Myriads), The Greek word is often translated 10,000 (see Rev. 5:11-12).
Ranking of Angels: The description of angels suggests that they exist in orderly arrangement, perhaps with specialized responsibilities. Michael is the archangel (Jude 9), the highest in the order of angels. Gabriel appears to be the messenger angel of God, usually cited when an angel gives a message from God to man.
The cherubim are portrayed as being in diligent service to God and attached to the throne of God to guard His holiness. Seraphim is the title applied to those angels assigned to God’s altar; they, like the cherubim, are concerned with the holiness of God.
The seraphim probably relate to sacrifice and cleansing, whereas the cherubim deal with judgment. When a Christian recognized the order within the various ranks of angels, he will realize that what is done for God should be done in an orderly manner.
We see in this Scripture that this physical mount that Moses was to go on is symbolic of the city heavenly Jerusalem which comes down from heaven. Mount Zion is spoken of throughout the Bible symbolically as the city of God.
Remember Abraham was looking for a city whose maker is God. If we are sincere Christians, we are looking for that city as well. This city is not made with human hands. This is a city where God is supreme Ruler.
Revelation 21:10 “And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,”
John got a view of that heavenly city, in the Scripture above. Moses on the mount was in the presence of the builder of that city. We will see a promise in the very words of our Lord Jesus in the next verse.
Revelation 3:12 “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.”
Hebrews 12:23 “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,”
“The general assembly” translates one Greek word (paneguris) which is used only here in the New Testament.
The term here means “a gathering for public festival.” It does not likely describe a distinct group as if different from the church, but describes the attitude of the innumerable angels in heaven in a festal gathering around the throne of God.
“Church of the firstborn”: The firstborn is Jesus Christ. The “church” is comprised of believers who are fellow heirs with Christ, the preeminent One among many brethren (Rom. 8:17, 29). Everyone who continues to believe in Jesus unto the end is His church.
“Just men made perfect”: These are the Old Testament saints in distinction from the “church of the firstborn, “who are the New Testament believers.
We find in the next Scripture that Jesus Christ purchased the church (the Christians), with His own blood.
Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
We see that the body of believers are the church in the following verse.
Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.”
To be saved, our name must be written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 20:15 “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
We see the terrible fate of those who neglect to get their name written in the book of life. The only way to get your name into that book is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
How are just men made perfect? We have taken on the perfection of Jesus Christ when we were washed in His precious blood. He took our sin that we might become His righteousness.
1 Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
Acts 10:42 “And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God [to be] the Judge of quick and dead.”
You see Jesus will judge each person. We will be classified as His sheep and live in heaven with Him, or He will classify us as a goat fit only for hell.
Matthew 25:32-34 “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats:” “And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”
Matthew 25:41 “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”
We stand or fall on the judgment of Jesus Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Hebrews 12:24 “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.”
Mediator, above means go between. Jesus goes between us and God and reconciles us to the Father (see note on 7:22; compare 8:6-10; 9:15).
“Better”: Abel’s sacrifice was pleasing to God because it was offered in faith and obedience (11:4), but it had no atoning power. Jesus’ blood alone was sufficient to cleanse sin (1 John 1:7). The sacrifice of Christ brought redemption (9:12), forgiveness (9:26), and complete salvation (10:10, 14).
“Than that of Abel”: The blood of Abel’s sacrifice only provided a temporary covering, but Christ’s blood sacrifice declares eternal forgiveness (Col. 1:20).
1 Timothy 2:5 “For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
The new covenant is the covenant of grace through belief in Jesus Christ. The old covenant was the law, by which no man is saved. The blood sprinkled on the mercy seat, covered the sin of the person for one year. It did not do away with sin, it just covered it. Jesus precious blood completely did away with sin.
Matthew 26:28 “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
Hebrews 12:25 “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven:”
“Refused” (see note on verse 19), where the same word descries the conduct of the Israelites at Mt. Sinai.
“Much more, shall not we escape”: The consequences for apostates is dire indeed. The judgment to be experienced and the expected terror is far in excess of that on Mt. Sinai.
Of course, this One speaking from heaven is God. This is the voice they heard at the mount. When Jesus spoke here on the earth, it was actually the Voice from heaven speaking. He and the Father were in total agreement.
John 14:10 “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”
To reject the Word of God is to reject Life. Jesus is the Life of each one who believes.
Matthew 17:5 “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
This Scripture we just gave shows that the Father and Jesus speak the same thing.
“Shaken”: At Mt. Sinai, God shook the earth. From Zion, He will shake the heavens, the entire universe (Isa. 13:13; 34:4; 65:17, 22; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 6:12-14; 20:11; 2:1).
Hebrews 12:26 “Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.”
(Quoted from Haggai 2:6).
The voice of God was mistaken for thunder. When it thunders, the earth shakes.
Luke 21:26 “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
Notice from this next Scripture that God’s Word never ends.
Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
Hebrews 12:27 “And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.”
Everything physical (“things … shaken”), will be destroyed; only eternal things (“which cannot be shaken”), will remain.
I believe the shaking has begun. God is shaking the church, so that those who have a form of religion will be shaken out. Those that remain will be those who cannot be shaken. These next 2 Scriptures should be the condition of the true Christian.
Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,” “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Hebrews 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”
“Kingdom”: God will create “a new heaven and a new earth … the holy city, new Jerusalem” (Rev. 21:1-2), which will be eternal and immovable.
“With reverence and godly fear” (see note on 11:7; 5:7). The second word has to do with the apprehensions felt due to being in God’s presence.
This reverence and godly fear is not evident in too many churches today. It seems most church services have gone to the frivolous. We must take God serious. He is God, and we are His servants. We must pay Him the respect due Him.
Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.”
The will of the Father must be our will. We must crucify our flesh that the spirit can take control.
Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Hebrews 12:29 “For our God [is] a consuming fire.”
“Consuming fire” (see Deut. 4:24). God’s law given at Mt. Sinai prescribed many severe punishments, but the punishment is far worse for those who reject His offer of salvation through His own Son, Jesus Christ (Luke 3:16-17; this verse is to be related to 10:29-31).
There are a number of Scriptures which show God as a fire, I will quote a few here.
Exodus 24:17 “And the sight of the glory of the LORD [was] like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.”
Genesis 19:24 “Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;”
Exodus 13:21 “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:”
It was a bush that was burning with fire that God spoke to Moses from. We could go on and on. There are literally tens of times God is spoken of associated with fire.
Deuteronomy 9:3 “Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God [is] he which goeth over before thee; [as] a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.”
2 Thessalonians 1:8 “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:”
This should let us have no doubt. I will mention one more thing and then go on. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Ghost and fire.
Luke 3:16 “John answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:”