Hebrews Chapter 12
INTRODUCTION
Chapter 12 begins with Jesus as our example and source of faith, and then moves on to discuss our relationship, and the maintaining our relationship, with Jesus, and the fact that Jesus is coming again to save His elect by grace, but also to condemn and destroy the rest of the world by fire on Judgment Day. The admonitions found here are consistent with what this teacher has compiled in a study entitled “The Christian Credo“.
The writer, which all evidence indicates was the Apostle Paul, admonishes the Hebrews (and all believers) to maintain a constant exercise of faith and patience under trial, duress, chastisement, affliction, or whatever tribulation that God, according to His Perfect Purpose and Wisdom, calls upon us to endure.
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,“
In the preceding chapter of Hebrews, we were confronted with just a portion of that “so great a cloud of witnesses” of faith, bearing their testimony of truth, who had borne various afflictions and remained steadfast in their faith. We also, must, therefore, lay aside everything in this world that encumbers us and hinders us in running the Christian race, such as worldly cares, riches, worldly companions and involvements that take our interest and time away from Jesus. We must patiently endure to the end in active persistence of faith.
Colossians 3:8-10, “¶But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:“
1 Corinthians 9:24&25, “¶Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do [it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.“
Romans 12:12, “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”
2 Peter 3:11-13, “[Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author (ἀρχηγός (archēgos))G747 and finisher (Perfector) 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.“
We look away from the cares and distractions of this world to our Lord Jesus Christ, and not with natural eyes, but with spiritual eyes of faith. John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.“
Isaiah 45:22, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else.”
The word for “author” (ἀρχηγός (archēgos))G747 is found four times in the New Testament Greek and it is translated twice as “Prince” (Acts 3:15 and Acts 5:31) and “Captain” (Hebrews 2:10) referring each time to Jesus.
Acts 3:15, “And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.” and Acts 5:31, “Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” and Hebrews 2:10, “¶For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.“
Luke 24:26, “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?“
Philippians 2:8, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.“
Psalm 110:1, “¶[[A Psalm of David.]] The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.“
1 Peter 3:22, “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”
Now regarding the Atonement and being raised to the Right Hand of God The Father…Jesus Willingly and Joyfully went to the cross to to redeem His people from their sins. He willingly endured the cruel death of the cross, treating the shame and humiliation of it with contempt. We must remember that he was scourged, spit upon, and stripped naked and nailed to the cross where He suffered further suffering and abuse until death and even then there is no question that somehow, someway that we cannot understand or comprehend, Jesus endured the wrath of God in Hell for the equivalent of eternity and yet emerged from death victorious! (for more on this please see the Book of Jonah study) The proof of Jesus’ success is that He now sits at the Right Hand of God The Father in Heaven!
We have it so easy compared to what Jesus endured. Romans 8:18, “¶For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” But Jesus Remains our Example: 1 Peter 5:10, “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]. To him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.“
Hebrews 12:3, “¶For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.“
Matthew 10:24, “¶The disciple is not above [his] master, nor the servant above his lord.” and John 15:20, “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.“
Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” and 2 Thessalonians 3:13, “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.“
Our Loving Father’s Discipline
Hebrews 12:4,”Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”
The majority of Christians today (but not all) have it very easy when compared to those in the early church who died viciously as Martyrs. They were tortured, fed to the lions, crucified, burned at the stake, etc. When we compare our situations to those, we see that we are without excuse to not endure for the faith.
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].“
Hebrews 12:5, “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:“
Job 5:17, “Behold, happy [is] the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:“
Hebrews 12:6, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.“
Again we have a clear hearkening back to the Old Testament for the Hebrews…
Psalm 94:12, “Blessed [is] the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;” and 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.“
But we have additional confirmation in the New Testament:
1 Peter 1:6&7, “¶Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:“
Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.“
2 Corinthians 1:7, “And our hope of you [is] stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so [shall ye be] also of the consolation.“
Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.“
Philippians 1:29, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;“
James 1:2-4, “¶My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” and then 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.”
Hebrews 12:7, “¶If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?“
Deuteronomy 8:5&6, “Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. ¶Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.“
Hebrews 12:8, “But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.“
The Lord corrects, disciplines, and teaches through trials and tribulation and works of correction and providential dealings. These are the actions of a loving Father, and thus He deals with all His children as “sons”. He is working in us the graces of humility, love, patience and faith and weaning us from the enticements of this world. If anyone is without such chastisement from God, then that person is not a child of God.
1 Peter 5:9, “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.“
All true believers must take part in and endure God’s discipline, work of correction and providential dealing for God is dealing with us as sons (and daughters). He is working in us the graces of humility, love, patience and faith and is weaning us from the world. He is making us more and more like Jesus. If anyone is without this Godly corrective discipline, then that person is NOT a child of God.
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?“
Job 12:9, “Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand [is] the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.”
We have been subject to our earthly father’s correction based on his earthly/temporal understanding and respected them, but God corrects his children based upon His Perfect Heavenly/Eternal Wisdom, how much more therefore should we revere and respect Him!
Romans 8:28, “¶And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.”
Hebrews 12:10, “For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure (δοκέω (dokeō))G1380; but he for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of his holiness.“
The original Greek word translated here as after own pleasure can also be viewed as “what they thought” or “seemed right to them”. Our earthly fathers were almost always looking at the earthly outcomes, for themselves and/or us, and not necessarily the beneficial eternal spiritual outcomes that our Father in Heaven does.
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.“
James 3:18, “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” Think of Joseph and how he treated his brethren after having endured such suffering because of them in Genesis 50:20.
Romans 8:28, “¶And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.”
Hebrews 12:12, “¶Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;“
This is almost a direct quote from Job 4:3&4, “Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.” Job helped and encouraged others when they were troubled, just as the Apostle Paul is here encouraging the Hebrews.
Hebrews 12:13, “And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.“
Proverbs 4:26&27, “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.“
Proverbs 21:16, “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.”
Matthew 3:3, “For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” which hearkens back to Isaiah 40:3, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
For the record, being lame is used by God in the Bible as a “picture” of being dead in trespasses and sins, but God in His Divine mercy and grace saves sinners, and that is the story behind the account of Mephibosheth, who was “lame in his feet.”
Hebrews 12:14, “¶Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”
This applies to all relationships, whether it be family, friends, co-workers, strangers or even enemies.
Romans 12:17-21, “¶Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.“
Psalm 34:14, “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.“
2 Timothy 2:22, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Holiness?
But what about “holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”? This is a most significant admonition to us all! God The Father Is Entirely Holy, Jesus Is Entirely Holy, The Holy Spirit’s Name is Holy…
1) We look to God as our example and follow by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. We honor and glorify God by honoring His Beloved Son. Our faith, because of Jesus’ Faith, makes us acceptable and we therefore are made Holy by God. 1 Corinthians 1:30&31, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” Romans 10:4, “For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.“2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin;that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.“
2) 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” In following, we must also walk obediently. We should exemplify and manifest this new creation in our life with a new attitude, a new character, and a new form of conduct. If not, then we will not see Jesus in Heaven.
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;“
To fall from grace is to not believe that Jesus Is All in All and that His Work Alone provides eternal salvation. It is so easy for professing Christians to fall prey to a grace plus works gospel. It is also easy to fall prey to the enticements of sin, whereby such are saying that Jesus’s Life and Atoning Sacrifice is no longer meaningful to them and fall into unbelief.
Galatians 5:4, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
Hebrews 3:12-14, “¶Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;“
1 John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.“
The root of bitterness is inborn in the heart of every one of us by nature due to the Fall of Adam. It is apt to spring up in an unexpected manner and time to bear evil fruit in the form of contention, envy, malice, pride, or covetousness which can divide families, friends, churches, and even believers. We must put a watch on our hearts and our tongues lest we fall prey to the evil one. Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.”
Hebrews 12:16, “Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”
Ephesians 5:3, “¶But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;”
The account of Esau’s giving away his birthright is found here Genesis 25:29–34;
This verse makes the point that Esau, like anyone lusting after the flesh, despises the promises of God. Esau’s birthright was a “spiritual” position and promise that God would eventually become man via Abraham and Isaac’s seed, and as the first born, Esau would have logically been the vehicle to fulfill that promise, which would have involved spiritual blessings and Divine favor (as were bestowed upon Jacob, the “usurper” (“Supplanter”) of that birthright by God’s Providential Grace). In essence, Esau gave precedence and succumbed to sensual and fleshly lusts rather than hold firm in the faith. He cast aside the promises of God, along with His favor and fellowship. We must never consider anything that this world has to offer in preference to what God provides for the believers in the world to come…never forgetting the price that Jesus had to pay to fulfill God’s promises to make that possible.
We should also stop to think about the difference between the carnal/fleshly view and the Spiritual perspective as we read in Galatians 5:16-18, “[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.“
Galatians 5:19-21, “¶Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and suchlike: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.“
Galatians 5:22-24, “¶But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.“
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.”
The account of Esau not receiving the elder son’s blessing and his reaction with tears is found here: Genesis 27:30–40
Godly Sorrow Versus Worldly Sorrow
2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
Anyone who is foolish enough to allow anything in this life to cause a renunciation of the faith and duty of a child of The Living God, will, like Esau, weep bitter tears of agony, when it is permanently beyond their power to recover what is lost! We must constantly guard against fleshly lusts and apostasy. 1 Peter 2:11, “Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” Remember also
Hebrews 10:35-39, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but [if any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.“
Contrast of Mt Sinai and Mt Zion: The Law Versus Grace by Jesus Christ
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,“
The key here is that the believers are no longer under the ceremonial law, with all its washing meats and drinks, sacrifices and sin offerings. Jesus, as Lord God and Savior fulfilled all these. The believers are part of Jesus’ Church of which Jesus Christ is the Head, the Prophet, High Priest, and King. We no longer come to the holy, moral law of God for acceptance and righteousness, but to Jesus our Mediator. What a relief!!! The Law, though holy, like the Holy Mount Sinai, only condemns us for our sins.
The associated terms are clear…”might not be touched” and “burned with fire“. And then the context, blackness, darkness, and tempest as we find in Exodus 19:12, “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:” and Deuteronomy 4:11, “¶And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.” Those terms indicate God’s wrath against sinful man, because they condemn mankind by requiring perfect obedience without providing any means to perform them. The law given on Mount Sinai revealed mankind sin, but offered no savior.
Galatians 3:10, “¶For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” and
Galatians 4:24-26, “Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the motherof us all.
Contrast this verse to what we read concerning the Angels announcing Jesus’ birth, where the light and glory of God shone round about them, because they brought tidings of great joy announcing salvation by Jesus as Savior.
Hebrews 12:19, “And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:“
Exodus 20:19, “And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”
Deuteronomy 5:5, “(I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,”
Deuteronomy 18:16&17, “According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. ¶And the LORD said unto me, They have well [spoken that] which they have spoken.” and then note also, in both the preceding verse and the following verses, that God says that He will raise up a Prophet (Jesus Christ) from their brethren, and to Him (Jesus Christ) will they hearken.
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:“
Exodus 19:13, “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.“
Hebrews 12:21, “And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)“
Exodus 19:16, ҦAnd 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.
Hebrews 12:22, “¶But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,“
Mount Sion
Mount Zion/Sion is the Heavenly abode of the Church of Christ, also referred to above as the New Jerusalem (see below). It alone offers hope through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which was never possible via the words given on Mount Zion.
Psalm 14:7, “Oh that the salvation of Israel [were come] out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, [and] Israel shall be glad.“
Psalm 53:6, “Oh that the salvation of Israel [were come] out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, [and] Israel shall be glad.“
Heavenly Jerusalem
To see that the “heavenly Jerusalem” is the “new Jerusalem” is a spiritual representation of the kingdom of God that is made up of the body of believers, the church, we just have to turn to Revelation 3:12, where we read, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall no more go 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches.”
Galatians 4:25&26, “For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” These verses contrast the earthly Jerusalem and her children (the Jews of national Israel), described as being in bondage (to the works of the law), with the heavenly spiritual “Jerusalem which is above is free (through the grace of God), which is the mother of us all (all true believing Christians).”
Ephesians 2:6, “And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:“
Philippians 3:20, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:“
For more on the New Jerusalem in Heaven please see: the-holy-temple-of-god-will-it-ever-be-rebuilt.
The Innumerable Company of Angels (Messengers)
Deuteronomy 33:2, “And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand [went] a fiery law for them.“
Psalm 68:17, “The chariots of God [are] twenty thousand, [even] thousands of angels: the Lord [is] among them, [as in] Sinai, in the holy [place].”
The believer’s sins have already been judged by God and paid for by Jesus. There is therefore no judgment nor condemnation in Christ Jesus (for the believers) as we read in Romans 8:1, “[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Hebrews 12:23, “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written (ἀπογράφω (apographō)), G583 in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,” Note that the original Greek word that is translated as “written”, is more likened to being “registered” as on a “tax” roll.
God the Judge of All
James 1:18, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
Luke 10:20, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written (γράφω (graphō))G1125 in heaven.” The original Greek word that is translated as “written”, in this case, a more straightforward way of saying “written” as we think of it in English.
Psalm 94:2, “Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.“
Philippians 3:12, “¶Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”
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.“
This hearkens back to both Hebrews 9:15, “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.“ and Exodus 24:8, “And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled [it] on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.”
Genesis 4:10, “¶And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.“
It has been pointed out by another that Abel’s shed blood cried out for vengeance and wrath while Jesus’ blood cries for pardon and peace with God. Moreover, Abel’s accepted sacrifice of a lamb is the first recorded blood sacrifice mentioned in the Bible. It was offered by faith and pointed to Jesus’ sacrifice as the Lamb of God. The difference being that Jesus’ shed blood was effectual, and perfects all for whom it was shed, as we read in 1 Peter 1:18&19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers, But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:“
The Unshaken Kingdom
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:”
This seems to also to be referring back to Deuteronomy 18:15-20.
Hebrews 2:1&2, “¶Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;“
Remember all the way back at the beginning of the Book of Hebrews, where we are explicitly told in Hebrews 1:1&2, “¶God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” It is saying that Jesus is that Prophet spoken of in the Old Testament and we must hear Him, just as we were told by God, The Father, back in 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.“
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.“
Exodus 19:18, “And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.” And note how well this harmonizes with:
Psalm 68:7, “O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah: The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: [even] Sinai itself [was moved] at the presence of God, the God of Israel.”
Haggai 2:6, “¶For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it [is] a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry [land]; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. The silver [is] mine, and the gold [is] mine, saith the LORD of hosts.The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.” Remember Esther 10:3, which provides a prefigurement of that place, to be in Heaven with Jesus!
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.”
2 Peter 3:10, “¶But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.“
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:”
Deuteronomy 10:20, “Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.“
Deuteronomy 11:13, “And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,“
Deuteronomy 13:4, “Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.”
Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” and Luke 12:4, “¶And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.”
And remember that we are told three times in: Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” and Mark 13:31, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” and Luke 21:33, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.“
Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.“
Hebrews 12:29, “For our God [is] a consuming (καταναλίσκω (katanaliskō))G2654 fire (πῦρ (pyr))G4442.“
We need to consider the context of this verse, because it follows immediately after the words, “whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” (note that there is not a period, but a colon)
It is God Who must be foremost in our hearts and minds and He Alone must we serve with reverence and godly fear. And we must also be aware of what was the source of this last verse statement? and why? This last verse is hearkening back once again back to the Old Testament scriptures in Deuteronomy 4:24, “For the LORD thy God [is] a consuming (אָכַל (‘āḵal))H398 fire (אֵשׁ (‘ēš))H784 , [even] a jealous God.”
So then, this last verse of Chapter 12 is reminding that God Alone, and not any other gods, must we serve, because God is a jealous God AND, therefore, a consuming fire to those who do not love, worship, and serve Him.
“A Jealous God“
Our God is a jealous God! God makes this so very clear, but few ever “hear”. God states it right at the very beginning of the Ten Commandments:
Exodus 20:5, “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;” (See also Deuteronomy 5:9).
Exodus 34:14, “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name [is] Jealous, [is] a jealous God:”
Isaiah 42:8, “I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.“
And then we see the consuming fire indicated once again with respect to God being a jealous God in Deuteronomy 6:15, “(For the LORD thy God [is] a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. Fires are “kindled”!
Psalm 79:5, “How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?” The answer is YES!
2 Corinthians 10:5, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” Remember how Gideon cut down the idols and groves in the high places which was a metaphor for not honoring God, our Creator.
“A Consuming Fire“
Looking back again, as an example to everyone, at the unbelief of those in the Exodus wilderness sojourn who dismissed God’s miraculous works we read in Psalm 78:21, “Therefore the LORD heard [this], and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;“
Deuteronomy 9:3, “Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God [is] he which goeth over before thee; [as] a consuming (אָכַל (‘āḵal))H398 fire (אֵשׁ (‘ēš))H784 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.” The word translated as consuming is most often (604x) translated as “eat”. The Greek word for consuming is only used once in the whole New Testament, but it does mean “to consume utterly“.
Examples of the use of “fire” as taught by Jesus:
Matthew 3:12, “Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. G4442“
Matthew 5:22, “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. G4442“
Matthew 7:19, “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” G4442“
Matthew 13:40, “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; G4442 so shall it be in the end of this world.“
Matthew 13:42, “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: G4442 there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:50, “And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: G4442 there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
God will consume His enemies (and the enemies of His people, His people being the True eternal Israel) with an everlasting consuming fire in Hell. Jesus endured the fires of God’s wrath in Hell, paying the price for the sins of all those for whom He came to seek and save. God makes it clear that this creation will be dissolved by fire on the Last Day, Judgment Day, as we ready in 2 Peter 3:10, “¶But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.“
And, moreover, given that this is the case, the believers are also admonished to heed these subsequent words:
2 Peter 3:11-13, “[Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.“
We all need to remember these facts…and to love, revere, honor and obey The One True God accordingly.
Conclusion
2 Corinthians 5:11, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.“
NOTE to the reader: Some of the insights in this study are built upon the previous work of a former mentor and friend, the late Pastor Henry T Mahan.
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