Hebrews 12
Summary for Heb 12:1-17: 12:1-17 a The author challenges his hearers to endure in following Jesus, the supreme example of faithfulness, by imitating him in his suffering (12:1-4 b), by enduring under God’s discipline (12:5-13 c), and by living in peace with others (12:14-17 d). 12:1 e huge crowd of witnesses: The host of faithful followers of God (ch 11 f) bear witness to the truth that God blesses the life of faith.• let us strip off every weight: In Greco-Roman literature, a race is a metaphor for the need for endurance in life. Just as extra weight hinders a runner, sin ... trips us up. It entangles us and restricts us from moving by faith.
12:2 g Jesus is the supreme example of faithful endurance (3:1 h). Our endurance in the Christian life will depend on our keeping our eyes on Jesus—staying focused on him and his work on our behalf.
• Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith: Jesus has accomplished everything necessary for faith under the new covenant to be a reality.
• disregarding its shame: Crucifixion was the most shameful form of execution, meant to humiliate and torture the person crucified. It was used only for slaves and criminals who were not Roman citizens. Christ treated that shame as if it were nothing.
• seated in the place of honor: The author again alludes to Ps 110:1 i (see also Heb 1:3 j, 13 k; 8:1 l; 10:12 m).
12:3 n Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people: The recipients of Hebrews had become weary and were about to give up—they were emotionally fatigued because of the persecution they were facing. The key to their endurance was to focus on Jesus, who had been through even worse hostility.
12:4 o not yet given your lives: This community had not yet faced martyrdom for the faith. (This is one reason to date Hebrews prior to Nero’s persecution in the mid-60s AD.) If Jesus could endure a shameful death, the hearers should be able to endure lesser persecution.
Summary for Heb 12:5-6: 12:5-6 p In these verses, the encouraging words are quoted from Prov 3:11-12 q, a passage that regards hardship as the Lord’s loving discipline for his children. God can turn a wide variety of trials and difficulties to our good, training us in righteousness and holy character.
Summary for Heb 12:7-8: 12:7-8 r disciplined by its father: Fathers from Greco-Roman as well as Jewish families were involved in day-to-day aspects of raising their children. Discipline was seen as a necessary, healthy, and important component of preparing the child for adulthood. A lack of fatherly discipline—in this case, a lack of hardships in life—is a mark of illegitimacy, not a blessing.
12:9 s The author argues from lesser to greater (see study note on 9:14). Here, the lesser situation is the respect shown to an earthly father when he is giving discipline. We should submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits in the more important context of our relationship with God. We should adopt a posture of yielding to God as to a good Father, trusting that he is helping us grow even through painful circumstances.
Summary for Heb 12:10-11: 12:10-11 t There are at least two limitations on an earthly father’s discipline. First, his discipline, or education, is only for a few years (literally for a few days)—children eventually leave home. Second, earthly fathers were doing the best they knew how from their limited perspectives. By contrast, God’s discipline lasts throughout life and is always good for us, based on his limitless knowledge and love. His goal is that we might share in his holiness. Although it is painful, discipline brings about a peaceful harvest of right living. It brings God’s children into a state conducive to harmonious relationships and doing what is right (see also Rom 5:3-4 u; 8:17 v, 28 w; 2 Cor 4:17 x; Phil 1:12-14 y; Jas 1:2-4 z; 1 Pet 1:7 aa; 4:14 ab).
Summary for Heb 12:12-13: 12:12-13 ac The author, alluding to Isa 35:3-8 ad and Prov 4:26 ae, encourages those who are emotionally and spiritually exhausted. According to Isa 35 af, God is in the process of defeating his enemies and is making a straight path for the righteous so that they will not fall.
12:14 ag Those who are living a holy life have confident hope of seeing the Lord (see 1 Jn 2:28 ah; 3:21 ai; 4:17 aj).
12:15 ak The poisonous root of bitterness alludes to people turning their backs on God’s covenant to serve other gods (Deut 29:18 al). Bitterness can corrupt the church.
12:16 am Ancient Jewish literature describes Esau as sexually immoral because he was married to the Hittite women Judith and Basemath (Gen 26:34 an; see Jubilees 25:1; Philo, On the Virtues 208).
• Esau’s lack of regard for his birthright (Gen 25:29-34 ao) was godless. His willingness to give up God’s blessings for immediate satisfaction illustrates the opposite of faith.
12:17 ap Hebrews sees Esau’s disregard for his inheritance (12:16 aq) and his loss of the blessing (Gen 27:30-40 ar) as intrinsically related. The result was bitter tears. By analogy, those who reject an inheritance through Christ’s new covenant have only bitterness in their future.
Summary for Heb 12:18-24: 12:18-24 as This passage contrasts the old covenant with the new. The old covenant, represented by Mount Sinai (12:18-21 at), is depicted as impersonal, intimidating, and unapproachable; it booms, flashes, and terrifies. The new covenant, represented by Mount Zion (12:22-24 au), is depicted as relational, welcoming, and celebratory. 12:18 av The descriptions of Mount Sinai come directly from God’s encounter with Israel at that mountain (see Exod 19:16-22 aw; 20:18-21 ax; Deut 4:11-12 ay; 5:23-27 az). The images communicate separation from a holy God.
12:19 ba The awesome trumpet blast and a voice terrified the people (see Exod 19:16 bb, 19 bc; 20:18 bd; Deut 4:12 be) so that they begged God to stop speaking (Exod 20:19 bf).
12:22 bg No: There is a strong contrast between the old and the new covenant. Believers have now come to wonderful Mount Zion, which is closely associated with Jerusalem and represents God’s dwelling place.
• heavenly Jerusalem: See study note on 8:5.
• The new covenant constitutes a relationship with God by which we experience his presence with joy, peace, and fellowship.
12:23 bh The word translated assembly is usually translated “church”; it speaks of God’s assembled people.
• God’s firstborn children refers to people who are members of the new covenant (cp. 1:6 bi; 2:10-13 bj).
• The concept that God’s people have their names . . . written in heaven speaks of God’s special attention to his people (see also Exod 32:32 bk; Ps 69:28 bl; Isa 4:3 bm; Dan 12:1 bn; Luke 10:20 bo; Phil 4:3 bp; Rev 3:5 bq).
• For God’s children, God as judge is the vindicator of his people (cp. Pss 9:8 br; 58:11 bs; 94:2 bt; Isa 11:4 bu; Jer 22:16 bv).
• Those who have already died have now been made perfect by the sacrifice of Christ (Heb 10:14 bw).
12:24 bx Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant (8:7-13 by; 9:11-14 bz; 10:15-18 ca). His sprinkled blood, used as the sacrifice for sins, speaks of forgiveness.
• The blood of Abel cried out to God from the ground, demanding vengeance for his murder by Cain (Gen 4:10 cb). By contrast, Jesus’ blood cries out that the price for sins has been paid for those in the new covenant (Heb 10:16-18 cc).
Summary for Heb 12:25-29: 12:25-29 cd As the final warning in the book (see 2:1-4 ce; 4:12-13 cf; 6:4-8 cg; 10:26-31 ch), this passage plays off the image of God speaking in 12:18-24 ci. 12:25 cj God is the One who is speaking his revealed word in his Son, Jesus (1:1-3 ck). The author argues from lesser to greater (see study note on 9:14): Moses’ warning the people under the old covenant is the lesser situation, and God’s warning us from heaven is the greater situation. If people did not escape judgment when they were warned by Moses, those who reject the message of the Son of God will certainly not escape punishment.
Summary for Heb 12:26-27: 12:26-27 cl shook the earth: Exod 19:18 cm; Judg 5:5 cn; Pss 68:8 co; 77:18 cp.
• “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also”: Quoting Hag 2:6 cq, the author emphasizes that all of creation will be shaken and removed at the judgment at the end of the age (1 Cor 7:31 cr; 2 Pet 3:10 cs, 12 ct; Rev 21:1 cu).
Summary for Heb 12:28-29: 12:28-29 cv God deserves holy fear and awe.
• our God is a devouring fire: This quotation from Deut 4:24 cw speaks at once of God’s awesome power and of his right to judge.
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