Hebrews 12:14-17
12:14 a Those who are living a holy life have confident hope of seeing the Lord (see 1 Jn 2:28 b; 3:21 c; 4:17 d).12:15 e The poisonous root of bitterness alludes to people turning their backs on God’s covenant to serve other gods (Deut 29:18 f). Bitterness can corrupt the church.
12:16 g Ancient Jewish literature describes Esau as sexually immoral because he was married to the Hittite women Judith and Basemath (Gen 26:34 h; see Jubilees 25:1; Philo, On the Virtues 208).
• Esau’s lack of regard for his birthright (Gen 25:29-34 i) was godless. His willingness to give up God’s blessings for immediate satisfaction illustrates the opposite of faith.
12:17 j Hebrews sees Esau’s disregard for his inheritance (12:16 k) and his loss of the blessing (Gen 27:30-40 l) 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.
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