Hebrews 12

King James Version

Full text for Hebrews Chapter 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,

2Looking 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.

3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4¶ Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

5And 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:

6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9Furthermore 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?

10For 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.

11Now 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.

12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

14Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;

16Lest there [be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17For 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.

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,

19And 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:

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:

21And so terrible was the sight, [that] Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

22But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23To 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,

24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.

25See 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:

26Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

27And 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.

28Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29For our God [is] a consuming fire.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The chapter exhorts believers to run the Christian race with endurance, fixing their eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross. It presents divine chastening as a sign of God's fatherly love, intended for spiritual profit and holiness. Believers are encouraged to pursue peace and holiness, contrasting the terrifying Old Covenant with the glorious New Covenant established through Jesus, and warned against refusing God's heavenly voice.

Medium Summary

Hebrews 12 begins by urging believers to cast aside hindrances and run the race of faith with patience, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher, who endured the cross. It then addresses the concept of divine chastening, explaining that God disciplines those He loves as sons, for their spiritual profit and to partake in His holiness, yielding the peaceable fruit of righteousness. The text encourages strengthening the weak and pursuing peace and holiness, warning against bitterness, fornication, and profanity, exemplified by Esau's rejection after selling his birthright. A significant contrast is drawn between the fearful Mount Sinai of the Old Covenant and the joyful Mount Sion, representing the heavenly Jerusalem and the New Covenant through Jesus. Believers are called to an innumerable company of angels, the church of the firstborn, God, and Jesus, the mediator whose blood speaks better things. Finally, a solemn warning is given not to refuse God's voice from heaven, for He will shake all that can be shaken, and believers, receiving an unshakable kingdom, must serve Him with reverence and godly fear, as He is a consuming fire.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with an exhortation for believers, surrounded by a "cloud of witnesses," to lay aside every weight and sin, and to run the spiritual race with patience. They are directed to fix their gaze upon Jesus, the "author and finisher of our faith," who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despised its shame, and is now seated at God's right hand. The text then addresses the nature of divine chastening, reminding the readers that they have not yet resisted unto blood in their struggle against sin. It explains that God's discipline is a mark of His fatherly love, quoting Proverbs to illustrate that the Lord chastens those He loves, much like earthly fathers correct their children. This chastening, though grievous at the time, is for the believer's profit, enabling them to partake of God's holiness and ultimately yielding the "peaceable fruit of righteousness." Practical admonitions follow, urging believers to strengthen weak hands and feeble knees, and to make straight paths, lest the lame be turned out of the way. They are commanded to "follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." A stern warning is issued against falling from God's grace, allowing a "root of bitterness" to defile many, or becoming a fornicator or profane person, like Esau. Esau's example serves as a cautionary tale, as he sold his birthright for a single meal and later found no place for repentance, despite seeking it with tears. A profound theological contrast is then presented between the Old Covenant and the New. The readers are reminded that they have not approached the terrifying Mount Sinai, characterized by fire, darkness, tempest, and a fearful voice that caused even Moses to quake. Instead, they have come to "mount Sion," the "city of the living God," the heavenly Jerusalem, an innumerable company of angels, the "general assembly and church of the firstborn," God the Judge, and the "spirits of just men made perfect." Crucially, they have come to Jesus, the "mediator of the new covenant," and to His "blood of sprinkling," which speaks more powerfully and redemptively than the blood of Abel. The chapter concludes with a final, urgent warning: "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh." It emphasizes that if those who refused the earthly voice of God did not escape judgment, much less will those escape who turn away from Him who speaks from heaven. This heavenly voice, which once shook the earth, promises a future shaking not only of the earth but also of heaven, signifying the removal of all created, shakable things so that the unshakable kingdom may remain. Therefore, having received an "unmovable kingdom," believers are exhorted to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, for "our God is a consuming fire."

Core Concepts

  • Running the Race of FaithBelievers are exhorted to lay aside hindrances and sins, running the spiritual race with patience, fixing their gaze on Jesus, who serves as the ultimate example of endurance and the finisher of faith.
  • Divine ChasteningGod's discipline is presented as a sign of His fatherly love and a mark of sonship, intended for the spiritual profit of believers, leading them to partake in His holiness and produce the fruit of righteousness.
  • Pursuit of Holiness and PeaceThe chapter strongly urges believers to actively pursue peace with all people and to strive for holiness, emphasizing that without holiness, no one will see the Lord.
  • Warning Against ProfanityA cautionary tale is given through Esau, who for a single meal, sold his birthright and later found no place for repentance, illustrating the danger of profanity and despising spiritual blessings.
  • Contrast of CovenantsA profound distinction is drawn between the terrifying, law-giving Mount Sinai of the Old Covenant and the glorious, grace-filled Mount Sion, representing the heavenly Jerusalem and the New Covenant mediated by Jesus.
  • Jesus, Mediator of the New CovenantJesus is identified as the mediator of the new covenant, whose "blood of sprinkling" speaks better things than Abel's, signifying a superior and more effective redemption.
  • The Unshakable KingdomBelievers are said to have received an "unmovable kingdom," which will remain after God shakes all created things, prompting them to serve Him with reverence and godly fear.