Hebrews 12

Jesus, the Example

1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also 1lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us 2run with 3endurance the race that is set before us, 24fixing our eyes on Jesus, the 56author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him 7endured the cross, 8despising the shame, and has 9sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3For 10consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary 1112and lose heart.

A Father’s Discipline

413You have not yet resisted 1415to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “16My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor 17faint when you are reproved by Him;618For those 19whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.” 7It is for discipline that you endure; 20God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8But if you are without discipline, 21of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9Furthermore, we had 22earthly fathers to discipline us, and we 23respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to 24the Father of 25spirits, and 26live? 10For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, 27so that we may share His holiness. 11All discipline 28for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the 29peaceful fruit of righteousness.

12Therefore, 3031strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13and 32make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather 33be healed.

1434Pursue peace with all men, and the 35sanctification without which no one will 36see the Lord. 15See to it that no one 37comes short of the grace of God; that no 38root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be 39defiled; 16that there be no 40immoral or 41godless person like Esau, 42who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17For you know that even afterwards, 43when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

Contrast of Sinai and Zion

1844For you have not come to 45a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19and to the 46blast of a trumpet and the 47sound of words which sound was such that those who heard 48begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20For they could not bear the command, “49If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” 21And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “50I am full of fear and trembling.” 22But 51you have come to Mount Zion and to 52the city of 53the living God, 54the heavenly Jerusalem, and to 55myriads of 56angels, 23to the general assembly and 57church of the firstborn who 58are enrolled in heaven, and to God, 59the Judge of all, and to the 60spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the 61mediator of a new covenant, and to the 62sprinkled blood, which speaks better than 63the blood of Abel.

The Unshaken Kingdom

2564See to it that you do not refuse Him who is 65speaking. For 66if those did not escape when they 67refused him who 68warned them on earth, 69much less will we escape who turn away from Him who 70warns from heaven. 26And 71His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “72Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” 27This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes 73the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28Therefore, since we receive a 74kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us 75show gratitude, by which we may 76offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29for 77our God is a consuming fire.