Hebrews 12

Jesus, the Example

1Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s 1rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s 2run with 3endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking only at Jesus, the 45originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him 6endured the cross, 7despising the shame, and has 8sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3For 9consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary 1011and lose heart.

A Father’s Discipline

412You have not yet resisted 1314to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “15My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor 16faint when you are punished by Him;617For 18whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He punishes every son whom He accepts.” 7It is for discipline that you endure; 19God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8But if you are without discipline, 20of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9Furthermore, we had 21earthly fathers to discipline us, and we 22respected them; shall we not much more be subject to 23the Father of 24spirits, and 25live? 10For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, 26so that we may share His holiness. 1127For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the 28peaceful fruit of righteousness.

12Therefore, 2930strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13and 31make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is impaired may not be dislocated, but rather 32be healed.

1433Pursue peace with all people, and the 34holiness without which no one will 35see the Lord. 15See to it that no one 36comes short of the grace of God; that no 37root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become 38defiled; 16that there be no 39sexually immoral or 40godless person like Esau, 41who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17For you know that even afterward, 42when he wanted 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

1843For you have not come to 44a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19and to the 45blast of a trumpet and the 46sound of words, which sound was such that those who heard 47begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20For they could not 48cope with the command, “49If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “50I am terrified 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 us 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’s 75show gratitude, by which we may 76offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29for 77our God is a consuming fire.