Hebrews 12:8

8 and if ye are apart from chastening, of which all have become partakers, then bastards are ye, and not sons.

Hebrews 12:8 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 12:8

But if ye be without chastisement
Or have no affliction:

whereof all are partakers;
that is, all the children of God; they are all alike children; they are all in a state of imperfection, and prone to sin; God has an impartial respect unto them: and though they are not all alike chastened, nor chastened at all times, yet none are exempted from chastisement, but have it in some way or another, and at some time or another.

Then are ye bastards, and not sons;
all are not sons that are under a profession of religion; all that are under a profession of religion are not chastised; but then those are not the children of God, but the children of the world, of Satan, and of the antichristian harlot; for though all that are chastised are not children, yet all that are children are chastised: hence we learn, that outward peace and prosperity is not a note of a true church; and that such have reason to distrust their state, who know not what it is to have the chastising rod of God upon them; and that afflictions are rather arguments for than against sonship.

Hebrews 12:8 In-Context

6 for whom the Lord doth love He doth chasten, and He scourgeth every son whom He receiveth;'

7 if chastening ye endure, as to sons God beareth Himself to you, for who is a son whom a father doth not chasten?

8 and if ye are apart from chastening, of which all have become partakers, then bastards are ye, and not sons.

9 Then, indeed, fathers of our flesh we have had, chastising [us], and we were reverencing [them]; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of the spirits, and live?

10 for they, indeed, for a few days, according to what seemed good to them, were chastening, but He for profit, to be partakers of His separation;