XII. Fatherly Discipline and an Unshakeable Kingdom (Hebrews 12:1-29)

XII. Fatherly Discipline and an Unshakeable Kingdom (12:1-29)

12:1 Chapter 11 is a long chain of testimonies about what faith can do. Then the author says, Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us . . . let us run with endurance. It’s like parading a previous boxing champion through the ring before a title fight. He shakes the contestants’ hands and says, “I’ve been through this, and I testify that you can endure and emerge as a victor.” Clearly, the author wants his audience to lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares. Their spiritual immaturity and unwillingness to grow through living by faith had become an encumbrance.

An Olympic sprinter strips off his warm-up gear to eliminate extra weight and wind resistance. Similarly, we need to jettison unbelief and anything in our lives that might trip us up spiritually and prevent us from running the race well all the way to the finish line.

12:2-3 We also need to keep our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter (or “completer”) of our faith. After all, we started with Jesus, and, if we keep our eyes on him, he will get us through the Christian journey.

Have you ever been running and felt like you wanted to quit? Then someone draws alongside you and encourages you to keep going, enabling you to go farther than you could have managed by yourself. When this happens, it shifts the focus from your pain to the person helping you, and you get a second wind. Similarly, if you keep your attention on him, Jesus will enable you to persevere through your development and reach your destiny (see commentary on 3:7-11).

How did Jesus himself reach the finish line? For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame. The joy would come on Sunday, but the shame had to be endured on Friday. The Son of God made it through Friday by keeping his eyes on Sunday. We need no better example. When he ascended back to the Father in heaven, he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (12:2). Regardless of the suffering and trials you’re facing, know that resurrection day is coming. The author wants his readers to do what Jesus did so that [they] won’t grow weary and give up (12:3).

12:4-7 He also reminds them of two things. First, they had not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed (12:4)—that is, they had experienced significant difficulties, but they were still living. And if you’re still here, God isn’t finished with you! Second, they had forgotten the exhortation that addresses [them] as sons (12:5). In 12:5-6 the author quotes from Proverbs 3:11-12 and encourages them to endure suffering as discipline because God is treating them as sons (12:7).

Discipline includes both positive and negative repercussions, instruction and correction. Parents are to instruct their children and train them to live with wisdom (see Prov 1:7-9). But when a child is disobedient, a loving father also disciplines him. Whether through instruction or correction, the end goal is the child’s development. If a good parent takes this matter seriously, how much more does God? God is a perfect parent who disciplines his children perfectly.

12:8 If you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Illegitimate children in ancient Rome had no rights and could not be beneficiaries of an inheritance. “Which all receive” could be translated “of which all are partakers.” The Greek term for “partaker” is the same word we saw earlier meaning “companion” or “partner” (1:9; 3:1, 14). Thus, the author is reminding them that if they want to be Christ’s special “companions/partners/partakers” and receive the inheritance—his kingdom blessings in history and eternity—they must be willing to submit to his fatherly discipline and grow (see commentary on 1:5-14; 3:7-11; 4:1; 6:9-12; 10:35-36).

12:9-13 Godly fathers discipline their children as best they can, but our heavenly Father always disciplines us perfectly and for our good (12:9-10). No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. So don’t expect otherwise! Few children enjoy being disciplined or thank their parents for it afterwards. But if you will humbly receive God’s fatherly discipline, you will grow in holiness and righteousness (12:10-11). He wants you to be trained by it (12:11) so you can experience your relationship with him at another level. If your hands are tired and your knees are buckling, don’t give up—keep walking the straight and narrow (12:12-13). As with any kind of training, regular submission to godly discipline leads to increased strength and righteousness.

12:14-15 The author exhorts them to pursue peace and holiness—that is, their sanctification (12:14). Keep striving in your spiritual development. And beware of any root of bitterness in your life (12:15). When you’re experiencing troublesome circumstances, you’re in danger of resenting what God is doing in your life. But resentment will only serve to compound the problems.

12:16-17 The author not only points to positive examples to emulate (the Old Testament saints in Chapter 11 and Jesus in 12:2-3) but also to negative examples to avoid. Don’t yield to transitory pleasure like Esau, who sold his birthright for a bowl of soup (12:16). Though he regretted it later, it was too late. He had forfeited his inheritance (12:17). God has blessings in store for you, an inheritance. Don’t be like Esau and foolishly throw away your reward for fleeting, temporal gratification.

12:18-24 In these verses, the author contrasts Mount Sinai with Mount Zion. When the Lord appeared to Israel on Mount Sinai to deliver the law, the people were filled with terror (12:18-21). You won’t find comfort in the Ten Commandments either. The law can only identify your weaknesses and indict you. So don’t climb Sinai. That’s not your mountain. Instead, you have come to Mount Zion (12:22). Zion represents the new covenant in Jesus Christ (12:24). Only through him are the spirits of righteous people made perfect (12:23). Only Jesus can make you everything God wants you to be.

12:25-26 Therefore, do not reject the one who speaks (12:25). When he spoke at Sinai, God’s voice shook the earth (12:26). When your world is shaking, then, it’s because God is talking. We tend to focus our attention on our circumstances. But God wants your attention on him. He has something he wants to tell you, something he wants you to learn.

12:27 What’s the goal of the shaking (i.e., the upsetting off the natural order of things)? The removal of what can be shaken . . . so that what is not shaken might remain. When things are shaking, God is trying to eliminate a hindrance in your life. He’s attempting to loosen your grip on created physical things so that you’ll grasp tightly onto eternal things instead. The shaking process isn’t fun—especially when you don’t want to let go. But, remember: God is treating you like his child (12:5-11) and not his enemy.

12:28-29 As a follower of Jesus Christ, you’re part of his kingdom. That’s great news because Christ’s is a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and everything around you is subject to it. To accomplish his purposes for you, though, he’s going to shake you loose from anything that’s not part of his kingdom. So instead of clutching earthly things that are trembling and wobbling, let us be thankful.

When your world is shaking, serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe (12:28). Why? Because our God is a consuming fire (12:29). When animals were placed on the sacrificial altar in the Old Testament era, fire would consume them. The fire burned up the carcass with the positive intent of providing a sacrifice to the Lord.

Tomorrow you may press a hot iron to your wrinkled clothes. But your intent isn’t to ruin them. Your goal will be to remove the wrinkles to make your garment fit to wear. Guess what. God wants to wear you and look good in you. So he will apply a consuming fire to you for your good. Even though there will be steam and heat, you’re going to look good when he’s through.