A Study Of The Apostle Paul’s Letter To The Hebrews

Don’t fall away! Don’t Depart! Don’t neglect your salvation! Don’t cast away your confidence! Don’t harden your heart! Don’t drift away! AStudyOf TheApostlePaul’s LetterTo The Hebrews How can we neglect so greata salvation? ~ Hebrews 2:3

Hebrews: Christ Is Superior! Superior Person (1:1—4:13) Superior to Prophets (1:1-3) Superior to Angels (1:4—2:18) Superior to Moses (3:1-19) Superior to Joshua (4:1-13) Superior Priest (4:14—7:28) Superior to Aaron (4:14—6:12) Superior to Melchizedek (6:13—7:10) Superior to Levi (7:11-28)

Hebrews: Christ Is Superior! Superior Pact to Moses’ (8:1—10:18) Superior Promises (8:1-13) Superior Sanctuary (9:1-15) Superior Sacrifice (9:16-28) Superior Results (10:1-18) Superior Principle (Faith) to Moses’ (10:19—13:25) Superior Things (10:19-39) Superior Actions (11:1-40) Superior Relationship (12:1-29) Today we’ll consider verses 14-21. Superior Way of Life (13:1-25)

After Paul tried in 12:4-11 to encourage these Jewish Christians through their suffering either by explaining to them or by reminding them of God’s purpose andplanforhardship, heexhortedthem in verses 12-13 to help one another through these difficult times; i.e., they were expected to work together as a family, for no man is an island. Now…

In verses 14-21 we’ll see how that he continued to urge them onward (as he wrote in Philippians 3:14) toward the goal for the prize, still emphasizing the need to help one another under their very strenuous circumstances.

Hebrews 12:14  Pursue peace with all [men] and holi- nesswithoutwhich noonewillseethe Lord…

This word brings back to mind the runner in the race of verse 1, because it comes from a word that means to run swiftly, to run after, to press on within-tensity. Pursue peace with all [men] and holi- nesswithoutwhich noonewillseethe Lord…

It’s the same word as used in Philippi-ans 3:12 where Paul (just before speaking about the goal for the prize) wrote, Not that I have already attained or am al-ready perfected [as some were claiming, cf. 2 Tim. 2:18 w/ Php. 3:10ff]; but I press on that I may lay hold of it. So… Pursue peace with all [men] and holi- nesswithoutwhich noonewillseethe Lord…

PeaceandHoliness According to 12:2, 14, & 24, their ul-timate goal in this racewasaperfected relationship with Christ. But what were their immedi-ate goals at the time Paulwaswritingthat would lead them to their ultimate goal? Pursue peace with all [men] and holi- nesswithoutwhich noonewillseethe Lord…

In this phrase there is no word for men; a word needs to be supplied, but (due to the context) perhaps the suppliedword should have been brethren. I.e….    Pursue peace with all [men] and holi- nesswithoutwhich noonewillseethe Lord…

They were to do their best to keep peace among themselves during those very difficult times, for the more discord they had among themselves, the less help they’d be to one another in des-perate times. Besides… As Jesus said, Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called sons of God (Mat. 5:9); so if they wished to be among those sons in the fulfilled sense of Hebrews 2:10, then they had better be keeping peace among themselves.

Theywerealsourged to help one another in this pursuit (cf. vv. 15-16). And due to the modifying phrase (without which no one will see the Lord),this was a reminder of another beatitude of Jesus: Blessed are thepureinheart,for they shall see God (Mat. 5:8). Pursue peace with all [men]and holi- nesswithoutwhich noonewillseethe Lord…

Another blessing of pursuing holiness was that they could take comfort in knowing that they were being perse-cutedfor righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God (Mat. 5:10, cf. 1 Pet. 3:14), the very kingdom Paul went on to discuss inverses22-28.Afterall…

As John wrote of this kingdom, There shallbynomeansenteritanythingthat defiles or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 21:27, cf. Heb. 12:23). Interestingly…   

Peace and holiness here correspond to the peaceable fruit of righteousness (v. 11), that which comes from having the correct knowledge, attitude, and re-sponse toward hardship (v. 10). Also… Peace and holiness are reminiscent of Christ being both King of Peace and King of Righteousness (7:1-2). So… 

It’d seem that one of these attributes cannot be successfully acquired apart from the other, one having to do with one’s relationship to his fellowman and the other having to do with one’s rela-tionship to his God.

Hebrews 12:15  …looking diligent-ly lest anyone fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springingupcause trouble and by this[the]manybecome defiled…

This phrase is from the same base term translated overseers when elders were addressed(1Pet.5:2). Because of that and because Hebrews 13:7 is believed to have reference to elders, some believe Paul was addressing elders in this verse. However…    …looking diligent-ly lest anyone fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springingupcause trouble and by this[the]manybecome defiled…

Thosereasonsaren’t strong enough to warrant that conclu-sion, especially in this immediate con-text where Paul had been speaking to all the members about working together. (Even in 13:7 the regu-lar members were the ones actually being ad-dressed. ) …looking diligent-ly lest anyone fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springingupcause trouble and by this[the]manybecome defiled…

This phrase is in the present tense, mean- ing that they were to be their brother’s keeper, watching out for any who were in the process of fall-ing away from the grace of God or (per v. 13) falling out of the race towards God’s glorious gift— the kingdom (v.28). …looking diligent-ly lest anyone fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springingupcause trouble and by this[the]manybecome defiled…

The word root is of-ten used in the Bible as a metaphor for a person. Why? More than likely because a root produces fruit, whether it be good or bad. So…    …looking diligent-ly lest anyone fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springingupcause trouble and by this[the]manybecome defiled…

If someone weretoriseupamongthem spreading falsehoods, not only woulditcausebitternessamongthem, but it could also cause untold trouble, possibly even to the extent of leading to the loss of the majority of their souls! (By the way, the Judaizers would sometimes be-come pseudo-Christians in order to do just that—lead people away from Christ [Gal. 2:4, Jude 4, et. al.].)

It’sobviousthatthis part of the verse is just another way of saying that a little leaven leavens the entireloaf(1 Cor. 5:6). Incidentally…   …looking diligent-ly lest anyone fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springingupcause trouble and by this[the]manybecome defiled…

When one reads Deuteronomy 29:16-21, it seems impossible to deny Paul had that passage in mind when he penned the passage we’re studying, especially since it’s the only other place where the idea of a root bearing bitterness is found andthatin the context of the Israelites entering into a covenant re-lationship with the God who brought them out of Egyptian bondage and kept them from extinction through forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Now…   

Because this verse begins withthispar-ticiple, itdescribes or expounds upon the previous verse. I.e….    …looking diligent-ly lest anyone fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springingupcause trouble and by this[the]manybecome defiled…

They needed to pursue peace and holi-ness (v. 14) to keep out of trouble and defilement (v. 15). He was essentially saying the same thing here that he said in 3:12-14: Beware lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in de-parting from the living God, but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 12:16  …lesttherebeany fornicator or pro-fane person like Esau who, for one morsel of food, sold his birthright.

Obviouslyoutofpure hatred, Judaizers didn’t just try to in-cite Christians to re-nounce Jesus as the Christ and return to Judaism, but they even tried to incite them to commit im-morality:Jude 1:4reads,Certainmen have crept in unno-ticed … men who turnthegraceofGod into licentiousness. …lesttherebeany fornicator or pro-fane person like Esau who, for one morsel of food, sold his birthright.

Perthisverse,apro-fanepersonissome-one who uses that which is consecrat-ed to God (or sacred in nature) in order to obtain that which is not consecrated to God (or material in nature), and Esau il-lustrated this char-acter perfectly by using or selling his birthright to satisfy a physical appetite. …lesttherebeany fornicator or pro-fane person like Esauwho, for one morsel of food, sold his birthright.

Esau’s birthright meant that he was in line to be the next family priest once his father died, but he had no apprecia-tion for sacred things; so in parting with this religious honor for mere food, he essentially declared himself to be a non-religious person. So how did this apply to these brethren? Well…  

If one of them was incited to become a fornicator (for example), he (as one of the firstborn [cf. v. 23]) would in essence be trading his birthright for a physical ap-petite; he’d lose his privilege of being one of the first ones to be born again and see—come into possession of—the kingdom of God(cf. John 3:3 & 5). And according to verses 18-28… It seems that Paul used Esau (and all that he failed to value) as a parallel (type) of these brethren (and what they would lose) if they acted like Esau.

According to Barnes’ commentary and Earle’s Greek notes, this phrase refers to a single meal, not something as small as a bean, as it may sound to us today. …lesttherebeany fornicator or pro-fane person like Esau who, for one morsel of food, sold his birthright.

Hebrews 12:17  For you know that afterward, when he wanted to in-herit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repent-ance, though he soughtitdiligently with tears.

How could one NOT think of the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13? Try reading that sometime with this passage in mind: Ja-cob representing the first five virgins and Esau represent-ing the second five virgins. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to in-herit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repent-ance, though he soughtitdiligently with tears.

This also makes me think of a couple of kids: Joe & Ted each have a toy that the other wants, so an agreed upon trade is made; but later on when Joe sees how much fun Ted’s hav-ing with his old toy, he wants it back, but it’s too late! For you know that afterward, when he wanted to in-herit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repent-ance, though he soughtitdiligently with tears.

This clause could mean at least three different things:  For you know that afterward, when he wanted to in-herit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repent-ance, though he soughtitdiligently with tears.

1.It could mean that Esau couldn’t con- jure up within himself any true sorrow for what he had done, but since the antecedent foritin the last clause isre- pentance, then to say that he sought it with tears seems to rule out this interpretation.

2.As with most sins, it could mean that Esau couldn’t find a way to change the consequences of his decision, but I know of no historical evidence that Esau tried to convince Jacob to return his birthright; rather, they simply be- came long-time enemies. And…

3.In harmony with theAmerican Stand- ard Versionand many scholars, it could mean that Esau couldn’t bring about a change of mind in his father, though he triedtodosowithpassionatetears.This is the interpretation which seems to be correct, mainly because it perfectly corresponds to what we can read inGene- sis 27:34-38, not to mention the parable of Matthew 25. So…  

If this third interpretation is correct, then the parallel is that if these breth-renforsookChristforMoses,they’ddis-cover in the judgment against the Jews that it was too late to affect a change in God’s mind then, which corresponds perfectlytohowthatJesus(aftersupply-ingplentyofsigns of their end inHisOlivet Discourse) warned them to not wait too late to prepare themselves for the end.

Hebrews 12:18 - 19a   For you have not cometothemoun-tain that may be touched and that burned with fire & to blackness and darkness and tem-pest, & the sound of a trumpet…

Although Paul never used the phrase Mount Sinai in this context, by the de- scriptionhesupplied he left no doubt that Sinai was the place he had in mind. For you have not cometothemoun-tain that may be touched and that burned with fire & to blackness and darkness and tem-pest, & the sound of a trumpet…

The reason for listingthese characteristics here was, I believe, two-fold: (1) Paul wanted to remind them of the splendor of the time when Moses received the wondrous yet inferi-or covenant; and (2) he wanted them to compare the fear God instilled in themat the giving of a law of condemnation. For you have not cometothemoun-tain that may be touched and that burned with fire & to blackness and darkness and tem-pest, & the sound of a trumpet…

Although the Israelites were told not to touchMt.SinaiwhileMoseswasreceiv-ing the Law (v.20 & Exo.19:12-13), that command in and of itself implied that this mountain was tangible; Paul want-ed these brethren to be sure that they caught that point in order for them to clearlyseethecontrastbetweenthere-ceiving of the Old Covenant on a physi-cal, earthly mountain and the receiving of the New Covenant on a spiritual, heavenly mountain—Mt. Zion (v. 22).

Not only are we told that they weren’t allowed to touch Mt. Sinai, but we’re also told that it burned with fire for the Lord descended upon it in fire (Exo. 19: 18); besides that, it was covered in a thick cloud (Exo. 19:16), creating a thick darkness (Exo. 20:21). (By the way, the originalwordforblacknesshereistranslated thick cloud in The Diaglott.) Then…

Added to that was a tempest (storm) and the sound of a trumpet. Exodus 19:16 tells us that there were thunderings and lightnings. Exodus 19:18 tells us that the whole mountain quaked greatly. And… Exodus 19:16 & 19 tell us that the sound of a trumpet was very loud, becoming louder & louder until it ceased. Let’s consider a couple of things here:

Not only here in our text indirectly, but in the entirebook of Hebrews,Paul was dealingwiththepassingawayoftheold covenant (e.g. 8:13) and the bringing in of the new. Isn’t it interesting that the old covenant went out in AD 70 in a similar fashion as it came in? And… Concerning this trumpet…, trumpet blasts were a common signal announc-ing God’s presence and often associ-ated with the giving of a covenant (e.g. Exo. 19:16, 19, 20:18, Mat. 24:31, 1 The. 4:16, & Rev. 11:15).

Hebrews 12:19b …and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the Word should not be spoken to them anymore.

Thepeopleevidently heard God call Moses up to the mountain according to Exodus 19:19-20, because it frightened them to the point that later (when it came time for the Law to be revealed to them) they asked Moses to do the talking lest they die from hearing God’s voice (Exo.20:19). …and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the Word should not be spoken to them anymore.

The main point of all these negative char-acteristics in refer-ence to the giving of the Law is that it couldonlyjudgeand condemn; it couldn’t forgive & save. Now let’s consider a few things here:   …and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the Word should not be spoken to them anymore.

A Study Of The Apostle Paul’s Letter To The Hebrews