Hebrews 12

“Let us run with endurance”

1So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we too must run with endurance the race that is set before us, laying aside every impediment and the sin1 that so easily ensnares, 2looking unto Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of the Faith, who for the joy2 that was set before Him endured a cross, scorning its ignominy, and took His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

All legitimate children receive discipline

3Do consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so as not to grow weary, losing courage in your souls. 4In your struggle against sin3 you have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed.4 5And you have forgotten the exhortation that instructs you as sons:

“My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,

nor lose heart when you are reproved by Him;

6because whom the Lord loves He chastens,

yes scourges every son whom He accepts.”5

7If you are enduring discipline, God is dealing with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not discipline? 8But if you are without discipline (something everyone undergoes),6 then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9Furthermore, we have had our human fathers as correctors and respected them. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits7 and live? 10Now they indeed disciplined us during a short period as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, so that we may partake of His holiness. 11Now no discipline seems to be pleasant at the time, but painful; yet afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised by it.8

Watch your step!

12Therefore strengthen the listless hands and weakened knees, 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame not be turned aside but rather be healed.9

14Pursue peace with all, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord;10 15taking care that no one come short of the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and thereby many be defiled, 16that no one be a fornicator, or worldly like Esau, who in exchange for one meal gave up his birthright. 17Because you do indeed know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing he was rejected; he found no place for a change of mind,11 though he sought it diligently with tears.

Sinai X Zion

18Now you have not come to a touchable mountain burning with fire, to blackness and darkness, to tempest; 19to a trumpet blast and spoken words such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them 20(because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain it must be stoned!”12 21and the sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling!”); 22but you have come to Mount Zion, even to the City of the Living God, Heavenly Jerusalem; to myriads of angels in festal gathering, 23to an assembly of firstborn ones13 who have been enrolled in heaven; to God, Judge of all; to the spirits of the perfected righteous; 24to Jesus, Mediator of a new covenant, and to a blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.14

Warning: “Our God is a consuming fire”

25See to it that you not refuse Him who speaks. Because if they did not escape who refused Him who gave divine warning on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from Him who warns from Heaven! 26Then His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth but also the heaven.”15 27Now the ‘yet once more’ clearly indicates the removal of the things being shaken (created things), so that the unshakables may remain.

28Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us hold on to the grace by which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear; 29because our God is indeed a consuming fire.16