Exhortation to constancy under their crosses. The danger of abusing the
graces of the New Testament.
12:1. And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over
our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us
run by patience to the fight proposed to us:
12:2. Looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who, having
joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now
sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God.
12:3. For think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from
sinners against himself that you be not wearied, fainting in your
minds.
12:4. For you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
12:5. And you have forgotten the consolation which speaketh to you, as
unto children, saying: My son, neglect not the discipline of the Lord:
neither be thou wearied whilst thou art rebuked by him.
12:6. For whom the Lord loveth he chastiseth: and he scourgeth every
son whom he receiveth.
12:7. Persevere under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his
sons. For what son is there whom the father doth not correct?
12:8. But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are made
partakers, then are you bastards and not sons.
12:9. Moreover, we have had fathers of our flesh for instructors, and
we reverenced them. Shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits
and live?
12:10. And they indeed for a few days, according to their own pleasure,
instructed us: but he, for our profit, that we might receive his
sanctification.
12:11. Now all chastisement for the present indeed seemeth not to bring
with it joy, but sorrow: but afterwards it will yield to them that are
exercised by it the most peaceable fruit of justice.
12:12. Wherefore, lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble
knees:
12:13. And make straight steps with your feet: that no one, halting,
may go out of the way; but rather be healed.
12:14. Follow peace with all men and holiness: without which no man
shall see God.
12:15. Looking diligently, lest any man be wanting to the grace of God:
lest any root of bitterness springing up do hinder and by it many be
defiled:
12:16. Lest there be any fornicator or profane person, as Esau who for
one mess sold his first birthright.
12:17. For know ye that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the
benediction, he was rejected. For he found no place of repentance,
although with tears he had sought it.
He found, etc. . .That is, he found no way to bring his father to
repent, or change his mind, with relation to his having given the
blessing to his younger brother Jacob.
12:18. For you are not come to a mountain that might be touched and a
burning fire and a whirlwind and darkness and storm,
12:19. And the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, which they
that had excused themselves, that the word might not be spoken to them.
12:20. For they did not endure that which was said: and if so much as a
beast shall touch the mount, it shall be stoned.
12:21. And so terrible was that which was seen, Moses said: I am
frighted, and tremble.
12:22. But you are come to mount Sion and to the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of
angels,
12:23. And to the church of the firstborn who are written in the
heavens, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just
made perfect,
12:24. And to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to the
sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than that of Abel.
12:25. See that you refuse him not that speaketh. For if they escaped
not who refused him that spoke upon earth, much more shall not we that
turn away from him that speaketh to us from heaven.
12:26. Whose voice then moved the earth; but now he promiseth, saying:
Yet once more: and I will move, not only the earth, but heaven also.
12:27. And in that he saith: Yet once more, he signifieth the
translation of the moveable things as made, that those things may
remain which are immoveable.
12:28. Therefore, receiving an immoveable kingdom, we have grace:
whereby let us serve, pleasing God, with fear and reverence.
12:29. For our God is a consuming fire.