http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 1 God Disciplines His Sons Warning Against Refusing God Hebrews 12:1-29
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 2 Text: Hebrews 12:1-29, God Disciplines His Sons Warning Against Refusing God 1. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10. For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 3 12. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13. And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16. Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 18. For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19. And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20. (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 21. And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) 22. But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23. To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24. And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 4 25. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26. Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29. For our God is a consuming fire. Introduction: I. Christians are represented as contestants in a race being watched with intense interest by a great number of the faithful urging them on to victory. II. The writer of Hebrews encouraged his readers to remain faithful to Christ and to bear the trials and afflictions which befell them with patience. III. The Hebrews were encouraged to be loyal to Christ in view of all the blessings they had received because of their faith. IV. The Hebrews were reminded that God is to be served with reverence and godly fear. Credit: Robert Milligan, Hebrews, New Testament Commentaries, Gospel Advocate Company, Nashville, TN, 37202, 1989. V. Coffman observed that this final section of Hebrews is designed to encourage wavering Christians to be more firmly established in the faith.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 5 Commentary: God Disciplines His Sons Hebrews 12:1, Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, I. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, A. In chapter 11 a Hall of the Fame of faithful was described to encourage the Hebrews, Christians of Jewish heritage. 1. The Hebrews were to emulate the example of these faithful, those who composed a great cloud of witnesses. 2. Ezekiel 38:9, 16, Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. 3. 2 Timothy 2:2, 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 4. 2 Timothy 2:5, And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. B. The witnesses had faithfully remained loyal to God. They expect us to remain faithful to God.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 6 II. let us lay aside every weight, A. Those running in a race are careful to discard all items which would hinder their success. B. We who are running the Christian race must discard everything that would hinder us from speedily crossing the finish line. C. Some weights are not bad in themselves but slow our Christian progress. Other weights are evil by their very nature. (Coffman) III. and the sin which doth so easily beset us, A. The sin here in mind is the sin of unbelief. B. All of us have certain temptations to which we are susceptible and these certainly must be put off, laid aside if we are to win the Christian race! C. Lay aside the sin that is always so conveniently close to us. (Coffman) IV. and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, A. Milligan points out that patience here means endurance, perserverance. B. Competing with the devil is hard work. The stakes are the highest. Winning will require our best efforts against whatever is encountered all the way to the finish line! C. We are laboring for victory, the crown of life. D. The Christian race is not a leisurely stroll in the park, but a difficult, agonizing, grueling course. (Coffman).
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 7 Hebrews 12:2, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. I. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; A. Jesus has run and won the race! 1. We are to keep our eyes on Jesus and follow him to victory! B. Jesus is the author, prince, captain of our faith. C. Jesus is also the finisher, completer, perfecter of the faith. D. Remember what happened to Peter when he took his eyes off Jesus? 1. Matthew 14:25-31, And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? II. who for the joy that was set before him
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 8 A. The rewards that awaited him caused Jesus to never waver in serving God faithfully. B. Jesus gave of himself fully, emptied himself, to win the race. C. Scriptures: 1. 2 Timothy 4:7, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 2. Galatians 2:2, And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 3. Philippians 2:16, Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 4. 2 Timothy 2:5, And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. III. endured the cross, despising the shame, A. The intense pain and utter shame of the cross is beyond our comprehension. B. These things did not deter Jesus from remaining ever faithful and running with every ounce of his being, strength across the finish line. C. Scriptures: 1. Galatians 3:13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 9 2. Deuteronomy 2:33, And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people. IV. and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. A. Christ now sits in honor at the right hand of God Almighty in the heavens. 1. Hebrews 1:3, Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: 2. Hebrews 8:1, Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; B. Scriptures: 1. Hebrews 2:10, For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 2. Isaiah 35:10, And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 3. Luke 2:10, And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 4. 2 Corinthians 4:17, For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 10 Hebrews 12:3, For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. I. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself. A. As we encounter the devil s opposition on our way to the finish line in our Christian race, let us ever keep clearly in mind Jesus our Lord. B. Opposition (contradiction) by sinners against Jesus is documented throughout the four Gospel accounts. C. Opposition, contradiction is also translated gainsaying of sinners. 1. These sinners teach anything for the purpose of personal gain, advantage. 2. Luke 21:15, For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 3. Titus 1:9, Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. II. Lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. A. The ancient foot races in the amphitheatre continue to be the reference on which these metaphors are based. B. Concentrate on Jesus. Take courage from his success. 1. Don t be wearied in your Christian race. 2. Don t faint in your mind, become discouraged, cease doing your best.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 11 C. 2 Timothy 4:6-8, For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. D. Scriptures relating to spiritual fainting: 1. Galatians 6:9, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 2. Psalm 73:1-3, Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 3. Psalm 107:5, Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. 4. Proverbs 24:10, If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. 5. Luke 21:26, Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Hebrews 12:4, Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. I. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, A. Milligan suggested that this verse introduces a new metaphor, the change being from a foot race to a boxing match, fist fight in which the combatants were often injured and left bleeding.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 12 B. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. C. The meaning of this verse is that the Hebrews had not been called upon to die for their faith. D. The weakness evidenced by the Hebrews in the face of mild opposition makes their wavering even more reprehensible. E. While these Hebrews had not been called on to die for their faith, others before them had been martyred. 1. Stephen. Acts 7. 2. James. Acts 12. II. striving against sin. A. Sin is here personified, spoken of as it were a person, a combatant. B. Sin, whether in ourselves or in others, is our adversary. Hebrews 12:5, And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: I. And ye have quite forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children,
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 13 A. This statement is a description of the wayward, not necessarily all the Hebrew disciples. B. Hebrews 5:11-14, Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. II. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, A. Proverbs 3:11, 12, My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. B. The Lord s chastening is for the good of his children and is not to be despised. Christians are not to be discouraged because of it. III. nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: Hebrews 12:6, For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. I. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, A. The Lord chasteneth those he loves. B. Chastening is a sign of God s love. Therefore, 1. we are not to think lightly of it nor 2. despise it.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 14 C. Scripture: 1. Lamentations 3:33, For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. 2. Hosea 11:8, How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. D. God chastens his children that we may receive a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. (2 Corinthians 4:17) II. and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. A. Isaiah 1:5, 6, Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. B. Galatians 6:16, And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. Hebrews 12:7, If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? I. [If ye endure chastening: At chastening be enduring], A. Christians as God s children cannot expect to escape parental discipline. B. The Vulgate Version via Milligan reads, With a view to chastening, endure patiently.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 15 C. God chastens his children to make us better, not to make us suffer. (Milligan) III. God dealeth with you as with sons; A. Milligan noted that the enduring of chastisements by the Hebrews was a sign that they were sons of God. B. Parental chastening of their children is out of style and, as result of the failure to learn obedience, multitudes grow up carrying the scars of the lack of respect for authority. C. God chastens his children because he loves us and points us in the right way. III. for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? A. Many are not chastened now! to the children s life long harm. Hebrews 12:8, But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. I. But if ye be without chastisement, A. If you are not being chastened, just maybe God does not regard you as sons. II. whereof all are partakers, A. All God s children receive the Father s chastening. B. Milligan wrote that those receiving chastening should be encouraged by it seeing the discipline as a proof of sonship. III. then are ye bastards, and not sons.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 16 A. Parents discipline their own children, not other people s children. Hebrews 12:9, Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? I. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, A. Our earthly parents disciplined us. II. and we gave them reverence: A. By parental discipline we learned respect for our parents and their teachings. B. Deuteronomy 21:18-21, If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear. III. shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? A. How much more must we be in subjection to God, the Father of spirits, that we may live forever? Hebrews 12:10, For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 17 I. For they verily for a few days A. Earthly parents chastened us during our childhood, a short period of time. II. chastened us after their own pleasure, A. Their own pleasure means according to their best judgment. not just for the fun of it. III but he for our profit, A. God s discipline is designed to contribute to our spiritual growth and maturity. B. God s chastening is reasonable. 1. 1 Corinthians 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. IV. that we might be partakers of his holiness. A. 2 Peter 1:4, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Hebrews 12:11, Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. I. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 18 A. Chastening, discipline is not pleasant for those receiving it. II. nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peacable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. A. However, the long term benefits of the chasetening are good in that it causes us to mend our ways. B. This is what happens with those who are exercised thereby, who receive discipline respectfully. C. Those who have a rebellious spirit may be caused to become even more hostile, obstinate and hateful against the one administering the discipline. D. Scripture: 1. Psalm 119:67, 71, Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 2. Romans 5:3-5, And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 3. 2 Corinthians 4:17, For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 4. Acts 14:22, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Hebrews 12:12, Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 19 I. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, A. Realizing that God s chastening is for our good, let s get with the program! let us be up and doing! B. Isaiah 35:3, Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. C. The Hebrews writer calls on the strong to strengthen and encourage the weak; and on the weak to take fresh courage and run their race with patient perseverance, (Milligan) D. Isaiah 35:3 refers to Jews on their return from Babylon to Jerusalem and the Hebrews writer refers to Christians on their way to the heavenly Jerusalem. (Milligan) III. and the feeble knees; Hebrews 12:13, And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. I. And make straight paths for your feet, A. The figure here is of Christians marching toward the heavenly Jerusalem. (Milligan) B. Some are healthy and strong while others are weak and feeble. C. Strong Christians are to help weak Christians along the Way in every manner possible including making the road, path straight, smooth. D. Scriptures: 1. Isaiah 40:3, The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 20 2. Isaiah 43:19-20, Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. 3. Isaiah 49:9-12, That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted. Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. 4. Isaiah 62:10, Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. II. lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; A. Encourage the weak lest they despair and fall away. III. but let it rather be healed. A. Our efforts are to be directed toward seeing all saints to victory at the end of the journey. B. Shepherds have a special responsibility to see that not one sheep is lost on their watch.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 21 Warning Against Refusing God Hebrews 12:14, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: I. Follow, pursue peace with all men, A. Christians are to extend a peaceful disposition to everybody, to saints and sinners alike. B. Christians are not to engage in carnal contention, harsh acts of judgement, but are to pursue peace (Milligan) diligently and with urgency. 1. Matthew 5:9, Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 2. Romans 12:18, If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. II. and holiness, sanctification, A. Christians are to put on and partake of Divine Holiness, a pure and holy life. (Milligan) B. Scriptures: 1. Matthew 5:8, Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 2. 1 Peter 1:16, Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. III. without which no man shall see the Lord: A. No person can get to heaven, see the Lord, without living a life of holiness, purity, and living peaceably with all men!
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 22 B. Matthew 5:8, Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Hebrews 12:15, Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; I. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; A. All Christians are to diligently seek peace and holiness because it is possible to fail of the grace of God; that is, fail to receive the reward grace intended to give us. B. We can lag farther and farther behind to the point we never cross the finish line. C. Stuart via Milligan wrote, See well to it, that no one fail of obtaining that Divine favor which is the result of holiness. 1. Titus 2:12, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; II. lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, A. In 1 Maceabees 1:10, Antiochus Epiphanes is called a sinful root because from him iniquity sprang up all over the land, (Milligan) B. Coffman quoted Macknight who wrote, A root of bitterness is a person, utterly corrupted, and who by his errors and vices corrupts others. C. Christ is referred to as a root, but certainly not a bitter root.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 23 1. Revelation 22:16, I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. III. and thereby many be defiled; A. Joshua 7:25, 26, And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day. B. Deuteronomy 29:16-21, (For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt; and how we came through the nations which ye passed by; And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:) Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven. And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law: C. Christians are to encourage each other with diligence to walk in the way of peace and holiness. D. Sin like leaven can affect the whole loaf, church.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 24 Hebrews 12:16, Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. I. Lest there be any A. Let no one digress to his own loss and the corruption of other disciples! II. fornication, A. A fornicator is one given over to sensual lusts and pleasures. (Milligan) B. Proverbs 6:32, But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. III. or profane person, A. A profane person is one devoted to worldly living, one devoid of the restraints of religion. B. Coffman wrote that profane is the opposite of holy and means, according to Adam and Clarke, for from the temple. IV. as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright, right of primogeniture. A. Esau was profane in that he exchanged the far more valuable birthright for the mundane. B. Genesis 25:27-34, And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 25 birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. Hebrews 12:17, For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. I. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, A. Later Esau had a change of heart and wanted to retrieve his birthright. B. Genesis 27:31-41, And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me,
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 26 even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. II. he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, a change of mind, A. Some things cannot be changed. B. Esau s change of heart did not persuade Isaac to return the birthright to him. III. though he sought it carefully with tears. A. Esau sought the return of the birthright, blessing with tears, but he did not get it back. Hebrews 12:18, For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, I. For ye are not come unto [the mount that: that which] might be touched, A. For connects what has just been said with what will immediately follow. II. and that burned with fire, A. This speaks of Mount Sinai
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 27 B. Scripture: 1. Deuteronomy 4:11, And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. 2. Deuteronomy 5:23, And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; 3. Deuteronomy 9:15, So I turned and came down from the mount, and the mount burned with fire: and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands. 4. Exodus 19:16-19, And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. III. nor with blackness, and tempest, Hebrews 12:19, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: I. And the sound of a trumpet,
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 28 A. 1 Corinthians 15:22, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. B. Revelation 8:2, And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. II. and the voice of words; A. Exodus 20:18, 19, And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. B. Coffman wrote, The sound of God s voice was so terrible that the people did not wish to hear it again and so entreated God to speak only to Moses who would convey to them the message of the Father. III. which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more. Hebrews 12:20, (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: I. (For they could not endure, bear that which was commanded, A. Exodus 19:12, 13, And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 29 II. And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned [or thrust through with a dart]: Hebrews 12:21, And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) I. And so terrible was the sight that Moses said, A. These words are not found in the Bible. B. The Hebrews writer was given this information by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. C. These words may also have been known by Jewish Tradition. D. Scriptures: 1. John 16:13, Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 2. John 14:26, But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 3. 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 30 II. I exceeding by fear and quake:) A. The reference may be to Exodus 19:19, And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. B. Even Moses was made to fear and tremble at the wondrous things he saw. Hebrews 12:22, But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, I. But ye (Christians) are come unto Mount Sion, A. Christians have not come to literal Mount Sinai, as wondrous as that was, but to spiritual Mount Sinai which is so much greater than literal Mount Sinai as heaven is greater than the earth. B. Mount Sinai, Mount Zion was first limited to the mount in the southwestern quadrant of Jerusalem and later was extended to include all of Jerusalem and Mount Moriah. C. Scriptures: 1. Psalm 2:6, Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 2. Psalm 132:13, For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. 3. Isaiah 2:3, And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 31 D. Mount Sion is here used as a figure of heaven itself. II. and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, A. Heaven is here referred to as the city of the living God, the allusion being to Jerusalem. III. and to an innumerable company of angels, A. Milligan renders this passage as follows: But ye have come near to Mount Zion; and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem; and to myriads, a festive assembly of angels; and to the church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven; and to God the judge of all; and to the spirits of just men made perfect; and to God the Judge of all; and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant; and to the blood of sprinkling which speaks better than Abel. B. Myriads is often applied to angels, Milligan observed. 1. Deuteronomy 33:2, And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. 2. Psalm 68:17, The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. 3. Daniel 7:10, A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 4. Jude 1:14, And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 32 5. Hebrews 1:14, Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? 6. Hebrews 11:10, For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. C. Myriads refers, according to Milligan, to the joyful and multitudinous assembly around the throne of God, who there forever celebrate his praises. 1. Revelation 5:11, And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 2. Revelation 7:11-12, And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 12:23, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, I. To the general assembly A. This refers to the church on earth and the host of the heavenly redeemed. (Coffman) II. and church of the first-born, A. Colossians 1:15, Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 33 B. Hebrews 1:5, 6, For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. III. which are written in heaven, A. Luke 10:20, Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. B. Philippians 4:3, And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. C. The names of the saved are written in the Lamb s Book of Life. 1. Luke 10:20, Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 2. Philippians 4:3, And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. 3. Exodus 32:32, Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. 4. Daniel 12:1, And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 34 people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 5. Revelation 13:8, And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. IV. and to God, the judge of all, A. John 5:22, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: B. Acts 17:31, Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. C. Genesis 18:25, That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? V. and to the spirits of just men made perfect. A. This refers to all the redeemed of all the ages. B. Revelation 7:15-17, And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. C. Coffman stated that this phrase refers to raised and glorified men who have passed through death after the tribulations of life,
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 35 and who have been changed in a moment at the sounding of the resurrection trumpet. Hebrews 12:24, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. I. And to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant, A. Moses was the Mediator of the Old Covenant. B. Christ is the one and only Mediator of the New Covenant, the New Agreement, the New Contract between God and man, the New Testament. 1. Hebrews 8:6, But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 2. 1 Corinthians 1:30, But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 3. Romans 5:2, By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. II. and to the blood of sprinkling, A. The blood of sprinkling is the blood of Christ shed on the cross. 1. Hebrews 10:14-18, For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 36 will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 2. Hebrews 9:14, How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 3. Hebrews 10:22, Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. B. The Old Covenant was ratified by the sprinkling of the sacrificial animals and to the sprinkling of the blood of the animals of atonement. (Milligan). 1. Exodus 24:8, And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words. 2. Leviticus 16:14, 15, And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: III. that speaketh [better things: a better thing] than that of Abel. A. Some commentators believe Abel s blood call for mercy. 1. Is this way Christ blood speaks a better thing than Abel s.