HEBREWS 12

Hebrews 12:12-17

v. 12. The text is Isaiah 35:3 with the quotation closer to the Greek version than the Hebrew. The original context of the quote was to provide words of encouragement to the exiled Jews who felt that the promised deliverance would never come.

Lift up hands = make straight or strengthen problems due to disuse. Alternatively, drooping hands = helplessness induced by fear (This fits both the context of Isaiah and of this Hebrews passage).

The second part of the verse is from Proverbs 4:25-27. It is again closer to the Septuagint, but the words have been changed to the plural. “Final failure comes from continuous weakening. The moral strength is enfeebled little by little.”

v. 13. The background to this verse is probably I Kings 18:21. “Lame” = those halting between Judaism and Christianity.

vv. 12-13. So there are three problems in the community being addressed: morale, moral, and doctrinal. Each will be dealt with below.

v. 14. First is a moral problem in the church – the quote is from Psalm 34:14.

Admonishments are to the individual and are an echo of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:8-9,23-24). Also see Romans 12:18.

Verse 14 teaches literally what verses 12 and 13 taught metaphorically.

Holiness = sanctification, but a practical sanctification which is necessary to see God. In this verse, “Lord” probably refers to God, not Christ.

“See the Lord” is an OT way of describing acceptable worship (Isaiah 6:1 ff).

vv. 15-17. These admonishments to the church are given in the plural.

v. 15. “See to it” = episcopantes (have oversight, or in this case, watch over the situation). It applies to the whole community not just the leaders, however.

For “root of bitterness,”see Deuteronomy 29:18 (closer to the Greek version) referring to one whose heart has been turned away from the Lord (a doctrinal problem in this case) and is causing trouble in the church. Toleration of problems in the church will weaken it; look at the example of Ananias and Sapphira.

v. 16. Esau in other writings of NT times was accused of being sexually immoral (pornos).

“Immoral” may be literal, or used in conjunction with idolatry as in the OT. “Sensual” – someone like Esau who does not value spiritual things. By his own choice he became a profane person who only valued immediate gratification of his senses.

v. 17. Judas was another example. He wept for what he had lost, not for the sin he had committed. Seeking God may not be enough; some decisions lead to irrevocable consequences.

Hebrews 12:18-21

Now the author will deal with the problem of morale. The first covenant was inaugurated in an atmosphere of fear and dread at Mt. Sinai. Mt. Sinai and the Heavenly Jerusalem are contrasted.

The same contrast is found in Galatians 4:24-6. It implicitly contrasts the old and new covenants.

See Exodus 19:10-13,16-19; Deuteronomy 9:19.

v. 18. “Mount” is not found in the best manuscripts. The stress is on the whole character of the revelation at Sinai, not the actual location.

v. 19. This could be a reference to Exodus 20:18-20. Rabbinic tradition says that the commandments were given to the other nations who said that they were too hard to obey. God next gave them to Israel who replied that they would obey.

v. 21. Actually, Moses was afraid a little later after the people had made the golden calf (Deuteronomy 9:19).

Hebrews 12:22-24 The New Covenant is a celebration.

v. 22. “Have come to” is the same language as used of Jewish proselytes.

“living God”: This phrase was used of God at Mt. Horeb (Greek version of Deuteronomy 5:26). The expression means a wrathful, militant deity.

The real world is spiritual and eternal, not material and temporal.

“Angels” reminds us of the myriad of angels that accompanied God at the giving of the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 33:2).

v. 23. ekklesia = the true church, not that on earth. It is an assembly, not separated as at Mt. Sinai from God and Moses

“first born”: The privileges of inheritance which Esau despised. In the Greek this word is plural. We are reminded that in the exodus, the firstborn were also redeemed by blood.

Spirits are either all those who are in Christ, or the OT saints who only attained perfection once Christ came. For this last phrase, see the parallel in Hebrews 11:40.

v. 24. Compare 11:4 with its positive assessment of Abel still speaking today. Abel's blood cried for vengeance, Christ's blood pleads for forgiveness.

“Blood of sprinkling” appears only here and 1 Peter 1:2.

vv. 22-24. An 8-fold blessing seen by the eight occurrences of “to” or “unto.” These marvels and blessings certainly outweigh any temporary problems here on earth. There is a possible symbolic meaning to 8 = a new beginning (7 + 1).

Hebrews 12:25-29

v. 25. “him on earth” = Moses.

The verb “refuse” can mean beg or beg to be excused (see Exodus 20:18-20). The people did not want to hear any more at Sinai. The present tense indicates God speaking today.

Reject, turn from = apostrepho (again the concept of apostasy)

If refusal to accept the first covenant meant punishment, how much more punishment will await the person who rejects the second covenant. This uses the same contrast as in Hebrews 2:2-4.

vv. 26-27. Only Sinai was shaken the first time; the next time the whole earth will be shaken so that only those who belong to the unshakable kingdom will remain. See Haggai 2:6.

There were earthquakes at the giving of law and at Christ's crucifixion. There will be more at the coming Day of the Lord (Isaiah 2:19,21).

v. 27. What will remain is God's words, not the earth; similar to the contrast between things seen and things not seen in Hebrews 11:1-3.

v. 28. Worship and obedience ought to come from gratitude, not fear.

v. 29. “fire” forms an inclusion with verse 18. The Final Judgment will be by fire (Revelation 20:10,14). For a consuming fire, see Deuteronomy 4:24; Isaiah 33:14.

This points to His zeal for holiness and zeal against sin.

“He who descended on Mount Sinai in fire and spoke to His people from the midst of that fire still consumes in the white heat of his purity everything that is unworthy of himself” – F. F. Bruce.

What about FEAR? Is there a contradiction between verses 21-22 and v. 28?

ekphobos = terrified, sore afraid in Hebrews 12:21

Hebrew equivalent yagor = dread

eulabeia = reverence, piety in Hebrews 12:28

Hebrew equivalent = yirah.

Fear of the Lord in Proverbs 2:5 is related to knowledge of God (doctrine).

Fear of the Lord in Job 28:28 is related to departing from evil (moral).

Fear of the Lord in Proverbs 16:6 is related to love and faithfulness.

Perfect love casts out fear (morale).