Hebrews 12

The Lord’s Discipline

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,t we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.s3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.4 You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshedt in your struggle against sin.

5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons?
“My son, do not scorntthe Lord’s discipline
or give up when he correctstyou.

6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.”s
7 Endure your sufferingt as discipline;t God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?8 But if you do not experience discipline,t something all sonst have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.9 Besides, we have experienced discipline fromt our earthly fatherst and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?ts10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful.t But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousnesst for those trained by it.12 Therefore, strengthentyour listless hands and your weak knees,s

13 and make straight paths for your feet,s so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.

Do Not Reject God’s Warning

14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness,s for without it no one will see the Lord.15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter rootspringing upts and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.16 And see to it that no one becomest an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.s17 For you know thatt later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessingt with tears.18 For you have not come to something that can be touched,t to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind19 and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering wordst such that those who heard begged to hear no more.t20 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”s21 In fact, the scenet was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.”ts22 But you have come to Mount Zion, the cityt of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly23 and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect,

24 and to Jesus, the mediatort of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does.s
25 Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven?26 Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.”s27 Now this phrase “once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain.28 So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe.

29 For our God is indeed a devouring fire.s

HEBREWS 12

A Large Crowd of Witnesses

1  t Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won't let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. 2 t We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right sidet of God's throne!

3 So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won't get discouraged and give up.
4 None of you have yet been hurtt in your battle against sin.

5 t But you have forgotten that the Scriptures say to God's children,
“When the Lord punishes you,
don't make light of it,
and when he corrects you,
don't be discouraged.

6 The Lord corrects the people
he loves
and disciplines those
he calls his own.”
7 Be patient when you are being corrected! This is how God treats his children. Don't all parents correct their children? 8 God corrects all his children, and if he doesn't correct you, then you don't really belong to him.

9 Our earthly fathers correct us, and we still respect them. Isn't it even better to be given true life by letting our spiritual Father correct us?
10 Our human fathers correct us for a short time, and they do it as they think best. But God corrects us for our own good, because he wants us to be holy, as he is.

11 It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right and live at peace.
12  t Now stand up straight! Stop your knees from shaking

13 t and walk a straight path. Then lame people will be healed, instead of getting worse.

Warning against Turning from God

17 t You know how he later wanted it back. But there was nothing he could do to change things, even though he begged his father and cried.
18  t You have not come to a place like Mount Sinait that can be seen and touched. There is no flaming fire or dark cloud or storm 19 or trumpet sound. The people of Israel heard a voice speak. But they begged it to stop, 20 t because they could not obey its commands. They were even told to kill any animal that touched the mountain.

21 The sight was so frightening that Moses said he shook with fear.
22 You have now come to Mount Zion and to the heavenly Jerusalem. This is the city of the living God, where thousands and thousands of angels have come to celebrate. 23 Here you will find all of God's dearest children, t whose names are written in heaven. And you will find God himself, who judges everyone. Here also are the spirits of those good people who have been made perfect.

24 t And Jesus is here! He is the one who makes God's new agreement with us, and his sprinkled blood says much better things than the blood of Abel.t
25  t Make sure you obey the one who speaks to you. The people did not escape, when they refused to obey the one who spoke to them at Mount Sinai. Do you think you can possibly escape, if you refuse to obey the one who speaks to you from heaven?

26 t When God spoke the first time, his voice shook only the earth. This time he has promised to shake the earth once again, and heaven too.
27 The words “once again” mean that these created things will someday be shaken and removed. Then what cannot be shaken will last. 28 We should be grateful we were given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And in this kingdom we please God by worshiping him and by showing him great honor and respect. 29 t Our God is like a destructive fire!