Daily Scripture Reading Hebrews 12:11 - 13:2
Most modern Christians believe unity should be the highest priority of all Christians. They also believe Christians should always speak kindly and never say anything harsh to anyone. There is a verse in today’s passage that, at first glance, appears to support those positions. However, careful observation of what the text does and does not say shows that this passage does not support the idea that unity and peace should be pursued at all costs.
The opening verses of chapter 12 remind us that discipline is good. Fathers who love their children discipline them. Likewise, God disciplines those whom He loves.
Heb. 12:11 And all discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful, but to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Heb. 12:12 ¶ Therefore, STRENGTHEN THE HANDS THAT ARE WEAK AND THE KNEES THAT ARE FEEBLE,
Heb. 12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
Heb. 12:14 ¶ Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord,
Look at the command to pursue peace. Think about what it does and does not say. Peace is something we should pursue, but the text does not tell us to be at peace with all men at all costs. It does not say be at peace. It says pursue peace. This command was written after the author of Hebrews extolled the benefits of discipline. Discipline is not peaceful.
Most modern Christians wrongly believe unity should be the highest priority of all Christians. They also believe Christians should always speak kindly and never say anything harsh to anyone. They might use this command about pursuing peace to justify their beliefs. However, pursuing peace does not mean you pursue peace at all costs. Nor does it mean you do not confront people with difficult or harsh truth in the process of pursuing peace.
Heb. 12:15 seeing to it that no one falls short of the grace of God; that no ROOT OF BITTERNESS SPRINGING UP CAUSES TROUBLE, and by it many be defiled;
Heb. 12:16 that also there be no sexually immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
Heb. 12:17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
Heb. 12:18 ¶ For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,
Heb. 12:19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them.
Notice the word “not” in verse 18. The author was drawing a contrast. When the Israelites came out of slavery in Egypt, they went to a physical mountain. However, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the first believers did not go to a physical place.
Heb. 12:20 For they could not bear what was being commanded, “IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED.”
The account of this is recorded in Exodus 19.
Heb. 12:21 And so terrible was what appeared, that Moses said, “I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling.”
This is found in Deut. 9:19.
Heb. 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,
Christians don’t go to a physical place when they decide to repent and become Christians. Instead, they become servants of Jesus.
Heb. 12:23 to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
Heb. 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
Heb. 12:25 ¶ See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.
The tenth chapter of 1Cor tells us the events recorded in the Old Testament are examples for us. The Israelites who came out of Egypt often did not listen to Yahweh or Moses and they suffered the consequences. Likewise, if we do not listen to Jesus or His apostles, we will suffer consequences.
Heb. 12:26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.”
The phrase “shook the earth then” refers to the time when the Israelites came out of Egypt. The shaking of the heavens is found in Haggai 2:6 and refers to future events.
Heb. 12:27 Now this expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb. 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;
The Israelites who came out of Egypt received a physical tabernacle which eventually was destroyed. After they entered the promised land, they set up a kingdom which was conquered. However, Christians are part of an eternal kingdom which will never end.
Heb. 12:29 for OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.
The are many people who picture God as being all love and kindness. However, this verse describes God as a consuming fire.
Heb. 13:1 ¶ Let love of the brothers continue.
Heb. 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
The Bible tells us to pursue peace. However, it tells us to pursue it. It does not tell us to be at peace with all men at all costs. Sometimes pursuing peace means confronting people so that they correct actions that destroy peace.
What is peace?
What are some examples of people pursuing peace at all costs and ending up in a situation where there is an appearance of peace, but there is not true peace?
How should we pursue peace?
What are some occasion when we have to do something that is not peaceful, in order to create conditions where we can have true peace?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”