Hebrews 12–13

THE CALL TO ENDURANCE

12Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses^f surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance^g the race that lies before us, ²keeping our eyes on Jesus,^A the pioneer and perfecter^B of our faith. For the joy that lay before him,^C he endured the cross, despising the shame,^h and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

FATHERLY DISCIPLINE

³For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.^{i 4}In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:

My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly

or lose heart when you are reproved by him,

⁶for the Lord disciplines the one he loves

and punishes every son he receives.^Dj

⁷Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? ⁸But if you are without discipline—which all receive^E—then you are illegitimate children and not sons.^{k 9}Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live?^{l 10}For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness.^{m 11}No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruitⁿ of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.^o

¹²Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees,^{p 13}and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated^F but healed instead.^q

WARNING AGAINST REJECTING GOD’S GRACE

¹⁴Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness^r—without it no one will see the Lord.^{s 15}Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.^{t 16}And make sure that there isn’t any immoral^G or irreverent^u person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal.^{v 17}For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.^w

¹⁸For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, ¹⁹to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, ²⁰for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.^{Ax 21}The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear.^{By 22}Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering,^{z 23}to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written^C in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,^{aa 24}and to Jesus, the mediator^ab of a new covenant,^ac and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.^ad

²⁵See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven.^{ae 26}His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.^{Da 27}This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken^b—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. ²⁸Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,^{c 29}for our God is a consuming fire.^d

FINAL EXHORTATIONS

13Let brotherly love^e continue. ²Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.^{f 3}Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated,^E as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.^{F 4}Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.^{g 5}Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.^{Gh 6}Therefore, we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper;

I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?^Hi

⁷Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.^{j 8}Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.^{k 9}Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited.^{l 10}We have an altar from which those who worship at the tabernacle do not have a right to eat.^{m 11}For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priestⁿ as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.^{o 12}Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate,^p so that he might sanctify^A the people by his own blood. ¹³Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing his disgrace.^{q 14}For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come.^{r 15}Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.^{s 16}Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.^{t 17}Obey your leaders^B and submit to them, since they keep watch^u over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. ¹⁸Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves honorably in everything.^{v 19}And I urge you all the more to pray^C that I may be restored to you very soon.

BENEDICTION AND FAREWELL

²⁰Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep^w—through the blood of the everlasting covenant,^{x 21}equip^D you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.^Ey Amen.

²²Brothers and sisters, I urge you to receive this message of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. ²³Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon enough, he will be with me when I see you. ²⁴Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who are from Italy send you greetings. ²⁵Grace be with you all.^z