Hebrews 12–13

The Example of Jesus’ Suffering

12Therefore, since^* we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, putting aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us^a, let us run with patient endurance the race that has been set before us, ²fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³For consider the one who endured such hostility by sinners against himself,^* so that you will not grow weary in your souls and give up. ⁴You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your^* blood as you^* struggle against sin. ⁵And have you completely forgotten the exhortation which instructs you as sons?

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

or give up when you are corrected by him.

⁶For the Lord disciplines the one whom he loves,

and punishes every son whom he accepts.”^b

⁷Endure it for discipline. God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline? ⁸But if you are without discipline, in which all legitimate sons^* have become participants, then you are illegitimate and not sons. ⁹Furthermore, we have had our earthly fathers^c who disciplined us, and we respected them. Will we not much rather subject ourselves to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰For they disciplined us for a few days according to what seemed appropriate to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we can have a share in his holiness. ¹¹Now all discipline seems for the moment not to be joyful but painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it.

A Serious Warning Against Refusing God

¹²Therefore strengthen your slackened hands and your weakened knees, ¹³and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame will not be dislocated, but rather be healed. ¹⁴Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵Take care that no one falls short of the grace of God; that no one growing up like a root of bitterness causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; ¹⁶that no one be a sexually immoral or totally worldly person like Esau, who for one meal traded his own birthright. ¹⁷For you know that also afterwards, when he^* wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, because he did not find an occasion for repentance, although he sought it with tears.

¹⁸For you have not come to something that can be touched, and to a burning fire, and to darkness, and to gloom, and to a whirlwind, ¹⁹and to the noise of a trumpet, and to the sound of words which those who heard begged that not another word be spoken to them. ²⁰For they could not endure what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”^{d 21}And the spectacle was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”^{e 22}But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to tens of thousands of angels, to the festal gathering ²³and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, ²⁴and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood^f that speaks better than Abel’s does.

²⁵Watch out that you do not refuse the one who is speaking! For if those did not escape when they^* refused the one who warned them on earth, much less will we escape,^* if we^* reject the one who warns from heaven, ²⁶whose voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, saying,

“Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven.”^g

²⁷Now the phrase “yet once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, namely, things that have been created, in order that the things that are not shaken may remain. ²⁸Therefore, since we^* are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be thankful, through which let us serve God acceptably, with awe and reverence. ²⁹For indeed our God is a consuming fire.

Concluding Ethical Instructions

13Brotherly love must continue. ²Do not neglect hospitality, because through this some have received angels as guests without knowing it. ³Remember the prisoners, as though you were fellow-prisoners; remember^* the mistreated, as though you yourselves also are being mistreated^* in the body. ⁴Marriage must be held in honor by all, and the marriage bed be undefiled, because God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers. ⁵Your lifestyle must be free from the love of money, being content with what you have. For he himself has said, “I will never desert you, and I will never abandon you.”^{a 6}So then, we can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.^b

What will man do to me?”^c

⁷Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you; considering the outcome of their way of life^d, imitate their faith. ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever^e. ⁹Do not be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods by which those who participate have not benefited. ¹⁰We have an altar from which those who serve in the tabernacle do not have the right to eat. ¹¹For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sins are burned up outside the camp. ¹²Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, in order that he might sanctify the people by his own blood. ¹³So we must go out to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. ¹⁴For here we do not have a permanent city, but we seek the city that is to come. ¹⁵Therefore through him let us offer up a sacrifice of praise continually^f to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. ¹⁶And do not neglect doing good and generosity, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

¹⁷Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with groaning, for this would be unprofitable for you.

¹⁸Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a good conscience, and want to conduct ourselves commendably in every way. ¹⁹And I especially urge you to do this, so that I may be restored to you more quickly.

Benediction

²⁰Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, ²¹equip you with every good thing to do his will, carrying out in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever^g.^h Amen.

Conclusion

²²Now I urge you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for indeed I have written to you brieflyⁱ. ²³Know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I will see you, if he comes quickly enough. ²⁴Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. ²⁵Grace be with all of you.