12 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of our Father. 3 Consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.
4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of our Father, nor lose heart when you are reproved by him." a a v5 Hebrews quotes Proverbs to show that our Father's discipline is the unmistakable mark of his love — he trains his sons and daughters as a Father, never as a distant judge. 6 For our Father disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.
7 It is for discipline that you endure. Our Father is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without the discipline in which all have shared, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be made worse but rather be healed.
Pursue Peace and Holiness
14 Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see our Father. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of our Father, that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled, 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no way to change what had been done, though he sought it with tears. b b v17 Esau traded his birthright for a single meal (Gen 25) and later could not recover his father's blessing, even weeping for it (Gen 27:34–38).
18 For you have not come to what may be touched: a blazing fire, and darkness and gloom and a tempest, 19 and the blast of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further message be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned." 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living Father, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless angels in joyful assembly, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to our Father, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we turn away from him who warns from heaven.
26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." c c v26 Quoted from Haggai 2:6 — our Father's promise of a final, greater shaking of all creation.
27 This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so offer to our Father acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our Father is a consuming fire. d d v29 Fire that purifies, not destroys.