Hebrews 12

1 Therefore [consequently, as a result], since we are surrounded [encircled, compassed about] by such a great [large, abundant] cloud of witnesses [those who have given testimony, martyrs], let us throw off [lay aside, cast away] every encumbrance [weight, hindrance] and the sin [transgression, missing the mark] that so easily entangles [besets, surrounds], and let us run [walk hastily, persevere] with endurance [patience, perseverance] the race [contest, struggle] set out [laid before, proposed] for us. word study 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus [the author and founder of our salvation], the author [the chief leader] and perfecter [the one who completes] of our faith [trust and confidence in God], who for the joy [a deep and lasting happiness] set before Him [a goal to strive for] endured [to remain under] the cross [an instrument of capital punishment], scorning [to think little of] its shame [disgrace], and sat down at the right [the place of honor] hand of the throne [a seat of power] of God [the Supreme Being, the Creator]. word study 3 Consider [think carefully about, reflect on] Him who endured [remained under, patiently bore] such [great, intense] hostility [contradiction, opposition] from sinners [those who miss the mark, the unrighteous], so that you will not grow weary [tired, faint] and lose heart [become discouraged, faint in your souls]. word study 4 In your struggle [fight, striving] against sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards], you have not yet [at this point in time] resisted [withstood, stood against] to the point of shedding [pouring out, giving] your blood [the atoning blood of Christ, life force]. word study 5 And you have forgotten [completely overlooked, neglected] the exhortation [encouragement, consolation] that addresses you as sons [children, beloved ones]: “My son [child, dear one], do not take lightly [despise, think little of] the discipline [training, chastening] of the Lord [God, the Father], and do not lose heart [faint, become discouraged] when He rebukes [corrects, reproves] you. word study 6 For the Lord [God, the supreme authority] disciplines [instructs, trains, or chastens] the one He loves [has affection for, esteems], and He chastises [scourges, punishes, or whips] every son [child, or one He receives as His own] He receives [welcomes, or accepts as His child].” word study 7 Endure [be patient, persevere under] suffering [chastening, discipline, training] as [for the purpose of, toward] discipline [education, training, correction]; God [the Father, Elohim] is treating [dealing with, offering Himself to] you as [like, when] sons [children, heirs]. For [because, since] what son [child, heir] is not [does not, cannot be without] disciplined [chastened, corrected, instructed] by [from, under] his father [parent, guardian]? word study 8 If you do not experience [or are without] discipline [chastening, training, or education] like everyone else [all partakers], then you are [considered] illegitimate [bastards, born out of wedlock] children [sons, or offspring] and not true [genuine, or legitimate] sons. word study 9 Furthermore, we have all had earthly [natural, fleshly] fathers who disciplined [chastened, corrected, instructed] us, and we respected [reverenced, obeyed] them. Should we not much more [rather, all the more] submit [be in subjection, obey] to the Father [the supreme Parent, Creator] of our spirits [the vital principle, the breath of life] and live [have eternal life, be spiritually alive]? word study 10 Our fathers [natural, earthly parents] disciplined us for a short time [a few days, a brief period] as they thought best [according to their own pleasure, as seemed good to them], but God [the heavenly Father, our Creator] disciplines us for our good [for our profit, to help us], so that we may share in [partake of, participate in] His holiness [set-apartness, sacred nature]. word study 11 No discipline [chastening, training, or education] seems enjoyable [joyous, a source of happiness] at the time [present moment], but painful [grievous, causing sorrow]. Later on [afterward, in the future], however, it yields [produces, brings forth] a harvest [fruit, product] of righteousness [living according to God’s will, being in right standing with Him] and peace [a state of calm, serenity, and tranquility] to those who have been trained [exercised, disciplined] by it [through this process]. word study 12 Therefore [for this reason, in consequence] strengthen [lift up, restore] your limp [hanging down, feeble] hands [instruments of power, service] and weak [paralyzed, enfeebled] knees. word study 13 Make [create, establish] straight [upright, level] paths [tracks, courses of conduct] for your feet [steps, ways], so that the lame [crippled, feeble] may not be disabled [turned out of the way, wandered off course], but rather [more, instead] healed [restored, made whole]. word study 14 Pursue [follow after, diligently seek] peace [harmony, prosperity, freedom from war] with everyone [all men, every person], as well as [and also, in addition to] holiness [being set apart for God, sanctification] [without which no one will be able to experience God’s presence], without [apart from, separately from] which [this state of holiness] no one [nobody, none] will see [perceive, experience, attend to] the Lord [God, the supreme Master]. word study 15 See to it [looking diligently, beware] that no one [any man, anyone] falls short [lacks, comes short] of the grace [divine influence, unmerited favor] of God [the Supreme Being, Creator], and that no root [source, origin] of bitterness [strong unpleasant feeling, resentment] springs up [grows, arises] to cause trouble [bother, disturb] and defile [stain, corrupt] many [a large number, numerous]. word study 16 See to it that no one is [sexually immoral, a fornicator] sexually immoral, or is godless [profane] like Esau [the twin brother of Jacob], who for a single meal [one morsel of food, a plate of food] sold his birthright [privileges as the firstborn]. word study 17 For you know that afterward [at a later time, subsequently], when he wanted [desired, was willing] to inherit [receive as a gift, obtain] the blessing [praise, benediction], he was rejected [disapproved of, refused]. He could find [discover, come upon] no ground [place, opportunity] for repentance [a change of mind, feeling sorry for sin], though he sought [searched for, tried to obtain] the blessing [benefit, good fortune] with tears [tearfully, sorrowfully, with lamentation]. word study 18 For you have not come to a mountain [that might be touched, a physical peak] that can be touched [felt, handled] and that is burning [kindled, ablaze] with fire [flames, divine judgment]; to darkness [blackness], gloom [shadow, obscurity], and storm [tempest, whirlwind]; word study 19 to a trumpet blast [sound of a horn] or to a voice [voice of words, declaration] that made its hearers [those who heard] beg [entreat, excuse themselves] that no further word [message, logos] be spoken [added to them]. word study 20 For they could not [endure or tolerate] bear what was commanded: “If even [a wild] an animal [or beast] touches [comes into physical contact with] the mountain [a high elevation of land], it must be [put to death by throwing stones, stoned to death] stoned [as an act of capital punishment].” word study 21 The sight [appearance, vision] was so terrifying [fearful, inspiring awe] that even Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver] said, “I am [exist, have being] trembling [shaking, quaking] with fear [exceedingly afraid, terrified].” word study 22 Instead, you have come to Mount [a high elevation] Zion [the Church, heavenly Jerusalem], to the city [a town with walls] of the living [having eternal life, spiritually vibrant] God [the one true deity], the heavenly [in or from heaven, divine] Jerusalem. You have come to myriads [innumerable, countless thousands] of angels [messengers of God, heavenly beings] word study 23 in joyful [festal, celebratory] assembly [general gathering, church], to the congregation [assembly, company] of the firstborn [preeminent, having priority], enrolled [registered, written down] in heaven [the spiritual realm, paradise]. You have come to God [Almighty] the Judge [Ruler, Arbiter] of all [everything, every person], to the spirits [breath, essence] of the righteous [just, upright] made perfect [complete, mature], word study 24 to Jesus [the Anointed One, God’s salvation] the mediator [a go-between, peacemaker] of a new [fresh, recently created] covenant [a formal agreement, promise], and to the sprinkled [poured out, scattered] blood [the atoning blood of Christ] that speaks [utters words, testifies] a better [stronger, more excellent] word [message, testimony] than the blood [sacrifice, memorial] of Abel [the righteous one, a martyr]. word study 25 See to it that you do not [completely reject, turn away from] refuse Him who speaks [with divine authority, warns]. For if the people did not escape [were not spared, did not flee] when they refused [rejected, turned away from] Him who warned [spoke, announced] them on earth [in a physical, earthly realm], how much less [to a far greater extent, much more] will we escape [be spared, flee] if we reject [turn away from, refuse to listen to] Him who warns [speaks, announces] us from heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s throne]? word study 26 At that time [then, in a past era] His voice [the sound of God’s presence] shook [caused to tremble] the earth [the land, the material world], but now [in this present moment] He has promised [declared], “Once more [one more time] I will shake [cause to tremble] not only [merely] the earth [the land], but [in addition] heaven [the spiritual realm] as well [also].” word study 27 The words [Yet once more, still one more time] “Once more” signify [make clear, declare] the removal [translation, change] of what can be shaken [agitated, unstable]—that is, created things [things that are made, things having been made]—so that the unshakable [things which cannot be shaken, things that are not shaken] may remain [stay, stay in place]. word study 28 Therefore [as a result of this], since we are receiving [taking possession of, inheriting] an unshakable [immovable, unchangeable] kingdom [God’s royal power and dominion], let us be filled with gratitude [thankfulness, appreciation], and so worship [serve, minister to] God [the one true deity] acceptably [in a pleasing manner, with approval] with reverence [deep respect, awe] and awe [fear, humility]. word study 29 “For [because of this reason] our God [the one true deity, our heavenly Father] is a [completely, utterly] consuming [all-burning, devouring] fire [flames].” word study