1 Peter 5

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1 Peter 5:1

Pursue Peace and Sanctification

Hebrews 12:12. The word “therefore” with which this section starts, indicates the connection with the previous part. By this the writer says that you can take courage, because the discipline is for your benefit and it serves a wonderful purpose. Your hands, knees and feet can be strengthened again to continue the path of faith to the wonderful goal (Isaiah 35:3). Should your hands hang down feebly, discouraged by so much contradiction and resistance, then you know now that God uses the difficulties to put you back to work for Him.

Through physical exercise you get stronger muscles. Through spiritual exercise you get more spiritual resilience. Instead of feeble knees you get strong knees. Strong knees you can bow to pray and stretch to walk.

Hebrews 12:13. If you have feeble knees your feet cannot make “straight paths”. You will not be able to make firm footsteps on the right course to the goal. It is necessary for your own walk that you establish your way (Proverbs 4:26).

But your established walk is also necessary for others who are limping. He who is limping cannot have an established walk. Such a person rather stumbles. If you also shuttle hither and thither helplessly, you surely cannot offer the limping one any support. On the contrary, your wavering can have the result that the limping one totally gets paralyzed and powerless. But if you follow the right path you are of support to those who cannot make it through on their own. If there are good examples that follow the right course, then the limping ones will not drop behind further, but they will continue their way with new courage.

There is not only mention of power but also of healing. Only on the path that God has for us, power and (spiritual) health are to be found. We should walk there where He can be with us.

Hebrews 12:14. In the spiritual race we need one another. On the one hand you should walk individually as if you are the only one who could win the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24). On the other hand you walk together with others who pursue that same prize. They are not competitors whom you should be ahead of all the time, but they are fellow fighters with whom you want to cross the finish line together. Regarding your efforts, you should walk as if you are on your own, but what the goal concerns you should realize that you are on the way together with others. You are dependent on them and they are dependent on you. We need one another. We need to care for one another and for the whole companionship of Christians with whom we are on the way.

If you are aware of that you will see that not everyone is at the same pace and also that not everyone is following the same course. If we lose sight of that, there is a great danger that it will cause distance, which means that it will drive a spiritual wedge between the brothers and sisters. That danger can be eliminated by pursuing “peace with all men” (Psalms 34:14). Then the runners will slow down a little bit to encourage those who lag behind and support them in any way it is necessary. In that way the whole will stay together.

So you are able to show your connection with your fellow believers by seeking peace with them. But there is one more thing you should pursue and that is “sanctification”. In seeking peace you are focused on others, in pursuing sanctification you are focused on God. It is about your relation to others on the one side, the other thing is about your relation to God. Sanctification indicates an action. It means that you are totally dedicated to God and therefore you separate yourself from everything that is in contrast with God. If you continue to tolerate things in your life that are in contrast with God’s holiness, then they will hinder your sanctification. Sanctification concerns the nature of God (Hebrews 12:10); sanctification has to do with dedication to the service of God.

Hebrews 12:15. Interaction with one another is also shown in something else and that is if we carefully see to it “that no one comes short of the grace of God”. ‘To see to’ has some character of the shepherd; it has got to do with overseers who look after the flock (1 Peter 5:2). The awareness of God’s grace is essential to keep on going on the path of faith. If someone gets disconnected from that and doesn’t pay attention to grace anymore, then the reverse of pursuing will happen. Such a person will quit and give up the race; he will no longer join the Christian companionship. ‘To come short’ has got to do with to lag behind, missing the connection, that a person ultimately will not reach the finish with the platoon.

The point is that you look around to see if everyone is still partaking of the Christian company by keeping the connection with the grace of God. If someone among the Hebrews would be impressed by the opposition in such a way that he lost sight of God’s grace, then he would come short. He would therefore run the risk to fall back in Judaism. If you or someone else misses the connection with the grace of God, then the danger is great that you return to the world. By speaking with one another about that grace and by pointing one another to that, we encourage each other that the grace of God is most present in the darkest moment.

If someone falls away from the grace of God and pays no attention to it anymore, because he feels to be tossed to and fro by the hardships he can only see, then a root of bitterness will arise (Deuteronomy 29:18b). A root has the character of growing. If this root is not radically removed by paying attention again to the grace of God, it will exercise a corruptible influence. Such a root causes troubles and defilement that grab around more and more. Many people will be infected by it. A root of bitterness does not only separate from God, but it also introduces immoral practices.

Hebrews 12:16. Therefore the next step in this process is immorality or fornication. Corporal fornication is an unacceptable and condemnable sexual unification of a man or a woman outside marriage. God will judge that (Hebrews 13:4). Spiritual fornication is the connection of the believer with the world in a way that God is set aside (James 4:4).

Therefore it is not surprising that after immorality comes “a godless person like Esau”. The profanity of Esau is that he despised the blessings of God concerning the future and preferred a momentary fleshly enjoyment. He was not interested in the future. He wanted to enjoy here and now. Therefore he gave up his birthright and all the additional privileges. The example of Esau was meant to have a terrifying effect on the readers of the letter.

Hebrews 12:17. The writer reminds the readers of Esau’s end. This example says: He who rejects the blessing regarding the future in favor of a momentary pleasure, will later seek the blessing in vain, no matter the tears there are shed. The Hebrews are warned in that way, so that they will not fall away from the living God. He who falls away from the living God, will once realize which blessings he has given up and will want to put everything back in order. But then it will be too late for ever.

Esau had no remorse. He didn’t want to repent, he wanted the blessing. Each person who draws near to God with repentance, will surely receive forgiveness. However, Esau did not cry because he was remorseful about selling his birthright, but because he had lost the blessings that went together with the birthright. He didn’t cry because he was a sinner, but because he was a loser. Such tears will be found in hell.

Hebrews 12:18-20. After the serious words about the consequences of falling away from the grace of God, the writer starts to encourage again. To illustrate his encouragement he uses the picture of two mountains. A mountain is a symbol of power. The one is Mount Sinai, which stands for the power of the law and represents the old covenant. The other is Mount Zion, which stands for grace and represents the new covenant.

They did not come to Mount Sinai, as Israel did in former days (Deuteronomy 4:11). To that mountain horror, terrifying weather phenomena and death threats were connected. The unbelieving Israel, whom the Hebrews left, was spiritually still there and is still abiding there. But the Hebrews did not need to be afraid of the words of God. They could fearlessly draw near to God to speak with Him. Under the new covenant there is no fear to enter a territory that could cause them to die.

Hebrews 12:21. Under the old covenant even Moses was impressed by the sight and was full of fear and trembling. The fear of both Moses and the people was prompted by the fact that a righteous God, Who made His holy demands known to the people, would come to them with wrath and judgment, if they trampled on those demands. This indeed happened when the people made the golden calf and worshiped it.

Now read again Hebrews 12:12-21.

Reflection: In what way will you be able to pursue and look after the things mentioned?

1 Peter 5:2

Pursue Peace and Sanctification

There is not only mention of power but also of healing. Only on the path that God has for us, power and (spiritual) health are to be found. We should walk there where He can be with us.

Now read again Hebrews 12:12-21.

Reflection: In what way will you be able to pursue and look after the things mentioned?

1 Peter 5:3

Pursue Peace and Sanctification

There is not only mention of power but also of healing. Only on the path that God has for us, power and (spiritual) health are to be found. We should walk there where He can be with us.

Now read again Hebrews 12:12-21.

Reflection: In what way will you be able to pursue and look after the things mentioned?

1 Peter 5:4

Pursue Peace and Sanctification

There is not only mention of power but also of healing. Only on the path that God has for us, power and (spiritual) health are to be found. We should walk there where He can be with us.

Now read again Hebrews 12:12-21.

Reflection: In what way will you be able to pursue and look after the things mentioned?

1 Peter 5:5

Pursue Peace and Sanctification

There is not only mention of power but also of healing. Only on the path that God has for us, power and (spiritual) health are to be found. We should walk there where He can be with us.

Now read again Hebrews 12:12-21.

Reflection: In what way will you be able to pursue and look after the things mentioned?

1 Peter 5:6

We Have Come to Better Things

Hebrews 12:22. The word “but” indicates that what now follows, is in contrast with what is said previously. To the Hebrews it is demonstrated that they haven’t come to Mount Sinai with its accompanying horrors. Now it is demonstrated to them what they have come to. This ‘have come to’ indicates the sphere of the relation we are entering. As the sphere at Mount Sinai was characterized by fear and trembling, the sphere at the “Mount Zion” is one of grace and peace, of inviting love and the absence of every fear (1 John 4:18). He who has once entered this sphere and experienced its significance can never ever be tempted anymore to return to Judaism, the old system of the threatening Mount Sinai.

In the millennial kingdom of peace the literal Mount Zion is the place of God’s rest and the seat of the royal power of the Messiah. But the Hebrews have now already come to that mountain. That means that here it is not about the earthly mountain, but it is about the subject of which this mountain is the symbol, namely of grace and heaven. Mount Zion represents the new covenant with all its aspects: the new kingdom, the new priesthood, the new worship service, the new dwelling place, the new resting place.

The new priesthood is related to Zadok (2 Samuel 8:17; Ezekiel 40:46), a priest from the line of Eleazar, the third son of Aaron. This indicates the priesthood of the resurrected Christ. The number three refers to the third day as the day of resurrection. The new kingship is also connected to Christ, the great Son of David, who was the king after God’s heart (Psalms 132:11-14). Christ is the true King-Priest (Zechariah 6:13). He is the true center of all blessing both in the millennial kingdom of peace in future and now already in spirit for everyone who is on the way to that wonderful situation.

After Mount Zion the writer presents more impressive matters that have come within reach of the believing Hebrews. But faith is necessary to see them. When faith sees them, they will be of great encouragement for the path they still had to go. The writer explains to the Hebrews that they had also come to, that is, brought within the sphere of, “the city of the living God”, which is “the heavenly Jerusalem”. They had turned their back on the earthly Jerusalem, but they entered the heavenly Jerusalem by faith.

Abraham and other Old Testament believers had seen the city from afar and that encouraged them (Hebrews 11:10; 16). The privilege that the Hebrews had was beyond that: they had already come that far. They knew its sphere and enjoyed the privilege of being in the presence of the living God. That city is the center of the government over the earth that is not publicly exercised yet, but will definitely become reality. In that city death has no entrance, what will be the case in the earthly Jerusalem and also in the millennial kingdom of peace.

The Hebrews are physically still on earth. But when they approach the city in spirit, they discover that there are inhabitants in the heavenly Jerusalem. There, first of all, are “myriads of angels”. When you imagine yourself entering the heavenly Jerusalem from outside, you see the angels first. They form the outermost circle of the inhabitants of the city to protect them as it were. That is also fits the task they have toward the believers on earth to whom they have been given to serve (Hebrews 1:14).

Hebrews 12:23. The further description, “the general assembly”, has the meaning of a joyful assembly. When the law was given at Mount Sinai, the angels also played a role (Acts 7:53). Through their mediation the law was given. As you have seen, there was not directly anything joyful about that, but the angels are rejoicing in the sphere of grace (cf. Luke 2:13-14).

After the outermost circle our attention is drawn to the innermost circle. In the midst of the multitude of angels we see the people of God, here called “the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven”. Those who had no place on earth, are at home there. On earth their names meant nothing. They were erased from the worldly and religious registers, but that didn’t matter to them. It was much more important that their names were enrolled in heaven. That means that they are indelible and that they are familiar to God; that they are known by Him (Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 21:27).

The word ‘assembly’ is found in this letter only here. It has the sense of the family of God. The further description ‘firstborn’ indicates the fact of sonship and heirship. This is in connection with the fact that they are called brethren of Christ (Hebrews 2:11). As firstborn the Hebrews were entitled to the eternal inheritance; they were fellow heirs of Christ, the Firstborn (Hebrews 1:6).

Then we see there “God, the Judge of all”. All heavenly citizens are there on the ground of God’s justice. They have suffered much injustice, but they have trusted that the Judge of the whole earth will do justice (Genesis 18:25). Also the Lord Jesus has entrusted “[Himself] to Him Who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be satisfied, because God is the Judge (Matthew 5:6).

The “spirits of [the] righteous made perfect” are the first ones who experience that. These are the Old Testament believers who are asleep and who are now having a spiritual existence and who will, at the resurrection, be made perfect. They have finished the walk of faith and are only waiting for the glory. But they now already have their resting place and part in heaven.

Hebrews 12:24. Then we see “Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant”. This new covenant will be established with Israel, but the spiritual blessings of the new covenant are now already enjoyed by all who belong to God’s people. What would the future world be worth, both in heaven and on earth, without Him? He is the Mediator between the holy God and the sinful man.

He has made the way for the implementation of the new covenant. This He did through His blood. In that way forgiveness became a part of each who belongs to the new covenant and to whom the blessing of the millennial kingdom of peace is surely guaranteed. The first blood that was shed, was the blood of the righteous Abel (Matthew 23:35). However, that blood could not serve as a restoration of the blessings that were lost. On the contrary, a cry for vengeance came out of it (Genesis 4:10).

The blood of Christ, however, is blood that speaks a better language, which is the language of forgiveness, because it is the sacrificial blood. It is wonderful that the description of all wonderful things to which the believers have come under the new covenant concludes with what forms the basis: the blood of Christ. In that way also the everlasting duration of the new covenant is established.

Hebrews 12:25. After he has presented these glories, which are in connection with the new order, the writer now again continues with some concluding exhortations. God had spoken (Hebrews 1:1) and is still speaking, just like the blood does. What a foolishness would that be to reject this God. It was already a foolish thing to reject God when He warned them on earth. He had given His instructions in the law and had presented them the way to live and to be blessed. But man did not want to listen.

Ever since the Holy Spirit has come, God speaks from heaven. To reject Him means to reject grace. This is what Stephen accused the unbelieving people of and therefore the people became furious and stoned him (Acts 7:51-59). In this way they rejected God’s last offer of grace and sealed their own rejection.

Hebrews 12:26. God’s speaking by giving the law with which the old covenant was initiated, was accompanied by a quaking earth (Exodus 19:18). Also the establishment of the new covenant will be accompanied by a shaking earth, but the shaking of heaven will be added to that. God had announced it like that at the end of the Old Testament (Haggai 2:7). The introduction of the millennial kingdom of peace will be preceded by terrible earthquakes during the great tribulation (Revelation 6:12) and at the return of Christ there will be signs in heaven (Matthew 24:29).

Hebrews 12:27. That will result in “the removing of those things which can be shaken”, “things” that are made and that are temporal. The old is removed and something new, which cannot be shaken, will replace it. Judaism belongs to the old order and will therefore disappear. The church belongs to the new order and will therefore remain. In the same way everything will remain what God has said (1 Peter 1:25), just like everyone, who has accepted His Word, will remain (1 John 2:17).

Hebrews 12:28. The unshakable kingdom that the Son will establish, will be received by Him from God’s hands (Daniel 7:13; Psalms 2:8) and we will receive it from Him and with Him (Luke 12:32; Luke 22:29. This kingdom remains forever and ever (Revelation 22:5) and it is based on pure grace that we may receive it.

We must hold on to that grace, for otherwise we will slide away. At the same time grace provides us with a clear motive to serve God. Grace is the right mind for that. Therein He finds His pleasure. The believer will serve Him “with reverence and awe”, for He is an awesome and holy God. This is not meant to terrify you, but to fill you with the right reverence.

Hebrews 12:29. People who miss this reverence are to be aware that God is “a consuming fire”. The fire consumes everything that is not in accordance with God. This is a serious word to everyone who is in danger to drop out and return to a formality service.

Now read Hebrews12:22-29 again.