Scourges (3146)(mastigoo from mástix = plague, whip, scourge) means literally to flog or scourge. The scourge was first a whip used as an instrument of punishment and then figuratively came to mean to punish severely or to drive as if by blows of a whip. In the present context the use is figurative (and yet it still behooves us to ponder the literal meaning) and entails any suffering which God ordains (He is sovereign and He either sends it or He allows it) for His children, remembering that whatever He sends or allows is always designed for our edification and maturation, not our destruction. God’s chastisement includes not only His “whipping” us so to speak for specific transgressions (but even here with the idea of remedial not retributive intent), but also the entire range of trials and tribulations which He providentially ordains and which work to mortify sin and nurture faith, ultimately serving to conform us to the image of His Son (Ro 8:29-note) Mastigoo - Matt 10:17; 20:19; 23:34; Mark 10:34; Luke 18:33; John 19:1; Heb 12:6 Notice that "scourges" is in the present tense, which indicates that this is not a one time event, but can be expected in the lives of those who are truly God's spiritual children (not everyone belongs to the family of God...in fact most of mankind belongs to the family whose head is Satan - see Jn 8:44, 1Jn 3:7, 8, 9, 10) God's Own Only begotten Son was literally scourged (John 19:1). And as the writer has already commanded us... "Consider Him" (Heb 12:3-note). Dr Charles Stanley comments on how God uses adversity in our lives noting that... He uses it to remind us of His great love; He uses adversity as a form of discipline. As much as we see pain used in discipline in human relationships, you would think that we would readily accept this principle in the context of our spiritual lives as well. Through the years, however, I have observed that this is a difficult concept for many people to accept. They cannot imagine a loving God inflicting pain on His children. In their minds the concepts of love and pain seem to be diametrically opposed. But in God’s economy, the two go hand in hand, just as they do within human relations. The writer of Hebrews expounds upon this relationship (see Hebrews 12:5KJV, He 12:6KJV) There is no conflict in the author’s mind when it comes to reconciling pain and love. Love necessitates the possibility and even the probability of pain. Notice he says, “He scourges every son whom He receives.” ... A scourge was a leather whip or a stick used to discipline slaves and criminals. The Romans commonly used a scourge weighted by pieces of bone or metal. This form of punishment was so severe that it was against the law to punish Roman citizens with a scourge. It was not uncommon for men to die as a result of these beatings. Despite the mental pictures this term must have conjured up, the author of Hebrews felt at liberty to use it when referring to the discipline of God. This is a very sobering thought—or at least it should be. We are not talking about a little whipping here. This is serious! (How to Handle Adversity) Every son - Every person born by the Spirit into the family of God is subject to and will experience His loving, instructing discipline. For example in Titus 2 we read that... the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing (more literally disciplining - present tense = continually) us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age (Titus 2:11-note, Titus 2:12-note) Henry Ward Beecher made the following statement regarding trials... No physician ever weighed out medicine to his patients with half so much care and exactness as God weighs out to us every trial. Not one grain too much does He ever permit to be put on the scale. "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://preceptaustin.org/hebrews_125-6.htm#s