Hebrews 12:1-22

Amplified Bible

Jesus, the Example

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of ^[a]witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, ² [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, ^[b]disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].^(A)

³ Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

A Father’s Discipline

⁴ You have not yet struggled to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; ⁵ and you have ^[c]forgotten the divine word of encouragement which is addressed to you as sons,

⁷ You must submit to [correction for the purpose of] discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons; for ^[d]what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ Now if you are exempt from correction and without discipline, in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate children and not sons [at all]. ⁹ Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we submitted and respected them [for training us]; shall we not much more willingly submit to the Father of ^[e]spirits, and live [by learning from His discipline]? ¹⁰ For our earthly fathers disciplined us for only a short time as seemed best to them; but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. ¹¹ For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose].

¹² So then, strengthen hands that are weak and knees that tremble.^{(C) 13} Cut through and make smooth, straight paths for your feet [that are safe and go in the right direction], so that the leg which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather may be healed.

¹⁴ Continually pursue peace with everyone, and the sanctification without which no one will [ever] see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; ¹⁶ and [see to it] that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.^{(D) 17} For you know that later on, when he wanted [to regain title to] his inheritance of the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance [there was no way to repair what he had done, no chance to recall the choice he had made], even though he sought for it with [bitter] tears.^(E)

Contrast of Sinai and Zion

¹⁸ For you have not come [as did the Israelites in the wilderness] to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging windstorm, ¹⁹ and to the blast of a trumpet and a sound of words [such that] those who heard it begged that nothing more be said to them.^{(F) 20} For they could not bear the command, “If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it will be stoned [to death].”^{(G) 21} In fact, so terrifying was the sight, that Moses said, “I am filled with fear and trembling.”^{(H) 22} But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels [in festive gathering],