仰望耶穌

12 既然有這麼多見證人像雲彩一般圍繞著我們,我們就要放下一切重擔,擺脫容易纏累我們的罪,以堅忍的心奔跑我們前面的賽程, 定睛仰望為我們的信心創始成終的耶穌。祂為了擺在前面的喜樂,就輕看羞辱,忍受了十字架的痛苦,如今已坐在上帝寶座的右邊。 你們要思想忍受罪人如此頂撞的主,免得疲倦灰心。

愛的管教

其實你們與罪惡搏鬥,還沒有抵擋到流血的地步。 你們難道忘了那像勸勉兒子一樣勸勉你們的話嗎?「孩子啊,不可輕視主的管教,被祂責備的時候也不要灰心。 因為主管教祂所愛的人,責罰[a]祂收納的兒子。」

你們要忍受管教,上帝對待你們如同對待自己的兒子。哪有兒子不受父親管教的呢? 做子女的都會受管教,如果沒人管教你們,那你們就是私生子,不是兒子。 再者,我們的生身父親管教我們,我們尚且敬重他們,何況是萬靈之父上帝管教我們,我們豈不更要順服祂並得到生命嗎? 10 我們的生身父親是按自己以為好的標準暫時管教我們,但上帝是為了我們的益處而管教我們,使我們可以在祂的聖潔上有份。 11 被管教的滋味絕不好受,當時都很痛苦,但事後那些受過管教的人會收穫公義和平安的果子。 12 所以,你們要舉起下垂的手,挺直發酸的腿, 13 修直腳下的路,使瘸腿的人不致扭傷腳,反得痊癒。

切勿違背上帝

14 你們要盡力與大家和睦相處,並要追求聖潔的生活,因為不聖潔的人不能見主。 15 你們要謹慎,以免有人失去上帝的恩典,長出苦毒的根擾亂你們,玷污眾人。 16 要小心,免得有人像以掃那樣淫亂、不敬虔。他為了一時的口腹之慾,賣了自己長子的名分。 17 你們知道,他後來想要承受父親對長子的祝福,卻遭到拒絕,雖然聲淚俱下,終無法使父親回心轉意。

18 你們並非來到那座摸得到、有火焰、烏雲、黑暗、狂風、 19 號角聲和說話聲的西奈山,聽見這些聲音的人都哀求不要再向他們說話了。 20 因為他們承擔不了所領受的命令:「即便是動物靠近這山,也要用石頭打死牠!」 21 那情景實在可怕,就連摩西也說:「我嚇得發抖。」

22 但你們現在來到了錫安山,永活上帝的城邑,天上的耶路撒冷,歡聚著千萬天使的地方。 23 這裡有名字記錄在天上的眾長子的教會,有審判眾人的上帝和已達到純全的義人的靈魂, 24 還有新約的中保耶穌和祂所流的血。這血比亞伯的血發出更美的信息。

25 你們必須謹慎,切勿拒絕對你們說話的上帝。因為以色列人違背了在地上警戒他們的人,尚且逃脫不了懲罰,何況我們違背從天上警戒我們的上帝呢? 26 那時上帝的聲音震動了大地,但現在祂應許說:「再一次,我不單要震動地,還要震動天。」 27 「再一次」這句話是指上帝要挪去可以被震動的受造之物,使不能被震動的可以長存。 28 那麼,既然我們承受的是一個不能被震動的國度,就要感恩,用虔誠和敬畏的心事奉上帝,討祂喜悅。 29 因為我們的上帝是烈火。

Footnotes

  1. 12·6 責罰」希臘文是「鞭打」之意。

12 Therefore, seeing that we are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also cast away everything that presses down and the sin that so easily entangles. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

looking to Jesus - the Author and Finisher of our faith - Who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God.

Therefore, consider Him Who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not be wearied and faint in your minds.

In striving against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed.

And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him.

“For whom the Lord loves, he chastens. And He scourges every son that He receives.”

If you endure chastening, God offered Himself to you as to sons. For what son is it whom the Father does not chasten?

Therefore, if you are without correction - of which all are partakers - then you are bastards, and not sons.

Moreover, we have had the fathers of our bodies who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Should we not be in all the more subjection to the Father of Spirits, in order that we might live?

10 For indeed they chastened us for a few days, as it pleased them. But He chastened us for our profit, so that we might be partakers of His holiness.

11 Now, no chastising seems joyous at the time, but grievous. Yet afterward, it brings the quiet fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.

12 Therefore, lift up your hands which hang down, and your weak knees,

13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that which is halting is not turned out of the way. But rather, let it be healed.

14 Pursue peace and holiness with all, without which no one shall see the Lord.

15 Watch carefully, so no one falls away from the grace of God. Let no root of bitterness spring up and trouble you, lest many be defiled by it.

16 Let there be no fornicator or profane person (such as Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal).

17 For you also know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected. For he found no place for repentance, though he sought that blessing with tears.

18 For you have not come to the mountain that can be touched - nor to burning fire, nor to blackness and darkness and tempest,

19 nor to the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words - from which those who heard it excused themselves so that the word would not be spoken to them anymore.

20 For they were not able to abide that which was commanded: “Yea, if a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or thrust through with an arrow”.

21 And so terrible was the sight which appeared, that Moses said, “I fear and quake”.

22 But you have come to the Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God (the celestial Jerusalem), and to the company of innumerable angels,

23 and to the assembly and congregation of the first born (which are written in Heaven), and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the just and perfected,

24 and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament, and to the blood of sprinkling which speaks better things than that of Abel.

25 See that you do not despise Him Who speaks. For if those did not escape who refused Him who spoke on Earth, much more so shall we not escape if we turn away from Him Who speaks from Heaven.

26 His voice shook the Earth then. And now He has declared, saying, “Yet once more will I shake, not the Earth only, but also Heaven.”

27 And this, “Yet once more” signifies the removing of those things which are shaken (as in things which are made) so that the things which are not shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, seeing we receive a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may pleasingly serve God with reverence and godly fear.

29 For our God is a consuming fire.

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run(A) with perseverance(B) the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,(C) the pioneer(D) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,(E) scorning its shame,(F) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(G) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary(H) and lose heart.

God Disciplines His Children

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.(I) And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart(J) when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,(K)
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a](L)

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.(M) For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline(N)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits(O) and live!(P) 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.(Q) 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace(R) for those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.(S) 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[b](T) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.(U)

Warning and Encouragement

14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone(V) and to be holy;(W) without holiness no one will see the Lord.(X) 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God(Y) and that no bitter root(Z) grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral,(AA) or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.(AB) 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,(AC) he could not change what he had done.

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;(AD) 19 to a trumpet blast(AE) or to such a voice speaking words(AF) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,(AG) 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[c](AH) 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[d](AI)

22 But you have come to Mount Zion,(AJ) to the city(AK) of the living God,(AL) the heavenly Jerusalem.(AM) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn,(AN) whose names are written in heaven.(AO) You have come to God, the Judge of all,(AP) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,(AQ) 24 to Jesus the mediator(AR) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood(AS) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.(AT)

25 See to it that you do not refuse(AU) him who speaks.(AV) If they did not escape when they refused him who warned(AW) them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?(AX) 26 At that time his voice shook the earth,(AY) but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[e](AZ) 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken(BA)—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,(BB) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,(BC) 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”[f](BD)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:6 Prov. 3:11,12 (see Septuagint)
  2. Hebrews 12:13 Prov. 4:26
  3. Hebrews 12:20 Exodus 19:12,13
  4. Hebrews 12:21 See Deut. 9:19.
  5. Hebrews 12:26 Haggai 2:6
  6. Hebrews 12:29 Deut. 4:24

Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of Faith

12 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, (A)laying aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, let us (B)run with (C)endurance the race that is set before us, [a]fixing our eyes on Jesus, the [b](D)author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him (E)endured the cross, (F)despising the shame, and has (G)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For (H)consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary, (I)fainting [c]in heart.

The Father’s Discipline

(J)You have not yet resisted [d](K)to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

(L)My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the [e]Lord,
Nor (M)faint when you are reproved by Him;
(N)For those (O)whom the [f]Lord loves He disciplines,
And He flogs every son whom He receives.”

It is for discipline that you endure; (P)God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, (Q)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we [g]had [h]earthly fathers to discipline us, and we (R)respected them. Shall we not much rather be subject to (S)the Father of [i]spirits, and (T)live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our benefit, (U)so that we may share His holiness. 11 And all discipline (V)for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful, but to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the (W)peaceful fruit of righteousness.

12 Therefore, [j](X)strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and (Y)make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather (Z)be healed.

14 (AA)Pursue peace with all men, and the (AB)sanctification without which no one will (AC)see the Lord, 15 seeing to it that no one (AD)falls short of the grace of God; that no (AE)root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be (AF)defiled; 16 that also there be no (AG)sexually immoral or (AH)godless person like Esau, (AI)who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that even afterwards, (AJ)when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

Contrast of Sinai and Zion

18 (AK)For you have not come to (AL)a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the (AM)blast of a trumpet and the (AN)sound of words which was such that those who heard (AO)begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear what was being commanded, “(AP)If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was what appeared, that Moses said, “(AQ)I am full of fear and trembling.” 22 But (AR)you have come to Mount Zion and to (AS)the city of (AT)the living God, (AU)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to (AV)myriads of [k]angels, 23 to the festal gathering and (AW)assembly of the firstborn who (AX)are enrolled in heaven, and to God, (AY)the Judge of all, and to the (AZ)spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the (BA)mediator of a new covenant, and to the (BB)sprinkled blood, which speaks better than (BC)the blood of Abel.

An Unshakable Kingdom

25 (BD)See to it that you do not refuse Him who is (BE)speaking. For (BF)if those did not escape when they (BG)refused him who (BH)warned them on earth, [l]much less will we escape who turn away from Him who (BI)warns from heaven. 26 And (BJ)His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “(BK)Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” 27 Now this expression, “Yet once more,” indicates (BL)the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a (BM)kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us [m]show gratitude, by which we may (BN)offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for (BO)our God is a consuming fire.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:2 Lit looking to
  2. Hebrews 12:2 Or leader
  3. Hebrews 12:3 Lit souls
  4. Hebrews 12:4 Lit as far as blood
  5. Hebrews 12:5 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Prov 3:11
  6. Hebrews 12:6 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Prov 3:12
  7. Hebrews 12:9 Lit were having
  8. Hebrews 12:9 Lit fathers of our flesh
  9. Hebrews 12:9 Or our spirits
  10. Hebrews 12:12 Lit make straight
  11. Hebrews 12:22 Or angels in festive gathering, and to the church
  12. Hebrews 12:25 Lit much rather we will not escape...
  13. Hebrews 12:28 Lit have