Hebrews 12:14-29

Hebrews 12:14-29

[14] Follow  peace  with  all  men, and  holiness,  without  which  no man  the Lord:  [15] Looking diligently  lest  any man  fail  of  the grace  of God;  lest  any  root  of bitterness  springing  up  trouble  you, and  thereby  many  be defiled;  [16] Lest  there be any  fornicator,  or  profane person,  as  Esau,  who  for  morsel of meat  sold  birthright.  [17] For  how  that afterward,  when he would  have inherited  the blessing,  he was rejected:  for  he found  no  place  of repentance,  though  it  carefully  with  tears.  [18] For  not  come  that might be touched,  and  that burned  with fire,  nor  unto blackness,  and  tempest,  [19] And  the sound  of a trumpet,  and  the voice  of words;  which  voice they that heard  intreated  that the word  be spoken  to them  any more:  [20] (For  not  endure  that which was commanded,  And if so much as  a beast  touch  the mountain,  it shall be stoned,  [21] And  so  terrible  the sight,  that Moses  said,  I exceedingly fear  and  quake:)  [22] But  ye are come  unto mount  Sion,  and  unto the city  of the living  God,  the heavenly  Jerusalem,  and  to an innumerable company  of angels,  [23] To the general assembly  and  church  of the firstborn,  which are written  in  heaven,  and  to God  the Judge  of all,  and  to the spirits  of just men  made perfect,  [24] And  to Jesus  the mediator  of the new  covenant,  and  to the blood  of sprinkling,  that speaketh  better things  than  that of Abel.  [25] See  that ye refuse  not  him that speaketh.  For  if  they  not  who refused him  that spake  on  earth,  much  more  escape, if we turn away from him  that speaketh from  heaven:  [26] Whose  voice  then  shook  the earth:  but  now  he hath promised,  saying,  Yet  once more  shake  not  the earth  only,  but  also  heaven.  [27] And  this word, Yet  once more,  signifieth  the removing  of those things that are shaken,  as  of things that are made,  that  those things which cannot  be shaken  may remain.  [28] Wherefore  we receiving  a kingdom  which cannot be moved,  let us have  grace,  whereby  we may serve  God  acceptably  with  and  godly fear:  [29] For  God  is a consuming  fire. 

What does Hebrews 12:14-29 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The writer now turned from the hearers" responsibility as they experienced suffering ( Hebrews 12:1-13) to the peril of rejecting God who continues to speak to us through His Son using the Scriptures. As the preceding pericope ( Hebrews 12:1-13), this one is also a chiasm.
AExhortation ( Hebrews 12:14-17)BExposition ( Hebrews 12:18-24)A"Exhortation ( Hebrews 12:25-29)
"The synthesis of so many significant themes and motifs within a single section identifies Hebrews 12:14-29 as the pastoral and theological climax of the sermon ..." [1]