Discovery BoxHebrews 12:14--13:25
Context12:14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, 1 for without it no one will see the Lord. 12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up 2 and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled. 12:16 And see to it that no one becomes 3 an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 4 12:17 For you know that 5 later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing 6 with tears. 12:18 For you have not come to something that can be touched, 7 to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind 12:19 and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words 8 such that those who heard begged to hear no more. 9 12:20 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” 10 12:21 In fact, the scene 11 was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.” 12 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, the city 13 of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly 12:23 and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator 14 of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does. 15
12:25 Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven? 12:26 Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.” 16 12:27 Now this phrase “once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain. 12:28 So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe. 12:29 For our God is indeed a devouring fire. 17
13:1 Brotherly love must continue. 13:2 Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. 18 13:3 Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them, 19 and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment. 20 13:4 Marriage must be honored among all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers. 13:5 Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.” 21 13:6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, and 22 I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” 23 13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke God’s message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith. 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! 13:9 Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings. 24 For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals, 25 which have never benefited those who participated in them. 13:10 We have an altar that those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from. 13:11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings 26 into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. 13:12 Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp. 13:13 We must go out to him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse he experienced. 27 13:14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 13:15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name. 13:16 And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, 28 for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. 29 Let them do this 30 with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you. 13:18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect. 13:19 I especially ask you to pray 31 that I may be restored to you very soon.
13:20 Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, 13:21 equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us 32 what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. 33 Amen.
13:22 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, 34 bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly. 13:23 You should know that 35 our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon, he will be with me when I see you. 36 13:24 Greetings to all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings. 13:25 Grace be with you all. 37
[12:14] 1 sn The references to peace and holiness show the close connection between this paragraph and the previous one. The pathway toward “holiness” and the need for it is cited in Heb 12:10 and 14. More importantly Prov 4:26-27 sets up the transition from one paragraph to the next: It urges people to stay on godly paths (Prov 4:26, quoted here in v. 13) and promises that God will lead them in peace if they do so (Prov 4:27 [LXX], quoted in v. 14).
[12:15] 2 tn Grk “that there not be any root of bitterness,” but referring figuratively to a person who causes trouble (as in Deut 29:17 [LXX] from which this is quoted).
[12:16] 3 tn Grk “that there not be any,” continuing from v. 15.
[12:16] 4 sn An allusion to Gen 27:34-41.
[12:17] 5 tn Or a command: “for understand that.”
[12:17] 6 tn Grk “it,” referring either to the repentance or the blessing. But the account in Gen 27:34-41 (which the author appeals to here) makes it clear that the blessing is what Esau sought. Thus in the translation the referent (the blessing) is specified for clarity.
[12:18] 7 tn This describes the nation of Israel approaching God on Mt. Sinai (Exod 19). There is a clear contrast with the reference to Mount Zion in v. 22, so this could be translated “a mountain that can be touched.” But the word “mountain” does not occur here and the more vague description seems to be deliberate.
[12:19] 8 tn Grk “a voice of words.”
[12:19] 9 tn Grk “a voice…from which those who heard begged that a word not be added to them.”
[12:20] 10 sn A quotation from Exod 19:12-13.
[12:21] 11 tn Grk “that which appeared.”
[12:21] 12 tn Grk “I am terrified and trembling.”
[12:22] 13 tn Grk “and the city”; the conjunction is omitted in translation since it seems to be functioning epexegetically – that is, explaining further what is meant by “Mount Zion.”
[12:24] 14 tn The Greek word μεσίτης (mesith", “mediator”) in this context does not imply that Jesus was a mediator in the contemporary sense of the word, i.e., he worked for compromise between opposing parties. Here the term describes his function as the one who was used by God to enact a new covenant which established a new relationship between God and his people, but entirely on God’s terms.
[12:24] 15 sn Abel’s shed blood cried out to the Lord for justice and judgment, but Jesus’ blood speaks of redemption and forgiveness, something better than Abel’s does (Gen 4:10; Heb 9:11-14; 11:4).
[12:26] 16 sn A quotation from Hag 2:6.
[12:29] 17 sn A quotation from Deut 4:24; 9:3.
[13:2] 18 sn This is a vague allusion to people described in scripture and extra-biblical literature and may include Abraham and Sarah (Gen 18:2-15), Lot (Gen 19:1-14), Gideon (Judg 6:11-18), Manoah (Judg 13:3-22), and possibly Tobit (Tob 12:1-20).
[13:3] 19 tn Grk “as being imprisoned together.”
[13:3] 20 tn Or “since you too are vulnerable”; Grk “you also being in the body.”
[13:5] 21 sn A quotation from Deut 31:6, 8.
[13:6] 22 tc Some important
[13:6] 23 sn A quotation from Ps 118:6.
[13:9] 24 tn Grk “by diverse and strange teachings.”
[13:9] 25 tn Grk “foods,” referring to the meals associated with the OT sacrifices (see the contrast with the next verse; also 9:9-10; 10:1, 4, 11).
[13:11] 26 tn Grk “whose blood is brought by the high priest.”
[13:13] 27 tn Grk “his abuse.”
[13:16] 28 tn Grk “neglect doing good and fellowship.”
[13:17] 29 tn Or “as ones who will give an account”; Grk “as giving an account.”
[13:17] 30 tn Grk “that they may do this.”
[13:19] 31 tn Grk “I urge you to do this all the more.”
[13:21] 32 tc Some
[13:21] 33 tc ‡ Most
[13:22] 34 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 2:11.
[13:23] 35 tn Grk “Know that” (an imperative).
[13:23] 36 tn Grk “has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you.”
[13:25] 37 tc Most witnesses, including several important ones (א2 A C D H Ψ 0243 1739 1881 Ï lat sy bo), conclude the letter with ἀμήν (amhn, “amen”). Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. Further, there is sufficient testimony (Ì46 א* Ivid 6 33 sa) for the lack of the particle, rendering its omission the preferred reading.
