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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comVincent Word Studies - Hebrews 12:28 - 12:28
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Receiving a kingdom (βασιλείαν παραλαμβάνοντες)
The participle gives no note of time, but simply indicates the fact that Christians as such receive. The compounded preposition παρὰ adds to the idea of receiving that of transmission or communication. They receive from God. See Dan 7:18. Βασιλεία in the sense of the kingdom of Christ, in this epistle only here and Heb 1:8 (citn.). See on Mat 3:2; see on Luk 6:20.
Let us have grace (ἔχωμεν χάριν)
For grace rend. thankfulness. See Luk 17:9; 1Ti 1:12; 2Ti 1:3. Comp. Psa 50:23.
Acceptably (εὐαρέστως)
N.T.o, olxx. Ἑυαρεστεῖν to be well pleasing, Heb 11:5, Heb 11:6; Heb 13:16. For the adjective εὐάρεστος well-pleasing, see on Tit 2:9.
With reverence (μετὰ εὐλαβίας)
Rend. “with pious care.” Reverence is translated from T. R. αἰδοῦς (see on 1Ti 2:9). See on Heb 5:7; see on Heb 11:7.
Fear (δέους)
N.T.o. See 2 Macc. 3:17, 30; 12:22; 13:16; 15:23. Its fundamental idea is timid apprehension of danger; while φόβος is the terror which seizes one when the danger appears. Schmidt (Synon. 139, 10) illustrates happily. In a primitive forest an undefined sense of possible danger possesses one, and makes his heart beat quickly at every rustle of a leaf. This is δέος. When the voice and tread of a wild beast are distinctly heard close at hand, the δέος becomes φόβος. The phrase “with pious care and fear” is not explanatory of acceptably. These are to accompany (μετὰ) acceptable service. They do not imply a cringing or slavish feeling, but grow out of the warning in Heb 12:25, which runs through the two following verses, and implies that the catastrophe of Heb 12:27 will be final, leaving no more opportunity to retrieve the refusal of God's invitation to the privileges of the new covenant, or the relapse into the superseded economy of Judaism.