14Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; 16that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
Heb_12:14-17 this is the lasts warning (cf. Heb_2:1-4; Heb_3:7 to Heb_4:11; Heb_5:11 to Heb_6:12; Heb_10:19-39; Heb_12:14-17).
Heb_12:14 "Pursue peace" This is a present active imperative. In the context of
1. persecution from without
2. unbelief among friends (Jewish unbelievers with whom the believing Jews were still worshiping)
3. doubt within (the danger of "shrinking back" (cf. Heb_10:38) this discussion of peace is very important.
There are several related passages about "peace."
1. Psa_34:14, "seek peace, pursue it"
2. Mar_9:50, "be at peace with one another"
3. Rom_12:18, "If possible, so as it depends on you, be at peace with all men"
4. 1Co_7:15, "Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave. . .but God has called us to peace"
5. 2Ti_2:22, "pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart"
▣"and the sanctification" This term "sanctification" must relate to Heb_12:10 and is connected to "discipline." God disciplines believers for holiness. The goal of salvation is Christlikeness.
This is not positional (instantaneous) sanctification, but experiential (progressive) sanctification. The gospel presents salvation and the Christian life in two tension-filled ways. In one sense it is a finished, free, once-for-all gift from God (indicative), but it is also a life of faith, obedience, service, and worship (imperative). Many believers emphasize one aspect to the exclusion of the other (Augustine vs. Pelagius; Calvin vs. Arminius). Believers' relationship with God begins at a point in time, a point of conviction, culminating in repentance and faith, but it must also move through time to a culmination at death or the Second Coming; faithfulness, righteousness, perseverance are important, crucial evidences of a true salvation.
Compare the following texts on sanctification.
Positional (
indicative)
Progressive (imperative)
Act_26:18
Rom_15:16
1Co_1:2-3; 1Co_6:11
2Th_2:13
Heb_2:11; Heb_10:10; Heb_10:14; Heb_13:12
1Pe_1:2
Rom_6:19
2Co_7:1
Eph_1:4; Eph_2:10
1Th_3:13; 1Th_4:3-4; 1Th_4:7; 1Th_5:2
1Ti_2:15
2Ti_2:21
Heb_12:14
1Pe_1:15-16
▣ "without which no one will see the Lord" This is paradoxical: (1) believers will see the Lord one day (cf. Job_19:25-27; Psa_17:15; Mat_5:8; 1Jn_3:2; Rev_22:4) and (2) believers cannot see the Lord now (cf. Exo_33:20; Joh_1:18; 1Ti_6:16; 1Jn_4:12).
This may refer to one's spiritual eyes, in the sense of responding to the gospel. In this context it may be metaphorical of "understanding."
Heb_12:15 "See to it" Literally "observing" (episkopountes) is a present active participle used in an imperatival sense. This term is built on a form of one of the terms for pastor (literally bishop, episkopos, cf. Php_1:1; 1Ti_3:2; Tit_1:7 and of Jesus in 1Pe_2:25). Here it can refer to church leaders or to mature believers who should care for others. Apostasy should be confronted by maturity. This group of believers desperately needed to act in a mature way (cf. Heb_5:11-14).
No Christian is an island (cf. 1Co_12:7). Christianity is a team sport! The term "saint" is always plural (except one time in Php_4:21, where it is used in a corporate sense). We are our brother's keeper. We must spare no effort to encourage one another. We are given and gifted for the health of the whole.
▣ "that no one comes short of the grace of God" This is a present active participle used in an imperatival sense meaning "falling short of the grace of God." This word is used in Heb_4:1 in the sense of "fail to attain," but in this verse the preposition "away" (apo) forms a prepositional phrase implying "a falling away from something previously possessed" (cf. Heb_6:4-6; Heb_10:23; Heb_10:38-39; Heb_12:25). Apostasy was a real possibility in this cultural situation. See hyperlink at Heb_3:12.
Or, as I have maintained, there are two groups being addressed: (1) believing Jews in danger of "shrinking back" (Heb_12:15) and (2) unbelieving Jews having clearly understood the gospel in the lives and testimonies of their believing synagogue companions, rejecting Jesus (Heb_12:25). Whichever theory is correct, the truth remains that salvation is not a product, but a relationship. It is more than an initial response. The warnings are serious, challenging, and real. In this context it is a call to help believers in danger of "shrinking back" (cf. Heb_10:38).
▣ "no root of bitterness" This may be an allusion to Deu_29:18 in the Septuagint, which warned the people of God about the dangers of idolatry, both individually and corporately. All of Israel was never right with God, but only a believing faithful remnant. The phrase "a root of bitterness" in Deuteronomy is parallel to "whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God."
▣"and by it many be defiled" The presence of one disgruntled person affects the whole group. Our beliefs, actions, and attitudes do influence others. What an awesome responsibility!
Heb_12:16 "Esau" He becomes a very evil person in rabbinical Judaism's traditions (cf. Jubilees 25:1,8 and Genesis Rabba 70d,72a). This context, however, uses him because he knew God's promises but did not act on them.
Heb_12:17 "the blessing" The patriarchal blessing could not be recalled. This involves the Hebrew concept of the power of the spoken word (cf. Genesis 1 and Isa_55:10-12).
▣ "for he found no place for repentance" In its OT context this refers to his sorrow after Isaac, his father, blessed his younger brother, Jacob, and the blessing could not be recalled. The author uses this as a warning to the recipients of the letter. He wants them to make a decision for Christ now while there is time and then to persevere in that new relationship with Christ because there is no second chance (cf. Heb_6:6; Heb_10:26).
