Hebrews 12

 

1 Therefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a multitude of witnesses (of the resurrection which is the promise of eternal life made immortal flesh), let us lay aside every weight (that the death in the world can bring, and the temptation to serve ourselves with life (and peace) which does so easily entangle us, and (seeing the certainty that His life and immortality will also manifest in us) let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking (diligently) unto Jesus, the author and the perfecter of the faith (made immortal flesh in the resurrection); Who for the joy (of the certainty of the life and immortality) that was set before Him endured the cross (with patience, whereby He even said My cup runs over), and considered not the shame (of His nakedness as anything that could injure the life that the Father promised to clothe Him with), and who is set down at the right hand of God (in glorified immortal flesh and bone).

3 For consider Him who endured such great contradiction from those blinded by death (pertaining to) the temptation to save His own life (that came) against Him (at the cross where He rested in the promise of the Father to clothe Him with His life and immortality); so that (when you are tempted to serve yourself with life) you will (rest in the certainty that He will also decorate you with that same life and) not grow weary (striving against death’s accusation in your own strength) whereby you faint in your minds.

4 (Therefore consider the faith of Him because) you have not yet resisted (the temptation to preserve your own life) unto (the shedding of) blood, struggling against the temptation (to enlist your own members) to preserve your life.

5 And you have forgotten the word which brings comfort and speaks to you as (His) children, My son, do not despise (or neglect) the correction of the Lord, or grow weary (and lose heart) when you are admonished of Him:

6 Because the Lord corrects (all of) the ones who He loves and scourges (the death that speaks lies and erroneous doctrines contrary to His life in the heart of) every son who He receives (as His own).

7 If you endure correction (knowing that you are His beloved children), (you see that) God is dealing with you as with sons; because what son is there where the father does not (instruct and) correct (pertaining to life)?

8 But if you reject (His) correction (unto life) which all have a share in (and access to), then you have made yourself bastards, and not sons (by rejecting and disregarding the correction of the Father as His sons).

9 Furthermore, we have had earthly fathers which corrected us, and we have had respect for them (and their instruction): how much more so should we stand (in awe of, and diligently harkening unto Him, being) in subjection to the (correction of) the Father of the word of life (made immortal flesh) and live (forever).

10 For our earthly fathers corrected us for just a few days after their own pleasure but He (has corrected our erroneous belief pertaining to the way unto life and immortality in Jesus Christ) so that we might (attain to our inheritance and) share in the life which He has set apart for us (to live forever in His life and likeness in immortal flesh, which life He set as the mark for our lives from the beginning).

11 Now no correction at first seems to be joyous but can bring sorrow: but afterward (if it is sown in peace, from above by the One who makes peace) it yields the peaceful fruit (that brings you rest) which comes from (beholding) the (holy) life (you were set apart for in the face of Jesus Christ, in those who after grappling with an unconcealed heart, have their senses exercised by it).

12 Therefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the weakened knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet (which have gotten crooked), so that which is lame would not be put out of joint; but that it would rather be healed (and your life preserved forever).

14 Pursue peace (and His rest which brings tranquility) with all men, and (run your race with the patience and certainty of His) holiness (a life that has been sanctified from death), for apart from (seeing His desire to serve you with) such (a life) will  no man see the Lord (with a pure heart):

15 Looking diligently (unto Jesus) so that no man would (grow weary striving against death in their own strength and thereby) fail of the grace of God; so that no (poisonous) root of bitterness would spring up and trouble anyone (with its erroneous doctrines), and thereby be defiled (in the bond of iniquity);

16 So that there would not be any fornicator (among you who goes and worships other gods), or profane person (whose heart is turned away from the Lord to serve their bellies with the works of their own hands), such as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright (the blessing of the first born).

17 For you know how that afterward, when he (wished he) would (still) have inherited the blessing (of the first born), he was rejected: for he had no change in his heart (regarding the reasonings by which he sold his birthright, thinking instead that he was still due the blessing), (and was denied) though he sought it carefully with tears.

18 For you are not come to the mount that might be touched (as those who would not draw near when He spoke on earth) and which (mountain) burned with fire, nor unto the thick cloud (that concealed with) blackness and darkness and thunder (shaking the earth), 

19 And to the sound of a trumpet (which signaled they could approach), and the voice of (His) words, which voice they that heard begged (Moses imploring him) that the word should not be spoken to them anymore (for fear that they would die):

20 For they could not endure (the temptation to preserve their own lives but withdrew because of the fear that death brought to their hearts in) that which was commanded: (which said) “if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it will be stoned or shot through with a dart (it will not live): (but when the trumpet sounded long, they will approach the mount):”

21 And so dreadful was the appearance, that (even) Moses (who did draw near the mount) said, I exceedingly fear and tremble:

22 But you are come unto mount Zion (from where the word of the Lord has gone forth again from heaven), and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (that abides forever), and to an innumerable multitude of angels,

23 To the general assembly and church of (Jesus Christ) the firstborn (from the dead, whose names are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men (whose consciences have been purged from death) made perfect (reserved unto the same inheritance incorruptible),

24 And to Jesus Christ (the second Adam and the Lord from heaven) the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling (which purges our conscience from death), that speaks (saying death that has been conquered and justice has been served) a more excellent thing than (the blood) of Abel (which cried out for justice from the ground).

25 See that you do not refuse (to hear) Him that speaks (His judgment unto life). For if they who refused (to hear) Him withdrew when He spoke on earth, much more will we also drawback, if we turn away from (hearing the faith of) Him that speaks from heaven:

26 Whose voice at that time shook the earth: but now He has promised, saying, yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also heaven (the sea and the dry land).

27 And (the same spirit of faith contained in) this word, (which He has spoken) yet once more (in Christ), signifies the removing of those things which (will pass away that) are shaken, as in (the purifying by fire) the things that are created, so that those things which cannot (ever be moved or) be shaken may remain (incorruptible, baptized in the fire of His life).

28 Therefore, (seeing as) we are (come to and are) receiving a kingdom (the heavenly Jerusalem that abides forever) which cannot ever be moved (or shaken), let us receive (His) grace (and strength). Whereby we rest in Him (and His everlasting-kindness to serve us with all the fruit of His life unto immortality in our flesh), so that we may worship God in a way well pleasing to Him, with all reverence and godly fear (and awe of Him as the only One who can serve us with that life).

29 Because our God is a consuming fire (even a jealous God who is passionate over our lives, as a Father who desires to serve His children with the only life He saw fitting for us from the beginning).