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B
3-6.
Let us come boldly.
Example of unbelief.
on to
Perfect v. Babes.
No renewal unto repentance.
perfection
Senses exercised.
Crucify afresh the Son.
B
10:19 to 12:25.
Let us draw near.
Examples of faith.
back to
Sons v. Firstborn.
Found no place for repentance.
perdition
Discipline exercised.
Trod under foot the Son.
Hebrews 12:5-24 is distributed under two headings, Sons, 5-14;
Firstborn sons, 15-24. The first section deals with the common experience of
all children, the second is concerned with birthright, and the fact that some
like Esau may be tempted to exchange their birthright for a mess of pottage.
We are at the moment chiefly concerned with the firstborn. Here is the
structure:
Hebrews 12:15-25
A
12:15.
a
Looking diligently.
b
Lest any man fall back.
B
12:16,17.
The birthright bartered (prototokia).
C
12:18-21.
Ye are not come. Seven `ands'.
Sinai.
C
12:22-24.
But ye are come. Seven `ands'.
Sion.
B
12:23,24.
The birthright enjoyed (prototokos).
A
12:25.
a
See.
b
That ye refuse not.
The section opens with a warning, `Looking diligently lest any man fail
of the grace of God'. It does not say `fall from the grace of God', but
`fail of the grace of God'. Hustereo, `to come short', occurs in Hebrews
4:1, and that passage partially explains what we are considering here; `Let
us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest,
any of you should seem to come short of it'. The context speaks of Israel's
forty years' wandering in the wilderness, and their failure, though redeemed,
to `go on unto perfection'. We are not dealing with sonship, but with
birthright; not salvation, but possession; not deliverance from Egypt, but
entry into Canaan. The warning is threefold:
(1)
Lest any fail (come short) of the grace of God.
(2)
Lest any root of bitterness spring up.
(3)
Lest there be any fornicator or profane person as Esau.
What is this root of bitterness? The apostle is quoting from
Deuteronomy 29 and a reference to that passage will show his meaning clearly.
Moses is addressing the people of Israel before his death, at the close of
forty years' wandering in the wilderness, and in verse 18 says:
`Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe,
whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and
serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root
that beareth gall and wormwood'.