The Chastening to Be Endured (12:4-13)
It is evident the writer to the Hebrews is eager for his beloved brethren in Christ to press on in the faith. He has proven that the spiritual realities they obtained by faith are “better” and infinitely superior to the physical shadows they had left (eg., 8:5-6; 10:1; 11:40). Their eternal redemption, eternal Priest and eternal inheritance – the incomprehensible prospect of sharing with the Son of God His kingdom and glory – were all part of the “so great salvation” belonging to “holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling” (2:3; 3:1).1 By faith, they must (1) not lose sight of the glorious, although invisible, spiritual realities set before them, and (2) remain obedient to what they heard from God. And so must we.
They must also develop “endurance in order that, having done the will of God, [they] may receive the promise” (10:36 JND). While the Hebrews had already “endured” persecution (10:32-34), the writer is mindful that sustained persecution might result in their becoming weary and despondent in soul (12:3). To strengthen them against giving up and turning away, the writer exhorts them to “consider Him who has endured” – He who “endured the cross … and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (vv2-3 NASB). Herein lies the key to understanding the exhortation (12:1-24) and warning (12:25-29). Suffering forms part of our Father’s preparatory discipline “in bringing many sons unto glory” (2:10). This principle is set forth throughout Scripture and is applied to both the Son of God and the sons of God, to make each “perfect” and thus fitted for future honour, authority and responsibility.
Concerning the Son of God, He always was, is, and forever will be perfect in His essential being (1:3), moral character (1:9; 4:15; 7:26) and eternal relationship with the Father (1:5). However, the writer explains in 2:10 that it was fitting “to make the captain of [our] salvation perfect [teleióo, to complete, fulfil, finish] through sufferings.” This thought is developed in 5:8-9, where the writer says Christ, as Son, “learned … obedience by the things which he suffered.” He was always the obedient One, but He learned through human experience the nature and extent of suffering that obedience entails, so that He would be perfectly fitted to be (1) the “source of eternal salvation to all who obey him” (5:9 ESV) and (2) “able to help those who are being tempted” under suffering (2:18 ESV). Moreover, our Lord Jesus Christ has been highly exalted and glorified because of His sufferings on earth (eg., Isa 53:12; Php 2:8-9).
Our positional perfection, of which the writer mentions sanctification, remission of sins, purified conscience and standing (1:3; 2:11; 7:19; 9:9,14; 10:10,14,17-22), was secured at our salvation. But our ultimate perfection, or the future aspect of salvation anticipated in 1:14, is yet to be realised when the Church is “caught up” (1Th 4:14-17). At this momentous event, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ “shall transform our body – humiliation into conformity to his body of glory” (Php 3:21 JND), and, as sons2 “called according to … purpose,” we shall be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom 8:28-29). OT saints will also be “made perfect” (11:40; 12:23). They too shall “awake with [his] likeness,” but not until after the tribulation, at the “resurrection of the just” when the Lord comes to earth in glory (Psa 17:15; 73:24; Luk 14:14).
Until then, God sovereignly arranges suffering in our lives to chasten us, to make His “many sons” more like His beloved Son. The Hebrews had “forgotten,” as do we, “the exhortation which speaketh” with us as with sons, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (12:5-6, cited from Pro 3:11-12).
The subject of chastening is timeless truth (eg., Job 5:17; Deu 8:5; Rev 3:19). The NT word for “chastening” (paideia) comes from a root meaning “child” (pais) and carries the ideas of disciplinary correction, rebuke and admonition, training and instruction. Chastisement is proof of God’s love for us and our immutable relationship with Him (12:6-8). Moreover, God chastens His sons as earthly fathers ought (12:9-10), but with far superior outcomes – “our profit,” “that we may share his holiness,” and to yield “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (12:10-11 ESV). It may be for sin (ignorant or wilful), for which our Father desires to invoke self-examination, confession and obedience to His Word. It may be to test our motives, prove our character, produce more fruit or to strengthen us for greater responsibility. Ultimately, His purpose is to cultivate Christ-like character and Spirit-led capacity for sonship’s elevated privileges and responsibilities – both now and in His kingdom. The principle is succinctly expressed in 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Chastening can be quite severe and painful, and infants are apt to despise it. Adult sons, mindful of God’s purpose in chastening, will be exercised to endure and submit to it, despite how harsh it may seem. They will recognise chastening as preparatory training for the honour of sharing in Christ’s kingdom administration (Act 14:22; Rom 8:15-19; 2Ti 2:12). And since the sceptre of the Son, the Prince of Peace, is “a sceptre of righteousness” (Heb 1:8), they will appreciate the Father’s desire for heirs of the kingdom to be developed in righteousness and peace (12:11,14). Accordingly, we must not despise chastisement, but receive it as coming from a loving Father who has the glory of His Son and “many sons” in view.
Therefore, “lift up the hands which hang down,” strengthen “the feeble knees” and make “straight paths for [our] feet” (12:12-13)! In citing Isaiah 35:3, we judge the writer would also have us “exhort one another” (3:13; 10:25), just like he was doing (13:22), so that others who become despondent under chastening don’t give up and go back.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV unless otherwise noted.
2 The title “sons” implies relationship, responsibility and rights as heirs of God through “a spirit of adoption” (or sonship), and applies to both male and female believers (see Rom 8:14-19; Gal 4:5-7).
