Hebrews 12:12-17 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:14

Follow peace with all men - Cultivate, as far as you possibly can, a good understanding, both with Jews and Gentiles. Ειρηνην διωκετε , pursue peace with the same care, attention, and diligence, as beasts do their game; follow it through all places; trace it through all winding circumstances; and have it with all men, if you can with a safe conscience. And holiness - Τον ἁγιασμον· That state of continual sanctification, that life of purity and detachment from the world and all its... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:15

Looking diligently - Επισκοπουντες· Looking about, over, and upon; being constantly on your guard. Lest any man fail of the grace of God - Μη τις ὑστερων απο της χαριτος του Θεου· Lest any person should come behind, or fall off from, this grace or Gift of God; this state of salvation, viz. the Gospel system or Christianity; for this is most evidently the meaning of the apostle. It is not the falling from a work of grace in their own souls, but from the Gospel, to apostatize from... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:16

Lest there be any fornicator - Any licentious person who would turn the Gospel of the grace of God into lasciviousness. Or profane person, as Esau - It is not intimated that Esau was a fornicator; and the disjunctive η , or, separates the profane person from the fornicator. And Esau is here termed profane, because he so far disregarded the spiritual advantages connected with his rights of primogeniture, that he alienated the whole for a single mess of pottage. See the note on Genesis... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:17

When he would have inherited the blessing - When he wished to have the lordship over the whole family conveyed to him, and sought it earnestly with tears, he found no place for a change in his father's mind and counsel, who now perceived that it was the will of God that Jacob should be made lord of all. Repentance - Here μετανοια is not to be taken in a theological sense, as implying contrition for sin, but merely change of mind or purpose; nor does the word refer here to Esau at all,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:12

Verse 12 12.Wherefore, lift up, etc. After having taught us that God regards our salvation when he chastises us, he then exhorts us to exert ourselves vigorously; for nothing will more weaken us and more fully discourage us than through the influence of a false notion to have no taste of God’s grace in adversities. There is, therefore, nothing more efficacious to raise us up than the intimation that God is present with us, even when he afflicts us, and is solicitous about our welfare. But in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:13

Verse 13 13.And make straight paths, etc. He has been hitherto teaching us to lean on God’s consolations, so that we may be bold and strenuous in doing what is right, as his help is our only support; he now adds to this another thing, even that we ought to walk prudently and to keep to a straight course; for indiscreet ardor is no less an evil than inactivity and softness. At the same time this straightness of the way which he recommends, is preserved when a man’s mind is superior to every... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:14

Verse 14 14.Follow peace, etc. Men are so born that they all seem to shun peace; for all study their own interest, seek their own ways, and care not to accommodate themselves to the ways of others. Unless then we strenuously labor to follow peace, we shall never retain it; for many things will happen daily affording occasion for discords. This is the reason why the Apostle bids us to follow peace, as though he had said, that it ought not only to be cultivated as far as it may be convenient to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:15

Verse 15 15.Looking diligently, or, taking care, or, attentively providing, etc. (256) By these words he intimates that it is easy to fall away from the grace of God; for it is not without reason that attention is required, because as soon as Satan sees us secure or remiss, he instantly circumvents us. We have, in short, need of striving and vigilance, if we would persevere in the grace of God. Moreover, under the word grace, he includes our whole vocation. If any one hence infers that the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:16

Verse 16 16.Lest there be any fornicator or profane person, etc. As he had before exhorted them to holiness, so now, that he might reclaim them from defilements opposed to it, he mentions a particular kind of defilement, and says, “Lest there be any fornicator.” But he immediately comes to what is general, and adds, “or a profane person;” for it is the term that is strictly contrary to holiness. The Lord calls us for this end, that he may make us holy unto obedience: this is done when we... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:17

Verse 17 17.When he would have inherited the blessing, etc. He at first regarded as a sport the act by which he had sold his birthright, as though it was a child’s play; but at length, when too late, he found what a loss he had incurred, when the blessing transferred by his father to Jacob was refused to him. Thus they who are led away by the allurements of this world alienate themselves from God, and sell their own salvation that they may feed on the morsels of this world, without thinking... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:17

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