Hebrews 12:15

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Hebrews 12:15

Be wanting to the grace of God, by resisting and abusing his favours, or by falling from the grace of God received. --- Lest any root of bitterness, &c. He means scandalous wicked persons, by whom others are infected, defiled, and corrupted. (Witham) read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:12-17

12-17 A burden of affliction is apt to make the Christian's hands hang down, and his knees grow feeble, to dispirit him and discourage him; but against this he must strive, that he may better run his spiritual race and course. Faith and patience enable believers to follow peace and holiness, as a man follows his calling constantly, diligently, and with pleasure. Peace with men, of all sects and parties, will be favourable to our pursuit of holiness. But peace and holiness go together; there can... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Hebrews 12:1-99

Hebrews 12 THE OPENING WORDS of chapter 12 bring us face to face with the application to ourselves of all that has preceded in chapter 11. All these Old Testament heroes of faith are so many witnesses to us of its virtue and energy. They urge us on that we may run the race of faith in our day, even as they did in days before ours. In 1Co 9.0 Christian service is spoken of under the figure of a race; here Christian life is the point in question. It is a figure very much to the point since a... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Hebrews 12:14-17

A Warning against Apostasy on the Basis of the excellency of the New Covenant. The warning example of Esau: v. 14. Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord, v. 15. looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God: lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; v. 16. lest there be any fornicator or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. v. 17. For ye know how that... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Hebrews 12:14-17

IIIIncipient apostasy must be counteracted by striving after union and sanctificationHebrews 12:14-1714Follow peace with all men [om. men], and holiness, without which no man [none] shall see the Lord. 15Looking diligently lest any man fail of [fall short of] the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you, and thereby5 [the] many 16be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat [one meal] sold his birthright.6 17For ye... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Hebrews 12:9-17

Endure Chastening; Seek Holiness Hebrews 12:9-17 If we are God’s children, we will not look on suffering as a punishment. Chastening it may be, but not the penalty of sin. It is administered by our Father. Don’t look at the intermediary links in the chain, but remember that Satan could not go beyond the Father’s limit in the case of Balaam or Job. See Numbers 22:31 ; Job 2:6 . It is only for the present; it will soon be over; it is intended to free us of dross and is therefore to profit; it... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 12:1-29

After this rapid survey of the past, the writer makes his great appeal. It is that we "consider Him" who is "the Author and Perfecter of faith." The final appeals of the Epistle fall into four sections. In the first two the causes of weakening faith are recognized (verses Heb 12:4-17 ). In the third we have an epitomized statement of the arguments of encouragement (verses Heb 12:18-24 ), and, finally, we have the last appeal and warning (verses Heb 12:25-29 ). Dealing with their suffering,... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:15-16

PROFANITY‘Looking diligently … lest there be any … profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.’ Hebrews 12:15-Nehemiah : It seems to us, as we read the old story, to have been almost incredible folly in Esau to have flung away his birthright for so trifling a consideration as a meal. I. But take a parallel case in modern life.—For any one now to cheat at cards is to forfeit the honour of a gentleman, yet for the sake of winning a little money men have been known... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:15

‘Looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled.’ And this seeking of peace and sanctification should be carried through with greatest care as they keep their eyes open to ensure that none of them ‘fall short of the grace of God’. For those who are in the grace of God (God’s action towards us in unmerited love and favour) it is impossible to fall short of it, for it is God’s gift... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:14-17

Hebrews 12:14-Esther : . As the community is to bear up bravely under persecution, so it is to watch carefully over the purity of its own life. There must be no strife or dissension; above all, there must be moral consecration, for without this it is impossible to hold fellowship with Christ ( Hebrews 12:14) . The church must therefore keep anxious guard over its members, and make sure that each one of them lives up to his Christian profession. Even a single unworthy member may be like a... read more