Early warnings from Hebrews 12

A survey of Hebrews chapter 12: showing an example of how the early disciples cited and quoted Scripture as the basis for their instruction, warnings and teachings.

(1) Proverbs 3:11, 12 NIV

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.

Proverbs 3:11, 12 LXX (Brenton)

My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord;
nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes,
and scourges every son whom he receives.

Hebrews 12: 5, 6 NIV

My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son

This scripture is used in Hebrews 12: 3-11 to teach that:
- Discipline is hardship. It is painful, not pleasant.
- Discipline is needed in our struggle against sin.
- It is for our own good. God treats us as children when He disciplines us.
- Let us submit to discipline by the Father of our spirits and live.

(2) Proverbs 4:26 NIV

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.

Proverbs 4:26 LXX Brenton

Make straight paths for thy feet,
and order thy ways aright.

Hebrews 12:13 NIV

“Make level paths for your feet,”
so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

This scripture is used in Hebrews 12: 12,13, to remind the disciples to strengthen their weary arms and weak knees, so that the lame may be healed and not become disabled.

(3) "Esau sold his inheritance for a single meal" (from  Exodus 25: 29-34)

This account of Esau selling his birthright to Jacob is cited in Hebrews 12:14-17 to warn the disciples not to miss the grace of God by being immoral or godless in their behaviour. It points out that Esau could not recover from his sin although he sought to regain the birthright that he had despised earlier, with tears!

(4) Exodus 19:12, 13 NIV

Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”

Exodus 19:12, 13 LXX Brenton

And thou shalt separate the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves that ye go not up into the mountain, nor touch any part of it: every one that touches the mountain shall surely die. 13 A hand shall not touch it, for every one that touches shall be stoned with stones or shot through with a dart, whether beast or whether man, it shall not live: when the voices and trumpets and cloud depart from off the mountain, they shall come up on the mountain.

Hebrews 12: 20 NIV

“If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”

Deuteronomy 9:19 NIV

I feared the anger and wrath of the Lord,
for he was angry enough with you to destroy you.
But again the Lord listened to me.

Deuteronomy 9:19 LXX Brenton

And I was greatly terrified because of the wrath and anger,
because the Lord was provoked with you utterly to destroy you;
yet the Lord hearkened to me at this time also.

Hebrews 12: 21 NIV

The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

These scripture passages are used in Hebrews 12: 18-24 to teach Israel the following:
- You have not come to a tangible, fearsome and intimidating mountain,
- where even an animal which touches it will be stoned to death,
- where Moses trembled with fear
- Instead, you have come to Mount Zion,
- you have come to the heavenly Jerusalem,
- the city of the living God,
- you have come to the joyful assembly of hosts of angels,
- you have come to the ecclesia of the firstborn,
- whose names are written in heaven,
- You have come:
==> to God, the Judge of all men,
==> to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,

==> to Yeshua, the mediator

==> to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (an allusion of the blood of Abel, slain by his brother Cain, which "cried out " to God from the ground).

(5) Haggai 2:6,7 NIV

“This is what the Lord Almighty says:
‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens
and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come,
and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Aggaeus 2:7,8 LXX Brenton

For thus saith the Lord Almighty;
Yet once I will shake the heaven, and the earth,
and the sea, and the dry land;
8 and I will shake all nations, and the choice portions of all the nations shall come:
and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord Almighty.

Hebrews 12:26 NIV

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised,
“Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”

This scripture passage is used in Hebrews 12: 25-27 to teach the disciples that while, at Mt Sinai, God's voice shook the earth, there will come a day when He will shake both heavens and earth. The words, "Yet once more" in this passage means the removal of all things that can be shaken. Only that which cannot be shaken will remain. Do not turn away from Him who warns us from heaven!

(6) Deuteronomy 4:24 NIV

For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 4:24 LXX Brenton

For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Hebrews 12:29 NIV

for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Finally, this one short verse is used in Hebrews 12: 28,29 to teach us that we must worship God alone, with reverence and awe.

Conclusion: We are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.