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FOUR MOTIVATORS TO FAITHFULNESS

 

Listening to the Scriptures*

Hebrews 12:5-8

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     The writer just finished a lengthy section about Old Testament examples who manifested faith in God.

 

B.      In this chapter, he reminds his readers of these Bible greats, but then points them to one even greater, Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

 

C.     The inspired penman also notes three other things that he hopes will encourage these Christians to remain faithful under great pressure to apostatize.

 

D.     Outline:

 

i.                    LOOKING UNTO JESUS (Heb. 12:1-4)

ii.                  LISTENING TO THE SCRIPTURE (Heb. 12:5-13)

iii.                LEARNING FROM AN OT CHARACTER (Heb. 12:14-17)

iv.                 LAUDING THEIR PRESENT SITUATION (Heb. 12:18-29)

 

I.                   LOOKING UNTO JESUS (Heb. 12:1-4)

 

A.     The Cloud of Witnesses (Heb. 12:1a)

B.      The Commitment to the Race (Heb. 12:1b)

C.     The Captain as Our Focus (Heb. 2:2-3)

D.     The Circumstances They Faced (Heb. 12:4)

 

II.                LISTENING TO THE SCRIPTURE (Heb. 12:5-13)

 

A.     The Reminder (Heb. 12:5-6)

1.        The call to remember (Heb. 12:5a)

 

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto as unto children…

 

a.       We do not always remember everything that we need to remember.

b.      When the memory is jogged, we instantly recall the things that have been said.

c.       This “forgotten” OT passage spoke to them regarding their relationship to God as children.

d.      LESSON:  The Scriptures address every topic that we can face in this life in some way.  Here, the subject involved their trials (II Pet. 1:3).

2.       The chastening of the Lord (Heb. 12:5b-6)

a.       This quote comes from the book of wisdom called Proverbs (Prov. 3:11-12).  It was an exhortation of Solomon to his son.  However, it applies to all children, especially to children of God.

b.      Our reactions to chastening (Heb. 12:5b)

 

My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him…

 

1)       Despise not

a)      Despise

-          Strong (3643):  to have little regard for, disesteem

-          Thayer:  care little for, regard lightly, make small account

b)     Chastening

-          Strong (3809):  tutorage, education, training, disciplinary correction

-          Thayer:  the whole education and training of children…chastisements (of the evils with which God visits men for the amendment)

c)      LESSONS:

-          The negatives of suffering involve some positives.  In fact, there are enough positives that we should never care little for our trials.

-          Trials and tribulations educate us and correct us.  They make us better through the disciplinary process:  knowledge, experience, growth, strength, and less sin.

-          Question:  Are all sufferings chastisements from God?

2)      Faint not

a)      Faint

1)       Strong (1590):  to relax

2)      Thayer:  to weaken, relax, exhaust, to have one’s strength relaxed, to be enfeebled through exhaustion, to grow weak, grow weary, be tired out

b)     Rebuked

-          Strong (1651):  to confute, admonish

-          Thayer:  to convict, refute, confute, to correct, to reprehend severely, to chasten, punish

c)      LESSONS

-          We cannot allow our trials to make us relax, become exhausted, and tire out.

-          There are times in our lives when we as children need to be rebuked by God in order to get our attention, grow us, and save us.

c.       The regard found in suffering (Heb. 12:6).

 

…for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

 

1)       God’s love

a)      Barnes:  “To restrain and govern a child; to correct him when he errs, shows that there is a parental solicitude (excessive attentiveness) for him, and that he is not an outcast” (e-sword).  In essence, he is loved by his parents.

b)     The same is true of God.  The ones he chastens He loves.

c)      Chasteneth:

-          Strong (3811):  to train up a child, that is, to educate, or by implication to discipline (by punishment)

-          Thayer:  to train children…to chastise, to chasten by the evils of afflictions and calamities

 

 

d)     LESSONS: 

-          We do not always learn through simple instruction.  Blows and hard knocks often teach us lessons that we will never forget.

-          Sadly, our world would have us to believe that if we are corrected and disciplined that the one who does so does not really love us.  (NOTE:  Love is not about being showered with blessings and having all of needs fulfilled all of the time and keeping us comfortable).

2)      God’s acceptance

a)      Receiveth

-          Strong (3858):  to accept near, to admit, or (by implication) delight in

-          Thayer:  to receive, take upon oneself, to acknowledge as one’s own

b)     Example:  There was a little boy who referred to his friend’s mother has his mom.  She taught him, corrected him, and even gave him a paddling when needed.  Her disciple proved to him that she accepted him as her own son.

c)      LESSON:  In like manner, our trials and afflictions should prove to us that God delights in us as His children.  If He did not, He would allow us to live any way we desire.

 

B.      The Relationship (Heb. 12:7-8)

1.        The proof of chastening (Heb. 12:7)

 

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

 

a.       Reality:  If we are experiencing chastisement, God is dealing with us as sons.

b.      Reflection:  “…for what son is he whom the father chastenteth not?”

1)       If the father does not chasten the son

a)      Is the son loved?

b)     Is the son cared for?

c)      Does the son really experience the father’s concern?

2)      If there is no discipline, the son will not really understand that he is a son.

2.       The position of bastard (Heb. 12:8)

 

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

 

a.       The word “bastard” was not always a curse word. 

1)       It was a word to refer to illegitimate children.  The newer translations use the word “illegitimate” instead of bastards.

2)      The word did, however, have bad connotations.

b.      Barnes:  “In the English law, a bastard is termed ‘nullius filius.’ Illegitimate children are usually abandoned by their father. The care of them is left to the mother, and the father endeavors to avoid all responsibility, and usually to be concealed and unknown. His own child he does not wish to recognize; he neither provides for him; nor instructs him; nor governs him; nor disciplines him” (e-sword).

c.       We see fathers like this in our society today.  They may have fathered a child, but they are not a father to the child.  Because of this, the child does not want to be claimed as a son/daughter.

d.      Question:  Do we want to be disciplined and be the sons of God?  Or, do we want to be left alone, undisciplined, and be considered illegitimate children?