Warning to Unbelievers
and Encouragement to Believers
12: 12-29
Throughout the letter to the Hebrews there were five specific warnings to unbelievers within the Messianic community (to see link click Ag – The Audience of the book of Hebrews), and the writer has emphasized the importance of the believers response to these lost Jews.
Al – The first warning is the danger of neglect: intellectually convinced Jews
As – The second warning is the danger of a hardened heart: unbelieving Jews
Ba – The third warning is the danger of dullness of hearing: unconvinced Jews
Bb – The fourth warning is the danger of falling away: hesitating Jews
Ci – The fifth warning is the danger of apostasy: apostate Jews
Now that the Messianic believers understood the significance of Messiah’s superior priesthood, they were implored to commit themselves to live by faith rather than going back to the Temple and the Levitical sacrifices that would only be useless.
But both the saved and the lost were undergoing persecution from the Jewish community for leaving the Temple and the Levitical sacrifices. The writer has already given some advise about how to respond to divine discipline. Show respect for ADONAI by obeying Him even when it’s painful to obey (12:9-11). Don’t give up, but strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees (12:12). But the writer has even more suggestions to offer to the believers. Suggestions that, if we follow them, will enable us to experience life as active citizens of God’s unshakable Kingdom.
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