Each week, let’s reflect upon Sunday’s teaching through further exploration…
Midweek Reflection on Hebrews 12:1-29: Discipled in Jesus (Hebrews Sermon Series)
In today’s world, the word “discipline” gets construed in a variety of ways. Some hear that word and cringe because it produces thoughts of pain inflicted out of anger. If we’ve been raised or in relationship with someone whose “discipline” includes harsh punishment and guilt, hearing that the Lord disciplines may bring about fear and the desire to avoid God.
While our experiences are important to operating in the world and making sense of our surroundings, we must be careful about interpreting the Bible through that personal lens. Placing so much emphasis on ourselves when studying God’s Word puts us at high risk of misinterpretation. As an example, just think about the various ways Philippians 4:13 has been misused.
Going back to the original language and working to understand the context are a few key ways to help avoid misinterpretation. The book of Hebrews was originally written in Greek. The Greek word for discipline is παιδεία. It refers to training, correction, instruction, and nurturing.
For a quick recap on the context, Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were struggling with the temptation to return to their Jewish traditions and routines – traditions and routines that were no longer necessary due to Jesus. As we’ve studied over the past 12 weeks, Jesus is superior to all others – He’s greater than the angels (chapters 1 & 2), He’s greater than Moses (chapter 3), He’s greater than the priests of the Old Testament (chapters 4-9), and He’s greater than the Law and sacrifices of the old covenant (8-10). The author of Hebrews reminds these Christians of Christ’s superiority and then implores them to exercise their new faith through endurance, obedience, and love (chapters 11-13).
Putting together that Greek word for discipline (found in Hebrews 12:5-11) and the context for this book, we can better understand that discipline is an avenue God uses to help us grow and mature.
At this point some of us might say, “But it’s painful! Why would God have us endure pain if He loves us?” The last part of that question gives us the answer. Hebrews 12 makes it clear it is because of God’s love that He disciplines us (verse 6), and that discipline serves as proof we are His children (verse 8). God loves us. He knows what’s best for us. He desires for us to share in His holiness (verse 10). Even though that discipline is painful, verse 11 encourages us with the outcome, the product of discipline – “… a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
That understanding of discipline should spur us into faithful obedience (not because we’re trying to earn God’s love but rather out of gratitude for the fact that God first loved us – 1 John 4:19). Look at the verses that follow and how they’re structured. Verse 12 begins with “Therefore,” and then has the verb “strengthen.” Verse 13 begins with the verb “make,” as does verse 14. The verb “see” begins verses 15 & 16.
When God disciplines us, I pray our response stems from a loving, obedient, and faithful heart that seeks to “strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees… make level paths for our feet… make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy… see to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many… see that no one is sexually immoral or is godless” (Hebrews 12:12-16).