1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
God Disciplines His Children
4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”12:5,6 Prov. 3:11,12 (see Septuagint)
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13“Make level paths for your feet,”12:13 Prov. 4:26 so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Warning and Encouragement
14Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15See 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. 16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy
18You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”12:20 Exodus 19:12,13 21The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”12:21 See Deut. 9:19.
22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26At 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.”12:26 Haggai 2:6 27The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our “God is a consuming fire.”12:29 Deut. 4:24
Božji ukor dokaz je njegove ljubavi
1Budući da smo okruženi tolikim mnoštvom svjedoka vjere, odbacimo svako breme i grijeh koji nam smetaju, osobito grijeh koji nas tako lako zavede. Ustrajno trčimo utrku koju nam je Bog odredio! 2Uprimo pogled u Isusa, Začetnika i Dovršitelja naše vjere. On je podnio smrt na križu ne mareći za sramotu, ali čekala ga je radost. Sada sjedi na najuzvišenijemu mjestu u nebu, zdesna Božjemu prijestolju. 3Razmišljajte o svemu onomu što je on podnio od grešnika, svojih protivnika, da ne sustanete i da ne klonete duhom.
4Još se nikad niste oduprli grijehu do krvi, 5pa zar ste već zaboravili Božje ohrabrujuće riječi upućene svojoj djeci. Rekao je:
“Sine moj, ne prezri opomenu Gospodnju
i ne obeshrabri se kad te Bog opomene,
6Jer Gospodin kori one koje voli
i kažnjava one koje prihvaća za svoju djecu.”12:5-6 Izreke 3:11-12.
7Trpite Božju stegu jer vas Bog njome odgaja—postupa s vama kao sa svojom djecom. A ima li djeteta kojega otac ne kori? 8Ako vas Bog ne kori, kao što čini sa svom svojom djecom, onda mu niste prava, nego nezakonita djeca. 9Kad su nas već naši tjelesni očevi korili i mi smo ih poštivali, nećemo li se još radije pokoriti stezi našega duhovnog Oca da postignemo vječni život?
10Jer zemaljski su nas očevi korili kratko vrijeme kako im se činilo najbolje. Ali Božja je stega uvijek za naše dobro—da postanemo dionicima njegove svetosti. 11Nijedan se ukor, doduše, ne čini radošću, nego žalošću dok ga trpimo. Ali onima koji se njime odgajaju poslije donosi plod pun mira: pravednost.
12Zato uspravite klonule ruke i klecava koljena. 13Poravnajte staze pred sobom da se hromi ud ne iščaši, nego da ozdravi.
Poziv na poslušnost Bogu
14Trudite se sa svima živjeti u miru, čistim i svetim životom, jer koji nisu sveti, neće vidjeti Gospodina. 15Pazite da tko od vas ne ostane bez Božje milosti, da ne proklija kakav korijen gorčine pa unese zabunu i mnoge zarazi.12:15 Ponovljeni zakon 29:18. 16Pazite da tko ne postane bludnikom ili bezbožnikom poput Ezava, koji je za jedan jedini obrok prodao pravo koje je imao kao prvorođeni sin. 17Kada je poslije htio da ga otac blagoslovi, on to nije učinio. Bilo je prekasno za kajanje premda je gorko plakao.
18Vi niste prišli opipljivoj gori, usplamtjelome ognju, tami ni oluji poput Izraelaca na gori Sinaju kad im je Bog dao Zakon. 19Oni su čuli takav zvuk trublje i takvu tutnjavu izgovorenih riječi da su molili Boga da više ne govori. 20Prestravila ih je Božja naredba: “Ako se makar i životinja dotakne gore, mora se kamenovati!”12:20 Izlazak 19:13. 21I sam se Mojsije tako prestrašio tog prizora da je rekao: “Strah me je i dršćem.”12:21 Ponovljeni zakon 9:19.
22Vi ste, naprotiv, pristupili gori Sionu i gradu živoga Boga, nebeskome Jeruzalemu, svečanome skupu bezbrojnih tisuća anđela. 23Pristupili ste skupu Božjih prvorođenaca kojih su imena zapisana na nebesima. Pristupili ste samome Bogu, koji je sudac svim ljudima. Pristupili ste duhovima otkupljenika na nebu, koji su učinjeni savršenima. 24Pristupili ste Isusu, posredniku novoga saveza između Boga i ljudi, škropljeničkoj krvi koja milostivo prašta, a ne traži osvetu poput Abelove.12:24 U grčkome: koja govori snažnije od Abelove.
25Pazite da budete poslušni Bogu, onomu koji vam govori. Jer ako Izraelci nisu umaknuli kad su odbili slušati glasnika na zemlji, kako da umaknemo mi ako odbijemo slušati kad nam govori s nebesa? 26Kad je Bog govorio sa Sinaja, njegov je glas uzdrmao zemlju. “Još jednom ću protresti ne samo zemlju nego i nebesa”,12:26 Hagaj 2:6. rekao je. 27To znači da će ono što je zemaljsko biti uzdrmano kako bi ostalo samo ono vječno.
28Budući da smo primili kraljevstvo koje se ne može uzdrmati, budimo zahvalni i ugađajmo Bogu služeći mu sa strahopoštovanjem i s predanjem. 29Jer naš je Bog oganj koji proždire!12:29 Ponovljeni zakon 4:24.
