Hebrews 12:14-17 offers guidance on how to live a holy and righteous life. In this passage, the author of Hebrews is encouraging his readers to pursue peace and holiness, warning them not to fall short of God's grace, and cautioning them against the danger of unbelief.
The passage begins by exhorting the readers to pursue peace with all people and to seek sanctification. The author emphasizes that without sanctification, no one will see the Lord. This underscores the importance of living a holy life and seeking to be pure and blameless before God. The pursuit of holiness is not optional for Christians but is an essential part of our journey of faith.
The author then warns the readers to be careful not to fall short of the grace of God. This can happen when we allow bitterness or unforgiveness to take root in our hearts. These negative emotions can cause us to become hardened and resistant to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. When we refuse to forgive others, we limit our ability to receive forgiveness from God.
The author also cautions against sexual immorality and profanity, using Esau as an example. Esau is known for having sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob for a bowl of lentil soup. Later on, when he realized the magnitude of his mistake, he sought to inherit the blessing that was rightfully his. However, it was too late, and he was rejected. The author uses Esau's story as a warning against prioritizing temporal pleasures over spiritual blessings. When we prioritize our own desires over God's will, we risk missing out on the blessings that God has in store for us.
Overall, this passage emphasizes the importance of pursuing holiness and maintaining a right relationship with God. It reminds us to be vigilant against sin and to guard our hearts against bitterness and unforgiveness. The passage also warns against prioritizing temporary pleasures over eternal blessings and reminds us that there are consequences for our choices.
In summary, Hebrews 12:14-17 teaches us that holiness is essential for seeing God, and that we should pursue peace and sanctification with all people. We must guard our hearts against bitterness and unforgiveness, and prioritize God's will over our own desires. When we do these things, we can experience the fullness of God's blessings and avoid falling short of his grace.
See also: vs 12-13
Hebrews 12:14-17. Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it; lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.