Letter to the Hebrews Volume 159

 The Discipline of Our Heavenly Father Part 1

Hebrews 12:5-6 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. KJV

The writer of Hebrews now turns to an area that many of us do not want to think about or for many they still refuse to believe that our Heavenly Father does discipline or chasten His adopted sons and daughters. Well, despite any of those two ways of thinking, the writer of Hebrews now reminds us with clear language that He does chasten His true sons and daughters when we turn aside from Him and His ways and follow after 'vain things' (as the Prophet Samuel wrote in 1 Samuel 12:20-25 as we documented in Volume 158), as it is written here, "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him:" (Hebrews 12:5) (KJV). The little English phrase 'ye have forgotten' is translated by the Greek word eklanthanomai (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning to be utterly oblivious of: - forget. Those new Hebrew Christians back then whom the writer of Hebrews was first writing these words to had allowed themselves to forget about all the times the Lord God allowed the Hebrew people to go into captivity to other Nations because of their own turning to that which displeased Adonai/Elohim/Jehovah and only when they truly cried out to Him (with a change in mind, that is, repentance) did He then deliver them from their oppression, for it was His chastening Hand to His people the Hebrew/Jewish Nation. So, does He chasten any of His sons or daughters now and in every era and generation since the Cross of Christ. The English word 'despise' is translated by the Greek word oligōreō (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning to have little regard for, that is, to disesteem: - despise. The English word 'chastening' is translated by the Greek word paideia meaning tutorage, that is, education or training; by implication disciplinary correction: - chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture. The rather long English phrase 'when thou art rebuked' is translated by the Greek word elegchō meaning to confute, admonish: - convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove. In other words, we the sons and daughters of God the Father are never to be unmindful or unaware that our sinful actions and behavior before our Father in Heaven are not being done by us without His knowledge or will they be done without His disciplinary correction to us to turn us back to Him. We should not ever hold Him in contempt or be disrespectful to Him because of our just chastening or chastisement for our rebellion, but instead we must welcome His conviction, His rebuke, and His admonishment to us because it is done only from His love to us and for us as the writer of Hebrews declares with these words, "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." (Hebrews 12:6) (KJV). The English word 'chasteneth' is translated by the Greek word paideuō meaning to train up a child, that is, educate, or (by implication) discipline (by punishment): - instruct, teach. The English word 'scourgeth' is translated by the Greek word mastigoō meaning to flog, that is, beat severely with a whip or rod (literally or figuratively): - scourge. The little English phrase 'He receiveth' is translated by the Greek word paradechomai meaning to accept near, that is, admit or (by implication) delight in: - receive. In other words, those of us who are near and dear to our Father in Heaven by virture of the Blood of Jesus Christ are trained up by Him, instructed by Him, and taught by Him through the Holy Spirit and His Word the Bible, but when we stray from His way then all of the afflictions allowed by our Heavenly Father to come to us are also His loving rebukes/chastening/scourging of our own waywardness and sin in order to bring us back to the truth.

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of Hebrews 12:5-6, "He argues from the peculiar and gracious nature of those sufferings that befall the people of God. Though their enemies and persecutors may be the instruments of inflicting such sufferings on them, yet they are divine chastisements; their heavenly Father has his hand in all, and his wise end to serve by all; of this he has given them due notice, and they should not forget it, Hebrews 12:5. Observe, Those afflictions which may be truly persecution as far as men are concerned in them are Fatherly rebukes and chastisements as far as God is concerned in them. Persecution for religion is sometimes a correction and rebuke for the sins of professors of religion. Men persecute them because they are religious; God chastises them because they are not more so: men persecute them because they will not give up their profession; God chastises them because they have not lived up to their profession. God has directed His people how they ought to behave themselves under all their afflictions; they must avoid the extremes that many run into. (1.) They must not despise the chastening of the Lord; they must not make light of afflictions, and be stupid and insensible under them, for they are the Hand and Rod of God, and His rebukes for sin. Those who make light of affliction make light of God and make light of sin. (2.) They must not faint when they are rebuked; they must not despond and sink under their trial, nor fret and repine, but bear up with faith and patience. (3.) If they run into either of these extremes, it is a sign they have forgotten their Heavenly Father's advice and exhortation, which He has given them in true and tender affection. Afflictions, rightly endured, though they may be the fruits of God's displeasure, are yet proofs of His Paternal love to His people and care for them Hebrews 12:6: Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. Observe, (1.) The best of God's children need chastisement. They have their faults and follies, which need to be corrected. (2.) Though God may let others alone in their sins, He will correct sin in His own children; they are of His family, and shall not escape His rebukes when they want them. (3.) In this He acts as becomes a Father, and treats them like children; no wise and good father will wink at faults in his own children as he would in others; his relation and his affections oblige him to take more notice of the faults of his own children than those of others."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…