Letter to the Hebrews Volume 160

 The Discipline of Our Heavenly Father Part 2

Hebrews 12:7-8 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. KJV Note: CEV=Contemporay English Version

Next the writer of Hebrews gives a clear picture that surely everyone in the human race can understand. The writer points to the earthly father who has children and who disciplines his own children when they do wrong in order to correct them and keep them from bringing harm to themselves and to others. As any earthly parent can attest to, children are prone to rebellion and it is not a loving parent who allows their child to do whatever they please and not to follow after the rules, regulations, and requirements of the parents who brought them into this world. The Book of Proverbs declares this about children, "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." (Proverbs 22:15) (KJV), as well as this concerning children, "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame." (Proverbs 29:15) (KJV). If the Giver of all this wisdom the Lord God/Adonai/Elohim wants to see any parent take heed of, then surely He will follow His own Divine wisdom and take the rod to His born again sons and daughters when they stray from His Will found in His Word (the Bible). This reality has nothing to do with someones warped, wayward, or wrong view of who the One True God truly is, for many well meaning people (who are wrong) think that there is no way that a loving God will send 'good people' to hell just because they don't believe in Jesus Christ, i.e, good Muslims, good Buddhist, good Hindus, good Spiritualists, or good whatever (you fill in the blank), but all through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the Acts of the Apostles and the New Testament (Romans through Jude), as well as the Book of Revelations the Lord Jesus Christ emphatically says that He will do just that for every soul that has not truly come to Him alone for forgiveness of sins. Therefore, there are just as many (well meaning Christians) who think that every harsh, hurtful, and harmful thing that comes to them is from the devil, when in fact in many cases it is the chastening hand of a loving Father in Heaven to His rebellious sons and daughters to turn them back to the truth of His Word (the Bible).

Remember again how often the Lord God/Elohim allowed the Hebrew people to go into captivity to other Nations who worshipped the devil, so it is certain that our Heavenly Father would allow the devil and his demons and his two-legged devil's attacks to sometimes break through His Protection for our rebuke and correction for our own sinful waywardness, therefore, we read these next words from the writer of Hebrews, "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." (Hebrews 12:7-8) (KJV). All of our acts of sin and rebellion disregarding our Heavenly Father's Word (the Bible) brings about His discipline to correct us, but never to condemn us. The English word 'dealeth' is translated by the Greek word prospherō meaning to bear towards, that is, lead to, tender (especially to God), treat: - bring (to, unto), deal with; often to bring an offering to the altar; in the passive voice with the dative, to be born toward one; hence, to attack, assail, deal with, behave toward. The English word 'bastards' is translated by the Greek word nothos (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning a spurious or illegitimate son: - bastard/fake/phony. This is what every spiritual or religious person is if they have never been born again, as it is written, "Jesus replied, I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God's kingdom! Nicodemus asked, How can a grown man ever be born a second time? Jesus answered: I tell you for certain that before you can get into God's kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit. Humans give life to their children. Yet only God's Spirit can change you into a child of God. Don't be surprised when I say that you must be born from above. Only God's Spirit gives new life. The Spirit is like the wind that blows wherever it wants to. You can hear the wind, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going, so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:5-8) (CEV). In other words, God the Father causing pain and affliction (all for our betterment) to His born again sons and daughters is proof or evidence or validation that we belong to Him. God the Father is not disciplining the devil's children because they are not His. What earthly father goes to another father's children and whips them with his belt when they do wrong? None, he lets them alone to do whatsoever they please, it is none of his business.

Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of Hebrews 12:7-8, "That is, if you undergo, or are called to experience correction. It does not mean here, 'if you endure it patiently; or if you bear up under it;' but 'if you are chastised or corrected by God.' The affirmation does not relate to the manner of bearing it, but to the fact that we are disciplined. He does not cast you off and regard you as if you were in no way related to Him. That is, He evinces toward His son the care which shows that He sustains the relation of a Father. If he deserves correction, He corrects him; and He aims by all proper means to exhibit the appropriate care and character of a Father. And as we receive such attention from an earthly parent, we ought to expect to receive similar notice from our Father in Heaven. If you never meet with anything that is adapted to correct your faults; to subdue your temper; to chide your wanderings, it would prove that you were in the condition of illegitimate children - cast off and disregarded by their father. Whereof all are partakers - All who are the true children of God. Then are ye bastards, and not sons - The reference here is to the neglect with which such children are treated, and to the general want of care and discipline over them: 'Lost in the world’s wide range; enjoin’d no aim, Prescrib’d no duty, and assign’d no name.' Savage. In the English law, a bastard is termed 'nullius filius.' Illegitimate children are usually abandoned by their father. The care of them is left to the mother, and the father endeavors to avoid all responsibility, and usually to be concealed and unknown. His own child he does not wish to recognize; he neither provides for him; nor instructs him; nor governs him; nor disciplines him. A father, who is worthy of the name, will do all these things. So Paul says it is with Christians. God has not cast them off. In every way He evinces toward them the character of a Father. And if it should be that they passed along through life without any occurrence that would indicate the paternal care and attention designed to correct their faults, it would show that they never had been His children, but - were cast off and wholly disregarded. This is a beautiful argument; and we should receive every affliction as full proof that we are not forgotten by the High and Holy One who condescends to sustain to us the character, and to evince toward us, in our wanderings, the watchful care of a Father."

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…