INTRODUCTION:

(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV])
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV])
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

All of the studies found here, whether book studies or topical studies, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history recorded in the Word of God and in any ancient records from many, which records support it, plus archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, nor lexicons, nor concordances, nor commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief, apostasy, and a falling away from God Himself. We do not need them. That Word of God, written and preserved for us in our own language, is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and as the New Testament was for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc.

There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:

(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

(1 Thessalonians 2:13 [KJV])
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!

Introduction/Start of study

HEBREWS CHAPTER 12:

(1 Samuel 12:6 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

(Hebrews 12:1 [AKJV/PCE])
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

(Psalms 37:23 [AKJV/PCE])
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

(Psalms 37:31 [AKJV/PCE])
The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

(Proverbs 16:9 [AKJV/PCE])
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

(Psalms 119:105 [AKJV/PCE])
NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

(John 8:12 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

BESET', v.t. pret. and pp. beset.
  1. To surround; to inclose; to hem in; to besiege; as, we are beset with enemies; a city is beset with troops. Hence,
  2. To press on all sides, so as to perplex; to entangle, so as to render escape difficult or impossible.
    Adam sore beset replied.
  3. To waylay.
  4. To fall upon.

(Hebrews 12:2 [AKJV/PCE])
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

(Hebrews 12:3 [AKJV/PCE])
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

CONTRADICTION, n. [L.]
  1. An assertion of the contrary to what has been said or affirmed; denial; contrary declaration.
  2. Opposition, whether by words, reproaches or attempts to defeat.
    Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself. Heb 12.
  3. Direct opposition or repugnancy; inconsistency with itself; incongruity or contrariety of things, words, thoughts or propositions.
    These theorems involve a contradiction. If we perceive truth, we thereby perceive whatever is false in contradiction to it.

(Hebrews 12:4 [AKJV/PCE])
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

(2 Corinthians 10:3-5 [AKJV/PCE])
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

(Acts 1:7 [AKJV/PCE])
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

(Hebrews 12:5-7 [AKJV/PCE])
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. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, PERSECUTION OF MAN

(Job 5:17 [AKJV/PCE])
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

(Proverbs 3:11 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

(James 1:12 [AKJV/PCE])
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

(Matthew 10:22 [AKJV/PCE])
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

(Revelation 3:19 [AKJV/PCE])
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

"Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times."
- The Strauss–Howe generational theory, devised by William Strauss and Neil Howe, writing about the United States of America (Hebrews 12:8 [AKJV/PCE])
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

(Hebrews 12:9 [AKJV/PCE])
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

(John 1:4-5 [AKJV/PCE])
In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

(1 Corinthians 3:16-19 [AKJV/PCE])
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

(Isaiah 40:13 [AKJV/PCE])
Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath taught him?

(Romans 11:34 [AKJV/PCE])
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?

(1 Corinthians 2:16 [AKJV/PCE])
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

(Hebrews 12:10 [AKJV/PCE])
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

PLEASURE, n. plezh'ur.
  1. The gratification of the senses or of the mind; agreeable sensations or emotions; the excitement, relish or happiness produced by enjoyment or the expectation of good; opposed to pain. We receive pleasure from the indulgence of appetite; from the view of a beautiful landscape; from the harmony of sounds; from agreeable society; from the expectation of seeing an absent friend; from the prospect of gain or success of any kind. Pleasure, bodily and mental, carnal and spiritual, constitutes the whole of positive happiness, as pain constitutes the whole of misery. Pleasure is properly positive excitement of the passions or the mind; but we give the name also to the absence of excitement, when that excitement is painful; as when we cease to labor, or repose after fatigue, or when the mind is tranquilized after anxiety or agitation. Pleasure is susceptible of increase to any degree; but the word when unqualified, expresses less excitement or happiness than delight or joy.
  2. Sensual or sexual gratification.
  3. Approbation. The Lord taketh pleasure in his people. Psa 147. and 149.
  4. What the will dictates or prefers; will; choice; purpose; intention; command; as, use your pleasure. Cyrus, he is my shepherd and shall perform all my pleasure. Isa 44. My counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure. Isa 46.
  5. A favor; that which pleases. Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul. Acts 25.
  6. Arbitrary will or choice. He can vary his scheme at pleasure.
(Hebrews 12:11 [AKJV/PCE])
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

There is an old saying:

"WHEN GOD WANTS TO DO AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK, HE TAKES AN IMPOSSIBLE MAN-AND CRUSHES HIM -Alan Redpath"

(Hebrews 12:12 [AKJV/PCE])
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

(Hebrews 12:13 [AKJV/PCE])
And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

(Hebrews 12:14 [AKJV/PCE])
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

(Hebrews 12:15 [AKJV/PCE])
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

(1 Corinthians 5:6 [AKJV/PCE])
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

(Galatians 5:9 [AKJV/PCE])
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

(Hebrews 12:16-17 [AKJV/PCE])
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

(Hebrews 12:18 [AKJV/PCE])
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

MOSES ON THE MOUNT: TERROR IN THE CAMP

(Exodus 19:10-20 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
¶ And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives. ¶ And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

(Hebrews 12:22 [AKJV/PCE])
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

(Revelation 3:12 [AKJV/PCE])
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

(Hebrews 12:23 [AKJV/PCE])
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

(Romans 11:29 [AKJV/PCE])
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

THE FIRSTBORN

(Matthew 1:25 [AKJV/PCE])
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

(Luke 2:7 [AKJV/PCE])
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

(Romans 8:29 [AKJV/PCE])
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

(Colossians 1:15 [AKJV/PCE])
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

(Colossians 1:18 [AKJV/PCE])
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

(Hebrews 11:28 [AKJV/PCE])
Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

(Hebrews 12:24 [AKJV/PCE])
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

ABEL VERSUS CAIN

(Genesis 4:2-10 [AKJV/PCE])
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. ¶ And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

(Leviticus 17:11-16 [AKJV/PCE])
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off. And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean. But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.

(Hebrews 9:22 [AKJV/PCE])
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

(Hebrews 12:25 [AKJV/PCE])
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

THE MORE WE HAVE, THE MORE RESPONSIBILITY

(Luke 12:43-48 [AKJV/PCE])
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

(Hebrews 12:27 [AKJV/PCE])
And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

(2 Peter 3:10-13 [AKJV/PCE])
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

(Revelation 21:1 [AKJV/PCE])
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

(Hebrews 12:28 [AKJV/PCE])
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

(Hebrews 12:29 [AKJV/PCE])
For our God is a consuming fire.

OUR GOD THE FIRE; OUR GOD THE CONSUMING FIRE

(Genesis 19:24 [AKJV/PCE])
Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

(Exodus 3:2 [AKJV/PCE])
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

(Exodus 9:23-24 [AKJV/PCE])
And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

(Exodus 13:21 [AKJV/PCE])
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

(Exodus 19:18 [AKJV/PCE])
And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

(Exodus 24:17 [AKJV/PCE])
And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

(Exodus 40:38 [AKJV/PCE])
For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

(2 Kings 1:10 [AKJV/PCE])
And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

(2 Chronicles 7:1 [AKJV/PCE])
Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

(2 Chronicles 7:3 [AKJV/PCE])
And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

(Job 1:16 [AKJV/PCE])
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

(Revelation 20:9 [AKJV/PCE])
And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

THE GOLD CALF IDOL: WHAT HAPPENS OFTEN WITH MAN AND FIRE

(Exodus 32:24 [AKJV/PCE])
And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Links to studies by book or topic are on the top menu.

Hebrews chapter 13