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Selected Verse: Hebrews 12:25 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Heb 12:25 |
King James |
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: |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
refuse not--through unbelief.
him that speaketh--God in Christ. As the blood of sprinkling is represented as speaking to God for us, Heb 12:24; so here God is represented as speaking to us (Heb 1:1-2). His word now is the prelude of the last "shaking" of all things (Heb 12:27). The same word which is heard in the Gospel from heaven, will shake heaven and earth (Heb 12:26).
who refused him--Greek, "refusing as they did." Their seemingly submissive entreaty that the word should not be spoken to them by God any more (Heb 12:19), covered over refractory hearts, as their subsequent deeds showed (Heb 3:16).
that spake--revealing with oracular warnings His divine will: so the Greek.
if we turn away--Greek, "we who turn away." The word implies greater refractoriness than "refused," or "declined."
him that speaketh from heaven--God, by His Son in the Gospel, speaking from His heavenly throne. Hence, in Christ's preaching frequent mention is made of "the kingdom of the heavens" (Greek, Mat 3:2). In the giving of the law God spake on earth (namely, Mount Sinai) by angels (Heb 2:2; compare Heb 1:2). In Exo 20:22, when God says, "I talked with you from heaven," this passage in Hebrews shows that not the highest heavens, but the visible heavens, the clouds and darkness, are meant, out of which God by angels proclaimed the law on Sinai. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
See that ye refuse not - That you do not reject or disregard.
Him that speaketh - That is, in the gospel. Do not turn away from him who has addressed you in the new dispensation, and called you to obey and serve him. The meaning is, that God had addressed "them" in the gospel as really as he had done the Hebrews on Mount Sinai, and that there was as much to be dreaded in disregarding his voice now as there was then. He does not speak, indeed, amidst lightnings, and thunders, and clouds, but he speaks by every message of mercy; by every invitation; by every tender appeal. He spake by his Son Heb 1:1; he speaks by the Holy Spirit, and by all his calls and warnings in the gospel.
For if they escaped not - If they who heard God under the old dispensation, who refused to obey him, were cut off; notes, Heb 10:28.
Who refused him that spake on earth - That is, Moses. The contrast here is between Moses and the Son of God - the head of the Jewish and the head of the Christian dispensation. Moses was a mere man, and spake as such, though in the name of God. The Son of God was from above, and spake as an inhabitant of heaven. "Much more," etc.; see the notes on Heb 2:2-3; Heb 10:29. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
See - refuse (βλέπετε - παραιτήσησθε)
For βλέπετε see see on Heb 3:12. For παραιτήσησθε refuse, see on Ti1 4:7.
Him that speaketh (τὸν λαλοῦντα)
Through his blood. Rend. "that is speaking," the participle denoting something that is going on.
They (ἐκεῖνοι)
The people of the Exodus. See Heb 4:2. The words from for if they to the end of the verse are parenthetical.
That spake on earth (ἐπὶ γῆς τὸν χρηματίζοντα)
For spake rend. warned, and see on Heb 8:5. Ἑπὶ upon earth should not be construed with refused nor warned, but with the whole clause. "If on earth they escaped not, refusing him that warned."
If we turn away (ἀποστρεφομενοι)
Lit. turning away. The present participle, possibly with reference to the relapse into Judaism as already in progress.
From him that speaketh from heaven (τὸν ἀπ' οὐρανῶν)
Lit. from him from the heavens. Supply as A.V. that speaketh Ὁ ἀπ' οὐρανοῦ or οὐρανῶν does not occur in N.T. elsewhere. Wherever ἀπ' οὐρ. appears, some act or thing is always named which proceeds from heaven. See Mat 24:29; Mar 8:11; Luk 9:54; Luk 17:29; Luk 21:11; Luk 22:43; Joh 6:38; Th1 1:7. The speaker from heaven is still God, but speaking through his Son. The thought connects itself with that of Christ carrying his blood into the heavenly sanctuary, from which he exerts his power on behalf of men. See Heb 9:12, Heb 9:24. This will be the clearer if we throw out the idea of Christ presenting his blood to an angry God as a propitiation, and interceding with him to pardon sin. See note on Heb 7:26. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Refuse not - By unbelief. Him that speaketh - And whose speaking even now is a prelude to the final scene. The same voice which spake both by the law and in the gospel, when heard from heaven, will shake heaven and earth. For if they escaped not - His vengeance. Much more shall not we - Those of us who turn from him that speaketh from heaven - That is, who came from heaven to speak to us. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
See - Βλεπετε· Take heed, that ye refuse not him - the Lord Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, who now speaketh from heaven, by his Gospel, to the Jews and to the Gentiles, having in his incarnation come down from God.
Him that spake on earth - Moses, who spoke on the part of God to the Hebrews, every transgression of whose word received a just recompense of reward, none being permitted to escape punishment; consequently, if ye turn away from Christ, who speaks to you from heaven, you may expect a much sorer punishment, the offense against God being so much the more heinous, as the privileges slighted are more important and glorious. |
22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
19 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:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 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.
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.