What is the meaning of Hebrews 12:5? And you have forgotten the exhortation The writer gently points out that the believers had let an important word from God slip from their minds. Forgetfulness is never presented as harmless in Scripture. • Deuteronomy 6:12 warns, “Be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” • James 1:24 pictures a man who “immediately forgets what he looks like,” stressing how quickly truth can fade when neglected. • Second Peter 1:9 adds that the one who lacks spiritual growth “has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” The remedy is simple but deliberate: return to what God has already said and hold it fast. that addresses you as sons God’s word comes “as sons,” reminding us we are family, not outsiders. • Romans 8:15 affirms, “You received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’” • Galatians 4:6 echoes, “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts.” Because a father’s voice is always aimed at the child’s good, every hard word can be received with security instead of fear. My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord Quoting Proverbs 3:11–12, Hebrews restates a timeless principle. “Discipline” is training, correction, and shaping, not punishment in wrath. • Psalm 94:12 celebrates, “Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD.” • Revelation 3:19 records Jesus saying, “Those I love, I rebuke and discipline.” When discipline comes: – Don’t shrug it off as insignificant. – Don’t resist it as unfair. See it as evidence that the Father is actively investing in your growth. and do not lose heart when He rebukes you The same loving discipline that must not be ignored must also not crush us. • Isaiah 40:31 promises that those who wait on the LORD “shall renew their strength.” • Second Corinthians 4:16 encourages, “Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.” When the correction feels heavy: – Remember who is correcting you—your Father. – Remember why—so you may “share in His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10). – Remember the outcome—“a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). summary Hebrews 12:5 calls believers to stop forgetting God’s fatherly word, embrace their identity as His children, refuse to dismiss discipline, and stand firm instead of wilting under rebuke. Every correction is proof of His love and a step toward greater holiness, righteousness, and peace. |
    |