Hebrews 12:14

Hebrews 12:14

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

a. NASB 2020: Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. [NASB2020 New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation; All Rights Reserved]

b. YLT: Peace pursue with all, and the separation, apart from which no one shall see the Lord,  [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Classic Amplified: Amplified Bible Classic: Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Peshitta Eastern Text: Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see our LORD.  [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT. Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

e. ESV: Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. [Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."]

1. “Follow peace with all men…”

a. Follow [Strong: 1377 diṓkō, dee-o'-ko; a prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb δίω díō (to flee; compare the base of G1169 and G1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute:—ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute(-ion), press forward.]

 

b. peace [Strong: 1515 eirḗnē, i-ray'-nay; probably from a primary verb εἴρω eírō (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity:—one, peace, quietness, rest, +set at one again.]

 

c. with [Strong: 3326 metá, met-ah'; a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between G575 or G1537 and G1519 or G4314; less intimate than G1722 and less close than G4862):—after(-ward), × that he again, against, among, × and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, ×and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.]

 

d. all [men] [Strong: 3956 pâs, pas; including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:—all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), × daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

1). It is the Lord’s will that we be at and in peace. It is stated repeatedly in the New Testament. Tony Cook, Grace the DNA of God, writes: We are to profit from all of God’s word, even the hello’s and good bye’s! As you read the following salutations and benedictions, personalize them. Allow God to encourage and strengthen you from His grace.

 

a). “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (This phrase occurs ten times in Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; and Philemon 3.)

 

b). “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (Similar variations of this phrase occur nine times in Romans 16:20, 24; 1 Corinthians 16:23; Galatians 6:18; Philippians 4:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:18; Philemon 25; and Revelation 22:21.)

 

c). “Grace be with you” (or you all). (This phrase occurs five times in Colossians 4:18; 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 4:22; Titus 3:15; and Hebrews 13:25.)

 

d). “Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Similar variations of this phrase occur four times in 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; and 2 John 3.)

 

e). “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (This phrase occurs in 2 Corinthians 13:14.)

 

f). “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” (Ephesians 6:24.)

 

g). “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2.)

 

h). Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come.” (Revelation 1:4.)

2.  “...and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

a. and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

 

b. holiness [Strong: 38 hagiasmós, hag-ee-as-mos'; from G37; properly, purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier:—holiness, sanctification.] 

1). Unger’s Bible Dictionary: (Hebrew qodesh; Greek hagiosune); In both cases ‘separation” or “setting apart,” holy from Saxon, “halig,” “whole,” “sound”). Holiness is a general term used to indicate sanctity or separation from all that is sinful, impure, or morally imperfect; it is moral wholeness. The term is used with reference to persons, places and things. Holiness in Man: We may note: (1) In many cases the holiness ascribed to men in Scripture is simply ceremonial and formal. They are persons “separated,” “set apart,” or “dedicated” to holy services. They were expected or required along with this outward dedication, however, to lead holy lives and to be inwardly dedicated. Thus the priests and the Levites are spoken of in the OT as “holy”. (2) The holiness predicated or required of men, upon which the Scriptures everywhere lay almost exclusive stress is that of character and conduct. (3) Man appears before us in the Scripture, as a fallen being [D.C. Because of the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden, Genesis 3:1-7], by nature unholy and sinful. Created in the image of God, he has lost one of the most essential features of that image, holiness. (4) Holiness, so far as it appears in man, is an outcome of God’s gracious work of salvation and yet not without the proper exertion of one’s own free will and the putting forth of strenuous effort (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 2:29; 1 Corinthians 10:15).] Exalted attains in holiness are possible for men and often realized in this life (Luke 1:75; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:13). (6) The whole tone of Scripture accords with the weighty exhortation “Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). (7) The NT teaches that the believer was sanctified positionally when he was saved by virtue of his being presented “in Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:2, 30), that he is being sanctified experientially as he reckons upon his position in Christ (Romans 6:11), [D.C. and yields to the power of grace, Titus 2:11-14], and that he will be ultimately sanctified in the sense of full conformity to Christ in glorification (Romans 8:30.

a). There is a positional holiness given to us in Christ Jesus: 

(1) 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

(2) Colossians 1:21, 22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

b). There is also an a holiness we pursue experientially in our lives to please God.

(1) 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

(2) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

2).  Because of what Christ Jesus accomplished for us in His death and resurrection, no where in the New Testament does the Bible address born again believers as “sinners” or as many say “sinners saved by grace”. We are addressed as saints. What believers are called in the New Testament: Romans 1:7 called to be saints. 1 Corinthians 1:2 sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints. 2 Corinthians 1:1 saints. Ephesians 1:1 Saints. Philippians 1:1 Saints. Colossians 1:2 Saints. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 saints. 2 Thessalonians 1:10 saints. 1 Timothy 5:10  saints. Philemon 1:5 saints. Hebrews 6:10 saints. Jude 1:3 saints. Revelation 5:8 saints.

a).  saints [Strong: 40 hagios hag'-ee-os from hagos (an awful thing) (compare 53, 2282); sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):--(most) holy (one, thing), saint.] [Vine: fundamentally signifies "separated"…and hence, in Scripture in its moral and spiritual significance, separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God, sacred. It is used of men and things (see below) in so far as they are devoted to God. Indeed the quality, as attributed to God, is often presented in a way which involves Divine demands upon the conduct of believers. These are called hagioi, "saints," i.e., "sanctified" or "holy" ones. This sainthood is not an attainment, it is a state into which God in grace calls men; yet believers are called to sanctify themselves (consistently with their calling,), cleansing themselves from all defilement, forsaking sin, living a "holy" manner of life; set apart for God, to be, as it were, exclusively his.]

b). We then as positional “saints” or “holy ones” are to work out our salvation, yielding to the grace and power that God provides for us to be obedient to His word.

(1) Philippians 2:12-15  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

3). Hebrews 12:14 says to “Follow…holiness. Follow it, and grace provides the empowerment to do so. 

a). 2 Corinthians 7:1  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 c. without [Strong: 5565 chōrís, kho-rece'; adverb from G5561; at a space, i.e. separately or apart from (often as preposition):—beside, by itself, without.]

 

d. which [Strong: 3739 hós, hos; probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article G3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:—one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

 

e. no man [Strong: 3762 oudeís, oo-dice'; from G3761 and G1520; not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e. none, nobody, nothing:—any (man), aught, man, neither any (thing), never (man), no (man), none (+ of these things), not (any, at all, -thing), nought.]

   

f. [shall] see [Strong: 3700 optánomai, op-tan'-om-ahee; a (middle voice) prolonged form of the primary (middle voice) ὄπτομαι óptomai op'-tom-ahee; which is used for it in certain tenses; and both as alternate of G3708; to gaze (i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from G991, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from G1492, which expresses merely mechanical, passive or casual vision; while G2300, and still more emphatically its intensive G2334, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection; and G4648 a watching from a distance):—appear, look, see, shew self.]

g. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [Ton] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

 

h. Lord [Strong: 2962 kýrios, koo'-ree-os; from κῦρος kŷros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):—God, Lord, master, Sir.]

1). Without holiness no man will see the Lord. God has called us to holiness.

a). Romans 6:19  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

b). 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

c). Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

d). 1 Thessalonians 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

e). 1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.