Hebrews: The Daily Discipline of a Devoted LifeExemplo

This passage is the culmination of a series of ‘warning passages’ in Hebrews. There are five warning passages, beginning back in chapter 2 with the danger of drifting, and now culminating in chapter 12 with Esau’s complete denial of his glorious inheritance. Backsliding does not happen overnight. It begins with subtle compromise, taking your foot off the gas, but ends with completely forsaking the call of salvation. 

This is poignantly pictured in the story of Esau ‘who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son’ (v. 16). The firstborn son in Israel held a privileged position. He was to be given a double share of the family inheritance. Esau should have known how precious his inheritance was, but when he returns home famished from a hunting trip and his devious brother Jacob has prepared a tantalising stew, Esau gives up his glorious inheritance for his favourite dish. 

Esau’s physical appetites got the better of him, and he gave up long-term blessing for short-term pleasure. He is the tragic forefather of myriads of men and women, brought up in the church, who have tasted the goodness of the Gospel, and know that Christ died for sin, but have abandoned their rich heritage to pursue their own pleasures. 

If Christ is as glorious as chapters 1–10 of Hebrews paint him to be; if he is the Son of God, Creator of the universe, who became man to sympathise with us and to die so that his blood could save us from hell and catapult us to glory; if he is the judge of all the earth at the end times – then it is a desperately serious thing to turn your back on him to pursue your own pleasures. 

Those pleasures aren’t necessarily deeply evil things, any more than a tasty bowl of stew is a wicked thing in itself. The wickedness is in giving up the treasure that is Christ, to pursue other passions – whether it is making money, finding the girl or man of your dreams, or living a partying lifestyle. Sins such as these are the ‘sin that … entangles’ (12:1), and can lead to forfeiting your heavenly inheritance. 

Can you lose your salvation? Many other Bible passages would suggest not. True believers were chosen in Christ before the world began (Ephesians 1:3–5). But if we are making no progress in our faith, and if we are cherishing other gods instead of Christ, then Hebrews wants to leave us feeling deeply uncomfortable, until we get on our knees and return to Christ. It is possible that such a person ‘fails to obtain the grace of God’ (v. 15, ESV). 

Reflection

Are there idols in your life that are competing with Christ for allegiance?