Tuige Mfano Wa Yesu

12 Basi na sisi kwa kuwa tunazungukwa na wingu kubwa namna hii la mashahidi, tuweke kando kila mzigo mzito, na dhambi inay otusonga kwa urahisi; tupige mbio kwa ustahimilivu katika mashin dano yaliyowekwa mbele yetu. Tumtazame Yesu aliyeanzisha na anayekamilisha imani yetu. Yeye, kwa ajili ya furaha iliyowekwa mbele yake, alivumilia kifo cha msalaba bila kujali aibu, na sasa ameketi upande wa kulia wa kiti cha enzi cha Mungu.

Mtafakarini yeye aliyestahimili uadui wa namna hii kutoka kwa wenye dhambi; msije mkachoka wala kufa moyo. Katika kushin dana kwenu na dhambi, bado hamjapigana na majaribu kiasi cha kufikia hatua ya kumwaga damu yenu. Je, mmekwisha sahau yale maneno ya kuwatia moyo, yanayowataja kama wana? “Mwanangu, usid harau nidhamu ya Bwana, wala usife moyo anapokukanya. Maana Bwana huwaadhibu wale awapendao na humpiga kila anayemkubali kuwa ni mwanae.”

Vumilieni mateso kama mafunzo. Mungu anawatendea kama wanawe. Maana ni mwana yupi asiyeadhibiwa na baba yake? Kama mtaachiwa bila kuwa na nidhamu, na kila mtu hufundishwa kuwa na nidhamu, basi ninyi ni wana haramu, si wanawe wa halali. Zaidi ya hayo, baba zetu waliotuzaa walituadhibu nasi tukawaheshimu kwa ajili hiyo. Je, si inatupasa kujinyenyekeza zaidi kwa baba wa roho zetu ili tuishi? 10 Baba zetu wa hapa duniani walituadhibu kwa muda mfupi kama wao wenyewe walivyoona kwamba inafaa. Lakini Mungu anatuadhibu kwa faida yetu, ili tuushiriki utakatifu wake. 11 Adhabu yo yote huonekana kuwa kitu cha kuumiza na kisichofu rahisha wakati ule inapotolewa. Lakini baadaye, matunda yake kwa wale waliofundishwa kwa nidhamu hiyo, ni haki na amani.

12 Kwa hiyo imarisheni mikono yenu iliyolegea na magoti yenu yaliyo dhaifu. 13 Nyosheni njia za miguu yenu ili mguu ulioumia usilemae, bali upone.

14 Tafuteni kwa bidii kuwa na amani na watu wote, na utaka tifu, ambao bila kuwa nao, hakuna mtu atakayemwona Bwana. 15 Angalieni sana mtu ye yote asishindwe kupata neema ya Mungu, na muwe waangalifu pasizuke chuki ambayo, kama mmea wenye sumu, inaweza kukua ikaleta matatizo na kuwachafua wengi. 16 Hakik isheni kwamba miongoni mwenu hamna mwasherati au mtu asiyemcha Mungu. Kama Esau, ambaye kwa ajili ya mlo mmoja, aliuza haki yake ya kuwa mzaliwa wa kwanza. 17 Maana mnafahamu ya kwamba baadaye, alipotaka kurithi ile baraka aliyokuwa apewe, alikataliwa, maana hakupata nafasi ya kutubu, ingawa aliitafuta kwa machozi.

18 Hamkuja kukaribia mlima ambao unaweza kuguswa, na ambao unawaka moto; wala hamkuja kwenye giza, huzuni na dhoruba, 19 na mlio wa tarumbeta na sauti ikisema maneno kwa kiasi ambacho wale walioisikia waliomba wasiambiwe neno lingine zaidi. 20 Kwa maana hawakuweza kustahimili amri iliyotolewa: “Kama hata mnyama atag usa mlima huu, atapigwa mawe.” 21 Kwa hakika waliyoona yalikuwa ya kutisha kiasi kwamba Mose alisema, “Ninatetemeka kwa hofu.” 22 Lakini ninyi mmekuja kwenye Mlima wa Sioni, na kwenye mji wa Mungu aliye hai, Yerusalemu ya mbinguni, ambapo wamekusanyika kwa shangwe maelfu na maelfu ya malaika. 23 Mmefika kwenye kanisa la wazaliwa wa kwanza wa Mungu ambao majina yao yameandikwa mbin guni. Mmekuja mbele ya Mungu, hakimu wa watu wote, na mbele ya roho za watu wenye haki, waliofanywa wakamilifu. 24 Mmefika kwa Yesu, msuluhishi wa agano jipya, na kwa damu ile iliyonyunyizwa, inenayo maneno mema kuliko damu ya Abeli.

25 Angalieni, msije mkamkataa yeye anenaye. Ikiwa hawa kuepuka adhabu walipomkataa yeye aliyewaonya hapa duniani, sisi tutaepukaje tukimkataa yeye anayetuonya kutoka mbinguni? 26 Wakati ule sauti yake ilitetemesha dunia, lakini sasa ameahidi, “Kwa mara moja tena nitatetemesha si nchi tu bali na mbingu pia.”

27 Maneno haya, “Kwa mara moja tena,” yanaonyesha kwamba vile vinavyotetemeshwa vitaondolewa, yaani vyote vilivyoumbwa, kusudi vibaki vile tu visivyoweza kutetemeshwa.

28 Kwa hiyo, tuwe na shukrani kwa kuwa tumepokea ufalme usioweza kutetemeshwa, na hivyo tumwabudu Mungu kwa namna itakay ompendeza, kwa unyenyekevu na kicho; 29 maana Mungu wetu ni moto unaoteketeza.

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run(A) with perseverance(B) the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,(C) the pioneer(D) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,(E) scorning its shame,(F) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(G) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary(H) and lose heart.

God Disciplines His Children

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.(I) And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart(J) when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,(K)
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a](L)

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.(M) For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline(N)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits(O) and live!(P) 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.(Q) 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace(R) for those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.(S) 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[b](T) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.(U)

Warning and Encouragement

14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone(V) and to be holy;(W) without holiness no one will see the Lord.(X) 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God(Y) and that no bitter root(Z) grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral,(AA) or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.(AB) 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,(AC) he could not change what he had done.

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;(AD) 19 to a trumpet blast(AE) or to such a voice speaking words(AF) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,(AG) 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[c](AH) 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[d](AI)

22 But you have come to Mount Zion,(AJ) to the city(AK) of the living God,(AL) the heavenly Jerusalem.(AM) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn,(AN) whose names are written in heaven.(AO) You have come to God, the Judge of all,(AP) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,(AQ) 24 to Jesus the mediator(AR) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood(AS) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.(AT)

25 See to it that you do not refuse(AU) him who speaks.(AV) If they did not escape when they refused him who warned(AW) them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?(AX) 26 At that time his voice shook the earth,(AY) but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[e](AZ) 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken(BA)—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,(BB) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,(BC) 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”[f](BD)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:6 Prov. 3:11,12 (see Septuagint)
  2. Hebrews 12:13 Prov. 4:26
  3. Hebrews 12:20 Exodus 19:12,13
  4. Hebrews 12:21 See Deut. 9:19.
  5. Hebrews 12:26 Haggai 2:6
  6. Hebrews 12:29 Deut. 4:24