Sermons

The Letter to the Hebrews

How Not To Be Like Esau

Hebrews 12:18-24

Some of us right now are being tempted to sin against God.  Maybe it involves revenge against someone, or committing adultery, or doing something dishonest.  And if you are not right now facing a huge temptation – it’s just a matter of time before you do.

But in today’s passage God gives us a weapon which, if we will use it, will enable us to overcome whatever temptations we face.  So let’s turn to Hebrews 12.  If you need a Bible, go ahead and raise your hand, and we will bring one to you.  Hebrews 12 is on page 1009 in the Bibles we are passing out.

In Hebrews 12:15-17 the author urges us to not be like Esau – who was overpowered by temptation.  And then in vv.18-24 he gives us the weapon which will keep us from being like Esau.

 Start with vv.15-17 – 

15            See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

16            that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

17            For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

Esau was the firstborn son.  In Jewish culture that meant he had the birthright, which meant he would receive the whole family inheritance.  So Esau had the birthright to the whole family inheritance.

But Esau had been hunting all day, and was really hungry.  And when we got home, he saw that his brother Jacob was cooking some stew.  So Esau asked Jacob for some stew.  But Jacob, being the conniver he was, said he would only give Esau stew if Esau gave him his birthright.

Think about it.  The full family inheritance, or a meal of stew.  Esau chose the meal of stew.

And the point is -- that’s what’s going on when we are tempted to sin.  The author mentions sexual immorality, so let’s take that as an illustration.  If one of you men is thinking of having an affair, you should understand that you risk trading salvation for a single meal of sin.  That’s what you are doing.

And to help us see the danger of this, the author mentions that after Esau made this trade, and regretted it, he found no chance to repent even though he sought it with tears.  This does not mean that if you sin once, you can never be forgiven again no matter how much you repent.  No.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins.

But what this means is that sin can so harden our hearts that we no longer want to turn from sin and trust Christ.  We might weep – but it will not be over the dishonor we’ve brought to God’s glory – it will just be over the consequences of sin.  That’s why Esau wept.

So we can never say – I’ll just go ahead and have this affair, and then I’ll repent and everything will be fine.  No; you might not be able to repent, which would mean you are not saved, and never were saved.

So here’s what the Holy Spirit is saying through these verses – Don’t be like Esau!  Don’t risk selling your salvation for a single meal of sin!

OK.  But how can we do that?  The author tells us how in vv. 18-24.  Notice that v.18 starts with the word “for.”  That word “for” is crucial, because it gives the reason which will persuade us why we should not be like Esau.  Why should we not risk selling our salvation for a single meal of sin?  The reason is given in vv.18-24.

So what is this reason?  It’s because of the worth of our salvation.  Notice that v.18 starts with “for you have NOT come to,” and then he tells us what the people of Israel experienced at Mt. Sinai.  And notice that v.22 starts with the words “But you HAVE come to,” and then he tells us what we have in Christ.  So the author shows us the worth of our salvation by contrasting it with what Israel experienced on Mt. Sinai.

So what have we not come to?  Look at vv.18-21 --

18            For you have not come to what may be touched [a physical mountain like Mount Sinai], a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest

19            and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.

20            For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned."

21            Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear."

Here’s what’s going on.  God had lovingly delivered Israel from slavery Egypt and brought them to Mt. Sinai.  And God tells Moses that in three days He will come down on Mt. Sinai and reveal His holiness and majesty to Israel.  And God warns that if any of them, even their animals, start up the mountain, they will die.

So on the third day Moses brought the people to the very edge of the mountain.  And God came down and revealed his holiness and glory.  There was thunder and lightning and fire and God’s booming voice. 

And God’s purpose in this was to show what it would be like for sinful people to approach a holy and righteous God without a Savior, without a mediator.  And the thought of approaching God without a savior rightly filled the people with trembling and fear and terror.

Now this does not mean that no Old Testament people could be forgiven and draw near to God.  No.  Moses went up the mountain and spent 40 days with God.  And David said that in God’s presence there was fullness of joy.  But at Mt. Sinai God taught Israel that because of our sin we cannot approach a holy and righteous God.  Because of our sin we need a Savior.

So what have we NOT come to?  We have not come to Mt. Sinai, which is a picture of what it would be like to approach God without a mediator; without forgiveness; without a Savior.  And the author’s point is to have that picture help us see the amazing salvation we have come to.

So what have we come to?  Read vv.22-24 --

22            But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,

23            and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

24            and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

This is a completely different picture than Mt. Sinai with its fire and thunder and lighting and fear.  And remember why the author is telling us all this.  It’s because when we see the value of our salvation we won’t risk trading our salvation for a single meal of sin.

So let’s go through this description of our salvation phrase by phrase.

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.

This is a description of heaven.  But notice.  It’s not that we will come to heaven.  That’s true.  After we die we will enter heaven.  But the author wants us to understand that through Christ we can have tastes of heaven now.  We can come into the very presence of the living God now.

Think of it.  Through Christ you can know the living God now!  So don’t risk trading salvation for a single meal of sin.

And to innumerable angels in festal gathering.

Mt. Sinai was fire and darkness and gloom and fear.  But we have come to innumerable angels – tens of thousands of angels.  Angels are not pudgy little beings with harps.  Angels are powerful supernatural beings shining with glory.  And these tens of thousands of angels are not gloomy and morose and condemning.  They are in festal gathering, which means they are celebrating. 

And what are these tens of thousands of angels celebrating?  Jesus taught that the angels rejoice when one sinner repents and puts their trust in Christ (Luke 15:10). 

Think of a salvation that causes tens of thousands of glorious angels to celebrate.  Then compare that with the single meal of sin.  No comparison!

 … and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven …

This is a picture of all those who have been saved through faith in Christ.  We are called “firstborn” probably because, just like the firstborn in Jewish culture, in Christ we all receive the full inheritance of joy in God forever.

 And notice that we are enrolled in heaven.  There is a book in heaven, called the book of life.  And in this book is written the name of each person who has been saved and forgiven through Jesus Christ.

So if you are trusting Jesus Christ, let’s take a trip to heaven.  Let’s go right to the book of life.  Massive book.  And let’s look up your name – last name … first name … there it is.  Your name is written in heaven.  Compare that with the single meal of sin!

… and to God, the judge of all …                     

It’s not that we can be heaven because God no longer judges sin.  No.  God is perfectly righteous.  He judges and punishes all sin.

So how can we be in heaven?  It’s because in great mercy God judged and punished our sin in Christ.  Every sin profanes God’s holy name, and so every sin must be punished.  And every sin we commit is judged and punished by God.  Either by God punishing us in hell forever, or, in great love and mercy, because we have trusted Jesus Christ, by God punishing Jesus on the Cross for our sin.

Imagine standing before the God who is the perfect judge of all.  And – who has such mercy that He justly punished all of your sin in His Son.  Don’t risk trading that salvation for a single meal of sin.

… and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect …

We are not perfected yet.  But on the Cross Jesus did everything necessary for us to be perfected.  He paid for the guilt of our sin.  He clothed us with His perfect righteousness.  He broke the power of our sin.  He purchased the work of the Spirit who progressively overcomes our sin.  And He purchased the gift of final glorification by which He will finally free us from all sin.

Don’t risk trading that salvation for the single meal of sin!

… and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant …

Mt. Sinai showed Israel how much they needed a mediator.  Jesus Christ is our mediator.  And to mediate between us and God He died on the Cross to establish the new covenant.  And because of this new covenant, it’s not us by our will-power trying to be good.

No.  The new covenant means that that God’s supernatural power changes our hearts.

So no matter how far you feel from God, if you will turn to Jesus, and trust Him, you will be assured of His forgiveness, and He will change your heart.  What a salvation!

… and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel

In Genesis 4 Cain viciously killed his brother Abel.  And Abel’s blood cries out that sin must be punished.  But Jesus’ blood speaks a better word.  Not that sin must be punished.  But that for all who trust Christ, our sin has been punished.

Think of it.  Because you are trusting Jesus’ blood, His blood speaks and says – your sin has been punished.  Don’t risk trading that salvation for a meal of sin.

Questions?

So how does this help us overcome temptation?  Back to Esau.  If Esau would have stopped, and compared the value of his birthright with a bowl of stew, he would have gladly endured his hunger, and taken the time to boil up some corn meal mush.

Same with us.  If we will stop, and compare the value of our salvation with the tiny, temporary pleasures of sin – we will endure the temptation, we will battle the temptation, we will overcome the temptation.

 Compare sin’s tiny, temporary pleasures –

• With now tasting the joys of God’s presence in heaven
• with a salvation so glorious that makes tens of thousands of angels celebrate
• with having your name written in the book of life
• with beholding the perfect judge who punished all your sin in Jesus
• with the promise that one day you will be completely free from all sin
• with having Jesus as your mediator who purchased the New Covenant for you
• with Jesus’ blood saying all your sin has been punished.

Compare sin’s tiny pleasures with the salvation that is ours in Christ.  And turn your back on sin, and embrace salvation.

One more thing.  If this last week, you risked trading salvation for a meal of sin, all is not lost.  Turn back to Christ right now, repent right now, trust Jesus Christ right now.  He will welcome you with open arms.  And He will assure you that you are completely forgiven and that forever you will have this incomparable salvation.