Context
- Who was this letter written to? [ Hebrews 1:1-2 ]
- What is the key message of this letter?
- Who are the cloud of witnesses? [ Hebrews 12:1 ]
- What is the author discussing just before the passage? [ Hebrews 12:7 ]
Characters
- Why should the readers strengthen their weak knees? [ Hebrew 12:12-13, 1-2 ]
- The author is not referring to their physical knees. What might the author be referring to? (Look at the following verses for clues.)
- Without effort to be at peace with others, what can occur? [ Hebrews 12:14 ]
- Why is this important?
- How might someone fail to obtain the grace of God? [ Hebrews 12:15 ]
- What grows out of a root of bitterness? [ Hebrews 12:15-16a ]
- As the oldest son, what could Esau have expected? [ Hebrews 12:16 ]
- Why was this blessing so important?
- What does Esau’s trading of God’s blessing for the stew demonstrate about Esau? [ Genesis 25:29-34 ]
- When God came to mount Sinai, how did the people react to him? [ Hebrews 12:18-21 ]
- What is different about Mount Zion? [ Hebrews 12:22-24 ]
- What does the description of the city suggest?
- How are the angels arranged?
- Who else will be there?
- What is Jesus? Why is Jesus better than Abel? [ Hebrews 12:24, Genesis 4:8-12 ]
Application
- How should we respond to God’s work and the hope that is given to us in this passage?
- What warnings are given?
- How might some fail to obtain the grace of God?
- What should we value?
- How is the new relationship with God through Jesus Christ better than anything the Jews were previously blessed with?