Here is a sermon on Hebrews 12:4-11.
There is a book in my library entitled The Fatherhood of God in an Age of Emancipation, by W. A. Visser ‘t Hooft (Westminster Press, 1982). It is a fascinating study on how society has moved away from any form of authority. It highlights how we live in a different world than when the Bible was written.
For example, we don’t have kings with unlimited authority. Governments are often told what to do by citizens, rather than the other way around. Slavery, which was common in biblical times, is now unthinkable. To say the husband is head of the wife, might be called slavery and abuse today. People claim to be free to chose their sex instead of having it chosen for them. We have even been freed from absolute morals, we are told. What do all these have in common? They are all part of the process of emancipation—the freeing from a higher authority.
Authority in government and in the home were all based on the father, in the past. As this book says: “The structures of the old society dependent upon the authoritarian father had broken down.” In our quest for freedom and emancipation, much has been destroyed. Freedom is good though, we are told. Here the problem is described: “We cannot eliminate fatherhood from the gospel without destroying its very meaning.”
The most extreme feminists will not pray “Our Father who art in heaven.” That is too offensive to them, so they rebel and make their own more feminine god. But even among conservative citizens, the idea of a Father who rules, gets angry, and disciplines is not welcome. So we often hear about a god who is somewhat neutered. He does not punish, but winks at unfaithfulness and must gratify our wishes.
Consider our text: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
Real discipline is not only unpopular, it is becoming illegal. In many European countries, including Sweden and Germany, it is not lawful to physically spank a child with your hand. Contrast that to God’s Word: He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. Prov. 13:24 The real crime is children who grow up with no authority in the home—instead they actually rule the parents. But those ignorant of authority will not take kindly to the heavenly Father exercising authority. Discipline and punishment are no longer good, but evil in man’s eyes. Unfortunately, ultimate freedom means that no one cares. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
Even if we complain loudly and wail, the Lord does not give us what we want. He has not promised to make our lives easy if we follow Him. We have forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Those saved by the cross, must also live by the cross. Discipline, though not vengeful anger, is a sign of love. Without it adults will be just larger versions of two year olds that can talk better.
There is not much worse than witnessing a child control his parents. Yes, the parents may threaten and lose their temper, but the child knows that if he fights enough, he will get what he wants. Children are the latest ones to become emancipated. The ‘slavery’ of parental authority is being undone. Threats are doled out, but they become empty words that are not really meant in the end.
The United Nations in its 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child said: “The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child’s choice.” Evidently, parents are not supposed to restrict the words or expressions of their child. It is said that to exercise authority is to deprive the child of freedom. Sadly, this is not taken as a rhetorical question today: For what son is not disciplined by his father?
But it is not just children who are disciplined. To believe in the forgiveness of Jesus is to believe in the Father who sent Him. Every believer in Christ is a child to the heavenly Father. He also disciplines—and it is not always pleasant. Our dreams are not always allowed to come true. We are not given the right to be constantly happy or to live a long, healthy life.
When sickness and tragedy strike, do we ask how a loving God could do this? Then we do not submit to discipline very well. We do not like being shown that we are not god. To be corrected and redirected towards what is right is not fun. We do not embrace authority, but try to run away from it. Why do you think God’s Word is unpopular? It violates people’s idea of personal freedom.
We too are products of our time. We are not so different. Don’t we want to set the course of our lives? And when it doesn’t happen just so, we moan and try to irritate God with our temper tantrums. Yes, we do not love our perfect Authority or His commands. There is no authority except that which God has established. Rom 13 “You shall have no other gods,” does not fill us with joy.
But worldly freedom gives no freedom from one’s own sin. It is a freedom to be lost, without help, and finally rejected by the Father. Rebels are not happy, but angry. Without a doubt, freedom can be oppressive, but it is not always so. Earthly government and fathers are misguided at times. But anarchy and being an orphan is worse. You are not left alone, without anyone caring. There is another father, a perfect one, who loves and disciplines you from above.
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 our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
The father does not demand perfection for you to be his child. He does not demand too much: In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. He does not discipline without also giving you strength. He wants you to not be a slave to sin. How will we obey without discipline?
Your heavenly Father is your true father. He showed His will in Jesus, His only begotten Son. He cannot hate you. His authority is for your good. You have a God who cares enough about your life to direct it. If He didn’t care, He wouldn’t waste His time on you. Whatever harsh means He uses are for your good.
If you have rebelled, He has not stopped seeking you. In baptism, you were adopted by the Word of Jesus. He still desires to protect you by His authority. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Gal. 3:26-27 It is a joy to be under prefect authority. You are not responsible for your salvation or life. Christ endured the cross, despising its shame for you.
Having the mind of Christ, we press on. We do not want to answer for our lives or our children. But Christ has given us the answer of a clean conscience to the Father. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Amen.
