Cardinal Hugo de Sancto Caro is often given credit for first dividing the Latin Vulgate into chapters in the real sense, but it is the arrangement of his contemporary and fellow cardinal Stephen Langton who in 1205 created the chapter divisions which are used today. They were then inserted into Greek manuscripts of the New Testament in the 16th century. Robert Estienne (Robert Stephanus) was the first to number the verses within each chapter, his verse numbers entering printed editions in 1551 (New Testament) and 1553 (Hebrew Bible). (from Wiki)
One thing to keep in mind that applies to our next section- The Spirit may have inspired men to make the chapters, etc, but He did not put them in. That's why chapter 12 of Hebrews starts with a 'therefore' that sums up our last section (which itself covered three chapters!) But this chapter is built on such things: Three therefores, three ands, four fors, two buts, and a couple of nows. And I want to dissect this by those connectors, and draw out the story the author was getting at.
AND
Our ands come at verses 5, 19, and 21. The big one is the first one:
Heb 12:5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
Ands are connectors that add two thoughts together. In this case, they add the concepts that they had not "yet resisted to bloodshed" to the idea that it would be coming- but that was not completely a bad thing. Reason? Last time, the author mentioned our adoption by God; which makes us sons and daughters- and thus subject to 'chastisement'. The coming troubles were there both to confirm their adoption, and to grow them in faith.
The other two ands are mixed with a couple of the fors, and we'll go there now.
FOR
Fors are kind of a reverse cause and effect- connecting the effect first, and the cause after. The first comes at v3. It connects the effect- Jesus's enduring of the cross for us- to that same upcoming trail that we face. And it speaks to the encouragement His trial gives us:
Heb 12:3 For consider the one who endured such hostility by sinners against himself, so that you will not grow weary in your souls and give up.
The second is in v 10, where the author is expanding on this 'chastening' they are about to receive. It connects the effect- that God is doing this, or allowing it, as a loving Father- to the idea of the reward that the chastening will bring: "the peaceable fruit of righteousness" (v11). I always remember Elihu's concept of the reason for trials in Job:
Job 37:10 By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast.
Job 37:11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning.
Job 37:12 They turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world.
Job 37:13 Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.
Another is v 17, where the story of Esau's perversion in selling his birthright is connected to his inability to later receive the blessing. If the past was so overwhelmed by his physical desires, how would he ever reach the blessings of the future in the end? Esau was a object lesson in not putting things off until it's too late. Don't think you'll get a chance to plead at the gates of heaven.
Next is the 'for' in the mixing with the 'ands': vv 18-21. This set tries- in a way that we might get confused about, but would make sense to them- that the days of being afraid to come to God yourself was over. No more depending on a Moses to do it for you.
Last one is an end of the chapter warning:
Heb 12:29 for our God is a consuming fire.
It connects our last therefore to what comes in the next chapter: The effect of our worship to the cause that SHOULD be our works. We worship by our works.
BUT
Buts show the disconnect between concepts; and we have one good and one bad. The first, in v 8, is the flip side of the whole 'chastening' discussion. If you AREN'T being put in trials, you may not be considered a son of God. A father doesn't chasten someone else's kids. The author is teaching that troubles shouldn't make you worry. If you're on 'Easy Street', THEN you should be worried.
The second concludes the and/for set in vv 18-21. No more Moses, no more 'scary God' who thunders at you. Now, you are given access to the throne of God through Jesus, to heaven, to the angelic host, the great assembly of believers, and to God your Judge and Christ your Mediator. This one statement draws together much of what has gone before, including the angels now in their proper 'place', and Abel's imperfect, though accepted, sacrifice being replaced by Christ's better one. Isn't it funny how the 'disconnect' conjunction ended up connecting everything?
NOW
Both 'nows' come right before a 'therefore'. They basically say, "Okay, you know where you are; here's where you go from here." That they come prior to the 'therefores', tells us that Therefore moves us to the next level. Let's see our next levels, shall we?
THEREFORE
As I said, the first one leads off the chapter. Where we are is seeing the lessons of the faith of those who came before, who believed before ever Jesus became man.
Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Where we are- surrounded by all these examples, all those who came before, and those who pray for us. Where we are going: To follow Jesus's example of obedience and endurance. And following means suffering as He did, and thus the discussion on chastisement.
The second concludes the chastening discussion, and moves us on.
Heb 12:12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,
Heb 12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
Don't let the trials drag you down. Keep on keeping on, following that example. The author goes next into the Esau story, trying to contrast the reward of endurance with the 'reward' of taking the easy way out. Maybe brighter minds than mine could have gotten this concept from a straight reading, but I wouldn't have tumbled on to why Esau is even mentioned had I not done things this way. God is Good! My personal lesson, stop taking the easy way out....
The final one comes after the section reminding them we have moved beyond the 'scary God' scenario. The key is the 'now' that precedes it...
Heb 12:25 Watch out that you do not refuse the one who is speaking! For if those did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, much less will we escape, if we reject the one who warns from heaven,
Heb 12:26 whose voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, saying, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven."
Heb 12:27 Now the phrase "yet once more" indicates the removal of what is shaken, namely, things that have been created, in order that the things that are not shaken may remain.
The old way of doing things has been removed, shaken loose by the death of Christ, put into a new place by His resurrection.
Heb 12:28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe...
The new way is to face everything with gratitude and worship, because of what is to come. This was the path that Abel, Abraham, and the rest followed; the things that would not be shaken, the promises of God. And how does one do that? That's where the author is going next.
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