Hebrews 12:5-7 And you have forgotten the exhortation which spoke unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou are rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?
Eight reasons when and why God chastises – allow consequences: When people refuse to hear (Job 33:1-33). When they commit iniquity (2Sam. 7:14). When people provoke God (Ps. 6:1; 38:1). When they forsake God (Ps. 89:30-32). When people refuse to judge themselves (1Cor. 11:32). When they stubbornly rebel (Deut. 11:2-6; Lev. 26:14-31; Num. 14:1-45). When people sow to the flesh (Gal. 6:7-8). When His children need instruction and correction (Heb. 12:5-10; Rev. 3:19).
Two kinds of chastening: [1] Child correction and training. The Greek word paideuo means child training. It is used of: (1) Instruction to rebels (2Tim. 2:25). (2) Rebels learning not to blaspheme by being turned over to satan (1Tim. 1:20; cp. 1Cor. 5:5). (3) People being educated in school or by private instructors (Acts 7:22; 22:3). (4) Grace teaching people (Tit. 2:12). (5) Christians being trained in the way of righteousness (Heb. 12:5-11; 1Cor. 11:32; Rev. 3:19). (6) Persecutions for the gospel through which Christians learn much (2Cor. 6:9). (7) Punishment of Christ who was accused of being a criminal (Luke 23:16, 22). [2] Punishments upon rebels. It is simply the law of sowing and reaping in operation. For rebellion, God promised certain curses and did allow certain plagues in Leviticus 26: (1) Terror, consumption, burning ague, and material loss (Heb. 12:16). (2) Death, oppression and fear (Heb. 12:17). (3) Humbling and poverty (Heb. 12:18). (4) Weakness and crop failures (Heb. 12:20). (5) Human beings and stock killed by wild beasts (Heb. 12:22). (6) Wars, pestilences, defeat in war, and famines (Heb. 12:25-26). (7) Cannibalism and destruction of cities (Heb. 12:29-31; Deut. 11:2-6; 28:1-64).
Ten ways of chastening: Wars (2Sam. 7:14; Lev. 26:28-40; Hos. 10:10; Jer. 30:14). Whipping (Deut. 8:5; 21:18; Pro. 13:24; 19:18). Fasting (Ps. 69:10; Dan. 10:2-12). Persecutions (2Cor. 6:9; 11:23-30). Famine (Lev. 26:28-29). Fines (Deut. 22:18-19). Captivity (Hos. 7:12). Scourging (Luke 23:16, 22; 1Kin. 12:11, 12:14; 2Chron. 10:11, 10:14). Judgments (Deut. 11:2; Isa. 53:5). Sickness on sinners (Job 33:14-30).
‘Scourge’ [Greek: mastigoo] means to whip, flog or beat. Always translated as “scourge” (Matt. 10:17; 20:19; 23:34; Mark 10:34; Luke 18:33; John 19:1; Heb. 12:6).
Living the Word 