Hebrews 12:15-17 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For you know how that afterwards, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 

‘Looking’ [Greek: episkopeo] means to look at; inspect; examine; pay regard to (1Pet. 5:2).

‘Fail’ [Greek: hustereo] means to come late for. Translated as “fail” or “fall from” (Heb. 12:15); “be behind” (2Cor. 11:5; 12:11); “come short of” (Heb. 4:1); “lack” (Matt. 19:20; Mark 10:21; Luke 22:35); “want” (John 2:3); “part which lacked” (1Cor. 12:24); “come behind” (1Cor. 1:7); “come short of” (Rom. 3:23); “be destitute” (Heb. 11:37); “be in want” (Luke 15:14; 2Cor. 11:9); “suffer need” (Php. 4:12); and “be the worse” (1Cor. 8:8).

Eight proofs Paul is warning Christians: They are instructed to: To follow the faith heroes of Hebrews 11:1-40 who surround them (12:1). To lay aside every weight. To lay aside the besetting sin. To run with patience the Christian race. To consider and look to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith (12:2-4). To recognize and submit to God’s chastening as true sons in order to partake of His holiness (12:5-11). To follow peace and holiness and meet other terms of blessing lest they fail of the grace of God (12:12-17). The whole book is for Christians and to them, as proved by: (1) We – the Christians (2:3; 3:6, 14; 4:14; 6:9, 19; 10:10, 26; 12:1; 13:10, 14). (2) Let us – the Christians (4:1, 11, 14, 16; 6:1; 10:22-24; 12:1, 28; 13:13, 15). (3) Their salvation (2:10). (4) They were sanctified (2:11; 10:10, 29). (5) Holy brethren (2:11-12; 3:1, 12; 10:19). (6) Them – the saints (2:15, 18). (7) Many other terms in all chapters are used which prove Christians are referred to, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.

‘Bitterness’ [Greek: pikria] means bitterness (12:15; Acts 8:23; Rom. 3:14; Eph. 4:31).

‘Fornicator’ [Greek: pornos] means male prostitute, fornicator.

‘Profane person’ [Greek: bebelos] a despiser of sacred things; an irreligious man (12:16; 1Tim. 1:9; 4:7; 6:20; 2Tim. 2:16).

‘For he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.’ He sought to change his father’s mind.