John Calvin on Hebrews 12:29

29. For our God, etc. As he had before kindly set before us the grace of God, so he now makes known his severity; and he seems to have borrowed this sentence from the fourth chapter of Deuteronomy. Thus we see that God omits nothing by which he may draw us to himself; he begins indeed with love and kindness, so that we may follow him the more willingly; but when by alluring he effects but little, he terrifies us.

And doubtless it is expedient that the grace of God should never be promised to us without being accompanied with threatening; for we are so extremely prone to indulge ourselves, that without the application of these stimulants the milder doctrine would prove ineffectual. Then the Lord, as he is propitious and merciful to such as fear him unto a thousand generations; so he is a jealous God and a just avenger, when despised, unto the third and the fourth generation. The conjunction καὶ at the beginning of this verse is commonly omitted by translators, but Macknight has retained it, “For even our God,” etc. The intimation clearly is, that under the Gospel no less than under the Law God is a consuming fire to apostates; and apostasy or idolatry is the sin especially referred to in Deuteronomy 4:24, from which this passage is taken. — Ed

CHAPTER 13

Hebrews Chapter 13:1-6

1. Let brotherly love continue.

1. Fraterna charitas maneat.

2. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

2. Hospitalitatis ne sitis immemores; per hanc enim quosdam latuit quum recipissent Angelos.

3. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

3. Memores estote vinctorum, tanquam ipsi quoque sitis in corpore.

4. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

4. Honorabile in omnibus conjugium et thorus impollutus; scortatores auten et adulteros judicabit Deus.

5. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

5. Sint mores sine avaritia: contenti sitis iis quae adsunt; ipse enim dixit, Non te desero, neque te derelinquo:

6. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

6. Ut fidentes dicamus, Dominus mihi adjutor, neque timebo quid faciat mihi homo.