“TO THE CONGREGATION OF THE FIRSTBORN, ENROLLED IN HEAVEN.” (Heb 12:23)
In ancient culture, the birthright served as an inherit blessing from father to eldest son, or the firstborn. When Abraham was promised a son or heir that would come from his body, the birthright was promised to Isaac, as he was to be the firstborn son. This would later become known as the “children of promise”, as those in Christ are considered the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise.
Becoming heirs according to the promise (Gal 3:29) gives us the rights and privileges of the firstborn son. It is through the role of the firstborn in which we receive the blessing of the birthright, which is our inheritance to eternal life. When we are born again, we are fulfilling the role of the firstborn through the Body of Christ.
♦Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
♦Romans 8:29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
I. The Firstborn and Priesthood
Galatians 3:26FOR YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, AND HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE.
The Greek word for “son” is “huios” which means a descendent:
- properly, a son (by birth or adoption); (figuratively) anyone sharing the same nature as their Father. For the believer, becoming a son of God begins with being reborn (adopted) by the heavenly Father – through Christ (the work of the eternal Son). In the NT, (“son”) equally refers to female believers (Gal 3:28).
- (“son”) highlights the (legal) right to the Father’s inheritance, i.e. as the believer lives in conformity with the Father’s nature (purpose).
First’-born’ or First’ling. the former being used chiefly of men, the latter always of beasts. To the first-born offspring of men and animals God the giver has the first claim (cf. Gen. 4:4) Among the Israelites an additional reason existed in the fact that Jehovah had freed the people from Egyptian bondage. In the 10th and last plague of Egypt the first-born of the Egyptians were slain, while the first-born of the Israelites were preserved by the sprinkling blood on the lintels and doorposts of the houses within which they resided (Ex. 12: 12, 13, 23, 29). Saved in this manner, they became consecrated to Jehovah. Every first-born male of man and beast was holy to the Lord (chs. 13:2; 34:19) and could not be used by man (Lev. 27:26), but belonged to the sanctuary for sacrifice; the first-born of man, however, was redeemed (Ex 13:13, 15; 34:20: cf. Lev. 27:6). On this occasion he was brought to the sanctuary and presented to Jehovah (Luke 2:22; cf. Num. 18:15). The Levites were afterward substituted for the Israelite first-born (Num 3:12, 41, 46,: 8:13-19; cf. Ex. 32:26-29) and served at the sanctuary. (The Westminster Dictionary of The Bible, by John D. Davis, revised by Henry Snyder Gehman, pg. 184)
As the Israelites put blood over the doorpost of their homes, they were protected from the last plague that hit the Egyptians, the death of the firstborn. Those who rested under the protection of the blood of the lamb, were saved from the “destroyer”.
Being redeemed in this manner they were considered to be the firstborn son, Israel, and as such were consecrated to Yahweh. After the first Passover, it was decreed that all firstborn males born be consecrated, or set-apart, unto Yahweh. (Ex 13:2)
♦Ex 4:22And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD(YHWH), ISRAEL IS MY SON, EVEN MY FIRSTBORN: 23And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
Initially we can see the above passage referring to the nation of Israel redeemed by Yahweh, as was spoken to Moses. However, the fulfillment came through Yeshua/Jesus.
♦Hosea 11:1WHEN ISRAEL WAS A CHILD, then I loved him, AND CALLED MY SON out of Egypt.
Matthew alluded to this prophesy’s fulfillment pertaining to Israel being Yeshua/Jesus:
♦Mat 2:13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, AND DEPARTED INTO EGYPT: 15AND WAS THERE UNTIL THE DEATH OF HEROD: THAT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN OF THE LORD(YHWH) BY THE PROPHET SAYING, OUT OF EGYPT HAVE I CALLED MY SON.
The role of the firstborn being attributed to Yeshua/Jesus is not proclaiming Him to be a created being as many distort the scriptures to proclaim. Rather, it is referring to His preeminence over all creation and taking on flesh and blood to redeem mankind from sin. It is only by the blood of YHWH/God, that by which we can be saved (Acts 20:28). This is why He fulfilled the role of the Kinsman Redeemer and is called the “second Adam”. Initially Adam was the firstborn of humankind, and through his disobedience, all humankind was thrust into sin. Yeshua gained the inheritance back that Adam lost in the fall, through the shedding of His blood. (Romans 5:12-21).
The physical nation of Israel served as a type and shadow to the spiritual nation Israel, made up of believers in Christ. So, His Body, or congregation /church is considered the “firstborn”(Heb 12:23).
From my recent blog, “Who is the Israel of God?“:
The “congregation of the firstborn” is in reference to the church, or the entire Body of Christ, both here on earth, as well as in heaven. The term “firstborn” is used multiple times within scripture to point to Yeshua and specifically has to do with inheritance. This is why we receive the blessing of the first-born as co-heirs with Christ, and inheritance of the kingdom.
♦Roman 8:16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
♦Col 3:23And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
♦Rev 21:76And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. 7The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.
After the Israelites had fled from Egypt, eventually coming to Mt. Sinai, they were delegated to be a kingdom of priests. For those familiar with scripture, this passage should sound familiar to 1 Peter 2:9, as under the new covenant we are considered a holy nation (Israel), and a kingdom of priests.
Exodus 19:6And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
However, because of the golden calf incident, the Levites not only gained the priesthood, but also the role of the firstborn.
From my blog, “Garments of a Warrior Priest- The Breastplate of Righteousness“:
This also made the Levites, as a whole, becoming a replacement for every first-born. As we can see in (Ex 13:11-15) Yahweh originally consecrated the firstborn sons, however because He then appointed the Levites to the priesthood, Yah took the Levites from among the Israelites, in place of every firstborn.
Numbers 3:5Then the LORD said to Moses, 6“BRING THE TRIBE OF LEVI AND PRESENT THEM TO AARON the priest to assist him. 7They are to perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, attending to the service of the tabernacle. 8They shall take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting and fulfill obligations for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.
9Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been given exclusively to him from among the Israelites. 10So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any layman who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”
11Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 12“BEHOLD, I HAVE TAKEN THE LEVITES FROM AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN PLACE OF EVERY FIRSTBORN ISRAELITE FROM THE WOMB. The Levites belong to Me, 13because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They are Mine; I am the LORD.”(BSB)
This changed when Messiah, the rightful heir, and the “first-born”, came in the order of Melchizedek, through the tribe of Judah. Yeshua is the rightful heir and Kinsman to Redeem the position of the “first-born”:
Hebrews 7:11Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (upon which basis the people received the Law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? 12For when the priesthood is changed, the Law must be changed as well.
13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.
15And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.(BSB)
Thus when we are grafted into Messiah we become not only Israel, but the assembly of the “first born”…a royal priesthood, a holy nation:
Hebrews 12:22Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the HEAVENLY JERUSALEM. You have come to myriads of angels 23in joyful assembly, TO THE CONGREGATION OF THE FIRSTBORN, ENROLLED IN HEAVEN. You have come to God the judge of all men, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24to Jesus the MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.(BSB)
Since the priesthood was given to the Levites under the role of the “firstborn”, this legally changed under the New Covenant from the order of Aaron to Melchizedek. This is why under the New Covenant we are all considered “priests” without the order of Aaron:
- “Holy Priesthood…” 1 Peter 2:5
- “Royal Priesthood…” 1 Peter 2:9
- “Who has made us kings and priests…”Rev 1:6
- “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests…” Rev 5:10
Under the New Covenant, through the mediator of Yeshua, we are all redeemed as the “firstborn”. Through this role of the firstborn, we also inherit the priesthood. This is why we are able to serve in a temple that is not made with hands
Hebrews 4:16Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We can go to the throne of grace, or rather the mercy seat of Christ, because we have authority through the blood of the lamb:
Hebrews 10:19Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Understanding that the priesthood changed from Aaron to Melchizedek immediately refutes many false doctrines surrounding a future restoration of the Levitical priesthood, as well as a future temple restoration. For both the Levitical priesthood, and the temple service, along with the sacrifices done by the priests has changed under the New Covenant. This is also why the temple was prophesized to be destroyed by Yeshua, and later was fulfilled in 70AD. I have several blogs on this topic:
Many will use various passages within the scriptures, mainly in the latter books of Ezekiel, or Num 25:11-13, to state that it was a perpetual priesthood given to Aaron and that it still remains as such. While that initially is true, not only did Yahweh later revoke that promise through Eli, but as I just mentioned, it legally changed to the order of the firstborn through Yeshua/Jesus under the New Covenant.
1 Samuel 2:30Therefore, the LORD(YHWH), the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD(YHWH) declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained. 31Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that no older man will be left in your house.
Verse 30. – I said indeed. By thus acting Eli became an accomplice in the irreligion of his sons, and God therefore revokes his grant of a perpetual priesthood. Like Saul in the kingdom, they proved unworthy of it, and so they lost it forever. Can then a promise of God be withdrawn? Yes, assuredly. Not from mankind as a whole, nor from the Church as a whole, but from each particular nation, or Church, or individual. To each separate person God’s promises are conditional, and human action everywhere is a coworker with the Divine volition, though only within a limited sphere, and so as that the Divine purposes must finally be accomplished. Eli then and his sons may suffer forfeit of the promise by not fulfilling the obligations which, whether expressed or implied, are an essential condition of every promise made by God to man.
Even though this had to do with the revoking of the priesthood, a major point I want to bring forth here, is that a promise made by Yahweh can be revoked due to misconduct on the individual. The promises of God are conditional and when those conditions/obligations are not met, the result can be a loss or forfeit.
II. Birthright
Birth’right’. A certain right or privilege considered to belong to the first-born son in a family, and not shared by his younger brothers. The eldest son ordinarily succeeded to his father’s rank and position, as head of the family tribe and as representative of its prerogatives. He also inherited a double portion of his father’s property, a right guaranteed to the first-born even when his mother was less loved of two wives (Deut. 21:17; cf. II Kings 2:9). A birthright might be sold to a younger brother, as Esau sold his birthright to Jacob (Gen. 25:29, 34; Heb. 12:16) It might also be forfeited on account of misconduct (I Chron. 5:1) (The Westminster Dictionary of The Bible, by John D. Davis, revised by Henry Snyder Gehman, pg. 75)
A birthright cannot be earned, it is something that becomes inherent based upon birth. When we are born again and adopted into the family of Yahweh, becoming the children of promise, we receive a deposit of the Holy Spirit to become co-heirs with Christ.
Romans 8:15For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
However, like a deposit, a birthright can be forfeited, or taken away. In the excerpt above, there are two examples of the birthright being forfeited. One was with Esau, as he sold his birthright to Jacob, and the other was Reuben when he defiled his father’s marriage bed. Both forfeitures were the result of the firstborns’ actions, revealing an unfaithfulness to take their birthright seriously. While neither son had earned their birthright, once they were in succession to the father’s inheritance, they had to maintain a level of conduct worthy to inherit. Just as Eli lost the priesthood, and Saul lost the kingdom, we too can lose both the priesthood and the kingdom (our birthright) due to misconduct.
Rev 21:7HE WHO OVERCOMES SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
In order to inherit, the qualifying factor would be to overcome. To overcome, means to conquer or prevail, or to be victorious over something. Paul, within several of his epistles illustrates this point comparing those who trained for a physical race to that of a believer’s race in Christ.
♦1 Cor 9:24Do you not know that those who run in a race indeed all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to obtain it. 25And everyone who competes controls himself in every way. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we for an incorruptible crown.
♦Hebrews 12:1…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us,
Endurance means to persevere.
Matthew 24:13But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
When you think of a race, generally there is a starting point, and an ending point, or rather a “start” and a “finish” line in which the runner crosses each threshold to begin and end the race. Salvation in Yeshua/Jesus is a process, it is a continued unlearning of pagan ways, and learning His ways. This is a process of mile markers. If you are running a 13.1 half marathon, each mile you pass, you are one mile closer, and are learning the ways of the path along the way. A race is a race until you reach the finish line.
Luke 13:23and someone said to Him, “Master, are there few who are being saved?” And He said to them, 24“STRIVE to enter through the narrow gate, because many, I say to you, shall seek to enter in and shall not be able.
The underlying Greek word for “strive” is agónizomai, which means: TO CONTEND FOR A PRIZE, STRUGGLE, COMPETES IN THE GAMES-AS ONE WHO IS ENGAGED IN AN INTENSE ATHLETIC CONTEST OR WARFARE
- Cognate: 75 agōnízomai (from 73 /agṓn, “conflict/struggle,” the root of the English term, “agonize”) – properly, to struggle, like engaged in an intense athletic contest or warfare (Souter). See 73 (agōn).
- From agon; to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or genitive case (to endeavor to accomplish something) — fight, labor fervently, strive.
That makes a whole lot of sense now, don’t you think when Jesus stated that “those who endure to the end shall be saved”? That only those who enter through the Narrow Gate, are those who “strive” for it, as in competing for a prize? That in order to finish the race and receive the prize, you actually have to prove your faithfulness?
2 Tim 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
When I used to run in marathons, there was always an entry fee. Well, for those who have been purchased by the blood of Yeshua/Jesus, He paid your entry fee, and now, you need to have endurance, perseverance to hold fast to what you may obtain, to fight (through trials and tribulations/spiritual warfare) to finish the race.
The metaphor Paul brings forth to those in Corinth, would have been familiar with the implications of running a race, especially the training and endurance that was involved, as they were at the center of what was known as the Isthmian Games. Those that ran and fought in the Isthmian games were involved in rigorous training and had to exercise self-control over their bodies in order to compete for a prize that was a crown of leaves. While the end goal for the believer, is not a crown that perishes, the comparison of those who practice in these games, is how we are to endure in our race with Christ.
(24) Know ye not . . .–The illustration which follows refers to these Isthmian games (so called from their taking place in the isthmus where Corinth stood) with which his readers would be familiar. These, like the other games of Greece–the Olympian, Pythian, and Nemean–included every form of athletic exercise, and stood on an entirely different footing from anything of the kind in modern times. For the Greek, these contests were great national and religious festivals. None but freemen could enter the lists, and they only after they had satisfied the appointed officers that they had for ten months undergone the necessary preliminary training. For thirty days previous to the contest the candidates had to attend the exercises at the gymnasium, and only after the fulfilment of these conditions were they allowed, when the time arrived, to contend in the sight of assembled Greece.
Those in Corinth would have understood that all who begin a race, may not endure until the end, or become disqualified. Likewise, those who all begin a faithful start in Christ, may not be faithful until the end, becoming disqualified. 
1 Cor 9:27But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
To discipline the body, means to restrain exercised control over an impulse, emotion or desire. Like that of physical training which subjects the body into conditioning, to exert self-control over the body, means bringing our minds into the subjection of Christ ( 2 Cor 10:5).
Paul, as a herald(messenger) of the race(gospel), while also a runner himself, must retain proper discipline, and faithfulness to the word he professes to be true. Otherwise, it could be a cause for disqualification.
The word disqualified used in 1 Cor 9:27, has a powerful meaning, which is originally derived from a metaphor for testing metals and casting aside those which were impure, or proven to be fake.
- castaway, rejected, reprobate.
- From a (as a negative particle) and dokimos; unapproved, i.e. Rejected; by implication, worthless (literally or morally) — castaway, rejected, reprobate.
Jer 6:30People will call them rejected silver, Because the Lord has rejected them.”
Rejected silver. Because they failed the test to be proven faithful.
2 Cor 13:5Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. (except ye be reprobates?)
I thought that the Benson Commentary did an excellent job at expounding this verse from Corinthians, from what I have underlined.
Except ye be reprobates — Αδοκιμοι, persons disapproved, or mere nominal Christians; and such as, whatever your gifts may be, will be finally rejected, as reprobate silver, that will not stand the touchstone. The reader will easily observe that this word, here rendered reprobates, and which, as has been observed, properly means persons disapproved, has no relation here, or anywhere else in Scripture, to any decree of God absolutely and unconditionally excluding a part of mankind from a capacity of salvation; but only denotes those who, through the rejection or abuse of divine grace, continue to render themselves unfit to be approved of God as his people, either now or at the day of judgment.
“Thus they who, when they knew God, did not glorify him as God, but changed his truth into a lie, and worshipped the creature more than the Creator, are said (Romans 1:21-28) to be given up by God, εις νουν αδοκιμον, to a reprobate mind, which prompted them to do those things which God could not approve of, but abhor; and they who resisted the truth, through the corruption of their minds, are styled αδοκιμοι περι την πιστιν, that is, reprobates concerning the faith, 2 Timothy 3:8; that is, men whose faith cannot be owned or approved of by God.
They also are in Scripture, as to their manners, styled reprobates, whose minds and consciences are defiled; so that though in words they profess to know God, yet in works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and to every good work αδοκιμοι, reprobates, that is, void, not of judgment only to discern, but of affection to approve of it, Titus 1:16. Thus that earth is styled αδοκιμος, reprobate, or rejected, which, after all the showers which fall upon it, brings forth only thorns and briers, Hebrews 6:8; and that silver, αργυριον αδοκιμον, reprobate silver, which, being falsely stamped or coined, will not be received, but rejected, Proverbs 25:4; Isaiah 1:22. And in this sense St. Paul saith, he kept under his body, lest while he preached to others, he himself should be αδοκιμος, disowned and rejected by God, 1 Corinthians 9:27.” — Whitby. But I trust, &c. — But whatever be the case of any of you, I hope ye shall soon know that we are not reprobates — Are not disapproved of God, have not lost our evidence of the divine presence and favour.
To also expound on what Benson brought forth here, specifically in Hebrews 6:8, is the context in which briers and thorns are brought forth and rejected.
Let’s read the passage below:
Hebrews 6:4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
The metaphor here, is to put emphasis on what was said in the previous verses 4-6: if the earth by which the rain falls upon, only yields thorns and briers then it is gathered up and burned in the fire. Likewise, a person who has received the gift of the Holy Spirit, drank freely of such water, yet the yield that is brought forth from them is proven to be unworthy, they are rejected and burned as such. This is in alignment with many of the parables that Yeshua spoke during His ministry. Here is one in particular that is in direct alignment:
John 15:2EVERY BRANCH IN ME THAT BEARETH NOT FRUIT HE TAKETH AWAY: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6If a man abide not in me, HE IS CAST FORTH AS A BRANCH, AND IS WITHERED; AND MEN GATHER THEM, AND CAST THEM INTO THE FIRE, AND THEY ARE BURNED.
A branch that is able to be a part of Yeshua/Jesus, is someone who has been a partaker in the Holy Spirit and received the gift of salvation(birthright) however, if they chose to fall away by whatever reason, then they will be cut off from His Body. Removed. Rejected.
This is after a time of testing, a continued abuse of His grace, a selling of the birthright.
III. Selling our Birthright
Hebrews 12:15looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
There are two key areas I want to discuss with this passage.
1.) To Satisfy the Hunger
What I find to be a crucial understanding to Esau, is that he was in the line of succession to
receive the promises of Abraham. Esau was the firstborn of Isaac, and by giving up his birthright, the promises went to Jacob, who later became known as Israel.
One day after Esau was in the field, hungry and weary, he came to Jacob to satisfy his stomach. Jacob was unwilling to give his brother soup until he sold his birthright to him. So, to satisfy his hunger, Esau chose to forfeit his inheritance for bread and lentil soup.
Gen 25:33…So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Notice after he was done eating, he just got up and left, with no remorse, revealing that he despised his birthright. To despise something means to consider it worthless, or vile. Later on, when he sought after the blessing from Isaac, he was unable to receive it. Tragically realizing what he lost, he was unable to redeem, even though it was sought with tears.
…”For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”
He was rejected. The word rejected here means being rejected after testing. To become disqualified, or castaway after investigation. This aligns with Paul’s “disqualifying” of the race, in which a person has no longer become qualified to continue.
Pulpit commentary of Hebrews 12:15-17:
The essential moral of his history is this: being the firstborn of Israel, and so the primary inheritor of the promises made to Abraham, he set no store by the privilege, and so lost it irretrievably. In early life he so lightly esteemed his birthright as the eldest born (carrying with it, as is supposed, in the patriarchal age, the priesthood of the family, and in his case, as might be presumed, the custody and transmission of the promises) that he parted with it for the gratification of a passing appetite. His words on that occasion expressed the limit of his aims and interests: “Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?”
Later in life he nevertheless presented himself to claim the blessing of the firstborn from his dying father, but found that he had been forestalled. It does not appear that he had meanwhile changed his mode of life or made amends for his former carelessness; still, he felt now that he had lost something worth having, and was grieved exceedingly. But not even his “great and exceeding bitter cry” availed then to recover what was forfeited. And so neither he nor his seed had part or lot in the Abrahamic promises: the time of opportunity was gone forever.
There is a huge lesson here.
When we are hungry, what are we willing to do to satisfy that hunger?
You can take this both literally, and spiritually. For I believe that when we are put under pressure physically, it can give way to weaken us in our mind and allow Satan to tempt us in ways that we might not otherwise been prepared for.
Esau thought he was on the brink of death. Perhaps this was a bit overly dramatic, however, his hunger got the better of him, and he had no issue with handing over his birthright. He had come to a point in his life where the value of his birthright was considered worthless as he thought himself languishing at the brink of death.
How many times do we think or believe that we would not deny Christ? And yet, many already are. They are satisfying their hunger, through the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
Many believe they will be faithful to the end, but when suffering comes, will that be proven to be true? When whatever circumstances in our life may prove us to be at the brink of death, will we still suffer with Christ?
“If indeed we suffer with Him” (Rom 8:17)
♦Rev 2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Yahweh allows Satan to test us, so that we may be proven faithful. IF we endure, THEN we receive the crown of life. 
From my blog, “Overcoming the Mark of the Beast“:
Many people are concerned with a physical mark, when throughout the centuries, it has been the goal of Satan to get people to deny Christ. How else can Satan overcome the saints unless he gets them to deny Christ? Either in word (mind) or deed(hand). Satan does not get victory over the death of a true disciple of Yeshua/Jesus that has remained faithful to the end.
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”(1 Cor 15:55).
There are only two main kingdoms: the kingdom of heaven, and the kingdom of darkness and each ruler has their seal over their people. Those who choose to go from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of heaven have the opportunity to overcome, yet, the prince of darkness, knowing he lost one to his kingdom, will do what he can to overcome them to bring them back, and if he does, then woe to that man, for they have sealed their fate to the mark of the beast.
The following is a small excerpt from “The Martyrdom of Polycarp“, detailing the martyrdom of Polycarp, who was a disciple of John, in roughly 150AD, and translated by J.B. Lightfoot.
In the same way, those who were condemned to the wild beasts endured dreadful torture. Some were stretched out on beds of spikes. Others were subjected to all kinds of torments, all in the Devil’s attempt to make them deny Christ.
Those who yielded to the proconsul’s demands had apostatized giving offering and incense to Caesar. You could say that they “gave into their hunger”:
By the way, when Quintus the Phrygian handed himself over for martyrdom with some others, the Proconsul persuaded them to take the oath and sacrifice.
Later on, when the Proconsul questioned Polycarp, they tempted and tested him to forsake Christ by throwing him to the wild beasts.
The Proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On hearing that he was, he tried to persuade him to apostatize, saying, “Have respect for your old age, swear by the fortune of Caesar. Repent, and say, ‘Down with the Atheists!’” Polycarp looked grimly at the wicked heathen multitude in the stadium, and gesturing towards them, he said, “Down with the Atheists!” “Swear,” urged the Proconsul, “reproach Christ, and I will set you free.” “86 years have I have served him,” Polycarp declared, “and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”
“I have wild animals here,” the Proconsul said. “I will throw you to them if you do not repent.”
Now, the scriptures speak of many who will depart from the faith, and that word to “depart from” (1 Tim 4:1) and “falling away”(2 Thes 2:3) are two Greek words and aphistémi and apostasia, which are derived from the same root and mean a leaving or departure from where one once stood, to fall away, to become faithless.
Remember what was quoted above, in the Devil’s attempts to make followers of Christ deny Christ by subjecting them to all kinds of torments? Not to mention that this was warned in scripture? Well, while this was written in the second century, let us also look into a writing closer to our current time.
This is an excerpt from Marx and Satan, by Richard Wurmbrand. Written in 1986 but depicts the time of Romania during communist rule (1947). For those unfamiliar with the name Richard Wurmbrand, he was a faithful follower of Christ who suffered imprisonment and torture at the hands of communists in Romania for 14 years. He wrote several other books, to include Tortured for Christ, and was the founder of Voice of the Martyrs.
The Devil is jealous and becomes enraged at spiritual beauty. It offends him. Since he cannot be beautiful – he lost his primal beauty because of his pride – he does not want anyone else to be. If it were not for the saints’ spiritual beauty, the Devil would not seem so ugly. Therefore he wishes to deface all beauty.
This is why Christians in the Romanian Communist prison of Piteshti, as well as other
Communist jails, were tortured – not only to betray the secrets of the underground church, but to blaspheme. Regimes under which such horrors occur again and again, regimes that turn even Christians into murderers and denouncers of innocent victims, can only be abhorred by the children of God. Whoever bids them Godspeed is a partaker in their evil deeds (2 John 11). (pg.41)
Why did the Romanian Orthodox priest Roman Braga, whom I knew personally when he was a prisoner of the Communists, and who presently resides in the U.S.A., have his teeth knocked out one by one with an iron rod in order to make him blaspheme?
The Communists had explained to him and others: “If we kill you Christians, you go to heaven. But we don’t want you to be crowned martyrs. You should curse God first and then go to hell.” (pg. 49)
Vetchernaia Moskva, a Communist newspaper, let pass a Freudian slip of the pen:
We do not fight against believers and not even against clergymen. We fight against God to snatch believers from Him.
A “fight against God to snatch believers from Him” is the only logical explanation for the Communist fight against religion. (pg 51)
Even the demonically filled communists knew that their mission was to influence professing believers to deny Christ. Even Satan knew his role in tempting Job, why would this knowledge suddenly have changed? Now, I know what some of you may be thinking, God says that no one can snatch you out of His hand (Joh 10:28-29), and this is true. Those who faithfully endure, do not have to be afraid of being taken from Him. However, you can choose to leave His Hand. You can choose to no longer abide in Him (Joh 15:6). This is how a person can fall away from where they once stood or tasted the heavenly gift but treated it as a common thing. Those proven to be unfit, will be removed from His Hand, by their own misconduct. To apostatize.
I want to highlight this passage again above from Bensons commentary:
“but only denotes those who, through the rejection or abuse of divine grace, continue to render themselves unfit to be approved of God as his people, either now or at the day of judgment.”
Those who abuse the spirit of grace, are trampling the blood by which they were purchased!
♦Hebrews 6:4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
♦Hebrews 10:29Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
Remember the qualifying factor to inherit is to overcome. To remain faithful until the end.
Many believers will endure for a time, but once persecution comes upon them, they are quick to “sell their birthright” as they are unwilling to suffer with Christ. This is the ultimate goal of Satan, is to get people to deny Christ, in either word or deed, and forfeit their birthright.
2.) Root of bitterness
Another lesson behind the warning of Esau is pertaining to bitterness.
“looking carefully lest ANYONE fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up to cause trouble…”
Scripture states that the result of bitterness in a person’s heart can cause them to fall from the grace of God. This is not a new concept either, as the writer of Hebrews also makes reference to Deuteronomy 29:18; that bitterness is a root from within the heart that is turning away from Yahweh.
Deut 29:18so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood;
Deuteronomy 29:18. Lest there should be a root — An evil heart inclining you to such cursed idolatry, and bringing forth bitter fruits: or rather, some secret or subtle apostate from the true God and his religion, secretly lurking and working as a root under ground, and spreading his poison to the infection of others; for both the foregoing and following words speak of some particular person. Gall and wormwood — Which though for the present it may please his fancy, yet in the end will produce bitter fruits; not only distasteful to God, but also destructive to yourselves.
So, how do we become bitter?
Through offense.
From my blog, “Offense: The Bait of Satan“:
If we hold on to offense, against those who have hurt us, we are holding a debt over another’s head, and is the lust of pride. Our hearts then become filled with bitterness, and those seeds that the enemy planted grow and mature.
A heart that is soaked in offense and bitterness, will wield a sword thinking they are wielding it unto Yah/God, but become murderous to the true brethren.
John 16:1These things have I spoken unto you, THAT YE SHOULD NOT BE OFFENDED. 2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that WHOSOEVER KILLETH YOU WILL THINK THAT HE DOETH GOD SERVICE. (KJV)
Bitterness is a sin that corrupts the heart and the soul and leads to physical and spiritual decay. Bitterness defiles the entire body, soul and spirit.
Now, the warning continues from the passage in Deuteronomy 29:19-20
Deuteronomy 29:19And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: 20The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.
Notice, that the person who has allowed bitterness to corrupt their heart has been deceived into thinking that they have peace, while they walk in their own vain imaginations. What happens to them? They are blotted out.
29:10-21 They are weeds which, if let alone, overspread the whole field. Satan may for a time disguise this bitter morsel, so that thou shalt not have the natural taste of it, but at the last day, if not before, the true taste shall be discerned. Notice the sinner’s security in sin. Though he hears the words of the curse, yet even then he thinks himself safe from the wrath of God. There is scarcely a threatening in all the book of God more dreadful than this. Oh that presumptuous sinners would read it, and tremble! for it is a real declaration of the wrath of God, against ungodliness and unrighteousness of man.
Is not being blotted out the same as becoming disqualified? Are we also not warned, just like the Israelites were, that unless we remain faithful, we too shall be blotted out?
♦Ex 32:33And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.
♦Rev 3:5He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
♦Rev 22:19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
The book of Life and the tree of Life are synonymous. The book of life permits access to the tree of life. If we do not take our birthright seriously, then it can be taken from us. Many are under the false pretense that once they are born again into the family of Yah, that nothing they do will separate them from Christ. However, as I have already shown, God can revoke a promise that was given, due to misconduct. We can freely give up our birthright by choosing to go the way of Esau. I have seen it happen to many people along this race, and it is tragic.
You have to have faith to receive the gift of salvation, but during the course of trials, temptations, persecutions, etc., a person can lose their faith. In order to claim victory in Christ, and claim your salvation, you have to endure to the end.
Hebrews 3:12LOOK OUT, BROTHERS, LEST THERE BE IN ANY OF YOU A WICKED HEART OF UNBELIEF IN FALLING AWAY from the living Elohim, 13but encourage one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened by the deceivableness of sin. 14For we have become partakers of Messiah IF WE HOLD FAST THE BEGINNING OF OUR TRUST FIRM TO THE END, 15while it is said, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
Yah will never take away our free will to choose who we serve, even when we have been justified by His blood. We show who we serve by not only what we verbally profess, but in our actions. It is ultimately our actions that declare who it is that we truly serve.
Sadly, once many realize the cost of actually following Him, they become offended and turn away, some for a season, and some never to return.
Once we begin to understand how our salvation is our birthright, it becomes clearer that a person can forsake their inheritance in Christ. Not only is this concept biblical, but we are warned in the book of Hebrews to not become like Esau who sold his birthright for a “single meal” and was unable to inherit the blessing.
That is why we are constantly told to ‘overcome, and not fall away’ How can you trample the blood of a marriage covenant, if you were never under that blood? (Heb 10:29) Anyone at any time, can be a sheep, can obey, can follow Messiah, and then become offended, disobey and then no longer be part of the flock, just as a once happily married couple can become bitter enemies.
It is never as His seed fails. But sadly, men’s hearts do. A once fertile field can become hardened, and unfruitful. At any time one can stop running and lose their inheritance.
This is why it is so important to cleanse our lives from sin and finish the race. I dare say it is not such a challenging thing, when even Paul wanted to make sure he did not become disqualified. How much more than that of us?
You cannot plow a field, if you do not put your hand to it, just as if you are not working out your salvation to be secure in obtaining it. If a seed is planted, but does not grow and produce fruit, it is cut down. The initial act of grace bestowed upon a person, is through faith, and yet, if that faith does not grow in grace, it will die.
Yahweh is the Master refiner, who sits at the potter’s wheel. If He comes to find that one of His precious metals has proven itself unfit, He will reject that metal.
♦1 Peter 1:6in which you exult, even though for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by manifold trials, 7in order that the proving of your belief – much more precious than gold that perishes, and proven by fire – might be found to result in praise and respect and esteem at the revelation of יהושע Messiah, 8whom having not seen, you love; in whom you exult with unspeakable and esteemed joy, yet not seeing, but believing,
♦Rev 3:18“I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so that you become rich; and white garments, so that you become dressed, so that the shame of your nakedness might not be shown; and anoint your eyes with ointment, so that you see.
Don’t forsake your birthright for a “bowl of soup” or the passions of this world, but rather, fight the good fight, and endure to the end!
Kellie, very searching article. What you are sharing is very different than what many of us have been taught that once in Christ, forever in Christ, no matter if one remains faithful or not. From your teachings, I am beginning to see that the Bride of Yeshua will only be those who have remained faithful in their love and devotion to Him, while many who had become betrothed to Him, will have been rejected because of their unfaithfulness. These are very sobering thoughts. Thank you for this article.
Steve, thank you brother. Your comment blesses me so much! What you said here, “the Bride of Yeshua will only be those who have remained faithful in their love and devotion to Him, while many who had become betrothed to Him, will have been rejected because of their unfaithfulness.” Is in summary of what the Holy Spirit has laid on my heart for several years. Yes, it is most deeply profound and sobering, and quite antithetical to what many people have been taught and accepted as truth. This is a sobering warning that I have sought to deliver within many of my teachings. I am blessed to know that you have received such revelation and shared that with me.
Blessings,
Kellie
If we are dead to this world.
We will be risen with Him.