Hebrews 12:17, commentary and pictures

Esau as a profane person sold his birthright for a single meal, despising what was sacred to gratify appetite for the moment. Afterward when he would have inherited the blessing he was rejected, and though he sought it carefully with tears and bitter regret he could not regain what he had forfeited. That rejection meant the lost inheritance could not be restored, not that he was barred from seeking God's favor, for he could still seek reconciliation while repentance could not bring back the birthright and blessing. His tears were not godly sorrow for sin itself but grief over discovery, loss, consequences and fear of punishment, which has no merit to remove sin or change the heart and leaves a person ready to repeat the wrong. So the verse warns against trading a heavenly birthright and everlasting life for appetite, selfish pleasure or worldly gain, and calls those who profess to be God's children to follow holiness without which no man shall see the Lord, lest opportunity pass until repentance comes too late to remedy the choice.

Esau's Irreversible Loss

Esau is held up as a profane person and a fornicator who sold his birthright for a single meal, for one morsel of meat, a mess of pottage. He despised what was sacred through uncontrolled appetite and desire for temporary gratification, and through appetite he lost both the blessing connected with the birthright and his soul. At the time he did not see the sale as a momentous matter. He flattered himself that he could give up the birthright at will and buy it back when he pleased, treating it as something to surrender and later recover.

Long gratification of appetite and desire had overpowered every other consideration until the birthright lost its value and sacredness in his eyes. He had long indulged himself for a particular dish, letting imagination dwell upon it until he feared great inconvenience and even death without it, until a morsel of meat became more to him than the service of his Master. In that state he passed the crisis of his life without knowing it, and what he regarded as scarcely worth a thought revealed the prevailing traits of his character, his choices, and his true estimate of that which should have been sacredly cherished, determining the aftercourse of his life. The same reckless spirit is shown when professing Christians sell their souls for the gratification of selfish indulgence.

Afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected and could not regain what he had forfeited. Though he sought it carefully with tears, with bitter regret and even at great sacrifice, the blessing had been removed from him and sorrow could not undo the loss. His tears could not restore the birthright and blessing he had traded away, and his example warns that gratifying selfish desires can bring consequences that later regret cannot reverse, leaving sinners to realize too late that they have traded away their birthright and lost the crown and inheritance they might have received. Bitterness and conduct contrary to Bible principles can in the same way turn people from God and leave them outside His family unless they are converted.

His rejection meant the lost inheritance could not be restored, not that he was barred from seeking God's favor. He remained able to seek reconciliation with God through repentance, but repentance could not bring back the birthright and blessing. His regret came only after he learned that Jacob had received the blessing and he faced the unexpected, disagreeable consequences of his rash choice, when his rash choice could no longer be undone.

False and True Repentance

Esau's tears when he would have inherited the blessing were not godly sorrow for sin that works repentance unto eternal life, for he grieved only when his guilt was discovered and he faced disagreeable circumstances with unexpected consequences. He regretted the loss of the birthright and blessing he had carelessly traded for temporary gratification, and sorrowed for the consequences of his sin and from fear of punishment, not for the sin itself and not from hatred of the evil. He did not seek reconciliation with God, though his rejection did not bar him from seeking God's favor through repentance; repentance simply could not restore the lost inheritance. His experience warns that those who prize temporary pleasure over heaven's promised inheritance may discover their loss too late.

Such selfish sorrow and repining has no merit to remove a single stain of sin, does not change the heart or turn a person from sin, and leaves the mourner ready to repeat the crime. There is no virtue in living under a perpetual cloud, for that mourning is not unto repentance. It is like Pharaoh crying for the plagues to be removed while his heart was unchanged, and like Judas in the final conflict, whose confessions from fear of punishment and grief over results rather than hatred of evil cannot prepare a person for the day of God. So too Satan regretted his loss and pleaded for restoration from lost privileges and suffering rather than from love for God and willing obedience, but rebellion remained in him so he could not be restored, since God's law could condemn sin but could not pardon it.

By contrast true mourning feels the whole life to have been ingratitude, robbing the best Friend of time and strength bought at infinite price, and slighting and grieving the compassionate Saviour. It binds the penitent to the Infinite One, brings back lost graces, and yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness. That path leads to comfort, holiness, and joy.

To find no place of repentance means the day of opportunity and privilege can pass until repentance comes too late to remedy the choice. Esau regretted selling his birthright only after he learned Jacob had received the blessing, and though distressed and seeking carefully with tears he could no longer undo his rash choice or restore what he had surrendered. So sinners who trade their inheritance of heaven for appetite, selfish pleasure, and hurtful lusts and indulgences will likewise find in the day of God and when God's judgment comes that their repentance comes too late and their choice is irreversible. Those who persist in resisting God's appointed work may reach a point when repentance is no longer available even if sought earnestly with tears, and one who keeps choosing pleasure and harmful company over God's claims will see his day of privilege pass as surely as Esau's without an immediate change. Likewise those who continue in sin after refusing Christ's words, who conceal or delay confessing sin, and who make fearful confessions only when punishment is near in the final time of trouble and final conflict will seek earnestly yet find no room for repentance to prepare them or bring deliverance, for true repentance must come before then.

Warning Against Forfeiting Inheritance

Those who profess to be children of God must come very close to Him, carry Christ's spirit and teachings into everyday life, and look critically at themselves by comparing character with the only standard of righteousness. They are to lift up the drooping hands and feeble knees and make straight paths for the feet, so that through lack of faith and intelligent knowledge of the Scriptures the lame is not turned out of the way but is healed. They are to follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord, and to look diligently lest any fail of the grace of God and lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble them and defile many. This call is addressed to every church member, including Sabbath-keeping Adventists who continue in sin while claiming truth, and it is proclaimed now as the clear, ringing note of the third angel's message urging work for God and the honoring and glorifying of His name.

Continuing in sin while claiming truth is lying in God's sight, counterworking His work and leading others into sin. This is especially true of those who claim to believe the truth yet refuse to give up lustful practices, going on under Satan's deceiving sophistry until sin is no longer discerned as sinful, conscience is defiled, the heart is corrupted, and thoughts are continually corrupt. Such persons become decoys luring souls into unclean practices that defile the whole being. Bitterness and conduct contrary to Bible principles can turn people from God and leave them outside His family unless they are converted.

Esau's later regret and tears when he wanted the blessing could not undo his rejection or restore what he had forfeited after despising and trading it away. His experience warns that gratifying selfish desires, appetite, hurtful lusts and indulgences, and selfish pleasure brings consequences that later regret cannot reverse. Those who trade their inheritance of heaven and everlasting life for present gratification, temporary gain, and perishing worldly treasure will find in the day of God that repentance comes too late to remedy the choice. Deliberately sacrificing truth for worldly gain likewise risks the loss of everlasting life, for worldly advantage cannot compensate for that loss.

The same selling of the birthright occurs when obtaining an education absorbs the mind so that prayer and religious privileges are neglected, the welfare of the soul becomes a matter of carelessness and indifference, and learning in the school of Christ ceases. Knowledge is of value only when sought from principle to do good, promote God's glory, develop and direct the faculties to be more useful and bless others; if it increases love of self and excuse from responsibility it is better to be without it, and if books are loved and idolized so as to come between duty and the soul, desire for study must be restrained and love for neglected practical duties cultivated. Professing Christians also sell their souls for selfish indulgence when they join worldly demonstrations and zealously advocate opposite worldly policies with an enthusiasm God's Spirit has not inspired, even publishing political preferences in church papers and speaking them when people assemble to hear the word of the Lord, leaving unbelievers unfavorably impressed toward the faith. A divided heart that keeps idols so God does not reign supreme sells the birthright, including by taking obligations such as a marriage that draws away from God's work, and one may for a time profess godliness and appear a shepherd yet prove unfaithful unless he puts on Christ and puts away selfish passions and lusts. The day of opportunity and privilege can pass as it did for Esau for the person who keeps choosing pleasure and harmful company over God's claims, who persists in resisting God's appointed work, who continues in sin after refusing Christ's words, and who lets pride make confession seem lowering to dignity, until repentance and forsaking sin are forever too late even if sought earnestly with tears, and murmuring, faultfinding, and a perverted religious life lead others away; all must search their hearts and repent now.

Joined to its context about strengthening hands and knees and making straight paths, the verse is a heart-searching call that by the Holy Spirit gives freedom in preaching, softens and subdues hearts, moves those who desire prayer to stand for it, moves backsliders who are unhappy and troubled to wish to return to the truth, and moves hearers to testify with gratitude for light received and blessing given.