Charles Ellicott Commentary Hebrews 12:14

"Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:" — Hebrews 12:14 (ASV)

Follow peace.—More clearly (as our word “follow” is somewhat ambiguous), follow after peace. There is a manifest allusion to Psalms 34:14 (quoted also in 1 Peter 3:11). This charge is general (Romans 12:18), and must not be limited to peace with fellow Christians (Romans 14:19). The two admonitions of this verse were admirably suited to a period of persecution. Let all make peace their aim, yet not so as to sacrifice purity. (Compare to James 3:17.)

And holiness.—Better, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord. In Hebrews 9:28, we have the promise that Christ . . . shall be seen by those who wait for Him. Therefore, it might be supposed (especially as in the next verse we read of “the grace of God”) that “the Lord” here, as in Hebrews 2:3, is a designation of our Savior. As, however, this Epistle especially brings Him before us as the Sanctifier (Hebrews 2:11; Hebrews 13:12), who leads us into the presence of God (Hebrews 10:19), we must rather look on these words as akin to Matthew 5:8, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Revelation 22:4).