Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

The NT contains a number of exhortations to believers to be at “peace” (GK 1645), either with one another or with people in general (cf. Matthew 5:9; Mark 9:50; Romans 12:18). People are often selfish and abrasive, but this is not the way Christians should be. For them peace is imperative, and they must put forth “every effort” to attain it. Commentators differ as to whether “all men” is to be taken in its widest sense or whether the writer means “all fellow believers.” Granted that it is especially important for Christians to live in harmony with one another, there seems to be no reason for taking “all” in anything other than its normal meaning. The readers should make every effort to live peaceably with all people. While the writer is especially interested in harmony in the Christian community, he has so worded his exhortation as to cover all relations, not only those among believers.

Coupled with peace is “to be holy” (lit., “holiness”; GK 40). Holiness means being set apart for God. It is characteristic of believers to live differently from and separate from the world. Their standards are not the world’s standards. Without this readiness to belong to God, no one will see God (cf. Matthew 5:8).