Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 12:16

"lest [there be] any fornication, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright." — Hebrews 12:16 (ASV)

(3) The final warning begins with a reference to the “sexually immoral” (GK 4521), a warning that occurs frequently in Scripture. With this is coupled the warning not to be “godless” (“unhallowed” or “profane”; GK 1013) like Esau. Esau was not spiritually minded but rather taken up with the things of the here and now. This is apparent in the incident referred to, when Esau for a single meal bargained away “his inheritance rights as the oldest son” (cf. Genesis 25:29–34). He could not recognize its true value. His insistence on the gratification of his immediate needs led him to overlook what was of infinitely greater worth, his rights as the firstborn. So with the apostates.

Continuing his reflection on Esau, the author appeals to knowledge common to his readers and himself. Nothing is known about Esau’s change of mind other than what we read here. It appears that in due course Esau came to realize he had made a mistake. He wanted to go back but found he could not. There is often a finality about what we do. This is not a question of forgiveness. God’s forgiveness is always open to the penitent. Esau could have come back to God. But he could not undo his act.