John Calvin 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)

Lest there be any fornicator or profane person, etc. As he had previously exhorted them to holiness, so now, so that he might reclaim them from defilements opposed to it, he mentions a particular kind of defilement, and says, Lest there be any fornicator. But he immediately comes to what is general, and adds, or a profane person; for it is the term that is strictly contrary to holiness.

The Lord calls us for this purpose, so that he may make us holy for obedience: this is done when we renounce the world. But anyone who so delights in his own filth that he continually rolls in it, profanes himself. We may also consider 'profane' to mean, generally, all those who do not value God’s grace enough to seek it and to despise the world.

But as people become profane in various ways, the more earnestly we ought to strive so that an opening is not left for Satan to defile us with his corruptions. And since there is no true religion without holiness, we ought to make continual progress in the fear of God, in the mortifying of the flesh, and in the whole practice of piety. For just as we are profane until we separate from the world, so also, if we roll again in its filth, we renounce holiness.

As Esau, etc. This example may be viewed as an exposition of the word profane; for when Esau set more value on one meal than on his birthright, he lost his blessing. Profane, then, are all those in whom the love of the world so reigns and prevails that they forget heaven. This is the case with those who are led away by ambition, or become fond of money or wealth, or give themselves up to gluttony, or become entangled in any other pleasures; in their thoughts and cares, they allow no place, or perhaps only the last place, for the spiritual kingdom of Christ.

This example, then, is most appropriate; for when the Lord designs to set forth the power of that love which he has for his people, he calls all those whom he has called to the hope of eternal life his firstborn. Indeed, this honor with which he favors us is invaluable; and all the wealth, all the conveniences, the honors, and the pleasures of the world, and everything commonly deemed necessary for happiness, when compared with this honor, are of no more value than a morsel of meat. That we indeed set a high value on things that are nearly worthless is because depraved lust dazzles our eyes and thus blinds us. Therefore, if we wish to hold a place in God’s sanctuary, we must learn to despise morsels of meat of this kind, by which Satan is accustomed to catch the reprobate.