John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 12:17

"For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind [in his father,] though he sought is diligently with tears." — Hebrews 12:17 (ASV)

When he would have inherited the blessing, etc. He at first regarded the act by which he had sold his birthright as a game, as if it were a child’s play; but finally, when too late, he found what a loss he had incurred, when the blessing transferred by his father to Jacob was refused to him. Thus those who are led away by the allurements of this world alienate themselves from God, and sell their own salvation that they may feed on the morsels of this world, without thinking that they lose anything; indeed, they flatter and applaud themselves, as if they were extremely happy. When too late, their eyes are opened, so that being warned by the sight of their own wickedness, they become aware of the loss of which they took no account.

While Esau was hungry, he cared for nothing but how he might have his stomach well filled; when full, he laughed at his brother and judged him a fool for having voluntarily deprived himself of a meal. Indeed, such is also the stupidity of the ungodly, as long as they burn with depraved lusts or immoderately plunge themselves into sinful pleasures; after a time they understand how fatal to them are all the things which they so eagerly desired. The word “rejected” means that he was repulsed, or denied his request.

For he found no place of repentance, etc.; that is, he profited nothing, he gained nothing by his belated repentance, though he sought with tears the blessing which by his own fault he had lost.

Now, as he warns of the same danger for all who despise God’s grace, it may be asked whether no hope of pardon remains when God’s grace has been treated with contempt and His kingdom valued less than the world. To this I answer that pardon is not expressly denied to such people, but they are warned to take care, lest the same thing happen to them also.

And undoubtedly, we may daily see many examples of God’s severity, which prove that He takes vengeance on the mockings and scoffs of profane people. For when they promise themselves tomorrow, He often suddenly takes them away by death in a new and unexpected manner. When they consider what they hear of God’s judgment to be mythical, He pursues them so that they are forced to acknowledge Him as their judge. When they have consciences that are completely dead, they afterwards feel dreadful agonies as a punishment for their stupidity. But though this does not happen to all, yet as this danger exists, the Apostle justly warns all to beware.

Another question also arises: Whether the sinner, who experiences repentance, gains nothing by it? For the Apostle seems to imply this when he tells us that Esau’s repentance was of no use to him. My reply is, that repentance here is not to be taken for sincere conversion to God; but it was only that terror with which the Lord strikes the ungodly, after they have long indulged themselves in their iniquity.

Nor is it surprising that this terror should be said to be useless and ineffective, for meanwhile they do not repent or hate their own vices, but are only tormented by a sense of their own punishment.

The same can be said of tears; whenever a sinner sighs because of his sins, the Lord is ready to pardon him, nor is God’s mercy ever sought in vain, for to him who knocks it shall be opened (Matthew 7:8). But as the tears of Esau were those of a man beyond hope, they were not shed because he had offended God. So the ungodly, however much they may deplore their lot, complain, and howl, do not yet knock at God’s door for mercy, for this cannot be done except by faith.

And the more severely conscience torments them, the more they war against God and rage against Him. They might indeed desire that they should be given access to God; but as they expect nothing but His wrath, they shun His presence.

Thus we often see that those who often say, as if in jest, that repentance will be in sufficient time when they are drawing towards their end, then cry bitterly amidst dreadful agonies that the season for obtaining repentance is past. They cry that they are doomed to destruction because they did not seek God until it was too late. Sometimes, indeed, they break out into words like these, “Oh! if—oh! if!”; but soon despair cuts short their prayers and chokes their voice, so that they proceed no further.