John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 12:6

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." — Hebrews 12:6 (ASV)

For whom the Lord loveth, etc. This does not seem to be a well-founded reason, for God afflicts the elect as well as the reprobate indiscriminately, and his scourges manifest his wrath more often than his love; and so the Scripture speaks, and experience confirms. Yet it is no wonder that when the godly are addressed, only the effect of chastisements that they feel is mentioned.

For however severe and angry a judge God may show himself toward the reprobate whenever he punishes them, yet regarding the elect, he has no other end in view than to promote their salvation; it is a demonstration of his paternal love. Besides, the reprobate, since they do not know that they are governed by God’s hand, for the most part think that afflictions come by chance.

For example, when a perverse youth leaves his father’s house, wanders far away, and becomes exhausted by hunger, cold, and other hardships, he indeed suffers a just punishment for his folly and learns through his sufferings the benefit of being obedient and submissive to his father. Yet, he does not acknowledge this as a paternal chastisement. So it is with the ungodly, who, having in a way removed themselves from God and his family, do not understand that God’s hand reaches them.

Let us then remember that we cannot have a taste of God’s love toward us under chastisements unless we are fully persuaded that they are fatherly scourges by which he chastises us for our sins. No such understanding can occur to the minds of the reprobate, for they are like fugitives.

It may also be added that judgment must begin at God’s house. Though he may strike strangers and members of the household alike, he nevertheless extends his hand toward the latter in such a way as to show that they are the objects of his particular care.

But the previous explanation is the true solution: namely, that everyone who knows and is persuaded that he is chastised by God must immediately be led to this thought—that he is chastised because he is loved by God.

For when the faithful see that God interposes in their punishment, they perceive a sure pledge of his love, because unless he loved them, he would not be concerned about their salvation.

Hence the Apostle concludes that God presents himself as a Father to all who endure correction. For those who kick like rebellious horses, or obstinately resist, do not belong to this group of people.

In short, then, he teaches us that God’s corrections are paternal only when we obediently submit to him.