John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 12:7

"It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom [his] father chasteneth not?" — Hebrews 12:7 (ASV)

For what son is he, etc. He reasons from the common practice of men that it is by no means right or proper that God’s children should be exempt from the discipline of the cross; for if no one is to be found among us, at least no prudent man of sound judgment, who does not correct his children—for without discipline they cannot be led to right conduct—how much less will God neglect so necessary a remedy, who is the best and the wisest Father?

If anyone raises an objection and says that corrections of this kind cease among men as soon as children arrive at manhood, to this I answer that as long as we live, we are, with regard to God, no more than children, and that this is the reason why the rod should always be applied to our backs. Therefore, the Apostle justly infers that all who seek exemption from the cross, as it were, withdraw themselves from the number of his children.

It therefore follows that the benefit of adoption is not valued by us as it ought to be, and that the grace of God is wholly rejected when we seek to withdraw ourselves from his scourges; and this is what all those do who do not bear their afflictions with patience. But why does he call those who refuse correction bastards rather than aliens? This is because he was addressing those who were members of the Church and were, for this reason, the children of God. He therefore intimates that the profession of Christ would be false and deceitful if they withdrew themselves from the discipline of the Father, and that they would thus become bastards and no longer be children.