Matthew Henry Commentary Hebrews 12:12-17

"Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees; and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed. Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord: looking carefully lest [there be] any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby the many be defiled; lest [there be] any fornication, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright. 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 12:12-17 (ASV)

A burden of affliction tends to make the Christian's hands hang down and his knees grow feeble, to dishearten and discourage him; but he must strive against this, so that he may better run his spiritual race and course. Faith and patience enable believers to follow peace and holiness, as a person follows their calling constantly, diligently, and with pleasure. Peace with men, of all sects and parties, will be helpful for our pursuit of holiness.

But peace and holiness go together; there can be no true peace without holiness. Where persons lack the true grace of God, corruption will prevail and break forth. Beware that no unmortified lust in the heart, which seems to be dead, should spring up, to trouble and disturb the whole body. Falling away from Christ is the fruit of preferring the delights of the flesh to the blessing of God and the heavenly inheritance, as Esau did.

But sinners will not always have such poor thoughts of the Divine blessing and inheritance as they now have. It is characteristic of the profane person's disposition, to desire the blessing, yet to despise the means by which the blessing is to be gained. But God will neither sever the means from the blessing, nor join the blessing with the satisfying of human lusts. God's mercy and blessing have never been carefully sought without being obtained.