Chastisment Is For Children
The Biblical idea of chastisement is disciplinary correction given for the expressed purpose of teaching a lesson concerning acceptable future conduct. The following verses are given to support this definition:
"My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:" Proverbs 3:11
"Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:" Job 15:17
Hebrews 12:3-11 identifies five reasons or benefits of the Lord's chastisement upon the Hebrew nation. Those five issues are:
- Hebrews 12:7 To learn obedience like Jesus Christ, the Son of God, did.
- Hebrews 12:8 To distinguish between a son and a bastard.
- Hebrews 12:9 To learn correction for future living.
- Hebrews 12:10 To advance unto God's holiness.
- Hebrews 12:11 To manifest the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
The doctrinal instruction and application concerning the chastisement of the Lord as recorded in Hebrews 12 concerns Israel doing the Father's will so they might receive the promise of the Lord's second advent when He establishes the earthly kingdom--Hebrews 10:36; 9:28; 4:8-11.
To enter into such blessedness, Israel must face and endure the chastisement of the Lord. This chastisement is in the physical realm. It involves God moving on the physical plane of Israel's national life to correct this immature, childish son of God. This correction of God's son Israel is according to the prophesied patterns of cyclical judgments that are recorded in Leviticus 26:14-46. These cycles of chastisement are upon Israel during the time of her imperfection under the Old Testament (Hebrews 10:1) and before the Kingdom of God is established. Under the Mosaic Law there was no power availed to this son of God whereby they could be perfect, mature, full of age...be an adult son of God.
Israel's adulthood as God's son will fully come at the time of the Lord's second coming. Her basis of moving from imperfection [childhood--Old Testament] unto perfection [adulthood--New Testament] is the blood of the Everlasting Covenant, also known as the New Testament. When the fullness of the New Covenant bears its five "I will's" of Jehovah upon Israel, she will be brought into the full mature adulthood. She will have all she needs whereby her actions will please the Father; thus, there will be no more chastening of the Lord of this son who he received. God will not and does not chasten a son of His that has reached adult maturity. Thus, Hebrews 12 described a temporary condition and is only applicable under specific prophetic circumstances which Israel alone was facing during the early Acts period and will once again face as prophecy concludes after the catching away of the body of Christ at the conclusion of this present Dispensation of the Grace of God.
From: A Dispensational Survey of the Epistles to the Hebrews
by Duane Gallentine
1The term children is being used to differentiate between an offspring (i.e. a son) who is a child versus an offspring who is an adult. The son, during his childhood, is placed under tutors and governors until the appointed time of his father wherein the father then willingly views his offspring as an adult. This full status of a sonship position speaks of full adulthood rights, duties, and honor.