• Hebrews 12:28
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 28 Διὸ Through which βασιλείαν kingdom ἀσάλευτον unshakable παραλαμβάνοντες (ones) receiving beside ἔχωμεν may we be having χάριν, undeserved kindness, δι’ through ἧς which λατρεύωμεν we may render sacred service εὐαρέστως well pleasingly τῷ to the θεῷ God μετὰ with εὐλαβείας holding (self) καὶ and δέους, awe,

  • Hebrews 12:28
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 28 Wherefore Seeing that of a kingdom not to be shaken we are receiving possession Let us have gratitude—Whereby we may be rendering divine service well-pleasingly unto God with reverence and awe;

  • Hebrews Study Notes—Chapter 12
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 12:28

      we are to receive a Kingdom: Here Paul may be referring to the prophetic words of Da 7:14, 18, which show that “the holy ones of the Supreme One will receive the kingdom.” Anointed Christians will receive that Kingdom when they become corulers with Jesus Christ in “his heavenly Kingdom.” (2Ti 4:18; Re 5:10; 20:4; see study notes on Heb 11:10; 12:22.) Together with him, they will remove all earthly kingdoms. (Re 17:14) Faithful ones with an earthly hope will “inherit the Kingdom” by receiving its benefits, enjoying life on the earth under Kingdom rule.​—Mt 25:34 and study notes; Re 21:1-4; see also study note on Heb 11:16.

      a Kingdom that cannot be shaken: In the preceding verse, Paul applied Hag 2:6 to the future time when Jehovah will shake and remove all things, including governments, that stand in opposition to his Kingdom. In contrast, that Messianic Kingdom will remain standing​—unshakable, indestructible.​—Da 2:44; Heb 12:27 and study note.

      let us continue to receive undeserved kindness: Paul encourages his fellow believers to act in such a way that they would keep receiving God’s precious gift of undeserved kindness and benefiting from it. (Heb 4:16) He did not want any Christian to miss out, as did unappreciative Esau. (Heb 12:15, 16) The Greek expression for “continue to receive [lit., “have”] undeserved kindness” could also include the idea of being grateful and showing thankfulness. Christians who cultivated such an appreciative and grateful attitude would continue to worship Jehovah “with godly fear and awe” and thus gain his favor and approval.

      offer God sacred service: Or “worship God.”​—See study note on Lu 1:74.

      with godly fear and awe: Christians are to worship God with “godly fear,” that is, with the same reverence that Jesus, Noah, and other faithful ones showed. (See study notes on Heb 5:7; 11:7.) Paul here uses the term rendered “godly fear” together with a synonym rendered “awe.” He thus intensifies the idea and stresses a key fact: All Christians need to show Jehovah profound respect and reverence so that he will take pleasure in their sacred service.