Context is everything:
Hebrews 12:1-11 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
--We are in a race. The race that we run is on this earth, not in heaven, not even in the Kingdom. It is now. Paul said before his death. "I have run the race, I have finished my course." The race is now, on this earth.
2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
--As we run the race on this earth we need to look unto Jesus, and set our eyes on Him. He is or example. He went before us. He is the author and finisher of our faith. Look at what he accomplished for us, as we run this race, and be not discouraged.
3. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
--Consider what Christ did on this earth while you are running this race on this earth. Christ endured contradiction of sinners. Consider him, and don't therefore become tired and weak in your minds as you run this race on earth.
4. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
--This is a reference to the way that Christ died. His death was a bloody death. These Christians suffered. But Paul encourages them as they run this race on earth, that they have not resisted such persecution that they have been martyred, that their blood has been spilt--as Christ's was. They were still running the race. (on earth).
5. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
--Everything that takes place is on earth. We are still in the race. Don't forget the encouragement of the Father (as you seem to have), nor despise the Father when He speaks to you as His children and chastens you. Don't faint or become weak when you are rebuked. It is for your good. It will help you in the race the race that you are running on this earth. Your Father is trying to encourage you, and sometimes must chasten you, that you might run a better race (on earth).
6. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
--He chastens you because he loves you. If he didn't love you he wouldn't chasten you. Notice that He doesn't chasten the others in the race, just those that are on His team. He disciplines them, for he wants them to finish the race. He cares for them, as a coach cares for his team, but more so: as a Father cares for his children. The race is on the earth.
7. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Chastening is but discipline. It is the same kind of discipline that a coach would hand out, but more lovingly because this coach is the Father in Heaven. Again Paul emphasizes that if they endure the discipline that God is giving to them they can understand the principle that God does it out of His gracious love for them, for He is their Father. They are in a race, a race on earth, and He wants them to finish the race with reward in hand. It has nothing to do with salvation. They will always be his children. He wants to reward them at the end of the race.
8. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
--There are some that are illegitimately born and not true sons. They are not true heirs of God, and joint heirs of Christ. They have not been born into God's family. Why then, should God spend his precious time discipining them. He doesn't. He especially loves his own. He disciplines his own, while they run this race on earth, that they might have reward in Heaven.
9. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
--Now comes the comparison to fathers of the flesh, our own earthly fathers. My father disciplined me when I was young. He corrected me when I did wrong. I would never think of lifting my hand up against my father. There was a respect there--a reverence so to speak--that Paul is referring to here. How much more is there for our Father in Heaven--while we are running the race on earth, and submitting to his discipline. Let us not chafe against the discipline, the correction that he gives us on this earth.
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
--Our parents only chastened us for a few days in comparison to the Lord, who will chasten us for all of our spiritual life on earth. I was saved when I was 20, about the same age I left home. But in comparison to the time that I may possibly live to, that is but a few days that I was chastened. The Lord will chasten us (on this earth) while we run this race (on this earth) so that we might become more holy, conformed into the very image of Christ--day unto day.
11. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
--It is the present time that we are enduring this discipline (while on earth), while running this race. No, correction never seems to be joyous. But afterward it yields fruit--the peaceable fruit of righteousness which again is found on this earth, just as the fruit of the Spirit is found on this earth. The Lord wants to see fruit in our lives, while we run this race on this earth.
DHK
Read on my friend!