How does Hebrews 12:16 describe Esau?
Hebrews 12:16 describes Esau as a fornicator and a profane person, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. The passage presents him as immoral and without faith, later rejected when he sought the blessing, finding no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with tears.
Les explains that in Hebrews 12:16 Paul warns the Hebrew believer against being a fornicator, a strong word, or a profane person like Esau. Not only was Esau a hunter, he was destitute of faith and immoral. He sold his birthright for one morsel of food. Later, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected by God as well as by his parents, and he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Les suggests Esau was not seeking his own repentance, since he had no faith, but was trying to get Isaac to change his mind and reverse the blessing. That could not be done, because the decree had been spoken. Esau deserved nothing, and he later showed his immorality by marrying among the Hittites and Canaanites.
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
More Questions
What kind of person was Esau according to Hebrews 12:16?
Esau was not only a hunter who was destitute of faith; he was also an immoral fornicator, which is why Paul calls him a fornicator and profane person.
Why did God choose Jacob rather than Esau to be in the Messiah's line?
The New Testament's description of Esau as an immoral or profane person helps explain why God in His sovereignty chose Jacob, rather than Esau, to be in the line of the Messiah.