Hebrews 12:11

No chastening. Or, “no discipline” (see on verse 5).

For the present. The perspective of time and experience is usually necessary to a full appreciation of discipline received. Only after children and youth reach maturity are they likely to realize all that parents, teachers, and friends have contributed toward their development of character. In fact, such appreciation is one sure mark of maturity.

Joyous. Or, “pleasant” (RSV).

Grievous. Not in the sense of being severe, intense, or oppressive, but of causing grief, suffering, or pain.

Afterward. Generally speaking, the brute creation lives only in the present and for the present. It is one of the distinguishing characteristics of intelligent beings to be able to project themselves into the past or into the future, by means of memory and imagination.

It is thus possible for them to form an estimate of their present situation in the perspective of time and experience, and to decide and act intelligently. The degree to which a person is able to view the present in terms of the past and the future, and does so, is a remarkably accurate measure of his progress from childhood to maturity. The same is true of Christian maturity, particularly with respect to the disciplinary experiences of life. Happy are those Christians who have learned to weigh the things of time in the light of eternity.

It yieldeth. Discipline bears “the peaceable fruit” always if it is accepted, seldom if it is resented, never if it is rejected.

Fruit of righteousness. Discipline becomes necessary when a conflict arises between the natural tendencies and desires on the one hand, and right principle on the other hand. The purpose of discipline is to resolve that conflict by bringing the natural tendencies and desires into harmony with principle. In so doing, discipline brings peace. The person undergoing discipline finds himself at peace with God, with himself, and with his fellow men.

Exercised. Or, “trained.” Those who accept the training provided by the disciplinary experiences of life are privileged to enjoy “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” that grows on the tree of obedience to the revealed will of God.