Hebrews 12:16

“Lest there be any fornicator or profane person, etc..] The first of these is guilty of a sin against the second table of the law, as well as against his own body; and which is opposed to the holiness the apostle had before exhorted to; such who are guilty of it, are not to be continued in the communion of the church; and it is a sin, which, lived in not repented of, excludes from the kingdom of heaven: the latter is one who is a transgressor of the first table of the law; who is an idolater, a swearer, a despiser of public worship and ordinances, and who behaves irreverently in divine service, and mocks at the future state, as Esau; to whom both these characters seem to belong: and this…”

“fornicator-- (Heb 13:4; Co1 10:8). or profane--Fornication is nearly akin to gluttony, Esau's sin. He profanely cast away his spiritual privilege for the gratification of his palate. Gen 25:34 graphically portrays him. An example well fitted to strike needful horror into the Hebrews, whosoever of them, like Esau, were only sons of Isaac according to the flesh [BENGEL]. for one morsel--The smallness of the inducement only aggravates the guilt of casting away eternity for such a trifle, so far is it from being a claim for mercy (compare Gen 3:6). One single act has often the greatest power either for good or for evil. So in the cases of Reuben and Saul, for evil (Gen 49:4; Ch1 5:1; Sa1…”

“Lest there be any fornicator - The sin here referred to is one of those which would spread corruption in the church, and against which they ought to be especially on their guard. Allusion is made to Esau as an example, who, himself a corrupt and profane man, for a trifle threw away the highest honor which as a son he could have. Many have regarded the word used here as referring to idolatry, or defection from the true religion to a false one - as the word is often used in the Old Testament - but it is more natural to understand it literally. The crime here mentioned was one which abounded everywhere in ancient times, as it does now, and it was important to guard the church against it; see…”

“Esau was profane for so slighting the blessing which went along with the birth - right. Hebrews 12:17”

“12:16 Ancient Jewish literature describes Esau as sexually immoral because he was married to the Hittite women Judith and Basemath (Gen 26:34; see Jubilees 25:1; Philo, On the Virtues 208). • Esau’s lack of regard for his birthright (Gen 25:29-34) was godless. His willingness to give up God’s blessings for immediate satisfaction illustrates the opposite of faith.”

“any fornicator: Heb 13:4; Mar 7:21; Act 15:20, Act 15:29; Co1 5:1-6, Co1 5:9-11, Co1 6:15-20, Co1 10:8; Co2 12:21; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 5:3, Eph 5:5; Col 3:5; Th1 4:3-7; Rev 2:20-23, Rev 21:8, Rev 22:15 as Esau: Gen 25:31-34, Gen 27:36 Hebrews 12:17”