Hebrews 12:17
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no placee of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Why couldn’t Esau repent if he sought it with tears?
PROBLEM: The Bible informs us here that Esau “was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.” But why wouldn’t God accept his sincere repentance, when He commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30) and is patiently waiting for people to repent (2 Peter 3:9).
SOLUTION: There are two important things to observe about this pasage.
Second, tears are not a sure sign that a person has genuinely repented. One can also have tears of regret and remorse that fall short of true repentance or change of mind (cf. Judas, Matthew 27:3).
Finally, this text is not talking about spiritual blessing (salvation), but earthly blessing (inheritance). God always honors the sincere repentance of sinners and grants them salvation (Acts 10:35; Hebrews 11:6).