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Hebrews 12 Commentary
by Hank Workman
The word therefore is an adverb used to introduce a new line of thought as a conclusion to something previously stated. It is no surprise that after the challenging and exciting retelling of people of faith listed in chapter 11, chapter 12 opens with this word. The challenge is clear, take what the forefathers of faith lived and apply it. Therefore… do something! Therefore… don’t give up!
The picture painted is a great cloud of witnesses, the champion of faithful people stand and cheer us on to overcome whatever present discouragement we may be facing or enduring. Living by faith and not by sight, which they did over and over again, we are to full-out run the race God Himself has set before us. In fact, the call is to lay aside anything that hinders so we can run. But not only the hindrances, we must lay aside the sin that dogs our steps over and over again. The reality is it’s not always the sins that must be laid aside, but also the things that are simply a distraction, the hindrances, the things that weigh us down. What I’ve always found so fascinating to consider when reading these verses is sometimes the hindrances are simply good things as well. They are things we get caught up in when in reality they are not the best things.
God calls us to run full steam ahead toward the goal of His calling. Lay aside everything that is in the way of such a pedal to the medal sprint.
God has set before each of us a race. We must run it with full effort and commitment. We must finish what we’ve been called to do and started even. What are the hindrances that currently are stopping your full-out run? What are the sins that have nipped at your heels to the point of giving up that must be laid aside? There is a great cloud of witnesses watching our lives, waiting to see how we’re running and cheering us on toward the goal. Run. Run wildly with all your might!
Hebrews 12 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Dear Weary Christ-Follower,
Read Hebrews 12:3-17
Which is worse, the weight of sin or the discipline of Jesus? It’s an interesting question to ponder considering we often complain about our lot in life. The truth is, you can’t compare the two. Sin comes from our rebellion against God. It is fueled by Satan who sneaks around looking to draw us deeper into darkness. Discipline comes under God’s watchful eye and is guided by His steady hand.
With regard to Joseph, Job, and Peter, Satan was limited in his deception. God has the ultimate authority and the final say. He used every bit of pain, suffering, and failure to increase our peace and righteousness. The current struggle is only for the present time. It will not last forever. The point the author of Hebrews wants us to absorb is that we cannot place all our attention on the process of the struggle but on the results of such a struggle.
Consider that our response to suffering matters!
No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11 HCSB
…to those who have been trained by it.
“Trained in the ancient Greek language is a word from the world of athletics; as an athlete is trained by some agony, so are we – as God’s “spiritual athletes.””
David Guzik
There are some who simply refuse to train. They will not endure the process, and therefore, will not reap the results in the end.
“God has a purpose for training you. Think of David after being attacked by a lion while he was just a boy tending the sheep. “Why did God allow such a terrible think to happen to me?” He might of thought. “I barely escaped!” But if only David could see ahead, he would see God had a giant named Goliath he was destined to face, and the battle with the lion prepared him ahead of time. God always has a purpose. We can trust Him.”
David Guzik