The Epistle of Hebrews

Chapter 12

The race of faith

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

As we begin chapter 12, imagine yourself in a marathon race with a crowd surrounding you, cheering you on to the finish line. You are tired, facing fatigue, with obstacles along the way and when you look up, you recognize many runners in the audience who have gone before you who came out as champions. They are cheering you on as your eyes meet and they are yelling "you can make it." 

• The author uses a race for an analogy of our journey in faith as he was writing to the Jewish Christians of the 1st century who were persecuted, facing one obstacle after another in their walk of faith with Jesus Christ as their Messiah. 
• They were surrounded by family, friends, and neighbors who were still in bondage to the Laws of Judaism that history has proven changed over the centuries, putting God's people into bondage to the letter of the Law. This Law had slowly changed over the centuries, becoming perverted over the same Law that God gave Moses some 1400 years prior. These well meaning loved ones, fully accepting that the Law was binding and that this Jesus who was crucified was not the true Messiah they were waiting for, were persecuting these Christians for leaving their Jewish heritage.  "Give up your faith and return to Judaism and the Law" was the resounding voice of the 1st century. 

Chapter 11 sets the scene for chapter 12 as the author brought out the faith of their forefathers and how they fought the good fight of faith in the midst of whatever obstacle they were facing. Abraham, Moses, King David and countless of others who leaned on their faith in God, awaiting the coming Messiah - not the outward letter of the Law, which had progressively changed over the centuries to put a person in bondage to the Law.

• The spiritual climate in the United States today has drastically changed where belief in Jesus is now the rarity instead of the norm. Very few people attend church today, using Sundays as free time to do other things. We need a revival in this country, filled with repenting hearts to come to Jesus.
• Even many o the churches of tosay no longer teach faith in the Word of God, but rely upon their doctrines and traditions as the basis of their faith. Many may say they are Christians; however they are relying upon the tradions of their church as a means of their salvation, Thus, carnality (fleshly living) is the norm for most church goers today. What may have once taught truth, many churches of today have slowly changed to replace the truth of God's holy Word. Whenever anyone or anything (beliefs, values, morals or actions) goes against the Word of God, or is watered down, no matter how good it may seem, it is wrong, needing to go back to the basic truths of the Word of God.

The author is exhorting the Jewish Christians of the 1st century in Jerusalem to lay aside every weight and sin that hinders them, to run with endurance the race that God has planned for them.  In turn, the readers of this epistle are also urged to fix their eyes on Jesus, and ger rid of the bondage that holds us back from leading a purpose filled life in Christ.  Jesus in our pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who endured the cross for us and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Seeing yourself as a runner surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses as your audience, look now unto Jesus as your prize. Just as athletes strip away anything that may slow them down during a race, we are called to rid ourselves of anything that impedes our progress in following Christ. He is telling us to press on in your faith journey, knowing you are not alone in your struggles. As such, we are encouraged in the face of any trial we may be facing, having the ultimate goal of finishing the race and receiving the prize of eternal life.

Today we are constantly bombarded with distractions—whether it’s technology, societal pressures, or personal struggles—that can divert our attention from our spiritual goals. We are challenged to identify and remove these hindrances to better align ourselves with God’s purpose. A marathon runner who trains rigorously, focusing not just on physical stamina but also mental resilience. Despite facing numerous challenges—whether it’s adverse weather, physical pain, or self-doubt—they persist because they keep their eyes on the finish line. Similarly, in our spiritual race, we must train ourselves to remain focused on Christ, despite the obstacles we encounter.We are urged to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the ultimate example of faith and perseverance,  as we press forward no matter what hurdles we may encounter along the way.  By being active in our self-awareness in removing obstacles to our spiritual growth, we can then maintain our endurance in the face of trials and temptations as we go through the ups and downs of life.

The discipline of God

³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. ⁴ You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. ⁵ And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; ⁶ For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”

How often have we forgotten how much Jesus suffered not only for His faith, but for our sake? Jesus is or example of standing strong in the midst of persecution. In the face of sinners surrounding Him, Jesus looked up and saw His Father encouraging Him onward, looking at the end goal - to bring mankind back into relationship and forgiveness with God through belief in His Son Jesus - so that man can live with God forever. Jesus suffering went so far as to shed blood through His crucifixion.

⁷ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? ⁸ But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. ¹¹ Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

A loving father disiplines his children to grow up to be a responsible living adult. God does that with us as well - so that we can grow strong in our faith - to be all He has called us to be. Often we fight to have our own way, thinking we know what is right, but God sees the big picture. So then, do not be discouraged when God disciplines you because it is for our own good and the glory of God. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Roman Christians that if we suffer with Christ for the Gospel sake, we will also be glorified with Him (Rom 8:1). The Lord is with us every step of the way, loving us, helping us to grow strong in Him, in spite of what we may have to endure.

It is the right and responsibility of the parents to discipline their own children - but not other peoples children. That is our responsibility before God. All of us may not know "by experience" what a model father is, but we all know "by intuition" what is a good father. Human fathers, even with the best of intention, can only discipline imperfectly because they lack perfect knowledge. For the most part, they simply did their best under the circumstances , based on their experiences in life. Their discipline last only a few years, but the effects last a lifetime. The all-knowing God, however, disciplines us perfectly, with better and more lasting results than even the best earthly father.

• For those who have not received the loving nurturing and discipline of an earthly father, please don't compare God to an earthly father. His discipline is far more superior to any earthly father. His discipline is never to punish us or make us pay for our sins. That was done once and for all at the cross. 
• God's discipline is never done in anger - all done in love. Our heavenly Father is a good Father and disciplines us in a loving, godly manner, so that we can become strong in our faith, having that same kind of love that then reaches out to others.
• As we then become strong in our faith, we become more like Jesus. That is our ultimate goal.

Discipline never feels good at the moment, where we may mumble or complain. But time will prove God knew what was best for us all along. We then can look back and say "thank you Lord." Thank you for being a good Father.

Strengthen Your Spiritual Vitality

¹² Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

Continue in your imagination to see that believers in Jesus are running a race against sin calling for endurance. Having endurance then means enduring the pains, setbacks and trouble that come along the way in a believers life. So then for those who feel weak in their faith, toughen yourself up in your faith similar to that of an athletic by exercising, strengthening your tired hands and weak knees and marking out a path for your feet so that you don't stumble and fall and injure yourself. 

• Build up your spiritual muscles by using them, keeping strong in your faith so that you do not stumble and fall. 

Your contest has been set before you. God has already laid out your path and He wants you to build up your faith so that you follow in it. A life of righteousness lay before you, so don't place yourselves where temptation is excessive, and undertake tasks that can be accomplished as God daily leads you.

¹⁴ Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; ¹⁶ lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. ¹⁷ For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

God lays out His plan for everyone of His children, which are essential the ten commandments fulfilled in Jesus' command to love God and love others. Good deeds and submissive to God run hand in hand. One cannot expect to get to heaven by good works without being submissive to God.

Eph 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift fom God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in it.

• Work at living in peace with everyone.
• Work at living a holy life in God...in which without, no one will see God.
• Carry no bitter root. It will only cause trouble for you and many others around you.
• Do not become sexually immoral or godless like Esau.
  
  • Esau traded his birthrite, loosing the blessings of a firstborn for a single meal to his brother Jacob. He embittered himself against Jacob who received his blessing, and it became too late him to repent, even though he begged with bitter tears.  

Comparing Mount Sinai with the heavenly Mount Zion

¹⁸ For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, ¹⁹ and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. ²⁰ (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” ²¹ And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)

Comparing Mt. Sinai under Moses, the author is encouraging these Jewish believers in Christ that Mt. Zion in heaven is a much better promise from God - for Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant

"You are not coming to a physical mountain like Moses did on Mt. Sinai where it was a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom and whirlwind. There Moses and the Israelites all heard the shofar and the voice of God giving His Covenant out loud to where the Israelites begged that God would only speak to Moses as the people's representative. When God commanded that if an animal touched the mountain, it had to be stoned to death or shot with an arrow, the people wanted to hear no more. Even Moses grew fearful at the voice of God."

²² But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, ²³ to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, ²⁴ to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

You have Mount Zion, the New Jerusalem in heaven awaiting you - the city of the living God.

• This is where God, Who is the judge over all things dwell.
• You will find countless of thousands of angels there gathered together joyfully,
• As well as the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven.
• You will find the spirits of the righteous ones, who, like you, are now in heaven, have reached their goal, having been made perfect. 
• And equal to God, that is where Jesus dwells, the One who mediates the New Covenant between God and people. There you will see the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness. Unlike the crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel, this is far better.

Listen to the heavenly voice

²⁵ See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, ²⁶ whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” ²⁷ Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

"Heed this warning that God is imparting to you. For it is God Who speaks these words through me," speaks the writer. "If the Israelites in the wilderness refused to listen to Moses, God's earthly messenger, you will most certainly not escape if you reject Christ Who speaks to you now from heaven through me."

When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth to its foundation, but now God makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens as well.”

•  This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed. Only what God permits will remain. 

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. ²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire.

God's kingdom, however, cannot be shaken. So then, by God's grace, with thankfulness, let us reverently worship before God with a holy fear and awe. For our God is an awesome fire.