< Hebrews 12 >

The apostle draws an exhortation from the examples of faithfulness given in the previous chapter, using a metaphor from the Olympic games: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”.v.1Hebrews 12:1XWaiting for response Runners in a race remove every hindrance, and we should do the same to enable us to win the race for eternal life. In this we should follow the example of Jesus who was motivated by “the joy set before him” to endure great suffering and humiliation, and was rewarded with a place at God’s right hand v.2.Hebrews 12:2XWaiting for response He had to suffer terribly at the hands of sinful men v.3Hebrews 12:3XWaiting for response but this was part of God’s purpose, for it pleased the LORD to bruise him when he made his soul an offering for sin. Isaiah 53:10Isaiah 53:10XWaiting for response “Whom the LORD loveth he chasteneth” v.6Hebrews 12:6XWaiting for response and all the children of God are chastened by him.vs.5-8Hebrews 12:5-8XWaiting for response Natural fathers chasten their children, but the chastening of our heavenly Father is much more profitable.vs.9-10Hebrews 12:9-10XWaiting for response Of course, no chastening is pleasant but it develops righteousness in us, provided we are rightly exercised by it.v.11Hebrews 12:11XWaiting for response Therefore the apostle encouraged the disciples facing violent persecution,v.12Hebrews 12:12XWaiting for response and exhorted them to walk in the way of peace and holiness.vs.13-14Hebrews 12:13-14XWaiting for response They were to follow peace with all men, even their persecutors, and not allow bitterness to defile them.v.15Hebrews 12:15XWaiting for response

There are examples of unbelief and wickedness in the scriptures. Esau despised his birthright and sold it to his brother Jacob who did appreciate it, and the apostle warns the disciples not to be like Esau.v.16Hebrews 12:16XWaiting for response When he realised he had lost the blessing he wept before Isaac, imploring him to bless him, but he could not change his father’s mind.v.17Hebrews 12:17XWaiting for response We too should learn from this example and fully appreciate the wonderful promises God has made so that, in becoming heirs of the promise, we will also receive the blessing when Jesus returns.

The apostle had devoted a large part of his letter proving that the new covenant is superior to the old and that Christ is superior to Moses, and he emphasises this dramatically with reference to the events at Mount Sinai when the Law was given to Moses.vs.18-21Hebrews 12:18-21XWaiting for response Israel were then in terror, whereas we come as it were to a better mountain and better provisions, including Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.vs.22-24Hebrews 12:22-24XWaiting for response Israel were punished for not heeding the words of the LORD spoken at Sinai, and the punishment will be sorer for those disregarding the word of the LORD spoken through Christ.v.25Hebrews 12:25XWaiting for response The voice of God then shook the earth and he has declared he will shake the earth again v.26;Hebrews 12:26XWaiting for response Haggai 2:6Haggai 2:6XWaiting for response to remove all human constitutions, which are only temporary, and set up his kingdom which cannot be removed.v.28Hebrews 12:28XWaiting for response Therefore, if we hope to live in that kingdom with Christ, we should “serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire”.vs.28-29Hebrews 12:28-29XWaiting for response