Earlier, the Hebrew author had told his audience that they “have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Hebrews 10.36). The author then proceeded to give numerous examples in chapter 11 of men and women who through faith endured, even though they hadn’t yet received the promises (see Hebrews 11.13,39). In chapter 12 the author returns to his exhortation that they “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12.1). This endurance race is the main idea in Hebrews 12.1-17 (note the terms “endurance” and “endure” in vss. 1,2,3,7).
Our Inspiration To Endure (Hebrews 12.1-3)
The exhortation given to Christians is to “lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (vs. 1). The Christian walk is a marathon, not a sprint and the exhortation is to rid ourselves of anything and everything that would hinder us running the race. Sin certainly would be a hindrance to this race, but sin isn’t the only “encumbrance”. Recall that the people of faith “had opportunity to return” to their earthly countries, but they forsook that in their quest for the “heavenly one”. Everything, even home, should be left behind for this race.
But what would encourage and inspire us to leave everything behind and endure such a race? The author provides two sources of inspiration. The first is the people of faith described in chapter 11, referred to here as the “great cloud (or host) of witnesses”. The idea may be that they are witnessing / observing us as we run the race, or that their example bear witness to the fact that running with endurance is possible. Personally, I prefer the later interpretation, but it may be that both are intended. But the host of witnesses take a back seat compared to our main source of inspiration; we are to “fix our eyes on Jesus” and “consider Him who endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (vss. 2-3). His example is what should inspire us to likewise run with endurance. A few notes about what is said about Jesus in this passage:
- He is described as the “author and perfecter of faith”. “Author” is the same term translated as “forerunner” in Hebrews 6.20. “Jesus trod the way of faith first and brought it to completion” (Leon Morris, Expositors Bible Commentary).
- “for the joy set before Him” describes Jesus’ motivation for enduring; He knew what would result from His sacrifice!
- This was no easy race for Jesus, for He “endured the cross, despising the shame”. “It reflects the universal response of antiquity toward the horrific nature of crucifixion and underscores Christ’s utter humiliation in dying ignominiously like a slave or common criminal, in torment, on the cross” (William Lane, Word Biblical Commentary).
- But when Jesus endured, He received what was promised to Him: He “sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” And since He has received what was promised, so can we!
God’s Reason For Our Endurance (Hebrews 12.4-11)
The author reminds his audience that they had not yet experienced anything like what their Lord had been forced to endure; “you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin” (vs. 4). Jesus had been crucified by sinners, and while they had experienced persecution at the hands of sinners, they had not yet faced death. But all of this begs the question, “why must they be persecuted?” Without removing the guilt from their persecutions (they are termed “sinners” after all), the author states that God has good reason: discipline is good for them!
First, discipline shows that they are sons of God (vss. 5-8)! The author quotes from Proverbs 3.11-12 to remind his readers that discipline, even rebukes, are evident that God loves them. In fact, if God didn’t discipline them it would mean they weren’t His real sons! Second, discipline produces the results the Father desires to see in His children. His discipline means we will “live” (vs. 9), share in His holiness (vs. 10) and bear the “peaceful fruit of righteousness” (vs. 11). God has set a difficult race in front of us, a race requiring great endurance. His discipline insures that we can complete the race!
The Good Results Of Our Endurance (Hebrews 12.12-17)
This final section calls us to action, focusing on the good results which will come. However, the author does not call them to individual action, but to communal action. There were evidently some among them who felt too weak to run the race, thus the author exhorted them to “strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your (plural) feet…” (vss. 12-13). The result would be that the lame would find their strength; they would all be healed! How could they strengthen the entire community of believers?
- They should “pursue peace with all men” and mutual “sanctification” (vs. 14).
- They should do all they could to make sure “no one comes short of the grace of God” (vs. 15).
- They should take care that no “root of bitterness” arise among the believers, because bitterness would surely spread (vs. 15).
- And they should rid the body of any “immoral or godless person like Esau” (vss. 16-17). Esau stands in juxtaposition to the faithful of chapter 11, for while they forsook their earthly homes in search of a heavenly one, he sold his birthright for a single meal.
But where does this race finish; what is the goal? That is the subject of vss. 18-29, but rather than simply defining our goal, the author makes yet another contrast between the old and new covenant. The idea of “drawing near” has been an important one in the letter. The Law and its accompanying sacrifices could not perfect those who attempted to draw near under the old covenant (Hebrews 10.1), but Jesus’ sacrifice and His priestly ministry allow us to draw near in confidence (Hebrews 4.16; 7.25; 10.22). Significantly, the word translated in the NASB as “come to” in Hebrews 12.18,22 is the same word translated as “draw near” in the above passages. As we run the race with endurance, we are drawing ever nearer to the true Zion!
Sinai and Zion Contrasted (Hebrews 12.18-24)
As he’s done throughout the letter, the author makes another contrast between the old and new covenants. The old covenant is typified by Sinai, a scene of terror. The new covenant is typified by Zion, the new Jerusalem and a scene of celebration. Let’s begin by noting some of the ways Sinai is described:
- “ can be touched” Sinai was a tangible and physical place. It could be touched, even though Israel was warned against doing so (Exodus 19.12-13).
- “blazing fire…darkness…gloom…whirlwind” see Exodus 19.18; Deuteronomy 4.11; 5.22.
- “blast of a trumpet” see Exodus 19.19.
- “sound of words” see Deuteronomy 5.22.
- “begged that no further words be spoken to them” see Deuteronomy 5.23-27; Exodus 20.18-19.
- “they could not bear the command…” Not speaking to the disobedience of the people on this account, rather emphasizes the sense of terror that even this command evoked.
- “so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, ‘I am full of fear and trembling’ The Exodus account does not present Moses as fearful at Sinai, however other encounters with God did fill him with fear (see Deuteronomy 9.19; Acts 7.32; Exodus 3.6).
Contrasted with this scene of terror is Mount Zion, a scene even more awesome than Sinai, but approachable because of the work of Jesus (vs. 24).
- “to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” the very city the faithful of old were searching for (see Hebrews 11.10,16).
- “myriads of angels” these had also been present at Sinai (see Deuteronomy 33.2).
- “general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven” harkens back to Hebrews 1.6; 2.12.
- “God, the Judge of all” note Hebrews 2.2-3; 4.13; 6.8; 9.27; 10.26-31. The idea of God as Judge is terrifying, but for those who are part of God’s family, His judgments are vindication.
- “spirits of the righteous made perfect” including those faithful saints of the old covenant (see Hebrews 11.39-40).
- “Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant” see Hebrews 9.11-15. Remember, this is a better covenant, based on better promises (see Hebrews 8.6-13).
- “sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel” The sprinkled blood is the means of ratifying the covenant (Exodus 24.8). In this case, an innocent had to die… just as Abel was innocent (Hebrews 11.4). However, Abel’s blood brought a curse (Genesis 4.11-12), while Jesus’ blood brings perfection (Hebrews 10.14,19).
Since we’ve come to Zion (Hebrews 12.25-29)
Zion is superior to Sinai in every way, the most important difference being that Jesus’ work as mediator allows us to draw near in confidence (see Hebrews 4.16). We are greatly blessed, receiving the kingdom the faithful of old were looking for (Hebrews 11.10,16). And such blessing carries with it obligation: “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking…” The author again harkens back to an earlier point: the superiority of Christ and the blessings He brings carries even greater responsibility to heed what He says! (see Hebrews 2.1-4).
The author proceeds to give another reason why his audience should “not refuse Him who is speaking”: the great day when both heaven and earth will be shaken… leaving only the heavenly kingdom which won’t be shaken. The author quotes from Haggai 2.6-9, written during a time when the Lord was going to shake the kingdom of Babylon (cf. Isaiah 13.1-22). Just as the Lord had shaken that great kingdom, a day was coming when all of creation will be shaken! But “we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken”!
Such assurance should instill in us a desire to heed the words of our Lord, not out of slavish obedience, but with gratitude as we seek to present our entire lives as an offering of “acceptable service with reverence and awe”. The closing verse, “for our God is a consuming fire” is interesting for it takes us back to the terrible scene at Sinai (see Deuteronomy 4.24). It provides further reason to serve Him with “reverence and awe” but also gives assurance for it is He who will shake all of creation… leaving only His faithful who will stand with Him.
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