Hebrews Chapter Twelve Verses 1-6

HEBREWS CHAPTER TWELVE VS 1-6 (USING KJ TEXT, STUDY BOOK WILL REFERENCE A DIFFERENT VERSION FOR READING)

Heb 12:1  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, 

Heb 12:2  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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 

Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 

Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 

Main Point: This “therefore” is an extension from 10:32 where the writer asks the readers to “recall the former days” of their acts of faithful living. His example…Jesus, yeah he uses the “Jesus card” to show the lengths to which faith must be ready to serve the believer.

1.    How are each of these statements to help us run with endurance?
”Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses”: Virtually all of God’s valiant servants were regular people, made extraordinary through their relationship with God. It was never something they considered as their own work, but His. The one’s listed who stayed true did so without regard to circumstance…and did not look to the here-and-now as evidence.

“Lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely”: The “race” is the metaphor used in conjunction with this analogy. “Don’t let things get in your way” is the essential message and meaning. “Don’t be burdened so that you cannot race”…
“Every weight” expands from his earlier specific naming of abandoning the church as “sinning willfully”. However, let’s not become dogmatic concerning “church attendance” equating to a faithful life. The writer’s earlier references to “God being written on our hearts” carries more meaning than just attendance. As he has alluded, faith is exhibited in our actions….he just spent an entire chapter showing that.

“Looking unto Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith”: The first ten chapters qualifies this statement of the perfect(ed) example we have. More importantly, the writer is emphatic in his equating Jesus with Jehovah. How do you fight against that?

“For the joy set before Him, endured the cross”: This is the template for Christian motivation. As he has stated more than once, faith looks for the promises. The bearer of that faith understands themselves to be a pilgrim in this world.

2.    What specifically is the “chastening of the Lord?” How can we identify it in our lives?
5)3809: paideia pahee-di'-ah From G3811; tutorage, that is, education or training; by implication disciplinary correction:
6)3811: paideuō pahee-dyoo'-o From G3816; to train up a child, that is, educate, or (by implication) discipline (by punishment): - These are pretty close to the original Hebrew text in that is covers a verbal training, and if needed something more severe if needed. The first denotes the learning what is right…the second denotes the ramifications one can expect if not practicing what we have learned. There are many ways to learn from God. Just look at the wonder of the complexity of the natural world. Like faith, we will know if we have “learned” “right” by our actions…not just lip service.

3.    What is the purpose of the chastening of the Lord? How then should we receive the chastening? The first part of this is answered in Question2. Trying to dissect the what it is from the purpose is virtually impossible since they are one in the same. From the Hebrew, it is God looking to make the recipient “right”. That’s what it is and that is its purpose. Chasten/correct in the Hebrew (Prov 3:11/12) – Warn – to Be Right. Most specifically though the context is a dad speaking to his son, telling him that God will MAKE HIM RIGHTEOUS as His own son! If we are to look at God as a Father who love us…then how should we take it? This was Jesus’ mission, this is why he hung on the cross!

Additional:

Note: This is the fourth time he has alluded to Jesus at “the right hand” of God. Thus equating their rejection of Jesus, as a flat-out rejection of God.  

Verse 2 (Perfecter/finisher) is a direct reference to his earlier preaching of the inability of the law to make anyone perfected….something only found in the Christ name Jesus (chapter 10)

5, 6) OT Ref Prov.3:11-12 The word “son” carries the meaning of “family builder” as in the first born, or one who is to carry the family name forward. You know, like what God calls Christians to do!