Here we are on new grounds in Hebrews 12 and I am not quite sure what to title this chapter as my study Bibles all have their own titles. I guess this may sum them all up; "An exhortation to faith, patience, and godliness and then the LORD'S chastening brings a sound and stable kingdom," might do.
Hebrews 12:1-3, 4-11 "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, 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. For consider[1] him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation[1] which speaketh unto you as unto children (in Job 5:17, Psalm 3:11-12, 119:75; Revelation 3:19), "'My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth[1], and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.'" If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (KJV)
Heb 12:1-3, 4-11 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider[1] him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation[1] that addresses you as sons (in Job 5:17, Psalm 3:11-12, 119:75; Revelation 3:19)? "'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises[1] every son whom he receives.'" It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (ESV)
Hebrews 12:1-3, 4-11 "So now the stage is set for us: all these faith-heroes cheer us on, as it were, like a great multitude of spectators in the amphitheater (of life while we remain on earth). This is our moment. As with any athlete who is determined to win, it would be silly if not foolish to carry any baggage of the old Law-system that would weigh one down as an excessive bourbon. Make full sure you do not get your feet clogged up with a sin-consciousness, as is the habit of many. Become absolutely streamlined in faith. Run the race of life as our renewed, restored spiritual life with total persuasion. (Persuasion in the success of the cross and our co-resurrection and ascension define us now!) Look away from the old shadow dispensation of the Law and the Prophets and fix your eyes upon Jesus. He is the new foundation and conclusion of faith. He saw the joy (of humanity's salvation in his body of our flesh and did not back down from his mission.) when he braved the cross and despised our shame of it. As the executive authority of GOD (the right hand of the Throne of GOD, our original home [Genesis 1:26-27]) he now occupies the highest seat of dominion to endorse humanity's innocence! (Having accomplished purification of sins, he sat down. [Hebrews 1:3, Isaiah 53:11; Revelation 1:8, 11, 17, 2:8, 4:10 and 19:4]) [1]Ponder how he overcame all odds stacked against him; this will boost your soul-energy when you feel exhausted. ([1, G357] analogitsomai, means upwards calculation.)
Would you be willing to die for your faith? (Are you as persuaded of your faith in the substance of Christ as your predecessors were in their believing a mere shadow? In the accounts of chapter 11.) The word in Scripture that confirms our genesis in GOD addresses us as sons (in Job 5:17, Psalm 3:11-12, 119:75; Revelation 3:19), "'My son do not undervalue the [1]loving instruction of the LORD; neither become despondent when you are corrected.'" (Look at the note in verse 7 below, on [1]loving instruction. The word, [1, G3874 from G3870, parakaleō, to desire, from G3844 and G2564] parakletos, used in the KJV is translated as exhortation, but here it is translated rather as loving instruction, "comfort" as in John in relation to the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. The word consists of two components, [G3844] para, a preposition indicating close proximity, a thing proceeding from a sphere of direct influence, with a suggestion of strong union of place of ones residence, to have sprung from the author and giver, originating from, denoting the point from which an action originates, intimacy of connection, and [G2564] kaleo, to identify by name, to surname.) For every [1]instruction is inspired by his love, even as a earthly father would discipline his sons and daughters with affection, though it might seem harsh at the time. Embrace correction. His instruction confirms our true sonship; just as a father would take natural responsibility for the education of own children. (The word, [1, G3809 from G3811, paideuō, means to train up, is from G3816] paideo, means tutorage, comes from [G3816] pais, for a boy or a girl and deo, to bind, to tie [relational]; thus to correct with education, instruction and the schooling of a child. The word, educate in English comes from the Latin word, educare, which means to draw out!) See yourselves as sons, not as illegitimate children, (children of faith, not of the slave woman of the Mosaic Levitical Law) welcoming your spiritual education together with the rest of the family of faith. As we have shown respect to our natural fathers in the process of our education, how much more should we value the instruction of the Father of spirits, our spiritual origin, who upholds the life of our design. In their opinion they gave us the best possible education during the brief time that we were under their roof; GOD has our ultimate well-being in mind. The process of education is not immediately appreciated; at the time it seems to be more pain than pleasure, but it certainly yields the fruitful harvest of righteousness for the faith athlete." (The Mirror, with editing)
May the LORD open our eyes and ears of our awakened spirit to know Him in us, as us and we as him.
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