Hebrews 12:1 - Meaning and Application

Here we see the great duty the apostle presses on the Hebrews, and the one he especially wants them to obey. They are to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily traps them, and run with patience the race set before them. This duty has two parts, one that prepares the way and one that carries it through.

First, they must prepare by laying aside every weight and sin. By “every weight,” he means every unhealthy attachment and concern for the body, this present life, and the world. Such care for earthly things is like a dead weight on the soul, pulling it down when it should rise and holding it back when it should press forward.

By “the sin that so easily traps us,” he means the sin that has the greatest advantage over us because of our situation, temperament, or companions. This may mean unbelief, the sin that condemns, or, for the Jews especially, a strong attachment to their own old covenant way of life. In any case, all outside and inside hindrances must be laid aside.

Second, they must run with patience the race set before them. The apostle speaks here in the language of the games, like the Olympic races. Christians have a race to run, both in service and in suffering, a path of active obedience and of patient endurance.

This race is set before them. God has marked it out by his Word and by the examples of faithful people, that cloud of witnesses that surrounds them. The path has clear limits and directions, and both the goal they are running toward and the prize they are running for are set before them.

This race must be run with patience and steady endurance. They will need patience to face the troubles in the way, and perseverance to resist every urge to stop or turn aside. Faith and patience are the victorious graces, so they must be kept alive and active.

Christians also have a greater example to encourage them than anyone mentioned before, the Lord Jesus Christ. They must look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, that is, the one who begins faith, completes it, and brings it to its reward (Hebrews 12:2). He is the great leader and pattern of faith, for he trusted in God. He also bought the Spirit who gives faith, gave the rule of faith, and works faith in his people by his power.

He is also the finisher of our faith. He fulfills all Scripture promises and prophecies, and he brings the work of grace to completion in the souls of his people. He is the judge and rewarder of faith too, for he decides who reaches the goal, and from him and in him they receive the prize.

Christ faced great trials in his own race. He endured the contradiction of sinners against himself (Hebrews 12:3), meaning the constant opposition of their words and actions. They were always crossing him and standing against his great work. Though he could have easily exposed and silenced them, he bore with their evil ways with great patience.

Their opposition was aimed directly at Christ himself, at his person as God and man, at his authority, and at his teaching. Yet he endured it all. He also endured the cross, every suffering he met in the world, and at last that painful, shameful, and cursed death, when he was numbered with lawbreakers, the worst of criminals. Even so, he bore all this with unshakable patience and resolve.

He despised the shame. The insults thrown at him in life and at death he treated as nothing. He was far above them. He knew his own innocence and greatness, and he counted the ignorance and malice of those who mocked him as nothing.

What supported Christ’s human soul under such unmatched suffering was the joy set before him. He saw ahead of him the good that would come from his sufferings. He rejoiced that by them he would satisfy God’s offended justice, protect God’s honor and rule, make peace between God and man, seal the covenant of grace and serve as its Mediator, open a way of salvation even for the worst sinners, and save all whom the Father had given him. He would also be the firstborn among many brothers. This was the joy set before him.

The reward of his suffering was this, he has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. As Mediator, Christ has been lifted to the highest place of honor, power, and influence. He is at the Father’s right hand. Nothing passes between heaven and earth except through him. He works in all that is done, and he always lives to intercede for his people.

Our duty toward this Jesus is clear. We must look to him, meaning we must keep him always before us as our example and our great encouragement. We must also look to him for guidance, help, and acceptance in all our sufferings. We must consider him deeply, think much about him, and compare his case with our own.

As we do this, we will see that Christ’s sufferings were far greater than ours in both kind and measure, and his patience far surpasses ours. His patience is a perfect pattern for us to follow.

This also helps keep us from growing tired and losing heart (Hebrews 12:3). Even the best believers are inclined to grow weary and faint under trials, especially when those trials are heavy and last a long time. This comes from the weakness of grace and the remaining power of sin.

The best way to prevent this is to look to Jesus and think about him. Faith and meditation bring fresh strength, comfort, and courage. He has promised that if we suffer with him, we will also reign with him, and that hope will be our helmet.