Hebrews Chapter 12 Study; First, let’s read the chapter. Listen to this blog post here, which is sponsored by WA Web Education

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,

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.

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

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

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:

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

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9 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?

10 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.

11 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.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29 For our God is a consuming fire.

End of Chapter

Hebrews chapter 12 is a powerful call to persevere in the faith, using the image of a race to encourage the house of Jacob (Akobe) and believing nations (Gentiles) to endure trials and hardships.

The author of Hebrews reminds us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, those who have gone before us (the ancestors) and have already completed the race of faith. They serve as an example and encouragement to us, reminding us that we too can overcome any obstacle that comes our way.

The chapter begins with the image of a race, with the author telling us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

A Marathon and Race

This race is not a sprint but a marathon, and it requires us to be disciplined, focused, and determined. We must cast off anything that would hinder us in our pursuit of the prize, which is eternal life with our Eternal Father, under the leadership of Christ our King.

The author then directs our attention to Jesus (different cultures have different names such as Yashaya, Msindisi, or Ndinyanga), who is the ultimate example of perseverance, discipline, focus, humility, and determination.

He endured the cross to teach the truth, and to display the characteristics the Eternal Father is pleased with. He did it all despising its shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the Eternal Father (Hebrews 12:2).

Focus on the Example of Christ

We are to look to Him, fixing our eyes on Yashaya, the author, and finisher of our faith. He is the source of our strength and the one who will help us to run the race with endurance, through the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The author then reminds us that the Eternal Father disciplines those whom He loves, just as an earthly father disciplines his children (Hebrews 12:6). We are not to despise the discipline of the Eternal Father but to learn from it, knowing that it is for our good and is intended to produce in us the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

The chapter concludes with a warning against rejecting the Eternal Father’s discipline and a call to be grateful for the grace that has been given to us. We are reminded that we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken and that we should serve the Eternal Father with all reverence and godly fear (Hebrews 12:28).

In summary, Hebrews chapter 12 …

…is a powerful call to persevere in the faith, the faith or belief that we are here on earth to live out our best life, and complete the best version of ourselves, which is fulfilling our purpose, which will bring us happiness.

This is found in loving our neighbor as we love ourselves, utilizing the fruits of the spirits (found in Galatians 6), and serving our Eternal Father by serving our brothers and sisters on the earth with all love, respect, humility, mercy, and justice.

Therefore we stay the course in faith, using the image of a race to encourage the house of Akobe and willing believing Gentiles to endure trials and hardships. 

A Cloud of Witness

Hebrew 12 reminds us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have already completed the race of faith, and who serve as an example and encouragement to us. We are to constantly fix our eyes on Msindisi, the author, and finisher of our faith, and to cast off anything that would hinder us in our pursuit of the prize.

We should learn from the discipline of the Master, the Anointed Son, knowing that it is for our good and is intended to produce in us the peaceable fruit of righteousness. And we are to be grateful for the grace that has been given to us, serving the Eternal Father with reverence and godly fear.

Press on friends, press on brothers and sisters.

Minister Koko

BSM 

BibleStudyMinistry.com
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With all love and Spiritual regards