Sermon Tone Analysis

Chapter 11 was Full of Faithful Examples…

As Well as People Who Suffered for Their Faith Without Receiving the Promises

Then at the Beginning of Chapter 12, the Author Says:

Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV)

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Christians are Portrayed as Runners Participating in a Race

The Stadium Seats are Filled with the Faithful that Came Before Us

They Inspire Us and Encourage Us to Keep the Faith

That is, to Cast Aside Weights and Anything that Might Entangle Us…

And to Run Our Race with Endurance

Though the Crowd are Wonderful Examples to Us…

We Don’t Focus Our Attention on Them

We Keep Our Eyes and Attention Fixed on Jesus

He is the Pioneer and Perfecter of Faith

And He Suffered Greatly Because of His Faith…

And Because of the Joy of Being Glorified Himself…

As Well as Enabling the Faithful to Be Glorified with Him

Hebrews 12:3 (NASB95)

3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Out of All the Faithful Witnesses Surrounding Us in the Stadium…

We are to Place Our Focus on Jesus

These Hebrew Christians Were Experiencing Hostility From Sinners Because of Their Faith

But Jesus Faced Much Worse and He Remained Faithful

Remain Focused on Him Without Distraction and Imitate His Faith

Drop the Weight that Might Slow Down Your Faith

Get Rid of Any Sins that Might Cause You to Forfeit the Race

Keep Your Eyes Focused on the King on His Throne

When We Do These Things, We Won’t:

Grow Weary and Faint Before We Reach the Finish Line

We Will Keep the Faith and Remain Hopeful of Our Glorious Reward

Hebrews 12:4–11 (NIV)

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son?

It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.

For what children are not disciplined by their father?

8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.

How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.

11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.

Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

The Entire Purpose of this Book is to Encourage its Hebrew Christian Audience

They are Experiencing Different Types of Sufferings Because of Their Faith

The Author has Been Worried that They will Choose to Abandon the Faith

So this Entire Sermon is to Encourage Them Not to

Here He is Now Offering Them a Different Perspective on Their Suffering

Many Times When We Suffer Because of Our Faith, We Assume God is Upset with Us

There have Been Times in My Own Life that I have Held Certain Beliefs Because of My Faith…

And Others (Even Christians) have Been Against Me for Holding Such Beliefs

In These Moments, it is Natural to Want to Back Off From or Second-Guess Your Beliefs…

Because the World and Even God Seems to Be Against You

But What if this is Exactly What We Should Expect From the World?

What if this is How God Disciplines/Trains/Instructs His Children?

What if this is What We Need to:

Grow in Holiness and Righteousness

And Be Brought to Glory?

Hebrews 12:4 (NASB95)

4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

“To the Point of Shedding Blood” Likely = “To the Point of Death”

“You Haven’t had to Give Your Life for Your Faith Yet”

Many of the Faithful had to

And Even Jesus had to

“So, Not to Make Light of Your Sufferings…”

“But Things Could Always and Have Been Worse”

It’s Important that We Remember the Reason for Their Suffering

Their Suffering wasn’t the Ordinary Sufferings of Life:

Sickness, Disease, Growing Old, etc.

Their Suffering was Because They Were Resisting and Striving Against Sin

That is the Context of this Passage and of this Entire Book

They are Suffering Because of Their Faith in Jesus

Hebrews 12:5–6 (NASB95)

5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; 6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”

The Author Says They Have Forgotten an Exhortation/Encouragement From Proverbs…

Which is Addressed to the Children of God

God Disciplines Those Who are His Children

When We Hear the Word “Discipline”…

We Typically Think of the Negative Side of Discipline, Such as:

Punishing a Child for Doing Something Wrong

That’s Not What this Entire Passage is About

And if We Think that’s What it is About, We will Come Away with Some Discouraging Theology

God Does Not Punish His Faithful Children

This Passage is Talking About the Positive Side of Discipline

Discipline = To Train, Educate, Instruct

“To Provide Instruction for Informed and Responsible Living”

God Love His Children

And Because He Loves His Children…

He Trains, Educates, and Instructs Them

He Provides Instruction for Informed and Responsible Living

Here’s What the Hebrews Author is Saying so Far:

“Don’t Be Discouraged By the Sufferings You’re Experiencing…”

“Be Encouraged!”

“Because Through These Sufferings, God is Disciplining You as His Beloved Children”

“He is Training, Educating, and Instructing You for Informed and Responsible Living”

These Sufferings aren’t Meant to Turn Them Away From Being Christians

They are Meant to Make Them Stronger and More Faithful Christians

They Just Needed to Be Reminded to have the Proper Perspective

And that’s Why We Were Reminded in Verse 3 that…

Even Jesus had to Endure Suffering from the World

And He had to Learn Obedience Through Suffering, Just like Us