Runrace
Running the Race: Hebrews 12:1-15
Heb 12:1: Running the race for the prize of the high calling of Christ. (Phil 3:14)
Written to a group of Jewish Christians who were facing great persecution and considering going back to Judaism and forsaking Christ.
The stage is that of an Olympic stadium, with a long distance foot race in progress.
Elements of a Race:
1. Audience--spectators (v.1 "great cloud of witnesses--encouraging)
2. Runner-athlete (v.1 we must each run our own race , no one can do it for us)
3. Prize--goal (v.2 the finishing of our faith & v.10 becoming a partaker in God's holiness)
4. Contest--competition (v.12 lifting up those who are weak, v.14 following peace with all men, v.15 not allowing bitterness in our life so we hurt others)
5. Training--discipline (v.5-11 being willing to submit to the correction of God)
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses[1], let us lay aside every weight[2], and the sin[3] which doth so easily beset us, and let us run[4] with patience[5] the race[6] that is set before us, (Heb 12:1 KJV)
1 "WITNESSES": All the great "heroes of faith" in chapter 11 testify to the fact that living by faith is worth it and that we can run the race and win if we will endure (i.e. don’t quit). Some won "victoriously," while others suffered & even died, but they all won because of their faith in God--because "the just shall live by faith" (10:39). Thus, the writer is encouraging them to go on & not give up no matter how hard the persecution.
BSB: (vv. 1,2) The passage is reminiscent of the athletic events of ancient Greece and Rome. Witnesses who are former participants are present. Warm-up weights are typical of sin, which is to be laid aside in the serious competition of life. Life is a race in which the believer is asked to "run with endurance." We glance at the saints (ch. 11), but we gaze upon the Savior (12:2).
2 "WEIGHT": Athlete must have the proper equipment: Clothes--comfortable, light, loose; Weight--no excess fat to slow him down; Shoes--proper support & traction without extra weight (Eph 6:15 "our feet shod with preparation of the gospel of peace.") He also must know his weaknesses & areas of vulnerability so he can protect them & strengthen them (e.g. wrap weak ankles or tendons). God has given us the right equipment--His armor (Eph 6:11-18) & He knows our weaknesses and interceeds for us (Rom 8:26-27). We must “trim down” by getting rid of our weights of unbelief and wear God’s armor in faith.
3 "SIN": We all have things of the flesh--e.g. doubt, unbelief, etc.-- in our life that hold us back from being all that God wants us to be. These are sin & must be put off if we are to run the race of faith.
4 "RUN": 1 Cor 9:24 All who run in a race, run for the prize--to win !! To win this race requires Strength & Patience--trusting in God for His strength & His patience being developed in us.
5 "PATIENCE": 5281. hupomone, hoop-om-on-ay'; from G5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:--enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
See 10:36 ". . . ye have need of patience." (endurance-NKJV).
6 "RACE": To run a race, takes effort--sweat, determination, pain, suffering, long hours of practice, & self-discipline. You can't talk a good race, you must run (do) it.
Looking[1] unto Jesus the author[2] and finisher[3] 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 12:2 KJV)
1 "LOOKING": The runner must keep his eyes focused straight ahead so he doesn't wander or get distracted. If he looks back, he will begin to wander (fear of the past); if he looks around he will be distracted (lust of the eyes), but by focusing straight ahead he will stay in his lane and run straight and true toward the finish line.
2 "AUTHOR": Heb 2:10 Captain of our salvation. He set the example for believers under persecution--He endured the agony & suffering of crucifixion & didn't look at the shame of a criminal execution because He set His gaze on the joys of the Resurrection and His eternal rule at God's side.
3 "FINISHER": Not only did Jesus start this walk of faith, but He will finish it in our lives
“ For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6 NASB)
He is waiting for us at the finish line--He has already run the race and won--therefore, in His power we can finish the race !!!
For consider[1] him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Heb 12:3 KJV)
1 "CONSIDER": "Contemplate, think about." Careful consideration of Jesus' endurance of persecution will encourage us to keep on running and not drop out of the race when things get tough. We must keep an eternal perspective rather than a temporal one.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin (Heb 12:4 KJV)
Although they had been resisting the sin of unbelief, none of the readers of this book had yet been martyred.
4 reasons why Christians are disciplined by God (Verses 5-11)
(1) It is proof of a genuine love relationship between the heavenly Father and His children (vv. 5, 6, 8).
(2) It helps train us to be obedient (v. 9).
(3) It is part of the educational process by which a believer is fitted to share God’s holiness (v. 10).
(4) It produces the fruit of righteousness in our lives (v. 11).
And ye have forgotten[1] the exhortation[2] which speaketh unto you as unto children[3], My son, despise[4] not thou the chastening[5] of the Lord, nor faint[6] when thou art rebuked of him: (Heb 12:5 KJV)
1 "FORGOTTEN": They had forgotten a very important truth from the Old Testament found in Prov 3:11-12--Whom God loves He chastens !!! Have we forgotten also??
“My son, do not reject the discipline (or instruction) of the Lord. Or loathe His reproof, For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” (Prov 3:11-12 NASB)
2 "EXHORTATION": 3874. paraklesis, par-ak'-lay-sis; from G3870; imploration, hortation, solace:--comfort, consolation, exhortation, intreaty. Both admonition & comforting. Reminding them of their failure to behave properly in the past, and declaring to them the provisions God has given them to enable them to do what He desires them to do now and in the future.
“divine word of appeal & encouragement” (AMP)
3 "CHILDREN": 5207, huios—sons , not 5043 teknon (children) (NKJV, NIV, NASB, JNT, AMP) We are sons & daughters of the Almighty God !! Yet, as children we are sometimes immature & lose sight of the long range goals in the midst of the panic of present difficulties. But, mature sons & daughters know their Father and can face the same difficulties with confidence & determination.
4 "DESPISE": belittle, care little for, to consider of small worth
5 "CHASTENING": 3809. paideia, pahee-di'-ah; from G3811; tutorage; i.e. education or training; by impl. disciplinary correction:--chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture. (discipline NASB, NIV, NCV, JNT, AMP)
"Chastening" is education (training) by discipline (unpleasant correction) to bring improvement or growth. It may be unpleasant, but it is necessary to correct us & keep us on the right path for the Lord. Training is more than teaching by words, but it's aim is to produce actions that correspond with our words. Jesus gave us the great commision to "go and make disciples," (Mt 28:19) i.e. ones who are disciplined to do His work & carry the gospel to the nations. The whole point of chastening and training is to DEVELOP CHARACTER !!!
6 "FAINT": Don't become overwhelmed by the discipline. It is only enough to bring correction, nothing more.
For whom the Lord loveth[1] he chasteneth[2], and scourgeth[3] every son whom he receiveth(4). (Heb 12:6 KJV)
1 "LOVETH": God's love does not overlook the sins of His children; it makes Him discipline them.
2 "CHASTENETH": 3811. paideuo, pahee-dyoo'-o; from G3816; to train up a child, i.e. educate, or (by impl.) discipline (by punishment):--chasten (-ise), instruct, learn, teach.
3 "SCOURGETH": 3146. mastigoo, mas-tig-o'-o; from G3148; to flog (lit. or fig.):--scourge. To punish by whipping. (How many of us have been scourged by our loving earthly fathers?)
4 “RECEIVETH”: welcomes, accepts
If ye endure[1] chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons[2]; for what son[3] is he whom the father chasteneth not? (Heb 12:7 KJV)
1 "ENDURE": v.1 We must have patience or endurance to run the race. Jesus did !!(v.2)
2 "SONS": 2 Sam 7:14-16 God made a covenant with David that He would be the Father of David's descendents & they would be His sons. He also promised He would chasten them but never destroy his lineage nor remove His mercy. The fact that God chastens us shows we are His sons & fulfills this covenant promise.
Rom 8:14-20 Sons vs. children.
Sons (v. 14, 15, 19) Relationship-intimacy-covenant-life. (Abba-Daddy—term of love)
Children (v. 16, 17) Birth-immaturity-heir-death (Born into a family)
3 "SON": Prov 13:24 He that chastiseth (his son) loves him.
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards[1], and not sons. (Heb 12:8 KJV)
1 "BASTARDS": illegitmate children. Not born legally into the family—therefore not to be treated as a son—not disciplined by the Father.
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence[1]: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (Heb 12:9 KJV)
1 "REVERENCE": respect. We should have more respect for our heavenly Father (Dad) than we do for our earthly father because of His discipline. Subjecting ourselves to His discipline will produce life in His sons (us).
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit[1], that we might be partakers of his holiness. (Heb 12:10 KJV)
***Here is the purpose to the chastening of the Lord--"that we might be partakers (sharers) of His holiness !!" "Chaste"--pure, holy (like a virgin).
1 "PROFIT": (for our good NASB, NIV) The Lord never chastens us to destroy us (He is not a child abuser!!). Even when He chastened Israel for her sins by sending her into captivity, His intent was not to destroy, but to bring them closer to Him (Jer 29:10-14). This is how we can tell if we are receiving the chastening of the Lord or an attack from the enemy. Satan has only one purpose--"to steal, to kill, and destroy" (Jn 10:10); God's purpose is to draw us closer to Him & make us a holy people. He disciplines by His Word and His Holy Spirit—never by accidents, sickness, tornadoes, “Acts of God,” loss of jobs, etc.
7 Dangers to Avoid in Divine Chastening:
1. Don’t despise it or esteem it lightly (v.5)
2. Don’t complain about it (v.5)
3. Don’t criticise it (v.15)
4. Don’t be careless about it (v.5)
5. Don’t become hard & bitter about it (v.15)
6. Don’t quit because of it (v.5)
7. Don’t doubt your sonship (v 6.)
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward[1] it yieldeth the peaceable fruit[2] of righteousness unto them which are exercised[3] thereby. (Heb 12:11 KJV)
Our response to the chastening of the Lord determines whether we will produce the fruit of righteousness & peace or whether a "root of bitterness" will grow up (v.15).
What do we do in times of chastening?:
1. Remember God's Word (v. 5-6)—He loves us as sons
2. Remember God's Care (v.7-9)—He cares for us as sons
3. Remember God's Purpose (v. 10-15)—He disciplines us as sons
1 "AFTERWARD": Halleluah, after the discipline there is a reward !!!! The reward makes it worth all the sacrifice, sweat, tears, etc.
2 "FRUIT": AMP-"fruit of righteousness to those who have been trainined by it--a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness, [that is, in conformity to God's will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God]."
3 "EXERCISED": 1128. gumnazo, goom-nad'-zo; from G1131; to practise naked (in the games), i.e. train (fig.):--exercise. (Gymnasium)
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Ch 5:14)
An athlete will submit to the training of his coach because he knows that the coach is only trying to develop him & make him a better athlete. The coach has only the athlete's best interest at heart--to get him to his peak condition so he can win. The coach will chasten him if he doesn't try hard enough, eats wrong, has a bad attitude, gets lazy, etc. because these are "weights" (v.1) which will keep him from doing his best & winning. It takes hard exercise to develop our bodies to their fullest potential, & it takes hard discipline to develop our lives to be all that we can be for God. Discipline is not an automatic response it involves sacrifice!! (e.g. Many want gold medals, but only true Olympic champions train rigourously and give up many hours of pleasure to strive for the gold medal.)
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; (Heb 12:12 KJV)
We do get tired sometimes of running the race, but we must keep pressing on (Phil 3:14) even when our knees feel like they are going to buckle or we seem to have no strength to raise our hands. This is the time when we especially need to exercise our faith and praise the Lord. (Neh 8:10) As we do, God becomes our strength overcoming discouragement & dispondency. Others around us get weary also, so we need to help one another by lifting up those who are tired and helping them continue to run the race. (Gal 6:2-9; 2 Thess 3:13)
And make straight[1] paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (Heb 12:13 KJV)
1 "STRAIGHT": A runner doesn't worry about his position until the final few seconds, then he makes his bid to win. He keeps running straight, not wandering, but staying in his lane. He must pace himself so he doesn't wear himself out, but at the same time stay near the front so he has a hope (chance) of winning. However, if he has not kept up with the rest of the runners it is too late and he has no hope to win. If we think we can wait until Jesus returns to live a life of holiness, we will discover it is too late and lose out because we will not be able to finish the race with the rest of the runners (saints of God).
Follow[1] peace with all men, and holiness[2], without which no man shall see the Lord: (Heb 12:14 KJV)
The reason we are disciplined is so we will be ready when the Lord returns.
1 "FOLLOW": to pursue press toward. We are to pursue hard after peace & holiness like we are in hot pursuit of our enemy in a battle & wanting to catch up with him. This is not just a trying to do it (lip service), but actually putting forth effort (working) towards it diligently & expecting to achieve it.
2 "HOLINESS": Holiness is so important that we must have it in order to see God. This makes it the prize that we should strive to attain in our walk with the Lord. (1 Pet 1:15-16) "Be ye holy, for I am holy."
Ryrie 12:14 Without holiness in life we cannot see the Lord; i.e., worship Him acceptably.
Looking diligently lest any man fail[1] of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness[2] springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled[3]; (Heb 12:15 KJV)
1 "FAIL": Heb 4:1 Miss the rest that is promised to all believers.
2 "BITTERNESS": 4088. pikria, pik-ree'-ah; from G4089; acridity (espec. poison), lit. or fig:--bitterness.
The poison of bitterness will stop a runner cold--just like a cramp or stitch in the side. (Cramp is result of acid build up in the muscle due to lack of oxygen)
3 "DEFILED": Not only will bitterness stop you, but its poison spreads to others (by our bad mouthing, backbiting, gossiping) and prevents them from successfully running the race.
Conclusion: We are all in a race that many saints have already run and finished, including Jesus. God is expecting us to finish and gain the prize of living in His holiness now and forever. This passage gives us practical advice as to how to run that race.
1. We must keep our eyes focused on our example--Jesus.
2. In our own strength we may want to quit, however, we must be patient and endure the hardships of life to finish the race.
3. Because we must not quit God will discipline us in love as His sons (& daughters) to make us the best (gold medal quality) we can be
4. His holiness is the prize that we are all running for—to become more like Him.
5. We must submit to the Father’s training, just as Jesus did, so we will be able to finish the race. If we do so, we will be rewarded with His peaceable fruit of righteousness in our life. If we do not we will hurt those around us by our bitter poison.
6. We must help those who are running with us by lifting them up and encouraging them not to quit.
Let us all run this race together and at the finish line each of us will hear “Well done, my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord forever!”
Discipline in a Long-Distance Race (The Message)
12 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?
“My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline,
but don’t be crushed by it either.
It’s the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.”
God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.