Pentecost 13 (4)
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(NIV)
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.
God Disciplines His Children
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.
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
3 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
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.
When is the last time you ran a race? It could have been an all out sprint of 100 yards or a 5K run for charity. When I was in 5th grade we did some 50 yard races. I raced David Jansma who was a big, fat kid and I thought quite slow. He beat me. I ran against a girl I kind of liked. She also beat me. Later I would find some speed and when I was thirty years old I raced in Zeeland, ND and was awarded the fastest man in Zeeland award. Now? I bragged to the confirmation class last year how I could beat them in a race. I raced against Miranda last spring and could not get across the parking lot without pulling a muscle. I have never nor do I intend ever to run a 5K. It just seems like too much work. And even if you are not a racer, you know the point that Hebrews is making here because we know about racing even if not from personal experience. In order to succeed, one must keep in mind several key factors:
God Disciplines His Children
People cheering us on can help (cloud of witnesses).
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,
We need to be unencumbered (Consider how light of clothing athletes wear who race) — sin that so easily entangles.
We need perserverence. Either while training or in a long distance race to complete it.
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
Goal orientated — fix our eyes on Jesus
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
Consider not only his example but also that he helps us in our race.
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
The Bible often describes our life as Christians as a race of faith.
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.
(NIV)
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty.
Here is a warning against those who teach contrary to God’s clear word.
(NIV)
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Two warnings here. One concerning false teaching and the other of persecution. Paul was about to die because he believed he would be sentenced to death for being a Christian and that is how he died.
(NIV)
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,r and in view of his appearings and his kingdom, I give you this charge:t 2 Preachu the word;v be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebukew and encouragex —with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.y Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.z 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.a 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,b do the work of an evangelist,c discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,d and the time for my departure is near.e 7 I have fought the good fight,f I have finished the race,g I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for meh the crown of righteousness,i which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that dayj —and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.k 1
1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
r See
s ver 8; See
2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
t ;
u
v
3For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
Of course, this is not advice on something as simple as running a foot race. It is intended to be godly advice and a command on how to live our lives for Jesus over the long haul even if we meet opposition.
w ; ;
x
y See
4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
z
a See
5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
b ; ,
c ;
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6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.
The opposition that the Hebrews met came from persecution. It was becoming increasingly dangerous for the Christian to live for Jesus in the early Christian church. At first they were persecuted by the Jews and then by the Romans. In some parts of the world, Christians still face intense persecution for their faith (cite)
e
f See
In the past year, the number of Christians experiencing severe persecution increased by around 14 percent, according to Open Doors’ 2019 World Watch List.
g See ;
Open Doors, a ministry focused on global persecution awareness and aid, releases a persecution watch list each year reporting on the top 50 countries where Christians are suffering for their faith.
7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
In the last year, the number of Christians experiencing high levels of persecution climbed 30 million to 245 million. In total, 1 in 9 Christians experiences high levels of persecution.
h ;
During their most recent reporting period, 4,136 Christians were killed for their faith, which means an average of 11 Christians are martyred every day. In addition, 2,625 Christians were imprisoned without trial and 1,266 churches or Christian buildings were attacked.
I don’t think that is our greatest danger. We are more prone to becoming complacent in our own connecting to the Word of God and susceptible to our society’s preaching of tolerance and/or keeping our mouths shut when it comes to speaking against sin.
i See
j See
8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Six years ago my uncle George asked me how things are going at the church I served. Quite honestly? I remarked how few young people were active in that congregation. His quick response criticized our approach to Christian education. He noted this misconception that many Lutherans have that once you are confirmed you are saved and no longer need the Gospel. I have never taught that. No WELS pastor that I know has ever taught that. And yet, somewhere along the line this idea took hold in Lutheranism and has caught on like wild fire.
k See
Why? Because it is EASIER.
( NIV ) 13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
It is easier to look back at what we accomplished and then to disregard just how difficult it really is to persevere. We become like the high school athlete who won some game ore championship when he was 18 years old and now finds his activity in watching other people compete.
Resting on our laurels or just giving lip service to Jesus who ran the race for us and sitting back and not “working out our salvation with fear and trembling” is the opposite of what the writer to the Hebrews wrote and what is emphasized elsewhere in the Bible. (see passages above)
(NIV)
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
1 The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
(NIV)
The Need for Self-Discipline
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
We also need to be on guard against tolerance. Doesn’t it seem strange to you that once what the Bible clearly identified as sin has become the acceptable norm to be defended and that those who speak against it are branded as narrow minded and intolerant? It would be easier to acknowledge certain lifestyles and to say, “Not that there is anything wrong with it” even though there is something wrong with it.
Several weeks ago we were warned that because of sin, the wrath of God is coming.
(NIV)
Living as Those Made Alive in Christ
3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
We have begun a new Bible study — book of Revelation. In symbolic style, John saw a vision from Jesus that the wrath of God will come on the whole earth.
(NIV)
5 After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened. 6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
Some respected theologian commenting on the book of Revelation make a strong case that because of the increase of wickedness in our age, the end is near. (Compare to times of Noah and Sodoma and Gomorrah).
The Hebrews were not experiencing the wrath of God (because there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus), but they were experiencing God’s discipline which was not comfortable.
(NIV)
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
God Disciplines His Children
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.
Hebrews sees a direct connection in this case between sin and discipline. God does step into our lives when we sin by disciplining us so that we wake up and repent of our sins and look to him for forgiveness. (see passages).
God’s purpose is to produce a harvest of righteousness and peace. Hebrews compares God disciplining us for our good with how our father’s did the same.
This is illustrated by the opening example of racing. I could not get across the parking lot because I was not conditioned. Our muscles need to be trained and stretched out so that we exert them, we can persevere (stamina) and not pull them. I am convinced that even at my advanced age, if I properly trained, I may not beat a teen age girl in a foot race, but I will at least finish the race.
Our race of faith is not a competition against other Christians but an endeavor to finish our own personal race to the glory of God. As we run, we will at times stumble and fall and need to get back on track. Our fellow Christians can “cheer us on” by encouraging us. Jesus helps not just as an example but as our living Savior who helps us.
Conclusion: Today’s text is meant for those who are currently going through difficult times. If you are, I hope that you have found encouragement. But even if things are going smoothly now, there is a message for us. God has put us on the path to heaven and he wants us to move forwardly faithfully, diligently, and with godly determination. Fix your eyes on Jesus so that you will run the race as he intends and stay the course. Amen