Sermon Tone Analysis

TEXT: Hebrews 12:1-2

INTRODUCTION:

I. DON’T FOCUS ON PEOPLE OR PROBLEMS (Hebrews 12:1).

(Τοιγαροῦν καὶ ἡμεῖς, τοσοῦτον ἔχοντες περικείμενον ἡμῖν νέφος μαρτύρων, ὄγκον ἀποθέμενοι πάντα καὶ τὴν εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν, διʼ ὑπομονῆς τρέχωμεν τὸν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἀγῶνα,)

Therefore (τοιγαρουν ).

Triple compound inferential participle (τοι, γαρ, οὐν ) like the German doch denn nun, a conclusion of emphasis, old particle, in N. T. only here and 1 Thess.

4:8.

There should be no chapter division here, since 12:1–3 really is the climax in the whole argument about the better promises (10:19–12:3) with a passionate appeal for loyalty to Christ.

Us also (και ἡμεις ).

We as well as “these all” of 11:39 and all the more because of the “something better” given us in the actual coming of Christ.

Compassed about (ἐχοντες περικειμενον ).

Literally, “having (ἐχοντες , present active participle of ἐχω) lying around us” (περικειμενον , present middle participle of περικειμαι , old verb as in Luke 17:2).

Cloud of witnesses (νεφος μαρτυρων).

Old word (Latin nubes), here only in the N. T., for vast mass of clouds.

Νεφελη is a single cloud.

The metaphor refers to the great amphitheatre with the arena for the runners and the tiers upon tiers of seats rising up like a cloud.

The μαρτυρες here are not mere spectators (θεαται ), but testifiers (witnesses) who testify from their own experience (11:2, 4, 5, 33, 39) to God’s fulfilling his promises as shown in chapter 11.

Laying aside (ἀποθεμενοι).

Second aorist-middle (indirect, from ourselves) participle of ἀποτιθημι, old verb as in Col. 3:8 (laying off old clothes).

The runners ran in the stadium nearly naked.

Every weight (ὀγκον παντα ).

Old word (kin to ἐνεγκειν, φερω) like φορτος, βαρος .

Here every encumbrance that handicaps like doubt, pride, sloth, anything.

No trailing garment to hinder or trip one.

The sin which doth so easily beset us (την εὐπεριστατον ἁμαρτιαν ).

“The easily besetting sin.”

There are a dozen possible renderings of this double compound verbal from εὐ [eu], well, and περιιστημι , to place around or to stand around (intransitive).

The Vulgate has circumstans nos peccatum (the sin standing around us). Probably this is the true idea here, “the easily encompassing (or surrounding) sin.”

In this case apostasy from Christ was that sin.

In our cases it may be some other sin.

The verbal adjective reminds one of the ring of wild beasts in the jungle that encircle the camp-fire at night each ready to pounce upon a careless victim.

Let us run (τρεχωμεν).

Present active volitive subjunctive of τρεχω , “let us keep on running.”

With patience (δἰ ὑπομονης).

Not with impatience, doubt, or despair.

The race that is set before us (τον προκειμενον ἡμιν ἀγωνα).

Note the article and the present middle participle of προκειμαι, old compound (already in 6:18, and also in 12:2).

Dative case (ἡμιν) of personal interest.

A. Be mindful of people, but don’t focus on them.

(Hebrews 12:1a).

νέφος = here only in the N. T., for vast mass of clouds.

Νεφελη [Nephelē] is asingle cloud.

The metaphor refers to the great amphitheatre with the arena for the runners and the tiers upon tiers of seats rising up like banks of clouds.

The seats are filled with people (more specifically witnesses -μαρτύρων )

There are two possibilities concerning the people.

They can be encouragements to faithfulness or can serve as distractions.

It all depends on their level of commitment to Jesus.

1.

People sometimes disappoint us.

(2 Timothy 4:10).

2. People sometimes betray us

a. Judas betrayed Jesus.

b.

Demas deserted Paul.

3. People sometimes attack us (3 John 1:9-10).

4. People are not to be feared because they really have no power over us ultimately.

(Ps.

56:4; 118:6; Heb.

13:6)

B. Recognize and deal with problems but don’t focus on them.

(Hebrews 12:1b)

1. Cares and circumstances are to be dealt with properly, but no become your focus.

a. Paul learned this lesson (Letter to the Philippians).

b.

Negative circumstances did not ruin his joy.

2. Sin should be dealt with but not become your focus.

a. Deal with it through confession and repentance (1 Jn. 1:9; Rom.

14:23)

C. Run the race, but don’t make it your focus.

(Hebrews 12:1c)

1. Making the race your focus will cause you to worry and fret.

a.

Like Martha (Luke 10:38-42).

2. Making the race your focus will make you stumble and fall.

a.

Looking at the length of the race or the race already run will have deadly results.

II.

DO FOCUS UPON JESUS (Hebrews 12:2).

(ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως ἀρχηγὸν καὶ τελειωτὴν Ἰησοῦν, ὃς ἀντὶ τῆς προκειμένης αὐτῷ χαρᾶς ὑπέμεινεν σταυρὸν αἰσχύνης καταφρονήσας, ἐν δεξιᾷ τε τοῦ θρόνου τοῦ θεοῦ κεκάθικεν.)

Looking unto (ἀφορωντες εἰς ).

Present active participle of ἀφοραω , old verb to look away, “looking away to Jesus.”

In N. T. only here and Phil.

2:23.

Fix your eyes on Jesus, after a glance at “the cloud of witnesses,” for he is the goal.

Cf.

Moses in 11:26 (ἀπεβλεπεν ).

The author (τον ἀρχηγον).

See 2:10 for this word.

“The pioneer of personal faith” (Moffatt).

Perfecter (τελειωτην).

A word apparently coined by the writer from τελειοω as it has been found nowhere else.

Vulgate has consummator.

For the joy (ἀντι της χαρας).

Answering to, in exchange for (verse 16), at the end of the race lay the joy “set before him” (προκειμενης αὐτῳ), while here was the Cross (σταυρον) at this end (the beginning of the race) which he endured (ὑπεμεινεν, aorist active indicative of ὑπομενω), despising shame (αἰσχυνης καταφρονησας).

The cross at his time brought only shame (most shameful of deaths, “yea, the death of the cross” Phil.

2:8).

But Jesus despised that, in spite of the momentary shrinking from it, and did his Father’s will by submitting to it.

Hath sat down (κεκαθικεν).

Perfect active indicative of καθιζω, and still is there (1:3).1

1 A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Heb 12.

A. He is the beginning of your life.

(Hebrews 12:2a)

1.

It is he who created you and sustains you (Col 1:16-17).

2. It is he who saved you (John 10:9; Titus 3:5).

B. He is the end of your life.

(Hebrews 12:2b)

1.

It is he who will preserve you safely until the end (1 Peter 1:5).

2. It is he who has prepared you a home (Jn.