The men and women of faith endured many trials, yet remained faithful. Christians should follow their example.
The inspired penman depicts those faithful as the people in the stands watching us. They are like a crowd in an amphitheater watching the athletic games of their day. The writer called upon his readers to lay aside anything that would slow their progress, just as those competitors would. He repeated his warning against the sin of unbelief, which would not only slow, but probably stop the Christian runner. Finally, he encouraged all those Christian runners to endure all of the trials and persevere to the end (Hebrews 12:1).
The encouragement of faithful servants of God in the past culminates in the greatest example, Jesus. Christ led the way in faith and brought it to its completion. Keeping Jesus in constantly in our mind’s eye will keep our best example before us.
Christ is especially a good example since he came to this earth to seek and save the lost and was willing to give up his life to achieve that end. He died a shameful death on the cross for that purpose. That death which was reserved for the worst members of society was chosen for Jesus our sinless Lord.
Jesus bore the contradiction, or opposition, of the very sinners that he came to seek and save. If Jesus could do that, it should be an encouragement to those of us running the Christian race. We can look to Jesus, who has already run a very hard race, and be encouraged to keep on running (Hebrews 12:2-3).
Boxing was another sport in the games of the first century. They used heavy pieces of metal in their gloves to draw blood and kill. The Hebrew Christians had not yet resisted sin, both in others and in self, to the point of a bloody death. Others, such as Stephen, had done so. Jesus, our supreme example, had suffered to the point of a bloody death and was likely still in the author’s mind (Hebrews 12:4).
There is a hint the Hebrews were slowing in their fight or race and had forgotten the exhortations of their childhood. The author quoted Proverbs 3:11-12 as an exhortation, reminding the Hebrews God was not angry with them. Instead, the Father was showing his love by "chastening" them. That is, he corrects and disciplines, as one would a child, in order to help educate us. Without such chastening, the Christian would not know God loved him. Discipline helps the Christian to grow up in the right way (Hebrews 12:5-6; Revelation 3:19).
The child that goes without discipline knows he is really not God’s child. Rather, he would be like an illegitimate child, whose education is often neglected. The writer emphasized that discipline is a part of true sonship. Without it one would be a spiritually illegitimate child, which would be a disgrace. Chastisement should, then, not result in our murmuring but our happiness because God lovingly chastens us (Hebrews 12:7-8).
Disobedience to parents was punished with death under the law (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). Parents were to be held in a position of respect and honor (Exodus 20:12). It was their job to chasten the child so that it might be properly educated.
The readers had obeyed fleshly parents, who could make mistakes. The writer reasonably expected them to obey God, who is perfect and able to rule in a perfect way. Earthly parents only correct for a short time then leave the grown child to go his own way. God, in contrast, constantly guides his children so they might reach an eternal reward.
Discipline is not enjoyable when it happens, but it is intended to bring forth good fruit. That fruit only comes if the person who is disciplined lives by the law that is established through the discipline (Hebrews 12:9-11).
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