Hebrews 12

1 so great a cloud of witnesses. These witnesses are not mere spectators; they are those who bear a testimony to the power and triumph of faith; and in this capacity they are represented as encouraging the efforts of Christians in the heavenly race.

the sin which so easily beset us. “Sin with its clinging folds” (Moffatt); like a robe that would cling to the racer and impede his course.

patience. Rather, “endurance.” For the verb, see vers. 2, 3, and 7.

2 looking unto Jesus. The Greek is “looking away.” For the word translated “author,” see note on ii. 10. Jesus on “the cross” and on “the throne” is the great Exemplar of faith’s power and results.

3 contradiction. Opposition to His teaching and Himself.

4. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood. These words have been understood by many expositors to refer to physical suffering or persecution, but the second clause “striving against sin” suggests that the spiritual conflict is meant. This is borne out by vers. 1, 2.

5 speaketh unto you. More exactly, as R.V., “reasoneth with you”: see note on Prov. iii. 11, 12.

7. If ye endure chastening. The sense is: “for correction, not for punishment or in vengeance,” God is dealing with you; “as with sons.”

10 after their own pleasure. Lit., “according to what seemed good to them.”

11 peaceable fruit. Where righteousness is one fruit of affliction, peace will be another.

12. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, etc. “Hands” for conflict (ver. 4); “knees” for the race (ver. 1).

13 turned out of the way. Or, “put out of joint.” “The word allows either rendering; but there is no good contrast between wandering and

14 holiness. Rather, “the sanctification” denoting a continuous process.

15 fail of the grace of God. “Fall back from.”

root of bitterness. In allusion to Deut. xxix. 18; where the insidious sin of idolatry is spoken of.

16 one morsel of meat. Rather, “for a single meal.”

17 he found no place of repentance, etc. The words should be a parenthesis (as above), to show that it was the blessing that Esau “sought carefully.”

18 [the (a) mount]. The best reading is that rendered by Moffatt: “You have not come to what you can touch, to flames of fire,” etc.

22 the heavenly Jerusalem. Cp. Phil. iii. 20, and note. In this description, all that the Jew gloried in with respect to the giving of the law is shown to be surpassed. The Christian believer has his holy mountain, his sacred city, his “festive gathering” of “myriads,” including angels (cp. Acts vii. 53), and the “first-born” (Exod. iv. 22), enrolled, not on earth (Numb. iii. 40, 42), but in heaven; and the universal Judge, and the perfected saints, and the great Mediator, Jesus, with His efficacious blood.

23 church (ἐκκλησία, congregation) of the first-born. The Christian Church of the period, the earliest participant in the great salvation. For the enrolment or registration of the firstborn as representing the entire community, see Numb. iii. 42; and cp. Isa. iv. 3; Luke x. 20.

written. Or, “enrolled.”

the spirits of just men made perfect. The saints who lived and died before Christ. Though their bodies lie in the grave their spirits are in blessedness with Christ: cp. Phil. i. 21, 23.

24 than [that of] Abel. Properly, “than Abel” (see note on xi. 4. The appeal for vengeance and the “plea” for pardon are here placed in contrast.

25. Him that speaketh. Offering peace by the blood of Christ (24).

26. Yet once more, etc. This is freely quoted from Hag. ii. 6; on which see notes.

27 that those things which cannot be (which are not) shaken, etc. The “removing” of the transitory is for the establishing of the permanent.

28 cannot be moved. Rather, “cannot be shaken”; repeating the word from vers. 26, 27.

let us have grace. Rather, “Let us cherish thankfulness,” by which we may serve the Lord in a manner well-pleasing to Him: cp. Psa. l. 23.

29 for our God, etc. Rather, “for indeed our God,” etc.; giving another reason for reverential worship, quoted from Deut. iv. 24, as applying under the gospel as well as under the law.