The exhortation begun at Hebrews 10:19 is taken up again with all the weight that has been added to it by the recollections of the past. In the knowledge that so great a multitude have witnessed to the truth of God's promises. Christians are encouraged (Hebrews 12:1 f.) to make for their goal, throw... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS 12:1. WITNESSES: _ i.e_. men who bore witness to God by faith. The idea of spectators is not contained in the Greek word. EASILY BESET US: lit. easily entangling, an image from trailing garments. Hebrews 12:2. of our faith: should simply be of faith. AUTHOR is better translated leader. The s... [ Continue Reading ]
With the example of Christ before them the readers are to show more constancy under their own sufferings. They are to think of Him whose life was so thwarted by wicked men, and thus nerve themselves to strength and patience (Hebrews 12:3). What is their struggle compared to that of Jesus? They have... [ Continue Reading ]
As the community is to bear up bravely under persecution, so it is to watch carefully over the purity of its own life. There must be no strife or dissension; above all, there must be moral consecration, for without this it is impossible to hold fellowship with Christ (Hebrews 12:14)_._ The church mu... [ Continue Reading ]
The theme of the epistle has been the contrast of the old and the new covenants, and this contrast is now summed up in a splendid closing passage. The first covenant was established on a mount that might be touched an earthly, material mountain [E. C. Selwyn, in JThS, xii. 134, suggests _pephepsalme... [ Continue Reading ]