Hebrews 12:1-21

1 This cloud of "witnesses" consists of those just enumerated, who witness to the life of faith. It has no reference to any who are watching the Hebrews. A witness is one who testifies, and it is the testimony of all the faithful, from Abel down, which constituted the moral atmosphere in which the Hebrews lived. Nevertheless, their popular sin was unbelief. Even as their fathers had witnessed the faith of Moses and saw the signs, yet were strewn along the wilderness for their lack of faith in God, so the Hebrews were prone to question the promises and to turn from the trials that lay along the path of faith.

2 All the other examples of faith pale before the supreme Example. Even Abraham, the father of the faithful, failed once and again in the very virtue for which he is distinguished. But the Saviour, as a man, never faltered in His implicit confidence in God. He did always those things which pleased God without regard to the consequences to Himself. When His message was rejected, He acquiesced. Even though His God forsook Him in the hour of deepest need and sorest suffering, it did not shake His faith, for, at the very last, He committed His spirit into the Father's hands. And He alone, of all the faithful, has risen and received some reward for His faithfulness, for He has ascended to the right hand of God's throne. Such an example as this should be the most powerful of all incentives for the Hebrews to endure the trials of the way, and persevere to the end.

7 God's discipline is too often mistaken for His indignation. The presence of trials and distresses are not a proof of sin and God's anger, but may be the tokens of His love. Job's friends tried to convince him that his calamities came as the penalty of his own misdeeds. Job himself thought that God was his enemy and had conspired against him. All were wrong, for the blessed result of a closer knowledge of his Maker fully vindicated God for all the afflictions He had brought upon him. Job had heard of Him, but after his trial he could say that he had seen Him-a more intimate acquaintance.

10 Human discipline is too often without a definite object, or lacks entirely the corrective element which should always be present. Punishment as a mere deterrent, or as a penalty, is of little use in forming character. The ideal chastening is that which fits the offense in such a way that it forms and strengthens those elements in character which are weak and which led to the evil doing. God is the only Father Who has the requisite wisdom to choose such chastening for His children. However heavy His hand may seem we may be sure that it is held by a heart that sympathizes with our passing distress, and helps us to bear fruit for our own profit and His glory.

12 Flaccid hands and paralyzed knees are a realistic picture of utter discouragement on the part of those who fail to see the presence of God's hand in their disheartening circumstances, or that these are but part of the process by which He is bringing them into the larger and nearer place He has prepared for them.

16 The example of Esau should have made a powerful appeal to the Hebrews, in their perplexity and distress. They, too, could ease their souls and enjoy the pleasures of the world by rejecting their birthright, for they were the firstborn of the kingdom. If they should barter their birthright for a brief respite then they, too, would be rejected, however much they might regret it later on.

17 Esau was not seeking forgiveness nor salvation, but to undo the effect of a former state of mind with regard to the birthright. But his bargain was irrevocable. These Hebrews were in danger of forfeiting their birthright.

16 The nation in the wilderness, at Mount Sinai, came to the terrible spectacle which inaugurated the law (Exo_19:12-20). The whole scene was prophetic of the relation they would sustain to Jehovah under the legal covenant. He forbade a near approach under pain of death. It brought no peace or assurance, but fear and terror. This is the function of the law. It came, not to bring them near to God, but to convict them of their inability and unworthiness.