Hebrews 12:1-4
Summary for Heb 12:1-17: 12:1-17 a The author challenges his hearers to endure in following Jesus, the supreme example of faithfulness, by imitating him in his suffering (12:1-4 b), by enduring under God’s discipline (12:5-13 c), and by living in peace with others (12:14-17 d). 12:1 e huge crowd of witnesses: The host of faithful followers of God (ch 11 f) bear witness to the truth that God blesses the life of faith.• let us strip off every weight: In Greco-Roman literature, a race is a metaphor for the need for endurance in life. Just as extra weight hinders a runner, sin ... trips us up. It entangles us and restricts us from moving by faith.
12:2 g Jesus is the supreme example of faithful endurance (3:1 h). Our endurance in the Christian life will depend on our keeping our eyes on Jesus—staying focused on him and his work on our behalf.
• Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith: Jesus has accomplished everything necessary for faith under the new covenant to be a reality.
• disregarding its shame: Crucifixion was the most shameful form of execution, meant to humiliate and torture the person crucified. It was used only for slaves and criminals who were not Roman citizens. Christ treated that shame as if it were nothing.
• seated in the place of honor: The author again alludes to Ps 110:1 i (see also Heb 1:3 j, 13 k; 8:1 l; 10:12 m).
12:3 n Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people: The recipients of Hebrews had become weary and were about to give up—they were emotionally fatigued because of the persecution they were facing. The key to their endurance was to focus on Jesus, who had been through even worse hostility.
12:4 o not yet given your lives: This community had not yet faced martyrdom for the faith. (This is one reason to date Hebrews prior to Nero’s persecution in the mid-60s AD.) If Jesus could endure a shameful death, the hearers should be able to endure lesser persecution.
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