Lessons From Hebrews – Lesson 12
The Bible was not given to give us a mystery. The Bible does have parables in it, but the entire Bible is not a parable. The Bible is not some test of your mental ability. Some people actually believe that. They think that only a select few can thru their brand of dissecting scholarship understand it. That is not true at all.
Mat 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Understanding the Bible is not a wise and prudent matter. It is a heart matter. The number one reason people cannot understand the Bible is that they are not saved. The Bible is spiritually discerned. You need the Spirit living in you to teach you.
The second reason people cannot understand the Bible is they don’t have their heart right.
The Bible says that is was written that ye may know. But not just know, but also do. You get a hard heart about doing and about heeding and applying the word of God, then you are grieving the Spirit. The very one you need to illuminate the scriptures.
The Bible was not given to give us a mystery. The Bible was given to change our lives. There is always an application to be made to our lives.
Last week we quickly ran thru Chapter 11. The great hall of faith chapter. If you will remember the context of the chapter. Paul has been working with saved Hebrews who where thinking about quitting. They had lost patience waiting for the promises.
Paul reminded them of how they endured, had joy and worked for God after they got saved. Even thou they were being persecuted. After looking at their own example, Paul shows them the examples of others. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Moses and Abraham and others. Paul shows that faith is enough to save, to walk with God, and to work for God.
These Hebrew Christians were tired and lost patience, so Paul gives them the example of the great patient faith of Abraham. He is telling them look at Abraham’s example. He had faith until the end. He never received the promise but still counted it as good as done. He just realized that God would deliver after he died.
In chapter 11 Paul also gave them example after example of great things that were accomplished thru faith.
Chapter 11 was not given for the purpose of making us go wow. Look at them. They were greater men and women than us. They did things we could never do. If you look at chapter 11 like that, then you have missed the point.
Paul wrote chapter 11 to tell Christians look at their example and do likewise. Faith is sufficient so have faith. Don’t quit. Have great faith until the end.
Look at the first word in chapter 12. Wherefore. That links it back to chapter 11. We have seen examples of faith and now here comes the application.
I believe that the chapter divisions in the Bible are not inspired. Too many times you see the application of the teaching put off into the next chapter. And here we see it again.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
The witnesses being talked about here are all those that have been given in chapter 11. All those people gave great witness of their faith. Their lives witness to the fact that you can live for God and have great faith until the end, even in a dark world. Even during hard circumstances.
They witness to the fact that you can live by faith and not by sight.
The witness of their lives takes away all the excuses. All of the it is just too hard, or I can’t live by faith unless I see. Baloney. It can be done. And we don’t have just one or to that witness to that fact. We have a great cloud of witnesses.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Verse 1 is very much like Paul. Many times in scripture Paul uses sports as an illustration. Here he says because of their example, let us lay aside every weight. He uses the illustration of a runner.
The weight is anything that will slow you down. You don’t go running a race with your laptop computer in its case. It is not that the laptop computer is a bad or evil thing. It is not. But it will slow you down. It will be a distraction to you as you are running.
The Christian life is likened to a runner running a race. We are to be always pressing toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus. We are to lay aside every weight that would slow us down.
Some people take up hobbies. It is not that the hobby itself is bad. It might be something harmless. Something that no one would consider a sin. But is it a weight? Is it something that is a distraction and slows down your walk with God.
Here is an example. Say fishing. Fishing in itself is not bad. But can it be taken too far. Absolutely it can. It can become a weight. Something that is a distraction from and slows down your spiritual race? Can it keep you out of church on Sunday or serving your Lord. Sure it can.
Football can be a weight. T.V. can be a weight. The list is endless. Many of which are fine if kept in perspective and in proper moderation. What we are being told here is to lay aside anything that has become a hindrance to your race.
and the sin which doth so easily beset [us],
Not only are we to lay aside any weight that slows us down, but we need to lay aside sin. A Christian is not to be partaking in sin. Be ye holy for I am holy, saith the Lord.
And it says the sin which doth so easily beset us. O’ it is easy to fall into some sin. That is because we are sinners. That old sin nature is still in us. The flesh still desires to sin. We live in a sinful world and are faced with all kinds of temptations every day. We need to deny our flesh.
We need to willfully have some self-discipline and lay aside sin.
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Let us run the race that is set before us. Running is work. Running is being active. Running is moving forward. Running is enduring some things. Running a race is keeping your eyes on the finish line.
This race is set before us. You get saved, and you are mandatorily put in the race. It is set before you. You are given a race to run. You can choose to not run. And if you do that, you do not lose your salvation. But refusing to run is not the choice that pleases the Lord and refusing to run is not what is best for you.
After you get saved you should choose to run. And we are to run this race with patience. Realize that our race does not last 15 min or an hour. It lasts our lifetime. We will not see the finish line until we are with the Lord.
These Hebrew Christians had run well, for a while. Then they lost patience and want to quit the race. Paul is telling them, you have a race to run. Get up and run it. And have patience. You will be running it your whole life. Don’t look for the finish line tomorrow.
Just lay aside the things that are slowing you down. Lay aside the sin that tends to make you want to quit. And get back to concentrating on running the race.
So at the end of chapter 10 paul told them to look at the example of their own past. Then in chapter 11 paul told them to look at the example of others and do likewise.
Now Paul tells them to look at the greatest example of all.
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith;
You get your eyes on Jesus, and that changes everything. You get down and depressed. Get your eyes upon Jesus. You feel like quitting, get your eyes upon Jesus.
Jesus is the author of our faith. He created it. He designed it. He is our foundation. He is our perfect example. He not only authored our faith, He is also the finisher of our faith. He came and lived a life a perfect flawless faith. He did it on this same sin stained earth. He did it with greater trials and greater persecution than we have.
He is the author and finisher of our faith. Our faith begins with Christ and it ends with Christ. He is everything.
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
It has been well said that the nails did not hold Him on the cross. It was love that nailed Him there. Jesus knew that the souls of men depended upon what He was about to do.
If He did not perform His atoning work on the cross, then no one could ever be saved.
The joy that was set before Him was the joy of every soul that would come to Him for salvation.
The joy that was set before Him was the joy of having the fellowship of all the saved for all eternity.
So looking ahead to that joy, He endured the cross. For you He endured it. It was painful. It was shameful. But he looked past the trial and saw the joy that would come from it.
That is the point being made here. Paul is dealing with those who want to quit. They are tired of the trial. He tells them to look at the example of Jesus who had the greatest trial there is. Far greater than anything anyone else would have to do.
And what did Jesus do during that trial. He looked ahead to the joy.
Paul is telling them do likewise. You have trials, don’t dwell on the trial. Look ahead to good that will come out of it.
Look at the example of Jesus.
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Consider Jesus. He did not enjoy the cross. He despised the shame. In heaven He shared the Father’s glory. Co-equal with the Father. Jesus the Almighty Creator. Being killed by His creation.
Consider Jesus who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself. Jesus the sinless Son of God.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Jesus took our sin. By an act of the Father our sin was placed upon Jesus. He took our punishment in our place. Jesus took something that was completely against His holy nature.
The cross was far worse than we can ever know.
Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
You want to quit. You think you have it bad. You are wearied and faint in your minds. Consider Jesus. What you are dealing with is nothing in comparison.
Just considering what Jesus did for you on the cross. Just considering what He endured for you, is a great remedy for someone who wants to quit.
Paul is now going to deal with the issue of God’s chastening.
Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
He asks them have they forgotten their Old Testament Scriptures. Verse 5 and 6 is a quote from Proverbs 3:11-12
God gave proverbs 3:11-12 to them as God’s chosen people. Paul reminds them that God’s chastening is nothing new. It was God’s plan back then when He gave them Proverbs 3:11-12 and it was still God’s plan for them.
There are many purposes for God’s chastening. It is used for correction. Sometimes we will stray off course. It is used for punishment. When we sin we need punishment.
However, it is corrective and not judgmental.
It stems from love and not wrath. It is for our own good.
God’s chastening can be educational. It teaches us about God’s interest and personal attention to the details of our life. It teaches us of God’s power and His authority.
It also teaches us about His sufficiency. His grace is sufficient.
It also teaches us about the character of God. He is Holy.
It also teaches us of His love for His children. He cares enough to pay close attention to us and to do something about what we do.
God’s chastening is used for correction, punishment, education, and prevention.
Paul’s thorn was to keep him from becoming proud.
If I know that willful sin will bring chastisement from my Heavenly Father, then I am less likely to enter in to willful sin. I know for a fact that my chastising of my children prevented them from doing much worse things.
Do not despise God’s chastening. It proves that you are His child.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Discipline is a matter of parental obligation. When my kids were little I was under no obligation to discipline the kids they went to school with. In fact if I did I would get in big trouble with the law. My obligation was to chasten my own kids.
We are all prone to ask why me when something that we perceive as negative happens in our lives.
I like the way an old time preacher put it
Are you asking why me. Are you enrolled in the school of hard knocks. Cheer up. Your Father loves you so much He must train you, discipline you, help you mature and even punish you when needed. Our Father is too loving to inflict needless pain and too kind to permit pointless suffering. His purpose may be preventive, corrective, punitive or educational, but never meaningless or harsh.
Don’t despise the chastening of the Lord, instead respect Him for it.
Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure; but he for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of his holiness.
It is for our profit. It is not always true that Father knows best with a human family, but IT IS ALWAYS true with our Heavenly Father. He gives us exactly what we need, exactly when we need it and in the right amount. We might not understand that because it is not fun.
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
It is not meant to be pleasant but purposeful. Medicine tastes bad. Surgery is painful. Physical therapy is unpleasant but all are designed to be beneficial. And we accept that.
That is why we go to the dentist and let him poke and prod and drill. We accept it for the result. You get that cavity filled so your tooth does not rot out. It is not fun, but you willingly accept it because of the results.
The exercising of chastening yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. The result is to be desired.
Heb 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Because our Loving Heavenly Father chastens us for our profit and since it is for our good. Don’t despise it. Don’t get a bad attitude about it. Don’t faint. Don’t quit. Don’t lose patience.
Instead lift up your hands that are hanging down. Strengthen your feeble knees. Make straight paths for your feet. Don’t let chastening turn you out of the way. Don’t change directions to try to avoid it. Take a straight path thru it. Do what is right.
Stand up and take it. Let God’s chastening do its work.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Paul said, if it be possible live peaceably with all men.
And we are to follow holiness. Your godly living glorifies God and reveals Him to others.
Now comes a warning.
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;
To be diligent is to – be steady in application. Constant in effort or exertion to accomplish what is undertaken. It is being attentive, industrious, not idle or negligent.
We are to be looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God. We are to look diligently to ourselves, but also our brothers and sisters in Christ. Help each other out with love and encouragement.
lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;
O’ the power of bitterness to destroy. Many a sermon could be preached on bitterness.
Bitterness will cause you trouble. More trouble than what it is you are bitter about. Bitterness actually defiles you according to God’s Word.
The example of Esau is given.
Heb 12:16 Lest there [be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Those who ignore God’s lessons in chastening fail, grow bitter and defile themselves and others. Esau obviously thought spiritual things were insignificant. He disobeyed God for materialistic reasons and could not undo the damage.
And if you remember the story. Esau got bitter about it. And it grew and grew until one day he wanted to kill his brother. It destroyed that family. His brother had to made a run for it and he never saw his mother again.
Bitterness will destroy you and those around you. If you are bitter about anything, you need to let that go. And don’t tell me that you can’t. The grace of God is sufficient.
If you are having problems with bitterness, go to Jesus. Pray and ask for His grace to help you.
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;
The grace of God does not fail. However, men can and do fail to avail themselves of it. God’s grace can deal with your bitterness. So don’t hold on to it. Let it go.
Looking diligently, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you.
Take this seriously. Be diligent. And catch it while it is a root. You leave even a little root of bitterness; it can spring up in no time at all. You have to get rid of the whole thing. Root and all.
We need to all have a ZERO tolerance level for bitterness.