The Greatest Example of Faith (Hebrews 12:1-4)

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV).

The Greatest Hero

“Therefore” points back to the heroes and heroines of faith of the previous chapter, who still surround us as “so great a cloud of witnesses.” But they are not just passively standing by as mere spectators. In fact, we are looking up to them. The Greek term translated “witnesses” is martúrōn, plural of mártus from which we get the English word “martyr” (cf. Acts 22:20; Rev. 2:13; 17:6). A “witness” is superfluous without a testimony to give, and the faithful men and women who have gone on before us bear testimony [marturéō] (Heb. 11:2, 4, 5, 39; cf. Acts 1:8; 22:15) of how a life of faith is to be lived all the way to the end (cf. Rev. 12:11). These worthy examples, preserved in the biblical record, demonstrate that with God’s help it is possible to endure and overcome the harsh realities of this cruel and ungodly world and to be victorious.

The life of faith is likened here to a race: not a momentary sprint but a lifelong marathon.¹ The negative requirement for success is to “put away every encumbrance and entangling sin,” like a runner who removes bulky clothing or training weights. We must get rid of anything that will impede our progress. The positive requirement for victory is to “run with endurance” [hupomonēs] (cf. 10:36). This is a pre-appointed race “set before” [prokeímenon] us, not necessarily one we would choose for ourselves. But it is a race that God has determined we need to run.

“Looking unto” or “fixing our eyes on” Jesus is a reminder to not be easily distracted and to maintain the proper focus. Jesus is the “leader, ruler, prince ... originator, founder” [archēgós] (cf. 2:10) and “perfecter, consummator” [teleiōtēs] of faith in that he has taken the lead and set the example, and he is the inspiration and goal of our faith (cf. 5:9).

The joy “set before” [prokeímenon] him means that it was God’s plan (cf. Acts 2:23; 3:18), not a joyful experience but joyous because of the momentous outcome that has impacted countless lives and destinies (cf. v. 11; 2:10, 14-15; Jas. 1:2-3). He “endured” the cross, not avoiding it or running from it or failing to carry through to the end (cf. Matt. 26:53-54). Despising the shameful ordeal (cf. 5:7-8), he went through with it anyway, focused beyond himself and refusing to quit. He has now triumphantly taken his seat at the right hand of God’s throne (cf. 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12; Psa. 110:1).

The Greatest Example

“For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin” (Hebrews 12:3-4).

Because of the life, example, and sacrifice of Jesus, we have the inspiration and motivation needed to protect our souls from succumbing to weariness and discouragement. Beyond the men and women of faith of the previous chapter, we have Jesus as the supreme example of enduring faithfulness.

The original readers of this epistle had undoubtedly experienced a difficult life of suffering (cf. 10:32-34), but at least they had not yet faced the kind of maltreatment, bloodshed, and martyrdom described in the previous chapter and what Jesus himself had endured. So why give up in the face of comparatively lesser trials and tests of faith? While “striving against sin” is a constant battle for all Christians of all time, with God’s help and Christ’s example we can overcome the encumbering entanglement of sin and successfully complete the Christian race all the way to the glorious finish line.²

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ Athletic metaphors are common in Paul: 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Phil. 1:30; 1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 4:7; Acts 20:24.

     ² See The Rest That Remains.

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Faith Exemplified (Hebrews 11:1-40): Part 4

More Heroes of Faith

“And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets” (Hebrews 11:32, NKJV).

The brevity of these allusions seems to take for granted the readers’ familiarity with these OT characters. Gideon led 300 men against the Midianites (Judg. 6:11; 7:1-25). Barak led Israel in victory over Sisera and the Canaanites (Judg. 4:6-24). Samson defeated thousands of Philistines (Judg. 13:24–16:31). Jephtha led the men of Gilead to victory over the Ammonites (cf. Judg. 11:1-29; 12:1-7). David, a valiant warrior and respected leader, was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 7:46; 13:22). Samuel was a prophet and judge (1 Sam. 3:1-21; 7:2-14). And “the prophets” would include Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

What was Accomplished by Faith

These faithful ones, “who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again” (Hebrews 11:33-35a).

These heroes of faith faithfully served God as he accomplished his purpose:

o   Conquered kingdoms (v. 33a), e.g., Joshua, Gideon, Barak, David, Joab.

o   Performed acts of righteousness, enforced justice (v. 33b), lived lives characterized by just and fair treatment (cf. 2 Sam. 8:15).

o   Obtained promises (v. 33c), cf. Gen. 21:1-2; Josh. 21:45.

o   Stopped the mouths of lions (v. 33d), cf. 1 Sam. 17:34-35; Dan. 6:23.

o   Quenched the violence of fire (v. 34a), cf. Dan. 3:28.

o   Escaped the edge of the sword (v. 34b), cf. 1 Sam. 18:11; 19:10-12 (David); 1 Kings 19 (Elijah); Jer. 26 (Jeremiah).

o   Made strong out of weakness (v. 34c), cf. Judg. 16:28-31 (Samson); Isa. 38:1-6 (Hezekiah); Judg. 6:11-40 (Gideon).

o   Valiant in battle (v. 34d), 1 Sam. 17 (David vs. Goliath); Judg. 7:1–8:28 (Gideon).

o   Turned to flight the armies of the aliens (v. 34e), cf. 2 Chron. 20:15; Judg. 7:22.

o   Raised the dead (v. 35a), cf. 1 Kings 17:17-24 (Elijah and Zarephath widow); 2 Kings 4:18-37 (Elisha and the Shunamite).

What Faith Enabled Men and Women of Faith to Endure

“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth” (Hebrews 11:35b-38).

Willingly brutalized to attain “a better resurrection” (v. 35b; cf. v. 16). During the intertestamental period torture was administered by Antiochus IV Epiphanes (cf. 2 Macc. 6:18-31). Trial of mockings, cf. Matt. 27:31; Luke 22:63; Acts 2:13; 17:32. Scourgings, cf. John 19:1; Acts 22:24. Chains and imprisonment (v. 36), cf. Gen. 39:20; 1 Kings 22:24-28; Jer. 20:2; Acts 24:27. Stoned (v. 37a), cf. 2 Chron. 24:20-21 (Zechariah); Acts 14:19 (Paul). Sawn in two (v. 37b):¹ according to tradition this is how Isaiah died at the hands of Manasseh.

Slain with the sword (v. 37c; cf. v. 34b), cf. 1 Kings 19:10, 14 (prophets); Jer. 26:20-23 (Urijah); Acts 12:2 (James). Wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins (v. 37d), cf. 2 Kings 1:8 (Elijah); Matt. 3:4. Destitute, afflicted, tormented (v. 37e). Wandered in deserts, mountains, dens and caves of the earth (v. 38b).

God’s estimation of these great heroes and heroines of faith is succinctly stated: “of whom the world was not worthy” (v. 38a). God has demonstrated his love and given sufficient opportunity to his entire human creation. Those who have foolishly rejected him and his will and have maliciously maltreated those who have faithfully submitted to and served him, have proven themselves to be contemptible and undeserving by comparison.

The Reward of Faith

“And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us” (Hebrews 11:39-40).

All who are inducted into faith’s “hall of fame” have obtained a good testimony through faith, even though they did not receive the ultimate promise of God in this life. God has provided something far better,² and while they were not made perfect apart from us, are we “worthy” to be counted among them?

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ Textus Receptus includes “were tempted” (cf. NKJV).

     ² See K. L. Moore, “The Rest that Remains,” Moore Perspective (5 Aug. 2015), <Link>.

Related Posts: Part 3: Heb 11:20-31, Heb 12:1-4

 

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