[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, [2] 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. [4] Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. [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: [6]For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Verse 1 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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, | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Who are "we" and "us" in this verse? | The saints, the church. Heb. 1:2; 2:1,3,9; 3:6,14 |
| What cloud of witnesses? | The ancient worthies. |
| What are we to lay aside? | Every weight. This is not every sin but every weight. What is a weight but not a sin? -- Anything that is not needful and yet takes time and attention away from our chief work, that of making our calling and election sure. |
| Besides these "weights," what else are we to "set aside?" | The "closely besetting" sin (YLT). |
| What follows the laying aside of these things? | We are to run the race. |
| Paul says we are to "run with patience the race." If we are running whould we not run with all haste? | In a normal race this would be true. This is not an earthly race but an heavenly one. This is not a sprint but rather a long-distance race. |
| What race do we run? | The one that is set before us. |
| What does this imply? | That we do not run any race we like. The only race that Paul is speaking about is the one that leads to everlasting life. It is the narrow way. We are to remember that it is God who set this race before us. |
| How are we to run this race? | 1 Cor. 9:24-27 |
Verse 2 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| How are we able to be victorious in this race? | By "looking unto Jesus." |
| Who is the Author of our faith? | Jesus. |
| How is Jesus the finisher of our faith? | He is our guide and will be the one to help us reach the goal. |
| How was Jesus able to endure the cross? | Paul says it was "for the joy set before him." |
| What does "despising the shame" mean? | He ignored the shame. |
| What was the result of the course Jesus took? | His being raised to the Divine Nature and being set at the right hand of God's throne. |
Verse 3 Expanded Bible Comments
| For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What does it mean to "consider him?" | Just what it says. We need to consider (study, contemplate) Him (His life and His words are recorded for us in the Gospels), as well as what is said of Him prophetically. |
| What does it mean that he ?endured the contradiction of sinners?? | Remember that, unlike us, He was a PERFECT man. Sin is completely contrary to perfection, human or divine. |
| Why should we specially consider what Jesus endured? | "Lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." |
| What does it mean to ?be wearied and faint in your minds?? | This reminds us of where the battle ground is, i.e., in the mind. |
| Is this different from being wearied and fainting in your body? | Yes. We all know what it is to be physically worn out. But to keep our will's, our new mind fresh and ready for spiritual battle is another matter. |
Verse 4 Expanded Bible Comments
| Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What does it mean to resist unto blood? | (ISV) In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. |
| How do we strive against sin? | Jas. 4:7 The most we can do is to "resist the devil." We can take the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:14-18) and we can do our best to fulfill the work Paul describes in Phil. 4:8 and all the other admonitions of scripture, but we cannot fully put away sin. We cannot of ourselves put away sin. The good news is that Jesus has already done this for us. Heb. 9:26. |
Verse 5 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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: | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What is an exhortation? | See definition of exhortation. |
| Which exhortation is being spoken of? | The one he quotes in the rest of the verse. Prov. 3:11-12. |
| What is a chastening? | See definition "chasten." |
| Why should we "despise not the chastening of the Lord"? | Because it is an evidence of His love for us. Why would he bother to give us a chastening experience if not to instruct us in a better way? |
| How would someone faint when rebuked? | They would become discouraged. |
| How does the Lord rebuke us? | Please see R2007:15-2008:8 |
Verse 6 Expanded Bible Comments
| For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Why does the Lord chasten someone He loves? | He disciplines us in order to bring out strength of character. |
| What does scourgeth mean? | See definition "scourge." |
| Why would he scourge us? | As scourging seems to be a more harsh form of discipline it seems clear that we occasionally require more strict handling that at other times. The Lord is willing to pay that price to bring about in us the character likeness to His Son. |
[7]If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? [8] But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. [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? [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. [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. [12] Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; [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.
Verse 7 Expanded Bible Comments
| If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What is chastisement and for what purpose is it given? | Chastisement is disipline that is designed to correct wrong behavior. - see January 20 Manna. |
| What does it mean to endure chastening? | It means to recognize that this comes from God and is designed for our ultimate benefit. It is preparing us for our role in His Kingdom. - Remember patient, cheerful endurance. |
| How could you NOT endure chastening? | By failing to acknowledge God's hand in the experience. By considering it to simply be the same thing that the world experiences and that it is not directed of God. |
| What does the enduring of chastening indicate? | That God is dealing with us, that we are His children. |
| If we have no chastening, what does that mean? | That we are not sons of God. |
Verse 8 Expanded Bible Comments
| But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| The scripture says all are partakers of chastisement ? who is the all to whom it is referring? | All of God's children, i.e., the saints. 1 Pet. 5:9 |
| What is a bastard? | It means to be illegitimate. |
| Is not an illegitimate son still a son? If so, why does Paul say these are "not sons?" | Because the only children recognized by God are those who become sons by His approved means. God authorized the marriage arrangement. A bastard is one born outside of that approved arrangement.
Consider the case of Ishmael. He was the son of Abraham by Sarah's handmaid. The promise however went to Isaac, even though Ishmael was born first. Ishmael was not the legal heir. Paul's audience is the brethren. He is encouraging them to continue in the race. God is dealing with us and not with those making false claims. - John 8:44. |
Verse 9 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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? | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What was the result of receiving correction from our natural fathers? | We gave them reverence. |
| What does reverence here mean? | It means Respect. The word is Strong's 1788 and is used in both a positive and a negative sense. In the positive (as is used here) it means to regard or give reverence. In the negative it means to be ashamed. |
| Why should we much rather be in subjection unto the Father? | Our earthly fathers could do little for or against us when compared to our Heavenly Father. It is not our natural man we are trying to develop but rather our spiritual nature. |
| Why does the scripture use the term "Father of spirits?" | see Ecc. 12:7 Job 12:9,10. |
| What is the result of being "in subjection unto the Father of spirits?" | We shall have life eternal. Mark 10:29,30 |
Verse 10 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Who is the "they" in this scripture? | Our natural fathers. |
| Why only a few days? | Because it was for the short period of our natural childhood. |
| Why the term "for their own pleasure"? | "According to that seeming right to them" - Diaglott |
| Why does God chasten us? | God chastens us for our own good, to perfect in us holiness, "without which no man shall see the Lord." (vs. 14) |
Verse 11 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Is chastening ever joyous? | No. |
| What about afterward? | If we are able to recognize the hand of God in it, the experience will be seen to be beneficial. |
| What is the peaceable fruit of righteousness? | See March 28 Manna. |
| Who receives this righteousness? | "Them that are exercised thereby." |
Verse 12,13 Expanded Bible Comments
| Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; [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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What does it mean to lift up the hands that hang down? | Hands are associated with work, activity. If the hands are hanging down it indicates inactivity. |
| What about the feeble knees? | If one's knees are feeble they find it difficult to rise up as well as to lower themselves. We lower ourselves to help others. We rise up after failure to seek to walk again the narrow way, in both humility and faith. Prov. 24:16. |
| What does it mean to "make straight paths for your feet?" | R4348 |
| What is lame? | Our fallen flesh as well as our self-control. |
| What is healed? | Our will, our self-control. |
| When Paul speaks of lifting up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, what Old Testament text is he referring to and why? | Isa. 35:3. The thought here is that the church delivers this message to the world during the beginning of the Millennium when things are in transition between "This present evil world" and "The world to come wherein dwelleth righteousness." This is where we find the day of vengeance (Isa. 34:4) and this is where the church comforts the world with the message that this is all under the control of Christ and that His wonderful kingdom is to be the eventual result of all this trouble. While this specific portion is for the dawn of the Millennium, the message of peace under the reign of Christ has always been an appropriate one for the church to give. It is in this sense that the Apostle Paul is here making this reference. |
[14] Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: [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; [16] Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. [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.
Verse 14 Expanded Bible Comments
| Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What is implied by Paul's statement that we should "Follow peace with all men?" | R5923 |
| Is there a difference between following peace and following holiness? | Yes. Holiness is moral purity. This we seek to develop in ourselves the more we learn of God's character. R5923 |
| If we fail to do both what will be the result? | We will not see our Heavenly Father's face, which means we will not be raised to the spiritual nature. Matt. 18:10 |
Verse 15 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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; | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What is the grace of God? | The word grace (Strong's 5485) basically means favor. This favor is mainly shown to us in our Justification made possible by our Lord's ransom sacrifice. see F117:1. |
| Once in grace, can someone then fall out of grace? | Clearly the answer is yes, if not, what would be the sense of the apostle's words here when he says "lest any man fail of the grace of God?" Heb. 10:28-39; 1 Cor. 9:27 |
| How can we avoid such a fall? | By following peace and holiness (vs 12) while looking diligently to the Lord for the promised aid. |
| What does Paul say could rise up to trouble us? | Any root of bitterness. |
| What is the potential result of having this trouble? | We could be defiled. What does it mean to be defiled? In the old testament it generally had to do with things like adultary or touching a dead body. In the new it appears the traditions of the jews had extended this to other things (like washing hands before eating) that were not part of the instructions from God. Matt. 15:1-20. |
Verse 16 Expanded Bible Comments
| Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What type of person was Esau? | He is described here as being a "profane person." see R3955:12 |
| Paul here seems to refer to Esau as a "fornicator." What does the Greek (Strong's 4205) mean? | It comes from a base word meaning "to sell." It means to prostitute ones self. HG379:6 |
| What particular thing did Esau do that so labeled him? | Sold his birthright. |
Verse 17 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Who was going to inherit the blessing of which Paul speaks? | Esau. |
| What happened to him? | He was rejected. |
| What did he seek? | The blessing of inheritance. |
| In what manner did he seek it? | Carefully and with tears. |
| What is the lesson for us? | Matt. 6:33. |
[18] For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, [19] And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: [20] (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: [21] And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) [22] But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, [23] To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, [24] And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. [25] See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: [26] Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. [27] And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. [28] Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: [29] For our God is a consuming fire.
Verse 18 Expanded Bible Comments
| For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| In broad terms, what event is Paul describing in verses 18-21? | The establishment of the Law Covenant. see Exo. 19:3-27 |
| What was the mount that Paul was speaking of? | Mount Sinai |
| Were the Hebrew brethren physically located at Mount Sinai at the time Paul was writing to them? | No. |
| Why then did Paul remind them of the events of Exodus 19? | He was showing to them the comparison between the establishment of the typical Law Covenant and the eventual establishment of the New Covenant. |
| Why does Paul mention "fire, darkness, blackness and tempest?" | First it is because these things all took place at Mount Sinai when the Law Covenant was established. Second it is to remind us that the establishment of the New Covenant will be of much greater (though symbolic) fulfillment. - see NS558:5 |
Verse 19 Expanded Bible Comments
| And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Why did Paul mention "the sound of a trumpet?" | Exo. 19:16 tells us that there was "the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud." -- It is interesting that there is no mention of the priests or anyone else blowing that trumpet. |
| What voice and whose words were heard? | It was the voice of the trumpet (Exo. 19:16) and the voice and words of God. (Exo. 19:19) |
| Who heard this? | The people of Israel. Exo. 19:17 |
| What was their response? | They entreated Moses for it to stop. |
| What is the antitypical trumpet? | The Jubilee Trumpet. |
| What is the antitype of the words that were spoken? | Present Truth. |
| Why did the people in the type ask for the words to stop? | Because of the fire, the smoke, the quaking and the voice of the trumpet sounding louder and louder. |
| What is the antitype of the people asking for the words to stop? | see OV286:2 |
Verse 20 Expanded Bible Comments
| (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Why did the Israelites stay away from the mount? | They could not bare (endure) to be that close. It was too frightening. |
| What was to happen to any living soul should it touch the mount? | It was to be put to death. |
Verse 21 Expanded Bible Comments
| And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What effect did the scene have on Moses and why? | It caused him to tremble with fear because the scene was so impressive. |
Verse 22 Expanded Bible Comments
| But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What does Paul mean when he says "ye are come to mount Zion?" | He means that the saints are come to the spiritual phase of the Kingdom of God. |
| Is there a difference between Mount Zion and "the city of the living God?" | A city is always the symbol for a government (where a mountain is the symbol for a specific kind of government, i.e., a kingdom). This seems to be saying "Ye are come to the Kingdom of God and to its government which city is called the heavenly Jerusalem." |
| What does Paul mean when he mentions the heavenly Jerusalem and not the earthly? | To be sure the brethren know he is not speaking of the earthly phase of the Kingdom. |
| What is the import of coming "to an innumerable company of angels?" | The faithful angels, some of whom have been helping us in our journey to this heavenly Jerusalem. |
Verse 23 Expanded Bible Comments
| To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What is a "general assembly?" | A mass meeting. |
| Who is the church of the firstborn? | The little flock. Br. Russell suggested that this phrase may also include the Great Company. |
| Where is there membership recorded? | Heaven. |
| Who else are we approaching? | To God Himself. |
| How does Paul describe Him and why? | As the Judge of all. He so describes Him because when this takes place it is the time for God's judgments to take place, i.e., the time for the establishment of the New Covenant. |
| Who are "the spirits of just men made perfect?" | The ancient worthies and, eventually, the world of mankind. |
Verse 24 Expanded Bible Comments
| And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| At the time of which Paul is speaking, what is the role of Jesus? | Mediator of the New Covenant. |
| Why the reference to "the blood of sprinkling?" | Because the blood of the sin-offering was sprinkled on the people. Exo. 24:8 |
| What does this tell us? | That the New Covenant will be established when the antitypical blood (life poured out in sacrifice) of the antitypical sacrifices (bulls and goats, Christ and the Church) of the antitypical Day of Atonement (the Gospel Age) are completed. Compare with Heb. 9:16. |
| How does this speak better things than that the blood of Abel? | Abel's blood cried out for justice. While he was slain for righteousness, his was not a sacrificial death. The blood of the Christ (head and body) is as a sacrifice, a voluntary one. |
Verse 25 Expanded Bible Comments
| See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Why should we be concerned about refusing someone who spoke more than 3,000 years ago? | It was God who spake and that is exactly why we should be concerned about refusing Him! |
| Who was it that "spake on earth?" | We know that it is referring to God who spoke (and not to Moses or Aaron) because in the next verse it says: "Whose voice then shook the earth." |
| What happened to those "who refused him that spake?" | They were put to death. See Exo. 19:12,13. |
| How can it be that it would be worse for us to "turn away from him?" | For that New Creation this would mean the second death from which there can be no recovery. |
Verse 26 Expanded Bible Comments
| Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Whose voice is it that shook the earth? | The voice of God. Exo. 19:18,19. |
| We are familiar with the earth shaking in natural events known as earthquakes. How would it be possible for heaven to shake? | Of course this refers to the ecclesiastical heavens, i.e., the nominal churches. |
Verse 27 Expanded Bible Comments
| And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| How is it that the statement "yet once more" signifies the removing of those things? | It does not say "shake again and yet again," but rather it indicates to shake one last time. A322 |
| Is everything to be shaken? | Yes. |
| What does such a shaking indicate? | The removal of the things that are able to be shaken. The purpose of this shaking is declared to be "that those things which cannot be shaken (out of their place) may remain." Some things will continue into the Mediatorial phase. These are the things which cannot be shaken (or rather which cannot be dislodged.) |
| Will everything be removed? | No. Only those things which can be shaken. Psa. 46 |
Verse 28 Expanded Bible Comments
| Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Why does Paul, at this point, remind us that we are to receive a kingdom? | He has just been speaking about the shaking and removal of the old order of things. Therefore he reminds us that God's Kingdom "cannot be moved." Do not become distracted by the trouble around us but remember that we are striving to attain that Heavenly Kingdom. |
| What does Paul mean when he says: "Let us have grace?" | NS558:9 |
| To what end are we to have grace? | So we may serve God acceptably. |
| What is the difference between "reverence" and "godly fear?" | Reverence: G127 ahee-doce' Perhaps from G1 (as a negative particle) and G1492 (through the idea of downcast eyes); bashfulness, that is, (towards men), modesty or (towards God) awe: - reverence, shamefacedness. Godly fear: G2124
yoo-lab'-i-ah From G2126; properly caution, that is, (religiously) reverence (piety); by implication dread (concretely): - fear (-ed). |
Verse 29 Expanded Bible Comments
| For our God is a consuming fire. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What does this mean? | A321:2 It also has reference to God's acceptance of the sacrifice of the church. |