Wed Study | Oct 23, 2024 | Session #30 | Hebrews 12:12-17

The basic thrust of Hebrews 12:12–17 is clearly exhortation. What is meant by  the word, exhortation? 
An exhortation is a communication intended to urge  or persuade the recipients to take some action. 
The words strengthen, make straight, pursue, and see to it are all terms of  exhortation. The purpose here is not to teach truth only but to encourage living  up to the truth. 
Teaching and exhortation are inseparable. Teaching sound doctrine that  is not applied is worthless, and exhortation that is not based on sound  doctrine is misleading. God’s method for instruction is simple—explain  the spiritual principles and then illustrate and encourage the application  of them.1 
It is one thing… 
▪ to believe in the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture; but then you must  live under the authority of Scripture.  
▪ to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord; but then you must surrender to His  lordship over every area of your life. 
▪ to believe God is omnipotent; but then you must trust Him when the going  gets tough.  
Hebrews 12 begins with an exhortation. After a foundation of doctrine was  carefully laid and faith was carefully explained and defined and illustrated, the  
1John F. MacArthur Jr., Hebrews, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1983),  400.
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writer exhorted the Jewish recipients of this letter to “run the race that was set  before them.” 
▪ It is not enough to know the New Covenant is better; we must accept it for  ourselves.  
▪ It is not enough to know that Christ is the superior and perfect High Priest;  we must trust in His atoning sacrifice for us.  
▪ It is not enough to know how we should live; we must actually live what we  know.2 
The writer is saying, “On the basis that you should run the race that is set before  you and that your suffering may very well be an aspect of God’s loving discipline  in your life, there are three exhortations you must implement in your life.” 
1. ENDURANCE 
Hebrews 12:12–13… Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the  knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.  
In this passage the author of Hebrews speaks about the Christian life with  metaphorical language that makes use of universally understood gestures— drooping hands, weak knees, lame feet, etc. The author speaks as a coach seeking to fire up the members of his team. Although the race is not yet finished,  the runners are tired. They need an encouraging word. 3 
He alludes to a Messianic passage in Isaiah. The faithful in Israel had been  through a lot. They had many evil kings, some false prophets, stubborn fellow  Israelites, powerful enemies who threatened them, and seemingly no prospect of  ever living in their own land in peace. They were discouraged and despondent,  ready to give up.  
2John F. MacArthur Jr., Hebrews, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1983),  401. 
3Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, Exposition of Hebrews, vol. 15, New Testament  Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 381.
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So, the prophet reminds them of the coming kingdom, when “the wilderness and  the desert will be glad” and “they will see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of  our God” (Isa. 35:1–2). Then he counsels them to encourage each other:  “Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious  heart, ‘Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; the  recompense of God will come, but He will save you’ ” (v. 3–4).  
The word picture of “feeble hands and weak knees” is a familiar description of  discouragement and despair. 
Isaiah 35:1–3… The wilderness and the desert will be glad, And the  Arabah will rejoice and blossom; Like the crocus 2 It will blossom  profusely And rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy. The glory of  Lebanon will be given to it, The majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They will  see the glory of the LORD, The majesty of our God. 3 Encourage the  exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.  
Job 4:3–4… “Behold you have admonished many, And you have  strengthened weak hands. 4 “Your words have helped the tottering to  stand, And you have strengthened feeble knees.”

In other words, “Don’t give up now. A better day is coming. Look forward to that  in faith and you will have the encouragement and strength you need. Victory is  ahead!”4 
Dejection is one of the great strategies the evil one employs to  defeat God’s people and to stall God’s kingdom progress. 
When times are hard for us. We must not quit. We must keep on encouraging  other believers (Hebrews 10:23-25). Encouragement breeds encouragement!  
Look at verse 13—“Make straight paths for your feet.” The prevailing metaphor  is that of a race. It’s like the author is exhorting the people to “stay in your lane so you won’t be disqualified.” 
4John F. MacArthur Jr., Hebrews, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1983),  402.
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Proverbs 4:25–27… Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze  be fixed straight in front of you. 26 Watch the path of your feet And all  your ways will be established. 27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left;  Turn your foot from evil.  
Avoid distractions. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). Don’t get  careless as you run your race and never lose your will to win! We must be sure  that the way you live does not cause any unbeliever to reject the gospel or any  immature believer to lose heart and to backslide.  
2. PASSION 
Hebrews 12:14… Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without  which no one will see the Lord.  
Look at the word “pursue.” The writer is not saying, “Why don’t you give it a try?”  The verb here was used for the straining of the muscles and sinews of a horse  when he’s running or a hound in pursuit of a fox. 
We must pursue peace. Positionally, every believer has been blessed with  perfect peace—peace with God and the peace of God. What we have positionally  we must live out practically. When we think of peace with other people, we must  realize that it is a two-way street. 
Romans 12:18… If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace  with all men.  
James 3:13–18… Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him  show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But  if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be  arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which  comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where  jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.  17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,  reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without  hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace  by those who make peace. 

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We are only responsible for our side of the peace process, but we cannot use  another person’s hostility as an excuse for r...