Bible Commentaries

As for us. All these examples of faith in chapter 11 are a large crowd of witnesses! Let us rid ourselves. The symbolism is from the Games. Runners practiced with weights on their feet. For the race, these are removed. To win the Christian race, we must get rid of worldly hopes and fears, obligations and friendships, and anything else that would slow us down in our race. See 2 Corinthians 6:14 and note. And the sin. This also is from the symbolism of the Games. Sin (in general) is like the long flowing robes that would tangle in the legs of the runner and trip him up. No one would think of running with such a robe on them! No one should allow sin to trip them up! With determination. If you do not want to win, you probably won't! You must stick with it!!!

Our eyes fixed on Jesus. His example is much greater than any or all of the others!!! On whom our faith depends. He is both the source and the Pioneer! He has broken trail for us by going on ahead of us. See Colossians 1:18. Because of the Joy. The joy of being the Pioneer who destroys the power of the Devil and brings many sons and daughters to God by setting them free from sin and death!!! The disgrace. Galatians 3:13. Seated. Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 10:12.

Think. If you feel discouraged, think about what he went through!!!

For in your struggle. "You have not been asked to do what Christ did!!!"

Have you forgotten? "You know, if you will remember, that sufferings are evidences of God's love for you!" The quotation is Proverbs 3:11-12 Septuagint. When the Lord. "Do not think it just as accidental act of blind fate (as the Gentiles do)." Discouraged. "This is not God's wrath for your sin! See what Jesus said in Luke 13:1-5."

Because. "Instead of being expressions of his anger, punishments (chastisements) are proof of his love!" Punishes. MacKnight says: "This scripture, by showing God's Providence to be just and righteous, dispels the gloom which the misery and suffering which are part of life, may bring on us. We are here being trained and developed, by God who is our teacher. He uses the problems and suffering of life to teach us the good qualities and the character to serve him in this world, and to enjoy the pleasures of the next. May every suffering child of God understand this and believe it!" Chastises. "As a father spanks his children, because he loves them!" See Proverbs 3:11-13.

Endure what you suffer. "This is an expression of your Father's love!" That God is treating you. "He is giving you his blessing by causing you to grow spiritually!" Who was not punished by his father, who wanted to correct his faults and develop his character?

If you are not. "The fathers of bastards have no concern about the health, welfare, and education of them."

In the case of. "They punished us for our faults and we respected them." How much more. "Our spiritual Father uses more love and gentleness than our human fathers, and he will not give us more than we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13)."

But God does it. "We must be holy to live with him in Eternity!"

At the time. "It makes us sad, because of the pain it brings." Later, however. "Those who have been disciplined, trained, matured, prepared by such punishment reap the peaceful reward!" Compare Psalm 119:67; Psalm 119:71; Psalm 119:75; Job 42:2-3; Romans 8:28; Romans 8:37. [For many years I have used the expression: God spanks his children. This is certainly the idea in these verses. But it is not wrath!!! I imagine God saying, something like this: "Hove you! Everything I have is yours! I have amazing mercy! I am not angry with you. When I spank you, it is because I love you! I want you to grow spiritually! I want you to be strong and healthy! I am giving you blessings in each spanking, so that you will be a blessing to others! The whole world is programmed learning for you, because I want you to live with me forever! Open yourself to me and let me come in and heal you and forgive you. See, I am running to meet you! Listen! I stand at the door and knock! Open yourself to me! I love you! I love you!" See Luke 15:11-32 and notes.]

Lift up your limp hands. "Push ahead with all your strength!" Compare Job 4:1-6.

Try to be at peace. "You must make an effort to be at peace with the Gentiles as well as the Jews, and even with your enemies!" Try to live a holy life. "You must make a positive effort to live pure and holy, so that you will be acceptable to God!" These people were contentious, and when one sinned through weakness, they would bring anger and belligerence against him in an unholy way. In doing this they would destroy themselves as well. See what Paul says in Galatians 6:1-2.

That no one turns back. The symbolism is a sheep who strays from the flock and has to be brought back. Christians are to work together to keep each other "headed in the right direction." Like a bitter plant. This refers to one of their fellow Christians who might poison the group with such things as sin, false teaching, and bitterness.

Like Esau. He is a bad example of the bitter plant. He thought so little of his rights as the older Revelation 22:11 and notes.

You have not come. "So that you will understand why you must not throw away your rights as Abraham's descendants (Galatians 3:18), I want you to see the difference between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion." The point is to show that the blessings and obligations of the New Covenant are much better than those of the Old. Compare Exodus 20:18-19.