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A connection hidden from the English reader is found in Heb. 12: 4. "Striving
against" is antagonizomai, just the verbal form of agon as used in I Cor. 9: 25, with the
prefix anti, against.
The consideration of these words has of itself created the true atmosphere of the
passage. It is a race, calling for endurance, beset with peculiar difficulties, having a prize
ahead, and a glorious example. We are now ready for the structure, and can then pass on
to the argument itself.
Heb. 12: 1-4.
A1 | 12: 1. ENDURANCE (hupomone).
RACE (agon) set before us.
Entangling sin (hamartia).
B1 | 12: 2. | a | Looking away to Jesus (apo).
b | Captain and Perfecter of faith.
A2 | 12: 2. ENDURANCE (hupomeno).
Joy set before Him.
B2 | 12: 2, 3. |
b | The right hand of the throne of God.
a | Consider Him (ana).
A3 | 12: 3, 4. ENDURANCE (hupomeno).
Opposition (antagonizo).
Sinners (hamartolos).
With so great a cloud of witnesses as is found in the Scripture ever with us, we are
exhorted to take heart and run with patience or endurance the race set before us. Two
things are enjoined, viz., (1) "Lay aside every weight", and (2) "Lay aside the easily
entangling sin". He who would go on unto perfection must bear in mind the two sources
of hindrance, (1) Weight, (2) Sin. The first is not of itself sinful. To one it will be
riches, to another home ties, to another health, to another liberty. Each will know best
what it is that hinders in the race. The second is sin in one of its many aspects, "easily
entangling". It is not so much external "sins" that are in view, but the old man, the old
nature, the flesh. A reference to I Cor. 9: 24-27 plainly shows this:--
"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So
run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all
things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I
therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air; but I keep
under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached
to others, I myself should be disapproved."
Then follows a passage dealing with Israel and the temptations in the wilderness: this
is parallel with Heb. 3: and 4: The passage, "I keep under my body", recalls the
opposite walk of those "whose end is perdition", "whose God is their belly"; Phil. 3:--
another passage dealing with a prize.
The greatest encouragement however is found not by looking at the great chain of
witnesses, and certainly not by contemplating impediments and entanglements, but by the
gaze being directed to the Lord. In Heb. 10: 37 the soon-returning Lord was the