Jesus, the Example

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of ^[a]witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, ² [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, ^[b]disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].^(A)

³ Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

A Father’s Discipline

⁴ You have not yet struggled to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; ⁵ and you have ^[c]forgotten the divine word of encouragement which is addressed to you as sons,

⁷ You must submit to [correction for the purpose of] discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons; for ^[d]what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ Now if you are exempt from correction and without discipline, in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate children and not sons [at all]. ⁹ Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we submitted and respected them [for training us]; shall we not much more willingly submit to the Father of ^[e]spirits, and live [by learning from His discipline]? ¹⁰ For our earthly fathers disciplined us for only a short time as seemed best to them; but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. ¹¹ For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose].

¹² So then, strengthen hands that are weak and knees that tremble.^{(C) 13} Cut through and make smooth, straight paths for your feet [that are safe and go in the right direction], so that the leg which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather may be healed.

¹⁴ Continually pursue peace with everyone, and the sanctification without which no one will [ever] see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; ¹⁶ and [see to it] that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.^{(D) 17} For you know that later on, when he wanted [to regain title to] his inheritance of the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance [there was no way to repair what he had done, no chance to recall the choice he had made], even though he sought for it with [bitter] tears.^(E)

Contrast of Sinai and Zion

¹⁸ For you have not come [as did the Israelites in the wilderness] to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging windstorm, ¹⁹ and to the blast of a trumpet and a sound of words [such that] those who heard it begged that nothing more be said to them.^{(F) 20} For they could not bear the command, “If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it will be stoned [to death].”^{(G) 21} In fact, so terrifying was the sight, that Moses said, “I am filled with fear and trembling.”^{(H) 22} But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels [in festive gathering], ²³ and to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to God, who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect [bringing them to their final glory], ²⁴ and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant [uniting God and man], and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].^(I)

The Unshaken Kingdom

²⁵ See to it that you do not refuse [to listen to] Him who is speaking [to you now]. For if those [sons of Israel] did not escape when they refused [to listen to] him who warned them on earth [revealing God’s will], how much less will we escape if we turn our backs on Him who warns from heaven?^{(J) 26} His voice shook the earth [at Mount Sinai] then, but now He has given a promise, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the [starry] heaven.”^{(K) 27} Now this [expression], “Yet once more,” indicates the removal and final transformation of all those things which can be shaken—that is, of that which has been created—so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.^{(L) 28} Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe; ²⁹ for our God is [indeed] a consuming fire.^(M)