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Hebrews 12 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Dear Weary Christ-Follower,
Read Hebrews 12:3-17
Which is worse, the weight of sin or the discipline of Jesus? It’s an interesting question to ponder considering we often complain about our lot in life. The truth is, you can’t compare the two. Sin comes from our rebellion against God. It is fueled by Satan who sneaks around looking to draw us deeper into darkness. Discipline comes under God’s watchful eye and is guided by His steady hand.
With regard to Joseph, Job, and Peter, Satan was limited in his deception. God has the ultimate authority and the final say. He used every bit of pain, suffering, and failure to increase our peace and righteousness. The current struggle is only for the present time. It will not last forever. The point the author of Hebrews wants us to absorb is that we cannot place all our attention on the process of the struggle but on the results of such a struggle.
Consider that our response to suffering matters!
No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11 HCSB
…to those who have been trained by it.
“Trained in the ancient Greek language is a word from the world of athletics; as an athlete is trained by some agony, so are we – as God’s “spiritual athletes.””
David Guzik
There are some who simply refuse to train. They will not endure the process, and therefore, will not reap the results in the end.
“God has a purpose for training you. Think of David after being attacked by a lion while he was just a boy tending the sheep. “Why did God allow such a terrible think to happen to me?” He might of thought. “I barely escaped!” But if only David could see ahead, he would see God had a giant named Goliath he was destined to face, and the battle with the lion prepared him ahead of time. God always has a purpose. We can trust Him.”
David Guzik