Hebrews 12:12

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:12-17

12-17 A burden of affliction is apt to make the Christian's hands hang down, and his knees grow feeble, to dispirit him and discourage him; but against this he must strive, that he may better run his spiritual race and course. Faith and patience enable believers to follow peace and holiness, as a man follows his calling constantly, diligently, and with pleasure. Peace with men, of all sects and parties, will be favourable to our pursuit of holiness. But peace and holiness go together; there can... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Hebrews 12:1-99

Hebrews 12 THE OPENING WORDS of chapter 12 bring us face to face with the application to ourselves of all that has preceded in chapter 11. All these Old Testament heroes of faith are so many witnesses to us of its virtue and energy. They urge us on that we may run the race of faith in our day, even as they did in days before ours. In 1Co 9.0 Christian service is spoken of under the figure of a race; here Christian life is the point in question. It is a figure very much to the point since a... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Hebrews 12:9-13

The object of God's chastening: v. 9. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live? v. 10. For they, verily, for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. v. 11. Now, no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Hebrews 12:4-13

IITheir sufferings are profitable chastisements of the paternal love of GodHebrews 12:4-134 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children [sons], My son, despise not thou [make not light of] the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou are rebuked [while being probed, corrected, ἐλεγχόμενος] of [by] him; 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Hebrews 12:9-17

Endure Chastening; Seek Holiness Hebrews 12:9-17 If we are God’s children, we will not look on suffering as a punishment. Chastening it may be, but not the penalty of sin. It is administered by our Father. Don’t look at the intermediary links in the chain, but remember that Satan could not go beyond the Father’s limit in the case of Balaam or Job. See Numbers 22:31 ; Job 2:6 . It is only for the present; it will soon be over; it is intended to free us of dross and is therefore to profit; it... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 12:1-29

After this rapid survey of the past, the writer makes his great appeal. It is that we "consider Him" who is "the Author and Perfecter of faith." The final appeals of the Epistle fall into four sections. In the first two the causes of weakening faith are recognized (verses Heb 12:4-17 ). In the third we have an epitomized statement of the arguments of encouragement (verses Heb 12:18-24 ), and, finally, we have the last appeal and warning (verses Heb 12:25-29 ). Dealing with their suffering,... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:12-13

‘Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees, and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way (or ‘put out of joint’), but rather be healed.’ He likens his readers to people who have given up because they are in despair. Because they have been frozen into inactivity. Their hands are hanging down so that they are doing nothing, their knees are like palsied knees which will not support them. They are like athletes who are wilting... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:3-13

Hebrews 12:3-1 Chronicles : . With the example of Christ before them the readers are to show more constancy under their own sufferings. They are to think of Him whose life was so thwarted by wicked men, and thus nerve themselves to strength and patience ( Hebrews 12:3). What is their struggle compared to that of Jesus? They have not yet been called on to venture their lives in the battle for righteousness, and under such sufferings as have been laid on them they have given way, forgetting... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 12:12

This introduceth the use of the doctrine of God’s chastening providences, stated before. Wherefore concludes the rationality and necessity of the duty subjoined, as consequent from the truth asserted before. Lift up; anorywsate notes the making, or setting aright, that which was out of its proper place and posture, as disordered members into their right frame and composure, that there be not any let in our Christian race, nor fainting by our course in it. The hands which hang down, and the... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Hebrews 12:9-17

CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTESHebrews 12:9. Father of spirits.—See Numbers 16:22; Numbers 27:16; Zechariah 12:1. “The Creator of all spirits, who is the Giver of life to all, who knows the spirit which He has made, and can discipline it by chastening.”Hebrews 12:12. Lift up the hands.—Lit. “straighten out the relaxed hands and the palsied knees” (Isaiah 35:3).Hebrews 12:15. Root of bitterness.—See Deuteronomy 29:18.Hebrews 12:16. Fornicator.—The Scriptures do not thus describe Esau. Farrar... read more