Hebrews 12:12

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, but rather be healed.

Here, once more, as throughout the first twelve verses of this chapter, the image of the great Olympian contest is the vision in the author's mind; thus, the limp, relaxed hands and the palsied knees bring to mind a boxer who is "out on his feet," or a runner who is about to falter in the race. See Isaiah 35:3 which has nearly this same language.

Make straight paths for your feet again suggests the language of Isaiah 35, and is a reference to encouragement of the weak and faltering by smoothing the way before them. It is the stronger members of the believing community who are to do this, or at least take the lead in it. In view of the difficulties and temptations through which all must pass, every Christian should be concerned with removing obstacles, in every way possible, from the course of his fellow believers. Perhaps, if their paths are made "straight," even the lame, the feeble, and the injured may yet press on to victory. The tenderness of these lines is moving.

The exhortation thus far has dealt with the metaphor of the great athletic contest in such a place as the ancient Coliseum, with a digression in Hebrews 12:5-13 for the discussion of chastening; but, in the next verse, the author leaves the athletic metaphor and states the same urgent exhortation in more classical terms.

Before leaving the teaching here, as it concerns chastening, it should be remembered that here is an explanation of many of the tribulations that come to God's faithful children. Here is the theological framework underlying the words of Paul who said, "Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Also, our Lord did not say, "Blessed are ye IF men shall reproach you," but "Blessed are ye WHEN men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake" (Matthew 5:11).