Afterwards Author Award Caring Completer Contempt Cross Despised Despising Endure Endured Faith Finisher Fixed Fixing Gaze God's Guide Joy Lay Leader Lying Over-against Pains Patiently Perfecter Pioneer Power Prince Prize Sake Sat Scorning Seat Seated Shame Simply Sit Sits Stedfastly Throne View
12:2 {2} {b} Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the {c} joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(2) He sets before us, as the mark of this race, Jesus himself our captain, who willingly overcame all the roughness of the same way.
(b) As it were upon the mark of our faith.
(c) While he had every type of blessedness in his hand and power, yet suffered willingly the shame of the cross.
12:2 Looking unto Jesus. In running, Jesus should be constantly regarded as the example.
The author and finisher of [our] faith. Not our faith, but the faith in the Greek. The Gospel, which rests upon faith, is meant rather than the individual faith of the saint. Jesus is its author and perfected it. He is the exemplar of all who live by faith. Hence we should look to him.
For the joy that was set before him. The joy of saving men and of sitting at God's right hand.
Endured the cross, despising the shame. Not only its pain, but its shame. It was in that age the most ignominious of deaths.
And is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. In the place of heavenly honor.
12:2 Looking - From all other things. To Jesus - As the wounded Israelites to the brazen serpent. Our crucified Lord was prefigured by the lifting up of this; our guilt, by the stings of the fiery serpents; and our faith, by their looking up to the miraculous remedy. The author and finisher of our faith - Who begins it in us, carries it on, and perfects it. Who for the joy that was set before him - Patiently and willingly endured the cross, with all the pains annexed thereto. And is set down - Where there is fulness of joy.
12:1-11 The persevering obedience of faith in Christ, was the race set before the Hebrews, wherein they must either win the crown of glory, or have everlasting misery for their portion; and it is set before us. By the sin that does so easily beset us, understand that sin to which we are most prone, or to which we are most exposed, from habit, age, or circumstances. This is a most important exhortation; for while a man's darling sin, be it what it will, remains unsubdued, it will hinder him from running the Christian race, as it takes from him every motive for running, and gives power to every discouragement. When weary and faint in their minds, let them recollect that the holy Jesus suffered, to save them from eternal misery. By stedfastly looking to Jesus, their thoughts would strengthen holy affections, and keep under their carnal desires. Let us then frequently consider him. What are our little trials to his agonies, or even to our deserts? What are they to the sufferings of many others? There is a proneness in believers to grow weary, and to faint under trials and afflictions; this is from the imperfection of grace and the remains of corruption. Christians should not faint under their trials. Though their enemies and persecutors may be instruments to inflict sufferings, yet they are Divine chastisements; their heavenly Father has his hand in all, and his wise end to answer by all. They must not make light of afflictions, and be without feeling under them, for they are the hand and rod of God, and are his rebukes for sin. They must not despond and sink under trials, nor fret and repine, but bear up with faith and patience. God may let others alone in their sins, but he will correct sin in his own children. In this he acts as becomes a father. Our earthly parents sometimes may chasten us, to gratify their passion, rather than to reform our manners. But the Father of our souls never willingly grieves nor afflicts his children. It is always for our profit. Our whole life here is a state of childhood, and imperfect as to spiritual things; therefore we must submit to the discipline of such a state. When we come to a perfect state, we shall be fully reconciled to all God's chastisement of us now. God's correction is not condemnation; the chastening may be borne with patience, and greatly promote holiness. Let us then learn to consider the afflictions brought on us by the malice of men, as corrections sent by our wise and gracious Father, for our spiritual good.
Afterwards Author Award Cross Despising Endured Faith Fixing Gaze Hand Jesus Joy Leader Prince Prize Right Sake Sat Seated Shame Simply Throne
Afterwards Author Award Cross Despising Endured Faith Fixing Gaze Hand Jesus Joy Leader Prince Prize Right Sake Sat Seated Shame Simply Throne
