Heb 12:1 Throw off Hinderances
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Mar 3, 2025, 6:19:44 AM3/3/25
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Throw off Hinderances
Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
By "great cloud of witnesses" he is not referring to people looking down on us from heaven, but rather those, as in the previous chapter, who have walked by faith and witnessed God grace and faithfulness. They serve as an example for us to follow.
We are to throw off everything which hinders us in the race and the sin in which we are easily entangled. "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1Cor 9:24
Now there are things which would hinder us which of themselves may not be sin. Paul says to Timothy, "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs— he wants to please his commanding officer." 2Tim 2:4 Consider what may be hindering you from living effectively and fruitfully in service to the Lord. While eliminating unnecessary responsibilities may help to this end, it may also be a matter of prioritizing one's responsibilities. For example Paul writes, "From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. I would like you to be free from concern." 1Cor 7:29-32a He then speaks of the benefit of singleness to this end and goes on to say, "I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord." 1Cor 7:35 While he's not speaking by way of command here, the principle is to seek circumstances which allow for undivided devotion to the Lord.
Again, this is not to avoid responsibilities, but to avoid unnecessary responsibilities. In fact professional Christians have chosen to leave the secular workplace and get paid for doing ministry, but in fact this is something that Paul advises against. For it may hinder others from coming to Christ, and sets a poor example. (2Thess 3:7-10) For this reason Paul refused to exercise his right to get paid for ministry saying, "we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ." 1Cor 9:12b
Beyond our rights, freedoms and responsibilities there is also sin in which we are easily entangled. It is not difficult even for those born of God to get unintentionally entangled in sin, though not overcome by it, but rather persevere to the end. But there are also those "Christians" who "if they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning." 2Pet 2:20
1Ti 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. Both behavior and doctrine incorporate running the race. False doctrines can be stumbling blocks. Paul writes of the false doctrine of the circumcision which was influencing the Galatian churches and says, "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?" Gal 5:7 While the circumcision advocated legalism, there is also the heresy of licentiousness. "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:" 1Cor 6:9a and he goes on to speak of lifestyle behaviors of the wicked.
But perseverance is the measure of the true believer, thus John writes, "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us." 1John 2:19
Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
By "great cloud of witnesses" he is not referring to people looking down on us from heaven, but rather those, as in the previous chapter, who have walked by faith and witnessed God grace and faithfulness. They serve as an example for us to follow.
We are to throw off everything which hinders us in the race and the sin in which we are easily entangled. "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1Cor 9:24
Now there are things which would hinder us which of themselves may not be sin. Paul says to Timothy, "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs— he wants to please his commanding officer." 2Tim 2:4 Consider what may be hindering you from living effectively and fruitfully in service to the Lord. While eliminating unnecessary responsibilities may help to this end, it may also be a matter of prioritizing one's responsibilities. For example Paul writes, "From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. I would like you to be free from concern." 1Cor 7:29-32a He then speaks of the benefit of singleness to this end and goes on to say, "I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord." 1Cor 7:35 While he's not speaking by way of command here, the principle is to seek circumstances which allow for undivided devotion to the Lord.
Again, this is not to avoid responsibilities, but to avoid unnecessary responsibilities. In fact professional Christians have chosen to leave the secular workplace and get paid for doing ministry, but in fact this is something that Paul advises against. For it may hinder others from coming to Christ, and sets a poor example. (2Thess 3:7-10) For this reason Paul refused to exercise his right to get paid for ministry saying, "we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ." 1Cor 9:12b
Beyond our rights, freedoms and responsibilities there is also sin in which we are easily entangled. It is not difficult even for those born of God to get unintentionally entangled in sin, though not overcome by it, but rather persevere to the end. But there are also those "Christians" who "if they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning." 2Pet 2:20
1Ti 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. Both behavior and doctrine incorporate running the race. False doctrines can be stumbling blocks. Paul writes of the false doctrine of the circumcision which was influencing the Galatian churches and says, "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?" Gal 5:7 While the circumcision advocated legalism, there is also the heresy of licentiousness. "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:" 1Cor 6:9a and he goes on to speak of lifestyle behaviors of the wicked.
But perseverance is the measure of the true believer, thus John writes, "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us." 1John 2:19
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