Hebrews 12:1-3 & Luke 18:18-30—Scripture Study
By Pastor Chris Simmons – Trinity Lutheran Church, Paso Robles CA
A reinforcement/supplement study to our Sunday service meant for “Building up the body of Christ… the manifold Wisdom of God made known” (Ephesians 4+3)
For the Week of January 26, 2025
We celebrate Lutheran Schools Week kickoff, recognizing all that Jesus has done for us and that we have the opportunity to share it through the formational education of children in our community. We come together as a Synod all across the globe carrying this same theme and common message from Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”. God has freed us by what Jesus has done from the weight of sin, death, and the power of the devil. We are called to run the race unhindered! Let’s fill out what that means through our study time together. Blessings.
—Pastor Chris Simmons
Hebrews 12:1-3
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted
Discuss: What is something you have always wanted to do… but haven’t? What is “holding you back”?
As we look at anything in Hebrews, let’s keep a few things in mind:
1. First, we are given a clue in its title … Hebrews. Throughout this work, there are many Old Testament references, be it to practices or people. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the Judges, David and Samuel and the prophets to name a few (all of chapter 11 is a list of Old Testament people). The author knew his audience knowing his audience was well versed in this history.
2. The type of Greek used in writing Hebrews is a high classical oratory Greek style, which distinguishes it from the letters of Paul written in a more common Greek style. Along with its more educated style comes more complex content… yet it still contains quotes about seeking strong fundamentals.
Hebrews 5:12-14
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
3. It all leads to Jesus… Be it the Old Testament looking forward to the promise or us today looking back. It all comes together at one distinct intersection… Jesus “the founder and perfecter of our faith”.
With all that in mind, we find ourselves in chapter 12
Hebrews 12:1- Therefore…
Always something to notice…THEREFORE…directing us to everything that has happened prior to this moment. To summarize, throughout all of Hebrews 11, we received a reminder of those who “acted by faith” throughout the Old Testament, even when they were faced with impossible circumstances. Be it crossing the Red Sea on dry land, the walls of Jericho coming down, or the age of Sarah as she had her first children. By the Word of God, they acted in faith, and it led them to great reward. Be it freedom, the defeat of their enemies, or continued lineage. Those were not the greatest reward however… Hebrews 11:39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Their reward was immediately good, but it wasn’t the end. The perfect reward was still yet to come… the gift of Jesus Christ.
Discuss: You’ve heard the phrase “the best has yet to come”, how has that been true in your life? What was something good that only became better later? What do you still have to look forward to today?
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…
So great a cloud of witnesses—This is again a reference to all of Chapter 11… Yet consider this for a moment… Those who have gone before you personally and taught you what it means to “act in faith”. Going through chapter 11 we read of those who “laid aside every weight and sin” to “act in faith” according to the Word of God (shared by prophet or received directly). We have people like that in our lives today, that have “laid aside every weight and sin” to “act in faith”, and God has used them in our lives so we can learn from them and their faith.
Discuss: Who throughout your life has taught you what it means to “lay aside every weight” and to “act by faith”?
Another way to consider it… who in your life has taught you what it means to follow Jesus?
Hebrews 12:1
…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…
If you were to “run a race” you would do all you could to prepare well. You would train hard, make sure you have the right shoes, the right clothes. Imagine then, if you then grabbed a 50lb weight at the start of the big race. That would be extra weight holding you back, making you tired, taking away all your focus, it would not make for a good race. Recall what the author of Hebrews said before in chapter 5:
Hebrews 5:12
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
The author is saying these people should already know better! They are supposed to be the mature ones, recognizing the freedom they have in the elementary truths of God. Even with all the training and the years of hearing the Gospel… they/we too often pickup that sin/sins that weighs us down. Sins that clings to us, and us to it.
Luke 18:18-30 (NIV)
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”
21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Discussion:
How well is the rich man doing with the “elemental truths of God”?
What holds back the rich man? What sin does he cling to?
Answer this question from the text “Who then can be saved”?
Re-read verses 29-30. How does it relate to what happens in Hebrews chapter 11?
The rich man is one example of us clinging to sin and sin clinging to us. You can see how his faith was chained to him being rich. It was a weight that held him down, impeding his race and ability to follow Jesus. In this case sure, it maybe riches… but we find ourselves clinging to anything. Idolizing our children, obsession with exercise, hobbies, career, sports, the list can go on and on. Whatever it may be, put it in the wrong place in your life, they become a weight… they become a sin that entangles us from walking the path to Jesus, and loving others as he has solved us.
Hebrews 12:1-3
…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Discuss: Notice the repeating word “endure” here… what do they mean in relationship to each other? In context, how is it defined for us?
Looking to Jesus… who founded and perfected our faith…. Even all those who acted by faith throughout the Old Testament (highlighted in Hebrews 11) were looking forward to the promise of Jesus. Even then, Jesus was the founder and perfecter of their faith. Notice how it is more than laying it aside… It also means looking to Jesus.
It may seem like an impossible task… it may seem like the world is against you, and that sin won’t let go of you or you of it. And really, if you were facing it alone... it would be seemingly impossible. But thanks be to God that we do not face it alone, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” We are surrounded by saints who have gone before us, both present and past, that by their teaching, examples, and stories give us something to model. In Christ, we are set free. That even with joy he would endure the cross, endure hostility from sinners’, all because you are the joy set before Him.
So, as you run the race, and you’re not sure you can make it without the extra weight… that it somehow clings to you. Recall what Jesus says in Luke 18 with the rich man:
26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
Discuss: What does “What is impossible with man is possible with God” mean? Relate it directly Hebrews 12, how do they correlate?
Prayer
What is a sin that clings to you/that you cling to? How is it impeding the race set before you? Pray to God, for that the Lord would give you the strength to lay it aside and look to Jesus.
As we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, those past and present, who are you modeling and teaching your faith to? A family member? A friend? Pray that you can be that witness for them and others have been witnesses to you.
26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” What do you need to ask God to be possible?
Lord God, we come before you as sinners. Too often, we allow the weight of sin to cling to us, when we should be living a life through the freedom you’ve bought for us. Forgive us Lord, and please grant us the strength to act by faith, laying aside all that would chain us to sin, and to look to you. That we run with the same endurance you had for us. Enduring with joy, even through a hard race, because we are already awarded the great prize in you. We pray this all in your name Jesus. Amen.