v1: The challenge of faith; we are inspired by the examples of chapter 11. They believed in God, and we have the same God. They are the clouds of witnesses. Christ will appear with such clouds, 1Thess 4.17; Matt 24.30; 24.64, for He is not ashamed to be identified with them.

To be truly faithful, we must throw off (or lay aside) every weight, everything that hinders, Mark 10.29-30; 1 Cor 9.5-6, 12. We must also be conscious that sin so easily ensnares us; each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires (James 1.14); the result is sin which leads to death; we can therefore be damaged by sins. We must deliberately lay aside such things, leaving us free to press on for God.

v2: Rather than becoming introspective, and overly self-critical, we must look to Jesus, without whom there is no faith. In Him is strength, ability to lay aside weights and sins, our perfect example. He looked ahead, able to scorn the shame of the cross, looking forward to eternal joy. We must do the same, seeing today's trials in an eternal perspective. We see too Christ's clarity of purpose; without vision people perish; with clear vision, we will fulfil God's calling on our lives. ’If we are not focussed on the future, we will be overwhelmed by the present.’ (Kieran Crow)

Here too is the uniqueness of Jesus Christ - He alone has sat down at the right hand of God (1.3). Our faith in Him is not just one choice among many religions, but it is the only true way.

v3: Consider Him in His suffering; the antidote for soul-sickness. We need to set our hearts and minds upon Him. There is a real danger of weariness and or losing heart; we must be conscious of this, but also use what God has provided for us in Christ.

There is hostility from sinners; deliberate persecution from individuals, and a general rejection from the world. Christ constantly endured this, whilst looking forward to the joy set before Him. William Tyndale's wording is clear and incisive here, ""consider how that He endured such speaking against Him of sinners."

v4: Strive against sin; this is a key battle. This takes effort and commitment; the indication here, as elsewhere (e.g: 2 Tim 3.1), is that things will grow worse. The greater enemy is the one within. Our temptations come from our own hearts.

v5-6: The chastening of the Lord, see notes on Jonah 2.2.

This includes training and education as well as discipline and rebuke. The actual circumstances will vary: it may simply be events outside our control, it may be the decisions or mistakes of others; and it may be the decisions and mistakes that we have made.

Not all trials are of satanic origin; the Lord may use such things for our benefit anyway, so we are not to be discouraged by them. Here the writer refers to the "Lord's discipline." Such chastening is an evidence of adoption as sons. It is a testimony of His love for us.

v7: Treat hardships as discipline from God. He is our Father, and treats us as His children.

v8: The absence of disciplining (chastening) is a serious sign, for the Lord chastens all who are His.

v9-11: The purpose and benefit of chastening, "for our profit", that we may be partakers of His holiness, that we might show the peaceable fruit of righteousness, see Phil 1.11; James 3.18. In 2 Cor 1.3-7 we learn that our trials can prove of benefit to others. The writer is honest to say that divine discipline is painful, but he insists that it is profitable.

John Berridge was minister of Vicar in Everton, Bedfordshire, in the eighteenth century and was a contemporary of Wesley and Whitefield. Ne enjoyed remarkable 'success' during the early part of his ministry. Later he was afflicted with severe illness, which he describes as God's discipline:'

My Master has been tying me to a whipping-post for four years and has chastised me smartly with rods and scorpions. Indeed, they were both sorely wanted; for I have a very saucy will, and a sad, proud heart, and was grown in my own conceit almost as good a man as my Master. … But the Lord was jealous of his own honour, and has taken me to task roundly, and made me willing not only to throw the pilfered laurels at his feet, but to cast my scoundrel self there.' (The Gospel Pedlar, page 113)

v12-17: The problem of spiritual lethargy; forces in our lives which oppose faith.

v12: Feeble arms and weak knees; the problems of weaknesses and sins; see Job's testimony in Job 4.3-4. Problems with service and self-sacrifice. We need to strengthen those things in our lives that are weak.

v13: The lame refers to weak Christians. We must recognise such, and make straight paths to help them. The Lord does not break the bruised reed. Our inclination is often to criticise, but that does not build up. We must work to encourage and strengthen those who are weak.

v14: Pursue peace and holiness, which are essential characteristics. These are in v10-11 also. Holiness is the central character of God; "holy, holy, holy" was the declaration before Isaiah. He makes His people become like Himself.

v15-16: Watchfulness, looking diligently'; see 3.12; 4.11; Ps 4.4; Prov 4.23; this includes concern for others as well as watchfulness for ourselves. Three specific areas:

• lest anyone should fall short of the grace of God; as in 6.4-6; the problem of tasting, but not trusting;
• lest any root of bitterness springing up should cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
• lest there be any fornicator or profane person, like Esau (Gen 25.29-34), who preferred the material before the spiritual. He despised what was eternal, and found repentance harder.

'It is my experience that when bitterness has infected the foundations of a church, it gives such a strong foothold for the enemy that it can lead to almost any sin.' (David Devenish Demolishing Strongholds)

There is some debate as to the origin of the word 'birthright.' There is a case to be made for Coverdale or Tyndale (16th century translators); Coverdale used it in his 1535 Bible, and Tyndale in his 1534 revision.

v17: Esau looked for Isaac to change his mind (repent), Gen 27.30-40, but Esau had "insulted the Spirit of grace" (10.29).

v18-24: The objective of faith; encouraging the believer to draw near.

v18-21: Sinai pictures the law; a place of fear and judgment, it was the mountain that may be touched, since it was physical; it was the mountain that could not be touched, since none were permitted to approach. Even Moses trembled with fear. This is not the way through which we seek to approach God.

v22-24: Enjoy access to God, spiritual fellowship, access with confidence. We belong to the Church of Christ, the first born, we are registered in Heaven, see Ezra 2.59, 62; Rev 21.27. We enjoy access through Jesus Christ, our mediator; not through Moses, nor a priest, nor saints ("righteous men made perfect"). The covenant, the promises of God, is ours through Jesus Christ. He, as mediator, brings together those previously at enmity. He also mediates on-going relationship, through intercession.

Abel still speaks, but his blood speaks vengeance; Christ's blood speaks forgiveness and redemption; it brings a purged conscience and deliverance from guilt.

v25-29: The peril of refusal.

v25: We have a greater privilege and the greater responsibility to hear and obey, see 2.2-3.

v26-27: The removal of physical things ("created things"), that spiritual things might be seen to be real and lasting. We must be careful not to grasp material things.

v28: Our secure future and eternal inheritance motivate us to faithful service, and to true worship.

v29: The very character of God is a further motivation. Those things which are created will be consumed. We have a relationship with "our God", and therefore must reject those things that have no value.