Hebrews 12:3-6 Do not keep focusing on Christ’s suffering, but on His attitude
Hebrews 12:3-6
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
Background
The author was well aware of the disheartened condition of his readers. He was concerned that they might abandon their faith in the face of their struggles against evil and injustice. Their weariness and hopelessness was attributed to their attitude towards God’s discipline. By understanding God’s purposes in their predicament, they can turn their weariness into strength and hope. The cross gives us an objective view of Christ’s suffering, but our focus should not be on the extent of His suffering but on His attitude. By adopting Christ’s attitude into our mindset, we have reason to face the challenges of life and to overcome them.
Observation
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Given their current state of dilapidation of being persecuted and mistreated, the readers might be tempted to take matters into their own hands in vengeful retaliation. The author was concerned his readers might cease to put their trust in God and go their own way. The author invited them to consider the hostility that Christ had endured in the hands of wicked men. By turning their eyes towards Christ’s predicament and mistreatment, they might learn to adopt Christ’s consciousness and attitude. Christ was unjustly accused for things He never did, He was condemned and tortured on the cross with common criminals. Jesus’ calm and docile demeanor on the road to the cross was directed at God in full obedience. Technically, Christ did suffer unjustly under evil men, but it was for a higher purpose that He suffered. Christ did not suffer because He could not defend Himself, but by choice, He obeyed God to bring salvation to the humanity. Thus, He never let injustice and the temptation of vengeance enter His mind. By telling his readers not to grow weary and lose heart, the author warned his readers against unbelief and complaining in the midst of tribulation.
4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin…
The author helped the readers make an objective comparison between the intensity of their current struggles and the struggles of Christ. Some of them might have had their properties plundered, but Christ was fatally wounded. Hence, the author commented that their fight against evil men was nowhere in comparison to that of Christ’s: You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin. Christ Himself set the example when He struggled against injustice (to the point of shedding blood) and yet remained obedient to God. Sin refers to the agents of sin, which include the devil and his men. However, the author’s intent is not to draw attention towards Christ’s suffering, but His attitude in the midst of intense and unjust suffering.
5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; 6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.
This quote was lifted from Job 5:17. Job had his family and property suddenly taken from him in a single day. Unknown to Job, God had wanted to test the nature of Job’s devotion towards Him. Job’s friend, Eliphaz in an attempt to explain Job’s predicament attributed Job’s problems to God’s discipline over him. He counseled Job against taking God’s discipline lightly by demanding justice and getting angry with God. In drawing a parallel between Job’s trials and the suffering of his readers, the author highlighted Job attitude towards God’s discipline in his incessant complaining and insistence that his predicament was unjust. In the same way, the author admonished his readers not to faint (to allow oneself to weaken by complaining) but to understand the divine purpose of their suffering. All tribulations are not always the result of sin, but it is for the purpose of refining one’s character towards the holiness of God. Hence, God will discipline every son whom He receives, so that they may take on His virtues.
Truth
When one complains about his suffering or misfortune, he becomes weakened in his resolve to overcome. Some people are savvy complainers; they not only wear themselves out with their incessant whining, but also the people around them. When one is accustomed to complaining, he is continually despising God’s work in his life. By complaining, he is subtly blaming God and denying His lovingkindness and righteousness. As a result, he grieves the Holy Spirit causing him to grow weary and lose heart. The feeling of chronic weariness and hopeless is attributed to the diminishing presence of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, instead of complaining, we must endeavor to perceive our problems in the light of God’s purpose. What is God doing in this situation? What is God’s instruction for me now? We may not understand the entirety of God’s plans, but we have to trust that God is in control of our every situation. By turning our complaining into praise, we open our hearts to the filling of His Spirit producing peace, joy, assurance and confidence to press on.
Do not focus on the immensity of Christ’s suffering, but His attitude. When one focuses on the horror of Christ’s suffering, it produces unnecessary fear; it causes us to distant ourselves from God’s mission for our lives. Hence, we must not focus on the suffering of the cross but rather on Christ’s attitude towards the mission of the cross. If we focus on Christ’s attitude and virtues, we become imbued with His Spirit to do what Christ did. If Christ did not give up on the road to do the Father’s will, His Spirit inspires us to do the same. As pastor, I came across many people who complained bitterly and incessantly about their problems. But on closer examination, their problems are not as severe as they described. When one sets his focus on his problems, he loses his objectivity. The author injected some objectivity into their perceptions: You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin. They perceived their circumstances as hopeless and their problems as unsolvable, which in fact was not true. By shifting our focus onto Christ’s victorious attitude, His Spirit opens our eyes to see light and hope in our circumstances. By praying in the Spirit and talking to God about our problems, we begin to feel better, stronger and more assured of our eventual victory.
Application
- Are you accustomed to reiterating the injustices of the past as if they are recent? Do you find yourself condemning the actions of the people who hurt you and drawing consensus from people close to you? When others voice their discomfort, do you accuse them of being non-empathetic towards your plight? Perhaps, you have not yet completely perceived your predicament in the light of God. As a result, you constantly feel weary and lose heart. Share your predicament with someone who is mature in the things of God and allow him to be God’s mouthpiece.
- Are you afraid to place your life completely into God’s hands fearing that you may suffer like Christ did? God does not impose upon every son the sufferings of Christ; but only some who desire exceptional glory in heaven. However, God desire every of His sons to take on the attitude of Christ in the midst of life’s challenges. What challenges are you currently facing now? Speak to God concerning the purpose of your problems and what He required of you.
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that you are righteous and wise in all your dealings in my life. You use both good and bad events to mold me into your likeness and to bless me. Help me see your purpose in my current struggles and be resolved to do what is right. Fill me with your Spirit so that I may turn my weariness into passion, and see your vision for my nation. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.