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herefore seeing we also are report through faith, received not the prom-
compassed about with so great ise” (11:39). No, they needed something
"Wa cloud of witnesses, let us lay more, and the verses quoted above pro-
aside every weight, and the sin which vided that for them.
doth so easily beset us, and let us run Verse 1 is better understood if we link
with patience the race that is set before us, the word “also” with “lay aside every
looking unto Jesus the author and finisher weight,” thus reading: “Wherefore seeing
of our faith; who for the joy that was set we are compassed about … let us also lay
before him endured the cross, despising aside …” The word “martyr” comes from
the shame, and is set down at the right the word translated “witnesses,” and we
hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:1-2). 1 must not confuse “witnesses” with “spec-
As we come to these verses, we should tators.” The heroes of chapter 11 were
remember the circumstances of their origi- not presented as watchers, observing the
nal readers. Many were of the “great com- struggles of the Hebrew readers, but as
pany of the priests … obedient to the faith” an enveloping cloud of encouragers who
(Act 6:7) who had renounced everything could testify to the blessings of walking by
they held precious for the cause of Christ. faith, trusting God in every circumstance
Some 30 years had passed since then, and of life.
the Temple still stood; the smoke of the The arena of conflict is used as an illus-
altar still ascended. Perplexity and doubt tration in this verse. “Race” is elsewhere
had set in, and persecution was mounting. translated “conflict” (Php 1:30; Col 2:1)
They were flagging and weary. They had and “fight” (1Ti 6:12), so it embraces every
been reminded of the thrilling exploits form of extreme struggle. “Patience” (en-
of the “heroes of faith” in chapter 11, but durance) is paramount, so every encum-
would that be enough to spur them on? brance must be discarded. Importantly, so
After all, the list of exploits had concluded must “the sin which doth so easily beset
with, “These all, having obtained a good us.” The use of the definite article before
“sin” indicates that a specific sin is in view,
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the and, in the case of the Hebrews, it is prob-
KJV. ably the sin of unbelief. They had already
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