Strive for Peace... and Holiness
Hebrews 12:12–17– Jesus Is Better
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time – June 21st, 2026 (am)
When I was a freshman in college, ABC’s Wide World of Sports began covering the Ironman Triathlon from Hawaii—a 2.4-mile swim in the Pacific Ocean, followed by a 112-mile bicycle race along the coast, then a 26.2-mile marathon run—a one-day with no break between events. The current world record for men is 7:34:53; and for women it is 8:24:31.
ABC’s television coverage began in 1980. But it was the 1982 race that everyone remembers. Julie Moss held a twenty-minute lead over Kathleen McCartney as the marathon began, but when she was just a few hundred yards from the finish, her body started to shut down. She collapsed in a pile, her legs looking like they were made of soft rubber. She tried to stand but collapsed again, laying flat on her back, but only for a second or two. She struggled to her feet once more and began to walk, then slowly to run, only to have her legs give out again less than thirty yards from the finish. People were trying to help her to her feet. But as they did, Kathleen McCartney ran past and won the race. Still, Julie Moss didn’t give up. She began crawling on her hands and knees and crossed the finish line in second place, just twenty-nine seconds behind the winner.
Whenever I read here about drooping hands and weak knees (12), images of Julie Moss rush back into my mind. But I’m not at all sure that’s the best way to visualize this text. Or, perhaps I should say, when people describe their own weakness in their struggle against sin (4), they imagine themselves to be spent like Julie Moss. But too often they’re just forgetting what resources are available to them in the Persons and work of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit—God’s gifts to everyone who believes, the centerpieces of His grace (15).
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s look at this text. It divides nicely under two headings.
Charges to Action in Response to God’s Discipline – 12-14
The author has just driven home the point from Proverbs 3 that God disciplines all His children in love (5-8) toward holiness and the peaceful fruit of righteousness (10-11). What rich outcomes these are! God’s holiness is His defining characteristic. And His often-celebrated glory is the visible manifestation of that holiness. Yet, He shares both with His redeemed image-bearers (10; 2Co.3:18)—with you and me and all others who receive His saving grace by faith and press on in our race, laying aside all our excess baggage to do so (1-2). And it’s a good thing He does because, without this holiness, none of us will see God (14).
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees. Fix your eyes on Jesus (2 niv) and get rid of all that baggage (1). Consider [Jesus]… so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted (3). Taking His discipline too lightly—perhaps not recognizing that it’s from His hand and is intended to accomplish His purpose—is what leads to our feeling weary (5).
Thinking the various complications we experience are just the normal opposition, resistance, consequences we might expect to encounter in this fallen world; failing to see the spiritual component in them, the divine dimension, the providential purpose; receiving these things as random rather than as real and targeted by God for our development in holiness and the peaceful fruit of righteousness (10-11)—that’s what leaves us vulnerable to weariness in our race (1-9).
That’s what leaves us in need of lifting our drooping hands and strengthening our weak knees (12) in this battle. Some of their number were feeling especially discouraged and disinclined to make the necessary effort (Bruce 347), meaning, they weren’t responding well to the Lord’s discipline. They were regarding it lightly (5). They may’ve thought they were in the same condition as Julie Moss, but that wasn’t so. Jesus doesn’t leave us alone to fight through our weakness. There were available resources they could’ve drawn on to strengthen themselves. To borrow Peter’s language: 2Pe.1:3 [Jesus’] divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him….
Receiving those resources, drawing on them for strength, for enabling to lay aside all sin and encumbrance toward enduring in the race of faith is essentially what it means to 13 … make straight paths for [our] feet…. V.12 was quoting Isa.35:3, which leads into a promise that [God] will come and save you (Isa.35:4). Trust that promise, that’s the straight path (cf. 1-3). Now v.13 is quoting Pro.4:26 Ponder the path of your feet; give it thoughtful attention; then all your ways will be sure. You’ll stay on course. You’ll stay in your lane. 27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. Don’t stray from the path. The lameness that’s worsened or healed here is spiritual, not physical. And the rough terrain that worsens it is, once again, straying from the path of faith.
14 Strive for peace with everyone, the peaceful fruit of righteousness (11), and for the holiness (10) without which no one will see the Lord. Press toward the core expressions of enduring faith. And now you can already hear it turning toward a corporate expression, a maturity that shows itself in the body.
Reminder to Take Good Care of One Another Along the Way – 15-17
15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that’s part of living at peace with everyone. So is seeing to it that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. The idea here isn’t just individual expression of bitterness within the community, but a root of bitterness that begins to characterize the whole community. If Deu.29:18 is in view here, as many believe it is, idolatry is the issue. Any man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away from the Lord [their] God to go and serve the gods of [the] nations, the danger is that this will become a root [that bears] poisonous and bitter fruit among the community of God’s people. And it will surely disrupt the shalom they enjoy.
Adding in vv.16-17, we see this protection of healthy spiritual community continuing. Don’t allow any disregard of God’s preeminence as God among you (15b). Don’t allow any moral disregard for one another—illicit self-gratification at one another’s expense (16a). Don’t allow any disregard of your faith (16b), your promised inheritance, which, if forfeited, cannot be regained (17). Bottom line: anchor into God’s grace (15a).
The life of Esau is a particularly poignant one to reference in making this point. He famously despised the value of his inheritance as the firstborn for a single meal on a given day (16; Gen.25:33). We already knew God had said the older shall serve the younger (Gen.25:23) between these twin boys, but that just seems to make this particular experience all the more sad. Having despised his birthright all on his own (16), he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears (17)—that is, sought the blessing with tears; it’s not as though Esau wanted to repent but God wouldn’t hear it. He just wanted his blessing back but there was no way to gain it.
So, he’s the contrast. Esau is who we don’t want to be. He’s the portrait of someone who didn’t anchor into God’s grace (15) when he should have, but strayed from the path. Tragic.
Conclusion
So, what’s our calling today? Lay aside the baggage (1) and look to Jesus (2). Consider him (3). Receive His discipline and share his holiness (10) and the peaceful fruit of righteousness (11). Then press on in pursuit of these blessings. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Strive toward that which God is training (11) into us by His discipline; that’s how we lift [our] drooping hands and strengthen [our] weak knees (12). That’s how we make straight paths for [our] feet (13). And we do it not just individually, but collectively, as a body, on one another’s behalf. We 15 [s]ee to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God….
Receive and embrace the loving discipline from God and the fruit it bears and bring it into the community. Don’t keep it to yourself. Share it with your community group, your small group, your circle of friends. Receive their charges toward faithfulness. And charge them in return as they share their experiences of discipline. That’s how we can live out Heb.12.
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Resources
Anders, Max, gen. ed. 1999. Holman New Testament Commentary. Hebrews & James, by Thomas D. Lea. Nashville: Broadman & Holman.
Arnold, Clinton E., gen. ed. 2002. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary. Vol. 4, Hebrews to Revelation. Hebrews, by George H. Guthrie, 2-82. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Barclay, William. 1976. The Daily Study Bible Series. The Letter to the Hebrews, Revised Edition. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.
Beale, G. K., & D. A. Carson, eds. 2007. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Hebrews, by George H. Guthrie, 919-995. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
Bruce, F. F. 1990. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Hebrews. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Calvin, John. 1553. Commentary on the Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews, trans. by, John Owen. Logos.
Carson, D. A., R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham, eds. 1994. New Bible Commentary 21st Century Edition. Hebrews, by David Peterson, 1321-1353. Leicester, Eng.: InterVarsity.
Clendenen, Ray E., gen. ed., David S. Dockery, NT ed. 2010. The New American Commentary. Vol. 35, Hebrews, by David L. Allen. Nashville: Broadman & Holman.
Dever, Mark. 2005. The Message of the New Testament. Ch. 19, The Message of Hebrews: Sticking with the Best, 413-425. Wheaton: Crossway.
Fee, Gordon D., gen. ed. 1990. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. The Epistle to the Hebrews, Revised Edition, by F. F. Bruce. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Grudem, Wayne, ed. 2008. ESV Study Bible. Study notes on Hebrews, by David W. Chapman. Wheaton: Crossway.
Guthrie, George. 1998. The NIV Application Commentary. Hebrews. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Hubbard, David A., & Glenn W. Barker, gen. eds. Ralph P. Martin, NT ed. 1991. Word Biblical Commentary. Vols. 47a, Hebrews 1-8; Vol.47b, Hebrews 9-13, by William L. Lane. Dallas: Word.
Hughes, Philip Edgcumbe. 1979. A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Longman III, Tremper, & David E. Garland, eds. 2006. Revised Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 13, Hebrews-Revelation. Hebrews, by R. T. France, 17-195. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Morris, Leon, gen. ed. 1983. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Vol. 15, Hebrews, by Donald Guthrie. Downers Grove: InterVarsity.
Owen, John. 1855. Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, 7 Vols. Edinburgh: Johnstone and Hunter.
NEXT SUNDAY: You Have Come to Mount Zion, Hebrews 12:18–24