The writer now precedes to write some final instructions. This section encourages us to persevere to the end of our life. Many have gone before us and remained faithful. We keep our eyes on the goal who is Jesus. Jesus also persevered to the end. We need to encourage each other as well.
My translation and notes on Hebrews 12:1-3
Hebrews Chapter 12
Let Us Persevere to the End
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded with such a great throng of witnesses, let us get rid of every hindrance and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race that lies before us.
[The “great throng of witnesses” is not necessary the holy angels and heavenly saints watching us. It is those witnesses of the truth as recorded in Hebrews chapter 11. We are to follow those witnesses who died in faith whether naturally or as martyrs. The Greek word for ‘get rid of’ is (G659) ἀποτίθημι apotíthēmi. It means to throw off and lay aside. There are two things that we Christians must discard—hindrances (G3591) and sin (G266). Hindrances is obstacles, and sin entangles the feet making it difficult to walk or run. Some of the main obstacles/hindrances are a lack of faith (Hebrews 11:6), diminishing of truth (Titus 1:14 and Jeremiah 7:28), fading first love (Revelation 2:4), and growing desires gaining priority over our loyalty to God (Proverbs 10:17 and James 5:19). Regarding sin, see 1 Timothy 5:11, 1 Timothy 6:10, and 2 Peter 2:15. The race is the Christian life from conversion to death (or the rapture, whichever comes first). We need to look at the goal as in verse 2].
2 Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of [our] faith, who instead of the joy set before him patiently persevered the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.
[“Keep our eyes” refers to a race where we concentrate on the goal. Races are lost when we stop concentrating on the goal—the finish line. See John 8:12. “Author and finisher” are the Greek words ἀρχηγός archēgós (G747) and τελειωτής teleiōtḗs (G5051). An Author here is an originator and leader. Compare 1 Peter 2:21 and 1 John 2:6. It is also used in Acts 3:15, Acts 5:31, Hebrews 2:10, and here. A finisher, perfecter, is a person who takes a product and examines it, corrects it, and approves it according to a standard. Here that standard is God’s standard for the Christian life. See Romans 8:29. Jesus Christ is the perfect example. The Lord Jesus prays for us. See Hebrews 7:25. See also 2 Corinthians 3:18. The Greek word for ‘set before him’ is (G4295) πρόκειμαι prokeimai. It means the joy that was set before him, i.e., instead of the joy that was within his grasp he endured the cross (BDAG). Vincent (WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT) on this phrase writes: The joy was the full, divine beatitude of his preincarnate life in the bosom of the Father; the glory which he had with God before the world was. In exchange for this he accepted the cross and the blame. The contrast is designed between the struggle which, for the present, is alone set before the readers (Hebrews 12:1), and the joy which was already present to Christ. The heroic character of his faith appears in his renouncing a joy already in possession in exchange for shame and death. The passage thus falls in with Philippians 2:6-8].
3 Therefore, carefully think about him who persevered such a contradiction of sinners against him, lest youp become weary and faint in yourp souls.
[Jesus is not just an example for experiencing “good” things but also for “bad” things as persecution. This whole chapter is encouragement to heed what Jesus did and taught lest we give up. Jesus is the prophet that Moses told Israel in Deuteronomy 18:15. See also, Acts 3:22 and Acts 7:37].