Read & explore together
A Call to Endurance
Hebrews 12:1–3 calls readers to keep going with perseverance. Using the picture of a race, these verses show what to put aside, where to look, and why thinking carefully about Jesus helps when weariness comes.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of the letter, the writer speaks directly and urgently. The passage uses running language, mentions a great cloud of witnesses, warns about weight and sin that entangles, and points to Jesus’ endurance of the cross, its shame, and his place at God’s right hand.
Hebrews 12:1–3Main takeaway
This passage calls us to endure by laying aside what hinders and by looking carefully to Jesus.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A race that calls for perseveranceThe opening picture is a race. The writer says, “let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us”.
Explanation
The opening picture is a race. The writer says, “let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us”. This is not a momentary effort. It is a course already “set before us”, and it is to be run with steady endurance. The “great cloud of witnesses” surrounds this call and adds solemn encouragement.
02Put off what hindersBefore the running image develops further, the writer tells readers what to remove. “Every weight” is anything that burdens the runner.
Explanation
Before the running image develops further, the writer tells readers what to remove. “Every weight” is anything that burdens the runner. Then the warning becomes more pointed with “the sin which so easily entangles us”. The verse shows that endurance involves both active running and deliberate laying aside.
03Look to JesusThe central direction is clear: “looking to Jesus”. He is called “the author and perfecter of faith”.
Explanation
The central direction is clear: “looking to Jesus”. He is called “the author and perfecter of faith”. The verse then explains his endurance. “For the joy that was set before him” he “endured the cross”, “despising its shame”, and now “has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”.
04Consider him when wearyVerse 3 tells readers to “consider him” carefully. Jesus endured “such contradiction of sinners against himself”.
Explanation
Verse 3 tells readers to “consider him” carefully. Jesus endured “such contradiction of sinners against himself”. The purpose is stated plainly: “that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls”. In the flow of the passage, thinking on Jesus is meant to strengthen endurance when discouragement presses in.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two kinds of hindrance are named in Hebrews 12:1?
Read the verse closely and notice that it names both “every weight” and “the sin which so easily entangles us”.
02What does Hebrews 12:2 say Jesus endured, and where has he sat down?
Follow the verse from “endured the cross” and “its shame” to “the right hand of the throne of God”.
03According to Hebrews 12:3, why should readers consider Jesus?
The final words of the verse give the reason in terms of not growing weary or fainting in your souls.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Hebrews 12:1–3
1Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
2looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.