Hebrews 12:12-13 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
‘Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.’ Ten commands for Christians: Lift up the hands which hang down (12:12). Strengthen the feeble knees. Make straight paths for your feet (12:13). Let the lame be healed. Follow peace with all men (12:14). Follow holiness – consecrate by setting yourself apart from the world. Look diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God (12:15; Gal. 5:4). Look diligently lest any root of bitterness springing up defile you (12:15). Look diligently lest you become a fornicator as Esau (12:16). Look diligently lest you be rejected and find no repentance (12:16-17).
‘Lift up’ [Greek: anorthoo] means to set upright again; restore; to set straight again. Translated as “lift up” (12:12); “set up” (Acts 15:16); and “make straight” (Luke 13:13).
‘Feeble’ [Greek: paraluo] palsied, as translated elsewhere (Luke 5:18, 24; Acts 8:7; 9:33). Quoted from Isaiah 35:3 of worn and sick persons who are totally discouraged. Here, they are exhorted to take courage and persevere to the end (12:12-15).
‘Make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.’ Make straight paths, lest you get into rough and stoney ways, become lame, and be prevented from reaching the goal. If you go into the proper path, though you have been wounded in the wrong path, your wound will be healed.
To be continued…
Living the Word 