Untitled - St.Francis Magazine

St Francis Magazine Vol 8, No 2 | April 2012 embraced “the reproach of Christ” or better put, the reproaches which belonged to Christ and which the author to the Hebrews exhorts them to embrace as well (11:16 cf. 13:13). As well the wilderness generation was constantly exposed to danger in a direct sense, and danger in an indirect sense with the temptation not to take YHWH at his word. For the wilderness generation they had to endure hardships to reach the Promised Land, and for Paul’s audience the promised land of the consummated kingdom also required hardships. Close observation of the letter to the Hebrews reveals the same theme: hardships in this pilgrim walk are a given, and the potential for slippage is ever present. Thus the author exhorts them based on the indicative of their present exalted position in Christ to adhere to the following: a. pay closer attention (2:1) b. not to neglect (2:3) c. consider Jesus (3:1, 12:3) d. take care lest (3:12, 10:31) e. to encourage one another (3:13) f. hold fast (3:14) g. fear lest we come short (4:1; 4:11) h. strive to enter (4:11) i. hold fast our confession (4:14, 10:23) j. have confidence to approach the throne of grace (4:16) k. press on to perfection (6:1) l. avoid falling away (6:4-­‐6) m. draw near with a true heart (10:22) n. consider how to stir up (10:24) o. avoid sinning willfully (10:26) p. recall the former days (10:32) q. avoid throwing away one’s confidence (10:35) r. lay aside every encumbrance; run (12:1) s. fix eyes on Jesus (12:2) 250