Hebrews 12:2

Looking unto Jesus. That is, for grace and strength to overcome every difficulty and to endure unto the end. As Peter found when he essayed to walk on the wind-tossed waves of Galilee (see Matthew 14:24-32), it is dangerous to turn one’s eyes away from the Saviour, even for a moment. To keep the eye of faith fixed upon Jesus is to maintain uninterrupted contact with Him who is the source of power, Him who can strengthen us to endure and to overcome.

Author. Greek archegos, “leader,” “originator,” “founder,” “pioneer” (RSV). Archegos is rendered “Prince” in Acts 3:15; 5:31 and “captain” in Hebrews 2:10, in each instance with reference to Christ, as here. Christ is the center of the plan of salvation and the source of every Christian grace. It is He who calls fallen men out of the dismal darkness of sin and into the glorious light of the gospel. It is He who cleanses them from their previous life of sin and qualifies them to become sons and daughters of God. It is He who justifies them by His grace, by virtue of His atonement on Calvary. It is He who plants their feet on the pathway to heaven.

Finisher. Greek teleiotes, “perfecter.” The work of justification is only the beginning of the Christian experience. We are not only to lay the “foundation of repentance from dead works” but are to “go on unto perfection” (see on chapter 6:1). We are to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). We are to gain victory after victory over our besetting sins (see on Hebrews 12:1) and to “grow up into him [Christ] in all things” (Ephesians 4:15). Our characters are to be “transformed” by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). This is the work of the indwelling Christ (Galatians 2:20) as the “perfecter” of faith. This is the work of sanctification. See on Matthew 5:48.

Our faith. That is, faith as an active principle in our lives.

For. Greek anti, “instead of,” “in return for,” “in consideration of.” Christ endured the cross in return for the joyous prospect of a universe free from sin.

Joy. If the meaning “in consideration of” be adopted for anti (see above under “for”), the passage may be understood as follows: Looking at the cross from a human point of view, we might say that it was faith in the future results of His suffering and death that gave Christ strength to endure the shame and ignominy of the cross. He knew that He would live to see the results “of the travail of his soul,” and was “satisfied” (Isaiah 53:11). To share eternity with the ransomed of all ages and the unfallen beings of other worlds was a prospect that brought utter joy to our Lord as He suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross of Calvary. See on Matthew 5:12; James 1:2.

If the meaning “instead of” be adopted for anti (see above under “for”), the passage teaches that instead of the joy that was within His grasp, either the joy of His pre-incarnate existence or that of His incarnate existence apart from the cross, Christ chose to endure the cross.

Endured the cross. Christ “endured the cross” in order that we might have strength to endure in our individual conflicts with the powers of darkness. He endured the cross that He might win the crown. The Captain of our salvation was made “perfect through sufferings” (chapter 2:10), and as we learn to endure the cross we are called upon to bear we too may expect to be found perfect in Him at His coming. As a future joy inspired Christ to endure the cross, so in the difficult and trying experiences of life it is our privilege to look forward to the joy of eternity.

Despising the shame. Or, “disregarding the shame,” “caring nothing for the shame.” “The sufferings of this present time” are nothing in comparison with “the glory which shall be revealed” (Romans 8:18), and are therefore to be disregarded. We may “greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be,” we “are in heaviness through manifold temptations” (1 Peter 1:6). Like Paul, we can count all earthly things but loss for the exquisite joy of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord (see Philippians 3:8).

Is set down. Textual evidence attests the reading “has sat down.” The form of the Greek verb of the preferred reading implies that Christ not only seated Himself at the right hand of the Father but that He has retained that position of honor ever since.

At the right hand. See on chapter 1:3.