Hebrews 11:39–12:4

³⁹All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, ⁴⁰since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.^e

THE CALL TO ENDURANCE

12Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses^f surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance^g the race that lies before us, ²keeping our eyes on Jesus,^A the pioneer and perfecter^B of our faith. For the joy that lay before him,^C he endured the cross, despising the shame,^h and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

FATHERLY DISCIPLINE

³For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.^{i 4}In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.