February 12 2026, Sunday School Lesson

Run toward Holiness

Lesson Text: Hebrews 12:1-17

Related Scriptures: Philippians 3:7-4:1; Hebrews 5:7-9; Isaiah 35:1-8; James 3:13-18; Genesis 25:29-34; 27:36-38

TIME: between A.D. 60 and 69

PLACE: unknown

Golden Text – “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1)

Introduction

Our unit on God’s holy expectation culminates with the well-known running metaphor of Hebrews 12. Pursing holiness is like running a race because it requires endurance. Some of the best long-distance runners have said that to run a good race, a runner must “die” three times throughout the race. This is a dramatic way of saying that a long-distance race involves intense sacrifice on the part of the runner.

Perhaps the writer of Hebrews had a similar “dying” metaphor in mind, because he thought the Christian race should involve resisting sin to the point of shedding blood (Heb. 12:4)! Jesus is our ultimate example in this race, because He literally bled and died in order to finish His race. Yet, He considered that death joy because of what it accomplished. Even as the pain of pushing through a long race gives way to the exhilaration of finishing the race, so it is with a life of holiness.

LESSON OULINE

1. LAYING ASIDE HINDRANCES – Heb. 12:1-2

2. SEEING JESUS’ ENDURANCE – Heb. 12:3-4

3. ACCEPTING FATHERLY DISCIPLINE – Heb. 12:5-13

4. PURSUING PEACE AND HOLINESS – Heb. 12:14-17

QUESTIONS

1. What does Hebrews 12 present as a hindrance to running the Christian race?

2. What does it mean for Jesus to be the “author and finisher of our faith” (vs. 2)?

3. Why was Jesus’ crucifixion especially encouraging to the readers of Hebrews?

4. How could the Jewish Christians know they were legitimate children of God?

5. How did first-century Roman culture help the author make that point?

6. What benefit ultimately comes from good discipline?

7. What exhortation did the author intend through his reference to “hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (vs. 12)?

8. How does internal peace in the church help with the goal of attaining maturity of faith?

9. Why is Christian holiness so important?

10. What solemn warning can we learn from the negative example of Esau?

ANSWERS

1. The apostle viewed sin as a trap that would keep believers from growing spiritually.

2. Supporting his call to fix our eyes on Jesus, the apostle asserted that Jesus is the Author of our faith. This depicts Jesus as the Trailblazer, a pioneer who leads the way and set the example for others to follow. He further asserted that Jesus is the Finisher of our faith. This emphasizes His role in bringing our faith to maturity.

3. He implied to his persecuted Jewish Christian audience that the community leaders and their own family members who persecuted them were behaving like the vile sinners who crucified the innocent Messiah.

4. Verses 5-11 reminded the Jewish believers that God’s discipline is a sign of their identity as God’s children.

5. The author alluded to his own first-century culture, which may not have an exact equivalent to our modern Western culture. Greco-Roman men who did not consider a child their own would not bother to love and discipline the child. Confidently, the apostle asserted that his audience should be assured of their privileged status because God was, in fact, disciplining them.

6. Now we can reflect with the apostle and understand that those difficult times when we soaked our beds in tears were actually times when God was working in our hearts to produce a great harvest of righteousness. As the psalmist said, we went out weeping (and planting seeds) but returned rejoicing, carrying the harvest with us (Ps. 126:5-6). It was not just a harvest of righteousness but of peace.

7. The apostle conveyed that the children of the King should get up, stand strong, and get on with the glorious race.

8. Especially given the distress from the larger unbelieving Jewish community against Jewish Christians, the apostle urged his audience to pursue peace with one another. He knew that internal stress within a church only exacerbates external pressures. Instead of dividing within the church, believers should stand in solidarity with other believers.

9. Christian holiness is not optional. Without it, we will not see the Lord (12:14). Holiness distinguishes us from those who persecuted Christ (vs. 3). As we live our lives in a world that honors what is vile to God (cf. Ps. 12:8), we must not arrogantly presume that our holy God has nothing to say about how we live! Living in peace and holiness is essential for maintaining a vibrant relationship with God and with fellow believers.

10. The apostle noted the irreversible consequences of Esau’s choice to sell his birthright for a single meal. Despite his great regret, Esau could not reverse the sale. His decision serves as a solemn warning to believers to value and appreciate the spiritual blessings and inheritance purchased for them by Christ.