Heb 12:12

“Nevertheless, since Jesus recites the law to you and reveals to your hearts its spiritual meaning, do not remain "proselytes," that is, catechumens, any longer, but hurry to receive fully the grace of God.… And you "children," "do not be children in your thinking; be babes in evil, but in thinking be mature." As the apostle says to the Hebrews, "Let us leave the elementary doctrines of Christ and go on to maturity." But you, too, who under the title women are weak, cast down and tired, you are exhorted to "lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees."”

“"Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees," that is, "make straight paths for your feet" throughout the afflictions caused by your persecutors, so that they may not slip. [Do this] "so that what is lame," that is, those who transgressed through the denial of faith, "may not be put out of joint" and increase the power of sin "but rather be healed," so that, through his healing, sin may be affected by sickness.”

“He speaks as to runners, and boxers, and warriors. Seest thou how he arms them, how he encourages them? "Walk straight," he says. Here he speaks with reference to their thoughts; that is to say, not doubting. For if the chastisement be of love, if it begin from loving care, if it end with a good result (and this he proves both by facts and by words, and by all considerations), why are ye dispirited? For such are they who despair, who are not strengthened by the hope of the future. "Walk straight," he says, that your lameness may not be increased, but brought back to its former condition. For he that runs when he is lame, galls the sore place. Seest thou that it is in our power to be thoroughly healed?”

“Where are those who say that the apostle in this epistle precludes repentance by saying, "It is impossible to renew again thereafter to repentance those once enlightened"? How then do they understand these words: "Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees"? What sort of healing of the lame does this apostle, who allegedly does not believe in a repentance for those who have sinned, wish to take place? It is clear he writes these things to believers in that he says to them: "Recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings."”

“He speaks as to fighters and warriors. He took this from the writing of Isaiah (Isa. 35:3), showing through the metaphor of the principal members that all had grown weak in soul. For the hands are a symbol of activity, and the feet of movement. Thus, in one who falls into despondency, first the organs of the soul, and then consequently those of the body as well, grow weak.”

“683. – Having indicated how we should behave toward enduring evils of chastisement, the Apostle now shows how we should act to avoid the evils of guilt. In regard to this he does two things: first, he gives his admonition; secondly, the reasons (v. 18). In regard to the first he warns men who sin; secondly, those not yet sinning (v. 14). But there are two kinds of sin: omission and transgression: first, therefore, he warns against sins of omission; secondly, against sins of transgression (v. 18). 684. – A sin of omission occurs in two ways: one, when a person fails to do good; another, by failing to endure evil and adversity. In regard to the first he says, Therefore, i.e., because chastisement yields the most peaceable fruit, then to obtain this fruit, lift your drooping hands. For since the hand is the organ of the organs, it is said to droop, when it stops performing good works; therefore, it must be lifted up by a right intention to do things pleasing to God: 'Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God' (Lam 3:41); 'The lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice' (Ps. 140:2); 'The slothful hand has wrought poverty; but the hand of the industrious riches' (Pr. 10:4); 'The hand of the valiant shall bear rule, but that which is slothful shall be under tribute' (Pr. 12:24). As a sign of this, when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel conquered; but when he let them fall, Amalek overcame them (Ex. 17:11). In regard to the other sin of omission he says, strengthen your weak knees. The entire weight of the body is held up by the knees. Therefore, those who have not the courage to endure adversity bravely have weak knees. Therefore, this weakness must be put aside: 'You have strengthened the weary hands; your words have confirmed them that were staggering, and you have strengthened the trembling knees' (Jb. 4:3); 'Strengthen the feeble hands and confirm the weak knees' (Is. 35:3). Therefore, lift up the hand and knees and do not give in to idleness or hesitate because of weakness.”

“Wherefore lift up the [4] hands, &c. Be fervent in piety, walk firmly in the way of virtue, make straight [5] steps, without declining to one side or the other, without halting or going astray, and strive to be healed from your sins by his grace. — Follow and seek peace, as much as lies in you, with all men, and [6] purity of life, without which no man shall see and enjoy God. (Witham)”

“He addresses them as runners in a race, and pugilists, and warriors [CHRYSOSTOM]. The "wherefore" is resumed from Heb 12:1. lift up--In Isa 35:3, from which Paul here quotes, it is, "Strengthen ye the weak hands." The hand is the symbol of one's strength. ALFORD translates, "Put straight again the relaxed hands." English Version expresses the sense well. feeble--literally, "paralyzed"; a word used only by Luke, Paul's companion, in the New Testament. The exhortation has three parts: the first relates to ourselves, Heb 12:12-13; the second, to others, Heb 12:14, "peace with all men"; the third, to God, "holiness, without which," &c. The first is referred to in Heb 12:15, "test any man fail of the grace of God"; the second in the words, "lest any root of bitterness," &c.; the third in Heb 12:16, "Lest there be any fornicator or profane person," &c. This threefold relation often occurs in Paul's Epistles. Compare Note, see on Tit 2:12, "soberly, righteously, and godly." The Greek active verb, not the middle or reflexive, requires the sense to be, Lift up not only your own hands and knees, but also those of your brethren (compare Heb 12:15; Isa 35:4).”

“"and make straight paths for your feet," or "and make straight paths for your footprints": as if speaking to the runners and boxers themselves. He indicates, however, that it is necessary for thoughts to be confirmed (which arise not from hatred, but from God's governance, corrections, and afflictions) and thoughts about faith and doctrines. For when they were still infants, they clung to certain Jewish matters in life and conduct. Let not the initiated evil (for this he calls a limp) become incurable, but rather let it be corrected. Behold, he has clearly admitted repentance, and take note of this because of the Novatians.”