Lynda Hickman Homemaker, plumber, carpenter, all around gearhead

Hebrews 12:1-2, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of GOD."

The word "despising" is from a Greek word 'kataphroneo' and the Greek Lexicon defines it as meaning to "think little or nothing of."

Someone says a despicable thing about you and your response is to say, "oh, think nothing of it."

That's what our Savior did!

He said, 'think nothing of it....I did it for the joy of what was before Me....for all those who will have faith in Me and receive My gift of salvation.' (my own paraphrase)

And we can be certain that He did not carry with Him to the throne of GOD any feelings of shame or remorse for what He had endured.

March 12 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

JD Abshire

Deuteronomy 21:18 "If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:"

Deuteronomy 21:19 "Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;"

Deuteronomy 21:20 "And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard"

Deuteronomy 21:22 "And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:"

Deuteronomy 21:23 "His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance."

I don't believe the above scripture speaks of death by hanging or crucifixion but the most extreme degree of disgrace possible to impose on a person after a sentence of death was carried out by stoning. This no doubt was reserved for the most rebellious, wicked and vile. If the hanging was not used as an instrument of death, what purpose did it serve? It was a public display, a warning to those who would trespass or blaspheme.

In stark contrast to the indictments of Deuteronomy 21, what was said of The Lord Jesus?

Matthew 3:17 "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." John 8:28 "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him." 

I have read about Roman crucifixion but not studied it. However, I do understand that the accused was also often further shamed by being stripped naked. Yes, he came here to die but we must not lose sight of His humanity, a humanity that was totally controlled by his divine nature, the very thoughts and precepts of Almighty God. I do not believe we can begin to imagine the shame he suffered.

Galatians 3:13: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"

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Tim Thornton Bible student, unprofitable servant

What does it mean "he despised the shame"? What is the best way to interpret that?

The two words that are used here have a different meaning than they do in our common vernacular. 

Despise means contempt or having disregard.

When a person couldn't care less about something they would be showing contempt.

Shame as it is used here has to do with the stigma attached to the cross. A person being crucified would be regarded as a person so despicable and unworthy that he is not fit to live.

The first part of the passage refers to the joy Jesus was focused upon that enabled Him to endure.

If we put these two things together what we have is this: Jesus was so focused upon fulfilling the work His Father had commissioned him to do and the pleasure the father would have in Him for doing this. And secondly The joy of saving His bride from the clutches of Satan and the power and polluting effects of sin He is therefore able to regard the most difficult trial of His existence as a small matter in comparison. 

The admonition at the opening of V.2 is looking to Jesus with the thought of the pleasure He has in us as His people and the promise of glory and rest that are ours if we endure.

In the world's eyes trusting Jesus and setting our sight on the promise of eternal life is foolish. Being identified with the cross of Christ is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Those who trust in Him will not be put to shame.

Being identified with Christ will bring the contempt of the world. Let us despise that shame and rejoice in the promise and presence of Jesus.

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Billy P Eldred

According to my Bible dictionary, the Greek word translated despised in the verse you quote has an alternate meaning : to "care not". Some translations chose this meaning. The NIV chooses "scorning it's shame". To me, I think either of these translations work better than despise if you add a few explanation marks. What the verse is saying is that "compared to the 'joy set before him'" the shame is not important! In other words, achieving what he wants to accomplish, the forgiveness of our sins, the shame is inconsequential and He more than just willingly was joyfully ready to pay that price.

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