Estimate Read Time: 5 min

Supporting Text: Acts 7:58, Colossians 3:8, Ephesians 4:22, Hebrews 12:1, Hebrews 12:2, Isaiah 26:3, James 1:21, Matthew 13:22, Matthew 28:18–20, Philippians 4:6–7, Psalm 42:11, Romans 12:2, Romans 13:12, 1 Peter 2:1, 1 Peter 5:7.

What does it mean to lay aside something? It's a simple question, but before we can move on, we need to understand what it really means to lay something aside.

In Greek, the word translated lay aside is apotithēmi. The word conveys someone disrobing at the end of the day. However, it is more than simply taking something off. It carries the idea of throwing something far away so that it cannot be easily retrieved and put back on. Therefore, it conveys a deliberate and irreversible removal rather than merely setting something aside.

This word is used in the literal sense of people casting off their garments during the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58). It is also used figuratively to describe casting off the former self (Eph. 4:22), the works of darkness (Rom. 13:12), and sinful behaviors (Col. 3:8; James 1:21; 1 Pet. 2:1).

However, let's add a little more to this because there is a reason the writer exhorts us to lay these things aside.

As you progress to the end of the verse, you read the following:

"...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Heb. 12:1)

Throughout Scripture, the metaphor of a race is frequently used to describe the Christian life. Racing requires active effort, constant focus on the finish line, and culminates in a reward for those who finish well.

The Christian life is much the same.

The believer is to be actively engaged in living out the faith throughout the entirety of life. We must continually remember why we are here—to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18–20). Lastly, we know that faithfulness will be rewarded—not because salvation is earned, but because our Lord rewards those who have not only trusted Him but have also been willing and obedient vessels for His purposes.

It is therefore incumbent upon us, as those running this race, to lay certain things aside.

An athlete may train with various types of equipment, but when race day arrives, he strips away as much unnecessary weight as possible so that he can run unhindered.

This is exactly what we are being exhorted to do.

Cast off every weight and every sin so that we may run the race Christ has set before us without hindrance.

What does every weight mean?

Just as we began by looking at the Greek, let's continue.
The Greek word is onkos, and it translates as burden or weight.
Literally, this would be similar to wearing a weighted vest or, more comically, a heavy winter coat while running a race. If we saw someone wearing such a burden on race day, we would naturally wonder why they would choose to run that way because we understand the disadvantage they have placed themselves under.

The same is true in the spiritual sense.

The Holy Spirit, through the writer of Hebrews, is telling us that we need to lay aside—to cast far away from ourselves—the things that burden us.

So what are the things in your life that are weighing you down?

• Is it the cares of this life? (Matt. 13:22; Luke 21:34)
• Anxiety? (Phil. 4:6–7; 1 Pet. 5:7)
• Depression? (Ps. 42:5, 11; Ps. 34:18)
• What about entertainment—movies, television, social media, or video games? (1 Cor. 6:12; Eph. 5:15–16; Col. 3:1–2)

The Holy Spirit may be bringing these things to the forefront of your mind and saying,

"It's time to lay those things aside."

Perhaps the things you are being called to lay aside are not sinful in themselves, but they are stealing your attention from what is most important—your relationship with Jesus Christ and the ministry to which He has called you.

The next thing we are told to cast away is the sin which so closely clings.

What is interesting about this phrase is that it pictures the believer as being surrounded.

Most commentators agree that the word translated easily in many English versions is best understood in the passive sense. In other words, the believer is surrounded by sin, vulnerable to it, and easily distracted by it.

What I believe the writer is telling us is that we must understand not only what sin is in general but especially recognize the sins toward which we are personally weak.

When we recognize sin, we separate ourselves from it by placing our faith in God and in His Word. We choose to live according to His ways while relying upon Christ's victory at Calvary to free us from those sins.

What, then, should we take away from this first verse of Hebrews 12?

First, we are surrounded by the testimonies of faithful believers whose lives encourage us to continue moving forward in faith despite the hardships we encounter.

Second, we must prepare ourselves by recognizing that when the Holy Spirit identifies something as a burden, we are to remove it. Likewise, when sin is exposed—especially those sins toward which we are most susceptible—we are to separate ourselves from them so completely that they no longer cling to us.

Lastly, we are to focus on Jesus.

That final truth is what we will examine in the next article.