Strengthen and Be Strengthened

May 26th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 12:12-13 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

The image of the race comes back into view in vv. 12-13, and the author urges believers to persevere when fatigued. Marathoners say the first thing that tends to tire are the arms that keep pace with the legs, pulling them through each stride. The position and motion of the arms are thus vital, for when they tire and begin to drop, the knees grow “feeble,” paralyzed. At this point, the runner may inadvertently drift into the opposing runner’s lane causing a collision and even an injury to one or both runners. But once the fatigue sets in, the experienced runner knows to shun all thoughts of being tired and focus solely on the finish line. For Christians the focus is Jesus.

Of course the “race” is a metaphor for the Christian life, and it is the author’s way of setting the tone for the application of his letter. Having instructed his audience about Christ’s superiority (chaps. 1-11), reminding them that their trials equate to God’s loving discipline (12:1-11), it was now time to encourage them to action—action in keeping with the Christian faith and doctrine. Teaching doctrine is designed to transform one’s thinking about Christ, but without any action doctrine means little. Truth that is known but not obeyed does not bless, it curses. Doctrinal teaching must therefore lead to holy behavior, for it is one thing to know that Christ is Lord; it is another thing altogether to submit to Christ as Lord and prove their faith genuine.

The author is thus saying, “Having been reminded of who Christ is and what the Christian race is, start running your race!” The audience had been in the race but had grown weary. Having been reminded of who Christ is and His superiority, they now had the wherewithal to gain the strength they needed for their arms which would strengthen their knees which would in turn keep them in their own lane looking to the finish line. Notably, the audience, and by extension all Christians in every era, were not only to strengthen their own hands and their own knees but “the hands… the knees” as a corporate effort. As the Church, Christians are to avoid concentrating on themselves and look to help others. The hands and the knees would thus entail the entire body of Christians working together, helping one another. In this sense, the Christian race is not only an individual contest, it is a corporate effort whereby Christians help each other to the finish line.

Those feeble Christians who comprised the Hebrews audience had strayed into the lanes of others, as it were, causing them to stumble. The word for “paths” (Gr. trochia) in v. 13 refers to the tracks left by the wheels of a cart that other travelers could follow. The author is thus saying that strong Christians who are focused on Christ should encourage others by “make[ing] straight paths” in the sense of being role models for their weaker brothers who had become fatigued in their race, perhaps ready to throw in the towel. These feeble runners are dubbed “the limb which is lame.” They needed stronger runners to come alongside so that they would not be “put out of joint, but rather be healed.” These “lame” (Gr. chōlos) Christians are those who, though known as such, were perhaps not genuine in their faith. They were in danger of apostatizing—willful turning away from Christ (cf. 6:4-6; 10:26-27), needing to strengthen their weak faith.

Food For Thought
Biblical doctrine is beautiful and essential to becoming a Christian. But without careful obedience it is ultimately worthless. We are running a race, so it’s no wonder we get tired and want to stop for a rest. But what will weak Christians and unbelievers think of us and our Christ if we just sit on our doctrine? The time is now to run the Christian race, maintain our focus on Christ, help others along the way, and persevere in faith to the ultimate end—to our last breath.