“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” (Hebrews 12:1).
After providing us with an extensive list of faithful individuals in the previous chapter, the author of Hebrews will now follow with some important conclusions here in chapter twelve…
“Chapter 12 contains three resources that encourage and enable us to run the Christian race with endurance. They are: the example of Jesus (vv. 1- 4), the assurance of the Father’s love (vv. 5-13), and the enablement of God’s grace (help; vv. 14-29).” (1)
So this chapter opens with a reference to those “heroes of the faith” who comprise this gathering of witnesses. In this context, the word “cloud” conveys the image of a great multitude. The “witnesses” are those who provide testimony regarding the things they’ve seen or experienced. This word-picture thus portrays a large contingent of faithful individuals who serve to inspire and motivate God’s people today.
One question that often arises from this passage is this: “Can this cloud of witnesses view events on earth today much like a group of spectators in a stadium?” Two sources address that question from opposing perspectives…
“The fact that Hebrews 12:1 says, ‘We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,’ just after an entire chapter spent on the discussion of the faith of Old Testament saints who had died (Heb. 11) and the fact that the author encourages us to run the race of life with perseverance because we are surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses both suggest that those who have died and gone before have some awareness of what is going on in the earth. Scripture says very little about this, probably because it does not want us to pray to those who have died or to contact them in any way (note Saul’s great sin in 1 Sam. 28 :7-25). Nonetheless, Hebrews 12:1-2 does give us this slight hint, probably as an encouragement to us to continue also to be faithful to God as were those who have died and gone to heaven before us.” (2)
“The deceased people of chap. 11 give witness to the value and blessing of living by faith. …The great crowd is not comprised of spectators but rather is comprised of ones whose past life of faith encourages others to live that way (cf. 11:2, 4, 5, 33, 39).” (3)
(1) Constable, Thomas. DD, Notes on Hebrews 2023 Edition “3. The consequences of apostasy 12:25-29” [12:28-29] https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/hebrews/hebrews.htm
(2) Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Second Edition. (Grand Rapids, Ml: Zondervan Academic, 2020)
(3) John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Heb 12:1