Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.
As if our apostle had said, "Seeing we who are now called forth to suffer, have before us so many instances of the faithful, who like a cloud of witnesses have gone before us, and by the help of their faith conquered all impediments that lay in the way of their salvation, let us take encouragement from them to quit ourselves like men; and, as...
Lay aside every dead weight, the world's claim on your affections, and strip away the sin that has the greatest hold on you, whether unbelief or attachment to the old covenant. Then run your race with patience; it is marked out for you.
AI summary
Commenting on Hebrews 12:1-3
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (1) An applying of the former examples, by which we ought to be stirred up to run the whole race, casting away all hindrances and impediments.