Hebrews 12:13

King James Version (KJV)

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Make straight paths for your feet - That is, Take the straight path that is before you, do not go in crooked or rough ways, where are stones, briers, and thorns, by which you will be inevitably lamed, and so totally prevented from proceeding in the way; whereas, if you go in the even, proper path, though you have been wounded by getting into a wrong way, that which was wounded will be healed by moderate, equal exercise, all impediments being removed. The application of all this to a correct, holy deportment in religious life, is both natural and easy.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

And make straight paths for your feet - Margin, “even.” The word used here means properly straight, in the sense of upright, erect; Acts 14:10; but it is used here in the sense of straight horizontally, that is, level, plain, smooth. The meaning is, that they were to remove all obstacles out of the way, so that they need not stumble and fail. There is probably an allusion here to Proverbs 4:25-27. “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil.” The idea is, that by every proper means they were to make the way to heaven as plain and easy as possible. They were to allow no obstructions in the path over which the lame and feeble might fall.

Lest that which is lame be turned out of the way - A lame man needs a smooth path to walk in. The idea is here, that everything which would prevent those in the church who were in any danger of falling - the feeble, the unestablished, the weak - from walking in the path to heaven, or which might be an occasion to them of falling, should be removed. Or it may mean, that in a road that was not level, those who were lame would be in danger of spraining, distorting, or wrenching a lame limb; and the counsel is, that whatever would have a tendency to this should be removed. Divested of the figure, the passage means, that everything should be removed which would hinder anyone from walking in the path to life.

But let it rather be healed - As in the case of lameness, pains should be taken to heal it rather than to suffer it to be increased by careless exposure to a new sprain or fracture, so it should be in our religious and moral character. Whatever is defective we should endeavor to restore to soundness, rather than to suffer the defect to be increased. Whatever is feeble in our faith or hope; whatever evil tendency there is in our hearts, we should endeavor to strengthen and amend, lest it should become worse, and we should entirely fall.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

A burden of affliction is apt to make the Christian's hands hang down, and his knees grow feeble, to dispirit him and discourage him; but against this he must strive, that he may better run his spiritual race and course. Faith and patience enable believers to follow peace and holiness, as a man follows his calling constantly, diligently, and with pleasure. Peace with men, of all sects and parties, will be favourable to our pursuit of holiness. But peace and holiness go together; there can be not right peace without holiness. Where persons fail of having the true grace of God, corruption will prevail and break forth; beware lest any unmortified lust in the heart, which seems to be dead, should spring up, to trouble and disturb the whole body. Falling away from Christ is the fruit of preferring the delights of the flesh, to the blessing of God, and the heavenly inheritance, as Esau did. But sinners will not always have such mean thoughts of the Divine blessing and inheritance as they now have. It agrees with the profane man's disposition, to desire the blessing, yet to despise the means whereby the blessing is to be gained. But God will neither sever the means from the blessing, nor join the blessing with the satisfying of man's lusts. God's mercy and blessing were never sought carefully and not obtained.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

13. Straight paths. Reluctance to accept the discipline of life often leads a person into devious paths. The mature Christian will press forward in a straight path, courageously and confidently accepting the disciplinary experiences that are necessary to the formation of a symmetrical Christian character, without hesitation and without regret. He will not seek some bypath to avoid discipline, but will keep to the highway of life and take full advantage of the opportunities it offers.

That which is lame. Reference is still to the persons with limp hands, weak knees, and feet in need of “straight paths” (vs. 12, 13). Being “lame,” they find it difficult to walk through the unpleasant disciplinary experiences along the highway of life.

Be turned out of the way. Gr. ektrepÅÂ, “to turn,” “to turn away.” The sense in which ektrepÅÂ is here used is not altogether clear. Either of two interpretations is possible: (1) Lame feet will be “turned out of the way”; that is, they will stray from “straight” into crooked “paths,” where lame persons would be more likely to stumble and fall. (2) EktrepÅÂ is to be understood in its technical medical sense, “to be dislocated,” “to be put out of joint.” Lameness would make walking difficult; dislocation would make it impossible. Understood thus, the warning would be that unless “straight paths” are provided for lame feet there is danger that dislocation of the joints will result. The second sense, “be dislocated,” or “be put out of joint,” accords more closely with the context. There is more likelihood that “that which is lame” will get out of joint than that it will stray. Furthermore, the admonition “let it rather be healed” forms a more appropriate alternative to getting out of joint than it does to going astray.

Let it rather be healed. Reluctance to accept discipline will get him into even greater difficulty. But instead of permitting this, the wise Christian will set about applying the appropriate remedy. When physical ailments are not given the attention they need they often tend to become worse rather than better. Conditions of mind and heart, such as reluctance to accept discipline, or resentment because of it, are sure to become aggravated unless intelligent effort is put forth to diagnose the situation and to apply the appropriate remedy.

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Ellen G. White
Our High Calling, 185.1

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Hebrews 12:12, 13. OHC 185.1

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Ellen G. White
SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6 (EGW), 1112

22, 23 (Ephesians 5:9). The Indwelling of the Spirit—The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul. We do not see Christ and speak to Him, but His Holy Spirit is just as near us in one place as in another. It works in and through every one who receives Christ. Those who know the indwelling of the Spirit reveal the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith (Manuscript 41, 1897). 6BC 1112.1

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Ellen G. White
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 184-5

The command to you is, “Go work today in My vineyard.” We are all God's workmen, and not one is to be idle; but I would ask, What are you doing for the Master in order that you may hear His words of approval, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things? God never makes a mistake; He will never call men good and faithful who are not good and faithful. TM 184.1

*****

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Ellen G. White
God's Amazing Grace, 65

Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God. Hebrews 12:12-15. AG 65.1

These words should teach us to be very careful how we snap the thread of our faith by dwelling on our difficulties until they are large in our own eyes, and in the eyes of others, who cannot read our inner, heart life. All should remember that the conversation has a great influence for good or for ill.... Do not allow the enemy so to use your tongue.... Do not exert an influence that will break the hold of any trembling soul from God.... AG 65.2

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