There  is  some  doubt  as  to  the  exact  meaning  of  the  Greek  word
translated  in  our  Version  by  "  doth  so  easily  beset  us,"  for  it  is
found  only  here  in  the  New  Testament.  It  may  mean  what  our
translation  gives  as  its  rendering,  or  it  may  be  as  the  margin  of
the  Eevised  Version  gives  it — sin  which  "  doth  closely  cling  to  us,"
or  sin  which  "  is  admired  of  many,"  popular  sin,  as  it  may  be  called.
Whichever  rendering  we  may  take,  the  lesson  is  the  same.
We  have  not  only  to  put  on  one  side  all  those  weights  which,

1  G.  H.  Morrison,  The  Wings  of  the  Morning,  321.
HEBREWS  xii.   i,  2  467

sinless  in  themselves,  would  hinder  our  running,  but  we  have  also
to  lay  aside  every  sin,  however  closely  it  clings  to  us,  and  whatever
may  be  the  struggle  it  costs  to  free  ourselves  from  it.  We  cannot
run  at  all  if  we  are  cumbered  with  conscious  sin.  We  cannot
turn  to  God  unless  we  turn  away  from  sin.  Coming  to  Christ
always  means  leaving  something  behind,  and  that  something
always  includes  sin.  Many  are  not  saved,  and  never  begin  to  run
the  heavenly  race,  because  they  are  afraid  of  this  condition,  giving
up  sin.  And  yet  they  must  make  the  choice ;  they  must  give  up
sin,  or  they  will  have  to  give  up  Christ.
T{  One  of  the  New  Testament  Kevisers  has  told  me  that  in
order  to  get  at  the  literal  meaning  of  this  word  we  shall  have  to
invent  an  almost  grotesque  expression ;  he  says  the  only  words
which  represent  the  idea  in  his  mind  are  these,  "  Let  us  lay  aside
the  well-stood-arounded  sin " ;  that  is  to  say,  the  popular  sin.
