Looking unto Jesus

Paul said things which to the natural man are folly, or at least hard to understand. Paul told us to fix our eyes on things unseen, see 2 Corinthians 4v18 (NIV). The writer of Hebrews told us to fix our eyes on Jesus, Hebrews 12v2.

For both verses, the KJV uses the word 'look' were the NIV uses 'fix'. The NIV is probably better here. The greek word in the Corinthians verse is 'skopeo' from which we derive 'telescope'. The word is also used for 'taking aim'. It is to look intently.

Here is my rendition of 2 Corinthians 4 verse 18:

'Let us perceive clearly and intently, not the things visible with the physical eyes, but the things that are not seen with the eyes. For the things seen with the physical eyes are temporary, whereas those not so seen are eternal'.

Now Hebrews 12 verse 2.

The word used for 'look' or 'fix' is the greek 'aphorao'. Now I am no greek expert and used Strongs Concordance here. But this word is an interesting composite of two words.

First the second half of the word. 'Horao' is one of several greek words all meaning 'to look'. However, there is a great richness of shade of meaning in those different words. (The greek language is characterised by this, a depth of expression in everyday matters, few technical words). 'Horao' is, like 'skopeo', a word denoting intense observation and not passive, accidental seeing. There turn out to be greek words for casual, unintentional seeing too, but not here. It is observation by deliberate choice. It could be translated 'to take heed of something, stare at it and perceive it clearly'!

The other part of 'aphorao' is a prefix. This is the word 'apo'. In this context the meaning is most likely 'away from, sperate from'. We could therefore render the word 'aphorao' thus; 'to look intently away from something, and disregard it, and at something else, and perceive it clearly'.

This rendition makes sense when we take into account the previous verse. it concerns laying aside weights, sins and distractions, which encumber us.

My rendition of the first part of Hebrews chapter12 verse 2 (in the light of v1 and 2 Cor 4v18), would be;

Let us look away from ourselves, disregarding sin and distractions, and intently perceive and pursue Jesus.

Let us choose to believe that He is drawing us, and His Spirit is wooing us and encouraging us. It is not a barren experience to look to Jesus, but a fulfilling delight.

Let's ask Him to help us truly 'look unto' Him.