Fixing our eyes (872) (aphorao from apo = away from something near + horao = look, see, behold) means to look away from other things and steadfastly or intently toward a distant object, at that which fills the heart. The idea is to direct one’s attention without distraction.
The only other NT use is
Philippians 2:23 (note) Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me (
Comment: Here the connotation is that of learning or finding out about another. There is one use in the Septuagint of Jonah 4:5 which carries a similar meaning to this use in Philippians.
Our eyes gaze at that which engrosses our heart. If worldly and fleshly desires are harbored in our heart, they will obscure our moral vision and our ability to see Jesus as we should. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus is the only safe way to live in a sinful world. This involves looking "away from all else" that would turn us aside.
A CONSTANT VIEW OF
THE GLORY OF CHRIST
The Puritan saint John Owens rightly reminds us (he is a bit difficult to read but worth enduring) that...
A look unto Christ as crucified (and how glorious He was therein, has been declared) is made the cause and fountain of that godly sorrow which is a spring unto all other graces, especially in those who have fallen under decays, Zech 12:10; and it is so also of desiring strength from Him, to enable us to endure all our trials, troubles, and afflictions, with patience unto the end, Heb 12: 2.
The only inquiry remaining, is, how a constant view of the glory of Christ will produce this blessed effect in us: and it will do so several ways.
1. A constant view of the glory of Christ will be effected by that transforming power and efficacy which this exercise of faith is always accompanied therewith.
This is that which changes us every day more and more into the likeness of Christ, as has been at large before declared. Herein all revivals and all (spiritual) flourishing are contained. To have a reasonable measure of conformity to Christ is all we are capable of in this life: the perfection of this conformity is eternal blessedness (It will only be fully realized in the future when we are glorified). According as are our attainments therein, so is the thriving and flourishing of the life of grace in us; which is that which is aimed at. Other ways and means have failed us, so let us put this truth (a constant view of Christ) to the trial and live in the constant contemplation of the glory of Christ, and virtue will proceed from Him to repair all our decays, to renew a right spirit within us, and to cause us to abound in all duties of obedience. This way of producing these effects flesh and blood will not reveal, - it looks like washing in Jordan to cure a leprosy; but the life of faith is a mystery known only to those in whom it exists.
2. A constant view of the glory of Christ will fix the soul unto that object which is suited to give it delight, complacency, and satisfaction.
This in perfection is blessedness, for it is caused by the eternal vision of the glory of God in Christ; and the nearer approaches we make unto this state, the better, the more spiritual, the more heavenly, is the state of our souls. And this is to be obtained only by a constant contemplation of the glory of Christ, as has been declared. And it is several ways effectual unto the end now proposed. For, -
1. The majority of our spiritual decay and barrenness arises from an inordinate admission of other things into our minds for these things weaken grace in all its operations.
But when the mind is filled with thoughts of Christ and His glory, when the soul thereon cleaves unto Him with intense affections, they will cast out, or not give admittance to the causes of spiritual weakness and indisposition. See Col 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Ep 5:8.
2. Where we are engaged in this duty, it will stir up every grace unto its due exercise; which is that wherein the spiritual revival inquired after does consist.
This is all we desire, all we long for, this will make us fat and flourishing, - namely, that every grace of the Spirit have its due exercise in us. See Ro 5:3, 4, 5; 2Pe 1:5, 6, 7, 8. Whereas, therefore, Christ Himself is the first proper, adequate object of all grace, and all its exercise (for it first respects Him, and then other things for Him), when the mind is fixed on Him and His glory, every grace will be in a readiness for its due exercise. And without this we shall never attain it by any resolutions or endeavours of our own, let us make the trial when we please.
3. This (a constant contemplation of the glory of Christ) will assuredly put us on a vigilant watch and constant conflict (opposition) against all the deceitful workings of sin (He 3:13), against every entrance of temptation (Mt 26:41), against all the ways and means of the state of being surprised by foolish frames (foolish mental attitudes or outlooks), by vain imaginations which are the cause of our decay.
Our recovery or revival will not be effected, nor a fresh spring of grace be obtained, in a careless, slothful course of profession. Constant watching, fighting, contending against sin, with our utmost endeavour for an absolute conquest over it, are required hereunto. And nothing will so much excite and encourage our souls hereunto as a constant view of Christ and His glory; every thing in Him has a constraining power hereunto, as is known to all who have any acquaintance with these things. (Note: Some minor alterations have been made in an attempt to make this more readable - The Glory of Christ Mediation and Discourses on the Glory of Christ, in His Person, Office, and Grace With the Differences Between Faith and Sight Applied unto the Use of them that Believe - Part 2, Chapter 2 (The Ways and Means of the Recovery of Spiritual Decays, and of Obtaining Fresh Springs of Grace) -- John Owens - Online)
John Phillips writes that believers...
are going to run, not because of the prize at the end and not because so many illustrious saints have run the course in the past and have been gloriously crowned, but because the vision of Jesus thrills the soul.
We are filled with thoughts of His person; He is "the author and finisher of... faith" (He 12:2b). He, above all others, has been down this course. He knows how it should be run. The word author is really "leader," suggesting that He is going to remain a pace or two ahead of us all the way, to show us where the obstacles are and to direct each step.
We are filled with thoughts of His passion: "who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame" (He 12:2c). No runner in the race ever had such terrible experiences as He. Yet, He kept looking ahead and pressing on with His heart fixed on the coming joy.
We are filled with thoughts of His position, for He "is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (He 12:2d). There He is, crowned! There He is, smiling down from the utmost height upon those who, for His name's sake, would enter the race and follow His lead. (Phillips, John: Exploring Hebrews: An Expository Commentary)
Octavius Winslow...
We must look away from ourselves. SELF is, perhaps, the most common and insidious object that comes between the eye of the soul and Jesus. When God was ejected from the heart of man, self vaulted into the vacant throne, and has ever since maintained a supremacy. We must look from righteous self; from all works of righteousness which we can perform, from our almsgivings, from our charities, from our religious observances, our fastings, and prayers, and sacraments; from all the works of the law by which we are seeking to be justified; from all our efforts to make ourselves better, and thus to do something to commend ourselves to the Divine notice, and to propitiate the Divine regard. From all this we must look, if we rightly look unto Jesus to be saved by his righteousness, and by his alone. (Looking Unto Jesus)
J R Miller...
Keeping the heart upon Christ—transfigures the life. The old monks intently gazed upon the crucifix (Editorial Comment: I realize Miller is just introducing with an analogy but still feel compelled to comment. Clearly this practice is to be strictly avoided, for Christ is not on the Cross but seated on the Throne at the right hand of God!), thinking that the print of the nails would come in their hands and feet, and the thorn-scars in their brow—as they gazed.
It was but an utter fiction—yet in the fiction there is a spiritual truth. Gazing by faith upon Christ—the lines of His beauty indeed imprint themselves on our hearts! That is the meaning of Paul's words—"We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord—are transformed into the same image!"
The gospel is the mirror. There we see the image of Christ. If we earnestly, continuously, and lovingly behold it—the effect will be the changing of our own lives into His likeness. The transformation is wrought by the Holy Spirit, and we are only to behold, to continue beholding, the blessed beauty! As we sit before Christ—His image is imprinted on our soul.
Richard Phillips...
This leads us to what I often call "the all-purpose Christian advice," from Hebrews 12:2, which gives the encouragement of the Christian life: I say this because there is no circumstance, no difficulty, no temptation for which this is not a reliable guide: "looking to Jesus." This is the "secret" of the Christian life, the encouragement we need for our faith: to place our eyes not on the world with its enticements and threats, not even on ourselves with our petty successes and many failures, but on him who is the source and fountain of all our spiritual vigor. (Reformed Expository Commentary - – Hebrews)
Westcott writes that they are to be...
looking away from all that distracts on earth into...not only at the first moment, but constantly during the whole struggle...Christ is always near and in sight... In one form or other the hope of the vision of God has been the support of the saints in all ages (Ibid)
Kenneth Wuest writes that aphorao...
means “to turn one’s mind to a certain thing.” Both meanings are applicable here, the spiritual vision turned away from all else and together with the mind, concentrated on Jesus. What a lesson in Christian running technique we have in that little preposition “off, away from,” which is prefixed to this verb. The minute the Greek runner in the stadium takes his attention away from the race course and the goal to which he is speeding, and turns it upon the onlooking crowds, his speed is slackened. It is so with the Christian. The minute he takes his eyes off of the Lord Jesus, and turns them upon others, his pace in the Christian life is slackened, and his onward progress in grace hindered. Messiah is called the author of our faith. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos)
The present tense describes a habitual attitude (which is necessary to run with endurance) and not just a single act. Aphorao conveys the idea of "having eyes for no one but Jesus." It is good to "glance" at the godly examples of the cloud of Old Testament witnesses and be encouraged by their faithful finish, but it is imperative that each of us then firmly fix our gaze on our Savior Jesus. The idea is that we looking away from everything which may distract. The idea is to "have eyes for no one but Jesus."
Expositor's adds that...
We are to run this race "with no eyes for any one or anything except Jesus" (Moffatt, in loc.). It is He toward Whom we run. There must be no divided attention. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing)
Am I continually fixing my eyes on Jesus?
Am I looking away from the problems and concentrating on Jesus ?
Keep your eyes
On the prize.
The Greek verb aphorao pictures a runner who is virtually oblivious to the thousands of onlookers, even as his attention is diverted from every consideration except that of running the best possible race. We've all seen runners and other top athletes who are "practicing focusing" prior to the race or event. Their attention is concentrated upon one thing to the total exclusion of everything else. And so the runner looks away from everything else and fixes his or her eyes upon the goal and not the cheering crowds or even the opponents. In a race if the runner turns his or her head even slightly toward the spectators or the opponents, their speed will be lessened.
Peter learned the lesson of not keeping his gaze on Jesus in Matthew 14...
26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were frightened, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
29 And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
32 And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped.
Some storms come because of our disobedience, but this one came because the disciples obeyed Jesus. Peter obeyed Jesus' command and walked on the water; but became distracted by the waves, and took his eyes off Jesus. We look to Jesus by faith when we trust His word. We need to beware of the distracting storms (which are certainty in our life in this fallen world)! Instead we need to keep our eyes continually focused on the One Who controls the "waves" and is able to calm the storm!
Oswald Chambers...
Our Lord is our example of a life of self-sacrifice, and He perfectly exemplified Psalm 40:8, "I delight to do Your will, O my God"...He endured tremendous personal sacrifice, yet with overflowing joy. Have I ever yielded myself in absolute submission to Jesus Christ? If He is not the One to whom I am looking for direction and guidance, then there is no benefit in my sacrifice. But when my sacrifice is made with my eyes focused on Him, slowly but surely His molding influence becomes evident in my life (see Hebrews 12:1, 2 ). (Sacrifice and Friendship - My Utmost For His Highest)
Robert Murray McCheyne (Biography) who died at in the thirtieth year of his age and seventh of his ministry" had some sage advice for his age...
For every one look at your problems, your weaknesses, your failures -- take ten looks at Jesus. (Mark it down - Worry will keep you from fixing your eyes on Jesus, or fixing your eyes on Jesus will keep you from worry).
Warren Wiersbe reminds us of the importance of a "look" writing that...
It was in “looking to Him” that we were saved, for to look means “to trust.” When the dying Jews looked to the uplifted serpent, they were healed; and this is an illustration of our salvation through faith in Christ (Nu 21:4, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29; Jn 3:14, 15, 16). “Looking unto Jesus” describes an attitude of faith and not just a single act." (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor or Logos) (Bolding added)
I See Jesus
I don't look back: God knows the fruitless efforts,
The wasted hours the sinning, the regrets;
I leave them all with Him Who blots the record,
And mercifully forgives, and then forgets
I don't look forward, God sees all the future,
The road that, short or long, will lead me home,
And He will face with me its every trial,
And bear for me the burdens that may come.
I don't look round me: then would fears assail me,
So wild the tumult of earth's restless seas;
So dark the world, so filled with woe and evil,
So vain the hope of comfort or of ease.
I don't look in; for then am I most wretched;
Myself has naught on which to stay my trust;
Nothing I see save failures and short-comings,
And weak endeavors crumbling into dust.
But I look up -- into the face of Jesus,
For there my heart can rest, my fears are stilled.
And there is joy, and love, and light for darkness,
And perfect peace, and every hope fulfilled
--Annie Johnson Flint
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Guy King says that there's a gold running cup on another man's mantel that could have been -- should have been -- on his own. He was running toward the tape, coming in number one. Somebody was trailing on his right, and he shot a look to see where he was. It was a split-second distraction that his competitor needed, and he flashed by him and won. "Our sole safety [as Christians]," says Guy King, "is to be found in keeping our eyes averted . . . from others, and keeping them unswervingly 'looking unto Jesus.'" (Brought In)
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A famous illustration emphasizes this basic principle of running the race with focus:
On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first man in history to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. Within 2 months, John Landy eclipsed the record by 1.4 seconds. On August 7, 1954, the two met together for a historic race. As they moved into the last lap, Landy held the lead. It looked as if he would win, but as he neared the finish he was haunted by the question, "Where is Bannister?" As he turned to look, Bannister took the lead. Landy later told a Time magazine reporter, "If I hadn't looked back, I would have won!"
One of the most descriptive pictures of the Christian life in the Bible is of an athlete competing in a race. 1Corinthians 9:24, 25, 26, 27 tells us that discipline is the key to winning. In Hebrews 12:1, 2, we are encouraged to lay aside anything that might hinder our spiritual advancement and to stay focused on Christ. And in Philippians 3:12, 13 (notes), the apostle Paul said, "I press on, . . . forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead."
Lord, give us endurance as we run this race of life. Help us not to wallow in past failures, but to be disciplined and to shun sinful ways. May we fix our eyes on the eternal goal set before us and keep looking unto Jesus. --H G Bosch (Our Daily Bread)
Run the straight race through God's good grace,
Lift up thine eyes and seek His face;
Life with its way before us lies,
Christ is the path and Christ the prize. --Monsell
You can't make spiritual progress
by looking back.
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What a lesson for the Christian. The minute we turn our eyes toward our fellow-men and take them off the Lord Jesus, our pace is slackened. Pride, discouragement, envy, the desire for praise, these and other evils incapacitate the Christian runner as he looks at men instead of keeping his eyes fixed upon Jesus.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
by Helen Lemmel
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!
Refrain
His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Refrain
It is possible that some of the Jewish Christian readers had begun to take their eyes off their Messiah and to fix them instead on the hardships they were encountering for the sake of Christ.
Don't look at your fellow Christian stumbling along. Don't look at any great Christian that you admire. He might take you in a different path. Note well that the eyes are very important in any athletic endeavor. Looking unto Jesus - that is our occupation!
Keep your eyes on the Lord
He never takes His eyes off you.
The late beloved pastor James Montgomery Boice wrote that...
The only thing that will ever get us moving along this path of self-denial and discipleship is fixing our eyes on Jesus and what He has done for us, coming to love Him as a result, and thus wanting also to be with Him both now and always. Jesus is our only possible model for self-denial. He is the very image of cross-bearing. And it is for love of Him and a desire to be like Him that we take up our cross and willingly follow Him (Mk 8:34, 35, 36). (Boice, J M and Philip G. Ryken. The Heart of the Cross Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 1999)
A W Pink has an excellent note on "fixing our eyes on Jesus" writing that...
The person of the Saviour is to be the “mark” (Ed note: the Greek word for "mark" is skopos = that on which the eye is fixed, the distant mark looked at, the goal or end that one has in view) on which the eyes of those who are pressing forward for the prize of the high calling of God, are to be fixed. Be constantly “looking” to Him, trustfully, submissively, hopefully, expectantly. He is the Fountain of all grace (John 1:16): our every need is supplied by God “according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Php 4:19-note). Then seek the help of the Holy Spirit that the eye of faith be steadfastly fixed on Christ. He has declared “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” then let us add, “The Lord is my Helper, I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (He 13:5, 6-note). Salvation is by grace, through faith: it is through “faith” we are saved, not only from Hell, but also from this world (1John 5:4), from temptation, from the power of indwelling sin—by coming to Christ, trusting in Him, drawing from Him.
What are the things which hinder us running? An active Devil, an evil world, indwelling sin, mysterious trials, fierce opposition, afflictions which almost make us doubt the love of the Father. Then call to mind the “great cloud of witnesses”: they were men of like passions with us, they encountered the same difficulties and discouragements, they met with the same hindrances and obstacles. But they ran “with patience,” they overcame, they won the victor’s crown. How? By “looking unto Jesus”: He 11:26-note. But more: look away from difficulties (Ro 4:19-note), from self, from fellow-racers, unto Him who has left us an example to follow, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, so that He is able to succour the tempted, strengthen the weak, guide the perplexed, supply our every need. Let the heart be centered in and the mind stayed upon Him.
The more we are “looking unto Jesus” the easier will it be to “lay aside every weight.” It is at this point so many fail. If the Christian denies self of different things without an adequate motive (for Christ’s sake), he will still secretly hanker after the things relinquished, or ere long return to them, or become proud of his little sacrifices and become self-righteous. The most effective way of getting a child to drop any dirty or injurious object, is to proffer him something better. The best way to make a tired horse move more quickly, is not to use the whip, but to turn his head toward home! So, if our hearts be occupied with the sacrificial love of Christ for us, we shall be “constrained” thereby to drop all that which displeases Him; and the more we dwell upon the joy set before us, the more strength shall we have to run “with patience the race that is set before us.” (Pink, A. W: An Exposition of Hebrews) (Bolding added)
Jesus (2424) (Iesous equivalent to the Hebrew Yeshu'a H3091 = Jehovah His help, Jehovah is salvation or Jehovah delivers) means He saves, helps or delivers. Vine says Jesus is a transliteration of the Hebrew name “Joshua” which means "Jehovah is salvation".
Vincent writes...
Having presented a long catalogue of witnesses under the old covenant, he now presents Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and the supreme witness. (Vincent, M. R. Word Studies in the New Testament 4:538)
Writing to Timothy Paul refers to the "witness" of Jesus...
I charge you in the presence of God, Who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, Who testified (martureo - witnessed, gave evidence) the good confession before Pontius Pilate
John refers to Jesus twice as a "witness"..
Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, (Re 1:5-note)
(Jesus speaking) And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this... (Re 3:14-note)
We do well to fix our eyes on the One Whose testimony was and is both faithful (worthy of our trust) and true (containing no deceit or lies, etc.) Whenever you are tempted to look at your circumstances or at yourself, look to Jesus by faith and rejoice in His faithfulness.
John Piper reminds us that...
Jesus is the one sure thing. He is the rock (Ed note: Click for Scripture chain & chart - studying these passages observing what they teach about Jesus as the Rock would make a great Sunday School lesson), the foundation. Get Him in view when everything else in your life is swirling and you will land safely. The coach knows that panic is the worst enemy in the midst of a dangerous routine. And panic comes from a building sense of weakness and uncertainty—or we might say, a lack of assurance in the Christian life. And the main cry of this book is: Jesus is sure! God is sure! The Cross is sure! The Covenant is sure! The promises are sure! Fix your attention on the things that are sure! “Find the floor!” (Read his full message The Doctrine of Perseverance: The Earnest Pursuit of Assurance )
In another message Piper says that the idea of looking to Jesus means that you...
do not dwell on yourself, dwell on what God has done in Jesus Christ. There is a paradox here. For many people—most people, I think—the more we focus on the subjective inner workings of our own soul and the relative purity or impurity of our own attitudes and behavior, the more uncertain we become of our own assessment of our authenticity. Paradoxically the path to assurance is to shift our focus off of ourselves and onto God. Off of the subjective and onto the objective. (Read his full message God Has Chosen Us in Him Before the Foundation of the Earth)
Spurgeon has a similar thought writing...
How frequently you who are coming to Christ look to yourselves. "Oh," say you, "I do not repent enough!" That is looking to yourself. "I do not believe enough!" That is looking to yourself. "I am too unworthy." That is looking to yourself. "I cannot discover," says another, "that I have any righteousness." It is quite right to say that you have not any righteousness, but it is quite wrong to look for any....Look to Him, look at Him, study Him, know all you can about Him, meditate upon Him.
Piper observes that this passage makes the point...
that the fight of faith is not done in our own strength. When you go away to plan your fall run with Jesus, verse 2 says, “Look to Jesus the author and perfecter of your faith.” Don’t look to your own resources and say, “I’ve tried before. It won’t work.” Fix your eyes on him. The battle is a battle of faith: will you believe that the things he promises are better than the bad habits that you use to cover your sadness? (Read the full message Running with the Witnesses)
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