Please read the passage before reading the commentary.
The author of the letter to the Hebrews spells out the great work of Jesus Christ the high Priest of God’s creation (chapters 5-10). He devotes chapters 11-12 to the many great heroes of the past who are a crowd of people encouraging us as we engage in struggles similar to theirs.
The author sees our struggles as like those of a child being disciplined by a parent. The goal of parenting is to tame the wildness of the child, not to destroy the initiative of the child. Disciplining a child is like training a pet or a work animal or like weeding and tending gardens.
We recognize that the lack of disciplining by parents is a sign that they do not love or care for a child. Parents who love their children take time to train them in in good manners and good morals.
The author sees God’s work with us as very much like that of a parent with a child. In adversity, then, the author urges us to strengthen our drooping hands and weak knees for our healing and growth. Disciplining others is rough work but so is disciplining pets and tending gardens.
Instead of complaining about our lot, we should be striving for peace with everyone and putting aside bitterness that comes from self-pity and negative thinking. We are called to share in the work of the high priest, Jesus, who endured what he did for our benefit. We have not struggled as our high priest has struggled, to the point of shedding blood.