Hebrews Chapter 11

From The Open Bible Project

11:1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.

• (1) An excellent description of faith by the effects, because it represents things which are but yet in hope, and sets as it were before our eyes things that are invisible.

11:2 For by this, the elders obtained testimony.

• (2) He shows that the fathers ought to be accounted of by this virtue.
• (a) That is, those fathers from whom we came: and whose authority and example ought to move us very much.

11:3 By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

• (3) He shows the property of faith, by setting before us most cautious examples of those who from the beginning of the world excelled in the Church.
• (b) So that the world which we see, was not made from any matter that appeared or was before, but from nothing.

11:4 By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.

• (4) Abel.

11:5 By faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn't see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.

• (5) Enoch.
• (c) That he should not die.

11:6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

• (d) This reward is not referred to our merits, but to the free promise, as Paul teaches in Abraham the father of all the faithful, (Romans 4:4).

11:7 By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly [36] fear, [See Hebrews Footnotes 36] prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

• (6) Noah.

11:8 By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.

• (7) Abraham and Sarah.

11:9 By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.

11:10 For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

• (e) This foundation is contrasted with their tabernacle.

11:11 By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.

11:12 Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.

• (f) As unlikely to bear children, as if he had been dead.

11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen[37] them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

• (g) In faith, which they had while they lived, and followed, them even to their grave.
• (h) This is the figure metonymy, for the things promised.
• (i) For the patriarchs were given to profess their religion by building an altar and calling on the name of the Lord when they received the promises.

11:14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

11:15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.

11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

11:17 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son;

• (k) Tried by the Lord.
• (l) Although the promises of life were made in that only begotten son Isaac, yet he appointed him to die; and so against hope he believed in hope.

11:18 even he to whom it was said, "In Isaac will your seed be called;"[38]

11:19 concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.

• (m) From which death.
• (n) For there was not the true and very death of Isaac, but as it were the death, by means of which he seemed also to have risen again.

11:20 By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

• (8) Isaac.

11:21 By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

• (9) Jacob.

11:22 By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave instructions concerning his bones.

• (10) Joseph.

11:23 By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

• (11) Moses.

11:24 By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

11:25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with God's people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time;

• (p) Such pleasures as he could not enjoy, unless he provoked God’s wrath against him.

11:26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

11:27 By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

11:28 By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

11:29 By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.

• (12) The Red Sea.

11:30 By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.

• (13) Jericho.

11:31 By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn't perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

• (14) Rahab.
• (q) A notable example of God’s goodness.
• (r) Courteously and friendly, so that not only did she not hurt them, but also kept them safe.

11:32 What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets;

• (15) Gideon, Barak and other judges and prophets.

11:33 who, through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,[39]

• (s) The fruit of the promises.

11:34 quenched the power of fire,[40] escaped the edge of the sword,[41] from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.

11:35 Women received their dead by resurrection.[42] Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

• (t) He seems to mean the story of that woman of Sarepta, whose son Elijah raised again from the dead, and the Shunammite, whose son Elisha restored to his mother.
• (u) He means that perfection which Antiochus wrought.

11:36 Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.

11:37 They were stoned.[43] They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword.[44] They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

• (x) In vile and rough clothing, so were the saints brought to extreme poverty, and constrained to live like beasts in the wilderness.

11:38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.

11:39 These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, didn't receive the promise,

• (16) An amplification taken from the circumstance of the time: their faith is so much the more to be marvelled at, by how much the promises of things to come were more dark, yet at length were indeed exhibited to us, so that their faith and ours is as one, as is also their consecration and ours.
• (y) But saw Christ afar off.

11:40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

• (z) For their salvation depended on Christ, who was exhibited in our days.