*Hebrews 11:1-40
The author of Hebrews defines faith and illustrates it through the lives of Old Testament heroes.
- Definition of Faith:
- The chapter opens with a definition of faith as the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
- Faith is portrayed as foundational to the believers’ relationship with God and crucial for gaining his approval.
- Examples of Old Testament Faith:
- Abel: Offered a better sacrifice than Cain through faith, and though he died, he still speaks through his faith.
- Enoch: Taken up to heaven without seeing death because he pleased God, illustrating that without faith it is impossible to please God.
- Noah: Warned by God about unseen events and built an ark to save his family, his faith condemned the world and he became an heir of righteousness.
- Abraham: Obeyed by going to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and lived as a stranger in the Promised Land, showing unwavering faith in God’s promises.
- Sarah: Despite her old age, believed in the faithfulness of God to conceive offspring, enabling the birth of descendants as numerous as the stars.
- Continued Legacy of Faith:
- Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph: Demonstrated their faith in future promises of God concerning their descendants.
- Moses: Chose to be mistreated with God’s people rather than enjoy fleeting pleasures, considering the reproach of Christ greater wealth than Egypt’s treasures because he was looking to the reward.
- Acts of Faith:
- Describes various acts done in faith including the Israelites passing through the Red Sea, the walls of Jericho falling after being encircled, and Rahab the prostitute not being killed with those who were disobedient because she welcomed the spies.
- Sufferings and Triumphs:
- Many faced trials, tortures, mockings, and chains for their faith. They were stoned, sawn in two, killed by the sword, and wandered destitute, afflicted, and mistreated.
- Despite their sufferings, these people of faith were commended for their perseverance, yet none of them received what had been promised during their lifetime, demonstrating that their faith was forward-looking, to something greater.
- Conclusion and Perspective:
- The chapter concludes by noting that these individuals did not receive the promises in their lifetimes but only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, acknowledging that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
- God had planned something better for them that would only be completed together with us, indicating that the fulfillment of God’s promises spans beyond individual lifetimes and into a collective future.
Hebrews 11:1-40 teaches us that faith means trusting God even when we can’t see the outcome. The chapter gives examples of people who obeyed God, even when things were uncertain, because they believed in His promises. We can apply this by trusting God in our own lives, even when we face challenges or don’t understand His plan. Faith isn’t just about words—it’s about living with confidence that God is with us and will guide us in the right direction.
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Hebrews 11:1-40 (WEB)
11:1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. 2 For by this, the elders obtained approval. 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.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.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. 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.7 By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, 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.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. 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. 10 For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.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. 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.13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. 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.17 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son, 18 to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” 19 concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.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.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.24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.31 By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.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— 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee. 35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.39 These all, having been commended for their faith, didn’t receive the promise, 40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.