Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Ver. 1. _Now faith is the substance_] Having mentioned the life of faith, Hebrews 10:38, and the end of faith (or the reward of it, 1Pe 1:9), the salvation of the soul, Hebrews 10:39, he now descends to the description... [ Continue Reading ]
For by it the elders obtained a good report. Ver. 2. _The elders obtained, &c._] Gr. εμαρτυρηθησαν, were attested unto; and are here eternalized in this notable chapter, this little book of martyrs, as one fitly calleth it. Faith honoureth God, and gives him a testimonial, John 3:33, such as is tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Ver. 3. _Through faith we understand_] It is the nature of faith to believe God upon his bare word, and that against sense in things invisible, and agai... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Ver. 4. _A more excellent sacrifice_] Good actions and good aims make a man good in the sight of God. Cain may... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Ver. 5. _By faith Enoch was translated_] μετετεθη, or carried from one place to another. He changed his place, but no... [ Continue Reading ]
But without faith _it is_ impossible to please _him_ : for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and _that_ he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Ver. 6. _But without faith_] That is, without Christ, in whom the Father is well pleased, John 14:6 . _ For he that cometh to God_... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Ver. 7. _Moved with fear_] Opposed to the security of the old world, who would know... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Ver. 8. _When he was called_] A man may follow God dryshod through the Red Sea. He is to be obeyed without sciscitation, with a blind o... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as _in_ a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: Ver. 9. _He sojourned in the land_] There he had his commoration, but in heaven his conversation, content to dwell in tents till he should f... [ Continue Reading ]
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker _is_ God. Ver. 10. _Which hath foundations_] Heaven hath a foundation, earth hath none; but is hanged upon nothing, as Job speaketh. Hence things are said to be on earth, but in heaven. _ Whose builder and maker_] Gr. Whose c... [ Continue Reading ]
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Ver. 11. _Because she judged him, &c._] At first she laughed, through unbelief, at the unlikelihood; but afterward she bethought... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, _so many_ as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. Ver. 12. _As the stars, &c._] The seed of Abraham (saith one) are of two sorts. Some are visible members of a Church, yet have earthly... [ Continue Reading ]
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of _them_, and embraced _them_, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Ver. 13. _And embraced them_] Gr. Saluted them, kissing Christ in the promises, and intercha... [ Continue Reading ]
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. Ver. 14. _That they seek a country_] _Fugiendure est ad clarissimam patriam; ibi pater, ibi omnia._ Away, home to our country, saith one, there is our Father, there is our all, saith Plotin. (ap. Aug. de Civ. De;). To die, is,... [ Continue Reading ]
And truly, if they had been mindful of that _country_ from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. Ver. 15. _If they had been mindful_] But to that they had no mind at all, because there idolatry too much prevailed, Joshua 24:2; Genesis 31:19, yet not so much as amon... [ Continue Reading ]
But now they desire a better _country_, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. Ver. 16. _God is not ashamed_] But honoureth them as his confederates, because for his cause they renounced the world. No man ever did or suffered... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten _son_, Ver. 17. _Abraham when he was tried_] Of ten trials wlfich Abraham passed, this last was the sorest. No son of Abraham can look to escape temptations, when he seeth that... [ Continue Reading ]
Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Ver. 18. _Of whom it was said_] This was one of those many promises that Abraham might think were all lost in the loss of his Isaac. Never was gold tried in so hot a fire.... [ Continue Reading ]
Accounting that God _was_ able to raise _him_ up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Ver. 19. _That God was able_] He founded his faith upon God's fidelity and omnipotency. These are the Jachin and the Boaz, the two main pillars whereupon faith resteth.... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. Ver. 20. _By faith Isaac blessed_] Patriarchal benedictions were prophetical; the blessing of godly parents is still very available for the good of their children; and justifying faith is not beneath miraculous in the sphere of its ow... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, _leaning_ upon the top of his staff. Ver. 21. _When he was a dying_] The Spirit's motions are then many times quickest when natural motions are slowest; most sensible when the body begins to be senseless; most liv... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. Ver. 22. _Gave commandment concerning_] He died upon the promise, and held possession by his bones, to testify his firm hold of heaven.... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw _he was_ a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. Ver. 23. _Hid three months of his parents_] That they hid him no longer argued weakness of their faith, which yet is both commended an... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Ver. 24. _When he was come to years_] Gr. μεγας γενομενος, grown a great one, and so knew what he did, understood himself sufficiently. _ Refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's_] And so to succeed in... [ Continue Reading ]
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Ver. 25. _Choosing rather to suffer_] The happiest choice that ever the good man made. It was a heavy charge that Elihu laid upon Job, that he had chosen iniquity rather than affliction, Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Ver. 26. _Esteeming the reproach, &c._] Reproach is here reckoned as the heaviest part of Christ's cross. And if we can bear reproach for him, it is an argument we mean... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Ver. 27. _As seeing him who is invisible_] An elegant kind of contradiction. Let us study Moses' optics, get a patriarch's eye, see God, and set him at our right hand, Psalms 16:8. This wil... [ Continue Reading ]
Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. Ver. 28. _Through faith he kept the passover_] It is the work of faith rightly to celebrate a sacrament. Speak therefore to thy faith at the Lord's supper, as Deborah did to hers... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry _land_ : which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. Ver. 29. _They passed through the Red Sea_] Which threatened to swallow them, but yet preserved them. Faith will eat its way through the Alps of seemingly insuperable difficulties, and find... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. Ver. 30. _By faith the walls of Jericho_] So do daily the strongholds of hell, 2 Corinthians 10:4. _See Trapp on "_ 2Co 10:4 _"_ Wherein, albeit the Lord requite our continual endeavours for the subduing of our cor... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. Ver. 31. _With them that believed not_] To wit, that gave not credit to those common reports of God and his great works, but despised them as light news, and refused to be at the pains of... [ Continue Reading ]
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and _of_ Barak, and _of_ Samson, and _of_ Jephthae; _of_ David also, and Samuel, and _of_ the prophets: Ver. 32. _Of Gideon, of Barak, &c._] Here the names only of various worthies of old time _per praeteritionem conglobantur,... [ Continue Reading ]
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Ver. 33. _Wrought righteousness_] Civil and military, spiritualized by faith and heightened to its full worth. The Scripture maketh it a great matter, that Abraham should have a child when he... [ Continue Reading ]
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Ver. 34. _Escaped the edge of the sword_] As David by the force of his faith escaped Saul's sword, Elijah Ahab's, Elisha the Syrians', 2... [ Continue Reading ]
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: Ver. 35. _Women received_] As the Sareptan Shunammite, widow of Nain, &c. No such midwife as faith; it hath delivered even graves of their dead. _ Othe... [ Continue Reading ]
And others had trial of _cruel_ mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: Ver. 36. _Of cruel mockings_] As Jeremiah, Amos, Elisha, "Go up, bald head, go up," so. "To heaven, as they say" (but who will believe it?) "that your master Elijah did." So they mewed at David, mocked... [ Continue Reading ]
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Ver. 37. _Were tempted_] επειρασθησαν, or (as others read the words) They were burned. One saith that it was almost as great a m... [ Continue Reading ]
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and _in_ mountains, and _in_ dens and caves of the earth. Ver. 38. _Of whom the world_] They were fitter to be set as stars in heaven, and be before the Lord in his glory. The world was not worthy of their presence, and yet they were not... [ Continue Reading ]
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: Ver. 39. _Received not the promise_] viz. Of Christ's incarnation.... [ Continue Reading ]
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Ver. 40. _Some better thing_] i. e. Christ, that great mystery, as 1 Timothy 3:16; that chief of ten thousand, &c.; that gift, John 4:10; that benefit, 1 Timothy 6:2 .... [ Continue Reading ]