XI. This chapter is very closely connected with the last verses of Hebrews 10. Those verses have taught the necessity of faith for the attainment of the promise. Here we read of men to whom, through their faith, the promise has been made sure.... [ Continue Reading ]
We have seen how the writer approached the subject which is the chief theme of this last division of this Epistle. The coming of the Lord, for judgment upon His adversaries, for salvation to His people, draws nigh. In the midst of dangers and judgments God’s righteous servant shall live, and the gro... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BY IT. — Better, _For therein the elders had witness borne to them._ The connection seems to be this: Faith truly accomplishes all this; for it was in the exercise of such a faith that the elders gained the witness which the Scripture bears (see Hebrews 11:4; Hebrews 11:39) to them and to their... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH FAITH. — Rather, _By faith,_ as in the following verses. The first place is not given to “the elders,” for the writer’s object is to set forth the achievements of _faith._ With these, he would say, the Scripture record is filled. Even where there is no mention of this principle we must trace... [ Continue Reading ]
A MORE EXCELLENT. — The Greek literally means that Abel’s sacrifice was “more than” Cain’s (comp. Hebrews 3:3, “more glory”; Matthew 6:25; Luke 11:32, _et al._). The word “sacrifice” (which, as is the case with very many words in this chapter, is taken directly from the LXX.) has not its special sen... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE DEATH. — See Luke 2:26; Psalms 89:48 (John 8:51). AND WAS NOT FOUND... TRANSLATED HIM. — An exact quotation from the LXX. (Genesis 5:24). The word rendered “translated” is a very simple one, denoting merely change of place; but nothing can equal the simplicity of the Hebrew, “he was not. for Go... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WITHOUT FAITH. — Better, _and apart from faith it is impossible to be_ “_well pleasing_” (unto Him); _for he that draweth near_ (Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 10:1; Hebrews 10:22) _to God must believe_... Thus the very statement that Enoch pleased God is an assertion that in him faith was found. No one... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING WARNED OF GOD. — (See Hebrews 8:5.) MOVED WITH FEAR. — The marginal rendering “being wary” (or better, _taking forethought_) is preferred by some, and agrees very well with the proper meaning of the word; but it is more probable that the writer-has in view that devout godly fear which the wor... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO GO OUT. — Our older versions are here better than the Authorised, bringing in the word “obeyed” after “called” — “obeyed to go out into,” &c. WHICH HE SHOULD AFTER RECEIVE. — The English rendering may seem to imply that when “called” Abraham received the promise that the land... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAND OF PROMISE — More correctly, according to the true reading, _a land of the promise:_ into a land which the promise (Genesis 12:7) made his own he came as a sojourner, and sojourned in it as in a land belonging to others, making his settled abode there in tents. The words of which this is a... [ Continue Reading ]
A CITY WHICH HATH FOUNDATIONS. — Rather, _the city which hath the foundations._ The general thought is that which we find expressed in Hebrews 11:14. There, the strangers and pilgrims are seeking for a _country_ of their own; here, the dweller in tents is waiting for the _city_ that hath the foundat... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH FAITH ALSO SARA HERSELF. — Rather, _By faith Sarah herself also,_ or, _even Sarah herself._ This emphatic introduction of the name of Sarah may point to the unbelief which for a brief while she displayed (Genesis 18:12); but the words may simply mean, “Sarah also, on her part” — the joint re... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STARS OF THE SKY. — Better, _the stars of the heaven._ (See Genesis 15:5; Genesis 22:17.) AND AS THE SAND. — “And as the sand by the seashore, which is innumerable” (Genesis 22:17). With the first words of the verse compare Romans 4:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE ALL DIED IN FAITH. — We must not change the order of the original. Seven verses up to this point have begun with the emphatic words “by faith.” There is a change here, but not in the emphasis of this thought. We should not expect to read “_By faith_ these died;” what is said is, “In accordance... [ Continue Reading ]
SUCH THINGS. — “I am a stranger and a sojourner with you” (Genesis 23:4). “The days of the years of my pilgrimage.... the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage” (Genesis 47:9). DECLARE PLAINLY THAT THEY SEEK A COUNTRY. — Rather, _make it plain that they are seeking a home,_ or fatherla... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD. — Rather, _they would have had opportunity to return._ All their life long they would have been able to claim again their earlier fatherland, by returning whence they came.... [ Continue Reading ]
They confess themselves but sojourners (Hebrews 11:13), and thus make it plain that they are still seeking their true home (14); and yet, if. they had sought nothing more than an earthly home, there is one already, which was once theirs, and to which they might return (15); hence it is no earthly bu... [ Continue Reading ]
The patriarchs displayed their faith in the attitude of their whole life, and in their death. This has been the thought of the preceding verses; the writer now passes to the lessons taught by particular actions and events. TRIED. — Genesis 22:1 : “God did tempt Abraham.” The following word is in the... [ Continue Reading ]
OF WHOM. — That is, Isaac. But the Greek words should perhaps be rendered _to whom_ (Abraham): “Even he to whom it was said.” On this quotation from Genesis 21:12 see the Note on Romans 9:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT GOD WAS ABLE. — These words are better taken as the expression of a general truth — “Accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead.’ The faith which tests and brings conviction of the things not seen made this reasoning possible, and gave power to act upon it even when Isaac must b... [ Continue Reading ]
CONCERNING THINGS TO COME. — It is probable, though not certain, that the word “even” should be inserted before “concerning”; on these words, then, the emphasis will rest. Not having regard to things present only, or things almost at hand, but looking far into the future, through the divine revelati... [ Continue Reading ]
BOTH THE SONS. — Rather, _each of the sons._ The separate character of the two blessings is thus brought out (Genesis 48:14). (See the last Note.) In the case of the two events mentioned in this verse the order of time is reversed, probably that the blessing of Jacob may immediately follow the simil... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE DIED. — Literally, _drawing to his end._ The word is taken from Genesis 50:26; and the mention of the departure (literally, _the Exodus_) of the children of Israel is found in Hebrews 11:24. This example of faith in the promise and clinging to the hope which it held forth needs no comment. F... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THEY SAW HE WAS A PROPER CHILD. — “Proper” has its now obsolete sense of _handsome, comely,_ a meaning not uncommon in Shakespeare. The word used in the Greek translation of Exodus 2:2 is preserved both in Acts 7:20 (see the Note) and in this place. It would seem that the remarkable beauty o... [ Continue Reading ]
COME TO YEARS — _i.e._, grown up, “when he was full forty years old” (Acts 7:23). The words here used are taken from the Greek translation of Exodus 2:11, where we first read of Moses as openly Associating himself with his oppressed people. When Moses slew the Egyptian who was “smiting a Hebrew, one... [ Continue Reading ]
CHOOSING. — Better, _having chosen._ His act was an expression of his deliberate choice. He joined his people because it was “the people of God.” To stand aloof for the sake of ease and pleasure would for him have been apostasy from God (“sin,” comp. Hebrews 10:26). The faith of Moses had brought “c... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REPROACH OF CHRIST. — Better, _The reproach of the Christ._ Many explanations have been proposed of this remarkable phrase, some of which — as “reproach for Christ,” “reproach similar to that which Christ endured” — cannot possibly give the true meaning. The first point to be noted is that the w... [ Continue Reading ]
BY FAITH HE FORSOOK EGYPT. — It is a matter of great difficulty to decide whether these words refer to the flight into Midian (Exodus 2:15), or to the Exodus. The former view, which seems to be taken by all ancient writers and by most in modern times, is supported by the following arguments: — (1) T... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH FAITH HE KEPT. — Rather, _By faith he hath kept_ (see Hebrews 11:17). The celebration of the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood were acts of obedience, having reference to a danger as yet un seen, but present in God’s word (Exodus 12:12). LEST HE THAT DESTROYED. — Better, _that the de... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH THE EGYPTIANS ASSAYING TO DO. — Literally, _Of which the Egyptians making trial were swallowed up_ (Exodus 14:15). In the same “trial,” but with the support of the word of God, had consisted Israel’s faith. The word _land_ is not in the ordinary Greek text (and hence stands in italics), but is... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN DAYS. — It is the persistence of Israel’s obedience (in the midst, we cannot doubt, of the unmeasured contempt and ridicule of their foes) during the seven days of almost total inaction (Joshua 6) that is here brought into relief.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT BELIEVED NOT. — Bather, _that were disobedient_ (see Hebrews 3:18; Hebrews 4:6; Hebrews 4:11). To her and to her countrymen alike had come the knowledge of what the Lord had done for Israel (Joshua 2:10). She recognised from these signs, and acknowledged, the supremacy of Jehovah (Hebrews 11:11... [ Continue Reading ]
The sacred writer has lingered over the life and deeds of the greatest of the patriarchs and of Moses the legislator of the nation: two examples only — differing in kind from those which have preceded, and peculiarly suggestive and important — have been taken from the history of the people after the... [ Continue Reading ]
SUBDUED KINGDOMS. — Better, _overcame kingdoms._ To all the deliverers of Israel of whom we have read in Hebrews 11:32 (and especially to David, 2 Samuel 8:10; 2 Samuel 8:11) these words will apply. They also “wrought righteousness,” as each judge or king or prophet “executed judgment and justice un... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VIOLENCE. — Rather, _the power_ (Daniel 3.). ESCAPED THE EDGE OF THE SWORD. — Though it would not be difficult to trace the application of this and the following clauses to the heroes of Israel celebrated in the Old Testament history (the perils of David and Elijah and the “weakness” of Samson... [ Continue Reading ]
RAISED TO LIFE AGAIN. — Literally, _by a resurrection._ (See 1 Kings 17:22; 2 Kings 4:35.) At this point the character of the record is changed; hitherto we have heard of the victories of faith in action, now it is of the triumph of faith over suffering that the writer speaks. Those who “escaped the... [ Continue Reading ]
The language becomes more general, but still chiefly refers to the same troublous times. YEA, MOREOVER OF BONDS. — Lasting and cruel captivity, a worse fate even than “mockings and scourgings.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE STONED. — As Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20), and — according to a Jewish tradition mentioned by Tertullian and others — Jeremiah. (See Matthew 23:35; Matthew 23:37.) THEY WERE SAWN ASUNDER. — An ancient tradition, mentioned both by Jewish and by early Christian writers, relates that Isaia... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING OBTAINED A GOOD REPORT. — Now that the history is concluded the word of Hebrews 11:2 is resumed. That in such a faith as was described in Hebrews 11:1 “the elders” received their witness from God, the records themselves have shown; yet “these all, having had witness borne to them through thei... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR US. — Rather, _concerning us, that without_ (or, _apart from_)_ us they should not be made perfect. “_Some better thing” — better than they had received (Matthew 13:17; 1 Peter 1:10). The design of God was that they and we may be perfected together; first in the joint reception of mature knowled... [ Continue Reading ]