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11:1 Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of
things not seen.
11:2 For by it the
elders obtained a good report.
11:3 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.
11:4 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.
11:5 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.
11:6 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.
11:7 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.
11:8 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.
11:9 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: 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath
foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11:11 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.
11:12 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.
11:13 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.
11:14 For they that say such things declare
plainly that they seek a
country.
11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence
they came out, they might have had
opportunity to have returned.
11:16 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.
11:17 By faith
Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he
that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 11:18
Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 11:19
Accounting that God was able to
raise him up, even from the dead; from
whence also he received him in a
figure.
11:20 By faith
Isaac blessed
Jacob and
Esau concerning things to come.
11:21 By faith
Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of
Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his
staff.
11:22 By faith
Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of
the children of
Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
11:23 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.
11:24 By faith
Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called
the son of
Pharaoh's daughter; 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer
affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin
for a season; 11:26 Esteeming the
reproach of
Christ greater riches
than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the
recompence of
the reward.
11:27 By faith he forsook
Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king:
for he endured, as seeing him who is
invisible.
11:28 Through faith he kept the
passover, and the sprinkling of blood,
lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
11:29 By faith they passed through the
Red sea as by dry land: which
the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
11:30 By faith the
walls of Jericho fell down, after they were
compassed about seven days.
11:31 By faith the harlot
Rahab perished not with them that believed
not, when she had received the spies with peace.
11:32 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: 11:33 Who through faith subdued
kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths
of lions.
11:34 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.
11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection: 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and
scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and
imprisonment: 11:37 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; 11:38 (Of whom the world was not
worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and
caves of the earth.
11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,
received not the promise: 11:40 God having provided some better thing
for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Hebrews
Book: Hebrews
Chapter: 11
Overview:
The nature and power of
Faith described.
(1-3) It is set forth
By instances from
Abel to
Noah.
(4-7) By Abraham and his
descendants.
(8-19) By Jacob,
Joseph,
Moses, the Israelites, and
Rahab.
(20-31) By other Old
Testament believers.
(32-38) The
better state of believers under the
Gospel.
(39,40)
1-3 Faith always has been the
Mark of
God's servants, from the
beginning of the world. Where the principle is planted
By the
regenerating
Spirit of
God, it will cause the
Truth to be
received, concerning
Justification By the sufferings and merits
of
Christ. And the same things that are the object of our
Hope,
are the object of our
Faith. It is a firm persuasion and
expectation, that
God will perform all he has promised to us in
Christ. This persuasion gives the soul to enjoy those things
now; it gives them a subsistence or reality in the soul,
By the
First-fruits and foretastes of them.
Faith proves to the mind,
the reality of things that cannot be seen
By the bodily
Eye. It
is a full approval of all
God has revealed, as holy, just, and
good. This view of
Faith is explained
By many examples of
persons in former times, who obtained a good report, or an
honourable character in the
Word of God.
Faith was the principle
of their holy obedience, remarkable services, and patient
sufferings. The
Bible gives the most true and exact account of
the origin of all things, and we are to believe it, and not to
wrest the
Scripture account of the
Creation, because it does not
suit with the differing fancies of men. All that we see of the
Works of
Creation, were brought into being
By the command of
God.
4-7 Here follow some illustrious examples of
Faith from the Old
Testament.
Abel brought a
Sacrifice of
Atonement from the
firstlings of the flock, acknowledging himself a sinner who
deserved to die, and only hoping for
Mercy through the great
Sacrifice.
Cain's proud rage and
Enmity against the accepted
Worshipper of
God, led to the awful effects the same principles
have produced in every
Age; the cruel
Persecution, and even
Murder of believers.
By Faith Abel, being dead, yet speaketh; he
left an instructive and speaking
Example.
Enoch was translated,
or removed, that he should not see
Death;
God took him into
Heaven, as
Christ will do the saints who shall be alive at his
second coming. We cannot come to
God, unless we believe that he
is what he has revealed himself to be in the
Scripture. Those
who would find
God, must seek him with all their
Heart.
Noah's
Faith influenced his practice; it moved him to prepare an
Ark.
His
Faith condemned the unbelief of others; and his obedience
condemned their contempt and rebellion. Good examples either
convert sinners or condemn them. This shows how believers, being
warned of
God to flee from the wrath to come, are moved with
fear, take
Refuge in
Christ, and become heirs of the
Righteousness of
Faith.
8-19 We are often called to leave worldly connections,
interests, and comforts. If heirs of
Abraham's
Faith, we shall
obey and go forth, though not knowing what may befall us; and we
shall be found in the way of duty, looking for the performance
of
God's promises. The trial of
Abraham's
Faith was, that he
simply and fully obeyed the
Call of
God.
Sarah received the
promise as the promise of
God; being convinced of that, she
truly judged that he both could and would perform it. Many, who
have a part in the promises, do not soon receive the things
promised.
Faith can lay
Hold of blessings at a great distance;
can make them present; can
Love them and rejoice in them, though
strangers; as saints, whose home is
Heaven; as pilgrims,
travelling toward their home.
By Faith, they overcome the
terrors of
Death, and bid a cheerful farewell to this world, and
to all the comforts and crosses of it. And those once truly and
savingly called out of a sinful state, have
No mind to return
into it. All true believers desire the heavenly inheritance; and
the stronger
Faith is, the more fervent those desires will be.
Notwithstanding their meanness
By nature, their vileness
By Sin,
and the poverty of their outward condition,
God is not ashamed
to be called the
God of all true believers; such is his
Mercy,
such is his
Love to them. Let them never be ashamed of being
called his people, nor of any of those who are truly
So, how
much soever despised in the world. Above all, let them take care
that they are not a shame and reproach to their
God. The
greatest trial and act of
Faith upon record is,
Abraham's
Offering up
Isaac, Ge 22:2. There, every
Word shows a trial.
It is our duty to reason down our doubts and fears,
By looking,
as
Abraham did, to the Almighty power of
God. The best way to
enjoy our comforts is, to give them up to
God; he will then
again give them as shall be the best for us. Let us look how far
our
Faith has caused the like obedience, when we have been
called to lesser
Acts of self-denial, or to make smaller
sacrifices to our duty. Have we given up what was called for,
fully believing that the
Lord would make up all our losses, and
even
Bless us
By the most afflicting dispensations?
20-31 Isaac blessed
Jacob and
Esau, concerning things to come.
Things present are not the best things;
No Man knoweth
Love or
Hatred By having them or wanting them.
Jacob lived
By Faith, and
he died
By Faith, and in
Faith. Though the
Grace of
Faith is of
use always through our whole lives, it is especially
So when we
come to die.
Faith has a great work to do at last, to help the
believer to die to the
Lord,
So as to honour him,
By patience,
Hope, and joy.
Joseph was tried
By temptations to
Sin,
By
Persecution for keeping his integrity; and he was tried
By
honours and power in the
Court of
Pharaoh, yet his
Faith carried
him through. It is a great
Mercy to be free from wicked laws and
edicts; but when we are not
So, we must use all lawful means for
our security. In this
Faith of
Moses' parents there was a
mixture of unbelief, but
God was pleased to overlook it.
Faith
gives strength against the sinful, slavish fear of men; it sets
God before the soul, shows the vanity of the
Creature, and that
all must give way to the will and power of
God. The pleasures of
Sin are, and will be, but short; they must
End either in speedy
Repentance or in speedy ruin. The pleasures of this world are
for the most part the pleasures of
Sin; they are always
So when
we cannot enjoy them without deserting
God and his people.
Suffering is to be
Chosen rather than
Sin; there being more evil
in the least
Sin, than there can be in the greatest suffering.
God's people are, and always have been, a reproached people.
Christ accounts himself reproached in their reproaches; and thus
they become greater riches than the treasures of the richest
empire in the world.
Moses made his choice when ripe for
Judgment and enjoyment, able to know what he did, and why he did
it. It is needful for persons to be seriously religious; to
despise the world, when most capable of relishing and enjoying
it. Believers may and ought to have respect to the recompence of
reward.
By Faith we may be fully sure of
God's
Providence, and
of his gracious and powerful presence with us. Such a sight of
God will enable believers to keep
On to the
End, whatever they
may meet in the way. It is not owing to our own
Righteousness,
or best performances, that we are saved from the wrath of
God;
but to the
Blood of
Christ, and his imputed
Righteousness. True
Faith makes
Sin Bitter to the soul, even while it receives the
Pardon and
Atonement. All our spiritual privileges
On Earth,
should quicken us in our way to
Heaven. The
Lord will make even
Babylon fall before the
Faith of his people, and when he has
some great thing to do for them, he raises up great and strong
Faith in them. A true believer is desirous, not only to be in
Covenant with
God, but in
Communion with the people of
God; and
is willing to fare as they fare.
By her
Works Rahab declared
herself to be just. That she was not justified
By her
Works
appears plainly; because the work she did was faulty in the
manner, and not perfectly good, therefore it could not be
answerable to the perfect
Justice or
Righteousness of
God.
32-38 After all our searches into the Scriptures, there is more
to be learned from them. We should be pleased to think, how
great the number of believers was under the Old
Testament, and
how strong their
Faith, though the objects of it were not then
So fully made known as now. And we should lament that now, in
Gospel times, when the rule of
Faith is more clear and perfect,
the number of believers should be
So small, and their
Faith So
weak. It is the excellence of the
Grace of
Faith, that, while it
Helps men to do great things, like
Gideon, it keeps from high
and great thoughts of themselves.
Faith, like
Barak's, has
recourse unto
God in all dangers and difficulties, and then
makes grateful returns to
God for all mercies and deliverances.
By Faith, the servants of
God shall overcome even the roaring
lion that goeth about seeking whom he may devour. The believer's
Faith endures to the
End, and, in dying, gives him victory over
Death and all his deadly enemies, like
Samson. The
Grace of
God
often fixes upon very undeserving and ill-deserving persons, to
do great things for them and
By them. But the
Grace of
Faith,
wherever it is, will
Put men upon acknowledging
God in all their
ways, as
Jephthah. It will make men bold and courageous in a
good cause. Few ever met with greater trials, few ever showed
more lively
Faith, than
David, and he has left a
Testimony as to
the trials and
Acts of
Faith, in the
Book of
Psalms, which has
been, and ever will be, of great value to the people of
God.
Those are likely to grow up to be distinguished for
Faith, who
begin betimes, like
Samuel, to
Exercise it. And
Faith will
enable a
Man to serve
God and his
Generation, in whatever way he
may be employed. The interests and powers of
Kings and kingdoms,
are often opposed to
God and his people; but
God can easily
subdue all that set themselves against him. It is a greater
honour and happiness to work
Righteousness than to work
miracles.
By Faith we have comfort of the promises; and
By Faith
we are prepared to wait for the promises, and in due time to
receive them. And though we do not
Hope to have our dead
relatives or friends restored to
Life in this world, yet
Faith
will support under the loss of them, and direct to the
Hope of a
better resurrection. Shall we be most amazed at the wickedness
of human nature, that it is capable of such awful cruelties to
fellow-creatures, or at the excellence of Divine
Grace, that is
able to
Bear up the
Faithful under such cruelties, and to carry
them safely through all? What a difference between
God's
judgement of a
Saint, and
Man's
Judgment! The world is not
worthy of those scorned, persecuted saints, whom their
persecutors reckon unworthy to live. They are not worthy of
their company,
Example, counsel, or other benefits. For they
know not what a
Saint is, nor the worth of a
Saint, nor how to
use him; they hate, and drive such away, as they do the offer of
Christ and his
Grace.
39,40 The world considers that the righteous are not worthy to
live in the world, and
God declares the world is not worthy of
them. Though the righteous and the worldlings widely differ in
their
Judgment, they agree in this, it is not fit that good men
should have their
Rest in this world. Therefore
God receives
them out of it. The
Apostle tells the
Hebrews, that
God had
provided some better things for them, therefore they might be
sure that he expected as good things from them. As our
advantages, with the better things
God has provided for us, are
So much
Beyond theirs,
So should our obedience of
Faith,
patience of
Hope, and labour of
Love, be greater. And unless we
get true
Faith as these believers had, they will rise up to
condemn us at the last
Day. Let us then pray continually for the
increase of our
Faith, that we may follow these bright examples,
and be, with them, at length made perfect in
Holiness and
happiness, and shine like the
Sun in the kingdom of our
Father
for evermore.