Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11 is often referred to as the "Hall of Faith." This chapter details the faith-filled lives of many Old Testament saints, illustrating how their trust in God’s promises guided their actions and sustained them in times of trial. This exposition serves to encourage believers to persevere in faith, even when the fulfillment of God’s promises is not immediately visible.

Hebrews 11:1-2 (NKJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

Faith is defined as the confident assurance in what we hope for and the conviction of realities we do not see. This spiritual certainty is what drove the "elders"—biblical patriarchs and matriarchs—to live lives that pleased God, earning them commendation for their faithfulness despite not witnessing the full fruition of God's promises.

Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV)
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

This verse emphasizes that faith is not only for personal salvation but is also foundational to our understanding of the universe. By faith, we accept that the universe was created by God’s command and that the visible came from the invisible, affirming our belief in the supernatural origin of all things.

Hebrews 11:4 (NKJV)
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

Abel’s faith led him to offer a sacrifice that pleased God more than Cain’s offering. This act of faith declared him righteous, as God personally acknowledged his offerings. Abel's legacy of faith continues to speak, even after his death, teaching us that true faith impacts both our standing before God and our legacy.

Hebrews 11:5 (NKJV)
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Enoch's exceptional faith resulted in him being supernaturally taken from this life without experiencing death, a divine endorsement of his life which pleased God. His translation demonstrates that living in continual fellowship with God has eternal rewards.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

This verse underscores the essential nature of faith in the believer’s relationship with God. To please God, one must believe in His existence and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. This belief motivates the believer to live a life of faith, knowing that God recognizes and rewards genuine spiritual diligence.

Hebrews 11:7 (NKJV)
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Noah's faith was demonstrated by his actions when he built the ark, heeding a warning about events that had no precedent. His reverence for God and obedience marked him as righteous and set a standard of faithfulness that contrasted with the disbelief of his contemporaries.

Hebrews 11:8-10 (NKJV)
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Abraham's journey of faith began with his obedience to God's call to leave his home without knowing his destination, trusting solely in God's promise. His nomadic life in the Promised Land, alongside his heirs Isaac and Jacob, was marked by a forward-looking faith focused on a heavenly city designed and built by God, showcasing a profound trust in divine provision and guidance.

Hebrews 11:11-12 (NKJV)
By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

Sarah's faith enabled her to conceive Isaac despite her old age, affirming her belief in God’s faithfulness to His promises. This miraculous birth from Abraham, considered beyond the age of fathering children, led to a multitude of descendants, fulfilling God’s promise of progeny as countless as the stars and sand, illustrating the miraculous outcomes of steadfast faith in God's word.

Hebrews 11:13-16 (NKJV)
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

The patriarchs died still clinging to the promises of God, not yet seeing them fulfilled but convinced of their reality and future fruition. Their lives as strangers and pilgrims on Earth symbolized their spiritual search for a heavenly homeland, reflecting their detachment from earthly ties and aspirations. Their steadfast faith makes them worthy of a divine homeland, underscoring that God proudly acknowledges those who set their sights on eternal, heavenly rewards over earthly comforts.

Hebrews 11:17-19 (NKJV)
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Abraham's faith reached its pinnacle when he obeyed God's command to sacrifice Isaac, his son through whom the covenant was to be fulfilled. His willingness to obey, despite the seeming contradiction to God's promise, demonstrated his belief that God could even raise Isaac from the dead if necessary. This act, a profound test of faith, is seen as a foreshadowing of God's own sacrifice of His Son, and Abraham’s reception of Isaac back symbolizes resurrection hope.

Hebrews 11:20 (NKJV)
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

Isaac's blessings on his sons Jacob and Esau were acts of faith in God's future dealings with his descendants, despite his own preferences and their individual characters. This forward-looking faith highlights the role of divine providence in the unfolding of Israel's national destiny through both lines.

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

As Jacob neared death, his blessings to Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh, choosing Ephraim over the elder Manasseh, reflected not only his prophetic insight but also his trust in God’s long-term plans for his descendants. His act of worship, even in his frailty, underscores a life characterized by reliance on God’s promises.

Hebrews 11:22 (NKJV)
By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

Joseph's faith was evident as he spoke of Israel's future exodus from Egypt, a prophecy based on divine assurance. His request to have his bones carried to the Promised Land signifies his belief in God's promise to Abraham, linking the patriarchal faith with the national history of Israel and demonstrating a profound trust in God's word beyond his lifetime.

Hebrews 11:23 (NKJV)
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

The faith of Moses' parents led them to defy Pharaoh’s decree to kill all Hebrew male infants. Their courage, rooted in a belief that God had a special purpose for Moses, exemplifies how faith can empower defiance against oppressive powers, prioritizing divine directives over human edicts.

Hebrews 11:24-26 (NKJV)
By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

Moses' personal choice to identify with the Hebrews rather than enjoy the privileges of Egyptian royalty was a pivotal act of faith. He saw the eternal value in aligning with God’s people and enduring hardship, perceiving it as sharing in the sufferings of the Messiah—a perspective that treasures spiritual reward over worldly wealth.

Hebrews 11:27 (NKJV)
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

Moses’ departure from Egypt, despite the possible repercussions from Pharaoh, was a decision made with divine visibility in mind. His faith allowed him to endure hardships by focusing on the unseen God, reinforcing the idea that true faith involves trusting God’s presence and guidance even when He is not physically observable.

Hebrews 11:28 (NKJV)
By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

Moses' institution of the Passover was an act of obedience rooted in faith that God would spare the Israelites from the devastating final plague. The sprinkling of the lamb's blood on their doorposts was a physical act of faith that promised divine protection, foreshadowing the redemptive sacrifice of Christ.

Hebrews 11:29 (NKJV)
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

The crossing of the Red Sea is one of the most dramatic examples of faith in action. The Israelites' journey through the sea on dry ground, which was made possible only by God's miraculous intervention, contrasts with the fate of the Egyptians, highlighting that faith’s power is realized through divine enablement.

Hebrews 11:30 (NKJV)
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.

The fall of Jericho’s walls after the Israelites obediently marched around them for seven days without engaging in conventional warfare demonstrates that victories in faith do not always follow human logic but hinge on obedience to God’s unique commands.

Hebrews 11:31 (NKJV)
By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

Rahab's faith, demonstrated by her protection of the Israelite spies, highlights that faith is recognized and rewarded by God regardless of one's past. Her actions ensured her family’s salvation during Jericho’s destruction, illustrating that true faith results in alignment with God’s salvific actions.

Hebrews 11:32-38 (NKJV)
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—

This passage summarizes the diverse experiences of various biblical heroes who lived by faith. Their exploits range from miraculous victories in battle to profound personal sacrifices. Each story underscores the strength that comes from faith in God, which empowers believers to endure suffering and accomplish great deeds for the divine cause, even when faced with death or extreme adversity.

Hebrews 11:39-40 (NKJV)
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

All these heroes of faith gained approval through their faith yet did not see the complete fulfillment of God’s promises. This anticipates a greater fulfillment that includes future believers, emphasizing a communal completion of God’s redemptive plan where past, present, and future believers are united in the ultimate realization of God’s eternal promises.