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Hebrews Chapter
Eleven
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Definition and
Examples of Faith
A. The definition and interpretation of faith
(v.1-6);
1. The definition of faith (v.1);
2. The proof of faith (v.2);
3. The origin of faith ---- the word of God
(v.3);
4. The spiritual power of faith (v.4-5);
a.Abel ---- though it he being dead still
speaks (v.4);
b.Enoch ---- and did not see death (v.5);
5. The reward of faith (v.6);
B. The examples of the faith of those who
surpass the world though they still live on the earth (v.7-16);
1. Noah ---- condemn the world (v.7);
2. Abraham ---- sojourn on the earth and wait
for the heavenly city (v.8-10);
3. Sarah ---- seemingly dead, still conceive
seed (v.11-12);
4. These ---- desire the better heavenly
country (v.13-16);
C. The example of faith that overcomes death
(v.17-29, 31);
1. Abraham ---- receive his son even from the
dead (v.17-19);
2. Isaac, Jacob, Joseph ---- foresee things to
come when they were dying (v.20-22);
3. The parents of Moses ---- not fear the
king’s command with boldness (v.23);
4. Moses ----lest he who destroyed the
firstborn should touch the Israelites (v.24-28);
5. The Israelites ---- they were not swallowed
by the
6. The harlot Rahab ---- she did not perish
with those who did not believe (v.31);
D. The examples of that faith that overcomes the
enemies, tribulations and persecutions (v.30, 32-28);
1. The Israelites ---- who made the wall of
2. The judges and prophets ---- who overcame
opposition (v.32-34);
3. Those who are not worthy of the world ----
who overcame tribulations and pains (v.35-38);
E. The end of faith (v.39-40)
1. Did not receive the promise (v.39);
2. They shall inherit with us something better
that God has prepared for us (v.40);
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Heb. 11:1
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen.”
YLT: “And faith is of things hoped
for a confidence, of matters not seen a conviction,”
Meaning of Words:
“faith”: assurance, fidelity, belief, persuasion; “substance”:
confidence, assurance, essence; “evidence”: proof, reproof, conviction;
Literal Meaning:
“faith is the substance of things hoped for”,
“things hoped for”: things that have not been obtained, namely, things in the
future; “substance”: the document (e.g. title deed for land) or collateral
security ---- earnest proving the ownership, and the word here is used to
relate to the realization of things hoped for. The whole sentence means that
faith makes one obtain though he has not obtained seemingly and faith is the
assurance of the fulfillment of things hoped for.
“The evidence of things not seen”,
“things not seen” refer to things that are invisible; “evidence”: the word in
the original refers to the proof of raising a lawsuit; and the whole means that
faith makes one see though he has not seen with the naked eye.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Before we believed the Lord, we were aliens
from the commonwealth of
2) Believers are those who have hope, and what
we hope are things we have not seen (
3) Faith is having seen a fact in God and being
able to make it manifest. All things in God are real and true, which can only
be proved by faith.
4) Faith is committing things unto God and
relying upon Him and that He shall bring it to pass (Ps. 37:5). True faith does
not need to examine the development of things at all times, for the object of
faith is God Himself and He will accomplish it in due time.
5) True faith is seeing previously, which is a
kind of foresight beyond time. Though it is seemingly untraceable, those who
have faith have already seen it afar off (see v.13).
Heb. 11:2 “For by it the elders
obtained a good testimony.”
YLT:
“for in this were the elders testified of;”
Meaning
of Words: “elder”: senior; “testimony”: witness, charge;
Literal
Meaning: “by it the elders” refer to the great men in the times of the old
covenant, especially the characters listed in this chapter; “by it”: by the
faith mentioned in verse one;
“Obtained a good testimony”, according to the voice of the original it
is the passive voice concerning God, which shows that God provides the
testimony about the elders. That is to say, God testifies that the elders are
accepted by faith.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Faith has dual effects: concerning things,
faith gives us sure substance (see v.1), and concerning God, faith makes God
accept and testify us.
2) Believing God is honoring God. He who honors
God will be honored by God and God is pleased to testify such man. Contrarily,
he who does not believe God will not honor God. He who cares for God little
will be rejected by God.
Heb. 11:3 “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.”
YLT:
“by faith we understand the ages to have been prepared by a saying of God, in
regard to the things seen not having come out of things appearing;”
Meaning
of Words: “worlds”: course, age; “frame”: mend, make perfect, restore, adjust;
“things which are visible”: appear, shine, lighten; “made of”: come into being,
be found;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the
word of God”, “understand”: the result of the inference of faith;
“the worlds”: the totality of time and space, especially the space, namely, the
whole universe; “the word of God” refers to the ongoing
word of God; “were framed”, the word here is used to express the
unification and diversity of the creature. The word in the original is in the
present tense, which shows that the teachings in the aspect of creation are
continually applied.
“So that the things which are seen were not made of things
which are visible”, it indicates that
the visible things were made from the invisible things, namely, calling the
things which be not as being (Rom. 4:17).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Faith enables us to realize the power of
God’s word. God spoke, and it was. He commanded, and it stood fast (Ps. 33:9).
Once the word of God is uttered, it will be so (Gen. 1:7, 9, 11…).
2) The word of God creates all as well as
upholds all (see 1:3). Therefore, we do not need to worry unnecessarily, but
just trust in and rely on the word of God, and He will surely be responsible to
us.
3) The giants in faith have “seen” when others
think “it is invisible”. Therefore, what they have seen is advanced sight, not
lagged sight. The see because of faith, not sight or things.
4) Faith is the spiritual eye, which enables us
to see the invisible spiritual things. Faith makes us see the invisible God as
well as know the way and principle of God’s works.
Heb. 11:4 “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.”
YLT:
“by faith a better sacrifice did Abel offer to God than Cain, through which he
was testified to be righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and through it, he
being dead, doth yet speak.”
Meaning
of Words: “more
excellent”:
more in quantity and better in quality; “righteous”:
equitable, holy, just; “testify”: give testimony, bear witness;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith Abel offered to God a more
excellent sacrifice than Cain”, “more excellent”: God looked upon Abel’s
offering, not on Cain’s offering (see Gen. 4:4-5). What Abel offered was the
firstlings of his flock and of their fat, which typified the Lamb of God (see
John 1:29, 36). He is that “better sacrifice” (see 9:23).
“Through which he obtained witness that he was righteous”, “witness that
he was righteous”, it refers to God’s testimony to the person of Abel, and God
justifies him.
“God testifying of his gifts, and through it he being dead still
speaks”, here, it is the testimony of God to “the offerings” of Abel. The
former testimony is based on this testimony. In other words, the one who offers
the offering is accepted because of the offering’s being accepted.
“And
through it he being dead still speaks”,
“it”, it is feminine and singular in the original, so it may refer to his faith
or the sacrifice. And a number of Bible expositors believe it refers to faith,
for faith is the motive of Abel’s offering as well as the element of being
accepted. “Still speaks”: speak all the time continually; “speak”: testify;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “Sacrifice” is for the purpose of dealing
with sin and restoring the fellowship with God. If is not put away, there will
be no smooth intercommunion between God and men.
2) Both Abel and Cain offered sacrifices, but
one was accepted and the other failed. The difference lay in the motive of
offering ---- whether it is of faith or oneself. Only the works by faith on
account of God’s revelation shall obtain the witness of being righteous.
3) If we are accepted by God, it is not because
we are better than others, but that the sacrifice ---- Christ in whom we
believe ---- through which we come to God makes God cannot but accept us.
Christ is the only “way” to God (John 14:6). Salvation is in none other than
Him (Acts 4:12).
4) Man has works of faith “before his death”,
and still speaks “after death”. He not only speaks to bear witness before God
but also before the later generations. Many great examples of faith in the past
have stimulated and encouraged a number of believers to learn the examples of
the faith of those who have fallen asleep.
Heb. 11:5 “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.”
YLT:
“By faith Enoch was translated -- not to see death, and was not found, because
God did translate him; for before his translation he had been testified to --
that he had pleased God well,”
Meaning
of Words: “was taken away”: was caught, was
translated, was changed; “testimony”: witness, proof;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith Enoch was taken away so that he
did not see death”, “was taken away”, he lived on the earth, but now he has
been translated into the heaven; “did not see death”: he had no experience of
death.
“And was not found, because God had taken him”, the whole sentence means
that he no longer belongs to the earthly and physical world.
“For before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God”,
“this testimony, that he pleased God”, it refers to his walking with God (Gen.
5:24), for the one who walks with God must be worthy (see Rev. 3:4) so that
Enoch was pleased by God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Today, we believers who live in the last
days may also be taken away (1Thess. 4:17) without seeing death. However, when
the Lord comes again, not all believers who live will be caught up in a minute
(see Rev. 3:10). Instead, those who live in victory by faith will be firstly
caught up.
2) Enoch walked with God three hundred years by
faith and then was taken away by God (Gen. 5:22, 24). He who has faith does not
cast away his necessary responsibilities on the earth, but manifests the works
of faith in the normal daily life. Any doctrine of sanctification by retreating
from the world is not consonant with the Holy Bible.
3) Believers have to be sure of being pleased by
God before being taken away. Anyone who is fully confident of “the rapture of
the whole church together” and yet is not pleased by God in his daily life has
just misunderstood the Scriptures.
Heb. 11:6 “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.”
YLT:
“and apart from faith it is impossible to please well, for it behoveth him who
is coming to God to believe that He is, and to those seeking Him He becometh a
rewarder.”
Literal
Meaning: “but without faith it is impossible to
please Him”, it means that faith is the only condition for us to be pleased by
God. Man can do nothing to please God without faith.
“For he who comes to God must believe that He is”, it means that to
believe God is to believe that God is so as what He speaks ---- “I AM THAT I
AM” (see Ex. 3:14).
“And that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”, “seek”: it
is seeking continually throughout one’s life.
This verse indicates that the “faith” that pleases God has double
aspects: 1) believe God is and believe His existence; 2) believe that He is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) He who has no faith in God does not regard God
as God, just like a son who does not regard his father as father. This is a
great shame and is surely not pleased by God.
2) “To believe God is”; no matter what we need,
He is exactly what we need. Such faith is the secret of experiencing all the
riches of God.
3) Every one that asks receives. And he that
seeks finds. And to him that knocks it shall be opened (Matt. 7:8). God is rich
unto all that call upon Him (Rom. 10:12), rewarding abundantly all those who
diligently seek Him.
Heb. 11:7 “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.”
YLT:
“By faith Noah, having been divinely warned concerning the things not yet seen,
having feared, did prepare an ark to the salvation of his house, through which
he did condemn the world, and of the righteousness according to faith he became
heir.”
Meaning
of Words: “be divinely warned”: be revealed, be admonished; “moved with godly fear”: be apprehensive, be
circumspect; “prepare”: build, ordain, build; “became heir”: became possessor;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith Noah, being divinely warned of
things not yet seen”, “things not yet seen”: the things that God would destroy
the whole world with a flood of waters (see Gen. 6:13);
“Moved with godly fear, prepared an ark”, “moved with godly fear”, it is
one word in the original, which indicates that Noah obeyed with godly fear
after he was divinely warned by God. “Prepare” includes the steps like
designing, and collecting materials and building etc. “
“For the saving of his household”, “his
household” refers to the eight members of the family of Noah (see Gen. 7:13).
“By which he condemned the world”, “by
which”: by the action of faith; “condemned the world”, the building of the ark
was for the purpose of escaping from the destruction of that world (Gen.
6:13-18), which revealed that all the world were corrupted (see Gen. 6:12).
“And became heir of the righteousness which
is according to faith”, Noah prepared the ark by faith, typifying that He
believed and received the redemption of Christ. Therefore, he became heir of
the righteousness which is according to faith.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The faith of a single man can save the whole
family of him (see Acts 16:31). If the family members of we believers have not
been saved, we have to pray to God continually by faith.
2) Noah built the ark and preached
righteousness (2Pet. 2:5), condemning that world with active activities.
Therefore, the best condemnation is to keep the will of God positively and
judge with a distinct life style instead of merely exposing the sins of others.
Heb. 11:8 “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.”
YLT:
“By faith Abraham, being called, did obey, to go forth to the place that he was
about to receive for an inheritance, and he went forth, not knowing whither he
doth go;”
Meaning
of Words: “obey”: hear; “inheritance”: possession;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called
to go out”, it indicated that his “obedience” was almost simultaneous with “his
being called” without any delay.
“To the place which he would receive as an
inheritance”, “the place…an inheritance” refers to the land of possession from
one generation to another.
“And he went out, not knowing where he was
going”, it is seemingly in conflict with the previous words. Since he went to
the place, how could he not know where he was going? In fact, “to the place…”,
it is the promise of God. The words “go out” and “he was going” refer to
Abraham’s actions. When he took his action, he had a vague idea of God’s
promise and yet had no definite destination.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Abraham had no destination of himself, but
absolutely relied on God’s presence and guidance. Therefore, he had to look
upon God by faith at all times.
2) The lesson of faith will never be graduated.
We have to continually trust in God throughout all our life, from the very
first time we believe the Lord to the time we see the Lord.
3) God is Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8), and He is
also the letters between them. He leads us all the way. And he who believes Him
will not be shamed (Rom. 9:33; 1Pet. 2:6).
Heb. 11:9 “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;”
YLT:
“by faith he did sojourn in the land of the promise as a strange country, in
tabernacles having dwelt with Isaac and Jacob, fellow-heirs of the same
promise,”
Meaning
of Words: “dwelt”: sojourn in, reside
as a foreigner; “foreign”: alien, strange, not one’s own;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith he dwelt in the land of promise”,
“the land of promise” refers to the
“As in a foreign country, dwelling in tents”, “dwelling in tents”:
translate continually without a permanent dwelling place;
“With Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise”, “same”:
all of them dwelt in the tents, not the same tent. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
were heirs of the same promise.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The world is not our family. And we are
sojourners in the family. Therefore we shall not devote all our energy into
earthly things, but set our mind on heavenly things (see
2) We are all heirs of the same promise (see
Eph. 3:6), but we have to lead the life of dwelling in tents respectively. We
believers stand in the same promise, but each has distinct experience. The
attitude of everyone toward life decides how much he shall experience God’s
promises.
3) All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and
in Him Amen (2Cor. 1:20).
Heb. 11:10 “for he waited for the
city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
YLT:
“for he was looking for the city having the foundations, whose artificer and
constructor God.”
Meaning
of Words: “wait”: expect, prepare to
face, wait to receive; “foundation”: something put down, a
substruction (of a building); “builder”: founder, creator, craftsman; “maker”:
worker;
Literal
Meaning: “for he waited for the city which has
foundations”, “wait for”: expect with eagerness; “the city which has
foundations” refers to
“Whose builder and maker is God”, “builder” emphasizes designs and
plans; “maker” focuses on the implementation of the designs or plans.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The life by faith is a life of waiting for
God. If God does not act, we do not act. If God moves, we will move. This is
faith.
2) What God builds and makes is far beyond what
man builds and makes. No matter the building of individual life or that of the
church, both should be worked by God.
Heb. 11:11 “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.”
YLT:
“By faith also Sarah herself did receive power to conceive seed, and she bare
after the time of life, seeing she did judge Him faithful who did promise;”
Meaning
of Words: “the age”: the best
opportunity, the proper age; “conceive seed”: conception of seed;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith Sarah herself…when she was past
the age”, “she was past the age”, it meant that she was brought to the end in
her natural life and could do nothing by herself.
“Also received strength to conceive seed,
and she bore a child … because she judged Him faithful who had promised”, “Him…
who had promised”, God had promised Sarah to beget a son (Gen. 17:15-16;
18:12-15). It was thought in some Scriptures that “she” should be translated as
“he”, namely, Abraham, for God promised to Abraham.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) What you sow is not quickened unless it die
(1Cor. 15:36). We always bear about in the body of dying of Jesus, the life of
Jesus may also be manifested in our body (2Cor. 4:10).
2) Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity. If we
have not been brought into a step that we can do nothing by ourselves, we
cannot truly rely on the promises of God or live by faith.
Heb. 11:12 “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.”
YLT:
“wherefore, also from one were begotten -- and that of one who had become dead
-- as the stars of the heaven in multitude, and as sand that by the sea-shore
-- the innumerable.”
Meaning
of Words: “as dead”: subdued, deaden,
mortified; “multitude”: fullness, a large number,
bundle; “innumerable”: countless, without number;
Literal
Meaning: “therefore from one man, and him as good as
dead, were born”, “one”, it is masculine in the original, which refers to
Abraham, who is the beginning of the new race.
“As many as the stars of the sky in
multitude ---- innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore”, it is quoted
from the Book of Genesis (22:17).
Spiritual Meaning: “as many as the stars of the sky in
multitude”, “the stars of the sky” symbolize the heavenly descendants of
Abraham, namely, the sons of faith (Gal. 3:7, 29).
“Innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore”, “the sand of the
seashore” symbolizes the earthly descendants of Abraham, namely, the sons of
flesh ---- the Jews (Matt. 3:9).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “One man, and him as good as dead”, it is
hopeless; “were
born”: there is still hope. Faith makes the one
who against hope believe in hope (see
2) The grain of wheat falling into the ground
dies and bears much fruit (John 12:24). If we want to bear more fruit for the
Lord, the best way is death ---- deny ourselves.
Heb. 11:13 “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.”
YLT:
“In faith died all these, not having received the promises, but from afar
having seen them, and having been persuaded, and having saluted , and having
confessed that strangers and sojourners they are upon the earth,”
Meaning
of Words: “afar off”: at a distance; “embrace”: salute, greet; “strangers”: foreigners;
“pilgrims”: temporary residents;
Literal
Meaning: “these all died in faith, not having
received the promises”, “these”: not all the sons, but Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob; “died in faith”: their faith had never been moved till their death. “Not
having received the promises”: they had not seen the fulfillment of the
promises when they died.
“But having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them”, it
was just like the man who went out rejoiced and cheered when he returned,
seeing his hometown afar off above the horizon, or like the man who waved his
hand on the ship to those who embraced him near the bank.
“And confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth”, “confess”:
declare one’s identity openly.
This verse reveals three important steps of faith: 1) “see afar off” the
promises of God; 2) “embrace” the promises of God; 3) “Obtain” the
promises of God;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Faith should be kept to the end. Otherwise,
it will be in vain (1Thess. 3:5). The faith God values is the changeless and
unswerving faith (see 13:7).
2) Faith starts from seeing what physical eyes
cannot see and then responds to what is seen with diligence so that there will
be true results.
Heb. 11:14 “For those who say such
things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.”
YLT:
“for those saying such things make manifest that they seek a country;”
Meaning
of Words: “declare”: show, manifest; “homeland”: land of father;
Literal
Meaning: “those who say such things”, “such things:
the confession that “they were strangers
and pilgrims on the earth” (see v.13).
“Declare plainly that they seek a homeland”, “a homeland” refers to that
city which has foundations (see v.10).
Heb. 11:15 “And truly if they had
called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had
opportunity to return.”
YLT:
“and if, indeed, they had been mindful of that from which they came forth, they
might have had an opportunity to return,”
Meaning
of Words: “called
to mind”:
remember, be mindful, recollect; “return”: turn back; “opportunity”: time,
chance;
Literal
Meaning: “truly if they had called to mind that
country from which they had come out”, “if”, it is a supposition.
“They would have had opportunity to return”, they did not return through
they had opportunity to return, so they were not mindful of the country from
which they had come out.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “Had called to mind that country from which they had come
out”, it is human nature, just like the
Israelites who came out
2) In the spiritual war, mind is the chief
battlefield (see 2Cor. 10:5). What man is mindful forms the main inclination of
the whole of him. The Bible teaches us that we shall set our mind on things above,
not things on earth (
Heb. 11:16 “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.”
YLT:
“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.”
Meaning
of Words: “desire”: stretch forth to,
covet after, reach out after (long for); “better”: stronger, nobler; “ashamed”: feel shame
for something;
Literal
Meaning: “but now they desire a better, that is, a
heavenly country”, “desire”, it means that they have set a goal that they
desire to pursue; “better”: it is a comparison with the country from which they
depart; “heavenly”, it explains the nature of that better country ---- it is
not an earthly one.
“Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God”, God is not
ashamed to be their God.
“For He has prepared a city for them”, here it is the explanation of
God’s not being ashamed of them. God approves their “desire” by actions to
prove that their pursuit is not vague imagination.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God is the God of all men, especially of
them that believe (see 1Tim. 4:10). He gives thought to our hearts and perfects
our faith to the end (see 12:2).
2) It is both God (see John 14:2) and we (see
Rev. 19:7; 21:2) that “prepare” the better and heavenly city. Therefore, God
does the preparing works in believers.
Heb. 11:17 “By faith Abraham, when he
was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up
his only begotten son,”
YLT:
“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had
received the promises offered up his only begotten son,”
Meaning
of Words: “test”: endeavor,
scrutinize, examine; “offer”: bring, present unto;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith Abraham, when he was tested,
offered up Isaac”, “when he was tested”: God tested Abraham;
“And he who had received the promised”, “received”, welcomed and valued
the command of God and regarded it as a lofty mission;
“Offered up his only begotten son”, that Abraham offered his only
begotten son typified God the Father gave His only begotten son for us (see
John 3:16; 1John 4:9).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The true faith is the faith that can bear
the test. Faith will be much more precious after the proof (1Pet. 1:7).
2) He who has faith will go ahead even though
dead hinders before him, for he believes that God is the God who quickens the
dead (see
3) Only the devotion of what we love best can
touch the heart of God.
Heb. 11:18 “of whom it was said,
"In Isaac your seed shall be called,"”
YLT:
“of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called,"”
Literal
Meaning:
“of whom it was said”, the following words are quoted from the Book of
Genesis (21:12).
“"In Isaac your seed shall be called"”, “in Isaac”, it refers to all believers who
have the risen life of Christ. “Your seed shall be called”, it typifies that we
are the sons of Christ by faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26).
Heb. 11:19 “concluding that God was
able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a
figurative sense.”
YLT:
“concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which
he also received him in a figurative sense.”
Meaning
of Words: “conclude”: count, regard; “figurative
sense”: token, sign;
Literal
Meaning: “concluding that God was able to raise him
up”, “concluding that God”: count or mediate on a sure foundation; “was able to
raise him up”, it suggests that Abraham’s offering of Isaac is out of his faith
toward God: 1) God is a faithful God. Since He had said in Isaac your seed
shall be called (see v.18), His words would in no wise come to nothing. 2) God
is the God who quickens the dead (Rom. 4:17). Therefore, though Isaac died, he
would be raised up again.
“Even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative
sense”, even though God finally hinders Abraham from offering Isaac (Gen.
22:10-12) and Isaac did not die then, in a figurative sense, Abraham had
experienced in his heart that he received his son from the dead.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Only when we put us in dead can we
experience the great risen power. Today, many people talk about resurrection
without practical experience of resurrection, for they have never experienced
death.
2) “Offering” (see v.17) should be earlier than
“receiving”. If we desire to experience the fullness of the risen life of
Christ, we shall firstly have to present us to God and walk in the way of the
cross.
Heb. 11:20 “By faith Isaac blessed
Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.”
YLT:
“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.”
Meaning
of Words: “concerning”: about; “bless”: say good words;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith Isaac”,
“by faith”, his action was out of faith.
“Blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come”, “things to come”: things will happen in
the future; “blessed Jacob and Esau”, it is recorded in the Book of Genesis
(27:27-40).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Faith gives long sight to men and makes man
confident of things to come (see v.1).
2) Faith makes oneself blessed as well as
brings blessings to others.
Heb. 11:21 “By faith Jacob, when he
was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the
top of his staff.”
YLT:
“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and
worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”
Meaning
of Words: “worship”: prostrate oneself
in homage, do reverence to;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith Jacob, when he was dying”, “when
he was dying”: he was on the point of death.
“Blessed each of the sons of Joseph”, it is recorded in the Book of
Genesis (48:15-16). He set the second son Ephraim before Manasseh (Gen. 48:20).
“And worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff”, “worshipped”: he
confessed that God shepherded him all his life (Gen. 48:15). “Leaning on the
top of his staff”: he confessed that he was a foreigner and a sojourner on the
earth (see v.9, 13).
Heb. 11:22 “By faith Joseph, when he
was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of
YLT:
“By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the
children of
Meaning
of Words: “made mention of”: concerning; “children”: sons, descendants; “departure”: go out
of; “instructions”: commandments, orders;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith Joseph, when he was dying”, the
last words of Joseph were recorded in the Book of Genesis (50:25).
“Made mention of the departure of the
children of
“And gave instructions concerning his bones”, “bones” symbolize the
risen life (Gen. 2:21-33; Ezek. 37:1-10). And he foresaw that he would be
raised up in glory.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Isaac and Jacob and Joseph foresaw the
things after death when they were dying ---- all of them had the final faith.
The faith of a man does not lie in his faith in the beginning, but in the end.
May we keep our faith until we see the Lord.
2) Faith makes us see that we are not of the
world (John 17:14-16) though we live in the world (which is typified by
Heb. 11:23 “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.”
YLT:
“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.”
Meaning
of Words: “beautiful”: elegant; “afraid of”: fear; “the king’s command”: the
king’s edict, the king’s decree;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith Moses, when he was born, was
hidden three months by his parents”, “beautiful”, it means that he had uncommon
and attractive appearance.
“Because they saw he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of
the king’s command”, it is recorded in the Book of Exodus (2:2). Faith brings
about boldness. He who has faith fears nothing.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Though Moses was physically beautiful, in
the sight of faith, his parents might foresee that he would be good vessel of
God so that they purposed to keep his life without caring for their own life.
We parents shall also cultivate our children with such mind and resolution.
2) If the king’s command goes against the will
of God, the will of God should be given the priority (see Acts. 4:19; 5:29).
Heb. 11:24 “By faith Moses, when he
became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,”
YLT:
“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of
Pharaoh's daughter,”
Meaning
of Words: “refuse”: deny, reject;
Literal
Meaning: “refuse”: it was his own choice; “refused to
be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter”, it indicated that he was willing to
identify with his Hebrew brothers instead of remaining in the royal house (see
Ex. 2:11).
Heb. 11:25 “choosing rather to suffer
affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,”
YLT:
“choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the
passing pleasures of sin,”
Meaning
of Words: “rather…than”: prefer to; “suffer affliction”: maltreat in company with,
endure persecution together; “passing”: temporary, for a time, for a season;
“pleasures of sin”: enjoyment of sin;
Literal
Meaning: “choosing rather to suffer affliction with
the people of God”, “suffer affliction”: the maltreatment of the Israelites in
“Than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin”, “enjoy the passing
pleasures of sin”: all the enjoyments in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The common people (including many
Christians) choose rather enjoyment than afflictions. However, afflictions may
often build up a man and makes him a useful vessel in the hands of God. The
more one suffers, the more can he get from God to give others.
2) The temporary afflictions can bring us
eternal blessings. However, temporary pleasures will cast us into permanent
pains.
Heb. 11:26 “esteeming the reproach of
Christ greater riches than the treasures in
YLT:
“esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in
Meaning
of Words: “esteem”: count, conclude,
estimate; “reproach”: insult, humiliation;
“treasure”: wealth; “greater riches”: more wealth; “look to”: look away from
everything else; “reward”: recompense of reward;
Literal
Meaning: “esteeming the reproach of Christ greater
riches than the treasures in
“For he looked to the reward”, “look to”: pay attention to something,
just like an artist who pays close attention to the object he is working. The
word in the original is in past perfect tense, which emphasizes that it was a
continuous action in the past.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Though the giants of faith in the Old
Testament did not know Christ, what they had done in faith had relations with
Christ in the sight of God. By faith, men in the Old Testament looked upon
Christ who had not come to the world. And by faith believers in the New
Testament look upon Christ who has ascended into the heavens.
2) Where there is a “loss”, there is also a
“reward”. Though one loses the temporary and corruptible treasures, but he
shall receive the eternal glorious reward. The loss can even bring about
profit, and no exchange is more profitable than such one.
Heb. 11:27 “By faith he forsook
YLT:
“By faith he forsook
Meaning
of Words: “forsook”: leave behind; “wrath”: anger; “endured”: kept on, steadfast;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith he forsook
“For he endured as seeing Him who is invisible”, “endured”: Moses spent
two forty years in the wilderness after his twice departure from
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The experiences of Moses can typify the
spiritual way of Christians: a) Moses forsook
2) Seeing God is the secret for Christians to
lead the whole of his life. Once we have seen God in spirit, we will not be
weary or faint in our minds and run the race that is set before us (see
12:1-3).
Heb. 11:28 “By faith he kept the
Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn
should touch them.”
YLT:
“By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who
destroyed the firstborn should touch them.”
Meaning
of Words: “kept”: observed, appointed; “sprinkling”: shedding forth;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling
of blood”, “kept”, it was celebrating the establishment of the divine system.
“The Passover and the sprinkling of blood”, it is recorded in the Book of
Exodus (12:1-14).
“Lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them”, at that night,
when the destroyer smote the firstborn of Egyptians, he would passover the door
and not smite the house as he saw the blood on the lintel and on the two
door-posts (see Ex. 12:21-24).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Christians not only need the blood of the
lamb when they were saved but also have to draw the effect of the precious
blood all their life (see 1John 1:7-9).
2) Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of
malice and wickedness, but with unleavened of sincerity and truth (1Cor.
5:7-8).
Heb. 11:29 “By faith they passed
through the
YLT:
“By faith they passed through the
Meaning
of Words: “drowned”: swallow up, devour;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith they passed through the
“Whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned”, it is
recorded in the Book of Exodus (14:23-28).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Though the enemy is fierce, faith enables us
to pass through the crisis in peace, for the object that faith looks upon is
the almighty God.
2) The experience of Christians’ baptism is
just like passing through the
Heb. 11:30 “By faith the walls of
YLT:
“By faith the walls of
Meaning
of Words: “encircle”: surround, come
round about;
Literal
Meaning: it is recorded in the Book of Joshua (6:1-20).
“The walls of
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) In the spiritual battle, it is not by might,
nor by power, but by the Spirit of God (Zech. 4:6). Faith is reliance upon the
Spirit of Jehovah of all hosts. Therefore, things had been done according to
the word of God (Jos. 6:2-5).
2) “Sever” is a number in the Scriptures
symbolizing perfection. When the works of our faith have been perfect and
satisfied God, He will work and no enemy can stand before Him.
Heb. 11:31 “By faith the harlot Rahab
did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies
with peace.”
YLT:
“By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when
she had received the spies with peace.”
Meaning
of Words: “receive”: accept, welcome; “perish”: be destroyed;
Literal
Meaning: “by faith the harlot Rahab ….
when she had received the spies with peace”, “peace” refers to her
friendly attitude without any hostility.
“Did
not perish with those who did not believe”, “those who did not believe” those who were against the people of God;
“perish”: there is no chance to escape at all and destruction comes at once.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Faith is not decided by one’s natural birth.
Once a man has faith, he will be listed in the names of the giants of faith.
Therefore, the harlot Rahab had part in the genealogy of Jesus Christ and
became the ancestor of the Lord Jesus (Matt. 1:5).
2) Rahab was a gentile and yet she had also
obtained good testimony in faith. Her story encouraged gentile believers that
God does not accept persons, but pays attentions to whether you have faith or
not.
Heb. 11:32 “And what more shall I say?
For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah,
also of David and Samuel and the prophets:”
YLT:
“And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and
Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:”
Meaning
of Words: “fail”: not succeed;
Literal
Meaning: “and what more shall I say?”
Here it means that there were innumerable
giants in faith in the ancient times.
“Gideon
and Barak and Samson and Jephthah”,
they were judges and their things were recorded in the Book of Judges.
“Also
of David and Samuel”, “David” is the
famous king among the Israelites. “Samuel” was the renowned prophet. Their
things were recorded in the First and Second Books of Samuel.
“For
the time would fail me to tell of
… and the
prophets”, “the prophets” are recorded in the books of history and
the books of prophets. “The time would fail me”, it suggests that space lacks
for a detailed description of it.
Heb. 11:33 “who through faith subdued
kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of
lions,”
YLT:
“who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises,
stopped the mouths of lions,”
Meaning
of Words: “subdue”: overcome, struggle
against; “work”: work out, toil; “righteousness”:
equity, justification; “obtain”: receive; “stop”: block up;
Literal
Meaning: “who through faith subdued kingdoms”, “who”:
the characters who are above-mentioned (see v.32). However, this verse seems to
talk about King David. “Subdued kingdoms”: overcame kingdoms; and King David
subdued many countries round him (2Sam. 8:1-14).
“Worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions”,
king David worked out righteousness (2Sam. 8:15) and obtained the promise of
God that He would establish his kingdom (2Sam. 7:4-16). When he was young, he
smote the loin with bare hands and saved the lambs out of its mouth (1Sam.
17:35). “Stopped the mouths of lions”, it might refer to the experience of
Daniel (Dan. 6:22).
Heb. 11:34 “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.”
YLT:
“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.”
Meaning
of Words: “quenched”: put out, stop; “violence”: power, might; “escaped”: flee away, vanish; “the armies”: the camps;
Literal
Meaning:
“quenched the violence of fire”, just like Daniel and his three friends were not
touched in the burning fiery furnace (Dan. 3:16-17).
“Escaped the edge of the sword”, “escape”: flee away; for example, Elisha
was delivered from the encirclement of the armies of the king of
“Out of weakness were made strong”, for instance, Samson was renewed in
strength, and slew the dead at his death more than that which he slew in his
life (Judges 16:22-30).
“Became valiant in battle”, for example, Gideon with three hundred men
only smote the whole armies of the two kings of Midian (Judges 8:4-12).
“Turned to flight the armies of the aliens”, just like the angel of Jehovah smote in
the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand (2King 19:35).
Heb. 11:35 “Women received their dead
raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that
they might obtain a better resurrection.”
YLT:
“Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.”
Meaning
of Words: “tortured”: beaten to death; “deliverance”: redemption;
Literal
Meaning: “women received their dead raised to life again”, both Elijah and Elisha had ever raised
the sons to life again (1King 17:17-24; 2King 4:32-37).
“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance”, “were tortured”: it
meant that one was whipped or beaten with a club or beaten while his whole body
was bound unto a rotating wheel until he died. This was a kind of punishment in
the period of Maccabees.
“That they might obtain a better resurrection”, “a better resurrection” refers to “the
excellent resurrection” (Phil. 3:11 the original). When Christ comes again, all
those who have fallen asleep will rise again (1Thess. 4:16). However, only
those who overcome will have part in the better resurrection and reign with
Christ in the kingdom (Rev. 20:4).
Heb. 11:36 “Still others had trial of
mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.”
YLT:
“Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and
imprisonment.”
Meaning
of Words: “mocking”: desrision;
Literal
Meaning: “still others had trial of mockings and
scourgings”, “mockings” refer to the shabby imitation for the purpose of
laughing at someone and making him mentally painful. “Scourgings” make men
physically painfully. “Trial of”, it refers to all the affliction of enduring
mockings and scourgings and chains and imprisonment etc.
“Yes, and of chains and imprisonment”, “chains”: it means that one’s
hands and feet are bound chains. “Imprisonment”, be imprisoned;
Heb. 11:37 “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--”
YLT:
“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--”
Meaning
of Words: “wander about”: came all around,
stroll; “be destitute”: be in need; “afflict”:
suffer tribulation, trouble;
Literal
Meaning: “they were stoned, they were sawn in two”,
“were stoned”, be stoned with stones by the people, which is the commonest
punishment in
“Were tempted, were slain with the sword”, “were tempted”: were
persecuted and tortured; “were slain with the sword”: it was the commonest
punishment.
“They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins”, someone explained
that the prophets were covered with sheepskins and goatskins. And someone
thought it was a cruel punishment to persecute Christians in the
“Being destitute, afflicted, tormented”, “being destitute”: be deprived
of properties and daily necessities; “afflicted”: be persecuted and oppressed;
“tormented”: be maltreated and even not be treated as a human being;
Heb. 11:38 “of whom the world was not
worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the
earth.”
YLT:
“of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in
dens and caves of the earth.”
Meaning
of Words: “wander”: go astray, be out
of the way; “worthy”: due reward, suitable, deserving;
Literal
Meaning: “of whom the world was not worthy”, they
were regarded unworthy of living in the cultivated society. Actually, it is the
cultivated society that is not suitable for them to live.
“They wandered in deserts and mountains and in dens and caved of the
earth”, “wander”: just like the lost lamb that are hunted by the wolves.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Apparently, all those who suffer for the
Lord in faithfulness are unworthy of the world. Actually, it is the world
unworthy of them, and they are above the profit of the world.
2) Every trial of tribulation delivers us
further from the world, and makes us nearer to God and more worthy of God’s
reward.
Heb. 11:39 “And all these, having
obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,”
YLT:
“And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive
the promise,”
Meaning
of Words: “testimony”: evidence, proof;
Literal
Meaning:
“And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith”, God testifies that
they are approved by faith (see v.2).
“Did not receive the promise”, they had not seen the fulfillment when they died
(see v.13).
Heb. 11:40 “God having provided
something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”
YLT:
“God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made
perfect apart from us.”
Meaning
of Words: “provide”: supply; “better”: more strong, more powerful, more
honorable; “made…perfect”: fulfill, reach the goal ;
Literal
Meaning: “God having provided something better for
us”, “us”: believers in the New Testament; “something better” refers to the
redemption of Christ. All the sacrifices in the Old Testament for remission are
shadows. Christ only offered His body to become the eternal redemption. That is
the good thing to come (see 10:1, 4, 12), namely, the better thing.
“That they should not be made perfect apart from us”, “they”: the elect
of God who had faith in the Old Testament; “not apart from us”: they shall
obtain the promises of God with us together (see v.39). And the promises of God
are fulfilled in Christ, so they will also obtain the salvation in Christ.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The giants by faith in the Old Testament had
only obtained the promises. And we believers in the New Testament have received
the fulfillment of God’s promises. They only hoped for the promises, and we
just inherit the promises. If the hope of promises have made them live out the
wonderful testimony of faith, shall we who have tasted the promised more
manifest the testimony of faith?
2) The beautiful testimonies of the saints in
the Old Testament encourage us to learn to live by faith. When we believers in
the New Testament are perfected, what the saints in the Old Testament shall
also be made perfect ---- both supplement each other and will be made perfect.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Way of Faith
A. The definition of faith ---- property and
proof (v.1-3);
1. The confidence of faith (v.1);
2. The commendation of faith (v.2);
3. The comprehension of faith (v.3);
B. The demand of faith ---- the access to God
and the assurance of pleasing God (v.6);
C. The declaration of faith ---- seek a homeland
(v.14) ---- receive and embrace and confess the promise of God;
D. The demonstration of faith ---- by faith
(v.28, 33-34);
E. The devotion of faith ---- not accept
deliverance (v.35-38);
Three Steps of Faith
A. Know by faith (v.3);
B. Offer the sacrifice by faith ---- offer
thanks and praise (v.4);
C. Be taken away ---- God accepted (v.5);
The Gallery of God and its Different Parts
A. The first part: in the times before the
flood of waters ---- Abel, Enoch and Noah (v.4-7) ---- they did things that
others were unwilling to do;
B. The second part: in the times of the
patriarchs ---- Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph (v.8-22) ---- they
desired things that others were uninterested in;
C. The first part: in the times of going out of
D. The first part: in the times in the land of
promise ---- the people of
E. The first part: in the modern times ---- it
is for us (v.40) ---- a minority run the race that others are unwilling to run;
The Manifestation of Faith
A. The worship of faith ---- the better
sacrifice (v.4);
B. The witness of faith ---- Enoch pleased God
(v.5);
C. The work of faith ---- Noah prepared the ark
(v.7);
D. The walk of faith ---- Abraham obeyed and
went out (v.8);
E. The waiting of faith ---- he waited for the
city which has foundations (v.10);
F. The willingness of faith ---- Sarah received
strength (v.11-12);
G. The welcome of faith ---- they confesses and
desired the better homeland (v.13-16);
The Heroes of Faith
A. Abel ---- the sacrifice of faith (v.4);
B. Noah ---- the simplicity of faith (v.7);
C. Abraham ---- the sojourn of faith (v.8-10);
D. Isaac ---- the sanguinity of faith (v.20);
E. Moses ---- the suffering of faith (v.24-27);
F. Rahab ---- the salvation of faith (v.31);
G. Others ---- the supremacy of faith (v.32
etc.);
The Living Photographs of Faith
A. Abel --- the faith of justification (v.4);
B. Enoch ---- the faith of sanctification
(v.5);
C. Noah ---- the faith of testimony (v.7);
D. Abraham ---- the faith of building (v.8);
E. Isaac ---- the growing faith (v.20);
F. Jacob ---- the foreseeing faith (v.21);
G. Joseph ---- the faith of waiting for home
(v.22);
H. Moses’ parents ---- the faith of a mother
(v.23);
I. Moses ---- the faith of a son (v.24);
J. The Israelites who followed Moses ---- the
corporate faith (v.29);
H. Rahab ---- the faith of reception (v.31);
K. Others ---- the faith of gain (v.33-34);
L. The martyrs ---- the faith of endurance
(v.35);
M. The martyrs ---- the faith of assurance
(v.39);
The Choices of Moses
A. Moses said “No” to them:
1. The vain glory in the world ---- refused to
be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter (v.24);
2. The pleasures of sin ---- refuse to enjoy
the passing pleasures of sin (v.25);
3. The riches of
B. Moses said “Yes” to them:
1. The reward in the heavens ---- look to the
reward (v.26);
2. Suffer affliction with the people of God
---- choose rather to suffer affliction than to enjoy the passing pleasures
(v.25);
3. The reproach for the sake of Christ ---- it
is great riches than the treasures in
The Characteristics of the Choices of Moses
A. By faith ---- it is a choice of faith (v.24,
27);
B. Look to the reward ---- it is a foreseeing
choice (v.26);
C. Forsake the riches of
D. Not fear the wrath of the king ---- it is a
fearless choice (v.27);
E. Endure ---- it is a final choice (v.27);
Moses ---- A Man with Purpose and Power
A. Refuse the wealth (v.24);
B. Choose the afflictions (v.25);
C. Esteem the reproach (v.26);
D. Respect the reward (v.27);
E. Endure the wrath of the king (v.28);
F. Overcome the hindrances (v.29);
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou