Tyndale Open Study NotesHebrews 11

Chapter 11 gives a long list of people who trusted God. This shows clearly that living by faith is the only true way to follow God. The writer keeps repeating the words “by faith” to make this message clear. Each example follows the same pattern:

• (a) the phrase by faith,

• (b) the person's name,

• (c) the event or action showing faith, and

• (d) the result.

• Before sharing examples, the author explains faith: It means acting on what God has shown about his will and character.

• Our faith is based on the reality that God keeps his promises.

the ancients were commended: Scripture speaks positively about their lives of faith (see also Hebrews 11:39).

The belief that God created the entire universe is fundamental to Jewish and Christian theology (see Genesis 1:1–3). God made everything we see today. A faithful life believes that, like creation, God's promises are real and will become reality, even if they are not visible now.

• Abel: See Genesis 4:3–5.

• By faith he was commended as righteous: Compare with Hebrews 10:38.

• he still speaks: The story of his faith challenges us, and his blood testifies to his righteousness and the injustice of his murder (see 12:24).

• Enoch went to heaven and did not face a normal death (see Genesis 5:21–24).

• “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”: Genesis 5:24.

• without faith it is impossible to please God: The author refers to Hebrews 10:38, which quotes Habakkuk 2:4.

• Faith must include believing that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. When life is difficult, listeners are encouraged to trust God and expect him to fulfill his promises.

• The story of Noah (see Genesis 6:1–9:17) shows that faith means obeying even when you cannot see the outcome.

• things not yet seen: Specifically, the flood. Noah's faith showed the world God's truth and his wish for holiness.

Abraham … obeyed: See Genesis 12:1–2. He acted without knowing his destination, trusting in what he could not yet see.

• By faith he dwelt in the promised land: Abraham did not receive the promised land. Instead, he lived like a foreigner in tents (see Genesis 12:10–13:18).

• as did Isaac and Jacob: This faith continued with the next two generations. They received the same promise and trusted God but did not see it fulfilled.

• the city with foundations: Abraham did not settle in Canaanite cities. He followed God's will, looking forward to a heavenly city.

• and he as good as dead: Abraham, who was very old, became the ancestor of an entire nation. Faith means believing that God can fulfill his promises, even when it seems impossible.

• as the stars … and the sand: See Genesis 22:17. God kept his promise (Exodus 1:7).

The author stops to explain the common lessons seen in the lives he has discussed so far.

Abraham’s family lived in the promised land as foreigners and wanderers (see Genesis 23:4; compare 1 Chronicles 29:15; Psalm 39:12; 1 Peter 2:11).

Abraham's family clearly did not want to return to their homeland. If they did, they could have gone back. Their faith showed they longed for a better place. They hoped in God, who rewarded their faith by preparing a heavenly city for them.

ready to offer his one and only son: See Genesis 22:1–18. God did not want Abraham to sacrifice his son. He was testing Abraham's faith, which Abraham showed through his obedience.

These strong examples of faith start with Abraham's family and end with Rahab. They show that faith is the only way to respond to God.

Abraham reasoned: He thought that bringing Isaac back to life was the only solution to his problem. In Genesis 22:5, Abraham showed faith that Isaac would come back with him.

Isaac blessed: See Genesis 27:27–40. The only part of the story that could be seen as a blessing for Esau is that he would eventually break free from serving his brother. Later, Esau received blessings through Jacob's wealth (Genesis 33:8–11).

• Jacob gave the ritual blessing to Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48:8–22).

• worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff: Genesis 47:31. The phrase as he leaned on his staff comes from the Greek translation of the Old Testament.

Joseph's prophecy and command (see Genesis 50:24–25) showed his faith that God would keep his promises.

• Moses’ parents: See Exodus 2:1–2.

• beautiful: This word means something of high quality. They believed Moses was special, so they acted with faith in God.

• the king’s edict: Exodus 1:22.

Moses, when he was grown: He took a public stand with the people of Israel instead of being known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, who had adopted him (see Exodus 2:11–15 and Exodus 2:3–10). He chose to share in the suffering of God's people, just as the readers of this letter were encouraged to do (see Hebrews 10:32–34).

the treasures of Egypt: The New Kingdom of Egypt lasted from about 1550 to 1069 BC. It was a time of great wealth and political power. Moses looked beyond these riches because he expected a greater reward from God.

• Like his ancestor Abraham, Moses showed faith by leaving Egypt, the land he knew, and stepping into an unknown future (Exodus 2:15).

• not fearing the king's anger: Instead of fearing the king's anger, he focused on God, who is invisible.

• he kept the Passover: See Exodus 12:1–27. The first Passover (Exodus 12:28–30) started the Exodus (Exodus 12:31–42, 50–51) and began the yearly Passover celebration as a remembrance (Exodus 12:43–49; 13:1–16).

• the sprinkling of blood: Sprinkling the blood of sacrifices in the old covenant was similar to the sprinkling of Christ’s blood (see Hebrews 9:12–14, 18–22).

The rescue through the Red Sea (see Exodus 13:17–14:21) is the greatest moment of deliverance in Israel’s history. The people's fear and complaints at the time (Exodus 14:10–12) do not clearly show faith, but they moved forward when instructed, despite their fear. This event shows that obedience is key to faith.

The conquest of Jericho (Joshua 5:13–6:27) shows great faith. The people followed God's unusual instructions obediently.

Rahab, a prostitute (Joshua 2; 6:25), showed faith in the God of Israel by hiding the spies who visited her home (see James 2:25). Because of this, she and her family were spared and became part of the Israelite community. Rahab was even an ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).

The author quickly highlights other faithful people from the old covenant era. In Hebrews 11:32–35a, faith leads to rescue and triumph. In 11:35b–38, however, faith results in harsh persecution and even death for their beliefs. Despite these outcomes, God honored both groups with a good reputation because of their faith (11:39).

• And what more shall I say? The author transitions to a concluding summary, starting with six faith heroes from the time of the judges and the united monarchy:

  • Gideon defeated the Midianites using torches and jars (Judges 7:7–25).

  • Barak defeated Sisera and the Canaanites (Judges 4:8–16).

  • Samson, despite his moral weaknesses, was used by God to fight the Philistines for Israel (Judges 13–16).

  • Jephthah achieved victory over the Amorites and Ammonites (Judges 10:6–12:7).

  • David, the only king in the group, loved God and generally led a life of faith (1 Samuel 16—1 Kings 1).

  • Samuel was a key leader between the time of the judges and Israel's first kings. He listened to God's voice and followed his will (1 Samuel 1–15).

• The phrase and the prophets includes Elijah, Elisha, and the prophets from Isaiah to Malachi. These prophets often showed great faith despite facing hostility.

• conquered kingdoms: During the time of the judges and the time when David was king, Israel defeated many enemies. David, Solomon, and a few others ruled fairly (see 2 Samuel 8:15; 1 Kings 10:9).

• shut the mouths of lions: See Daniel 6:1–23.

• quenched the raging fire: See Daniel 3:16–30.

• escaped the edge of the sword: For example, Elijah and Jeremiah (see 1 Kings 19:2; 2 Kings 1:1–18; Jeremiah 26:10–16; 38:1–13).

• Elijah and Elisha both brought women's loved ones back from death (see 1 Kings 17:17–24; 2 Kings 4:17–37).

• Others were tortured: Faith does not always lead to a positive outcome in this life. The author might be referring to the 170s and 160s BC, when many Jews suffered and died rather than abandon their faith (see, for example, 1 Maccabees 1:20–64).

Tradition says that people killed the prophet Jeremiah by throwing stones at him, and they sawed the prophet Isaiah in half.

The world was not worthy of them: They placed their hope in God more than in the pleasures and comforts of life.

• The way to live as God’s people under the new covenant is the same way people lived under the old covenant: by trusting God’s promises and enduring difficulties in this world.

• commended for their faith: God recognized their faithfulness (see also Hebrews 11:2).

• yet they did not receive what was promised: They died before Christ's promised coming. The better promise began with Christ's sacrifice (8:3–10:18) and looks forward to the future completion of God's plan for his people.

• they would be made perfect: See study notes on 5:9; 7:11. Jesus has fulfilled God's goal of bringing his people into a relationship with him.