Christendom precisely takes the middle ground of Judaism between these two extremes. It was not the church, I repeat, but what God prepares above for those who love Him. VII. I'm looking for my dwelling with God in His eternal kingdom. But works cannot produce faith, nor can they substitute for faith. As it was God's will and the work of Christ, so the Holy Ghost is He who witnesses to the perfectness of it. ii. But although it will be the shaking of all things, not of earth only but also heaven, yet, marvellous to say, such confidence of heart does grace give, that this, which may be regarded as the most awful threat, turns into a blessed promise. 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 ( Hebrews 11:5 ). And thus, for the child of God, it's the glorious coronation day. And the word substance there has been translated in the new versions the substantiating of the things that we hope for. Here the words "for us" had better be left out. Christianity turns everything to account. His birth was long beyond any natural possibility for birth, and so he was in a sense received from the dead, a miracle child to begin with. He was big enough and brave enough to wait until God said: "Now is the hour.". On the life of Isaac depended the promise; and now God seemed to want to take that life away. (b) In Hebrews 11:9 he uses the word paroikein ( G3939) , to sojourn, of Abraham. He was snatched away lest evil should change his understanding or guile deceive his soul." This was the very thing that these Jewish Christians were shrinking, from, if not rebelling against. The other man replies: "Do you know what happens to Christians? Seneca said: "The first essential of the worship of the gods is to believe that there are godsand to know those gods who preside over the world, because they control the universe with their power, and work for the safety of the whole human race, while they still remember each individual person." Take each of you offerings in your hand and go, sacrifice to the Lord and he will decide." Let peoples serve you and nations bow down to you." To his deep humiliation the Romans ordered him home. Long ago Epicurus said the chief end of life was pleasure. 12 :18-24 Sprinkling on the lentils and the doorposts, interestingly enough, gives you the sprinkling in the shape of a cross. There are certain surroundings which indicate to the competent eye when the word "covenant" is right and when the word "testament" is better. I build my faith on that.". The only thing they would offer was a broken toy they could well do without. Alcibiades that brilliant but wild young man of Athens used to say to Socrates: "Socrates, I hate you, for every time I meet you, you show me what I am." Because His people had no heart for His promises, He imposed a system of law and ordinances that was unjudged in them, which provoked the sin. For I know that as long as I am living in this body, I am absent from the Lord; but I would choose rather to be absent from this body, and to be present with the Lord. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant." But where in the Old Testament is there a prophecy of His rising again the third day? The whole list is of men who faced incredible odds for God. He knew he would die in Egypt, but he instructed that his bones be buried in Canaan. (5.) There is nothing capricious about the usage. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt" (Genesis 50:22-26, ESV). Genesis 23:4). How Canaan is called the land of promise, because yet only promised, not possessed. Many that are interested in the promises do not presently receive the things promised. Some would take this as detracting from his victory, that he gained it so late, that he did not make this choice sooner; but it is rather an enhancement of the honour of his self-denial and victory over the world that he made this choice when he had grown ripe for judgment and enjoyment, able to know what he did and why he did it. Separate Line. Hereby he became an heir of the righteousness which is by faith. After all, the telling fact was before them that, whoever wrote the epistle to the Hebrews, it was not a Christian who wrote the book of Genesis, but Moses; and Moses bears witness to the homage which Abram rendered to Melchisedec by the payment of tithes. 3. Such was the Priest of whom God spoke. "To Gaza." [2.] He does not so much tell them what to remember as by delicate hints compel them to remember for themselves. There can be no such thing as religion without that belief. There is no sanction here, of course, of the vulgar and outrageous error that pastors give an account of the souls of their flock. But they voted to banish him. All the effort of Christendom is first to deny the one, and then to escape from the other. They examined the animals in their toy ark and finally decided on a sheep with a broken leg. They saw them afar off. And here we learn the direct application. His wife Sarah shared his faith. The Jews themselves acknowledge that Psalms 110:1-7 must be fulfilled in Christ, in His quality of Messiah. Here was a great trial of their faith. "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. We have here those whose names are not only mentioned, but the particular trials and actings of their faith are subjoined. Well, the word provide, the base word of provide is vision, provision. She was delivered of a child, a man-child, a child of the promise, and comfort of his parents' advanced years, and the hope of future ages. He presses a conversation without covetousness, and a spirit of content, founded on our confidence in the Lord's care. For that goodness, for the blessings, for the richness that is ours through Jesus Christ, for the promises and for the hope. of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. The reason appears to be, because he is going to tell us of the Old Testament saints. The reference here I cannot but regard as exclusively to the two houses of Israel. Some must hazard their own lives to preserve their children, and they were resolved to do it; they knew the king's commandment was evil in itself, contrary to the laws of God and nature, and therefore of no authority nor obligation. For not merely did David receive from Jehovah that throne, but never were the people of God lifted out of such a state of distress and desolation, and placed on such a height of firm and stable triumph as under that one man's reign. (2.) It did not matter whether it was a priest or an Israelite. (3.) He is the same unchangingly and evermore, as He has ever been. Antiochus had an interest in Egypt. Dwelt translates the ancient Greek word paroikos, describing a "resident alien" one who lives at a certain place, but doesn't have permanent status there. , [made mention of] remembered) He mentioned, what he had never forgotten, the promise made to their fathers, and as it were renewed it for the future. , concerning his bones) so that even though dead he might leave Egypt, and come into the Land of Promise. In this phrase there is no allusion whatever to the church; nor indeed anywhere in the Hebrews is there any reference to its distinctive portion in union with its Head. Would he give up Isaac? As, (1.) He showed thereby his dependence upon God, and testified his condition here as a pilgrim with his staff, and his weariness of the world, and willingness to be at rest. And others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, [as was Zechariah and also, as thought, Jeremiah] they were sawn asunder [or sawed in two] ( Hebrews 11:36-37 ), Isaiah, that marvelous prophet that we've enjoyed his revelations. It is a recompense of reward, because given by a righteous Judge for the righteousness of Christ to righteous persons, according to the righteous rule of the covenant of grace. He insisted that we must take the long view. Abel ran to the hills but Cain pursued him, saying: "The hills are mine." (2.) It is the most beautiful adventure in life." It is quite legitimate to employ it in an fortiori way, as the apostle does in Ephesians 6:1-24. This also was granted, but Enoch, having been granted a glimpse of Paradise, never came back to earth again. Observe, [1.] Thou hast sent thy wife away out of thine house, because thou couldst not trust the Lord God that he would protect the child that might be born to thee." Here observe. We must bear in mind that Melchisedec was a man like any other. A greater trial was never put upon any creature. He is called their God. In my judgment it is correct to translate it both ways, never arbitrarily, but according to context. They were prepared to believe that God could make their obvious weakness able for an incredible task. That was Cain's failure to deal with the sin issue, and God put the finger on it. Then we hear of the practical use of all. An evil life it is to go from house to house. They, presumptuously attempting to follow Israel through the Red Sea, being thus blinded and hardened to their ruin, were all drowned. little thinking that he was to be the lamb; but Abraham knew it, and yet he went on with the great design. God's arm is not shortened; his power is not grown less. May God grant to us to leave behind not a germ of evil but a lovely thing in which the lives of those who come afterwards will find blessing. If we formed our Christian character practically on such epistles as those to the Ephesians and Colossians alone, depend on it there may not be the hard lines of the law, but there will be very far from the fervent affections which become him who feels the grace of Christ. For these very features did Judaism despise the gospel. Biblical Commentary Hebrews 11:29 - 12:2 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: Hebrews 11 is the great faith chapter of the Bible, first defining faith (v. 1) and then using well-known Hebrew people to show faith in action. Fascinating statement!Now he begins to list those men of faith from the Old Testament. (c) In Hebrews 11:13 he uses the word parepidemos ( G3927) . The circumstance of time is taken notice of, when Moses by his faith gained this victory over the world, in all its honours, pleasures, and treasures: When he had come to years (Hebrews 11:24); not only to years of discretion, but of experience, to the age of forty yearswhen he was great, or had come to maturity. The last chapter (Hebrews 13:1-25) follows this up with some practical exhortations as to brotherly love continuing; then as to kindness to strangers, or hospitality; finally, as to pity for those in bonds. The Romans will do the last sad offices. [2.] Abraham asked him his age and then said: "You fool to adore a god who is younger than yourself!" He lived there in an ambulatory moving condition, living in a daily readiness for his removal: and thus should we all live in this world. They did not hanker after the plenty and pleasures of it, nor regret and repent that they had left it; they had no desire to return to it. he had respect unto the recompense of the reward ( Hebrews 11:26 ). The legends go on to tell that Terah not only worshipped twelve idols, one for each of the months, but was also a manufacturer of idols. He does not mean by this the worst of sinners, but saving believers to the uttermost, bringing through every difficulty those "that come unto God by him." For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. If he takes to himself the title of their God, he will fully answer it, and act up to it; and he has prepared that for them in heaven which will fully answer this character and relation, so that it shall never be said, to the reproach and dishonour of God, that he has adopted a people to be his own children and then taken no care to make a suitable provision for them. And, amazingly, she is one of the names which appear in the genealogy of Jesus ( Matthew 1:5). 1 now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. They had looked for advance and triumph and peace and prosperity everywhere; on the contrary, they had come into reproach and shame, partly in their own persons, partly as becoming the companions of others who so suffered. And as he starts towell, before he gets into it, he starts with just the creation of the world itself. On the seventh day the priests were to blow upon the trumpets, after the city had been encircled seven times, and the people were to shout with all their might, "and the wall of the city will fall down flat." (:17-22) FAITH OF THE PATRIARCHS - PASSING THE BATON OF GOD'S PROMISES TO THE NEXT GENERATION -- LOOKING FORWARD TO FUTURE BLESSING. (2.) Think of the shaking of heaven and earth being a promise! ), He put himself into the hand of God, to send him whithersoever he pleased. Because he lives, he has a permanent priesthood, always interceding for his own, and thus he is able completely to save those who trust in him. This is the meaning of the blood carried within, and of the body burnt without. Thus it will prove a land-mark to direct their course, a load-stone to draw their hearts, a sword to conquer their enemies, a spur to quicken them to duty, and a cordial to refresh them under all the difficulties of doing and suffering work. He realized that the pleasures of sin are not lasting. (1.) We should never forget that there was a day when his friends came and tried to get him to go home because they thought that he was mad. The millennial day will see this. Others were crucified because they refused to accept release, for they were eager to obtain a better resurrection. (ii) It passed into dawning realization. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." The actings of Noah's faith, and the influence it had both upon his mind and practice. God bless you and give you a beautiful week. I refer to the fact just to exemplify on the one hand the true bearing of the epistle, and what I believe will be discovered in it, and on the other hand to guard against the mistake of importing into it, or trying to extract from it, what is not there. With God there is very little difference between vision and provision. When we come to it straight from God's presence, no task can ever defeat us. Keats said that he had been "half in love with easeful death." The ground of Noah's faitha warning he had received from God of things as yet not seen. Cain took the earth and everything stationary; Abel took everything moveable. (2.). With the apostle Paul ( Phil. She protected them and enabled them to make their escape; and in return, when Jericho was taken she and her family were saved from the general slaughter. God will keep His word. (iii) Noah's faith was a judgment on others. For it is a good thing that the heart be established in grace." William Morris wrote: "Death have we hated, knowing not what it meant. Pharaoh's wise men were full of foreboding that this child would some day trample the royal power under foot. He draws attention to the well-known rites of the atonement day; at any rate, if not of that day exclusively, wherever there was a beast the body of which was burnt without the camp, and the blood carried within the veil. As with the other great characters whose names are included in this roll or honour of God's faithful ones, many legends and elaborations had gathered round the name of Moses and doubtless the writer of this letter had them also in his mind. God then has provided some better thing for us. Among the noble army of believing worthies, bravely marshalled by the apostle, Rahab comes in the rear, to show that God is no respecter of persons. Above all, let them take care that they be not a shame and reproach to their God, and so provoke him to be ashamed of them; but let them act so as to be to him for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory. When Joshua sent out spies to spy out the situation in Jericho, they found a lodging in the house of Rahab, a harlot. This supposes the people of God not actually settled in the land, but still pilgrims and strangers on the earth; and the epistle to the Hebrews, we have already seen, looks emphatically and exclusively at the people of God as not yet passed out of the wilderness; never as brought into the land, though it might be on the verge; just entering, but not actually entered. And God has said, "Now offer Isaac," so I'll offer Isaac, but somehow God's gotta work some kind of a miracle, because Isaac doesn't have any children yet, and through Isaac the nation is to be developed. They did not send an army to oppose him; such was the might of Rome that they did not need to. Others went through scoffing and scourging, yes, and chains and imprisonment. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full (Genesis 15:13-16). No act of sacrilege was omitted. Now the tone becomes bolder with them, and shows clearly that the Jew had but an empty form, a foreshadow of value once, but now superseded by the true antitype in the heavens. His wish was fulfilled (Joshua 24:32; Acts 4:16). Now when a child hears another child cry, he will cry too. For Christ, on whom the promises depend. The legends tell how Abraham was the son of Terah, commander of the armies of Nimrod. They had known God in His providence and dealings on the earth, though looking for a Messiah and His day. THE FAITH WHICH DEFIED THE FACTS ( Hebrews 11:30-31 ). It was only owing to the blindness of Israel. 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