Hebrews 12:14-29

Our God is a Consuming Fire

What it says:

Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Heb 12:18  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:19  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
Heb 12:20  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb 12:21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

What it means:

Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness,

What two things are we to follow? 1. Peace with all men, and, 2. Holiness

Notice it says “Follow” both peace and holiness.

Define: Follow – go after, pursue, chase, trail, hunt, stick to, abide by, keep to, respect, adhere to

To follow means to pursue, to go after, to hunt for peace with all men. It may be that those men are not looking for peace with us, but we are to pursue peace with them. We also are told here to hunt for, to stick to, and to adhere to holiness as a way of life. We are always seeking peace with men. We are also always seeking holiness which is the rule that must govern our behavior if we are to be the children of God.

What must govern our behavior? Peace and holiness. Reconciliation with God -- and man, whom God loves. Behavior that is based on the word of God. These are the principles that a true Christian lives by.

Define: Principles – basic assumption or underlying law, ethical standard, characteristic ingredient

The two “principles” that are to underpin or hold up our lives are peace and holiness.

Define: Peace – concord, end of war, amity, harmony, freedom from strife, reconciliation, (Antonym: war); calm, quiet, stillness, tranquility, silence, harmony, serenity, (Antonym: uproar)

Define: Holiness – sanctity, piety, godliness, saintliness, consecration, devoutness, devotion, purity

When these two things are present in our lives, others will notice they are there, by the things we do and the things we say. Our words and our actions will be in harmony with each another.

1Jn 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

How are we to love? In deed and in truth.

What is a deed? An intentional act, undertaking, something you have done

Who would this deed be done to or for? To men. For God.

To love in deed, means to take actions that demonstrate love and compassion for fellow men and women. To do an act of kindness and then repeat other acts of kindness until doing deeds of love becomes a habit of your life.

“And in truth” – when we demonstrate our love by our deeds, we then show that we love “in truth” and not just in speech or self aggrandizement.

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Speaking to the Lord (saying, “Lord, Lord”) is important, but if we do not do the will of the Father in heaven, then we are missing something and are not really God’s children. We must live our lives based on God and His word – in truth. It is our hearts not our voice box that the Lord desires.

without which no man shall see the Lord:

What happens if we fight with men and live ungodly lives? We don't and we won't see the Lord.

Define: See – observe, witness, glimpse, catch sight of, set eyes on, visit, pay a visit to, go to see

Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Joh 15:10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

We are saved by grace and nothing is better than that! Once we are saved, then the conduct of our lives becomes important. If we hope to see the Lord Jesus, we must keep his commandments. If we do that, we shall continue to abide in His love. We are to follow His example, in which, he kept His Father’s commandments and remained in His love.

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently

Define: Looking – direct eyes at something, use eyes to examine, watch, search, seek, look for, try to find, consider something, face a particular direction, pay attention

The idea of “looking” is tied to the idea of “seeing.” We would like to see God, but we will only do that if we are looking for Him. Our behavior is truly based on what we are seeking and looking toward. If we are truly seeking the Lord and looking unto Him as Savior and Lord, then our behavior will reflect that looking. Those who are looking toward the Lord are praising Him, trusting Him, and praying to Him. He, then, gives them peace of mind and heart in Christ Jesus.

Define: Diligently – persistent, hard-working, industriously, meticulously, conscientiously, thoroughly, attentively, carefully (Antonym: hastily)

Diligence requires that we pay attention. We must be looking diligently to follow peace with all men, and diligently living holy lives.

1Pe 1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Define: Conversation -- G391 ἀναστροφή, anastrophē, an-as-trof-ay', behavior: - conversation.  – performance, actions, deeds, activities, manners, conduct, life style

lest any man fail of the grace of God;

Our author then warns us what happens as a result or consequence of not living in peace with others, and not seeking to live holy lives:

Define: Lest – in case, for fear that, in order to prevent some fearful thing from happening

Define: Fail – be unsuccessful, not pass, not succeed, fall short, not make the grade, break down, stop working, crash, disappoint, let down, neglect

Clearly it is possible for a man to “fail of the grace of God.” Our author does not want us to fail and not be children of God. He wants us to succeed in faithfulness. He wants us to grab hold of the grace of God and keep holding on. Truly our lives and life eternal depends on keeping the grace of God close to us and sharing it with others in word and in behavior. Grace is the gift of God. We respect His gift by continuing to cling to Him and by keeping Him before our eyes. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. We must never leave nor forsake Him, either.

Rom 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

We are justified freely by God’s grace…. And then what?

Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

The conduct of our lives is IMPORTANT!!   We are justified freely by God’s grace, that we may be able to live justified and faithful lives. God gives us grace so we can turn our lives around and live within His grace continually. He gives us grace that we may be His sons and daughters. Then we must conduct ourselves as such.

Jas 2:19-24  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Works by themselves are of no use. We don’t get to heaven by works. We please God by having faith in Him. Then once we have faith in Him our works then prove our faith continues. If we have faith, but no works, our faith is not perfect. It is incomplete. We are justified by faith, and then the just live by faith. Living by faith produces good fruit.

Mat 7:17  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Eph 2:10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

There are no “two ways” about it. We can produce good fruit or bad fruit, but not both. If we have faith in God, then by His grace we are saved. We remain saved by remaining in His grace and by doing the good works He has prepared for us to do.

lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you,

Define: Bitterness – resentment, spite, hostility, unpleasantness, sullenness, anger, sourness, sharpness (Antonym: sweetness, forgiveness)

If bitterness springs up, what does it do to you? Troubles you / causes trouble for you

The words “root” and “springing up” refer to something that takes root and then “springs up” or grows larger. Bitterness then grows larger as time passes. The bitterness bush produces sour grapes. We can cling to the grace of God or to our own bitterness. Clinging to grace produces sweet peace and love within us and we spread it wherever we go. Clinging to bitterness or resentment creates a sullen personality which spreads anger, animosity, and hostility wherever we go!! Good fruit or bad fruit. We shall be known by our fruit. And it GROWS!! Either our faith grows or our bitterness grows. Feed your faith, and let it grow tall. Pull out the weeds of bitterness and do not let them grow.

and thereby many be defiled;

Define: Defiled – tainted, dishonored, besmirched, sullied, tarnished, corrupted, despoiled, ruined, degraded, (Antonym: untarnished)

It is harboring bitterness, resentment, and animosity that tarnishes us. Many have been sullied because of a resentful heart. Don’t even give bitterness a place to sit down – toss it out the door – before it can take root and damage you.

What is the antidote to bitterness? Sweetness and forgiveness.

Bitterness is healed by compassion, understanding, and forgiveness = love. God is not bitter towards us. We cannot afford to be bitter towards anyone else. It will cost you your love – and your sense of being loved. Even when we were sinners God forgave us. We must – and can only – do the same if we desire to have God’s peace in our hearts.

Mat 6:14-15  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

How do we know we have God’s forgiveness? Bible promises, and through Jesus Christ.

By His word, and by His Son. By faith we can feel it in our hearts.

1Jn 3:21  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

How do we know we are bitter? We can feel it in our hearts. If our hearts are not bitter then our hearts will not condemn us and we will have confidence in God. Bitterness or resentment stems from having confidence in something other than God. We become resentful when we expect certain things from another person but do not get them. If we’ve been treated poorly by someone and we hold it against them we taint our own hearts.

1Pe 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Whose soul is purified when we obey the truth through the Spirit? Our own.

How do we demonstrate that we have obeyed the truth through the Spirit? Unfeigned love of the brethren.

Whose heart is defiled by bitterness or resentment? Our own.

What are we to “see that ye?” Love one another with a pure heart fervently

Define: Fervently – passionately, ardently, enthusiastically, eagerly, zealously, fanatically, feverishly, excitedly, energetically, (Antonym: indifferently)

Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person,

What two things are we warned against here? 1. Fornicator, or , 2. Profane person

Define: Fornicator – immoral sex, one who has voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons or two persons not married to each other. In the Bible: idolatry (worship of unholy things)

Define: Profane – blasphemous, irreverent, irreligious, disrespectful, wicked, sacrilegious (Antonym: pious)

as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

His example of a person who worships something other than God, and thereby, is impious, irreverent, and profane is Esau, Jacob’s brother.

What did Esau do? Sold his birthright for one morsel of meat.

At that moment, what was most important to Esau? His belly. His appetite. Himself.

Jacob and Esau were both the sons of Isaac – a very pious man. Being born of godly parents does not guarantee that the offspring will also be godly. Each man makes his own choices in relation to God and to his own life.

Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward,

Define: Afterward – later, after that, subsequently, then, next

The word “afterward” implies a sequence of events. Esau had been taught about God, just as Jacob had been, by their father, Isaac, who was Abraham’s son. Isaac had faithfully allowed himself to be placed on the alter as a sacrifice, but God intervened and did not allow it. Isaac knew God. This comes from the story of how God tested Abraham but I’m often amazed at what Isaac did because of his own humble obedience when I read that story!!

So what came first was Esau’s knowledge of the existence and reality of God. What came second was his choice to exchange his birthright for a bowl of red lentils. Esau was arrogant. So the “afterward” is the rest of the story.

when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected:

What did Esau want? To inherit the blessing.

What did he get? Rejected.

How Esau “would have” it was to inherit the blessing he had traded away – but he was rejected. Afterward he sought a blessing from Isaac, but there were no more blessings left!! He was rejected because Isaac had acted on the prompting of the Holy Spirit and gave the entire “double portion blessing” to Jacob.

Once you know God and His ways, you are responsible for that knowing.

Heb 3:17  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

Just like Jacob’s descendants who fell in the wilderness, Esau willfully abused God’s grace; then paid the penalty.

for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

What did he not find? A place of repentance.

How did he seek it? Carefully with tears.

He sought to make things right for himself. He carefully sought it from his father, with tears – and you know how men hate to cry. If they are moved to tears they are serious. But he was too late. His father gave him what he had left to give, but the inheritance was already given to another forever. The word of God cannot be taken back.

From this story of Esau, what do you think, we are being warned about? (See: Heb 12:16-17 ) That we be not fornicators nor profane people.

BBC: So it is with an apostate. He has no real regard for spiritual values. He willingly renounces Christ in order to escape reproach, suffering, or martyrdom. He cannot be renewed to repentance. There may be remorse but no godly repentance.

Heb 12:18  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire,

What do we not come to? The burning mountain which, if you were not careful could be touched, relieving yourself of your life.

They were commanded not to touch the mountain, which implies that it was possible to touch it. Touching the mountain was a temptation that they were commanded to resist.

Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

When we come to Jesus, we don’t have to worry about being in the right place or touching something that will destroy us. Every place is the right place to seek Jesus, but when Moses spoke with God, the people were commanded to not come near the burning mountain where God was. They were actually being protected and warned and kept safe. God had not reconciled the earth with His peace yet, so they had to be made fearful to keep them away from the mountain for their own safety. If they had come near they would have lost their lives instead of finding them.

By what method would they have died? Stoning.

God did not send a bolt of lightning to kill them, the people would have stoned them – as commanded.

nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, Heb 12:19  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words;

What five things are we not threatened with when we come to Jesus? 1. Blackness, 2. Darkness, 3. Tempest, 4. The sound of a trumpet, and 5. The voice of words (an audible voice)

which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

Define: Intreated – (entreat) plead desperately, to beg repeatedly, plead, implore, beseech, pray, appeal

What did they not want? To hear the terrifying voice of words

Deu 5:23-28  And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me (Moses), even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth. Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die.  For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it. And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.

Heb 12:20  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

Notice the opening parentheses. Our author is now interpreting what he just said. They had been commanded to not come near or touch the burning mountain, lest they die by stoning. Not even a beast was permitted to go near without threat of death. And they found this an intolerable test of endurance – “they could not endure.”

Heb 12:21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

What did Moses say of the experience? I exceedingly fear and quake.

Heb 12:22  But ye

These two words “but” and “ye” mean that we have an entirely different experience when seeking God. We recall that the word “but” cancels out all that was previously said so that what follows replaces it entirely.

Who is “ye?” Us -- believers, Christians

are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

What do we come to? 1. Mount Sion, 2. The city of the living God, 3. The heavenly Jerusalem, 4. An innumerable company of angels.
 
Believer’s Bible Commentary: Believers have not come to the forbidding terrors of Sinai but to the welcome of grace: “Now every blood-bought child of God can say: The terrors of law and of God, With me can have nothing to do; My Saviour's obedience and blood Hide all my transgressions from view.” — A. M. Toplady

We do not come to a tangible mountain on earth. Our privilege is to enter the sanctuary in heaven. By faith, we approach God in confession, praise, and prayer. We are not limited to one day of the year, but may enter the holiest at any time with the knowledge that we are always welcome. God no longer says, “Stay at a distance”; He says, “Come near with confidence.” Law has its Mount Sinai but faith has its Mount Zion. This heavenly mountain symbolizes the combined blessings of grace—all that is ours through the redeeming work of Christ Jesus.

Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven,

What else do we come to? 1. The general assembly in heaven, and 2. The church of the firstborn (which are both written in heaven). 

When we come to Jesus we also come to all of Jesus’ followers who are written in heaven in the Lambs book of Life.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, the small and the great, standing before God. And books were opened. And another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works.

and to God the Judge of all,

What else do we come to? God, who is the Judge of all

and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

What else do we come to? To the spirits of just men made perfect.

When we come to Jesus we join the spirits of faithful and just men, living on Earth or in heaven, who by their faith in Messiah Jesus have been made perfect, complete, and whole -- consecrated unto God.

Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant,

What else do we come to? To Jesus who is the mediator of the new covenant.

When we come to Jesus we come to Him who brought about the changes. He is the mediator of the new covenant.

and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

What else do we come to? The blood of sprinkling, which has a better message than Abel's blood.

When we come to Jesus we come to blood that speaks better things than the blood of Abel. Abel’s blood spoke of the guilt of Cain. Jesus’ blood speaks life and forgiveness and redemption and salvation to us who believe in Him.

BBC: Christ is Mediator of the new covenant in a far higher sense. Before God could righteously make this covenant, the Lord Jesus had to die. He had to seal the covenant with His own blood and give Himself a ransom for many.

He secured the blessings of the New Covenant for His people by His death.
He insures these blessings for them by His endless life. And
He preserves His people to enjoy the blessings in a hostile world
by His present ministry at God's right hand. All this is included in His mediatorial work.
Bearing the scars of Calvary, the Lord Jesus is exalted at God's right hand, a Prince and a Savior.

Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.

The previous line spoke of Jesus blood speaking better things. In this line we are told that we must see to it that we do not refuse Him that spoke forgiveness with His blood.

What are we not to refuse? Jesus.

What would be the positive way of saying this? Accept Jesus.

If we do not refuse, then we accept, receive, and believe in the blood of Jesus and redemption.

For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth,

Who did not escape? They who refused the man who spoke on earth.

Moses was the mediator who spoke on earth. Those who refused to obey him did not make it to the promised land.

much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Who else will not escape? Those who turn away from the one that speaks from heaven.

Who would we be turning away from? Jesus Christ

God spoke to the ancestors by Moses, but Jesus speaks to us from heaven. Shall we escape death if we refuse to hear Jesus? Why would we be better than they? We are not. If we refuse Jesus, what is left? Just like Esau, our  tears won’t make a difference. God’s word, once spoken, cannot be revoked. If we refuse Jesus, that is all there is.

Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

What made the earth shake? God's voice.

Imagine hearing a voice that shakes the earth like an earthquake! From the Bible we know that God spoke and the earth shook. He has also promised that once more He will speak and shake not only the earth, but heaven, too!!

Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

What does this promise signify? The removal of things that are shaken.

Define: Shaken – agitated, unsettled, trembled, quaked, vibrated, unnerved, disturbed, distressed, upset, alarmed (Antonym: reassure, steady, keep still)

The things that are shaken are like what? Things that are made (by man).

What shall remain? Things that cannot be shaken (made by God).

The purpose for the shaking is like that of chaff and wheat. The wheat is shaken so the chaff can be removed. God will shake heaven and earth so that “things which cannot be shaken may remain.” Let us make sure we are the ones who cannot be shaken or moved from our faith in Jesus.

Act 2:25  For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

BBC: Those who were occupied with the tangible, visible ritualism of Judaism were clinging to things that could be shaken. True believers have a kingdom which cannot be shaken. This should inspire the most fervent worship and adoration. We should unceasingly praise Him with reverence and godly fear.

Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved,

What kind of a kingdom do we receive? One which cannot be moved!

Jesus Christ is the keeper of the kingdom; therefore, it cannot be moved. He is trustworthy. We can depend on Him.

let us have grace,

Let us have what? Grace!

Jesus Christ is the keeper of the kingdom of God’s grace. His grace gives us the ability to live with Him in the kingdom. Let us have grace and thankfulness. Let us live by faith in God’s grace. Let us share His grace with others. Let us be filled with His grace.

Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

whereby we may serve God acceptably

His grace lets us serve God how? Acceptably.

Acceptable to whom? To God and to Jesus Christ, His Son.

Eph 5:8-11  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

Because of God’s grace, we may serve God and be accepted and approved in Jesus who died for our sakes.

with reverence and godly fear:

We serve God with what? Reverence and godly fear.

Define: Reverence – respect, admiration, worship, awe, veneration, (Antonym: contempt)

We show our reverence and godly fear by our faith and obedience which shows we respect God and His word.

Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

For we recall that our God is a consuming fire. Anything that is not worthy to be in His Presence will be burned.

Define: Consuming – extremely intense, overwhelming, overriding, uncontrollable, unbearable, overshadowing, strong, (Antonym: imperceptible, slight, weak)

God is all powerful, nothing can come against Him. He is all mighty in His power. He is strong and unflappable in His love. He is also slow to anger, full of compassion and of great mercy. Look to yourselves then, by looking unto our All Powerful God with reverence and respect. Let us not treat God lightly for He is a consuming fire.

Read Our Verses Again:

Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Heb 12:18  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:19  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
Heb 12:20  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb 12:21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 11:40-12:14

Looking unto Jesus

What it says:

Heb 11:40  God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Heb 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Heb 12:12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb 12:13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

What it means:

Heb 11:40  God having provided

Define: Provide – give, offer, supply, make available, present, afford, endow with, grant, impart, bestow, (Antonym: withhold)

Who is our provider? God is our provider.

What is the antonym to provide? Withhold.

God has given us provision for all of our needs. If God had not given us air to breathe would we have known that we needed it? We know we need it, because He has provided it. God is completely good and only gives good complete gifts. He is also just, and is The Rewarder of them that seek Him.  He withholds nothing that He knows we need.

Jas_1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

something better for us,

What is the “something better for us” that God has provided? Jesus.

Our author has just given us an entire chapter on the faith of the OT heroes. Now he begins to tie the OT believers and the NT followers together. The OT fathers and believers saw the promises of God “afar off.” We see them as having already been delivered and made available to us in Jesus Christ who preserves them in heaven for us:

that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

“They” and “us” are not separated!! We have all been made perfect together – by God, in Jesus Christ.

Define: Perfect -- consecrate, finish, fulfill, (make) perfect, complete whole.

To be made perfect is the same as to be consecrated, or to be made whole. We are set apart by God, to God, and for God in Jesus Christ, His Son. He has made us perfect, in Jesus Christ, so we may draw close to Him – which is His desire. The OT believers had faith in what was to come in the distant future. We have faith in what we have seen in Jesus Christ and in His resurrection which guarantees our future which is reserved in heaven for us. Jesus made a place for us – and them!!

Faith is to see and to trust in God’s supremely good character. Hope is to see ourselves with God – because we see God with us in Jesus Christ, Emmanuel! Hallelujah!!

Define: Emmanuel -- Mat_1:23  … which being interpreted is, “God with us.”

Heb 12:1  Wherefore

Define: Wherefore – because of which, for what reason, the reason or purpose for something, literary: what follows is based on what has been previously spoken or written

Our author is now going to draw a conclusion that is based on all that we read in the previous chapter about faith in God. Notice this is the first word, in the first verse of the next chapter. Now see the conclusion that he comes to:

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,

Define: Seeing – in view of, considering, bearing in mind, as, since, given that, seeing as, in view of the fact

Is “seeing” past tense or present tense? Present tense!

He has combined “wherefore,” (the reason), with “seeing,” (having something in view now).

Define: Compassed – H5437,  סבב, sâbab, saw-bab', … to revolve, surround or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively: - …, X round about, be about on every side, …, X circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round…, X on every side, … round about, -- to cover all the points on the compass, i.e.: north, south, east, west – walk or navigate completely around something

(Just a note on this word: compassed. The root for this word is not "compassion" but "compass" as in a dial that displays all the directions: north, south, east, west. So it is pronounced like the word "compass" with an "ed" on the end. "Compassed about" means to be surrounded on all sides.)

With what are we surrounded? A great cloud of witnesses.

The witnesses are so many that they form a great cloud!

Define: Witnesses – someone who gives evidence after seeing or hearing or experiencing something, someone who testifies to Christian beliefs, someone who publicly professes his or her strong personal belief in God and Jesus Christ – observer, spectator, bystander, onlooker, eyewitness

This huge group of witnesses is called a “cloud” to bring to mind where they are: in heaven, in the sky, like a cloud that we can look up to. We see them, seeing us, and speaking to us in God’s word…. Witnessing to us about Jesus Christ and salvation, redemption, and eternal life in Christ. Do you hear them? Have you read their testimony? Have you seen the proof that their testimonies offer?

let us

We need to act upon what we know to be true in Jesus Christ. “Let us” means allow yourself. We have permission to:

lay aside every weight,

Define: Lay – set something down, place, rest, put, arrange, leave, set, position, (Antonym: pick up)

Define: Aside – to the side, to one side, out-of-the-way, away, (Antonym: in front)

What is the antonym (opposite) of aside?  In front

What does it mean to “lay aside.” To put something down and leave it on the side of the road.

What are we to lay aside? Every weight.

Define: Weight – burden, heaviness, heavy load, mental burden, moral burden, or load, giving additional importance to something (Antonym: lightness)

Do you see that in defining all these words we are painting a picture of taking the weight or burden off of our own shoulders and putting it beside the road as we walk on, leaving it behind? Up until this sentence we have been talking about what we see ahead of us, or what we see in front of our faces, but now he begins to talk about what we need to leave behind us. We don’t need to focus on it, or look at it. We need to leave it behind us.

Jesus called carrying this weight being “heavy laden.”

Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

When you gave your burden to Jesus did you pick it up again, later? You can lay that weight aside for real. Jesus desires you to remain in His rest continually and that is how we must see ourselves – in His rest. The real goal is to lay that burden aside and leave it there as we refocus on something much more important.

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

What does sin do to us? It easily besets us.

Define: Beset – overwhelmed, snowed under, inundated, beleaguered (stressed, under pressure, harassed, careworn, struggling, besieged, under attack), weighed down, plagued (Antonym: carefree)

Sin really does easily overwhelm us. We can get snowed under by sin and it happens before we realize what has happened. But he says to lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily overwhelm us. Put it down on the road and leave it behind. Give it once more to Jesus and refocus.

and let us run with patience

First he told us we have permission to leave our burdens and our sin behind. Now he uses the same expression “Let us” to coach us in how to run. Nobody said to stop! As we run along, we lay aside the burdens and cares and the sin that easily plagues us, and pick up patience.

Define: Patience – endurance, staying power, tolerance, lack of complaint, persistence, fortitude, serenity (Antonym: impatience, annoyance, edginess, haste, rashness)

the race that is set before us,

He gives us the metaphor of a race. We are to run the race with patience, serenity, and lack of complaint.

What do you think “set before us” means? Placed in front of us.

Psa_23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Eph_2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

God has given us this “race” in which to do our good works. He has prepared the table before us and set it in front of us. We lay aside the burdens and sin, and focus on something else. 

Perhaps you remember running a race when you were a child. What would it have been like to run that race if you were the only one carrying a heavy burden, say, a sack of potatoes on your shoulder? A child carrying a 50-lb sack of potatoes would instantly be sitting on the ground from that heavy burden! That is way to much weight for a child to carry. The race would be won by the other children who did not have his burden. Do you see that his burden turned him into a loser? A mental burden can also slow us down and keep us from doing good works. Wouldn’t that kind of a burden remove us from the race, too?

Our author used the word “beset” for how sin affects us. We discovered that it means to be overwhelmed and snowed under, not physically but in the mind. A sense of guilt and unworthiness will take us down. It keeps us from our race. That is why he says we must put the burden down, and leave sin behind so we can run our race, not with a burden or in overwhelm, but with patience.

Our race is the individual race that God has set before each one of us. We are his workmanship. In Jesus Christ we were created anew with a new purpose: loving God and serving Him. Both loving and serving lead us to good works and God places good works before our own eyes so that we can walk in them.

Notice that in our verse above, after the word “us” there is a comma (,) meaning: that is not the end of the sentence:

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus

Define: Looking – direct the eyes at something, use your eyes to examine, watch, search, consider something, face a particular direction, pay attention

Ahhhh!! That is what we are to be directed towards: Jesus!! We lay aside the burdens that concern us, and begin to focus on Jesus! It does not say “look” which would be to look one time and then think of, or move on, to something else. He says “looking” which is continuous. We continue to see, we keep on examining and watching and praying and looking unto Jesus.

the author and finisher of our faith;

Define: Author – person responsible, creator, instigator, source, cause, origin

Define: Finisher – the person who completes, wraps up, concludes, brings to an end, polishes

To be the author is to be the creator, and the finisher is the one who polishes and wraps things up!!

Of what is Jesus the author and finisher? Faith.

Of whose faith? Our faith!

He is the author of our own faith.

Our faith does not come from us, it comes from the object of our faith, which is Jesus. Think about this: we do not generate faith out of thin air. Faith is not something we have to "white knuckle" and force ourselves to have. Faith is not based on us -- it is based on the object of our faith.

We look at, investigate, examine, and approach something, and then depending on what we see there, we can either put our faith in it, or not. Faith is the result of understanding the object of our faith. We do not put our faith in things that we know are untrustworthy. If we find flaws, fakeness, or lack of fortitude in something or someone, we know not to trust them, but, when we see something that is worthy of our faith, we can easily put our faith in it.

Jesus is the reason for our faith in God. He is worthy of our praise and our faith in Him because He gave His life for us – and then took it up again by the power of the Holy Spirit. We have heard the testimony of the witnesses who saw Him, and walked with Him. Those who personally saw His death and beheld Him after His resurrection. He is the reason we have faith in God. He has made the way for us to live in heaven with Him.

1Pe_3:18  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

who for the joy that was set before him

There was something set before Jesus also. What was it? Wow! He saw the joy of eternal life for the entire world set before Him. He saw the joy of living in heaven with The Father. He saw the joy of the Father!  He kept His eyes on the real goal and felt the joy of it.

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What did He endure? The torture and pain of the cross.

What did He do it for? The joy that He could see by the wisdom and knowledge of God that He possessed. With His eye on the joy that was set before him, with patience and faith in God, he endured the cross. He was obedient to death. He could not save us if He did not endure for us the death that we could not overcome on our own. He took our place. He is our Savior and He did endure the cross and death for us. It was the cross that brought the resurrection!!

What did He despise? The shame of the cross and all its ramifications.

Define: Despised – scorned, looked down on, spurned (rejected), put no stock in (Antonym: admired)

What did He do it for? With His eye on the joy that was set before him He saw “the shame” for what it was = part of the cross. The cross was invented to make criminals pay for their sin with pain and disgrace, but Jesus knew the cross was going to lead to something much much greater than we could have ever imagined!! He suffered no shame. He actually completed His “business” while hanging on the cross.

He made arrangements for his mother to be provided for.

Joh_19:26  When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

He forgave his tormentors:

Luk_23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

He prayed to God:

Mar_15:34  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

He completed His task:

Joh_19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

What did He do all this for? For the joy that was set before him. He kept His eye on the prize!! Without wavering He persevered. He trusted in God and obeyed death.

Where did Jesus sit down? Jesus is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. He accomplished all for us and became our High Priest in Heaven -- and the Prime Minister to God. He saw the end from the beginning.

Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured

Who is “him that endured?” Jesus.

Define: Consider – think about, mull over, reflect on, deliberate, contemplate, take into account, ponder

He is now saying, “Let us consider Jesus who endured with great patience.” If we consider how He did this we must know he did it by keeping His mind on the joy ahead. He did not worry, He trusted completely in God’s power to raise Him from the dead. Our faith must stand in the power of God, also.

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Our faith is not to be in the wisdom of men or science. Our faith is in the great and mighty power of God, the Creator.

such contradiction of sinners against himself,

He endured “such” (so much, to so great a degree of) contradiction of sinners – against himself.

Define: Contradiction – disagreement, challenge, negation, opposition, denial, inconsistency, conflict

Who contradicted Jesus? The sinners had a great conflict with him but he endured their hatred against himself with grace and mercy and faith in God. His eye was not on their actions towards Him. His eye was on the joy that was set before Him!

BBC: A.B. Bruce comments: One stands out conspicuous above all the rest ... the Man who first perfectly realised (demonstrated) the idea of living by faith ... , who undauntedly endured the bitter suffering of the cross, and despised the ignominy (humiliation, embarrassment) of it, sustained by a faith that so vividly realised coming joy and glory as to obliterate the consciousness of present pain and shame.

Define: Vividly – clearly, lucidly, plainly, keenly, acutely, intensely, brightly, vibrantly

What is the antonym to vividly? Vaguely

To Jesus the joy of heaven was vivid, alive, and vibrant. If it had been vague and unclear or unrecognized there would have been no joy to look forward to. We, too, must keep the joy of heaven and eternal life with Christ vividly before our minds. We do that by praising God every day. We do that by trusting our lives in God’s hands every hour. We do that by setting our minds on heavenly things all the time. By continually looking for the best, not the worst, the beautiful, not the ugly, and the blessings not the cursings.  

lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Where does the weariness and fainting show up? In your own mind.

If we take Him as our pattern and look unto Jesus and see what He saw, trusting in Him, then we shall not grow wearied and faint on our path to God, either. His eye was not on the conflict, or circumstances around him, but on the joy that was “set before Him.” We have the same joy set before us because He is the forerunner and has paved the way for us to follow Him right into heaven and unto the Throne of Grace. Remember that heaven is our home!

Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

What are we striving against? Sin.

Whose sin? The sin of those who oppose Jesus and us.

We have not died (resisted unto blood) in our fight against the sin that is all around us, the sin that attacks us and persecutes us as it did Jesus. Our consciences have been purged from all our sin and we do watch and pray to remain so. We also must fight against those attacks that come against us, but not by joining in retaliation against sinners, but by resisting the temptations to sin that they represent. Our weapons are not carnal but spiritual.

Can you imagine the circumstances that would cause our author to say this? This is also why he has gone into such detail about remaining steadfast in Christ and not letting go of our own salvation. The people were suffering persecution, just as Christ did – although they were still among the living and had not, yet, endured death.

Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children,

What had they done with the exhortation they had heard? They had forgotten it!

This exhortation speaks to us as what? As unto children who need to be reminded.

BBC: We must bear in mind that Hebrews was written to people who were being persecuted. Because they had forsaken Judaism for Christ, they were facing bitter opposition. There was a danger that they might interpret their suffering as a sign of God's displeasure. They might become discouraged and give up. Worst of all, they might be tempted to return to the temple and its ceremonies.

They should not think that their sufferings were unique. Many of the witnesses described in chapter 11 suffered severely as a result of their loyalty to the Lord, yet they endured. If they maintained unflinching perseverance with their lesser privileges, how much more should we to whom the better things of Christianity have come.

Our author says they have also forgotten about the will of the Lord for them as His children which is easy to do when you are in hard circumstances – but that is when it is most important that we remain focused on the Lord.

Define: Exhortation – something intended to strongly urge or persuade another to do something, the giving of earnest advice or encouragement

The Lord, Himself, gives them earnest advice and encouragement in the following scripture quotation:

My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

What are we not to despise?  The chastening of the Lord.

Define: Chastening – punishment, reprimand, discipline, censure, chastise, correction, castigate

At what are we not to faint? When we are rebuked, or corrected.

Define: Rebuke – reprimand, scold, censure, admonition, slap on the wrist, give a talking-to

Rebuked of whom? The Lord.

If we continue looking unto Jesus we will be an asset to God in His fight against evil and sin.  The Lord rebukes or corrects or chastises us as a way of keeping us close to Him. There are times that we need to be corrected and set on the right path once more. When God rebukes us, if we repent and take his correction as a lesson to us and begin to obey Him, once more, He allows us entrance into heaven once more. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. He desires that we all be saved!! Even those who are now his enemies – remember we were once His enemies, too, but we saw the light and the only way to share the light is to live by and in the light of Christ.

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,

What does the Lord do to those He loves? He chastens them.

Those whom the Lord loves he desires the most – so he guides us with chastening so we may escape hell and live in heaven with Him.

and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Define: Scourgeth (scourging) – A means of inflicting severe suffering, vengeance, or punishment; To chastise severely; flogging; beating, thrashing, whipping, thumping, pounding

Whom does God scourge? His sons. Every son whom he receives or accepts.

Define: Receiveth (receives)– entertain, have visitors, greet, welcome, meet,

Remember where Christ had His eyes when he was scourged. Not every scourging is physical.

1Pe_2:20  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

1Pe_3:14  But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1Pe_3:17  For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons;

When God chastens us, how is He dealing with us? As His own sons.

BBC: By remaining submissive to the chastening of God, we permit His discipline to mold us into His image. If we try to short-circuit His dealings with us, He may have to teach us over a longer period of time, using more instructive, and consequently, more difficult methods. There are grades in the school of God, and promotion comes only when we have learned our lessons.

for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

A father who loves his son always corrects and chastens him. He wants him to end up with a good life so he corrects him and speaks to him and tells him the way he should go in order to reach a good end.

BBC: So when testings come to us, we should realize that God is treating us as sons. In any normal father-son relationship, the father trains his son because he loves him and wants the best for him.

Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Who partakes of chastisement? All of God's sons and daughters.

If we are not treated as sons, then we are not sons, but what? Bastards, and not sons.

Define: Bastard -- a spurious or illegitimate son, unlawful, illegal, illicit, dishonest, criminal (Antonym: legitimate)

BBC: In the spiritual realm, those who do not experience God's discipline are illegitimate children, not true sons. After all, a gardener does not prune thistles, but he does prune grapevines. …

Heb 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence:

Who is a “father of our flesh?” Our dads.

What did our dads do to us? Corrected us.

From this we understand that the “chastisement of the Lord” is “correction” that we be headed right again.

What did we give them? Reverence.

BBC: Most of us have experienced discipline from our human fathers. We did not interpret this as a sign that they hated us. We realized that they were interested in our welfare, and we paid them respect.

shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Is it not even more important to be in subjection unto God than our dads? God is the Father of spirits -- our own and of His Holy Spirit.

What is our reward for being in subjection to God? Eternal life.

BBC: How much more should we respect the training of the Father of spirits and live! God is the Father (or source) of all beings that are spirit or that have a spirit. Man is a spirit dwelling in a human body. By being subject to God we enjoy life in its truest sense.

Heb 12:10  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure;

For how many days did our dads correct us? A few days -- a few times our fathers corrected us.

What was their reason? Dad's have their own reasons, or "pleasure" for loving and correcting us. They have our welfare in mind.

BBC: The discipline of earthly parents is not perfect. It lasts only for a time, that is, during childhood and youth. If it has not succeeded then, it can do no more. And it is as seemed best to them, according to what they think is right. Sometimes it may not be right.

but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

The Father of spirits (the Creator) always does things for our what? Our profit.

Define: Profit – advantage, gain, benefit, use, reward, good, (Antonym: loss)

He chastens us that we might be partakers of what? His holiness.

BBC: But God's discipline is always perfect. His love is infinite and His wisdom is infallible. His chastenings are never the result of whim, but always for our profit. His objective is that we may be partakers of His holiness. And godliness can never be produced outside (of) God's school.

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:

No chastening, while it is happening in the present moment, seems to be joyous to us.

What does chastening feel like when it happens? Grievous.

Define: Grievous – grave, serious, severe, dire, heinous, dreadful, terrible

nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

What does chastening yield afterwards? The peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Unto whom? Them which are exercised thereby. Those who realize this is an exercise and who learn from it. Notice the word “exercised.” Chastening is an exercise that helps us to grow and produce the peaceable fruit of righteousness. It helps us to see things in a different and better light. God’s light.

BBC: Leslie Weatherhead: Like all men I love and prefer the sunny uplands of experience, where health, happiness, and success abound, but I have learned far more about God and life and myself in the darkness of fear and failure than I have ever learned in the sunshine. There are such things as the treasures of darkness. The darkness, thank God, passes. But what one learns in the darkness one possesses for ever. “The trying things,” says Bishop Fenelon, “which you fancy come between God and you, will prove means of unity with Him, if you bear them humbly. Those things that overwhelm us and upset our pride, do more good than all that which excites and inspirits us.”

Heb 12:12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

What attitude of mind produces hands that hang down, and knees that are feeble? Discouragement, frustration, failure, depression.

What are Christians doing when they lift up their hands? We are praying and praising God when we lift up our hands! The antidote to overwhelm, tiredness, sadness, and depression is to praise God and to remember that He is always near and He never leaves us nor forsakes us.

Do what you need to do, to be encouraged in the Lord. This sounds a bit like “pick yourself up by your bootstraps,” but that would be a misinterpretation. What it really says is: remember God, and begin to praise Him. Lift up your hands and remember that God is near, no matter what your circumstances or even your feelings says -- God never leaves us, nor forsakes us who are His own children. God, Himself, will lift your spirits for you when you turn to Him and praise and thank Him.

Jas_4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

 BBC: G. H. Lang gives a fine illustration: A weary traveler, tired of the road and the buffeting of the tempest, stands dispirited and limp. With shoulders bowed, hands hanging slack, knees bent and shaking, he is ready to give up and sink to the ground. Such can God's pilgrim become, as pictured by our writer.

But one (another Christian) comes to him confident of mien (bearing and expression), with kindly smile and firm voice, and says, “Cheer up, stand erect, brace your limbs, take heart of grace. You have already come far; throw not away your former toils. A noble home is at the end of the journey. See, yonder is the direct road to it; keep straight on; seek from the great Physician healing for your lameness. ... Your Forerunner (Jesus) went this same hard road to the palace of God; others before you have won through; others are on the way; you are not alone; only press on! and you too shall reach the goal and win the prize.”

Happy is he who knows how to sustain with words him that is weary (Isa_50:4). Happy is he who accepts exhortation. And thrice happy is he whose faith is simple and strong so that he finds no occasion of stumbling in the Lord when His discipline is severe.

Isa 50:4-7  The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

Lift up your hands to praise God! If someone is encouraging you in Christ, then listen to them. Do not turn away. God has sent this one to help you. God knows our every need and He answers our prayers before they are even said!!

Psa_97:12  Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Better still is simply to encourage yourself in God. Remember that God is good. Bring to your mind the blessings He has given you and begin to thank and praise Him. No one can be “down in the mouth” when they are praising God! Sing a favorite hymn and let your spirit be lifted.

Do what David did: see the Lord as being with you – going before you – and standing next to you, so you do not have to be shaken. When you remember that the Lord NEVER leaves you, nor forsakes you, you can begin to rest in Him once more. Remember His promises and His great infinite love for you and all of us!!

And don’t forget to pray and ask God for what you need. Thank Him and ask Him. Speak to Him and remember His love for you. Lift up your hands. Straighten yourself and stand erect.

Heb 12:13  And make straight paths for your feet,

Straight paths lead to the Lord. Crooked paths lead to hell. There are many ways that a path can be, other than straight. It could be winding and crooked. It could be steep and stress the heart. It could be slippery. Straight, also implies smooth, not causing stumbling and a smooth path does not twist the ankle nor make it lame. We are to “make” or choose the straight path for our feet. It is a choice!!

Isa_40:3  The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.

We are to prepare the way for the Lord to come into our hearts. We must prepare ourselves for His sake. Humble ourselves under His mighty hand. Remember that we are yoked with Jesus who walks right next to us and He is not lame. Jesus is All Mighty and Worthy of our praise at all times.

Psa 16:78  I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Psa_26:12  My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

Psa_103:2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

What happens to the lame? They cannot finish the path, they are turned out of the way.

Did you notice that he says that a straight path gives healing? To “be turned out of the way” means to begin to go down another road or simply to leave the road behind. The lame horse can no longer do the work and must be turned out of the way. But rather….. let us be healed by following Jesus along His straight path! Healing comes from continuing to keep our eyes on Jesus and praising him who is worthy of praise!

Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness,

What two things are we to do?   

1. Follow peace with all men

2. Follow holiness

In order to make sense of the phrase “Follow peace with all men, and holiness” we must insert the word “follow” in front of the word “holiness” also, because of the “and.” It then tells us to “follow peace” and to “follow holiness.” The first we do “with all men” – the second we do in ourselves for the sake of Jesus – as unto God.

Define: Peace – calm, quiet, stillness, tranquility, silence, harmony, serenity, (Antonym: uproar), concord, end of war, amity, harmony, freedom from strife, reconciliation (Antonym: war)

Define: Holiness – sanctity, piety, godliness, saintliness, consecration, devoutness, devotion, purity

Define: Follow – go after, pursue, chase, trail, hunt, stick to, abide by, keep to, respect, adhere to

We are to pursue and adhere to peace with men, and to pursue and adhere to holiness with God. Both of these concern our conduct. The habits of our lives. We need both peace with men, and holiness with God.

without which no man shall see the Lord:

If we do not follow peace with all men and holiness with God what do we forfeit? We will not see the Lord. We will not see Him in heaven.

Mat_5:43-44  You have heard people say, "Love your neighbors and hate your enemies." But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you.

1Th 3:12-13  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Read our verses again:

Heb 11:40  God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Heb 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Heb 12:12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb 12:13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Hebrews 11:26-40

Victory, Peace, Assurance, Endurance: Through Faith in God

What it says:

Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Heb 11:28  Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Heb 11:29  By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Heb 11:30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Heb 11:31  By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Heb 11:32  And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Heb 11:33  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Heb 11:35  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Heb 11:36  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

What it means:

We are looking at “faith in God.” Our author has been sharing examples of people whose faith was so real to them that their world view was entirely based on God as: The Creator, The Providor, The Protector, The Reason for their lives. They listened and obeyed when God spoke to them. God was their guide and counselor, their King and Savior.

Exo_15:2  The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

2Sa_22:33  God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

Psa_28:8  The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

The Summarized Bible: Faith is the firm persuasion that God will perform all that He has promised to us in Christ, and brings the soul a present fruition and foretaste of eternal things, which sets a seal that God is true. The way of faith is the way of victory, peace, assurance, and endurance.

Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 

The WHAT: "Esteeming the reproach of Christ"
The WHY: "for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward."

Define: Recompense – to compensate, repay, pay, payment, remunerate, reimburse, make up for, return

Define: Reward – prize, incentive, gift, bonus, repay (Antonym: penalty, penalize)

Define: Respect – admiration, high opinion, esteem, reverence, to value, revere, think a lot of, show consideration for

Popular Commentary on The New Testament: The reproach which typical Israel suffered is called the reproach of Christ; as Paul calls the sufferings of Christians the sufferings of Christ (Col_1:24; 2Co_1:5), i.e of Christ dwelling and suffering in His Church as in His body. In the true Church of every age the eternal Christ ever lives and reigns, though when Moses suffered He was still to come, appearing chiefly in the types and prophecies, while really dwelling among them. And the reason is that he looked away from the suffering to the Divine reward, his life and acts being moulded and guided by his hopes.

Moses' hope of reward was firmly based in his knowledge of God, including God's promise to deliver His people.

Expositions of Holy Scripture by Alexander McLaren: The eye that is focused to look at the things on the earth cannot see the stars. When the look-out man at the bow wants to make sure whether that white flash on the horizon is a sun-smitten sail or a breaker, he knits his brows and shades his eyes with his hand, and concentrates his steady gaze till he sees. And you and I have to do that, or the most real things in the universe, away yonder in the extreme distance, will be problematical and questionable to us. Oh, brother! Our Christian lives would be altogether different if we made the resolve and kept it, to fix our gaze on ‘the recompense of the reward.’

Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt,

Define: Forsook – abandon, desert, leave, disown, renounce, relinquish, give up, turn your back on

By faith, what did Moses forsake? Egypt and the life he had grown up in.

The Biblical Illustrator, Electronic Database. (J. M. Gibson, D. D.) …. Egypt stands out before us as a fuller and more adequate type of the world, with her glory as well as her shame. And from Israel's relation to Egypt we may learn two great lessons: one of counsel how to use the world, the other of warning against abusing it. From God's purpose in regard to Israel let us learn that just as Egypt was necessary as a school for His chosen people, so the world ought to be a school for us. We are not to despise its greatness. No word of contempt for Egypt's greatness is found in the sacred records. The nation was intended to learn, and did acquire, many useful arts which were of much service to them afterwards in the Land of Promise. Moses, the chosen of God, was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was thereby qualified for the great work for which he was called. In these examples we may see how to use this world, making it a school to prepare us for our inheritance and the work the Lord may have for us there to do. On the other hand, let us beware of so yielding to the seductions of this evil world as to lose our hold of God, and His covenant, and so incur the certainty of forfeiting our eternal birthright and becoming the world's slaves, helping perhaps to rear its mighty monuments, with the prospect possibly of having our names engraved in stone among the ruins of some buried city, but without the prospect of having them written "among the living in Jerusalem," the eternal city of God. Earth's great ones belong to the dead past; but heaven's great ones have their portion in a glorious future.

not fearing the wrath of the king:

Define: Wrath – anger, rage, fury, ferocity, vehemence, passion (Antonym: serenity)

The king that is spoken of, is Pharaoh… or king of Egypt. What did Moses not fear? He did not fear the most powerful man on Earth at the time. He kept his eyes on God's promises.

for he endured,

Define: Endured – bear, tolerated, suffered, undergo, last, continue, go on, carry on, keep on, persisted

as seeing him who is invisible.

The word “as” shows us this is a metaphor. Moses endured as seeing the invisible God before him.

Sermon Bible Commentary: Enduring as Seeing the Invisible One.

I. What is this virtual seeing of Him who is invisible? There must be wrought in me, between Him (God) and me, some sympathy, some good understanding and fellow feeling about the matter spoken of. There must be established between Him and me some personal relation of mutual confidence and unity. There must, in a word, be formed a certain close unity of faith working by love. Then will that quasi vision "as seeing" be realised; that vivid sense and keen grasp of "my Lord and my God," as personally present to my eager gaze, my touch, my embrace, which compensates, and far more than compensates, for my never having set on Him my bodily eyes.

II. The joy of the Lord is your strength. Not only at the Communion Table do you rest, but in the field of toil or of battle you endure, as seeing Him who is invisible. So Christ Himself, the man Christ Jesus, endured. The secret of His endurance was that with the eye of faith He always saw the Father. The Holy Ghost strengthens us to endure as seeing the unseen Saviour, even as He strengthened Him to endure as seeing the unseen Father. It is in the felt and realised presence of a Divine person, unseen in one sense, but in another virtually and vividly seen, that your strength to endure lies. And He is to be seen by you, not merely as an object of contemplation in a leisure hour, but as in the time of danger, standing beside you, conversing with you, calling you by name, and bidding you be strong and of a good courage.

The Summarized Bible: As seeing him who is invisible... This is the secret of his choice and of his loyalty to God and to God’s people. This is the secret of loyalty in any minister today who is the interpreter of God to man

Moses was able to endure because he fully believed in God. He could see Him before his face, just like David did:

Act 2:25-26  For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:  Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

Notice the word: “foresaw” – “fore” meaning “before,” and “saw” meaning to see in the mind’s eye. He always saw the Lord “before” anything else. Foresaw = to behold in advance, that is, (active voice) to notice (another) previously, or (middle voice) to keep in (one’s own) view: - foresee, see before.

Before he saw anything else, he saw the Lord! What an amazing statement. He knew God was on his right hand to fight for him, to accompany him, and to guide him. What did seeing Him do for David? “That I should not be moved.” The NKJV says “That I may not be shaken.” This “always seeing God beforehand” had an amazing affect on how David personally felt and reacted: his heart rejoiced, his tongue was glad, and his flesh rested in hope for his own future and outcome. He saw eternal life, the recompense of the reward, in front of himself. Heaven was his destination and God was his home!

Heb 11:28  Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood,

What did Moses keep by faith? The passover and the sprinkling of blood. God gave him instructions and he followed them completely -- leading the people in prudence.

lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

Exo 12:12-14  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Heb 11:29  By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land:

God parted the sea, and the land was dry beneath their feet, so they did not slip or get stuck as they walked upon the place where the water usually stood.

which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

The Egyptians attempted to follow after the Israelites, but they were not doing it by faith in God.

Define: Assaying – examination, assessment, analyze, evaluate, attempt, try, take a stab at

The Egyptians took stock of what they saw and decided they could do anything these people did. Alas, they all drowned when God let the waters engulf them. They were intelligent, but their lack of faith in God was their downfall.

Heb 11:30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

By what did the walls of Jericho fall down? By faith.

Define: Compassed – H5437,  סבב, sâbab, saw-bab', … to revolve, surround or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively: - …, X round about, be about on every side, …, X circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round…, X on every side, … round about, -- to cover all the points on the compass, i.e.: north, south, east, west – walk or navigate completely around something

(I often hear people trying to pronounce this word as if the root word were "compassion" -- but that is not the root word here. The root word is "compass" as in north, south, east, and west. To be "compassed about" means to be surrounded on all sides.)

How many days did they walk around Jericho? Seven days. And the walls came tumbling down.

Heb 11:31  By faith the harlot Rahab perished not

Because of her faith, what happened to Rahab? She did not perish -- she lived!!

Jos 2:9  And she (Rahab) said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

Rahab had made an assessment, just as Pharaoh had, but she saw that the LORD had given the Israelites the land. She saw that all the people around feared them and fainted at the thought of them and their Great and Mighty God! She saw God working! That is what faith does: it sees God at work!! So she helped the people of God.

The difference between Pharaoh and Rahab was that Pharaoh, when he assayed the situation, said to himself, “If these people can do this, then I can do the same thing, and destroy these people at their own game.” He was looking at his own power. But Rahab looked and saw the power of God at work. She confessed that she saw what the Lord was doing for the people of God. She took God’s side and helped His people -- and was saved because of it.

Jos_6:25  And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

Rahab perished not with them that believed not,

What happened to everyone else in Jericho? They all died. Rahab did not perish with the unbelievers in Jericho.

when she had received the spies with peace.

With what did she receive the spies? Peace! She welcomed them into her home with peace. She was rescued because she hid the spies and made a deal with them. If she saved them, they would save her. They agreed to the arrangement and it was honored by Joshua. When she made her deal with God's people, she had really made her deal with God who is eternally trustworthy!!

Heb 11:32  And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

Believer’s Bible Commentary: At this point the writer asks a rhetorical question: And what more shall I say? He has given an imposing list of men and women who demonstrated faith and endurance in OT times. How many more must he give in order to make his point?

He has not run out of examples, but only out of time. It would take too long to go into details so he will satisfy himself to name a few and catalog some triumphs and testings of faith.

There was Gideon whose army was reduced from 32,000 to 300. First the timid were sent home, then those who thought too much of their own comfort. With a hard core of true disciples, Gideon routed the Midianites.

Then there was Barak. When called to lead Israel to battle against the Canaanites, he agreed only on the condition that Deborah would go with him. … God saw real trust and lists him among the men of faith.

Samson was another man of obvious weakness. Yet, in spite of that, God detected the faith that enabled him to kill a young lion with his hands, to destroy thirty Philistines in Ashkelon, to slay one thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey, to carry away the gates of Gaza, and finally to pull down the temple of Dagon and slay more Philistines in his death than he had in his life.

Though an illegitimate child, Jephthah rose to be the deliverer of his people from the Ammonites. He illustrates the truth that faith enables a man to rise above his birth and environment and make history for God.

The faith of David shines out in his contest with Goliath, in his noble behavior toward Saul, in his capture of Zion, and in countless other episodes. In his psalms, we find his faith crystallized in penitence, praise, and prophecy.

Samuel was the last of Israel's judges and her first prophet. He was God's man for the nation at a time when the priesthood was marked by spiritual bankruptcy. He was one of the greatest leaders in Israel's history.

Add to this list the prophets, a noble band of God's spokesmen, men who were embodied consciences, who would rather die than lie, who would rather go to heaven with a good conscience than stay on earth with a bad one.

Heb 11:33  Who through faith

Who – being all of the above – through faith in what? Faith in God.

BBC: The writer now turns from naming people of faith to citing their exploits.

By faith in God, they:

subdued kingdoms,

Define: Subdued – subjugate, conquer, vanquish, defeat, overpower, overcame

What are “kingdoms?” Kingdom – realm, empire, monarchy, sovereignty, territory. These are the kingdoms that refused to believe in God so God used His people to subdue them.

By faith in God, they:

wrought righteousness,

Define: Wrought – shaped, bent, fashioned, twisted, formed, created, produced

Define: Righteousness – virtue, morality, justice, decency, uprightness, goodness, integrity, honesty (Antonym: wickedness)

By faith in God, they:

obtained promises,

What did they obtain? Promises. Promises from whom? From God. This does not refer to the promise of the Messiah, but, to the daily living things that God spoke to them about, such as going out in battle with the promise of victory – if they were obedient. Or the promise of food, and water in the desert. God also promises that we shall have His peace if we, in thanksgiving, take our concerns to Him.

By faith in God, they:

stopped the mouths of lions,

BBC: They stopped the mouths of lions. Daniel is an outstanding example here (Dan_6:22), but we should also remember Samson (Jdg_14:5-6) and David (1Sa_17:34-35).

By faith in God, they:

Heb 11:34  Quenched the violence of fire,

Define: Quenched – put out, extinguished, doused, smothered, stifled

Define: Violence – aggression, hostility, cruelty, ferocity, force, fierceness, passion

BBC: They quenched the violence of fire. The fiery furnace succeeded only in burning the fetters of the three young Hebrews and setting them free (Dan_3:25). Thus it proved to be a blessing in disguise.

By faith in God, they:

escaped the edge of the sword,

BBC: They escaped the edge of the sword. David escaped Saul's malicious attacks (1Sa_19:9-10), Elijah escaped the murderous hatred of Jezebel (1Ki_19:1-3), and Elisha escaped from the king of Syria (2Ki_6:15-19).

By faith in God, they:

out of weakness were made strong,

BBC: They won strength out of weakness. Many symbols of weakness are found in the annals of faith. Ehud, for instance, was left-handed; yet he slew the king of Moab (Jdg_3:12-22). Jael, a member of “the weaker sex,” killed Sisera with a tent peg (Jdg_4:21). Gideon used fragile earthen pitchers in the defeat of the Midianites (Jdg_7:20). Samson used the jawbone of a donkey to slay one thousand Philistines (Jdg_15:15). They all illustrate the truth that God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1Co_1:27).

By faith in God, they:

waxed valiant in fight,

Define: Waxed – expanded, increased, enlarged, got bigger, grew, swelled, (Antonym: wane)

Define: Valiant – brave, courageous, heroic, fearless, noble, gallant, intrepid, bold (Antonym: cowardly)

BBC: They became valiant in battle. Faith endowed men with strength beyond what was natural and enabled them to overcome in the face of insurmountable odds.

By faith in God, they:

turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Define: Flight – escape, departure, running away, getaway

Define: Aliens – unfamiliar, unknown, strange, foreign

BBC: They put to flight the armies of the aliens. Though often under-equipped and greatly outnumbered, the armies of Israel walked off with the victory to the confusion of the foe and the amazement of everyone else.

By faith in God, their:

Heb 11:35  Women received their dead raised to life again: and

BBC: Women received their dead by resurrection. The widow of Zarephath (1Ki_17:22) and the woman of Shunem (2Ki_4:34) are cases in point.

By their faith in God:

others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

BBC: But faith has another face. In addition to those who performed dazzling feats, there were those who endured intense suffering. God values the latter as much as the former.

BBC: Morrison comments: So this is also a result of faith, not that it brings deliverance to a man, but that sometimes, when deliverance is offered, it gives him a fine courage to refuse it. There are seasons when faith shows itself in taking. There are seasons when it is witnessed in refusing. There is a deliverance that faith embraces. There is a deliverance that faith rejects. They were tortured, not accepting deliverance—that was the sign and seal that they were faithful. There are hours when the strongest proof of faith is the swift rejection of the larger room.

The idea of the “larger room” is that torture was often done in a small tight room – and to go to the larger room, meant the torture had stopped. But they chose not to go there, because they refused to denounce their faith in God.

Because of their faith in God, they:

Heb 11:36  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

Define: Mocking – scornful, derisive, contemptuous, disdainful, sardonic, cutting, scathing, sarcastic, disrespectful

Define: Scourging – A means of inflicting severe suffering, vengeance, or punishment; To chastise severely; to flog; beating, thrashing, whipping, thumping, pounding

Define: Bonds – tie, shackles, fetters, manacles, chains, restraints, irons

BBC: Others were mocked and flogged, and were bound in prison. For faithfulness to God, Jeremiah endured all these forms of punishment (Jer_20:1-6; Jer_37:15). Joseph too was imprisoned because he would rather suffer than sin (Gen_39:20).

Heb 11:37  They were stoned,

Because of their faith in God, they endured stoning:

BBC: They were stoned. Jesus reminded the scribes and Pharisees that their ancestors had murdered Zechariah in this way between the sanctuary and the altar (Mat_23:35).

they were sawn asunder,

Because of their faith in God, they endured horrible ends:

BBC: They were sawn in two. Tradition says that Manasseh used this method of executing Isaiah.

were tempted,

Because of their faith in God, they were tempted:

BBC: They were tempted. This clause probably describes the tremendous pressures that were brought to bear on believers to compromise, to recant, to commit acts of sin, or in any way to deny their Lord.

were slain with the sword:

Because of their faith in God they were killed,

BBC: They were slain with the sword. Uriah the prophet paid this price for his faithful proclamation of God's message to King Jehoiakim (Jer_26:23); but the expression here refers to mass slaughter such as occurred in the times of the Maccabees.

Because of their faith in God,

they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins;

BBC: They might have rustled in silks and velvets and luxuriated in the palaces of princes had they denied God and believed the world's lie. Instead, they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, themselves accounted no better than goats or sheep, nay, they like these reckoned fit only for the slaughter.

being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

Because of their faith in God they lived destitute lives,

Define: Destitute – poor, penniless, impoverished, on the breadline, insolvent, needy

Define: Afflicted – troubled, bothered, made miserable, caused problems, worry, upset, distress

Define: Tormented – beleaguered, stressed, harassed, besieged, beset, plagued, under attack

BBC: They suffered poverty, privation, and persecution.

Heb 11:38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:)

Define: Worthy – commendable, praiseworthy, laudable, admirable, valuable, precious, creditable

Who was not worthy of these saints? The world was not worthy.

BBC: The world treated them as if they were not worthy to live. But the Spirit of God burst forth here with the interjection that actually it was the other way around—the world was not worthy of them.

Because of their faith in God they had been chased from their homes,

they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

BBC: They wandered in deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. Dispossessed of homes, separated from families, pursued like animals, expelled from society, they endured heat and cold, distress and hardship, but they would not deny their Lord.

Heb 11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,

Because of their faith in God they obtained what? Notice what this statement implies. They obtained a good reputation through their faith in God. They did not receive their good report because of who they were. They received their good report through their faith in who God is. By faith in God, a “nobody” can obtain a good report – by faith in God and in His promised Messiah, we please God. Then God, who is the Rewarder, gives us what He has promised to them who believe in Him. In His own good time!

received not the promise:

They had great faith in God….. but did not receive what? They never actually received the promise. 

BBC: God has borne witness to the faith of these OT heroes (a good report), yet they died before receiving the fulfillment of the promise. They did not live to see the Advent of the long awaited Messiah  or to enjoy the blessings that would flow from His ministry.

Heb 11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

What has God provided for us? Some better thing! That, without us, these saints should not be made what? Perfect.

Define: Perfect – complete, whole, finished, total, (made new in Christ)

They were not made perfect without us. We are not made perfect without them. When the time comes we shall all be resurrected together. Those who lived their lives by faith in God shall all receive the same blessed reward, no matter the time period in which they lived!! Whether they looked forward to the birth of the Messiah, or looked back, as we do, the just shall live by faith in God’s grace. The recompense of the reward is eternal life with God and Jesus in heaven. By the unity of faith in God’s grace we are one family, under one God.

Eph 4:1-8  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Eph_2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Read our verses again:

Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Heb 11:28  Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Heb 11:29  By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Heb 11:30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Heb 11:31  By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Heb 11:32  And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Heb 11:33  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Heb 11:35  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Heb 11:36  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.