I
have never heard a preacher preach from this passage correctly. Never. Maybe some have, but I've never heard them.
The
pastors I've heard invariably use chapter 1 as a definition of faith for us. It
is not. Is that arrogant? Oh Well, it is nonetheless true.
The
Bible is not stream of consciousness. It does not begin dealing with one
subject and abruptly interrupt its train of thought for a few verses and then
return to what it was talking about in earlier verses. It just doesn't. It might
seem to, if you don’t know how to read above a second grade level, but it does
not.
For
instance, “and by his stripes we are healed” is used to “prove” that Jesus has
already provided healing for whatever physical ailments we endure. That is just
plain stupid reading of the Scripture. To draw that conclusion, we have to
believe that God instructed Isaiah to write like this: Spiritual, spiritual,
spiritual, spiritual, spiritual, physical, spiritual, spiritual. He did no such
thing! God is consistent. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He is
not willy-nilly.
Another
example is Romans 8:12. Paul writes that we have an obligation but does not
tell us what the obligation is! Actually he does, but not in verse 13, 14 or
any other verse from there through chapter 11. What’s going on here? What
happened to the obligation? The answer is that Roman 8:13- Romans 11:36 is
parenthetical, explaining why we have the obligation that he reveals in Romans
12:1, that is, that we present our bodies as living sacrifices. Take out the
parentheses and you have: “Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation to
present our bodies as living sacrifices.”
When
will we EVER learn to read Scripture? When will we ever learn to read what it
is really about: God’s character; His love of His creation and His plan for its
redemption.
Now let’s look at Hebrews
chapter 11.
To begin with, it is written to Jews. The whole book
is written to Jews.
Secondly, it is about Jesus. The whole book is about
Jesus.
So let’s examine verse 1
11 Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Paul was defining faith to his Jewish readers.
He is about to explain to them in terms Jews would understand how the “elders,”
that is, Jewish leaders of old trusted in God for salvation through a Savior,
to whom they referred as Messiah.
What Paul was saying in verse 1 is: The faith I’m
about to speak about is the substance of things hoped for (salvation), the
evidence of things unseen. The Jews hoped for salvation and knew it would come
through Messiah.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
That is, the elders gained favor with God by their faith in the
substance of their salvation (something real) and the evidence of something
they have not seen: Jesus.
3 Through the substance of what we hope for and
the evidence of what we have not seen, we understand that the worlds were
framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of
things which do appear.
4 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation) and the evidence of what he did
not see (Messiah),Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his
gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), Enoch was translated that he
should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for
before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without the substance of things hopped for
and the evidence of thngs unseen, it is impossible to please him: for he that
cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him.
7 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), Noah, being warned of God of
things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his
house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith.
8 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), Abraham, when he was called
to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,
obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), he sojourned in the land of
promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob,
the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations,
whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through the substance of what she hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what she did not see (Messiah), also Sara herself received strength to
conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she
judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as
good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand
which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in the substance of what they hopped
for and the evidence of what they did not see,, not having received the
promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and
embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the
earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly
that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that
country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have
returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is,
an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath
prepared for them a city.
17 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), when he was tried, offered
up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten
son,
18 Of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy
seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up,
even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau
concerning things to come.
21 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation) and the evidence of what he did
not see (Messiah), Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph;
and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), Joseph, when he died, made
mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment
concerning his bones.
23 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), Moses, when he was born, was hid three months
of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not
afraid of the king's commandment.
24 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), Moses, when he was come to
years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the
people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches
than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the
reward.
27 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the
king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Through the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), he kept the passover, and
the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch
them.
29 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), they passed through the Red
sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), the walls of Jericho fell
down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), the harlot Rahab perished
not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
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:
33 Who through the substance of what he hopped for (salvation)
and the evidence of what he did not see (Messiah), subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
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.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again:
and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a
better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and
scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
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;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy) they wandered
in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report
through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us,
that they without us should not be made perfect.
Can you see it? The WHOLE CHAPTER IS ABOUT THE ELDERS’ FAITH IN
THE COMING MESSIAH!
We treat it as though it was written about US! But it is NOT! We
treat it as though it is written about “faith” in some ethereal God or faith in
faith. It is NOT! It is written about JESUS, whom we saw in chapters 1-10 is
greater than them all. He is greater than the High Priest, Melchizedek. He is
greater than the greatest and greater than all of the greatest put together and
about whose greatness we will continue to read about in chapters 12-13!
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