Hebrews 11:1-16 Lesson 430

Hebrews 11:1-16
Lesson 430

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

We continue with the practical segment of Hebrews.

Chapter 11 is a plea to live by faith.
This segment is called "faith's Hall of Fame."

The superiority of faith (The New Covenant) over the
rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic Law (The Old Covenant).

What is faith (11:1-3)?
Can we please God if we have no faith (11:6)?

Jacob taking advantage of his
father to steal Esau's blessing.

(Unknown artist)

Who was -

Abel -
Abel was the second son of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:2) and a shepherd. He honored God by offering "the firstlings of his flock" (Genesis 4:4) as an atoning sacrifice.  Abel's faith pleased God, which made his brother Cain jealous. In a rage, Cain killed Abel, making him history's first murder victim (Genesis 4:8).  Jesus refers to "the blood of Abel" in Luke 11:51 and calls Abel "righteous" in Matthew 23:35. You can read more about Abel in Genesis 4:1-17.

Cain -
The first-born son of Adam and Eve and a farmer (Genesis 4:2).  Cain believed in God and made sacrifices to Him, but he belonged to Satan (1 John 3:12). Showing his shallow faith, Cain offered God "the fruit of the ground" as a sacrifice. Cain's weak faith and bloodless sacrifice displeased God. Cain's brother Abel made a sacrifice that did please God. In a fit of jealousy, Cain killed Abel (Genesis 4:8; 1 John 3:12), making him history's first murderer. God proclaimed a curse on Cain and the ground he farmed (Genesis 4:11-12). Cain fled to the land of Nod, east of Eden (Genesis 4:16), and built a city he named after his oldest son, Enoch. You can read more about Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:1-17.

Enoch -
Not to be confused with Enoch, the eldest son of Cain. This Enoch was the son of Jared (Genesis 5:18), father of Methuselah (Genesis 5:21; Luke 3:37), and an Old Testament prophet (Jude 1:14) who lived to be three hundred and sixty-five years old (Genesis 5:23).  Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5:22; 5:24), and as we learn in this passage, he was "translated" (taken to heaven) without dying (Hebrews 11:5). Most Bible scholars teach that Enoch is one of the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation 11:3.  You can read more about Enoch in Genesis 5:18-24.

Noah -
An Old Testament patriarch also known as Noe (Matthew 24:38).  Noah was the tenth descendant of Adam and Eve (Genesis 5:5-29). Because of mankind's sinful nature, God regretted creating man (Genesis 6:6-7), and He warned Noah, "a just man" (Genesis 6:9), of a coming flood that would destroy "wickedness" (Genesis 6:5), "violence" (6:13), and all mankind.  Despite living in an arid land 500 miles from the sea, Noah trusted God (Genesis 6:9) and followed His seemingly silly instructions to build an ark (Genesis 6:14-16) large enough to carry two of every unclean animal (i.e., pigs) and seven of each clean animal (Genesis 7:2-3).  When the rains came, Noah, his wife, three sons (Shem, Ham, and Japhet), and their wives took refuge on the ark and were spared from the flood (2 Peter 2:5). After the floodwaters subsided, Noah built an altar and made a sacrifice to God (Genesis 8:20). This pleased God, and He promised not to flood the earth again (Genesis 9:11). God sealed this vow with a rainbow (Genesis 9:13-15). Noah lived to be 950 years old (Genesis 9:29).  Just as in Noah's day when few believed that disaster loomed, no one will be expecting Christ's Second Coming (Matthew 24:35-39). You can read more about Noah in Genesis 6:1-9:29.

Abraham -
Abraham is the founder of Judaism, the father of all Jews (Romans 4:11-16; Galatians 3:7), the spiritual forefather of Christians (Galatians 3:29), a man of faith (Galatians 3:9; Hebrews 11:8-9), and a "friend" of God (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23).  Abraham was also called the "Father of a multitude," "exalted Father," and Abram (Genesis 15:1; 17:4-5). Born in Ur (present-day Iraq), Abraham is perhaps the greatest of the Old Testament personalities.  His story is part of almost every Eastern religion, including Islam, where he is called the father of all Arab peoples through his son Ishmael. Abraham left his home and family simply because God asked him to (Genesis 12:1; Acts 7:2-4). Then, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of his faith. Believing that God knew best, Abraham set off to Mount Moriah,* a hill near Jerusalem, to obey (Genesis 22:1-10).  Proving that he would obey God no matter what, God sent an angel to save Isaac (Genesis 22:11-13) from Abraham's hand. Because of his great faith, God promised Abraham that his descendants (Jews) would be a great and populous people (Genesis 17:2-7; 22:16-18; 26:4; 24) and to bless all Gentiles through him (Genesis 12:2-3; 15:1-21; 18:18; 22:18; 28:14; Exodus 32:13). This is called the Abrahamic Covenant.
Abraham's deeds sometimes disappointed God, but he never lost his righteousness because it is never deeds that earn righteousness; it is faith (Genesis 15:6).  Abraham died at 175 (Genesis 25:7) and was buried alongside his wife Sarah in a cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:9; 25:7-10) on the western slope of Mt. Hebron.  Centuries later, a Christian church was built over the cave. Later, the church was converted into an Islamic Mosque. Jesus' roots date back to Abraham (Matthew 1:1-16), proving that His lineage goes back to the beginning of the Jewish nation. You can read more about Abraham in Genesis 11:26-25:34.

* Some Bible scholars believe Mount Moriah is the same hill Jesus was crucified on centuries later. However, most Jews believe the Temple's sacrificial altar in Jerusalem was built over the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son.

Isaac -
Isaac is Hebrew for "he laughs." Isaac was Abraham and Sarah's only son (Ishmael was Abraham's son out of Hagar), miraculously conceived when Abraham was one hundred years old (Genesis 21:5) and Sarah ninety (Genesis 17:17). Abraham, Isaac, and his son Jacob are three of the most important figures in the Old Testament.  When Isaac was a youngster, God tested Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice the boy.  Abraham proved his unyielding devotion to God by preparing to offer Isaac up as a sacrifice when he was stopped by an "angel of the Lord."  Abraham's willingness to obey God earned him God's promise to make his descendants (the Israelites) a great people.  God repeated the promise to Isaac (Genesis 26:24) and eventually to Isaac's son, Jacob. Isaac trusted God and became an example of faith (Hebrews 11:20). Through him and Jacob; God fulfilled His promise to make the Israelites a great and populous people. Isaac died in Hebron at one hundred and eighty years old (Genesis 35:28). You can read more about him in Genesis 17:15-28:22.

Jacob -
Called Israel by God (Genesis 35:10). Jacob and Esau were the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah and Abraham's grandsons. Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham (the righteous patriarchs) are three of the Old Testament's most important figures.  God chose Jacob over his brother Esau to fulfill His promise to make Israel a great and populous nation (Genesis 48:1-22).  With his mother Rebekah's help, Jacob tricked Esau out of their father's blessing and birthright (Genesis 25:27-34; Genesis 27:1-45). The birthright included Canaan, promised to Abraham by God. Esau vowed to kill Jacob for his trickery (Genesis 27:41), forcing Jacob to flee to Haran.  On the road to Haran, Jacob had a vision of climbing a ladder ("Jacob's ladder") to heaven. When he reached the top, God repeated His promise to Abraham and Isaac to make Israel a great nation (Genesis 28:12-14). Jacob became a shining example of faith. Jacob died at one hundred and forty-seven (Genesis 47:28). Even when dying, he never doubted God's promise to make Israel a great nation (Hebrews 11:21-22).  In time, Moses led Jacob's descendants out of slavery in Egypt. Forty years later, Joshua led them into the promised land, thus fulfilling God's promise. Jacob is Joseph's father and the patriarch of the Israelites. The twelve tribes of Israel are named after his sons.  You can learn more about Jacob in Genesis 25:1-37:36.

Sara -
Means princess, Sara was also called Sarah or Sarai (Genesis 17:15). Sara was Abraham's half-sister (Genesis 20:12) and wife. She was a woman of great faith (Hebrews 11:11) and is called the mother of Israel (Genesis 17:15-19).  Sara could not bear children and suggested to Abraham that a servant woman, Hagar, have his child (Genesis 16:1-3), a common practice of the day (Genesis 30:3-5). After Hagar delivered Abraham's son (Ishmael), Sara, with God's help, became pregnant at the age of ninety (Genesis 17:17) and bore Abraham a son (Isaac).  Later, believing Hagar and Ishmael were rivals to her and Isaac, she had Abraham banish them (Genesis 21:9-10).  Sara died at one hundred and twenty-seven (Genesis 23:1-2) and was buried in a cave at Machpelah (Genesis 25:7-10). You can read more about Sara in Genesis 11-25.

Study Tip:

"In Bible reading, we need to watch ourselves very closely, lest our thoughts wander, and our reading become perfunctory and meaningless. We must determine resolutely to keep our minds on what we are reading, doing our best to form an intelligent conception of it, and being on the lookout for lessons for ourselves."

Henry Hampton Halley, minister and religious writer (1874-1965).

The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Hebrews

The King James Bible

Hebrews 11:1-16
What is faith

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith 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 faith 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 faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without faith 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 faith 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 faith 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 faith 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 faith 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 faith, 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.

Margin notes:

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (11:1) - "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the proof of things we can not see."  We are saved through faith (Romans 8:24; Ephesians 2:8).

"For by it the elders obtained a good report." (11:2) - Thanks to their faith, early Jews received God's approval. Seven examples follow in verses 11:4-11.

"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." (11:3) - "Through faith we believe that God created the universe."  See Genesis 1:1-31 to read the story of creation.

"Were not made of things which do appear." (11:3) - "Were not made of things which are visible." This means God created the world out of nothing (Psalm 33:6; 33:8-9).

"By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice." (11:4) - God accepted Abel's sacrifice but not Cain's because Abel's was given out of faith.

"He obtained witness." (11:4) - "He received approval."

"He being dead yet speaketh." (11:4) - Although Abel is long dead, his example of faith still speaks to us.

"Without faith it is impossible to please him." (11:6) - Without faith, all our prayers and good deeds are meaningless.  Prayers and good deeds alone can not save us. They only become important when we believe.  It is faith that saves us. We must commit and surrender.

"Prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world." (11:7) - Noah's faith stood in stark contrast to the disbelief of others.

"He was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance." (11:8) - God called Abraham to travel to a strange land. Without understanding why, Abraham obeyed out of faith and was blessed (Genesis 12:1-3).

"Not knowing whither he went." (11:8) - Abraham obeyed God and set off for a distant land without knowing where he was going or why.

"He sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles." (11:9) - "He lived in the promised land as if it were a foreign country, living in tents."

"He looked for a city which hath foundations." (11:10) - "He looked forward to heaven."

"Sara herself received strength to conceive." (11:11) - Sara delivered a son (Isaac) when she was ninety years old (Genesis 17:17).

"Because she judged him faithful." (11:11) - "Because she (Sara) considered Him (God) faithful."

"Him as good as dead." (11:12) - A reference to Abraham's advanced age, who was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born (Genesis 21:5; Romans 4:19).

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises." (11:13) - Abraham, his son Isaac, Jacob, Abel, Enoch, and Noah all died before seeing the promised land.

"Were persuaded of them." (11:13) - "Were convinced of them."

"Confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims." (11:13) - "Knew that they were foreigners and exiles (here on earth)." This world is not our home.

"Declare plainly that they seek a country." (11:14) - "Make it clear that they seek a homeland."

"If they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out." (11:15) - "If they missed the country they left."

New Living Translation

Hebrews 11:1-16
Great Examples of Faith

1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel's offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying-"he disappeared, because God took him." For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.

6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith-for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.

10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead-a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.

14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own.

15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back.

16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. What did God promise Abraham?

"We are not Sons of God because of the Mosaic Law. We are Sons of God by grace through faith, plus nothing."

Harold George Ihlefeldt (1921-1970)

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. God promised Abraham protection from his enemies, a homeland, and many descendants (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-6; 17:2-8)

Application thought for the day:

They lived in this world yet, "They desire a better country." (11:16)

"This is convincing proof that the patriarchs had a Revelation and the promise of eternal glory in heaven."

From John Wesley's (June 28, 1703 - March 2, 1791) notes.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2023 evolke

Subscribe for Free Bible Lessons