D I K M O 1-7. A group of 3. Abel, Enoch. Noah.
P 8-12. Abraham and Sarah.
N 13-19. General reflections.
L Q 20,21. Isaac and Jacob.
R 22. Joseph.
Q 23-28. Moses' parents and Moses.
K M P 29-31. Israel and Rahab.
O 32-38. 2 Groups. Faith conquering through God; faith suffering for God.
N 39,40. General reflections.
Hebrews 11)
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the proof (guarantee, proves ownership) of things not seen. (Faith is you deed to heaven. You haven't seen heaven, but through your faith you know heaven is real. You are prepared to enter the 4th dimension which is time eternal with your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.)
2 For by it the elders (see Acts 2:17: equivalent to "fathers" of 1:1) were borne witness to.
3 Through faith we understand that the ages were prepared by the word of God (Wisdom of God had a plan, love God or love Satan), to the end that things which are seen came into being of things which do appear. (The word "worlds" is "aion" in the Greek language. It means an age. It is a period of time, not a piece of real estate. It was ordered through the dispensations of time, it happened exactly as it is. Science is starting to catch up. You will never understand God's Word, unless you understand the 3 world ages.)
4 By faith Abel (Abel illustrates faith's worship) offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying upon his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaks. (He is still spoken of as a righteous one. The faith of Abel speaks to us through God's Word.)
5 By faith Enoch (in Enoch we see faith's walk) was translated (see Acts 7:16) that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he was borne witness to, that he pleased God. (He was a preacher/teacher, told flood was coming. See Jude 6-17. He preached about the fallen angels that were seducing the daughters of Adam [Gen. 6:1-8]. His faith was pleasing to God, and Enoch never died in the flesh.)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. (If you don't have faith to believe in God, do you think He is going to reward you? You must sincerely seek Him to receive His blessings. If you don't have faith in God, it is impossible to please Father. That is trouble.)
7 By faith Noah (Noah is an example of faith's witness), being warned of God of things not seen as yet (there was no water anywhere), moved with fear, prepared an ark for the salvation of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir (he separated himself) of the righteousness which is according to faith.
8 By faith Abraham (in Abraham we see the obedience of faith [cp. Rom. 4:3-22], and in Sarah's faith's reckoning, or judging), when he was called to go out into a place which he was about to receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (He didn't know what it looked like.)
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: (See 12:1)
10 For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder (Gr. technites = Architect or Designer. See Acts 19;24. From the same root we have tekton, rendered 'carpenter', Matt. 13:55. Mark 6:3, meaning builder or constructor. The word used in contempt of our Lord's earthly occupation [as being apart from Rabbinacal connection and teaching] is profoundly significant. Does it not suggest the reason why He elected for the period of His Incarnation to become a carpenter, rather than, e.g., a shepherd, as the Antitype David? He, the great Architect, Designer, and Fabricator of 'all things visible', including 'the city which has the foundations'! He, the Preparer, Arranger, and Constitutor of the ages or dispensations, condescended to follow during 'the days of His flesh' a trade involving the planning, calculations, and manual skill of a craftsman!) and maker is God.
11 Through faith even Sara herself received (it was given from above) strength to conceive seed (the strength was Divinely supplied not only to conceive, but to bring to birth), and brought forth a child when she was past season, because she judged Him faithful Who had promised.
12 Therefore were begotten there even of one, and that too, one having become dead, so many as the stars of the heaven in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. (Gen. 15:5; 22:17; 26:4. Ex. 32:13. Isa. 48:19)
13 These all died according to faith, not having received the promises (i.e. the things promised), but having seen them from afar, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (We must be strangers to the world ere we can become pilgrims in it. See Gen. 23:4. 1 Chron. 29:15. Ps. 39:12.)
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a [true] home.
15 And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But as a matter of fact they desired a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He prepared for them a city. (See v.10.)
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, has offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son, (See John 1:14.)
18 With reference to whom it was said, That "in Isaac shall your seed be called:" (This is quoted from Gen. 21:12. Abraham already knew that Israel would become numerous as the stars in heaven through his son Isaac. But he had the faith to offer Isaac in sacrifice, if that is what God wanted. God provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice. God allowed His own Son, Jesus Christ, to be sacrificed on the cross for our sins.)
19 Reckoning that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence he did even in a figure receive him back. (Abraham believed God was able to raise Isaac from the dead, if He chose to do so. Isaac was, as far as Abraham was concerned, to all intents and purposes, dead, and so became a type of Christ in resurrection. And in the fact that Abraham was 99 years old when Isaac was conceived, God had already more or less raised Isaac from the dead.)
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. (Isaac shows us faith overcoming the will of the flesh, in that he blessed Jacob instead of Esau.)
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph (Jacob's faith was manifested by his blessing each of Joseph's sons, putting Ephraim 1st according to God's will); and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff. (Jacob's worship because he had just secured Joseph's promise that he would not bury him in Egypt but in Machpelah, thus enabling him to express his confidence in God's promises. This is recorded in Gen. 47:31, before the blessing of Joseph's sons.)
22 By faith Joseph, when was ending [life], made mention of the departing of the sons of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. (The faith of Joseph was shown in his confidence that God would fulfill the promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Gen. 50:24,25. Cp. Gen. 48:21. Joseph had faith to know God was going to set Israel free from bondage in Egypt. So much so, that he instructed Israel to take his bones with them, when they left. By faith, all of these mentioned will live eternally with God in the 4th dimension.)
23 By faith Moses (see 3:2), when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a proper child (see Acts 7:20); and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. (Moses' parents must have had some revelation from God, on which their faith could act.)
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Having chosen rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to have enjoyment of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ (i.e. the Messiah. Moses, as well as Abraham, looked forward to His day. John 8:56) greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king (Ex. 10:28,29; 11:4-8): for he endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible. (He feared not the visible king, because he had seen the Invisible. Cp. Elijah [1 Kings 17:1; 18:15], and Elisha [2 Kings 3:14; 5:16].)
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, in order that he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians endeavoring to do were swallowed up.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were encircled for seven days.
31 By faith the harlot (she wasn't, that was a slanderous rumor) Rahab perished not with them that were disobedient, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me in narrating of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah (Gideon and Jephthah stand out together as higher examples of faith, Barak and Samson as associated with women, the former in his rise, the latter in his fall); of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms (see Deut. 4:46,47. Josh. 5-14), wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. (See Judg. 14:5,6. 1 Sam. 17:34-37. Dan. 6:22,23.)
34 Quenched the strength of fire, escaped the mouth of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty in battle, overturned the camps of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead from resurrection: and others were bastinadoed to death (= beat with a stick on soles of feet or buttocks), not accepting deliverance; in order that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yes, moreover of bonds and prison: (Joseph, Gen. 39:20. Micah, 1 Kings 22:26,27.)
37 They were stoned (Naboth 1 Kings 21:13. Zechariah, 2 Chron. 24:20,21. Jeremiah after the scene in Pathros [ch.44], according to Gemara), they were sawed asunder (this was the death of Isaiah during the Manassean persecution [cp. 2 Kings 21:16], according to Gamara), were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, vilely treated;
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 concerning us, that they without us should not be perfected.