Hebrews 11:24-40
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Hebrews 11:23–31 (NIV)
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
Now the Author Moves to the Faith of Moses and the Israelites
Hebrews 11:24–26 (NASB95)
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.
Philo of Alexandria Lived in/Around the Time of Jesus
He Claimed that Moses was an Heir to the Egyptian Throne as the Pharaoh's Adopted Grandson
Whether that is True or Not, He Definitely had Privileges the Other Israelites Didn’t
But Instead of Keeping Such Temporary Luxuries…
He Gave Them Up in Order to Suffer and Be Mistreated with God’s People
The Treasures that Came with Being in Fellowship with God…
Were Greater Than All the Treasures of Egypt to Moses
Egypt was One of the Greatest Empires the World has Ever Known
We Live in One of the Greatest Countries the World has Ever Known
Would We Give Up All the Pleasures and Luxuries We have Here…
In Order to Be Insulted, Ridiculed, and to Suffer for Our Faith in Jesus?
Do We Look for the Reward/Promises of God, Like Moses?
It was a Temptation for the Hebrew Audience to Return to the Old Law/Covenant of Moses…
Because They Were Experiencing Insults, Ridicule, Suffering, and Excommunication
They are Now Being Encouraged By the Example of Moses
Because of His Faith, He was Willing to Give Up Everything to Suffer with Jesus
They Should Strive to Have the Same Sort of Faith
God’s Promises are Better and More Firmly Established Than the World’s Promises
Hebrews 11:27 (NASB95)
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
Again, the Invisible God, Along with His Invisible Promises…
Are Clearly Seen Through Faith
Moses Didn’t Fear the Wrath of the King When He Left Egypt
He Remained Faithful to God and Endured
Again, the Immediate Message to the Hebrew Christian Audience Would Be:
Don’t Be Afraid of Authorities
Be Faithful Like Moses
Hebrews 11:28 (NASB95)
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.
On Israel’s Last Night in Egypt…
Moses Trusted God When He was Told the Firstborn of All Israel Would Be Saved…
If They Applied Lamb’s Blood to the Doorposts of Their Houses
The Blood of the Passover Lamb Saved Them, Just as God Promised
And the Blood of this Hebrew Christian Audience’s Lamb…
Will Continue to Save Them if They Remain Faithful as Well
Hebrews 11:29 (NASB95)
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.
The People of Israel Trusted that God Would Protect Them From the Waves of Water Surrounding Them
Hebrews 11:30 (NASB95)
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
Israel Trusted God By Following His Exact Marching Orders…
In Order to Destroy the Walls of Jericho
Hebrews 11:31 (NASB95)
31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.
The Prostitute, Rahab, Placed Her Trust in the One True God and Protected His People
And Because of Her Faith, She was Saved and Welcomed into the Family of God
Hebrews 11:32–40 (NIV)
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Have You Ever Been to a Firework Show?
What is it Called When They Start Shooting Them Off Quickly at the End of the Show?
The Grand Finale
Verses 32-40 are the Grand Finale of the Hall of Faith
Hebrews 11:32–34 (NASB95)
32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
Verse 32 is Probably the Greatest Argument as to Why I Believe the Book of Hebrews was a Sermon
Especially the Phrase: “Time Will Fail Me…”
NIV = “I Do Not Have Time to Tell…”
He Could Go on and on in His List of Faithful Examples From the Past…
But He Only has So Much Time to Speak
He Mentioned Men Who, Through Faith in God…
Were Made Valiant Warriors, Righteous Leaders, and Brave Spokesman for God
So Many of Our Favorite OT Stories are Being Referenced in These 2 Verses
The Author Tells Us that Faith Led to All of These Amazing People and Their Amazing Acts
Hebrews 11:35–36 (NASB95)
35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.
Because of Their Faith, 2 Women in the OT had Their Children Resurrected
But Then There Were Others Who, Though Being Tortured, Refused to Deny Their Faith…
So that They Would Have Hope of Their Own Resurrections
This Word for “Torture” is Very Specific and Rare
It Refers to a Person Being Turned into a Human Drum
They Were Stretched Out on a Rack and Then Being Beaten in the Stomach with a Metal Instrument, Like a Drum
The Author is Probably Referring to a 90 Year Old Scribe Named Eleazar
He was Murdered in the Intertestamental Period By the Evil Antiochus Epiphanes
2 Maccabees 6:18–31 (NRSV)
18 Eleazar, one of the scribes in high position, a man now advanced in age and of noble presence, was being forced to open his mouth to eat swine’s flesh. 19 But he, welcoming death with honor rather than life with pollution, went up to the rack of his own accord, spitting out the flesh, 20 as all ought to go who have the courage to refuse things that it is not right to taste, even for the natural love of life.
21 Those who were in charge of that unlawful sacrifice took the man aside because of their long acquaintance with him, and privately urged him to bring meat of his own providing, proper for him to use, and to pretend that he was eating the flesh of the sacrificial meal that had been commanded by the king, 22 so that by doing this he might be saved from death, and be treated kindly on account of his old friendship with them. 23 But making a high resolve, worthy of his years and the dignity of his old age and the gray hairs that he had reached with distinction and his excellent life even from childhood, and moreover according to the holy God-given law, he declared himself quickly, telling them to send him to Hades.
24 “Such pretense is not worthy of our time of life,” he said, “for many of the young might suppose that Eleazar in his ninetieth year had gone over to an alien religion, 25 and through my pretense, for the sake of living a brief moment longer, they would be led astray because of me, while I defile and disgrace my old age. 26 Even if for the present I would avoid the punishment of mortals, yet whether I live or die I will not escape the hands of the Almighty. 27 Therefore, by bravely giving up my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age 28 and leave to the young a noble example of how to die a good death willingly and nobly for the revered and holy laws.”
When he had said this, he went at once to the rack. 29 Those who a little before had acted toward him with goodwill now changed to ill will, because the words he had uttered were in their opinion sheer madness. 30 When he was about to die under the blows, he groaned aloud and said: “It is clear to the Lord in his holy knowledge that, though I might have been saved from death, I am enduring terrible sufferings in my body under this beating, but in my soul I am glad to suffer these things because I fear him.”
31 So in this way he died, leaving in his death an example of nobility and a memorial of courage, not only to the young but to the great body of his nation.
The Text Says Others, Because of Their Faith, Were Mocked, Whipped, and Imprisoned
Hebrews 11:37–38 (NASB95)
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
Because of Their Faith, Some Were Murdered in All Sorts of Horrifying Ways
Those Who Weren’t Murdered Lived as Outcasts and Were Mistreated By this Wicked World
Hebrews 11:39–40 (NASB95)
39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
They Gained Approval/Pleased God with Their Faith
But They Never Received the Promised Inheritance
Their Faith Led Them to See it, Even Though They Didn’t Yet Have it
God Intends for All of Us to Receive the Inheritance Together
We Will All Be Resurrected to Eternal Life Together
We Will All Receive Our New Immortal, Incorruptible, Glorious Bodies Together
We Will All Enter the Promised Land, the New Jerusalem Together
This Weak in Faith Hebrew Audience Needed the Encouraging Examples of Their Faithful Ancestors
And They Needed to Know that the Reward is for Them if They Remain Faithful Too
Invitation
Invitation
Last Time We Looked at James 1:26
James 1:26 (CSB)
26 If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself.
If You Think You’re a Religious Person…
If You Think You’re a Good Christian Because You Read Your Bible and Go to Church…
But You Don’t Have Self-Control Over Your Mouth…
You Have Tricked Yourself Because Your Religion is Useless
James 1:27 (CSB)
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Real, Genuine, Pure, Christianity Involves 2 Major Things:
Looking After the Vulnerable/Needy in Your Community of Believers
Not Allowing the Sinful World to Influence Your Thoughts, Words, or Actions
Widows and Orphans Often had No One to Care/Provide for Them
It is Fundamental to Our Very Christian Calling…
To Step Up and Care/Provide for Such People
Being Religious Means Being a Servant to Others
And it is Fundamental to Our Christian Calling…
To Influence the World
Not Be Influenced By the World
Being Religious Means Our Values and Morals are Unaffected By the World
These are 2 Fundamental Principles of the Kingdom of Jesus
This is What God Wants From Us
This is How God Judges Our Religiosity