Hebrews 11:35-40 - Commended for their faith

11:35-38

The focus then returns to the looking forward theme. People sought to gain an even “better resurrection”. Many faced severe suffering, even death, and death in some pretty painful ways. They were rejected by the world, and they chose this because of they were trusting in God, looking forward. The Hebrews too lived in a hostile world. To a much lesser extent, our society is hostile to Christianity. We need to have the same attitude that the heroes of faith had. There will be times when our faith has a direct effect now, at other times it will mean suffering now because we are looking forward to something far, far better.

11:39,40

Verse 39 sums up the primary point the writer is making. “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised”. God approved of them, and these people God approved of recognised that the Law was not “it”, but was pointing forwards to something better.

Verse 40 then has the unity between the Old and New Testaments. The people of faith of the Old Testament share in the same inheritance as us. God’s plan was far greater. If someone chooses to old on to the Law then they are (i) holding on to something that will fail (because they will fail the Law); (ii) holding on to something that is far inferior to what God has for us.