Hebrews 11:36-40 - God had planned something better for us

11:36-38

The end of 11:35 leads into a general section on those who were persecuted in various ways and at various levels. There are examples of some of these in Scripture itself, and also in extra-Biblical writings. “The world was not worthy of them”. Those who persecute may have mocked their victims saying they were not worthy of the world (which is what happens today to those who question LGBTQ+ stuff, especially transgenderism), but the reality was that the world was not worthy of them. Jesus said we are not to fear those who can destroy the body but not the soul (Matt 10:28). We need to know that death is not the end.

11:39,40

These two verses round off the section. They were all commended for their faith. He is encouraging his readers to have faith in Christ and His work. “None of them had received”. Now faith is not “pie in the sky when you die”. We see in all the examples that faith had an effect now, often a material effect. Yet God has “planned something better for us”. Our faith in Christ makes a difference now, yet there is something far greater still to some, and we are looking forward to the return of Christ, and our resurrection from the dead.