1 What faith is.
6 Without faith we cannot please God.
7 The worthy fruits thereof in the fathers of old time.

faith. 13 10:22,39 Ac 20:21 1Co 13:13 Ga 5:6 Tit 1:1 1Pe 1:7 2Pe 1:1

is the. Ps 27:13 42:11

substance. or, ground, or, confidence. 2:3 3:14 2Co 9:4 11:17 *Gr:

hoped. See on ch. 6:12,18,19

the evidence. 7,27 Ro 8:24,25 2Co 4:18 5:17 1Pe 1:8

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

the elders. 4-39

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.

faith. 1:2 Ge 1:1 *etc: Ge 2:1 Ps 33:6 Isa 40:26 Jer 10:11,16 Joh 1:3 Ac 14:15 17:24 Ro 1:19-21 4:17 2Pe 3:5 Re 4:11

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.

faith. Ge 4:3-5,15,25 1Jo 3:11,12

a more. 9:22 Pr 15:8 21:27 Tit 1:16 Jude 1:11

he obtained. Le 9:24 1Ki 18:38 Mt 23:35 Lu 11:51

and by. 12:1,24 Ge 4:10 Mt 23:35

yet speaketh. or, is yet spoken of.

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.

Enoch. Ge 5:22-24 Lu 3:37 Jude 1:14

translated. 2Ki 2:11 Ps 89:48 Joh 8:51,52

and was. 2Ki 2:16,17 Jer 36:26 Re 11:9-12

this testimony. 3,4

that he. 6 Ge 5:22 Ro 8:8,9 1Th 2:4 1Jo 3:22

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.

without. 3:12,18,19 4:2,6 Nu 14:11 20:12 Ps 78:22,32 106:21,22,24 Isa 7:9 Mr 16:17 Joh 3:18,19 8:24 Ga 5:6 Re 21:8

he that. See on ch. 7:25 Job 21:14 Ps 73:28 Isa 55:3 Jer 2:31 Joh 14:6

must. Ro 10:14

a rewarder. 26 Ge 15:1 Ru 2:12 Ps 58:11 Pr 11:18 Mt 5:12 6:1,2,5,16 Mt 10:41,42 Lu 6:35

diligently. 1Ch 28:9 Ps 105:3,4 119:10 Pr 8:17 So 3:1-4 Jer 29:13,14 Mt 6:33 Lu 12:31 2Pe 1:5,10 3:14

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.

Noah. Ge 6:13,22 7:1,5 Mt 24:38 Lu 17:26

Noe. 2Pe 2:5

warned. Ge 6:13 19:14 Ex 9:18-21 Pr 22:3 27:12 Eze 3:17-19 Mt 3:7 Mt 24:15,25 2Pe 3:6

things. See on ver. 1

moved with fear. or, being wary. See on ch. 5:7 *Gr:

prepared. Ge 6:18 7:1,23 8:16 Eze 14:14,20 1Pe 3:20

he condemned. Mt 12:41,42 Lu 11:31,32

righteousness. Ro 1:17 3:22 4:11,13 9:30 10:6 Ga 5:5 Php 3:9 2Pe 1:1

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.

Abraham. Ge 11:31 12:1-4 Jos 24:3 Ne 9:7,8 Isa 41:2 51:2 Ac 7:2-4

which. Ge 12:7 13:15-17 15:7,8 17:8 26:3 De 9:5 Ps 105:9-11 Eze 36:24

obeyed. 33 5:9 Ge 22:18 15:5 Mt 7:24,25 Ro 1:5 6:17 10:16 2Co 10:5 Jas 2:14-16 1Pe 1:22 3:1 4:17

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:

he sojourned. Ge 17:8 23:4 26:3 35:27 Ac 7:5,6

dwelling. Ge 12:8 13:3,18 18:1,2,6,9 25:27

the heirs. 6:17 Ge 26:3,4 28:4,13,14 48:3,4

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

he looked. 12:22,28 13:14 Joh 14:2 Php 3:20 *Gr: Re 21:2,10-27

whose. 3:4 Isa 14:32 2Co 5:1

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.

Sara. Ge 17:17-19 18:11-14 21:1,2 Lu 1:36 1Pe 3:5,6

because. 10:23 Ro 4:20,21

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.

and him. Ro 4:19

as the stars. Ge 15:5 22:17 26:4 Ex 32:13 De 1:10 28:62 1Ch 27:23 Ne 9:23 Ro 4:17

as the sand. Ge 22:17 32:12 Jos 11:4 Jud 7:12 1Sa 12:5 2Sa 17:11 1Ki 4:20 Isa 10:22 48:19 Jer 33:22 Ho 1:10 Hab 1:9 Ro 4:18 9:27 Re 20:8

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.

all died. Ge 25:8 27:2-4 48:21 49:18,28,33 50:24

in faith. Gr. according to faith. not. 39

but. 27 Ge 49:10 Nu 24:17 Job 19:25 Joh 8:56 12:41 1Pe 1:10-12

and were. Ro 4:21 8:24 1Jo 3:19 *Gr:

confessed. Ge 23:4 47:9 1Ch 29:14,15 Ps 39:12 119:19 1Pe 1:17 2:11

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

they seek. 16 13:14 Ro 8:23-25 2Co 4:18 5:1-7 Php 1:23

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

mindful. Ge 11:31 12:10 24:6-8 31:18 32:9-11

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.

they desire. See on ver. 14 12:22

God is. 2:11

to be. Ge 17:7,8 Ex 3:6,15 Isa 41:8-10 Jer 31:1 Mt 22:31,32 Mr 12:26 Lu 20:37 Ac 7:32

for. 10 13:14 Mt 25:34 Lu 12:32 Php 3:20

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

faith. Ge 22:1-12 Jas 2:21-24

when. De 8:2 2Ch 32:31 Job 1:11,12 2:3-6 Pr 17:3 Da 11:35 Zec 13:9 Mal 3:2,3 Jas 1:2-4 5:11 1Pe 1:6,7 4:12 Re 3:10

received. 7:6

offered. 2Co 8:12

only. Ge 22:2,16 Joh 3:16

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Of. or, To. That. Ge 17:19 21:12 Ro 9:7

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

God. Ge 22:5 *Heb: Mt 9:28 Ro 4:17-21 Eph 3:20

from the. 11,12 9:24 Ge 22:4,13 Ro 5:14

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

Ge 27:27-40 28:2,3

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

faith. Ge 48:5-22

and worshipped. Ge 47:31

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

faith. Ge 50:24,25 Ex 13:19 Jos 24:32 Ac 7:16

made mention of. or, remembered.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

faith. Ex 2:2 *etc: Ac 7:20

a proper child. That is, a fine, beautiful, or fair child, as our translators render [asteios] in Ac. 7:20; which was in their time the sense of proper, from the French propre.

and they. 13:6 Ps 56:4 118:6 Isa 8:12,13 41:10,14 51:7,12 Da 3:16-18 Da 6:10 Mt 10:28 Lu 12:4,5

the king's. Ex 1:16,22

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

when. Ex 2:10 Ac 7:21-24

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Choosing. 10:32 Job 36:21 Ps 84:10 Mt 5:10-12 13:21 Ac 7:24,25 20:23,24 Ro 5:3 8:17,18,35-39 2Co 5:17 Col 1:24 2Th 1:3-6 2Ti 1:8 2Ti 2:3-10 3:11,12 Jas 1:20 1Pe 1:6,7 4:12-16

the people. 4:9 Ps 47:9 1Pe 2:10

the pleasures. Job 20:5 21:11-13 Ps 73:18-20 Isa 21:4 47:8,9 Lu 12:19,20 Lu 16:25 Jas 5:5 Re 18:7

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

the reproach. 10:33 13:13 Ps 69:7,20 89:50,51 Isa 51:7 Ac 5:41 2Co 12:10 2Co 12:10 1Pe 1:11 4:14

of Christ. or, for Christ. greater. Ps 37:16 Jer 9:23,24 2Co 6:10 Eph 1:18 3:8 Re 2:9 3:18

for he had. See on ver. 6 2:2 10:35 Ru 2:12 Pr 11:18 23:18 Mt 5:12 6:1 10:41 Lu 14:14

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

he forsook. Ex 10:28,29 11:8 12:11,37 *etc: Ex 13:17-21

not fearing. Ex 2:14,15 4:19 14:10-13

endured. 6:15 10:32 12:3 Mt 10:22 24:13 Mr 4:17 13:13 1Co 13:7 Jas 5:11

seeing. 1,13 12:2 Ps 16:8 Ac 2:25 2Co 4:18 1Ti 1:17 6:16 1Pe 1:8

28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

he kept. Ex 12:3-14,21-30

the sprinkling. 9:19 12:24 Ex 12:7,13,23 1Pe 1:2

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

Ex 14:13-31 15:1-21 Jos 2:10 Ne 9:11 Ps 66:6 78:13 106:9-11 Ps 114:1-5 136:13-15 Isa 11:15,16 51:9,10 63:11-16 Hab 3:8-10

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

Jos 6:3-20 2Co 10:4,5

31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

the harlot. Jos 2:1-22 6:22-25 Mt 1:1,5 Jas 2:25

believed not. or, were disobedient. 3:18 1Pe 2:8 3:20

she had. Jos 1:1 2:4 *etc:

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

what shall. Ro 3:5 4:1 6:1 7:7

the time. Joh 21:25

Gedeon. Jud 6:1-8:35

Gideon. 1Sa 12:11

Jerubbaal. Barak. Jud 4:1-5:31

Samson. Jud 13:1-16:31

Jephthae. Jud 11:1-12:7

Jephthah. David. 1Sa 16:1,13 17:1-58 *etc: Ac 2:29-31 13:22-36

Samuel. 1Sa 1:20 2:11,18 3:1-12:25 28:3 *etc: Ps 99:6 Jer 15:1 Ac 3:24 13:20

the prophets. Mt 5:12 Lu 13:28 16:31 Ac 10:43 Jas 5:10 1Pe 1:10-12 2Pe 1:21 2Pe 3:2

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

through. Jos 6:1-13:33 2Sa 5:4-25 8:1-14 Ps 18:32-34 44:2-6 144:1,2,10

wrought. See on ver. 4-8,17

obtained. See on ch. 6:12-15 10:36 2Sa 7:11 *etc: Ga 3:16

stopped. Jud 14:5,6 1Sa 17:33-36 Ps 91:13 Da 6:20-23 2Ti 4:17 1Pe 5:8

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Quenched. Ps 66:12 Isa 43:2 Da 3:19-28 1Pe 4:12

escaped. 1Sa 20:1 2Sa 21:16,17 1Ki 19:3 2Ki 6:16-18,32 Job 5:20 Ps 144:10 Jer 26:24

out of. Jud 7:19-25 8:4-10 15:14-20 16:19-30 2Ki 20:7 *etc: Job 42:10 Ps 6:8 2Co 12:9,10

turned. 1Sa 14:13 *etc: 1Sa 17:51,52 2Sa 8:1 *etc: 2Ch 14:11-14 16:1-9 20:6-25 32:20-22

35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Women. 1Ki 17:22-24 2Ki 4:27-37 Lu 7:12-16 Joh 11:40-45 Ac 9:41

tortured. Ac 22:24,25,29

not accepting. Ac 4:19

that they. Mt 22:30 Mr 12:25 Lu 14:14 20:36 Joh 5:29 Ac 23:6 24:15 1Co 15:54 Php 3:11

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

mockings. Jud 16:25 2Ki 2:23 2Ch 30:10 36:16 Jer 20:7 Mt 20:19 Mr 10:34 Lu 18:32 23:11,36

and scourgings. 1Ki 22:24 Jer 20:2 37:15 Mt 21:35 23:34 27:26 Ac 5:40 16:22,23 2Co 11:24,25

bonds. 10:34 Ge 39:20 1Ki 22:27 2Ch 16:10 Ps 105:17,18 Jer 20:2 29:26 Jer 32:2,3,8 36:6 37:15-21 38:6-13,28 39:15 La 3:52-55 Ac 4:3 Ac 5:18 8:3 12:4 *etc: Ac 16:24 *etc: Ac 21:33 24:27 2Co 11:23 Eph 3:1 4:1 2Ti 1:16 2:9 Re 2:10

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

stoned. 1Ki 21:10,13-15 2Ch 24:21 Mt 21:35 23:37 Lu 13:34 Joh 10:31-33 Ac 7:58,59 14:19 2Co 11:25

were slain. 1Sa 22:17-19 1Ki 18:4,13 19:1,10,14 Jer 2:30 26:23 La 4:13,14 Mt 23:35-37 Lu 11:51-54 Ac 7:52 12:2,3

in sheepskins. 2Ki 1:8 Mt 3:4 Re 11:3

being destitute. 12:1-3 Zec 13:9 Mt 8:20 1Co 4:9-13 2Co 11:23-27 12:10 Jas 5:10,11

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

whom. 1Ki 14:12,13 2Ki 23:25-29 Isa 57:1

wandered. 1Sa 22:1 23:15,19,23 24:1-3 26:1 1Ki 17:3 18:4,13 19:9 Ps 142:1-7 *title

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

See on ver. 2,13 Lu 10:23,24 1Pe 1:12

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

provided. or, foreseen. better. 7:19,22 8:6 9:23 12:24

they without. 9:8-15 10:11-14 Ro 3:25,26

made. 5:9 12:23 Re 6:11

The apostle in the early part of the chapter having given us a general account of the grace of faith, proceeds to set before us some illustrious examples of it in Old Testament times. The leading instance and example of faith recorded, is that of righteous Abel: one of the first saints and the first martyr for religion--one who lived by faith and died for it, and therefore a fit pattern for the Hebrews to imitate. It is observable that the Holy Spirit has not thought fit to say any thing here of the faith of our first parents; and yet the church of God has generally, by a pious charity, taken it for granted that God gave them repentance and faith in the promised seed; that he instructed them in the mystery of sacrificing, that they instructed their children in it, and that they found mercy with God, after they had ruined themselves and all their posterity. But God has left the matter still under some doubt, as a warning to all who have great talents given to them, and a great trust reposed in them, that they do not prove unfaithful, since God would not enrol our first parents among the number of believers in this blessed calendar.--Henry.