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本日經文提要 ( 希伯來書 10:1~11:40)
來10:1律法既是將來美事的影兒，不是本物的真像，總不能藉著每年常獻一樣的祭物，叫那近前來的人得以完全。
來10:2若不然，獻祭的事豈不早已止住了麼，因為禮拜的人，良心既被潔淨，就不再覺得有罪了。
來10:3但這些祭物是叫人每年想起罪來。
來10:4因為公牛和山羊的血，斷不能除罪。
來10:5所以基督到世上來的時候，就說：『神阿，祭物和禮物是你不願意的，你曾給我豫備了身體。
來10:6燔祭和贖罪祭是你不喜歡的。
來10:7那時我說：神阿，我來了為要照你的旨意行，我的事在經卷上已經記載了。』
來10:8以上說：祭物和禮物，燔祭和贖罪祭，是你不願意的，也是你不喜歡的，（這都是按著律法獻的）
來10:9後又說：我來了為要照你的旨意行，可見他是除去在先的，為要立定在後的。
來10:10我們憑這旨意，靠耶穌基督只一次獻上他的身體，就得以成聖。
來10:11凡祭司天天站著事奉神，屢次獻上一樣的祭物，這祭物永不能除罪。
來10:12但基督獻了一次永遠的贖罪祭，就在神的右邊坐下了。
來10:13從此等候他仇敵成了他的腳凳。
來10:14因為他一次獻祭，便叫那得以成聖的人永遠完全。
來10:15聖靈也對我們作見證，因為他既已說過，
來10:16『主說：那些日子以後，我與他們所立的約乃是這樣，我要將我的律法寫在他們心上，又要放在他們的裡面。』
來10:17以後就說：『我不再記念他們的罪愆，和他們的過犯。』
來10:18這些罪過既已赦免，就不用再為罪獻祭了。
來10:19弟兄們，我們既因耶穌的血，得以坦然進入至聖所，
來10:20是藉著他給我們開了一條又新又活的路從幔子經過，這幔子就是他的身體。
來10:21又有一位大祭司治理神的家。
來10:22並我們心中天良的虧欠已經灑去，身體用清水洗淨了，就當存著誠心，和充足的信心，來到神面前。
來10:23也要堅守我們所承認的指望，不至搖動，因為那應許我們的是信實的。
來10:24又要彼此相顧，激發愛心，勉勵行善。
來10:25你們不可停止聚會，好像那些停止慣了的人，倒要彼此勸勉，既知道〔原文作看見〕那日子臨近，就更當如此。
來10:26因為我們得知真道以後，若故意犯罪，贖罪的祭就再沒有了。
來10:27惟有戰懼等候審判和那燒滅眾敵人的烈火。
來10:28人干犯摩西的律法，憑兩三個見證人，尚且不得憐恤而死。
來10:29何況人踐踏神的兒子，將那使他成聖之約的血當作平常，又褻慢施恩的聖靈，你們想，他要受的刑罰該怎樣加重呢。
來10:30因為我們知道誰說：『伸冤在我，我必報應。』又說：『主要審判他的百姓。』
來10:31落在永生神的手裡，真是可怕的。
來10:32你們要追念往日，蒙了光照以後，所忍受大爭戰的各樣苦難。
來10:33一面被毀謗，遭患難，成了戲景，叫眾人觀看，一面陪伴那些受這樣苦難的人。
來10:34因為你們體恤了那些被捆鎖的人，並且你們的家業被人搶去，也甘心忍受，知道自己有更美長存的家業。
來10:35所以你們不可丟棄勇敢的心，存這樣的心必得大賞賜。
來10:36你們必須忍耐，使你們行完了神的旨意，就可以得著所應許的。
來10:37『因為還有一點點時候，那要來的就來，並不遲延。
來10:38只是義人必因信得生，〔義人有古卷作我的義人〕他若退後，我心裡就不喜歡他。』
來10:39我們卻不是退後入沉淪的那等人，乃是有信心以致靈魂得救的人。
來10:2若不然，獻祭的事豈不早已止住了麼，因為禮拜的人，良心既被潔淨，就不再覺得有罪了。
來10:3但這些祭物是叫人每年想起罪來。
來10:4因為公牛和山羊的血，斷不能除罪。
來10:5所以基督到世上來的時候，就說：『神阿，祭物和禮物是你不願意的，你曾給我豫備了身體。
來10:6燔祭和贖罪祭是你不喜歡的。
來10:7那時我說：神阿，我來了為要照你的旨意行，我的事在經卷上已經記載了。』
來10:8以上說：祭物和禮物，燔祭和贖罪祭，是你不願意的，也是你不喜歡的，（這都是按著律法獻的）
來10:9後又說：我來了為要照你的旨意行，可見他是除去在先的，為要立定在後的。
來10:10我們憑這旨意，靠耶穌基督只一次獻上他的身體，就得以成聖。
來10:11凡祭司天天站著事奉神，屢次獻上一樣的祭物，這祭物永不能除罪。
來10:12但基督獻了一次永遠的贖罪祭，就在神的右邊坐下了。
來10:13從此等候他仇敵成了他的腳凳。
來10:14因為他一次獻祭，便叫那得以成聖的人永遠完全。
來10:15聖靈也對我們作見證，因為他既已說過，
來10:16『主說：那些日子以後，我與他們所立的約乃是這樣，我要將我的律法寫在他們心上，又要放在他們的裡面。』
來10:17以後就說：『我不再記念他們的罪愆，和他們的過犯。』
來10:18這些罪過既已赦免，就不用再為罪獻祭了。
來10:19弟兄們，我們既因耶穌的血，得以坦然進入至聖所，
來10:20是藉著他給我們開了一條又新又活的路從幔子經過，這幔子就是他的身體。
來10:21又有一位大祭司治理神的家。
來10:22並我們心中天良的虧欠已經灑去，身體用清水洗淨了，就當存著誠心，和充足的信心，來到神面前。
來10:23也要堅守我們所承認的指望，不至搖動，因為那應許我們的是信實的。
來10:24又要彼此相顧，激發愛心，勉勵行善。
來10:25你們不可停止聚會，好像那些停止慣了的人，倒要彼此勸勉，既知道〔原文作看見〕那日子臨近，就更當如此。
來10:26因為我們得知真道以後，若故意犯罪，贖罪的祭就再沒有了。
來10:27惟有戰懼等候審判和那燒滅眾敵人的烈火。
來10:28人干犯摩西的律法，憑兩三個見證人，尚且不得憐恤而死。
來10:29何況人踐踏神的兒子，將那使他成聖之約的血當作平常，又褻慢施恩的聖靈，你們想，他要受的刑罰該怎樣加重呢。
來10:30因為我們知道誰說：『伸冤在我，我必報應。』又說：『主要審判他的百姓。』
來10:31落在永生神的手裡，真是可怕的。
來10:32你們要追念往日，蒙了光照以後，所忍受大爭戰的各樣苦難。
來10:33一面被毀謗，遭患難，成了戲景，叫眾人觀看，一面陪伴那些受這樣苦難的人。
來10:34因為你們體恤了那些被捆鎖的人，並且你們的家業被人搶去，也甘心忍受，知道自己有更美長存的家業。
來10:35所以你們不可丟棄勇敢的心，存這樣的心必得大賞賜。
來10:36你們必須忍耐，使你們行完了神的旨意，就可以得著所應許的。
來10:37『因為還有一點點時候，那要來的就來，並不遲延。
來10:38只是義人必因信得生，〔義人有古卷作我的義人〕他若退後，我心裡就不喜歡他。』
來10:39我們卻不是退後入沉淪的那等人，乃是有信心以致靈魂得救的人。
來11:1信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據。
來11:2古人在這信上得了美好的證據。
來11:3我們因著信，就知道諸世界是藉神話造成的，這樣，所看見的，並不是從顯然之物造出來的。
來11:4亞伯因著信獻祭與神，比該隱所獻的更美，因此便得了稱義的見證，就是神指著他禮物作的見證，他雖然死了，卻因這信仍舊說話。
來11:5以諾因著信被接去，不至於見死，人也找不著他，因為神已經把他接去了，只是他被接去以先，已經得了神喜悅他的明證。
來11:6人非有信，就不能得神的喜悅，因為到神面前來的人，必須信有
來11:7挪亞因著信，既蒙神指示他未見的事，動了敬畏的心，豫備了一隻方舟，使他全家得救，因此就定了那世代的罪，自己也承受了那從信而來的義。
來11:8亞伯拉罕因著信，蒙召的時候，就遵命出去，往將來要得為業的地方去，出去的時候，還不知往那裡去。
來11:9他因著信，就在所應許之地作客，好像在異地居住帳棚，與那同蒙一個應許的以撒，雅各一樣。
來11:10因為他等候那座有根基的城，就是神所經營所建造的。
來11:11因著信，連撒拉自己，雖然過了生育的歲數，還能懷孕，因他以為那應許他的是可信的。
來11:12所以從一個彷彿已死的人就生出子孫，如同天上的星那樣眾多，海邊的沙那樣無數。
來11:13這些人都是存著信心死的，並沒有得著所應許的，卻從遠處望見，且歡喜迎接，又承認自己在世上是客旅，是寄居的。
來11:14說這樣話的人，是表明自己要找一個家鄉。
來11:15他們若想念所離開的家鄉，還有可以回去的機會。
來11:16他們卻羨慕一個更美的家鄉，就是在天上的，所以神被稱為他們的神，並不以為恥，因為他已經給他們豫備了一座城。
來11:17亞伯拉罕因著信，被試驗的時候，就把以撒獻上，這便是那歡喜領受應許的，將自己獨生的兒子獻上。
來11:18論到這兒子曾有話說：『從以撒生的才要稱為你的後裔，』
來11:19他以為神還能叫人從死裡復活，他也彷彿從死中得回他的兒子來。
來11:20以撒因著信，就指著將來的事，給雅各以掃祝福。
來11:21雅各因著信，臨死的時候，給約瑟的兩個兒子各自祝福，扶著杖頭敬拜神。
來11:22約瑟因著信，臨終的時候，題到以色列族將來要出埃及，並為自己的骸骨留下遺命。
來11:23摩西生下來，他的父母見他是個俊美的子，就因著信把他藏了三個月，並不怕王命。
來11:24摩西因著信，長大了就不肯稱為法老女兒之子。
來11:25他寧可和神的百姓同受苦害，也不願暫時享受罪中之樂。
來11:26他看為基督受的凌辱，比埃及的財物更寶貴，因他想望所要得的賞賜。
來11:27他因著信，就離開埃及，不怕王怒，因為他恆心忍耐，如同看見那不能看見的主。
來11:28他因著信，就守逾越節，〔守或作立〕行灑血的禮，免得那滅長子的臨近以色列人。
來11:29他們因著信，過紅海如行乾地，埃及人試著要過去，就被吞滅了。
來11:30以色列人因著信，圍繞耶利哥城七日，城牆就倒塌了。
來11:31妓女喇合因著信，曾和和平平的接待探子，就不與那些不順從的人一同滅亡。
來11:32我又何必再說呢，若要一一細說：基甸，巴拉，參孫，耶弗他，大衛，撒母耳，和眾先知的事，時候就不夠了。
來11:33他們因著信，制伏了敵國，行了公義，得了應許，堵了獅子的口。
來11:34滅了烈火的猛勢，脫了刀劍的鋒刃，軟弱變為剛強，爭戰顯出勇敢，打退外邦的全軍。
來11:35有婦人得自己的死人復活，又有人忍受嚴刑，不肯苟且得釋放，〔釋放原文作贖〕為要得著更美的復活。
來11:36又有人忍受戲弄，鞭打，捆鎖，監禁，各等的磨煉，
來11:37被石頭打死，被鋸鋸死，受試探，被刀殺，披著綿羊山羊的皮各處奔跑，受窮乏，患難，苦害，
來11:38在曠野，山嶺，山洞，地穴，飄流無定，本是世界不配有的人。
來11:39這些人都是因信得了美好的證據，卻仍未得著所應許的。
來11:2古人在這信上得了美好的證據。
來11:3我們因著信，就知道諸世界是藉神話造成的，這樣，所看見的，並不是從顯然之物造出來的。
來11:4亞伯因著信獻祭與神，比該隱所獻的更美，因此便得了稱義的見證，就是神指著他禮物作的見證，他雖然死了，卻因這信仍舊說話。
來11:5以諾因著信被接去，不至於見死，人也找不著他，因為神已經把他接去了，只是他被接去以先，已經得了神喜悅他的明證。
來11:6人非有信，就不能得神的喜悅，因為到神面前來的人，必須信有
來11:7挪亞因著信，既蒙神指示他未見的事，動了敬畏的心，豫備了一隻方舟，使他全家得救，因此就定了那世代的罪，自己也承受了那從信而來的義。
來11:8亞伯拉罕因著信，蒙召的時候，就遵命出去，往將來要得為業的地方去，出去的時候，還不知往那裡去。
來11:9他因著信，就在所應許之地作客，好像在異地居住帳棚，與那同蒙一個應許的以撒，雅各一樣。
來11:10因為他等候那座有根基的城，就是神所經營所建造的。
來11:11因著信，連撒拉自己，雖然過了生育的歲數，還能懷孕，因他以為那應許他的是可信的。
來11:12所以從一個彷彿已死的人就生出子孫，如同天上的星那樣眾多，海邊的沙那樣無數。
來11:13這些人都是存著信心死的，並沒有得著所應許的，卻從遠處望見，且歡喜迎接，又承認自己在世上是客旅，是寄居的。
來11:14說這樣話的人，是表明自己要找一個家鄉。
來11:15他們若想念所離開的家鄉，還有可以回去的機會。
來11:16他們卻羨慕一個更美的家鄉，就是在天上的，所以神被稱為他們的神，並不以為恥，因為他已經給他們豫備了一座城。
來11:17亞伯拉罕因著信，被試驗的時候，就把以撒獻上，這便是那歡喜領受應許的，將自己獨生的兒子獻上。
來11:18論到這兒子曾有話說：『從以撒生的才要稱為你的後裔，』
來11:19他以為神還能叫人從死裡復活，他也彷彿從死中得回他的兒子來。
來11:20以撒因著信，就指著將來的事，給雅各以掃祝福。
來11:21雅各因著信，臨死的時候，給約瑟的兩個兒子各自祝福，扶著杖頭敬拜神。
來11:22約瑟因著信，臨終的時候，題到以色列族將來要出埃及，並為自己的骸骨留下遺命。
來11:23摩西生下來，他的父母見他是個俊美的子，就因著信把他藏了三個月，並不怕王命。
來11:24摩西因著信，長大了就不肯稱為法老女兒之子。
來11:25他寧可和神的百姓同受苦害，也不願暫時享受罪中之樂。
來11:26他看為基督受的凌辱，比埃及的財物更寶貴，因他想望所要得的賞賜。
來11:27他因著信，就離開埃及，不怕王怒，因為他恆心忍耐，如同看見那不能看見的主。
來11:28他因著信，就守逾越節，〔守或作立〕行灑血的禮，免得那滅長子的臨近以色列人。
來11:29他們因著信，過紅海如行乾地，埃及人試著要過去，就被吞滅了。
來11:30以色列人因著信，圍繞耶利哥城七日，城牆就倒塌了。
來11:31妓女喇合因著信，曾和和平平的接待探子，就不與那些不順從的人一同滅亡。
來11:32我又何必再說呢，若要一一細說：基甸，巴拉，參孫，耶弗他，大衛，撒母耳，和眾先知的事，時候就不夠了。
來11:33他們因著信，制伏了敵國，行了公義，得了應許，堵了獅子的口。
來11:34滅了烈火的猛勢，脫了刀劍的鋒刃，軟弱變為剛強，爭戰顯出勇敢，打退外邦的全軍。
來11:35有婦人得自己的死人復活，又有人忍受嚴刑，不肯苟且得釋放，〔釋放原文作贖〕為要得著更美的復活。
來11:36又有人忍受戲弄，鞭打，捆鎖，監禁，各等的磨煉，
來11:37被石頭打死，被鋸鋸死，受試探，被刀殺，披著綿羊山羊的皮各處奔跑，受窮乏，患難，苦害，
來11:38在曠野，山嶺，山洞，地穴，飄流無定，本是世界不配有的人。
來11:39這些人都是因信得了美好的證據，卻仍未得著所應許的。
來11:40因為神給我們豫備了更美的事，叫他們若不與我們同得，就不能完全。
DEC 12,2016-The Journey of Grace (346/365) Heb 10:1~11:40
Hebrews 10
Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
10 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”[a]
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”[b]
17 Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.”[c]
18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
A Call to Persevere in Faith
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[e] 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,
“In just a little while,
he who is coming will come
and will not delay.”[f]
38 And,
“But my righteous[g] one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”[h]
Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
10 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”[a]
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”[b]
17 Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.”[c]
18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
A Call to Persevere in Faith
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[e] 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,
“In just a little while,
he who is coming will come
and will not delay.”[f]
38 And,
“But my righteous[g] one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”[h]
39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Hebrews 11
Faith in Action
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.
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.[d]
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;[e] 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.
Faith in Action
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.
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.[d]
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;[e] 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.
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