Hebrews 11:39-40
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights a crucial nuance: while these heroes received a "good report" for their faith, they didn't "receive the promise" in its fullest, realized sense during their lifetimes. This means their faith wasn't validated by immediate earthly fulfillment, but rather by their steadfast hope in a future blessing that even we, with Christ's coming, are still moving towards its complete manifestation.
After listing numerous heroes of faith whose lives were marked by incredible feats and sacrifices, the author of Hebrews summarizes their journey. Though these individuals were commended for their faithfulness, the full realization of God's promises, particularly the coming of the Messiah and the heavenly inheritance, remained a future hope for them. This sets the stage for the author to explain how God provided something even better for believers in his own time, ensuring that these ancient faithful ones would not be perfected without us.
These heroes of faith were commended, celebrated even. But the verse drops a challenging truth: they didn't get what they were waiting for.
Hebrews 11 is a hall of fame for faith, showcasing incredible acts of obedience and trust. People like Abraham, Moses, and Rahab are held up as examples. They were "commended" – God bore witness to their faith. Yet, the text says, "they did not receive the promise." This isn't a failure on their part; it's a testament to the enduring nature of God's plan. The "promise" they looked forward to wasn't just a vague hope; it was a specific, future fulfillment that extended beyond their earthly lives. They lived by faith, believing in something they couldn't yet see or possess. Their faith was powerful, earning them divine approval, but its ultimate reward was deferred.
If they didn't receive it, what are we waiting for? The text hints that God had something even greater in store.
The reason these Old Testament saints didn't receive the ultimate promise is beautifully explained in the following verse: God had planned 'some better thing for us.' This 'better thing' is rooted in Jesus Christ and His finished work. While they looked forward to the Messiah's coming and the redemption He would bring, we, living after Christ, have received Him. We have access to a present reality of salvation and an intimate connection with God through Christ that they could only anticipate. Their faith pointed forward; ours, while still requiring hope, rests on a completed foundation. The promise they embraced was a foreshadowing; the promise we hold is the fulfillment.
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Understand the original words
pistis · Greek Noun
A firm conviction, trust, or reliance upon God and His promises. It is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen, forming the basis of the believer's relationship with God.
martyreō · Greek Verb
The divine act of bearing witness to or approving of someone’s character or actions. In a biblical context, it signifies that God acknowledges a person as righteous or faithful.
epaggelia · Greek Noun
The fulfillment of what God has declared He will do. It refers to God's covenants and future blessings for His people, which are secured by His integrity and power.
teleioō · Greek Verb
To reach a goal, complete a process, or attain spiritual maturity and consecration. In the context of Hebrews, it refers to the final consummation of God's redemptive purpose for His people.
This verse highlights that while the Old Testament faithful were commended for their faith, the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises, particularly the coming of the Messiah and the new covenant, was something they looked forward to, not something they fully experienced in their lifetimes.
c. 1400 BC - 400 BC
Old Testament Era
This long period encompasses the lives of many of the faithful individuals mentioned in Hebrews 11, from Abraham to the prophets. They lived by faith, trusting God's promises for the future.
c. 4 BC - c. AD 30
Life and Ministry of Jesus
Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, lives and ministers. His life, death, and resurrection are the pivotal events that begin the fulfillment of many Old Testament promises.
c. AD 30 - c. AD 60
Early Church Growth
The early Christian church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, spreads the message of Jesus's fulfillment of prophecy. The foundational teachings about Christ's work are solidified.
c. AD 60 - c. AD 70— this verse
Writing of Hebrews
The author of Hebrews writes to Jewish Christians facing persecution and tempted to revert to Judaism. The letter reminds them of the superiority of Christ and the faithful examples of the past.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem Temple
The Roman army destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, a catastrophic event that signifies the end of the Old Covenant system and its sacrificial rites.
This verse directly echoes the theme of needing endurance to receive the promise, highlighting that the ultimate fulfillment is a future event for believers, just as it was for the Old Testament saints.
Galatians 3:16This passage speaks to the seed of Abraham, to whom the promises were made, pointing out that these promises were ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who was not yet present for the Old Testament figures.
1 Peter 1:10-12This passage emphasizes how Old Testament prophets searched and inquired about the salvation that was revealed later through Christ, connecting their faith and hope to a promise that found its fuller meaning in the future.
Luke 10:24Jesus himself points out that many prophets and kings longed to see the things that his disciples were seeing, underscoring that the promise they looked forward to was something revealed later.
Hebrews 12:22-24This passage contrasts the earthly experience of Old Testament believers with the heavenly reality we now approach through Christ, showing that they were moving towards a perfection that we, in Christ, are nearer to experiencing.
ellicottHebrews 11:39: "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:"
(39) Having obtained a good report. —Now that the history is concluded the word of Hebrews 11:2 is resumed. That in such a faith as was described in Hebrews 11:1 “the elders” received their witness from God, the records themselves have shown; yet “these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,” i.e., the promised blessing. There are three passages of…
barnesHebrews 11:39: "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:"
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith - They were all commended and approved on account of their confidence in God; see the notes on Hebrews 11:2 . Received not the promise - That is, did not receive the fulfillment of the promise; or did not receive all that was promised. They all still looked forward to some future blessings; notes, Hebrews 11:13.
The verse highlights a crucial nuance: while these heroes received a "good report" for their faith, they didn't "receive the promise" in its fullest, realized sense during their lifetimes. This means their faith wasn't validated by immediate earthly fulfillment, but rather by their steadfast hope in a future blessing that even we, with Christ's coming, are still moving towards its complete manifestation.
After listing numerous heroes of faith whose lives were marked by incredible feats and sacrifices, the author of Hebrews summarizes their journey. Though these individuals were commended for their faithfulness, the full realization of God's promises, particularly the coming of the Messiah and the heavenly inheritance, remained a future hope for them. This sets the stage for the author to explain how God provided something even better for believers in his own time, ensuring that these ancient faithful ones would not be perfected without us.
After listing numerous heroes of faith whose lives were marked by incredible feats and sacrifices, the author of Hebrews summarizes their journey. Though these individuals were commended for their faithfulness, the full realization of God's promises, particularly the coming of the Messiah and the heavenly inheritance, remained a future hope for them. This sets the stage for the author to explain how God provided something even better for believers in his own time, ensuring that these ancient faithful ones would not be perfected without us.
"And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect." — The verse highlights a crucial nuance: while these heroes received a "good report" for their faith, they didn't "receive the promise" in its fullest, realized sense during their lifetimes. This means…
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