‘Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two; they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated —of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

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 be made perfect’ (Hebrews 11:35b-40).

The writer continues to encourage his readers knowing some, if not all of them, are facing tough times!  Verses 35b-38 undoubtedly refers to those martyred during the period of history between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New.  The books of Maccabees in the Apocrypha testify to the religious oppression of Antiochus Epiphanes, who desecrated the temple with a pagan sacrifice.  The Jewish nation’s struggle, and eventual triumph over the Greek tyrant, was under the leadership of Judas Maccabee.  But this intense religious zeal involved much suffering!  The phrase: ‘they were sawn in two’ is possibly a reference to the death of Isaiah, as recorded in the apocryphal book ‘The Ascension of Isaiah’ which gave rise to the tradition that he died this way during the reign of Manasseh.  However, whoever these verses refer to, the writer of the letter paints a picture of God’s people in a very beleaguered state!  But, the reality is completely different, as the writer makes clear with the phrase: ‘of whom the world was not worthy’ (v38).  He concludes that whatever the world sees in relation to God’s people, the opposite is true!  The Lord values them, even when the world does not!  Once again the writer provides a wonderful pastoral touch.

Sometimes people can portray the Christian life in an unrealistic light. However, the writer of the letter hardly paints a picture of unrelenting bliss.  These ‘Heroes of Faith’ hardly had it easy!  They sometimes suffered even to the point of death!  Therefore, verses 39-40 act as an encouragement to keep going!  Verse 39 spells it out as clearly: ‘And all these “though commended through their faith” did not receive what was promised’.  God had something much better for the recipients of the letter in the future (v40).  By this brilliant pastoral application the writer encourages the recipients of this letter to see themselves alongside their heroes from their religious heritage as they too were going to be: ‘made perfect’.  If you were a struggling, possibly persecuted, Jewish Christian living in the first century what could be better news than that!

I do not have a problem with those who preach epic sermon series’ based on this chapter.  But, its main purpose was to show that those who lived in the past faced the same issues these Jewish Christians were facing!  They exhibited faith, but did not necessarily see the full results in their lifetime!  But the writer wants his readers to know that God’s promises always deliver.  The apostle John writes: ‘the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever’ (1 John 2:17).  The theme established back in chapter 3:1, for the recipients of the letter, to: ‘consider Jesus’ is present here.  The writer would be in total agreement with the apostle Peter, when he writes: ‘Though you have not seen him, you love him.  Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls’ (1 Peter 1:8-9).  Now that is encouragement for Christians in any day or age!

Want to listen to a sermon on this passage? Conquering Faith, Imperfect Faith, Suffering Faith what Faith Achieves.