20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau , even regarding things to come . 21 By faith Jacob , as he was dying , blessed each of the sons of Joseph , and worshiped , leaning on the top of his staff . 22 By faith Joseph , when he was dying , made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel , and gave orders concerning his bones . 23 By faith Moses , when he was born , was hidden for three months by his parents , because they saw he was a beautiful child ; and they were not afraid of the king's edict . 24 By faith Moses , when he had grown e up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter , 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin , 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt ; for he was looking to the reward . 27 By faith he left Egypt , not fearing the wrath of the king ; for he endured , as seeing Him who is unseen . 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood , so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land ; and the Egyptians , when they attempted e it, were drowned . 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days . 31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient , after she had welcomed the spies in peace .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hebrews 11:20-31
Commentary on Hebrews 11:20-31
(Read Hebrews 11:20-31)
Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning things to come. Things present are not the best things; no man knoweth love or hatred by having them or wanting them. Jacob lived by faith, and he died by faith, and in faith. Though the grace of faith is of use always through our whole lives, it is especially so when we come to die. Faith has a great work to do at last, to help the believer to die to the Lord, so as to honour him, by patience, hope, and joy. Joseph was tried by temptations to sin, by persecution for keeping his integrity; and he was tried by honours and power in the court of Pharaoh, yet his faith carried him through. It is a great mercy to be free from wicked laws and edicts; but when we are not so, we must use all lawful means for our security. In this faith of Moses' parents there was a mixture of unbelief, but God was pleased to overlook it. Faith gives strength against the sinful, slavish fear of men; it sets God before the soul, shows the vanity of the creature, and that all must give way to the will and power of God. The pleasures of sin are, and will be, but short; they must end either in speedy repentance or in speedy ruin. The pleasures of this world are for the most part the pleasures of sin; they are always so when we cannot enjoy them without deserting God and his people. Suffering is to be chosen rather than sin; there being more evil in the least sin, than there can be in the greatest suffering. God's people are, and always have been, a reproached people. Christ accounts himself reproached in their reproaches; and thus they become greater riches than the treasures of the richest empire in the world. Moses made his choice when ripe for judgment and enjoyment, able to know what he did, and why he did it. It is needful for persons to be seriously religious; to despise the world, when most capable of relishing and enjoying it. Believers may and ought to have respect to the recompence of reward. By faith we may be fully sure of God's providence, and of his gracious and powerful presence with us. Such a sight of God will enable believers to keep on to the end, whatever they may meet in the way. It is not owing to our own righteousness, or best performances, that we are saved from the wrath of God; but to the blood of Christ, and his imputed righteousness. True faith makes sin bitter to the soul, even while it receives the pardon and atonement. All our spiritual privileges on earth, should quicken us in our way to heaven. The Lord will make even Babylon fall before the faith of his people, and when he has some great thing to do for them, he raises up great and strong faith in them. A true believer is desirous, not only to be in covenant with God, but in communion with the people of God; and is willing to fare as they fare. By her works Rahab declared herself to be just. That she was not justified by her works appears plainly; because the work she did was faulty in the manner, and not perfectly good, therefore it could not be answerable to the perfect justice or righteousness of God.