Hebrews 11 studies

An introduction to Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11 is a favourite chapter for many. It tells the story of faith in the Old Testament through characters like Abraham and Moses. But this is not just a Sunday School recap…

The author of Hebrews is writing to specific people with a specific purpose. The end of chapter 10 gives the immediate context (Hebrews 10:32-39) – they had faced real hardship as Christians but were now being tempted to give up.

The particular temptation was to go back to the rituals of Jewish religion, and so the previous 10 chapters have been showing how Jesus is ‘better’ – better than angel messengers, better than Moses, better than the Levitical priests, better than the animal sacrifices.

The problem with New Covenant faith is that although it is better, it is largely invisible – compared to other more tangible religions. And so chapter 11 shows that true faith has always been about what we do not see.

As Hebrews 11 moves through the Old Testament, it highlights how “the ancients” believed in something beyond what they had at present in front of them. They were looking forward to their forever home, beyond death. It is this resurrection-faith that sustained them, and despite their weakness, overcomes the world.

Gradually, it becomes clear that their faith in the invisible, is actually faith in Jesus and his death and resurrection. We have what they were looking forward to. And so for us to persevere in faith, we need to fix our eyes on him.