Hebrews 11: 32 – 40

May 15, 2022

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Verse 40 sent me searching the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, as the wording is kind of confusing to modern-day people. The Study Bible states: “Not until Jesus opened the way to glory did the righteous of the Old Testament enter the inheritance they saw from a distance.” ‘Opened the way of glory’ of course refers to the rending of the veil of the Holy of Holies in the Temple that happened at the crucifixion of our Lord.

Because of Jesus and His work on the cross, heaven is open to all who believe in Him and on Him. A magnificent act that only God and Jesus could do. God wants us close to Him and Jesus is the door, the entrance way, to that closeness. Jesus is the fulfillment of that Godly desire. Jesus is the fulfillment of all God’s promises.

Advertisement