13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Commentary
Vs. 13 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
The forerunners of our faith, the patriarchs, though not seeing the promises of God fulfilled in their own lifetimes all died in faith, that is they didn't just believe for a season and then fall away, rather having seen the promises of God afar off. Now for Abraham this would have been in the birth of Isaac through whom God would bring forth the promised nation and ultimately the Promised Savior (Gen 22:14), who would redeem not only Abraham, but also everyone who like Abraham believes God and puts their trust in Him. And so we see the same faith exemplified through Abel, Enoch, Noah, Sara and all who likewise believing the promises of God spoken to them afar off embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Psalm 39:12).
Vs. 14 "For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland."
We the people of God have always been and will always be strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For the Promises of God are not about this life, about satisfying the earthly desires, ambitions, and greed of those whose hearts and eyes are fixed on the pleasures and "treasures" of this world (consider 1 John 2:15-17). Rather the Promises of God are always given with the King and His Kingdom, and thus God's eternal glory and His glorification of both Himself and His people through Him in it (Isaiah 44:23; 55:5; Matt 9:8, 15:21; John 11:4; 13:31-32; 14:13; 15:8; 17:4, 10; Acts 3:13; Rom 8:17, 30; 2 Thess. 1:10; 1 Peter 4:11, 14). Therefore though we all live down here in various places and in various states of being we don't have our homes down here, home for us is when we are finally at home with Christ (John 14:2-3).
Vs. 15 "And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return."
Now if they had wanted too, they could have returned to their countries of origin. But instead in choosing to follow God's Will for them they served all ties with their past lives. Now the same may also be required of us as we follow Jesus Christ, for in forsaking our lives down here, we just may have to leave behind all that we had previously known in order to do so.
Vs. 16 "But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."
Every true believer is on a pilgrimage, a journey homeward that begins down here, but does not find its completion until we are at home with Christ up there in heaven. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called our God, for He has prepared a city for us all who down through ages forsook this world and it's fleeting values and embraced His and His Will for us (consider Heb 12:22-24; Rev. 3:11-13; Rev 21).
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
The forerunners of our faith, the patriarchs, though not seeing the promises of God fulfilled in their own lifetimes all died in faith, that is they didn't just believe for a season and then fall away, rather having seen the promises of God afar off. Now for Abraham this would have been in the birth of Isaac through whom God would bring forth the promised nation and ultimately the Promised Savior (Gen 22:14), who would redeem not only Abraham, but also everyone who like Abraham believes God and puts their trust in Him. And so we see the same faith exemplified through Abel, Enoch, Noah, Sara and all who likewise believing the promises of God spoken to them afar off embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Psalm 39:12).
Vs. 14 "For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland."
We the people of God have always been and will always be strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For the Promises of God are not about this life, about satisfying the earthly desires, ambitions, and greed of those whose hearts and eyes are fixed on the pleasures and "treasures" of this world (consider 1 John 2:15-17). Rather the Promises of God are always given with the King and His Kingdom, and thus God's eternal glory and His glorification of both Himself and His people through Him in it (Isaiah 44:23; 55:5; Matt 9:8, 15:21; John 11:4; 13:31-32; 14:13; 15:8; 17:4, 10; Acts 3:13; Rom 8:17, 30; 2 Thess. 1:10; 1 Peter 4:11, 14). Therefore though we all live down here in various places and in various states of being we don't have our homes down here, home for us is when we are finally at home with Christ (John 14:2-3).
Vs. 15 "And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return."
Now if they had wanted too, they could have returned to their countries of origin. But instead in choosing to follow God's Will for them they served all ties with their past lives. Now the same may also be required of us as we follow Jesus Christ, for in forsaking our lives down here, we just may have to leave behind all that we had previously known in order to do so.
Vs. 16 "But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."
Every true believer is on a pilgrimage, a journey homeward that begins down here, but does not find its completion until we are at home with Christ up there in heaven. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called our God, for He has prepared a city for us all who down through ages forsook this world and it's fleeting values and embraced His and His Will for us (consider Heb 12:22-24; Rev. 3:11-13; Rev 21).
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
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