Part 1411

11:20. By faith also of things to come Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.

11:21. By faith Jacob, dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and adored the top of his rod.

Adored the top of his rod.... The apostle here follows the ancient Greek Bible of the seventy interpreters, (which translates in this manner, Gen. 47. 31.,) and alleges this fact of Jacob, in paying a relative honour and veneration to the top of the rod or sceptre of Joseph, as to a figure of Christ’s sceptre and kingdom, as an instance and argument of his faith. But some translators, who are no friends to this relative honour, have corrupted the text, by translating it, he worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff; as if this circumstance of leaning upon his staff were any argument of Jacob’s faith, or worthy the being thus particularly taken notice of by the Holy Ghost.

11:22. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the going out of the children of Israel and gave commandment concerning his bones.

11:23. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents: because they saw he was a comely babe, and they feared not the king’s edict.

11:24. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, denied himself to be the son of Pharao’s daughter:

11:25. Rather choosing to be afflicted with the people of God than to have the pleasure of sin for a time:

11:26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure of the Egyptians. For he looked unto the reward.

11:27. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the fierceness of the king: for he endured, as seeing him that is invisible.

11:28. By faith he celebrated the pasch and the shedding of the blood: that he who destroyed the firstborn might not touch them.

11:29. By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as by dry land: which the Egyptians attempting, were swallowed up.

11:30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, by the going round them seven days.

11:31. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with the unbelievers, receiving the spies with peace.

11:32. And what shall I yet say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, Barac, Samson, Jephthe, David, Samuel, and the prophets:

11:33. Who by faith conquered kingdoms, wrought justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

11:34. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered strength from weakness, became valiant in battle, put to flight the armies of foreigners.

11:35. Women received their dead raised to life again. But others were racked, not accepting deliverance, that they might find a better resurrection.

11:36. And others had trial of mockeries and stripes: moreover also of bands and prisons.

11:37. They were stoned, they were cut asunder, they were tempted, they were put to death by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, distressed, afflicted:

11:38. Of whom the world was not worthy: wandering in deserts, in mountains and in dens and in caves of the earth.

11:39. And all these, being approved by the testimony of faith, received not the promise:

11:40. God providing some better thing for us, that they should not be perfected without us.

Hebrews Chapter 12

Exhortation to constancy under their crosses. The danger of abusing the graces of the New Testament.

12:1. And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us:

12:2. Looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who, having joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God.

12:3. For think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from sinners against himself that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds.

12:4. For you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.