The world was not worthy of them

Hebrews 11:32-40

Key Verse 11:38a

This passage takes us to the highest level of faith, that is, the faith that helps us to transcend the world, the faith that conclusively qualifies a man to be worthy of the perfected world to come. This faith exists on a PhD level and beyond. In order to secure a PhD you need to go through rigorous examinations/tests. Likewise, in order to reach this level of faith one needs to prove that one's faith is genuine despite the highest level of difficulties. 

This level of faith can be compared to the 8th category of the "blessed" in Matthew 5:10. 

Jesus predicted that his disciples were to endure this level of tests in John 17:11-18. 

Note: please consider that spiritual persecutions such as the temptations of pleasure seeking lifestyles nowadays are on a higher level than the physical persecutions the early Christians had to undergo. 

1. Verse 32 contains the names of six people.  What do the Scriptures say about each of them (and their weaknesses) when God called them to serve something far bigger than they themselves?  Why do you think God calls weak people rather than strong ones? (1Co 1:27-29; 2Co 12:10)  What can we learn about God who calls the weak?

** Each of them had their own unique weaknesses. 

1) Gideon - he was a man of timidity. He was also a man of a lot of "buts". (Judges 6:13-15) 

2) Barak - he was a kind of "sissy" who moved only through the promptings of the then woman general, Deborah. Judges 4:8

3) Samson - he had a serious lust problem with a prostitute and then got tangled up with his unbelieving girlfriend named Delilah. Judges 16:1,4

4) Jephthah - he was the son of a harlot, an illegitimate son. Although Judges 11:3 describe his friends as "adventurers" they were, so to speak, a bunch of gang-bangers and social 'misfits'. Of course being a son of a harlot does not make one weak mentally or otherwise. But this status can very easily lead one to becoming cynical about one's life and thereby render one vulnerable to the devil's gimmicks. 

5) David - he was the youngest of his father Jesse's 8 sons.  1Sa 17:12 

 

6) Samuel (and the prophets) - he was called to service as a small child. 1Sa 3:7 

** He does this to let us know that when we rely on ourselves we are bound to become weak, but when we rely on Him, we can have the hope to overcome our weaknesses through faith in the Lord, and remain strong. 

 

** God is strong enough to turn my weaknesses into God's strength. With this faith we can overcome the habit of falling into self pity. We should not try to make excuses, avoid challenges, and remain fatalistic. Rather by faith in the Lord we can choose to serve the Lord and fulfill the purpose he has for each of us.

2. According to verse 33 it was “through faith” that they were able to do what seemed impossible.  In what respect are the following challenges difficult for anyone to meet: (1) Conquering kingdoms; (2) administering justice; (3) gaining what was promised; (4) shutting the mouths of lion; (5) quenching the fury of flames; (6) escaping the edge of the sword; and (7) turning weakness to strength?  What do verses 33-34 teach us about faith?

** 1) Kingdom means a king's domain, indicating that it will have tons of people systematically standing against you. How then can you, a single man conquer kingdoms? 

The heart of an unbeliever is like a kingdom for us to conquer. 

2) Administering justice already presupposes the existence of injustice built systematically into human society. Like weeds that outgrow wheat, the roots of evil and injustice go deep and wide in human hearts. The movie High Noon gives us a good idea of the level of difficulties leveled at a man facing the forces of evil promoted by a bunch of wicked gun slingers coming against him. 

3) Gaining what was promised - for example it was not easy for the Israelites to get into the Promised Land, for the PL was filled with tons of enemies who were not excited about the Israelites coming. It is easy to recite Matthew 6:33 or read Matt. 28:18-21, but it is not easy to actually fulfill what these Bible passages dictate.

4) Shutting the mouths of lion - There are many wicked men whose mouths are so strong that it sounds impossible for them to keep their mouth shut. We see many strong mouths on college campuses, especially those filling faculty positions.

5) Quenching the fury of flames - fury of flames can also refer to the angry responses shown by those who are hostile to Christianity. 

6) Escaping the edge of the sword - Missionaries in Muslim countries are faced with the edge of the sword of laws and regulations which are hostile to Christianity. The increasing trend on our college campuses is that the school authorities allow you to practice all other religions except Christianity. 

7) Turning weakness to strength - it sounds like Christians on college campuses, for example, represents the absolute minority, so that it seems impossible to turn the situation around. 

** Faith is faith in God the Almighty, with whom nothing is impossible. So we can continue to pray, for example, that God would change American into a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. 

3. First Kings 17:1-24 and 2 Kings 4:8-37 show the women described in verse 35a.  What does their example show about the kind of faith we are called to live by as we help children who are put under our care?

** The two women are symbolic of the members of Jesus' church. Like them we are so apt to complain about our sheep/children/Bible students especially when they give us hard times and lots of troubles. But we must bring all of our complaints to God and ask God for help up to the last minute, until we breathe our last breath.

4. What do you think it is to be “tortured” (perhaps in a prison for one’s faith in the Lord) in verse 35b?  What could have allowed them to be released?  What does “a better resurrection” in verse 35b refer to? (2 Cor 5:8-10; Daniel 12:2-3)

** Torture = infliction of severe pain as a means of punishment or coercion; pain or mental anguish. 

The pain, especially mental anguish that comes from us being in chains with Christ (if we can put our relationship with Christ this way) is not easy for us to bear. Daily just as Christ is beset by enemies, so we also are beset by all kinds of enemies - enemies inside, enemies outside, enemies in the church, enemies outside of the church.

** If we give up our faith in the Lord or simply stop attending the church organization wherein we have been called to follow Jesus, and go out on our own, we can be released from these pains. One person had so many troubles with fellow coworkers that he always wanted to disappear to no-mans land. 

** Perhaps it refers to the idea that the greater hardships one endures because of (or in or for the sake of) the name of Jesus, the greater reward Jesus Christ will bestow upon him at the time of his second coming. 

5. Consider the hardships and difficulties some people endured in verses 36-38.  What parallels do Christians face in modern society?  Why did these things happen? (v. 38a; John 15:19; 1 John 3:13)  How can we endure such atrocities? 

** One parallel is since the whole society is geared to entertaining the tastes of unbelieving people, the atmosphere is getting increasingly anti-Christian, so  true believers tend to get squeezed out of the society like Lot living in the city of Sodom.  The atmosphere you find at a school or in the dormitory and at student clubs on college campuses are good examples as well. 

** The world and its culture, habits, lifestyles are all hostile to Jesus and his teachings. 

** By faith in Jesus, we can fix our eyes on Jesus and stay away from these secular ways of entertainment. When we put trust in Jesus, Jesus gives us the spring of living water, making us  joyful and proactive in serving people who are thirsty and weary. 

6. What does “the world was not worthy of them” in verse 38a tell us about them? 

** They were too good to the world. The world is too bad for it to be worthy of them. 

On their part as well, they already graduated from what the world has to offer. They know that the world has nothing to offer for their happiness. They know that the world is only there as  their mission field where they go to preach the gospel. 

7. What does “what had been promised” in verse 39 or “something better for us” in verse 40 refer to? (Romans 16:25)  What does it mean to be “made perfect”? (Hebrews 12:22-23)  What makes man perfect? 

** It all refers to Jesus Christ, the Savior. 

** Arguably it refers to the work of God in and through Jesus including justification, sanctification, and glorification. 

** Faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The end.

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