Friday in Easter Week
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Literal Standard Version
Hebrews 11:40
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since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.
God hauing prouided some better thing for vs, that they without vs, should not be made perfect.
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
God planned to give us something better so that they would be made perfect, but only together with us.
because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.
This was because God had something better in store for us. And he did not want them to reach the goal of their faith without us.
because God had planned something better that would involve us, so that only with us would they be brought to the goal.
God having foreseen some better thing for us, that they should not be made perfect without us.
God planned something better for us. He wanted to make us perfect. Of course, he wanted those great people to be made perfect too, but not before we could all enjoy that blessing together.
God prouiding a better thing for vs, that they without vs should not be made perfite.
Because God, from the beginning, provided for our help lest, without us, they should not be made perfect.
because God had decided on an even better plan for us. His purpose was that only in company with us would they be made perfect.
because God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.
God having foreseen something better concerning us, that they should not be perfected apart from us.
because God had us in mind and had something better for us, so that they [these men and women of authentic faith] would not be made perfect [that is, completed in Him] apart from us.
God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Because God had kept some better thing for us, so that it was not possible for them to become complete without us.
God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
since God had planned something better for us so that they would not become perfect without us.Hebrews 5:9; 7:22; 8:6; 12:23; Revelation 6:11;">[xr]
because Aloha had afore contemplated for our help, that without us they should not be made perfect.
because God had provided the aid for us; so that without us they should not be perfected.
God prouidyng a better thyng for vs, that they without vs shoulde not be made perfect.
God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
did not receive the promise, God having provided some better thing for us, that they might not be perfected without us.
for God had provided for them and us something better, so that apart from us they were not to attain to full blessedness.
for God purueiede sum betere thing for vs, that thei schulden not be maad perfit with outen vs.
God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
God having provided some better [thing] for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.
God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
God had planned something better for us. These men could not be made perfect without us.
since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.
God, for us, something better providing, - that, not apart from us, should they be made, perfect.
God providing some better thing for us, that they should not be perfected without us.
since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
God provydinge a better thinge for vs that they with out vs shuld not be made parfecte.
God for us something better having provided, that apart from us they might not be made perfect.
because God had prouyded a better thinge for vs, that they without vs shulde not be made perfecte.
because God out of his distinguishing kindness to us, would not let them arrive before us to the enjoyment of perfect felicity.
God had something better in mind. He had them wait for us so we could all unite in faith together to receive the blessing together as one.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
provided: or, foreseen
better: Hebrews 7:19, Hebrews 7:22, Hebrews 8:6, Hebrews 9:23, Hebrews 12:24
they without: Hebrews 9:8-15, Hebrews 10:11-14, Romans 3:25, Romans 3:26
made: Hebrews 5:9, Hebrews 12:23, Revelation 6:11, The apostle in the early part of the chapter having given us a general account of the grace of faith, proceeds to set before us some illustrious examples of it in Old Testament times. The leading instance and example of faith recorded, is that of righteous Abel: one of the first saints and the first martyr for religion - one who lived by faith and died for it, and therefore a fit pattern for the Hebrews to imitate. It is observable that the Holy Spirit has not thought fit to say anything here of the faith of our first parents; and yet the church of God has generally, by a pious charity, taken it for granted that God gave them repentance and faith in the promised seed; that he instructed them in the mystery of sacrificing, that they instructed their children in it, and that they found mercy with God, after they had ruined themselves and all their posterity. But God has left the matter still under some doubt, as a warning to all who have great talents given to them, and a great trust reposed in them, that they do not prove unfaithful, since God would not enrol our first parents among the number of believers in this blessed calendar. - Henry.
Reciprocal: Isaiah 60:17 - brass Jeremiah 33:14 - General Ezekiel 36:11 - will do Matthew 11:11 - greater Matthew 13:17 - That many Luke 7:28 - but John 1:17 - grace 2 Corinthians 1:20 - all Galatians 3:17 - the covenant Galatians 3:23 - the faith Ephesians 1:10 - in the Ephesians 3:5 - in other Hebrews 9:9 - the time Hebrews 9:15 - for 1 Peter 1:10 - the grace 1 Peter 1:12 - that not
Gill's Notes on the Bible
God having provided some better thing for us,.... Not a better state of the church, in such respect, as to be free from suffering reproach and persecutions; for this is the case of saints under the New Testament as under the Old; nor the felicity of the soul after death; nor any greater degree of happiness in the other world; nor the perfection of blessedness in soul and body; things common to all believers; but Christ, as now exhibited in the flesh: Jesus Christ was the same in the yesterday of the Old Testament, as he is in the present day of the Gospel dispensation; he was slain from the foundation of the world; and the saints then were saved as now, by his grace and righteousness: only with this difference between them and us; they had Christ in the promise, we have him himself that was promised; they had him in type and shadow, we have him in reality and truth; they believed in, and were saved by Christ, who was to come; we believe in him, and are saved by him, as being come. Hence our case is, with respect to these circumstances, better than theirs; we have a better covenant, or a better administration of the covenant of grace; we have a better priesthood, and a better sacrifice; the Gospel is dispensed in a better manner, more dearly and fully: our condition is better than theirs; they were as children under tutors and governors, and were under a spirit of bondage; but we are redeemed from under the law, and are clear of its burdensome rites, as well as of its curse and condemnation; and have the spirit of liberty and adoption. And this God has provided for us in his council and covenant: for this denotes God's determination, designation, and appointment of Christ, to be the propitiatory sacrifice for sin; and has respect to the nature and circumstances of his death, which were fixed in the purposes of God; as well as the time of his coming into the world, and the season of his death; and in all this God has shown his great goodness, his amazing love, and the riches of his grace: and his end herein is,
that they without us should not be made perfect; the Old Testament saints are perfectly justified, perfectly sanctified, and perfectly glorified; but their perfection was not by the law, which made nothing perfect, but by Christ, and through his sacrifice, blood, and righteousness; and so were not made perfect without us; since their sins and ours are expiated together by the same sacrifice; their persons and ours justified together by the same righteousness; they and we make up but one church, and general assembly; and as yet all the elect of God among the Jews are not called, and so are not perfect in themselves, or without us. Jews and Gentiles will incorporate together in the latter day; and besides, they and we shall be glorified together, in soul and body, to all eternity.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
God having provided some better thing for us - Margin, âforeseen.â That is, âGod having provided, or determined on giving some better thing than any of them realized, and which we are now permitted to enjoy.â That is, God gave them promises; but they were not allowed to see their fulfillment. We are permitted now to see what they referred to, and in part, at least, to witness their completion; and though the promise was made to them, the fulfillment more particularly pertains to us.
That they without us should not be made perfect - That is, complete. The whole system of revelation was not complete at once, or in one generation. It required successive ages to make the system complete, so that it might be said that it was finished, or perfect. Our existence, therefore, and the developments in our times, were as necessary to the perfection of the system, as the promise made to the patriarchs. And as the system would not have been complete if the blessings had been simply conferred on us without the previous arrangements, and the long scheme of introductory measures, so it would not have been complete if the promises had been merely given to them without the corresponding fulfillment in our times. They are like the two parts of a tally. The fathers had one part in the promises, and we the other in the fulfullment, and neither would have been complete without the other. The âbetter thingsâ then referred to here as possessed by Christians, are the privilege of seeing those promises fulfilled in the Messiah; the blessings resulting from the atonement; the more expanded views which they have under the gospel; the brighter hopes of heaven itself, and the clearer apprehension of what heaven will be, which they are permitted to enjoy. This, therefore, accords entirely with the argument which the apostle is pursuing - which is, to show that the Christians whom he addressed should not apostatize from their religion. The argument is, that in numerous instances, as specified, the saints of ancient times, even under fiery trials, were sustained by faith in God, and that too when they had not seen the fulfillment of the promises, and when they had much more obscure views than we are permitted to enjoy. If they, under the influence of the mere promise of future blessings, were enabled thus to persevere, how much more reason is there for us to persevere who have been permitted, by the coming of the Messiah, to wittess the perfection of the system!
There is no part of the New Testament of more value than this chapter; none which deserves to be more patiently studied, or which may be more frequently applied to the circumstances of Christians. These invaluable records are adapted to sustain us in times of trial, temptation, and persecution; to show us what faith has done in days that are past, and what it may do still in similar circumstances. Nothing can better show the value and the power of faith, or of true religion, than the records in this chapter. It has done what nothing else could do. It has enabled people to endure what nothing else would enable them to bear, and it has shown its power in inducing them to give up, at the command of God, what the human heart holds most dear. And among the lessons which we may derive from the study of this portion of divine truth, let us learn from the example of Abel to continue to offer to God the sacrifice of true piety which he requires, though we may be taunted or opposed by our nearest kindred; from that of Enoch to walk with God, though surrounded by a wicked world, and to look to the blessed translation to heaven which awaits all the righteous; from that of Noah to comply with all the directions of God, and to make all needful preparations for the future events which he has predicted, in which we are to be interested - as death, judgment, and eternity - though the events may seem to be remote, and though there may be no visible indications of their coming, and though the world may deride our faith and our fears; from that of Abraham to leave country, and home, and kindred, if God calls us to, and to go just where he commands, through deserts and wilds, and among strange people, and like him also to be ready to give up the dearest objects of our earthly affection, even when attended with all that can try or torture our feelings of affection - feeling that God who gave has a right to require their removal in his own way, and that however much we may fix our hopes on a dear child, he can fulfil all his purposes and promises to us though such a child should be removed by death; from that of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to regard ourselves as strangers and pilgrims on earth, having here no permanent home. and seeking a better country; from that of Moses to be willing to leave all the pomp and splendour of the world, all our brilliant prospects and hopes, and to welcome poverty, reproach, and suffering, that we may identify ourselves with the people of God; by the remembrance of the host of worthies who met danger, and encountered mighty foes, aud vanquished them, let us learn to go forth in our spiritual conflicts against the enemies of our souls and of the church, assured of victory; and from the example of those who were driven from the abodes of human beings, and exposed to the storms of persecution, let us learn to bear every trial, and to be ready at any moment to lay down our lives in the cause of truth and of God. Of all those holy men who made these sacrifices, which of them ever regretted it, when he came calmly to look over his life, and to review it on the borders of the eternal world?
None. Not one of them ever expressed regret that he had given up the world; or that he had obeyed the Lord too early, too faithfully, or too long. Not Abraham who left his country and kindred; not Moses who abandoned his brilliant prospects in Egypt; not Noah who subjected himself to ridicule and scorn for an hundred and twenty years; and not one of those who were exposed to lions, to fire, to the edge of the sword, or who were driven away from society as outcasts to wander in pathless deserts or to take up their abodes in caverns, ever regretted the course which they had chosen. And who of them all now regrets it? Who, of these worthies, now looks from heaven and feels that he suffered one privation too much, or that he has not had an ample recompense for all the ills he experienced in the cause of religion? So we shall feel when from the bed of death we look over the present life, and look out on eternity.
Whatever our religion may have cost us, we shall not feel that we began to serve God too early, or served him too faithfully. Whatever pleasure, gain, or splendid prospects we gave up in order to become Christians, we shall feel that it was the way of wisdom, and shall rejoice that we were able to do it. Whatever sacrifices, trials, persecution, and pain, we may meet with, we shall feel that there has been more than a compensation in the consolations of religion, and in the hope of heaven, and that by every sacrifice we have been the gainers. When we reach heaven, we shall see that we have not endured one pain too much, and that through whatever trials we may have passed, the result is worth all which it has cost. Strengthened then in our trials by the remembrance of what faith has done in times that are past; recalling the example of those who through faith and patience have inherited the promises, let us go cheerfully on our way. Soon the journey of trials will be ended, and soon what are now objects of faith will become objects of fruition, and in their enjoyment, how trifling and brief will seem all the sorrows of our pilgrimage below!
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Hebrews 11:40. God having provided some better thing for us — This is the dispensation of the Gospel, with all the privileges and advantages it confers.
That they without us should not be made perfect. — Believers before the flood, after the flood, under the law, and since the law, make but one Church. The Gospel dispensation is the last, and the Church cannot be considered as complete till the believers under all dispensations are gathered together. As the Gospel is the last dispensation, the preceding believers cannot be consummated even in glory till the Gospel Church arrive in the heaven of heavens.
There are a great variety of meanings put on this place, but the above seems the most simple and consistent. See Revelation 6:11. "White robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also, and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." This time, and its blessings, are now upon the wing.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE BEING OF A GOD
DEDUCED FROM A CONSIDERATION of Hebrews 11:6:
He that cometh unto God must believe that he is, and
that he is the rewarder of them who diligently seek him.
I. METAPHYSICIANS and philosophers, in order to prove the existence of God, have used two modes of argumentation:-
1. A priori, proofs drawn from the necessity that such a being as God is, must exist: arguments of this kind do not produce any thing in evidence which is derived from his works.
2. A posteriori, proofs of the being and perfections of God, drawn from his own works.
PROPOSITIONS A PRIORI.
