Hebrews 11:35, commentary and pictures

Faith both restores the dead to grieving loved ones and enables sufferers to refuse escape from torture in order to gain a greater rising to life. Refusing that escape meant refusing to purchase release or freedom by sacrificing truth, renouncing Christ and faith, or yielding principle, because truth was dearer than life in disobedience and sin. They endured by fixing the eye of faith on the unseen heavenly country and reward, esteeming reproach for Christ greater riches than earthly honor and counting present suffering as small and light beside the recompense of eternal life. Their tested faith was sustained and strengthened by hope and by Christ's love and grace, for having suffered in humanity He stays close to those tortured, imprisoned or chained for truth and ministers to them as their friend. Their steadfast willingness to lay down life in vindication of faith remains an example for Christians persecuted for Christ to rejoice in suffering and trust a heavenly reward, and that same faith still sustains believers through tests, fits them for service, and opens the way for God to work through faithful hearts.

Words and Historical Setting

Faith is shown working in two opposite outcomes placed side by side, for some women receive their dead restored to life again, while others are tortured and refuse release so that they may obtain a better resurrection. This describes what befell God's prophets and messengers when, at appointed times during the Jewish economy, they were sent to receive the Lord's portion from His husbandmen. Their errand was to warn that everything was being put to a wrong use and appropriated unfaithfully, that the people were unfaithful in the Lord's portion. Some of these messengers raised the dead, accounting for the women receiving their dead raised to life again, while others were tortured and would not accept deliverance.

Though convicted of their unrighteous course, the people would not yield but grew more stubborn, hated reproof, and met entreaty with violence. For centuries God looked with patience and forbearance upon this cruel treatment of His ambassadors. The verse belongs to a larger record of cruel mockings and scourgings, bonds and imprisonment, stoning, being sawn asunder, being slain with the sword and temptation, and wandering destitute, afflicted and tormented in sheepskins and goatskins through deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth. Among that company are believers who hid in dens and caves rather than yield.

Those who so suffered are those of whom the world was not worthy. Counted unworthy of life in this world, they are honored in heaven as God's children and await eternal glory.

Faith and Better Resurrection

Hebrews 11:35 belongs to the chapter on faith. Its account of those who endured torture rather than accept deliverance fits the call to turn the mind away from discouraging things that are seen and to dwell on things that are unseen. It belongs with seeking the heavenly country and the city God has prepared.

Not accepting deliverance meant refusing release or freedom bought at the price of sacrificing the truth, renouncing Christ, renouncing religion, yielding the principles of truth, or yielding faith. Truth was dearer to them than life purchased by disobedience and sin. They held this stand even when facing torture and death at the hands of those opposed to God.

They endured because with the eye of faith fixed on the glorious future they hoped for a better resurrection, a reward in heaven, and future eternal life. They esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than worldly riches and honor, high-sounding titles, a prospective crown, and the glory of a kingdom. Sustained by hope and faith, they regarded the recompense as of such great value that the richest things earth can offer appeared valueless beside it. They could therefore account their sufferings small and call them light afflictions in comparison with the reward.

Their faith under such trial was tested and purified. They were sustained and strengthened by hope and faith and by Christ's love and grace to remain faithful and finish their course, standing successfully against opposing evil while the Lord held them by the hand. Christ, having suffered in humanity, stays close to those who suffer for the truth, including those tortured, imprisoned, or chained. He ministers to them as their friend, and He will punish those who lead them from the safe path or distress them as they conscientiously obey.

Example for Later Believers

Their suffering stands as the example of the affliction and patience of God's messengers, who have been reviled and persecuted in every age. It is steadfast faithfulness shown in willingness to lay down life in vindication of faith rather than renounce religion or yield the principles of truth.

Christians persecuted for Christ's sake can follow this example and the prophets before them by rejoicing to suffer for the truth, trusting their faithfulness will be rewarded in heaven. In the early church this meant keeping faith unsullied under the fiercest persecution though deprived of every comfort and earthly blessing. It meant encouraging one another with faith and patience and hope, counting trial and persecution as steps bringing them nearer their rest and reward in heaven. It meant rejoicing to be counted worthy to suffer for the truth while Christ and angels looked on with approval.

The verse belongs to the record of heroes of faith and the great cloud of witnesses whose fidelity to God has been brought prominently before the world. Their light was made to shine for people in darkness so as to lead others to glorify God. Their lives provide examples of firm principles for the church that can be lived out by later Christians.

The same faith can work in people now. It sustains believers through tests and mysterious providences, strengthens them to go forward, and fits them for service. It enables them to face evils and difficulties and in the Lord's name to stand successfully against opposing forces of evil while the Lord holds them by His hand. Wherever faithful hearts are channels of His power, God can work no less markedly through them now than through His servants of old. That faithful service is marked by self-denial, a will made subordinate to God, and ministry inspired by love, with doing good and saving souls as its aim.