Hebrews 11:31

11:20-31 Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning things to come. Things present are not the best things; no man knoweth love or hatred by having them or wanting them. Jacob lived by faith, and he died by faith, and in faith. Though the grace of faith is of use always through our whole lives, it is especially so when we come to die. Faith has a great work to do at last, to help the believer to die to the Lord, so as to honour him, by patience, hope, and joy. Joseph was tried by temptations to sin, by persecution for keeping his integrity; and he was tried by honours and power in the court of Pharaoh, yet his faith carried him through. It is a great mercy to be free from wicked laws and edicts; but when we are not so, we must use all lawful means for our security. In this faith of Moses' parents there was a mixture of unbelief, but God was pleased to overlook it. Faith gives strength against the sinful, slavish fear of men; it sets God before the soul, shows the vanity of the creature, and that all must give way to the will and power of God. The pleasures of sin are, and will be, but short; they must end either in speedy repentance or in speedy ruin. The pleasures of this world are for the most part the pleasures of sin; they are always so when we cannot enjoy them without deserting God and his people. Suffering is to be chosen rather than sin; there being more evil in the least sin, than there can be in the greatest suffering.

God's people are, and always have been, a reproached people. Christ accounts himself reproached in their reproaches; and thus they become greater riches than the treasures of the richest empire in the world. Moses made his choice when ripe for judgment and enjoyment, able to know what he did, and why he did it. It is needful for persons to be seriously religious; to despise the world, when most capable of relishing and enjoying it. Believers may and ought to have respect to the recompence of reward. By faith we may be fully sure of God's providence, and of his gracious and powerful presence with us. Such a sight of God will enable believers to keep on to the end, whatever they may meet in the way. It is not owing to our own righteousness, or best performances, that we are saved from the wrath of God; but to the blood of Christ, and his imputed righteousness. True faith makes sin bitter to the soul, even while it receives the pardon and atonement. All our spiritual privileges on earth, should quicken us in our way to heaven. The Lord will make even Babylon fall before the faith of his people, and when he has some great thing to do for them, he raises up great and strong faith in them. A true believer is desirous, not only to be in covenant with God, but in communion with the people of God; and is willing to fare as they fare. By her works Rahab declared herself to be just.

The harlot Rahab (Ῥαὰβ ἡ πόρνη) See Joshua 2; Joshua 6:17, and comp. James 2:25. Rahab's occupation is stated without mincing, and the lodging of the spies at her house was probably not a matter of accident. Very amusing are the efforts of some earlier expositors to evade the fact of a harlot's faith, by rendering πόρνη landlady. Perished not with (οὐ συναπώλετο) N.T.o. In lxx see Numbers 16:26; Psalm 25:9; Psalm 27:3. Them that believed not (τοῖς ἀπειθήσασιν) Rend. "them that were disobedient." Simple disbelief is expressed by ἀπιστεῖν, ἀπιστία: disbelief as it manifests itself in disobedience, by ἀπειθεῖν. Ἁπειθεῖν is ἀπιστεῖν on its active side. See on John 3:36, and comp. Hebrews 3:18; Hebrews 4:6, Hebrews 4:11; Romans 11:30, Romans 11:32, contrasting with Romans 11:20, Romans 11:23. Ἁπειθεῖν here describes the failure to be persuaded that God had given the land to the Israelites, and the consequent refusal to surrender Jericho. Rahab's faith is shown Joshua 2:9-11. When she had received the spies (δεξαμένη τοὺς κατασκόπους) Rend. "having received." For this sense of friendly reception as a guest see Luke 10:8, Luke 10:10. Κατάσκοπος a spy, N.T.o. lxx, Genesis 42:9, Genesis 42:11, Genesis 42:14; 1 Samuel 26:4. With peace (μετ' εἰρήνηνς) The phrase only here and Acts 15:33. Quite often in lxx, as Genesis 15:15; Genesis 26:29; Exodus 18:23; Deuteronomy 20:20; Judges 8:9.

In N.T. ἐν εἰρήνῃ in peace (Acts 16:36; James 2:16): εἰς εἰρήνην into peace (Mark 5:34; Luke 7:50; Luke 8:48); both these very often in lxx. Rahab received the spies without enmity, and did not allow them to suffer harm from others. An interesting parallel is furnished by Dante, Purg. ii. 99, in the case of the pilot-angel who conveys souls to the shore of Purgatory. "He, sooth to say, for three months past has taken Whoever wished to enter, with all peace" (without interposing any obstacle.)

Hebrews 11:31 . By faith — Expressed in her words, recorded Joshua 2:9-11 , I know that the Lord hath given you the land, &c.; the harlot Rahab — That is, who had once been a harlot; but after she believed in the true God, it is reasonable to think she amended her manners, as well as repented of the lie by which she deceived the king of Jericho’s messengers. For that faith in the true God, which made her hazard her life in receiving and concealing the spies, must, when she attained to more knowledge, have wrought in her a thorough reformation; perished not with them that believed not — With the rest of the Canaanites in that city, among whom she dwelt; when she had received the spies — Hospitably, and dismissed them in peace, when an alarm was taken by her fellow-citizens, and they searched for them to destroy them.

31 . By faith ] Joshua 2:9-11 , “The Lord your God, He is God.” the harlot Rahab ] So she is called in Joshua 2:1 ; James 2:25 , and it shews the faithfulness of the sacred narrative that her name is even introduced as well as that of Ruth, a Moabitess, in the genealogy of our Lord ( Matthew 1:5 ). The Targum softens it down into “innkeeper” and others render it “idolatress.” Her name was highly honoured by the Jews, who said that eight prophets—among them Baruch, Jeremiah, and Shallum—were descended from her, and the prophetess Huldah. Megillah f. 14. 2. that believed not ] Rather, “that were disobedient.”

(31) That believed not. —Bather, that were disobedient (see Hebrews 3:18 ; Hebrews 4:6 ; Hebrews 4:11 ). To her and to her countrymen alike had come the knowledge of what the Lord had done for Israel ( Joshua 2:10 ). She recognised from these signs, and acknowledged, the supremacy of Jehovah ( Hebrews 11:11 ), and she cast in her lot with His servants; the men of Jericho continued in their disobedience, and perished ( Joshua 6:21 ). Through faith, therefore, a despised heathen woman became united with the people of God. With such an example these more detailed histories may fitly close.

31. Rahab showed her "faith" in her confession, Jos 2:9, 11, "I know that Jehovah hath given you the land; Jehovah your God, is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath." the harlot—Her former life adds to the marvel of her repentance, faith, and preservation (Mt 21:31, 32). believed not—Greek, "were disobedient," namely, to the will of God manifested by the miracles wrought in behalf of Israel (Jos 2:8-11). received—in her house (Jos 2:1, 4, 6). with peace—peaceably; so that they had nothing to fear in her house. Thus Paul, quoting the same examples (Heb 11:17, 31) for the power of faith, as James (Jas 2:21, 25; see on [2589]Jas 2:21; [2590]Jas 2:25) does for justification by works evidentially, shows that in maintaining justification by faith alone, he means not a dead faith, but "faith which worketh by love" (Ga 5:6).