Albert Barnes Commentary Hebrews 11:15

"And if indeed they had been mindful of that [country] from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return." — Hebrews 11:15 (ASV)

And truly if they had been mindful of that country—that is, if they had remembered it with sufficient interest and affection to have made them desire to return.

They might have had opportunity to have returned. The journey was not so long or perilous that they could not have retraced their steps; it would have been no more difficult or dangerous for them to do so than it was to make the journey at first. This shows that their remaining as strangers and sojourners in the land of Canaan was voluntary.

They preferred to remain where they were, with all its inconveniences and hardships, rather than to return to their native land. The same thing is true of all God's people now. If they choose to return to the world and to engage again in all its vain pursuits, there is nothing to hinder them.

There are "opportunities" enough. Abundant inducements are held out. Numerous merry and worldly friends would regard it as a matter of joy and triumph to have them return to vanity and folly again. These friends would welcome them to their society, rejoice to have them participate in their pleasures, and be willing for them to share in the honors and wealth of the world.

And they could do it. There are multitudes of Christians who could grace the ballroom, as they once did; who could charm the social party with song and wit; who could rise to the highest posts of office, or compete successfully with others in the race for the acquisition of fame.

They have seen and tasted enough of the world's vain pursuits to be satisfied of their vanity; they are convinced of the sinfulness of making these things the great objects of life. Their affections are now fixed on higher and nobler objects, and they choose not to return to those pursuits again but to live as strangers and sojourners on the earth—for there is nothing more voluntary than religion.