Albert Barnes Commentary Hebrews 11:17

"By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten [son];" — Hebrews 11:17 (ASV)

By faith Abraham. The apostle had stated one strong instance of Abraham’s faith, and he now refers to one still more remarkable—undoubtedly the strongest illustration of faith that has ever been demonstrated in our world.

When he was tried. The word used here is rendered tempted in Matthew 4:1, 3; Matthew 16:1; Matthew 19:3; Matthew 22:18, 35, and in twenty-two other places in the New Testament; prove, in John 6:6; hath gone about, in Acts 24:6; examine, in 2 Corinthians 13:6; and tried, in Revelation 2:2, 10; Revelation 3:10.

It does not mean here, as it often does, to place inducements before someone to lead him to do wrong, but to subject his faith to a trial to test its genuineness and strength. The meaning here is that Abraham was placed in circumstances that showed the real strength of his confidence in God.

Offered up Isaac. That is, he showed that he was ready and willing to make the sacrifice, and would have done it if he had not been restrained by the voice of the angel (Genesis 22:11–12). As far as Abraham’s intention was concerned, the deed was done, for he had made every preparation for the offering and was actually about to take his son’s life.

And he that had received the promises offered up his only-begotten son. These promises were particularly of a numerous posterity. The fulfillment of those promises depended on him whom he was now about to offer as a sacrifice.

If Abraham had been surrounded by children, or if no special promise of a numerous posterity had been made to him, this act would not have been so remarkable. It would, in any case, have been a strong act of faith; it was peculiarly strong in his case because he had an only son and because the fulfillment of the promise depended on his life.