Charles Spurgeon Commentary Hebrews 11

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,

Though the "things" are only "hoped for" and "not seen" at present, the eye of faith can see them, and the hand of faith can grasp them. Faith is more mighty than any of our senses, or than all our senses combined.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,

It gets a grip of what it hopes for, and holds it in its hand.

The evidence of things not seen.

We do see by faith. We see by faith what cannot be seen by our eyes; we grasp by faith what cannot be grasped with our hands. A strange mystery is the simple act of faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.

"The elders"—that is, those who lived in the ancient times—accomplished wondrous works by faith, and the "report" of them still encourages others to try to do likewise.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. (Hebrews 11:1–2)

Those of old, who were men of noble character, won that character by their faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elder obtained a good report.

So it was written long ago that believers "obtained a good report." This second verse shows that they obtained it by their faith. The best part of the report about them is that they believed their God and believed all that was revealed to them by his Word and his Spirit.