Matthew Henry Commentary Hebrews 11:20-31

"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king`s commandment. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh`s daughter; choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace." — Hebrews 11:20-31 (ASV)

Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. Present things are not the best things; no one knows love or hatred by having them or lacking them. Jacob lived by faith, and he died by faith, and in faith. Though the grace of faith is always useful throughout 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 die to the Lord, so as to honor Him, by patience, hope, and joy.

Joseph was tried by temptations to sin and by persecution for keeping his integrity; he was also tried by honors 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, 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 reveals that all must give way to the will and power of God. The pleasures of sin are, and will be, only short-lived; 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, as there is 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 considers Himself reproached in their reproaches; and thus these reproaches become greater riches than the treasures of the richest empire in the world. Moses made his choice when he was mature in judgment and capable of enjoyment, able to know what he did and why he did it.

It is necessary for people to be seriously religious and to despise the world when most capable of relishing and enjoying it. Believers may and ought to have respect for the recompense of the 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 persevere to the end, whatever they may encounter on the way.

It is not due 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 pardon and atonement. All our spiritual privileges on earth should spur us on 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 desires not only to be in covenant with God but also in communion with the people of God, and is willing to fare as they fare. By her works, Rahab declared herself to be righteous. That she was not justified by her works appears plainly, because the work she did was faulty in its manner and not perfectly good; therefore, it could not measure up to the perfect justice or righteousness of God.