Hebrews 11:13

11 By faith ^aSarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and ^bshe bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him ^cfaithful who had promised.

12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as ^adead, were born as many as the ^bstars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

The Heavenly Hope

13 These all died in faith, ^anot having received the ^bpromises, but ^chaving seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and ^dconfessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For those who say such things ^adeclare plainly that they seek a homeland.

15 And truly if they had called to mind ^athat country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.

16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed ^ato be called their God, for He has ^bprepared a city for them.

The Faith of the Patriarchs

17 By faith Abraham, ^awhen he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18 ¹of whom it was said, ^a“In Isaac your seed shall be called,”

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
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What Does Hebrews 11:13 Mean?

A pilgrim travels from one place to another, often without settled habitation, yet knowing his destination. These heroes of faith were motivated by their vision of what awaited at the journey's end. They lived on the basis of the words of promise, dying in faith without having received the promises, but having seen them afar off. They believed what they saw, rejoiced in it, and identified themselves and God with it. This ability to see gave direction to their lives and set them apart from the rest of mankind. Faith produces vision.

Hebrews 11:13

A pilgrim is a person on the move, traveling from one place to another. It is usually used in a religious sense of one who may have no settled habitation but knows where he is going. Here, it is especially clear that all of these people were motivated by their vision of what lies at the end of the journey.

John W. Ritenbaugh
The Elements of Motivation (Part Two): Vision

Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Hebrews 11:13:

Genesis 13:14-15
Luke 16:22
2 Corinthians 4:17
Galatians 3:16
Galatians 3:16

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Hebrews 11:14 >>

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The Heavenly Hope

The Faith of the Patriarchs

What Does Hebrews 11:13 Mean?

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

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