Chuck Larsen

Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” There have been two specific ways of viewing the phrase “surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.” The first way is that they are watching us from heaven. Brooks explains this view: “They watch us, they observe how we are doing, they cheer us on, like spectators in an athletics stadium, all around us (‘we are surrounded’). They have finished their course, and they are taking a keen interest in how we are faring in ours. This is stated for our encouragement and to spur us on to finish our Christian course faithfully ourselves.”^[1] To the contrary Hodges says, “life of faith has been amply attested by this great cloud of Old Testament witnesses. (This does not mean that they watch believers today.)”^[2] O’Brien agrees with the second opinion and writes, “However, while the athletic imagery of the passage is unmistakable in the second and third clauses of the verse, the emphasis of the first clause falls on what Christians see in the host of witnesses rather than on what they see in Christians.”^[3]

I’ve held both views! But today I’m siding with the thought that they are not watching us, but we are watching them. The author’s point seems to be that these men and women of chapter 11 were challenged in their faith but persisted. I’ve always felt that thinking about all the saints of old – Abraham, Moses and all the others – was a frightening prospect. This seems to say they are laying a yard stick against us to see if we measure up and I’ve always wanted to insist that in Christ we have already measured up and there is no more evaluation of our sin. I like the way Hacking puts it regarding this issue. He writes, “…we are watching them for encouragement rather than them watching us in examination.” [4] As an incoming first year student at Dallas Theological Seminary, I was asked to share my testimony at the faculty and staff reception of the 500 new students of which I was one. Having Charles Ryrie, Norm Geisler, Howard Hendricks, Dwight Pentecost and 30 other famous faculty members along with 500 of my peers in attendance watching me, didn’t fill me with confidence and assurance. It did not inspire me! It filled me with fear and dread. But now, 40 years later, remembering those faithful men and thinking about their lives inspires me to go on in my faith.

What do we see in this “great cloud” of witnesses? We see the persistent conviction that our sins and struggles are settled once and for all in Christ. Even the Old Testament characters looked forward to Christ and his resolution of their sin for salvation. This is the race we’re in. The enemy wants us to return to a focus on our own efforts and works to find acceptance with God but these believers of old had to resist and move on in faith. They trusted in God’s promise of full redemption through faith in Christ and we are challenged to the same. Don’t let the pressures of the world drive you back to any religion or religious ritual. The heroes of chapter 11 laid aside those fleshly passions fueling their self-righteousness and held strong to the hope of the future redemption promised by God that would be provided by Him, by His wonderful grace, and acquired through faith. Let us follow their example!

^[1] Richard Brooks, The Name High over All: A Commentary on Hebrews, Welwyn Commentary Series (Welwyn Garden City, UK: EP, 2016), 384.

^[2] Zane C. Hodges, “Hebrews,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 809.

^[3] Peter T. O’Brien, The Letter to the Hebrews, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 451.

^[4] Philip H Hacking, Opening up Hebrews, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2006), 82.

Many there are who have put their faith and confidence in God and yet have ended badly in this life. That does not mean their faith was somewhat less than those who appear to be more victorious. Chapter 11 ends with the assurance that what might appear to the world as great loss will result in great gain. Verses 39-40, speaking of those who suffer in their faith says, “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Knowles says, “Faith is trusting God. Faith is believing that God made the world. Faith is Abel giving his best animal for a sacrifice. Faith is Noah building an ark, because he believed judgment was about to fall as a flood. Faith is Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, living as wandering strangers in the land God had promised them … And so the list goes on. None of these people saw the fulfillment of God’s plan—but they all lived in the light of it. At the end of his life, the only land Abraham owned was his wife’s grave; and yet he believed God was using him to build a city – a new community to transform the world.”^[1]

The author wants to be sure that his readers understand that each of these people of “faith” looked forward to the fulfillment of God’s promises to them that would come in Jesus Christ. The whole Bible is about Jesus. That’s why his main point in the book of Hebrews is the superiority of Jesus to all things. Long tells us how the “preacher” of Hebrews, “…explains: ‘God provided something better …’ (11:40). The congregation knows, of course, that the Preacher means Jesus. The word ‘better’ connected to Jesus has been a constant refrain: Jesus is ‘better than the angels’ (1:4), and he introduces a ‘better hope’ (7:19) and guarantees a ‘better covenant’ (7:22) with ‘better promises’ (8:6) and sealed with ‘better sacrifices’ (9:23), and all of this allows us to possess an inheritance from God that is ‘better’ (10:34). So it comes as no surprise that these faithful ancestors did not receive the promise until the coming of Jesus. As people of faith, they were leaning forward in hope, searching for no earthly homeland but for the city whose architect and builder is God (11:10), waiting for a ‘better resurrection.’ Their hopes could not be fulfilled; their quest could not be satisfied; their desire for resurrection could not be met until there was a better high priest, ‘a Son who has been made perfect forever’ (7:28).^[2] He was not only made perfect, but he makes us perfect as well! Morris concludes, “…it is what Christ has done that opens the way into the very presence of God for them as for us. Only the work of Christ brings those of OT times and those of the new and living way alike into the presence of God.”^[3]

^[1] Andrew Knowles, The Bible Guide, 1st Augsburg books ed. (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 2001), 667–668.

^[2] Thomas G. Long, Hebrews, Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching (Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1997), 126.

^[3] Leon Morris, “Hebrews,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 12 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981), 133.

In Hebrews 11:32-34 we see apparent faith victories. It says, “who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” It even adds that through faith women received back from the dead their loved ones! But he then turns to what might be called “failures” of faith because in verses 37-38 he points out other believes who “…were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” Isaacs observes, “It is not only the ‘winners’ who obviously triumphed over their enemies but also the weak and persecuted who are held out as examples of faith to be emulated.”^[1]

J. Vernon McGee says, “My friend, there are a great many people who have demonstrated their faith by winning battles and by being delivered, but there are others, multitudes of them, who have suffered for the faith. Down through the long history of the church there have been the Waldensians, the Albigenses, the Huguenots, the Scottish Covenanters, and many others.”^[2] Fruchtenbaum concludes, “God does not work the same way in every case. There were some people He resurrected from the dead, but there were others He did not resurrect from the dead. There were some He rescued alive, while there were others He allowed to be tortured to death. Those who were tortured to death exercised as much faith as those who were rescued alive. All of these had faith, although the results of their faith varied as God willed.”^[3]

When Paul writes, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” he did not mean he could win football games. He meant that regardless of the ups and down of life he can find peace and contentment with God through his relationship with Jesus. Wiersbe shares the following story in his commentary: “While making a hospital visit, I found a patient lying in bed weeping. “What’s the matter?” I asked. Her reply was to hand me a book that she had that day received in the mail. It was on “divine healing” and “the power of faith.” Some anonymous person had written on the flyleaf, “Read this book—it will give you faith to be healed.” The patient happened to be a dedicated Christian who trusted God even in the midst of suffering. But her anonymous correspondent thought that all people with faith should be delivered miraculously. I have personally experienced God’s miracle touch on my body when others were sure I would die. I know that God can heal. But I also know that God does not have to heal in order to prove that I have faith. The writer of Hebrews (11:36–38) records the fact that many unknown men and women of faith were not delivered from difficult circumstances; yet God honored their faith. In fact, it takes more faith to endure than it does to escape.”^[4] Constable says, “Those who accept death without apostatizing are those the world is not worthy of because they do not turn from following God even under the most severe pressure.”^[5] Jesus’ grace is always sufficient.

^[1] Marie E. Isaacs, Reading Hebrews and James: A Literary and Theological Commentary, Reading the New Testament Series (Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, 2002), 137.

^[2] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: The Epistles (Hebrews 8-13), electronic ed., vol. 52 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 106.

^[3] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Messianic Jewish Epistles: Hebrews, James, First Peter, Second Peter, Jude, 1st ed. (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2005), 166.

^[4] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 321.

^[5] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Heb 11:35.

The author of Hebrews spent a good deal of time on Melchizedek in chapter 7. That person appears in only 4 verses in the Old Testament. The people that are mentioned in Hebrews 11:32-34 cover a lot more material, yet he simply mentions their names and their deeds. It says, “And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” They are all well known heroes to the Israelites and the writer wants them to realize that they lived “by faith.”

The book of Judges contains 12 (maybe 13) characters who were called upon as Judges to deliver the Israelites from their enemies. This four-step cycle in Judges is repeated with each character. First, the people would turn from God and sin. Second, they would be enslaved by their enemies as Moses had predicted in the Law. Third, they would find themselves in despair and call out to God for help. Finally, God would respond by sending them a “Judge” or “deliverer” who stepped up to deliver the people from an enemy that they could not defeat on their own. But after each deliverance the people would forget God again and turn back to sin and the process would start all over again. The author of Hebrews mentions four of those deliverers in this passage; Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah. There were at least 8 others but they are not included in the list because they all make the same point.

Sin has brought the whole human race to a desperate state from which we cannot save ourselves. We need a “hero.” The Judges in Old Testament times were the heroes God would send to redeem his people from oppression and slavery. Because of the sinful nature of all people, we all need a deliverer who will face our enemy for us. Whether it’s an Old Testament Judge, Prophet or King it’s all the same. God called forth a chosen one, an anointed one, to save the people from a situation that sin took them into from which they could not save themselves. The means by which these deliverers saved their people was always faith in God. The people had to trust God’s anointed to deliver them. These are all previews of the Messianic deliverance to come through Jesus. Just as Israel had to trust God to deliver them from their plight through the anointed one, so too does the writer of Hebrews call his readers to trust God to deliver them from their plight through the chosen one, Jesus! The deeds performed were all miraculous! They “…conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” God was specifically working in these “chosen ones” to deliver His people, Just as God “in Christ” was working miracles in our deliverance from sin and death. All of the heroes of the Old Testament are road signs along the way to Jesus. The Bible is all about Jesus!

The salvation and deliverance of Rahab foreshadows the universal call of God to faith in His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. We saw earlier in the book of Hebrews, God incorporating the two sons of Joseph, half Egyptians, into the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, making them full heirs to the promises of God. In Hebrews 11:31 we see God including a full-blooded alien into His family. It says, “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.” Westcott says, “The list of the champions of Faith whose victories are specially noticed is closed by a woman and a gentile and an outcast. In this there is a significant foreshadowing of its essential universality.”^[1] God’s promise to Abraham was that all the nations of the world would receive a blessing through his line. The ultimate fulfillment of that was recorded for us all in John 3:16, “for God so loved the world.”

Now Rahab was saved “by faith” not by works. This is the same for everyone mentioned in Chapter 11 and it is the same for us. One of my former professors, Tom Constable, says it like this, “Even though Rahab was a Gentile sinner (i.e., a secular prostitute), God spared her when he destroyed all those around her. Likewise God will preserve the faithful not because they are personally worthy but because of their faith in Him.”^[2] Paul makes that perfectly clear in Ephesians 2:8-9 when he states, “it’s by grace you have been saved, through faith, it’s not of works lest anyone should be able to boast.”

John Owen, the old commentator, says, “This Rahab was by birth a Gentile, an alien from the stock and covenant of Abraham. So, as her conversion to God was an act of free grace and mercy in a special manner, so it was a type and pledge of calling a church from among the Gentiles. She was not just a Gentile—Rahab was an Amorite, that race that was given over in general to being utterly destroyed. Rahab was, therefore, an example of God’s sovereignty in dispensing with his laws as it seems good to him, for out of his own mere pleasure he exempted her from the denounced doom of her race.”^[3] This describes our lot! Being out of the line of the promises of God given to Abraham and his descendants, our only hope is for God to act sovereignly on our behalf. Like Rahab, we are all sinners. But Paul teaches us that “God demonstrated his own love for us, while we were still sinners by Christ dying on the cross for us.” Furthermore, Paul attaches Jesus’ mission to sinners only. He writes in Timothy 1:15, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

^[1] Brooke Foss Westcott, ed., The Epistle to the Hebrews the Greek Text with Notes and Essays, 3d ed., Classic Commentaries on the Greek New Testament (London: Macmillan, 1903), 377.

^[2] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Heb 11:31.

^[3] John Owen, Hebrews, Crossway Classic Commentaries (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 234.