HEBREWS 11:20-40 (the remaining of the “faith” chapter) 

VERSE 20 “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come” 

The things to come speak to the prophetic significance of the rights of first-born sons in God’s great salvation plan. Esau was the first born by birth to Isaac but lost the blessing to Jacob, who became the appointed special son of God, through the experience at Jabbok, (Genesis 32) through whose seed God then called out of Egypt as a nation of first-born sons. (Exodus 4:22) That nation of Israel, God’s appointed first-born out of the Gentile nations, then in type became as Esau, who gave up the rights of the first-born, in their rejection and crucifixion of Jesus the Messiah, (“…We have no king but Caesar” John 19:15–16) and that to the heavenly bound nation of the New Man in Christ. (Matthew 21:28-43)  

Israel is now, by the law of Moses, considered the “Slayer”, (Numbers 35:11) and shall remain so until the appointed High Priest is no longer in office, (Numbers 35:28) and then only can they return lawfully to their Land, where they may attain pardon after they have repented and accepted the returned Jesus as their Messiah. They then will have preeminence, as God’s first-born over the nations of the earth, as God promised Abraham. Ishmael and Esau’s enmity will then finally die. All will dwell peacefully in the tent of Shem. (Genesis 9) This is the Millennial future of restored Israel; the first-born of God, appointed to the earthly realm.  

The Book of Hebrews deals with the Christian unto the heavenly calling, (Hebrews 3:1) which if he is to answer, now as a born-again child of God, he must attain unto the first-born sons adoption; and that by minding the things of the spirit/Spirit (Romans 8:15) for which, at Christ’s Return, is awarded the “salvation of the soul.”  

The Holy Spirit is presenting Old Testament examples in typology to Christians; types in their either obtaining or not obtaining the first-born son’s rights unto ruler-ship with Christ in the heavenly realm. Some types of the sure loss due to unbelief and flesh, is structured around 5 major warnings; or the final gain of reward through continuing faith structured around this 11th chapter and those overcoming unbelief and flesh. The picture, then being presented is to Hebrews who are now Christians, whose forefathers were called out of Egypt as the first-born sons of God; who now having received Christ; becoming a new creature. (Galatians 6:15) They have given up their national identity, that is to say no longer subject to the Law of Moses, nor are they any longer of Israel’s first-born status distinct from the nations of the World. They are members of a New Nation; that of the New Man, where there is no distinction between Jew or Gentile. (Ephesians 2:15, Galatians 3:28) Theirs is the heavenly calling, that is unto REGAL first born sons… “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (of adoption as sons, first born sons, heirs in Christ to heavenly thrones. Read Revelation 3:21,12:5, 20:4-6) 

The promise to Abraham was/is yet to be realized in two realms; that of the earthly and that of the heavenly. (Genesis 22:17–18) Israel, the first born natural progeny of Abraham, shall finally realize the earthly portion of the inheritance and the first-born of the regal heavenly calling in Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham, will realize the future inheritance of the heavenly calling. Thus, for the Hebrew turned Christian it was the relinquishing of identity with Israel’s earthly calling, (the turning back to they are greatly discouraged, as this would be a grave insult to Christ) and answering the higher and greater calling unto Christ in the heavenly realm. 

The Book of Hebrews in chapter 3 verse 3 makes the statement: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation…” Christian teachers have tried to tie this verse to salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ…“salvation” being presented as exclusive to eternal life, as opposed to the great salvation of the soul; that of the high calling. That is to say, it is wrongly presented in such a manner as referring to the great neglect of the unregenerate world in not receiving God’s gracious gift of eternal life. Where in truth it is an exhortation of a warning word by the Holy Spirit to us, the regenerate as to the sore consequences of neglecting the heavenly calling.  

We having spoken on Abraham’s justifying faith as opposed to His overcoming continuing faith throughout his life in the last lesson with this sure truth in view (Hebrews 11:8-10); along with the testimony of Scripture of his wife, Sarah, and his son’s Isaac and grandson Jacob’s chosen nomadic sojourning life with a higher inheritance with the first resurrection in view. That being in the heavenly realm, culminating in the promise of their inheritance in dwelling in the eternal City of New Jerusalem. (Hebrews 11:13-16, Revelation 21:1–2) 

Essential to correctly understanding the Book of Hebrews is the Old Testament types of the first-born and the heavenly blessing portion of Abraham’s promise, laid along side these truths: 

1) How continuing faith in doing the will of God “…after ye were illuminated…” is pleasing to Him and then the displeasure of God “…if any (redeemed) man draw back…”  

2) God’s designed goal for man’s faith is the salvation of the soul (Hebrews 10:39); a New Testament Scriptural term to describe assayed worthiness in having had “faith” refined like pure gold through the temptations, tests and trials of living obediently to God in this fallen World. That, to be assayed at the judgment seat of Christ after death and manifest upon His Return. (1st Peter 1:7-2:3) 

3) The worthies of faith will be rewarded according to God’s stated promises, those inheritors of the Old Testament, some nearly 6000 years ago now, or in the faith of the New Testament, some nearly 2000 years old, but none yet having received those promises (no wonder, as the Messiah and King has not yet entered into His Kingdom).   

In 31 verses, 3 times the reward for faithfulness is held forth. Hebrews 10:35… “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.” Hebrews 11:6… “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for the that cometh to God must believer that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  And again in 11:26… “Esteeming the reproach for Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for the had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” Continuing in living Faith is sure that Jesus Christ will not fail to grant equivalent reward for every service. Colossians 3:24… “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” With “ Revelation 22:12… “And, behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” 

VERSE 40 “(1) God having provided some better thing for us, (2) that they without us should not be made perfect.”  

Here are two notable statements differentiating between the Testaments: 

 1) that the promises and provisions of the New Testament hold forth a better inheritance; this is the meaning of this statement and what Matthew 21:43 had in view. The Old Testament promises (chiefly given through Moses) are declared inferior in the light of the New Testament promises, (Hebrews 8:6) The provision under the Law with its promises to Abraham’s seed is now limited to an earthly inheritance and with a limited preeminence over the nations of the earth in the future Millennium. The Old Testament worthy saints, were for the greater part tutored and capacitated in heart to its dictates; that is to say; that of Law and justice. These shall rise in the first resurrection and shall share in the land and restoration of Israel; the first-born of God ruling over and sharing in the earthly part of the Kingdom of Christ in that Age of righteous justice according to the renewed Laws of Moses. Being thereby the ministers of God in the earth under its renewed dictates and thereby being a great blessing to the Gentiles. This is in answer to the promises of God to Abraham’s earthly progeny; a remnant of whom in that day will be survivors of the great tribulation of Jacob’s Trouble, who are survivors and recipients of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:8-13)…who were before without Mosaic Covenant worthiness according to Scripture: Ezekiel 36:22-28… “Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 

And I will sanctify — my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take — you from among the heathen, and gather — you out of all countries, and will bring — you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse — you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away — the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put — my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in — my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.”  

That day shall be immediately preceded by the appointment of another FIRST-BORN ADOPTED SON. The New Testament promises look forward to a glory–filled heavenly inheritance: that better thing. The regal reigning of the adopted first–born sons of God in Jesus Christ, who did not shrink back, but held fast their heavenly view of inheritance through this faith’s appointed much tests and trials in violent selflessness (Matthew 11:12) and suffering with Christ, in the promoting of death to the selfish carnal soul in order to be capacitated to rule with Him. (Romans 8:8-19, Matthew 25) 

2) In that  “..they (Old Covenant saints having obtained a good report according to its dictates ) without us (those who obtain unto the salvation of the soul by crucifying its carnality in the power of the New Testament grace through faith) should not be made perfect.”  This is an allusion to the present state of all the faithful dead who then will be raised up in the First Resurrection. This is to say that the Old Testament saints’ inheritance reward will not come until the New Testament faithful reward in inheritance does. And that time, for both, being at the out-from among the dead resurrection (the remaining dead will stay in an imperfect state, awaiting their future resurrected state and eternal condition to be determined at the Great White Throne Judgment 1000 years later).  

Being made perfect answers to the body and spirit being united back with the resurrected soul in the unique and essential means to be regal first-born sons of God. That of completing the New Creature, beyond that of a reformed fallen earthly man, now into a glorious new and abundant life as a spirit man; the unique Creature, and unique first-born son of God. (2nd Corinthians 5:17 with 1st Corinthians 15:44-49)  

A man whose body has passed into the ground, as dust and remains there, and whose spirit has left him and has traveled the space back unto God who gave it, cannot be said, in such a state, then to have been somehow made perfect. But perfect here in verse 40 describes the condition of the soul, when in the future he is raised out of the center of the earth, from that intermediate place of the dead, united with his body and spirit… “…even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:23) It is not till we receive our resurrected body that we are perfect and then adopted first-born sons of God! Able now to rule in a regal position, that is to say like none other in the heavens, as that New Creation born after the likeness of Jesus, the One and ONLY Begotten Firstborn Son of God and Son of man.  

Being perfect fit for greater reward…It is then time for each individual’s just recompense in resurrection glory.  

“Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” [Luke 12:12-14] 

Whereas those Old Testament saints spoken of above were capacitated by faith relative to the law and justice, these are they who have been trained and capacitated by selfless loving faith and mercy poured out from their willing soul on fellow man. Taking no thought for suffered wrongs of injustice, in obedience to Jesus Christ’s Words of dying to earthly cares and things, sacrificial living in the sufferings of an ever–developing servant’s heart, all in the hope of a greater inheritance in intimacy of the King’s entourage in the heavenly realm.  

1st Corinthians 15:41-44: “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead.” Within these few verses is found the different glories of resurrection, and classes for reward for faith, in accordance with the different Covenant dispensations and their promises that which answers to the  both the better and perfect of Hebrews 11:40. The clear perceived reward for continuing faithfulness, throughout the Ages, and that which is essential to any further reward at Christ’s Second Coming; is the reward of rapture or the First Resurrection. (Revelation 3:10, 20:6) 

Both groups of God’s people will be resurrected and united in the Kingdom of Christ, as both are in waiting, but the New Testament faithful will take the loftiest of places according to the greater grace drawn upon by New Testament faith, capacitating through self–administrated death to the carnal soul through obedience to the Words of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 5,6, & 7, 1st Corinthians 6:9–10, Galatians 5;19-21, Ephesians 5:1-6)