Hebrews 11:40 - God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
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What does "Hebrews 11:40" mean?
This verse from Hebrews 11:40 is the culmination of a chapter that celebrates the "hall of faith" – a list of Old Testament figures who demonstrated remarkable faith in God. The verse means something like this:
Breaking it Down:
"God having provided some better thing concerning us..." This refers to the believers in the New Covenant era – that is, Christians. God has provided something "better" for them. This "better thing" is often interpreted as the complete revelation of God in Jesus Christ, the access to the Holy Spirit, and the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises.
"...so that apart from us they should not be made perfect." This is the core of the verse and the trickiest part to understand. It means that the Old Testament saints, despite their great faith, could not reach their ultimate state of perfection (or completion) without the New Testament believers and the full realization of God's plan in Christ.
Interpretations and Implications:
Here are a few key interpretations and implications of this verse:
Interdependence of Covenants: The Old and New Covenants are not separate, but intrinsically linked. The Old Testament figures, despite their faith, were looking forward to a greater fulfillment that they themselves wouldn't fully experience in their lifetime. Their faith pointed towards Christ and the New Covenant.
Christ as the Fulfilment: The "better thing" is often understood as the full revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection are what ultimately bring about the promise of salvation.
Unity of Believers: All believers, both Old and New Testament, are united in God's plan. The Old Testament saints' faith laid the groundwork for the New Testament reality.
Shared Hope: Old Testament saints looked forward to the coming Messiah and the New Covenant. We now look back at the fulfillment of those promises in Christ and forward to the final consummation of God's Kingdom. We all share the same hope of eternal life through faith in God.
Emphasis on the New Covenant: The verse reinforces the superiority of the New Covenant. While the Old Testament was a crucial part of God's plan, it was not the final word. The New Covenant, inaugurated by Jesus, is the culmination of God's promises.
In simpler terms:
Imagine building a house. The Old Testament saints laid a strong foundation, demonstrating great faith in the process. However, the house isn't complete without the walls, roof, and interior – the elements provided by the New Covenant through Jesus Christ. The house, fully built, represents God's completed plan of redemption, where all believers, past and present, find their ultimate fulfillment.
In Summary:
Hebrews 11:40 highlights the fact that God's plan of salvation is progressive and unified. The Old Testament saints' faith was genuine and commendable, but their perfection (or completion) was dependent on the "better thing" provided in the New Covenant – specifically, the person and work of Jesus Christ. This verse emphasizes the unity of believers throughout history and the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in Christ.
Hebrews 11:40 - God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
What does "Hebrews 11:40" mean?
This verse from Hebrews 11:40 is the culmination of a chapter that celebrates the "hall of faith" – a list of Old Testament figures who demonstrated remarkable faith in God. The verse means something like this:
Breaking it Down:
"God having provided some better thing concerning us..." This refers to the believers in the New Covenant era – that is, Christians. God has provided something "better" for them. This "better thing" is often interpreted as the complete revelation of God in Jesus Christ, the access to the Holy Spirit, and the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises.
"...so that apart from us they should not be made perfect." This is the core of the verse and the trickiest part to understand. It means that the Old Testament saints, despite their great faith, could not reach their ultimate state of perfection (or completion) without the New Testament believers and the full realization of God's plan in Christ.
Interpretations and Implications:
Here are a few key interpretations and implications of this verse:
Interdependence of Covenants: The Old and New Covenants are not separate, but intrinsically linked. The Old Testament figures, despite their faith, were looking forward to a greater fulfillment that they themselves wouldn't fully experience in their lifetime. Their faith pointed towards Christ and the New Covenant.
Christ as the Fulfilment: The "better thing" is often understood as the full revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection are what ultimately bring about the promise of salvation.
Unity of Believers: All believers, both Old and New Testament, are united in God's plan. The Old Testament saints' faith laid the groundwork for the New Testament reality.
Shared Hope: Old Testament saints looked forward to the coming Messiah and the New Covenant. We now look back at the fulfillment of those promises in Christ and forward to the final consummation of God's Kingdom. We all share the same hope of eternal life through faith in God.
Emphasis on the New Covenant: The verse reinforces the superiority of the New Covenant. While the Old Testament was a crucial part of God's plan, it was not the final word. The New Covenant, inaugurated by Jesus, is the culmination of God's promises.
In simpler terms:
Imagine building a house. The Old Testament saints laid a strong foundation, demonstrating great faith in the process. However, the house isn't complete without the walls, roof, and interior – the elements provided by the New Covenant through Jesus Christ. The house, fully built, represents God's completed plan of redemption, where all believers, past and present, find their ultimate fulfillment.
In Summary:
Hebrews 11:40 highlights the fact that God's plan of salvation is progressive and unified. The Old Testament saints' faith was genuine and commendable, but their perfection (or completion) was dependent on the "better thing" provided in the New Covenant – specifically, the person and work of Jesus Christ. This verse emphasizes the unity of believers throughout history and the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in Christ.