Highlight:
(35) Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection; (36) And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: (37) They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (38) (Of whom the world was not worthy;) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Explanation:
This passage continues the list of actions that showed faith in the living God even when it was difficult. The first statement is about women who thought that their loved ones were dead but through faith received them back to life. The widow of Zerephath in 1 Kings 17:22, and the woman of Shunem in 2 Kings 4:34 certainly qualify. The rest explain people who placed their faith in God and were mistreated for it. The phrase that sticks out from the rest, though all of it is remarkable, is the parentheses in verse 38 which says “of whom the world was not worthy”. This seems to indicate that there was a level on honor the preacher is ready to give and believes that these people deserve based on the faith that they expressed in enduring these calamities.
Of course, we know that these people were sinners, too. How did they get to the point where they were willing to endure such trials? It is the mercy and grace of God in their lives to which they responded. They believed God and He helped them to live for him in such a critical way.
Listen to this list from these verses:
- Tortured
- Cruel mockings
- Scourgings
- Bonds of Imprisonment
- Stoned
- Sawn assunder
- Tempted
- Slain with the Sword
- Wandered…being destitute
- Afflicted
- Tormented
- Homeless in mountains, dens, and caves
The disciples that Jesus sent endured martyrdom and exile. It serves an important apologetic today. These men were not notable before they met Jesus. They had no reason to die for this falsifiable claim that they were making if it were not true. They claimed to have seen Jesus live an extraordinary, supernatural life and ministry, die a substitutionary death, and resurrect from the dead. That this truth is the hope for forgiveness of sins was their message, and they suffered death and exile for this message is crucial. Their faith helps to assure our faith that Jesus Christ is in fact who He said He is.
Application:
Several points of application:
- Let their example encourage your walk of faith.
- Question whether or not you would be willing to endure these things for Christ.
- Juxtapose their expression of faith, and what God asks of you in living for him today.
- Thank God for the example that they are to us.
Response:
Heavenly Father, I admit that I have it pretty good. I have much affirmation for my expressions of faith in you. I have a comfortable life relatively. Help me to not get soft. Help me to be bold in my living out my faith in you. Thank you for their example and for your Son who endured the worst of all of it so that I could have eternal life. God grow me in this area. Amen