Hebrews 11:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

NIV: He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

NASB: considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

CSB: For he considered reproach for the sake of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking ahead to the reward.

NLT: He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.

KJV: Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

NKJV: esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

According to this part of the book of Hebrews, the Old Testament is filled with examples of true, godly faith. That faith is not blind, but is instead based on knowledge of God (Hebrews 11:1–3). That knowledge should lead us to obedient, trusting, forward-looking faith, even when we do not see all of the details. The examples given in this most recent section include moments of extreme, personal, immediate choice. Among these are Abraham's obedience to God regarding Isaac (Hebrews 11:17–19), and Moses' parents' disobedience of an evil law (Hebrews 11:23). Moses also exhibited this kind of faith, by choosing to be counted among the people of Israel, instead of among his adoptive family in the Egyptian palace (Hebrews 11:23–25).

Earlier verses credited men like Abraham with a faith which looked ahead, not merely into their own lives, but to God's ultimate plan for humanity (Hebrews 11:10–16). Moses, as recorded here, seems to have had this same perspective. Popular depictions of Moses often suggest that he did not know about his Jewish heritage—the Bible says otherwise. On the contrary, as a well-educated member of Pharaoh's household, Moses likely knew more about Israel's history and the promises of God than many of his peers.

That knowledge seems to have led Moses to prefer his Hebrew people over the culture of Egypt. Instead of remaining in his palace, taking on the lavish lifestyle of an Egyptian noble, Moses considered the promises God had made to Israel more valuable, and chose to identify with them, instead (Exodus 2:1–10).

This verse also makes reference to Moses bearing the "reproach of Christ." Christ is a title, derived from the Greek christos, which is used to translate the Hebrew word meshiach, from which we also get the term messiah. Moses' identification with the people of Israel, then, is tied to the same faith spoken of in the rest of this passage. Namely, a faith in God's overall, eternal plan, including His Promised One. Moses chose to favor the "reproach of Christ," by identifying with God's chosen people before the earthly birth of Jesus Christ, foreshadowing those who would bear the "reproach of Christ," after Jesus' earthly ministry.

Hebrews 11:17–31 makes a subtle shift from the prior verses. Earlier, the writer had given examples of faithful obedience leading to God's blessings. Those cases were mostly general, where a willingness to trust God was weighed against an uncertain future. In this passage, however, we are shown men and women who chose to trust God despite immediate, personal hardships. This, as well, is a crucial aspect of faith, which the writer has already defined as a confident trust in God.

True, godly faith is defined as trust, relying on God when looking to the future, and obeying even when we don't fully understand all details. The great figures of the Old Testament, such as Abraham, Moses, and David, all lived according to this type of faith. Ultimately, that means trusting God's intent to make good on His promises from an eternal perspective. The model of faith presented by those people, in light of the struggles they faced, ought to inspire Christians towards a more confident, purposeful faith.

Up to this point, the book of Hebrews has given extensive evidence proving that Jesus Christ, and the new covenant He brought about, is God's ultimate plan for mankind's salvation. Chapter 10 provided an additional warning about the danger of falling away from this truth. Chapter 11 begins by clarifying the meaning of the word ''faith,'' primarily by listing examples of Old Testament figures who exemplify it. The ultimate application of this knowledge should be a motivation to ''hold fast'' to the gospel, despite hardships. That encouragement is a major theme of chapter 12.

The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.