SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:16
mas empero deseaban la mejor, es a saber, la celestial, por lo cual Dios no se avergenza de llamarse Dios de ellos; porque les había aparejado ciudad.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hebrew 11:16
Verse 16. But now they desire a better] They all expected spiritual blessings, and a heavenly inheritance; they sought God as their portion, and in such a way and on such principles that he is not ashamed to be called their God; and he shows his affection for them by preparing for them a city, to wit, heaven, as themselves would seek no city on earth; which is certainly what the apostle has here in view. And from this it is evident that the patriarchs had a proper notion of the immortality of the soul, and expected a place of residence widely different from Canaan. Though to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the promises were made in which Canaan was so particularly included, yet God did not give them any inheritance in that country, no, not so much as to set a foot on; Acts vii. 5.
Therefore, if they had not understood the promises to belong to spiritual things, far from enduring, as seeing him who is invisible, they must have considered themselves deceived and mocked. The apostle therefore, with the highest propriety, attributes their whole conduct and expectation to faith.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. But now they desire a better country , etc..] Which is not to be understood of the then present time, in which the apostle wrote; for the patriarchs, of whom he speaks, were not then on earth, nor in any third place between heaven and earth; they were then in heaven; and though there are indeed in heaven desires after perfect happiness, in soul and body; yet this intends the desires of these saints when on earth, and which are common to all believers in the present state of things; who, as the patriarchs desired a better country than Chaldea, or even Canaan itself, so they desire a better country than this world; and such is heaven: it is on high; here are no noxious and pestilential vapours, no mists or fogs beclouding, no storms and tempests, but it is full of light and glory; having the delightful breezes of divine love, and the comfortable gales of the blessed Spirit; here is no heat of persecution, nor coldness, nor chills of affection; here is plenty of most delicious fruits, no hunger nor thirst; and here are riches, which are solid, satisfying, durable, safe and sure: many are the liberties and privileges here enjoyed; here is a freedom from a body subject to diseases and death, from a body of sin and death, from Satan's temptations, from all doubts, fears, and unbelief, and from all sorrows and afflictions; the inhabitants of it are the spirits of just men made perfect, angels, God, Father, Son, and Spirit, and Christ in human nature; upon all which accounts it is abundantly the better country, and as it is explained, that is, an heavenly ; an inheritance in heaven, an house eternal in the heavens, the kingdom of heaven; and it is no wonder that it should be desired by such who know it, and the nature of it: the word denotes a vehement desire; and it is such, that the saints desire to depart from this world, and go unto it; which shows that they are weaned from this, and have seen something glorious in another. Remarkable is the saying of Anaxagoras who, when one said to him, hast thou no regard to thy country? answered, I have, and that the greatest, pointing with his fingers towards heaven; and, says Philo the Jew f238 , the soul of every wise man has heaven for his country, and the earth as a strange place: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God ; their covenant God and Father; (see Gill on Hebrews 8:10), even though he is the God of the whole earth; for he hath prepared for them a city ; in his council and covenant, and by his Son; (see Gill on Hebrews 11:10). This proves that he is not ashamed of the relation he stands in to them, since he has made a provision for them to dwell with him to all eternity.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-19 - We are often called to leave worldly connexions, interests, an comforts. If heirs of Abraham's faith, we shall obey and go forth though not knowing what may befall us; and we shall be found in the way of duty, looking for the performance of God's promises. The trial of Abraham's faith was, that he simply and fully obeyed the call of God Sarah received the promise as the promise of God; being convinced of that, she truly judged that he both could and would perform it. Many who have a part in the promises, do not soon receive the thing promised. Faith can lay hold of blessings at a great distance; can make them present; can love them and rejoice in them, though strangers; a saints, whose home is heaven; as pilgrims, travelling toward their home. By faith, they overcome the terrors of death, and bid a cheerfu farewell to this world, and to all the comforts and crosses of it. An those once truly and savingly called out of a sinful state, have n mind to return into it. All true believers desire the heavenl inheritance; and the stronger faith is, the more fervent those desire will be. Notwithstanding their meanness by nature, their vileness be sin, and the poverty of their outward condition, God is not ashamed to be called the God of all true believers; such is his mercy, such is his love to them. Let them never be ashamed of being called his people, no of any of those who are truly so, how much soever despised in the world. Above all, let them take care that they are not a shame an reproach to their God. The greatest trial and act of faith upon recor is, Abraham's offering up Isaac, Ge 22:2. There, every word shows trial. It is our duty to reason down our doubts and fears, by looking as Abraham did, to the Almighty power of God. The best way to enjoy ou comforts is, to give them up to God; he will then again give them a shall be the best for us. Let us look how far our faith has caused the like obedience, when we have been called to lesser acts of self-denial or to make smaller sacrifices to our duty. Have we given up what wa called for, fully believing that the Lord would make up all our losses and even bless us by the most afflicting dispensations?
Greek Textus Receptus
νυνι 3570 δε 1161 κρειττονος 2909 ορεγονται 3713 5731 τουτ 5124 εστιν 2076 5748 επουρανιου 2032 διο 1352 ουκ 3756 επαισχυνεται 1870 5736 αυτους 846 ο 3588 θεος 2316 θεος 2316 επικαλεισθαι 1941 5745 αυτων 846 ητοιμασεν 2090 5656 γαρ 1063 αυτοις 846 πολιν 4172
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. Now they desire (nun oregontai). Nun now is logical: as the case now stands. For ojregontai desire, see on 1 Tim. iii. 1.
Is not ashamed (ouk epaiscunetai). Because they have commended themselves to God by their faith, so that he acknowledges them as his own. Comp. ch. ii. 11; Mark viii. 28, 38; Rom. i. 16; 2 Tim. i. 8, 16. To be called their God (Qeov epikaleisqai autwn). Lit. to be surnamed. Comp. Acts iv. 36; x. 5, 18, 32. God was called the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. See Exod. iii. 6.
For he hath prepared for them a city (htoimasin gar autoiv polin). Comp. Matt. xxv. 34; John xiv. 2; Apoc. xxi. 2. City is significant, as showing that the fulfillment of God's promise lies in introducing them into the perfection of social life. Comp. Apoc. iii. 12; xxi. 2, 10; xxii. 19.
