Hebrews 11:13-16

Hebrews 11:13-16

[13] These  all  died  in  faith,  not  having received  the promises,  but  them  afar off,  and  embraced  them, and  confessed  that  strangers  and  pilgrims  on  the earth.  [14] For  they that say  such things  declare plainly  that  they seek  a country.  [15] And  truly,  if  they had been mindful  of that  country from  whence  they might  have had  opportunity  to have returned.  [16] But  they desire  a better  an heavenly:  wherefore  God  not  ashamed  to be called  their  God:  for  he hath prepared  for them  a city. 

What does Hebrews 11:13-16 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"All these" probably refers to Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob ( Hebrews 11:8-9; Hebrews 11:11) who lived as exiled strangers by faith, not all whom the writer had listed to this point. "Strangers and exiles" is probably a hendiadys meaning "exiled strangers." Hebrews 11:13-16 interrupt the recital of Abraham"s acts of faith. Evidently the writer decided to preach a little at this point, the middle of his exposition of the patriarchs" example. He emphasized the eschatological perspective that is the point of this entire unit ( Hebrews 11:8-22).
These patriarchs all continued to live by faith, and they died believing God would fulfill His promises to them eventually. They looked forward to possessing a land that God promised to give them. They did not turn back to what they had left, which might have encouraged them to apostatize. In the same way we should not abandon our hope. God was not ashamed of them because they were not ashamed to believe Him and to remain faithful to Him. Likewise we will not shame Him if we resist the temptation to turn from Him in shame ( 1 Samuel 2:30; 2 Timothy 2:12). God prepared a heavenly habitation for them, and He has done so for us ( John 14:1-3).
Each example of faith that the writer cited so far is a positive one involving a believer who kept on trusting God and His promises in spite of temptation to stop trusting. That is what the writer was urging his readers to do throughout this epistle. In every case God approved and rewarded the continuing faith of the faithful.