Art Toombs Ministries 

Online Bible Commentary

God is Trustworthy 

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. (NKJV)

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The early Eastern Church (Dionysius and Clement, both of Alexandria), from the second century, claimed Paul was the writer of Hebrews. The Western Church later agreed.

Luke translated the letter to the Hebrews into Greek, according to Clement in the second century. Luke was with Paul during his second Roman imprisonment and was his amanuensis during Paul’s final days (2 Timothy 4:11).

It is likely that Luke was also Paul’s amanuensis for this letter. My conclusion is that this was Paul’s last writing, written in late 67-early 68 A.D.

In this letter, Paul is writing to Hebrews who have converted to Christianity from Judaism. Family and friends are pulling at them to return to Judaism, so Paul is writing to these Hebrew Christians to encourage them to remain steadfast in their faith and not to return to Judaism.

This chapter, Hebrews eleven, is known as the faith chapter. Paul runs chronologically through history and identifies those who are included in God’s “Hall of Faith”.

Paul begins this chapter by giving us the result of faith. He writes “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (v. 1).

The word “substance” is omitted by the NIV translation, but included in other translations, such as the KJV. The word “substance” forms the basis for the word “faith” in the verse.

That substance is trust. So, the definition of faith is trust in God, to be confident in the fact that God is trustworthy. When we are confident that we can trust God, the result is that we are sure of our hopes and things which we cannot see.

Paul continues with “For by it the elders obtained a good testimony” (v. 2). Some of those who trusted God gained “a good testimony” for the Lord, and were rewarded by being included in God’s Hall of Faith.

Next, Paul writes “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (v. 3). God spoke creation into being.

Nothing was visible before God. If we trust God, we will have faith in things unseen.

So, God begins His Hall of Faith at the very beginning of His creation. It did not take long for people to accept or deny God.

Adam and Eve are left out of God’s Hall of Faith. Adam and Eve did not originally trust God.

They chose to believe Satan over God. Eve did not originally have faith, and Adam willingly followed her in disobedience.

Next, Paul writes “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” (v. 4a). So, Abel is the first member of God’s Hall of Faith.

Abel’s card for entering the Hall was not his character or his good works. His card was for his faith, his trust in God’s instructions for sacrifice.

Abel’s sacrifice was greater than his brother’s, Cain. His sacrifice pleased God because it was given in faith.

When God gave His instructions on sacrifice to Moses on Mount Sinai His instruction was to bring the “first fruits”, the best of the best. Although the Genesis account does not specifically state that God gave the same instructions on sacrifice as He later gave to Moses, we know that he did, because God never changes.

We also know this by a careful reading of the Genesis account. Cain brought “some of the fruits of the soil” (Gen 4:3). Abel brought “fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock” (Gen. 4:4).

Cain’s sacrifice was not identified as the best fruits, but Abel’s sacrifice was from “the firstborn”, the “best fruits”. God gave further evidence that Cain’s sacrifice was not in obedience to Him when He told Cain “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?” (Gen 4:7).

So, Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted by God because it was not done in obedience to God’s instructions. Abel’s was accepted because it was done in faith.

Paul continues with “through which he obtained witness that he was righteous” (v. 4b). By faith Abel was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.

Paul concludes this passage by adding “God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks” (v. 4c). Abel’s faith is still heard of to this day. He still speaks, even though he is dead.

Through his trust, his faith, Abel is included in God’s Hall of Faith. Through distrust, the rest of his family, Adam, Eve, and Cain, are not included.

Abel trusted God. He trusted that if he obeyed God he would be rewarded.

The rewards were not yet visible. But he trusted in things unseen.

He was confident in the trustworthiness of God. He lived the definition of faith. He showed his trust in God through his sacrifice.

On the other hand, Cain tried to compromise on his sacrifice. He likely felt that he needed to be realistic. God would understand if he saved back the best parts for his own needs.

In doing so, Cain was guilty of calling God a liar, just as his parents did. He was not trusting God to provide all his needs, even though God said he would. 

Like Abel, we should desire to be members of God’s Hall of Faith. We enter through trust. That trust is displayed through our obedience to God’s word.

So, we should be Abels, not Cains, when it comes to obedience. We can trust God to provide our needs. God is trustworthy.