Hebrews 11:13

‘These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.'

‘These all died in (literally ‘according to') faith.' They walked in the path of faith in the promises of God. ‘These' may refer to those from Hebrews 11:7 onwards, for the chapter may be seen as divided into sections by the small summary that follows each section. But more probably it refers to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Sarah, for it is they of whom it is said that they wandered as strangers and sojourners in the earth. The point is that, although they had not received the promises, they did not turn back, but believed to the end. They walked the way of faith.

‘Not having received (the fulfilment of) the promises.' This confirms that all along it is faith in God's word that is in question. They did not believe in a vacuum. They believed because of God's revelation, even though they did not receive the final consequences of those promises (although the point is later made that they would eventually - Hebrews 11:40).

‘But having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth' (see Genesis 23:4). They saw ahead the substance of that on which they had set their hope, on the basis of their belief in God's revelation. And by faith they welcomed it. They did not attempt to participate in the lives of those around them. They did not try to build a city. They were willing to accept that they had no settled place on earth because they looked ahead to what God was going to do. And they testified to the fact that they were God's people awaiting what He had promised to give them.

This continued emphasis demonstrates that the writer saw Christians as being similar. They too walk as strangers and sojourners on the earth, having no real home, awaiting the fulfilment of God's purposes (1 Peter 2:11). Though Christ's coming may delay, they wait with patient endurance and with confidence. They do not turn back to the things of earth. They do not look at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen (2 Corinthians 3:17). They have their minds firmly set in Heaven (Colossians 3:1; Philippians 3:20; John 14:1; Ephesians 2:6). ‘For yet a very little while, He who comes will come, and will not tarry' (Hebrews 10:37).