What God has provided some better things for us? Hebrews 11:40.

God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Again, quoting from the 1977 version of the NASB, Hebrews 11:39 & 40 reads: And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

“all these” refer to the faithful listed previously in Hebrews 11.  First, we need to understand that these “men of old” that is men who lived prior to the coming of Jesus “gained approval” by faith.  Men, all the way back to Abel – from the very beginning – “obtained the testimony that he was righteous” by faith – not by law keeping, by faith.  Included in those who lived by faith are, “Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,” Hebrews 11:32.

In Hebrews 11:33, by faith these men, “conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”

Hebrews 11:35 to 38 then describes others who were tortured, mocked, scoured, suffered imprisonment, stoning, even being sawn in two.  Yet, according to Hebrews 11:39, “And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised.”

“what was promised” then becomes the defining clause of Hebrews 11:40 because THAT, “what was promised” IS the something provided for us that is better.  What was promised?  Throughout the Old Testament many promises were made and all were fulfilled except one: the Messiah was promised but that promise was never realized throughout that whole long period of history.

Consider what Jesus told his disciples in Luke 10:23 & 24, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.”  This, after Jesus “rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, ‘I praise Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and intelligent and didst reveal them to babes. Yes, Father, for thus it was well-pleasing in Thy sight.  All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.’”

Jesus had – it was required – to come to earth, live as a human, suffer death, be raised from the dead, and then be received back into heaven before salvation could be realized.  Hebrews 9:15 says, “And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

Somone had been promised back in Genesis 3:14 & 15, “And the LORD God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly shall you go, And dust shall you eat all the days of your life; And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

In Deuteronomy 18:15 God promised through Moses, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.”

Now, reconsider Hebrews 11:40 where the writer says specifically, “because God had provided something better for us …”  Notice, “something better.”  Consider this word, “better” in Hebrews – which incidentally has been called “the ‘better’ book.”

Hebrews 1:4 – Jesus is better than the angels.

Hebrews 7:19 – We have a better hope.

Hebrews 7:22 – Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant.

Hebrews 8:6 – Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant which has been enacted on better promises.

Hebrews 9:23 – speaks of the better, heavenly sacrifices.

Hebrews 10:34 – speaks of a better, lasting possession.

Hebrews 11:16 – speaks of a better “country.”

Hebrews 11:35 – speaks of a better resurrection.

Hebrews 12:24 – addresses the better blood of Jesus.

So, what exactly is the “something better for us” provided by God?  In a nutshell, Jesus.  Why?  Look as what the Hebrew writer says is better concerning Jesus and His entire mission, everything He accomplished and everything He fulfilled.