"Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment." Hebrews 11:35-36
Paul, who wrote these words, was once a persecutor and tormenter of God’s saints (Acts 8:3, 9:1). After God saved him, he endured the cruelties he once inflicted upon others (2 Cor. 11:24-27). And he chose to do so, taking up his cross, following Christ (Acts 20:22-24).
“Tortured”
And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance." The word "tortured" here means "racked." Those Old Testament believers were put on the persecutor’s rack. Their bodies were stretched until their joints were ripped apart. That horrid method of torture was a favorite of the papists during the times of Rome’s open persecution of God’s saints. By such means the representatives of the pope tried to force believers to recant and deny their faith in Christ. By this fearful form of suffering the graces of God’s people was tested and tried. But with believers the rack was impotent! Read on…
"Not accepting deliverance."
Deliverance was offered, but only at the price of apostasy. Two alternatives were set before them: deny Christ, or endure the rack; surrender the gospel, or be tortured by devils in human form. History tells us that believers were not only offered freedom from torture and death, but often were promised great rewards and promotions, if they would but recant. They steadfastly refused.
The
Test
Thus, the real test was this. —Which did these believers esteem more highly – the present comfort of their bodies or the eternal interests of their souls? Remember they were people of like passion with us. Their bodies were just as tender and sensitive to pain as ours. But their faith in Christ and hope of a better resurrection made them faithful unto death.
We face the same trial today, only without the rack. Multitudes lose their souls eternally for the temporary gratification of their bodies. Which do you esteem the more highly - your body or your soul? Which do I esteem more highly? Our actions supply the answer. Which receives the more thought, care, and attention? Which is denied? Which is pampered?
“Not accepting deliverance.”— They had bought the Truth at the price of turning their backs on the world, the world’s religion, families and friends, bringing down upon themselves the scorn and hatred of all. They refused to sell the Truth (Pro. 23:23) for earthly ease or even life itself.
“A Better Resurrection”
“Not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.” Here is the basis of their resolve. These tortured saints were offered a "resurrection" if they would deny Christ. They were offered a "resurrection" from reproach to honor, from poverty to riches, from pain to ease and pleasure, from death to life. —It was a "resurrection" from the physical torture which threatened them (Heb. 11:19). But their hearts were occupied with something far, far better than being raised up to earthly comfort, earthly honor, and a temporary reprieve from death. They anticipated that morning without clouds, when their bodies would be raised in glory, made like Christ’s, and taken to be with Him forever. It was this blessed hope that supported their souls in the face of extreme peril and sustained them in torment.
“Mockings
And Scourgings”
"And others had trial of mockings, and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonments." No stone was left unturned in the persecutor’s merciless efforts to destroy the faith of God’s saints. Let us, when we are reproached for Christ’s sake and ridiculed because of the gospel of the grace of God, remember these steadfast believers of old. We have not yet resisted anything!
The sneers of men, the unkind words of puny mortals are nothing, compared to what others have endured. Even the bonds of breaking hearts and the imprisonments of souls crushed in adversity and bodies decaying with age are far less than our brethren before us have endured. More than that, the things we are here called upon by our God to endure for Christ’s sake are nothing compared to what the Lord of Glory has suffered for us or to the glory that awaits us! Read Matthew 5:10-12, 1 Pet. 2:21-24, and 1 Peter 1:2-9.