"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
In this 11th chapter of Hebrews the Holy Spirit is encouraging us to perseverance. In doing so, he has shown us numerous examples of faith in Christ. He has given us examples of devotion, sacrifice, consecration, and triumph. Here he gives us examples of faith enduring great trials and hardships for the glory of Christ.
The Holy Spirit’s object here is to teach us that true
faith must and shall be tried and proved by divine providence, tried and proved
by enduring hardship, by suffering with Christ and for Christ. —All the evils
here enumerated were brought upon these saints of old solely and entirely
because of their faith in Christ.
It has ever been the portion of faith, the portion of God’ people in this world to be derided, reproached, insulted, and abused for their faith in Christ (1 Peter 4:12; 1 Cor. 10:13; Phil. 1:29; Gal. 4:29; 2 Chron. 36:16; Lam. 3:14). Our Lord declared, “He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.” Faith, true, God given faith, must endure and will endure the trials and sorrows that inevitably accompany it. To all who believe, our Savior’s promise is: "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us" (2 Tim 2:12; Rev. 3:5, 12; 21).