Heb. 11:7. and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
That is, he received the benefit of having appeared righteous before God: which name of "righteousness" faith bestowed upon him.
Heb. 11:8. By faith Abraham obeyed the call to go out to a land which he was to receive as an inheritance,
Since the believers from among the Jews looked upon him and the other patriarchs as having received countless blessings, he intends to show that no one has yet received anything. Therefore he says that "by faith Abraham obeyed," having received the command to leave his homeland. For whom did he know, whom could he have imitated? His father was an idolater, he had not heard the prophets. Therefore, to obey God as one speaking the truth about what He promised, and to leave what he possessed, was on his part an act of faith.
Heb. 11:8. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Even if he did know who had called him, who would leave what is ready to seek what is not ready? But he did not know what that land to which he was being called was even like.
Heb. 11:9. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise, as in a foreign land,
He says that the land which God promised to give to him and to his seed, he inhabited as a foreign land. In what sense "foreign"? For he even purchased a burial place for Sarah (Gen. 23:4), and yet he did not doubt nor say: God has lied, but believed that the One who promised would, without doubt, grant it.
Heb. 11:9. and dwelt in tents
He settled in a land so foreign to him that he did not even have his own house, but lived in tents, which is characteristic of strangers who, having no plot of their own, move from one place to another.
Heb. 11:9. with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;
And Isaac and Jacob, he says, lived on it likewise as on foreign land. The Philistines envied Isaac, and the servants of Abimelech took from him his wells and his wife, and then he moved from one place to another (Gen. 26). Jacob, meanwhile, was not only driven by fear of Esau, but even on his return journey from Mesopotamia he purchased a place where he pitched his tent, and moved now to Bethel, now to Ephrath, not settling in one place, as a sojourner (Gen. 35). Meanwhile, they too were heirs of the promise, just as their father was. For it is said: "I will give to you and to your descendants" the land (Gen. 17:8). Yet they were not unbelieving.
Heb. 11:10. For he looked for the city which has foundations,
Therefore, he says, they settled in that land in tents having no foundation, because they were awaiting the heavenly city with true foundations, always firm and never perishing. This is also why God, seeing that they despised the promises of earthly goods, set those aside and prepared better things for them, as for those worthy of such things rather than earthly ones. Furthermore, they, having received the earthly promise, disregarded it and strove for the heavenly. But you, believers, having received the promise of the heavenly, desire the earthly — and are you not ashamed?
Heb. 11:10. For which the artist and builder is God.
God is the architect of this city — what a praise that is!
Heb. 11:11. By faith Sarah herself also (being barren)
With the words "and Sarah herself," the apostle shames them, as if saying: a woman believed, and will you not be ashamed if you prove to be more fainthearted than a woman? But how did she believe, she who laughed? Yes, she believed, even though she laughed, for afterward, being reproved, she became afraid, which was the fruit of faith. For it is clear that she believed that the One conversing with her was someone great and above man.
Heb. 11:11. received power for the conception of seed,
She received the ability to conceive and retain within herself the seed of Abraham. Or, since people who have carefully studied this say that the woman also contributes from herself a kind of seed, the expression "for the reception of seed" must in no case be understood as though Sarah herself also gave seed.
Heb. 11:11. Not by the time of her age did she give birth,
Above he said that she was barren, and now he says that she also gave birth past the age for it. Thus she had a twofold deficiency — one from nature, that she was barren, and the other from old age.
Heb. 11:11. For she knew that He who promised is faithful.
"Faithful," that is, she considered Him true, for He had promised: "I will be with you in the following year, and Sarah shall have a son" (Gen. 18:14).
Heb. 11:12. And therefore from one, and him as good as dead, were born so many, as many as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the sand on the seashore.