Connect Matthew 13:17 with Hebrews 11:13 on faith and unseen promises. Setting the Scene Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13 open a window into mysteries “hidden since the foundation of the world.” The writer of Hebrews, centuries later, reflects on patriarchs who trusted what they could not yet see. When we place Matthew 13:17 beside Hebrews 11:13, faith’s relationship to unseen promises shines brightly. Matthew 13:17 – Longing Eyes and Ears “‘For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see and did not see it, and to hear what you hear and did not hear it.’” • Prophets anticipated the Messiah for centuries. • Their eyes and ears ached for fulfillment, yet they died before Jesus’ public ministry. • Jesus affirms that His listeners enjoy a privilege earlier generations could only imagine. Hebrews 11:13 – Faith That Ends in Sight “All these died in faith, not having received the things promised, but welcoming them from afar, and they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” • The patriarchs embraced promises at a distance. • Their faith treated future realities as present certainties. • They confessed earthly displacement because their true homeland was still to come. Threading the Verses Together • Both passages spotlight believers who trusted God without physical proof. • Matthew highlights the contrast between prophetic longing and disciples’ present privilege. • Hebrews underscores the same principle: faith rests on God’s word even when fulfillment remains unseen. • Jesus’ arrival transfers promises from “afar” to “at hand,” yet the ultimate consummation (e.g., resurrection, kingdom glory) still calls for Hebrews 11–style faith. Further Echoes in Scripture • 2 Corinthians 5:7 — “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” • Romans 8:24-25 — Hope that is seen is not hope; we eagerly wait with perseverance. • 1 Peter 1:8-9 — Though you have not seen Him, you love Him … receiving the outcome of your faith. Living Out the Truth Today • Treasure revelation: we hold in our hands what saints once longed to glimpse. • Trust God’s timing: like Abraham and Sarah, receive promises even when fulfillment seems distant. • Walk as pilgrims: the unseen homeland is more real than transient earthly comforts. • Cultivate expectancy: privileges already granted in Christ point forward to greater glory soon to be revealed (Romans 8:18). |
    |