Hebrews 11:25 Study Bible: choosing rather to share ill treatment with God's people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time;

◄ Hebrews 11:25 ►

He chose to suffer oppression with God's people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.

He chose
The Greek word for "chose" is "haireomai," which implies a deliberate and thoughtful decision. This choice reflects a conscious and intentional act of the will, emphasizing the importance of making decisions aligned with faith and conviction. In the context of Hebrews 11, this choice is a testament to the power of faith to guide one's actions, even when faced with difficult circumstances.

to suffer oppression
The phrase "to suffer oppression" comes from the Greek "sugkakoucheō," which means to endure hardship or mistreatment alongside others. This highlights the communal aspect of suffering, where one willingly shares in the trials of a group. Historically, this reflects the plight of the Israelites in Egypt, and spiritually, it signifies the believer's identification with the struggles of the faithful, choosing solidarity over personal comfort.

with God’s people
"God’s people" refers to the Israelites, the chosen people of God, who were often oppressed and marginalized. The Greek term "laos" is used here, denoting a people bound together by a common identity and purpose. This phrase underscores the importance of community and belonging in the life of faith, where one's identity is rooted in being part of God's covenant people.

rather than
This phrase indicates a contrast and a preference, highlighting the decision to prioritize spiritual values over temporal pleasures. It serves as a reminder of the Christian call to live counter-culturally, often choosing the path less traveled in pursuit of eternal rewards.

to experience the fleeting enjoyment
The Greek word "apolausis" for "enjoyment" suggests a temporary pleasure or satisfaction. The adjective "fleeting" emphasizes the transient nature of sin's allure. This phrase serves as a caution against the deceptive and short-lived nature of sinful pleasures, urging believers to focus on the eternal joy found in obedience to God.

of sin
"Sin" in this context is translated from the Greek "hamartia," which means missing the mark or falling short of God's standards. The verse contrasts the temporary pleasures of sin with the enduring value of righteousness. It serves as a call to holiness, encouraging believers to reject sin and embrace a life of faithfulness to God.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Moses
The central figure in this verse, Moses is celebrated for his faith and decision to align with God's people, the Israelites, rather than enjoy the temporary pleasures of Egyptian royalty.

2. Egypt
The place where Moses was raised as a prince. It symbolizes worldly power, wealth, and the temporary pleasures of sin.

3. Israelites
God's chosen people, who were suffering oppression in Egypt. Moses chose to identify with them, despite their lowly status and suffering.

4. Oppression
The suffering and hardship faced by the Israelites in Egypt, which Moses chose to share.

5. Sin
Represented by the fleeting pleasures and privileges Moses could have enjoyed in Pharaoh's court.

Teaching Points

Choosing God Over Worldly Pleasures
Moses' decision exemplifies the call to prioritize eternal values over temporary pleasures. Believers are encouraged to make choices that align with God's will, even when it involves sacrifice.

The Temporary Nature of Sin
The verse highlights the fleeting nature of sin's pleasures. Christians are reminded that true fulfillment comes from a relationship with God, not from temporary worldly gains.

Identifying with God's People
Moses' choice to suffer with the Israelites teaches the importance of solidarity with fellow believers, especially in times of trial and persecution.

Faith in Action
Moses' faith was demonstrated through his actions. Believers are encouraged to live out their faith through decisions that reflect their trust in God's promises.

Eternal Perspective
This verse challenges Christians to maintain an eternal perspective, valuing spiritual rewards over earthly ones.

Bible Study Questions

1. What motivated Moses to choose suffering with God's people over the pleasures of Egypt, and how can this inspire our own decision-making?

2. How does Moses' choice reflect the concept of living by faith, as described in Hebrews 11?

3. In what ways can we identify with and support fellow believers who are facing oppression or hardship today?

4. How can we apply the principle of choosing eternal rewards over temporary pleasures in our daily lives?

5. What are some practical steps we can take to ensure our priorities align with God's will, as Moses did?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Exodus 2-3
These chapters provide the background of Moses' life, his upbringing in Pharaoh's palace, and his eventual choice to identify with the Israelites.

Philippians 3:7-8
Paul speaks of counting all things as loss for the sake of Christ, similar to Moses' choice to forsake Egyptian wealth for God's people.

1 John 2:15-17
This passage warns against loving the world and its desires, echoing Moses' rejection of worldly pleasures.

Matthew 16:24-26
Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves and take up their cross, paralleling Moses' choice to suffer with God's people.

Sermons

Moses Relinquishing Earthly Advantages	D. Young	Hebrews 11:24, 25
A Noble Preference	D. Bancroft.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Choosing	J. Trapp.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Desiring and Choosing	H. W. Beecher.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Faith the Means of Overcoming the World	C. New.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Faith's Sight of Sinful Pleasures	W. Gurnall.	Hebrews 11:24-26
For a Season	Life of Father Taylor.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Happiness of the Self-Denying		Hebrews 11:24-26
He Had Tried Both		Hebrews 11:24-26
Lessons from the Choice of Moses	C. Brown.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Modern Instances of a Right Choice	F. W. Farrar, D. D.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Moses' Choice	R. Watson.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Moses' Choice	Matthew Henry.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Moses' Decision	C. H. Spurgeon.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Moses Suffering Affliction	E. Monro.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Moses the Uncrowned King	C. H. Payne, . D. D.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Murderous Though Beautiful	Scientific Illustrations and Symbols	Hebrews 11:24-26
Pleasure	Bp. Ryle.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Religious Decision	B. D. Johns.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Sinful Pleasures	R. Fuller.	Hebrews 11:24-26
The Choice of Moses	W. M. Punshon, D. D.	Hebrews 11:24-26
The Choice of Moses	A. Gilmour.	Hebrews 11:24-26
The Choice of Moses	or. Burns, D. D.	Hebrews 11:24-26
The Choice of Moses	James Stark.	Hebrews 11:24-26
The Faith of Moses	James Kidd, D. D.	Hebrews 11:24-26
The Faith of Moses and the Faith of Christ	J. Service, D. D.	Hebrews 11:24-26
The Great Choice of Moses	W. Jones	Hebrews 11:24-26
The Great Refusal	G. Lawson.	Hebrews 11:24-26
The Highest Form of Faith	E. Lewis, B. A.	Hebrews 11:24-26
The Pleasures of Sin	W. M. Taylor, D. D.	Hebrews 11:24-26
The Poisonous Lurking in the Pleasurable	Scientific Illustrations and Symbols	Hebrews 11:24-26
The Power of a Good Life	Archdeacon Farrar.	Hebrews 11:24-26
The Self-Denial of Moses		Hebrews 11:24-26
True Goodness	J. Trapp.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Worldly Honours Refused	James Kirkwood, M. A.	Hebrews 11:24-26
Worldly Pleasures	W. Mason.	Hebrews 11:24-26

People

Abel, Barak, Cain, David, Egyptians, Enoch, Esau, Gedeon, Gideon, Hebrews, Isaac, Israelites, Jacob, Jephthae, Jephthah, Joseph, Noah, Pharaoh, Rahab, Samson, Samuel, Sara, Sarah

Places

Egypt, Jericho, Jerusalem, Red Sea

Topics

Afflicted, Affliction, Along, Better, Choosing, Chosen, Determined, Endure, Enjoy, Feeling, Fleeting, God's, Ill, Ill-treatment, Mistreated, Pain, Passing, Pleasure, Pleasures, Rather, Season, Share, Short, Short-lived, Sin, Sin's, Suffer, Taste, Temporary, Treatment, Undergo

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Hebrews 11:25

     5918   pleasure
     7032   unity, God's people
     7924   fellowship, in service
     8475   self-denial

Hebrews 11:1-39

5763 attitudes, positive to God
8412 decisions

Hebrews 11:1-40

Hebrews 11:4-28

Hebrews 11:4-38

5102 Moses, life of

Hebrews 11:24-25

5846 enjoyment
8484 spiritual warfare, enemies

Hebrews 11:24-26

5398 loss
6622 choice

Hebrews 11:24-27

8021 faith, nature of
8481 self-sacrifice

Hebrews 11:24-28

5103 Moses, significance
8248 faithfulness

Hebrews 11:25-26

     5565   suffering, of believers
     5566   suffering, encouragements in
     8410   decision-making, examples

Library

October 15. "Faith is the Evidence of Things not Seen" (Heb. xi. 1).
"Faith is the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. xi. 1). True faith drops its letter in the post-office box, and lets it go. Distrust holds on to a corner of it, and wonders that the answer never comes. I have some letters in my desk that have been written for weeks, but there was some slight uncertainty about the address or the contents, so they are yet unmailed. They have not done either me or anybody else any good yet. They will never accomplish anything until I let them go out of my hands and …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

April 26. "Strangers and Pilgrims" (Heb. xi. 13).
"Strangers and pilgrims" (Heb. xi. 13). If you have ever tried to plough a straight furrow in the country--we are sorry for the man that does not know how to plough and more sorry for the man that is too proud to want to know--you have found it necessary to have two stakes in a line and to drive your horses by these stakes. If you have only one stake before you, you will have no steadying point for your vision, but you can wiggle about without knowing it and make your furrows as crooked as a serpent's …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

February 3. "He Went Out, not Knowing Whither He Went" (Heb. xi. 8).
"He went out, not knowing whither He went" (Heb. xi. 8). It is faith without sight. When we can see, it is not faith but reasoning. In crossing the Atlantic we observed this very principle of faith. We saw no path upon the sea nor sign of the shore. And yet day by day we were marking our path upon the chart as exactly as if there had followed us a great chalk line upon the sea; and when we came within twenty miles of land we knew where we were as exactly as if we had seen it all three thousand miles …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

January the First the Unknown Journey
"He went out not knowing whither he went." --HEBREWS xi. 6-10. Abram began his journey without any knowledge of his ultimate destination. He obeyed a noble impulse without any discernment of its consequences. He took "one step," and he did not "ask to see the distant scene." And that is faith, to do God's will here and now, quietly leaving the results to Him. Faith is not concerned with the entire chain; its devoted attention is fixed upon the immediate link. Faith is not knowledge of a moral …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

The Illusiveness of Life.
Preached June 9, 1850. THE ILLUSIVENESS OF LIFE. "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."--Hebrews xi. 8-10. Last Sunday we touched upon …
Frederick W. Robertson—Sermons Preached at Brighton

The Pilgrim's Longings
Now, our position is very similar to theirs. As many of us as have believed in Christ have been called out. The very meaning of a church is, "called out by Christ." We have been separated. I trust we know what it is to have gone without the camp, bearing Christ's reproach. Henceforth, in this world we have no home, no true home for our spirits; our home is beyond the flood; we are looking for it amongst the unseen things; we are strangers and sojourners as all our fathers were, dwellers in this wilderness, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 18: 1872

Rahab's Faith
I do think this triumph of faith over sin is not the least here recorded, but that if there be any superiority ascribable to any one of faith's exploits, this is, in some sense, the greatest of all. What! faith, didst thou fight with hideous lust? What! wouldst thou struggle with the fiery passion which sendeth forth flame from human breasts? What! wouldst thou touch with thy hallowed fingers foul and bestial debauchery? "Yea," says faith, "I did encounter this abomination of iniquity; I delivered …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Faith
This is an old law; it is as old as the first man. No sooner were Cain and Abel born into this world, and no sooner had they attained to manhood, than God gave a practical proclamation of this law, that "without faith it is impossible to please him." Cain and Abel, one bright day, erected an altar side by side with each other. Cain fetched of the fruits of the trees and of the abundance of the soil, and placed them upon his altar; Abel brought of the firstlings of the flock, and laid it upon his …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Noah's Faith, Fear, Obedience, and Salvation
We may take pleasure in thinking of Noah as a kind of contrast to Enoch. Enoch was taken away from the evil to come: he saw not the flood, nor heard the wailing of those who were swept away by the waterfloods. His was a delightful deliverance from the harvest of wrath which followed the universal godlessness of the race. It was not his to fight the battle of righteousness to the bitter end; but by a secret rapture he avoided death, and escaped those evil days in which his grandson's lot was cast. …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 36: 1890

The Best Strengthening Medicine
THOSE WHO OUT OF WEAKNESS were made strong are written among the heroes of faith, and are by no means the least of them. Believers "quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong." Who shall tell which of the three grand deeds of faith is the greatest? Many of us may never have to brave the fiery stake, nor to bow our necks upon the block, to die as Paul did; but if we have grace enough to be out of weakness made strong, we shall not be left out of …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

The Obedience of Faith
"Is there a heart that will not bend To thy divine control? Descend, O sovereign love, descend, And melt that stubborn soul! " Surely, though we have had to mourn our disobedience with many tears and sighs, we now find joy in yielding ourselves as servants of the Lord: our deepest desire is to do the Lord's will in all things. Oh, for obedience! It has been supposed by many ill-instructed people that the doctrine of justification by faith is opposed to the teaching of good works, or obedience. There …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

The Call of Abraham
I. First, let us LOOK AT ABRAHAM. Abraham's family was originally an idolatrous one; afterwards some beams of light shone in upon the household, and they became worshippers of the true God; but there was much ignorance mingled with their worship, and at least occasionally their old idolatrous habits returned. The Lord who had always fixed on Abraham to be his chosen servant and the father of his chosen people upon earth, made Abraham leave the society of his friends and relatives, and go out of Ur …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

Go Back? Never!
"And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is an heavenly...city."--Hebrews 11:15, 16. ABRAHAM left his country at God's command, and he never went back again. The proof of faith lies in perseverance. There is a sort of faith which doth run well for a while, but it is soon ended, and it doth not obey the truth. The Apostle tells us, however, that the people of God were …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 61: 1915

The Gaze of the Soul
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.--Heb. 12:2 Let us think of our intelligent plain man mentioned in chapter six coming for the first time to the reading of the Scriptures. He approaches the Bible without any previous knowledge of what it contains. He is wholly without prejudice; he has nothing to prove and nothing to defend. Such a man will not have read long until his mind begins to observe certain truths standing out from the page. They are the spiritual principles behind …
A. W. Tozer—The Pursuit of God

The Christian Faith
Scripture references: Hebrews 11; Matthew 9:29; 17:20; Mark 10:52; 11:22; Acts 2:38; 3:16; 10:43; 16:30,31; Romans 1:17; 5:1; 10:17; Galatians 2:20. FAITH AND PRACTICE Belief Controls Action.--"As the man is, so is his strength" (Judges 8:21), "For as he thinketh in his heart so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). "According to your faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:28,29). "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). The Scriptures place stress upon the fact that …
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

The Voices of the Dead
"And by it he being dead yet speaketh." Hebrews xi. 4. Much of the communion of this earth is not by speech or actual contact, and the holiest influences fall upon us in silence. A monument or symbol shall convey a meaning which cannot be expressed; and a token of some departed one is more eloquent than words. The mere presence of a good and holy personage will move us to reverence and admiration, though he may say and do but little. So is there an impersonal presence of such an one; and, though …
E. H. Chapin—The Crown of Thorns

The Practice of Piety; Directing a Christian How to Walk that He May Please God.
Whoever thou art that lookest into this book, never undertake to read it, unless thou first resolvest to become from thine heart an unfeigned Practitioner of Piety. Yet read it, and that speedily, lest, before thou hast read it over, God, by some unexpected death, cut thee off for thine inveterate impiety. The Practice of Piety consists-- First, In knowing the essence of God, and that in respect of, (I.) The diverse manner of being therein, which are three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (II.) …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Testimonies.
"Without faith it is impossible to please God."--Heb. xi. 6. In order to prevent the possibility of being led into paths of error, faith is directed, not to a Christ of the imagination, but to "the Christ in the garments of the Sacred Scripture," as Calvin expresses it. And therefore we must discriminate between (1) faith as a faculty implanted in the soul without our knowledge; (2) faith as a power whereby this implanted faculty begins to act; and (3) faith as a result,--since with this faith (1) …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Being of God
Q-III: WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES PRINCIPALLY TEACH? A: The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. Q-IV: WHAT IS GOD? A: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Here is, 1: Something implied. That there is a God. 2: Expressed. That he is a Spirit. 3: What kind of Spirit? I. Implied. That there is a God. The question, What is God? takes for granted that there …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Abraham and Isaac. Genesis xxii.
1.--"After these things." What things? See verse 33 in preceding chapter. After Abraham had given himself to prayer. It often happens that grace is given for grace. God prepares his own for trial and suffering by revealing Himself. "GOD DID TEMPT."--Like a workman who is conscious the work is well done, fears not the scrutiny which waits his labour. When the smith has put good work into the iron cable, he does not then fear the strain of the test put upon it, and God knew what He had done to …
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

Enoch, the Deathless
BY REV. W. J. TOWNSEND, D.D. Enoch was the bright particular star of the patriarchal epoch. His record is short, but eloquent. It is crowded into a few words, but every word, when placed under examination, expands indefinitely. Every virtue may be read into them; every eulogium possible to a human character shines from them. He was a devout man, a fearless preacher of righteousness, an intimate friend of God, and the only man of his dispensation who did not see death. He sheds a lustre on the …
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

Faith an Assurance and a Proof.
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen. For therein the elders had witness borne to them. By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which do appear."--HEB. xi. 1-3 (R.V.). It is often said that one of the greatest difficulties in the Epistle to the Hebrews is to discover any real connection of ideas between the author's general purpose in the previous discussion and the …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

The Faith of Moses.
"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to be evil entreated with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward. By faith he forsook …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

Links

Hebrews 11:25 NIV
Hebrews 11:25 NLT
Hebrews 11:25 ESV
Hebrews 11:25 NASB
Hebrews 11:25 KJV

Hebrews 11:25 Commentaries

Bible Hub