Hebrews 11:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Paul is accustomed to unfold many subjects in the midst of his discourse, and he abounds in thoughts. Such is the grace of the Spirit. It does not enclose few thoughts in many words, but sets forth many great thoughts in brief words. See how, while setting forth exhortations in order and speaking about faith, he recalls such a type and mystery, whose truth is among us. "By faith," he says, "he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them." What does "the sprinkling of blood" mean? A lamb was slain in the houses, and its blood was used to anoint the thresholds. This served as protection from the destruction appointed for the Egyptians.

Paul everywhere introduces the mystery along the way, as here, in the course of exhortation, he mentions the mystery of Passover. For the shedding of that blood, that is, the anointing of the doorposts, signified the shedding of the Lord's Blood. Being anointed with it, we escape, in the night of this life, the destroyer of the firstborn among all who are anointed. Therefore Moses, believing then that anointing with blood would save the firstborn, commanded the people to do this. Although it was the blood of a lamb, yet since it depicted the Blood of Christ, it revealed such power. You, then, having been anointed with the true Blood, do you not hope to be protected by it? Certainly you do.

By faith he performed the Passover and the pouring of blood on the lintels and doorposts in the Hebrew houses (Ex. 12:22), so that the destroyer of the firstborn of Egypt would not touch the Hebrews.

That is, before the slaughter of the lamb, he believed that through it the firstborn of Egypt would be put to death, and that through it the Hebrews would be saved (Ex. 12:11).

For without faith, how could he have believed that death would be stopped by the blood of a sheep? But through the type he looked ahead to the truth itself and contemplated the power of the Master's blood.

The account of this is contained in the book of Exodus. Here he calls the slaughter of the lamb the Passover, for it led them out of Egypt. When God gave the command concerning the slaughter, the anointing with blood, and the observance of the other ordinances, Moses believed that Pharaoh would no longer wait for any other prompting. Rather, without any hesitation, he would let him go. Having endured, Moses performed the Passover and the outpouring, that is, the anointing with blood of the lintels and doors of the Hebrew houses. This was so that the Angel who killed the firstborn of the Egyptians would not touch the Hebrews, since their houses were mixed among the houses of the Egyptians.

Where is the power of Moses' faith here? Blessed Theodoret answers this: "Without faith, how could he have believed that death would be stopped by the blood of a sheep? But through the type he looked ahead to the truth itself and contemplated the power of the Master's blood."

After mentioning the faith of Joseph (v. 22), the Apostle speaks of the faith of Moses. According to the Apostle's presentation, the parents of this holy man already bore witness to their faith. Despite the strict prohibition of the king, they preserved their son for a full three months. Evidently they hoped that God would help them bring this work to completion. They regarded the child's extraordinary beauty as a sign of God's favor toward him. Moses himself preferred to accept the reproach of Christ rather than enjoy sinful pleasures at Pharaoh's court. That is, he foresaw the future sufferings of the people, which prefigured the reproaches of Christ. With faith he told himself that sharing in these sufferings was far more saving for the soul than enjoying the goods of courtly life.