V. 13.— These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. These all.— The Apostle does not here refer to Abel, Enoch, and Noah; for Enoch did not die; and, not being mindful of that country from which they came out, is not applicable to Abel and Noah, but to Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob, who all died in faith, holding fast the beginning of their confidence steadfast to the end. They died in faith, not having received the promises; but they saw them afar off, were fully persuaded that they should be accomplished, embraced them as their portion, the joy and rejoicing of their heart, and confessed themselves strangers and pilgrims on the earth. This illustrates what had been previously said, that Abraham looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God; and that they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly. Had a portion in this world been what they desired, the stronger the desire the more would their souls have cleaved to the dust; but they did not mind earthly things; they looked beyond this vain and perishing world to the better and heavenly country, the city of which they had become citizens by faith. Thus were their hearts purified by faith; they sought the things that were above; they felt that here they had no continuing city, that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth. Faith brought the glories of the better country to their view, and this dimmed the lustre of all earthly splendor, and worldly pursuits and enjoyments. The promises include no only that of Christ, but of the land which He was to inhabit. But all that was earthly and temporal in the promises derived its value in their eyes from its connexion with the promise of Him who delivers His people from this present evil world.